Animal Farm by George Orwell- page 24

In the long pasture, not far from the farm buildings, there was a small knoll which was the highest point on the farm.

• In: preposition indicating location or position within [ɪn]
• the long pasture: a field or area of grassland used for grazing animals, extending a considerable distance [ðə lɔŋ ˈpæsʧər]
• not far from: relatively close to; nearby [nɑt fɑr frəm]
• the farm buildings: the structures and buildings associated with a farm, such as barns, sheds, and houses [ðə fɑrm ˈbɪldɪŋz]
• there was: indicates the existence or presence of something [ðɛr wɑz]
• a small knoll: a small, rounded hill or mound [ə smɔl noʊl]
• which was: relative pronoun introducing a clause that provides more information about the knoll [wɪʧ wɑz]
• the highest point: the location with the greatest elevation [ðə haɪəst pɔɪnt]
• on the farm: within the boundaries or area of the farm [ɔn ðə fɑrm]

After surveying the ground Snowball declared that this was just the place for a windmill, which could be made to operate a dynamo and supply the farm with electrical power.

• After surveying: after examining and assessing [ˈæftər ˈsərˌveɪɪŋ]
• the ground: the area of land [ðə graʊnd]
• Snowball declared: Snowball, a character, announced or stated firmly [sˈnoʊˌbɔl dɪˈklɛrd]
• that this was: that the knoll was [ðət ðɪs wɑz]
• just the place: the perfect or ideal location [ʤɪst ðə pleɪs]
• for a windmill: a structure with sails that are turned by the wind to generate power [fər ə ˈwɪndˌmɪl]
• which could be made: that could be constructed or arranged [wɪʧ kʊd bi meɪd]
• to operate: to power or run [tɪ ˈɔpərˌeɪt]
• a dynamo: an electrical generator [ə ˈdaɪnəˌmoʊ]
• and supply: and provide [ənd səˈplaɪ]
• the farm: the agricultural establishment [ðə fɑrm]
• with electrical power: with electricity [wɪθ ɪˈlɛktrɪkəl paʊər]

This would light the stalls and warm them in winter, and would also run a circular saw, a chaff-cutter, a mangel-slicer and an electric milking machine.

• This would light: the electrical power would illuminate [ðɪs wʊd laɪt]
• the stalls: the individual compartments or pens for animals [ðə stɔlz]
• and warm them: and heat the stalls [ənd wɔrm ðɛm]
• in winter: during the cold season [ɪn ˈwɪntər]
• and would also run: and would also operate [ənd wʊd ˈɔlsoʊ rən]
• a circular saw: a saw with a rotating disc-shaped blade [ə ˈsərkjələr sɔ]
• a chaff-cutter: a machine for chopping straw or hay into small pieces [ə chaff-cutter]
• a mangel-slicer: a machine for slicing mangelwurzels (a type of beet) into pieces [ə mangel-slicer]
• and an electric milking machine: a machine that uses electricity to milk cows [ənd ən ɪˈlɛktrɪk ˈmɪlkɪŋ məˈʃin]

The animals had never heard of anything of this kind before (for the farm was an old-fashioned one and had only the most primitive machinery), and they listened in astonishment while Snowball conjured up pictures of fantastic machines which would do their work for them while they grazed at their ease in the fields or improved their minds with reading and conversation.

• The animals: the creatures living on the farm [ðə ˈænəməlz]
• had never heard: had no prior knowledge or experience [hæd ˈnɛvər hərd]
• of anything: of any device or concept [əv ˈɛniˌθɪŋ]
• of this kind: of this type or nature [əv ðɪs kaɪnd]
• before: previously; in the past [ˌbiˈfɔr]
• for: because; since [fər]
• the farm: the agricultural establishment [ðə fɑrm]
• was an old-fashioned one: was a farm that used traditional methods and equipment [wɑz ən ˌoʊldˈfæʃənd wən]
• and had only: and possessed only [ənd hæd ˈoʊnli]
• the most primitive machinery: the simplest and least advanced equipment [ðə moʊst ˈprɪmɪtɪv məˈʃinəri]
• and they listened: and the animals paid attention [ənd ðeɪ ˈlɪsənd]
• in astonishment: with great surprise and wonder [ɪn əˈstɑnɪʃmənt]
• while Snowball conjured up: as Snowball vividