Animal Farm by George Orwell- page 13

Sometimes the work was hard; the implements had been designed for human beings and not for animals, and it was a great drawback that no animal was able to use any tool that involved standing on his hind legs.

• Sometimes: occasionally; now and then [ˈsəmˌtaɪmz]
• the work: the task or effort required [ðə wərk]
• was hard: difficult or strenuous [wɑz hɑrd]
• the implements: tools or instruments used for a specific purpose [ðə ˈɪmpləmənts]
• had been designed: were originally created [hæd bɪn dɪˈzaɪnd]
• for human beings: intended for use by people [fər ˈjumən biɪŋz]
• and not for animals: not intended for use by animals [ənd nɑt fər ˈænəməlz]
• and: conjunction used to connect words or phrases [ənd]
• it: refers to the situation or fact [ɪt]
• was: past tense of 'to be' [wɑz]
• a great drawback: a significant disadvantage or obstacle [ə greɪt ˈdrɔˌbæk]
• that: introduces a clause explaining the drawback [ðət]
• no animal: not a single animal [noʊ ˈænəməl]
• was able: had the ability or capacity [wɑz ˈeɪbəl]
• to use: to operate or handle [tɪ juz]
• any tool: any instrument or device [ˈɛni tul]
• that: introduces a relative clause describing the tool [ðət]
• involved: required or necessitated [ˌɪnˈvɑlvd]
• standing: being upright on [ˈstændɪŋ]
• on his hind legs: on the back legs [ɔn hɪz haɪnd lɛgz]

But the pigs were so clever that they could think of a way round every difficulty.

• But: conjunction indicating contrast [bət]
• the pigs: a specific group of animals on the farm [ðə pɪgz]
• were so clever: were very intelligent or resourceful [wər soʊ ˈklɛvər]
• that: introduces a clause explaining the result of their cleverness [ðət]
• they: the pigs [ðeɪ]
• could think: were able to devise [kʊd θɪŋk]
• of a way round: a solution to overcome [əv ə weɪ raʊnd]
• every difficulty: each and every problem [ˈɛvəri ˈdɪfɪˌkəlti]

As for the horses, they knew every inch of the field, and in fact understood the business of mowing and raking far better than Jones and his men had ever done.

• As for: regarding or concerning [ɛz fər]
• the horses: a specific group of animals on the farm [ðə ˈhɔrsɪz]
• they: the horses [ðeɪ]
• knew: were familiar with [nu]
• every inch: all parts or details [ˈɛvəri ɪnʧ]
• of the field: the area of land [əv ðə fild]
• and: conjunction used to connect words or phrases [ənd]
• in fact: indeed; actually [ɪn fækt]
• understood: comprehended [ˌəndərˈstʊd]
• the business: the process or activity [ðə ˈbɪznɪs]
• of mowing: cutting grass or crops [əv maʊɪŋ]
• and: conjunction used to connect words or phrases [ənd]
• raking: gathering or smoothing with a rake [ˈreɪkɪŋ]
• far better: much more effectively [fɑr ˈbɛtər]
• than: used for comparison [ðən]
• Jones: a proper noun, likely a person's name [ʤoʊnz]
• and: conjunction used to connect words or phrases [ənd]
• his men: the people working for Jones [hɪz mɛn]
• had ever done: had ever performed the task [hæd ˈɛvər dən]

The pigs did not actually work, but directed and supervised the others.

• The pigs: a specific group of animals on the farm [ðə pɪgz]
• did not actually work: did not physically perform labor [dɪd nɑt ˈæˌkʧuəli wərk]
• but: conjunction indicating contrast [bət]
• directed: guided or instructed [dɪˈrɛktɪd]
• and: conjunction used to connect words or phrases [ənd]
• supervised: oversaw and managed [ˈsupərˌvaɪzd]
• the others: the other animals [ðə ˈəðərz]

With their superior knowledge it was natural that they should assume the leadership.

• With: because of [wɪθ]
• their: belonging to the pigs [ðɛr]
• superior knowledge: greater understanding or expertise [suˈpɪriər ˈnɑlɪʤ]
• it: refers to the situation or fact [ɪt]
• was natural: seemed logical or expected [wɑz ˈnæʧərəl]
• that: introduces a clause explaining what was natural [ðət]
• they: the pigs [ðeɪ]
• should assume: would take on [ʃʊd əˈsum]
• the leadership: the role of guiding and directing [ðə ˈlidərˌʃɪp]

Boxer and Clover would harness themselves to the cutter or the horse-rake (no bits or reins were needed in these days, of course) and tramp steadily round and round the field with a pig walking behind and calling out ‘Gee up, comrade!’ or ‘Whoa back, comrade!’ as the case might be.

• Boxer: a proper noun, likely an animal's name [ˈbɑksər]
• and: conjunction used to connect words or phrases [ənd]
• Clover: a proper noun, likely an animal's name [ˈkloʊvər]
• would harness themselves: would attach themselves with straps or gear [wʊd ˈhɑrnɪs ðɛmˈsɛlvz]
• to: to the direction of [tɪ]
• the cutter: a machine for cutting grass or crops [ðə ˈkətər]
• or: used to introduce an alternative [ər]
• the horse-rake: a tool pulled by a horse for gathering hay [ðə horse-rake]
• no bits or reins: equipment used to control horses [(noʊ bɪts ər reɪnz]
• were needed: were required [wər ˈnidɪd]
• in these days: at this time [ɪn ðiz deɪz]
• of course: as expected [əv kɔrs]
• and: conjunction used to connect words or phrases [ ənd]
• tramp steadily: walk heavily and consistently [træmp ˈstɛdəli]
• round and round: in a circular path [raʊnd ənd raʊnd]
• the field: the area of land [ðə fild]
• with: accompanied by [wɪθ]
• a pig: one of the pigs [ə pɪg]
• walking behind: following along [ˈwɔkɪŋ bɪˈhaɪnd]
• and: conjunction used to connect words or phrases [ənd]
• calling out: shouting or announcing [ˈkɔlɪŋ aʊt]
• Gee up, comrade: a command to move forward, addressed to a fellow worker [‘‘gee əp comrade*’**’]
• or: used to introduce an alternative [ər]
• Whoa back, comrade: a command to stop or slow down, addressed to a fellow worker [‘‘whoa bæk comrade*’**’]
• as: depending on [ɛz]
• the case: the situation [ðə keɪs]
• might be: could be [maɪt bi]

And every animal down to the humblest worked at turning the hay and gathering it.

• And: conjunction used to connect words or phrases [ənd]
• every animal: each and all animals [ˈɛvəri ˈænəməl]
• down to: including even [daʊn tɪ]
• the humblest: the lowest in rank or status [ðə ˈhəmbələst]
• worked: exerted effort [wərkt]
• at: in the activity of [æt]
• turning the hay: flipping the hay to dry it [ˈtərnɪŋ ðə heɪ]
• and: conjunction used to connect words or phrases [ənd]
• gathering it: collecting the hay together [ˈgæðərɪŋ ɪt]

Even the ducks and hens toiled to and fro all day in the sun, carrying tiny wisps of hay in their beaks.

• Even: used to emphasize something surprising [ˈivɪn]
• the ducks: a specific group of animals on the farm [ðə dəks]
• and: conjunction used to connect words or phrases [ənd]
• hens: a specific group of animals on the farm [hɛnz]
• toiled: worked hard [tɔɪld]
• to and fro: back and forth [tɪ ənd froʊ]
• all day: the entire day [ɔl deɪ]
• in the sun: under the sunlight [ɪn ðə sən]
• carrying: transporting [ˈkɛriɪŋ]
• tiny wisps: small strands or pieces [ˈtaɪni wisps]
• of hay: dried grass [əv heɪ]
• in their beaks: in their mouths [ɪn ðɛr beaks]

In the end they finished the harvest in two days’ less time than it had usually taken Jones and his men.

• In the end: finally; eventually [ɪn ðə ɛnd]
• they: the animals [ðeɪ]
• finished: completed [ˈfɪnɪʃt]
• the harvest: the process or period of gathering crops [ðə ˈhɑrvəst]
• in: within a period of [ɪn]
• two days’ less time: two fewer days [tu deɪz lɛs taɪm]
• than: used for comparison [ðən]
• it: refers to the harvest [ɪt]
• had usually taken: had typically required [hæd ˈjuʒəwəli ˈteɪkən]
• Jones: a proper noun, likely a person's name [ʤoʊnz]
• and: conjunction used to connect words or phrases [ənd]
• his men: the people working for Jones [hɪz mɛn]

Moreover, it was the biggest harvest that the farm had ever seen.

• Moreover: in addition; furthermore [mɔˈroʊvər]
• it: refers to the harvest [ɪt]
• was: past tense of 'to be' [wɑz]
• the biggest harvest: the largest amount of crops gathered [ðə ˈbɪgəst ˈhɑrvəst]
• that: introduces a relative clause describing the harvest [ðət]
• the farm: the agricultural land [ðə fɑrm]
• had ever seen: had ever experienced [hæd ˈɛvər sin]

There was no wastage whatever; the hens and ducks with their sharp eyes had gathered up the very last stalk.

• There was: there existed [ðɛr wɑz]
• no wastage: no loss or waste [noʊ wastage]
• whatever: at all [ˌwəˈtɛvər]
• the hens: a specific group of animals on the farm [ðə hɛnz]
• and: conjunction used to connect words or phrases [ənd]
• ducks: a specific group of animals on the farm [dəks]
• with: having [wɪθ]
• their sharp eyes: their keen eyesight [ðɛr ʃɑrp aɪz]
• had gathered up: had collected [hæd ˈgæðərd əp]
• the very last stalk: the final piece of stem [ðə ˈvɛri læst stɔk]

And not an animal on the farm had stolen so much as a mouthful.

• And: conjunction used to connect words or phrases [ənd]
• not an animal: not a single animal [nɑt ən ˈænəməl]
• on the farm: living on the agricultural land [ɔn ðə fɑrm]
• had stolen: had taken without permission [hæd ˈstoʊlən]
• so much as: even [soʊ məʧ ɛz]
• a mouthful: a small amount of food [ə ˈmaʊθˌfʊl]

All through that summer the work of the farm went like clockwork.

• All through that summer: Throughout the entire duration of that particular summer season [ɔl θru ðət ˈsəmər]
• the work of the farm: the various tasks and activities required to maintain and operate the farm [ðə wərk əv ðə fɑrm]
• went like clockwork: proceeded smoothly, efficiently, and according to schedule, like a well-maintained clock [wɛnt laɪk ˈklɑkˌwərk]

The animals were happy as they had never conceived it possible to be.

• The animals: referring to the non-human creatures living on the farm [ðə ˈænəməlz]
• were happy: experiencing joy, contentment, and well-being [wər ˈhæpi]
• as they had never conceived it possible to be: more joyful than they had ever imagined or believed possible [ɛz ðeɪ hæd ˈnɛvər kənˈsivd ɪt ˈpɑsəbəl tɪ bi]

Every mouthful of food was an acute positive pleasure, now that it was truly their own food, produced by themselves and for themselves, not doled out to them by a grudging master.

• Every mouthful of food: each portion of food consumed [ˈɛvəri ˈmaʊθˌfʊl əv fud]
• was an acute positive pleasure: provided a sharp and intense feeling of enjoyment and satisfaction [wɑz ən əˈkjut ˈpɑzətɪv ˈplɛʒər]
• now that it was truly their own food: because the food now belonged to them and was not controlled by someone else [naʊ ðət ɪt wɑz ˈtruli ðɛr oʊn fud]
• produced by themselves: created or grown by the animals themselves [prəˈdust baɪ ðɛmˈsɛlvz]
• and for themselves: intended for their own consumption and benefit [ənd fər ðɛmˈsɛlvz]
• not doled out to them: not given to them in small or limited portions [nɑt doʊld aʊt tɪ ðɛm]
• by a grudging master: by an owner who was unwilling or reluctant to give generously [baɪ ə ˈgrəʤɪŋ ˈmæstər]

With the worthless parasitical human beings gone, there was more for everyone to eat.

• With the worthless parasitical human beings gone: Now that the humans, who were considered useless and dependent, had left [wɪθ ðə ˈwərθləs parasitical ˈjumən biɪŋz gɔn]
• there was more for everyone to eat: there was a greater quantity of food available for all the animals [ðɛr wɑz mɔr fər ˈɛvriˌwən tɪ it]

There was more leisure too, inexperienced though the animals were.

• There was more leisure too: There was also more free time available [ðɛr wɑz mɔr ˈlɛʒər tu]
• inexperienced though the animals were: even though the animals lacked experience in managing the farm [ˌɪnɛkˈspɪriənst ðoʊ ðə ˈænəməlz wər]

They met with many difficulties – for instance, later in the year, when they harvested the corn, they had to tread it out in the ancient style and blow away the chaff with their breath, since the farm possessed no threshing machine – but the pigs with their cleverness and Boxer with his tremendous muscles always pulled them through.

• They met with many difficulties: They encountered numerous challenges and problems [ðeɪ mɛt wɪθ ˈmɛni ˈdɪfɪˌkəltiz]
• for instance: as an example [fər ˈɪnstəns]
• later in the year: at a later time during the same year [ˈleɪtər ɪn ðə jɪr]
• when they harvested the corn: when they gathered the mature corn crop [wɪn ðeɪ ˈhɑrvəstɪd ðə kɔrn]
• they had to tread it out: they had to separate the grain from the husks by stepping on it [ðeɪ hæd tɪ trɛd ɪt aʊt]
• in the ancient style: using a traditional, old-fashioned method [ɪn ðə ˈeɪnʧənt staɪl]
• and blow away the chaff: and remove the unwanted outer layers of the grain by blowing air on it [ənd bloʊ əˈweɪ ðə ʧæf]
• with their breath: using the air expelled from their mouths [wɪθ ðɛr brɛθ]
• since the farm possessed no threshing machine: because the farm did not have a mechanical device for separating grain from stalks [sɪns ðə fɑrm pəˈzɛst noʊ threshing məˈʃin]
• but the pigs with their cleverness: however, the pigs, due to their intelligence [bət ðə pɪgz wɪθ ðɛr ˈklɛvərnəs]
• and Boxer with his tremendous muscles: and Boxer, due to his great physical strength [ənd ˈbɑksər wɪθ hɪz trɪˈmɛndəs ˈməsəlz]
• always pulled them through: always helped them overcome the difficulties [ˈɔlˌweɪz pʊld ðɛm θru]

Boxer was the admiration of everybody.

• Boxer was the admiration of everybody: Boxer was highly respected and admired by all the other animals [ˈbɑksər wɑz ðə ˌædmərˈeɪʃən əv ˈɛvriˌbɑdi]

He had been a hard worker even in Jones’s time, but now he seemed more like three horses than one; there were days when the entire work of the farm seemed to rest on his mighty shoulders.

• He had been a hard worker: He had always worked diligently and tirelessly [hi hæd bɪn ə hɑrd ˈwərkər]
• even in Jones’s time: even when Mr. Jones was the owner of the farm [ˈivɪn ɪn ˈʤoʊnzɪz taɪm]
• but now he seemed more like three horses than one: but now he appeared to be working with the strength of multiple horses [bət naʊ hi simd mɔr laɪk θri ˈhɔrsɪz ðən wən]
• there were days when the entire work of the farm seemed to rest on his mighty shoulders: on some days, it appeared that he was single-handedly responsible for all the farm work [ðɛr wər deɪz wɪn ðə ɪnˈtaɪər wərk əv ðə fɑrm simd tɪ rɛst ɔn hɪz ˈmaɪti ˈʃoʊldərz]

From morning to night he was pushing and pulling, always at the spot where the work was hardest.

• From morning to night: Throughout the entire day [frəm ˈmɔrnɪŋ tɪ naɪt]
• he was pushing and pulling: he was exerting physical effort in various tasks [hi wɑz ˈpʊʃɪŋ ənd ˈpʊlɪŋ]
• always at the spot where the work was hardest: always working in the most challenging and demanding location [ˈɔlˌweɪz æt ðə spɑt wɛr ðə wərk wɑz ˈhɑrdəst]

He had made an arrangement with one of the cockerels to call him in the mornings half an hour earlier than anyone else, and would put in some volunteer labour at whatever seemed to be most needed, before the regular day’s work began.

• He had made an arrangement with one of the cockerels: He had agreed with a young rooster [hi hæd meɪd ən ərˈeɪnʤmənt wɪθ wən əv ðə cockerels]
• to call him in the mornings half an hour earlier than anyone else: to wake him up earlier than the other animals [tɪ kɔl ɪm ɪn ðə ˈmɔrnɪŋz hæf ən aʊər ˈərliər ðən ˈɛniˌwən ɛls]
• and would put in some volunteer labour: and would do extra work willingly [ənd wʊd pʊt ɪn səm ˌvɑlənˈtɪr ˈleɪbər]
• at whatever seemed to be most needed: wherever the most urgent task was [æt ˌwəˈtɛvər simd tɪ bi moʊst ˈnidɪd]
• before the regular day’s work began: before the scheduled work hours started [ˌbiˈfɔr ðə ˈrɛgjələr deɪz wərk bɪˈgæn]

His answer to every problem, every setback, was ‘I will work harder!’ – which he had adopted as his personal motto.

• His answer to every problem, every setback: His response to any difficulty or obstacle [hɪz ˈænsər tɪ ˈɛvəri ˈprɑbləm ˈɛvəri ˈsɛtˌbæk]
• which he had adopted as his personal motto: which he had chosen as his guiding principle [wɪʧ hi hæd əˈdɑptəd ɛz hɪz ˈpərsɪnəl ˈmɑtoʊ]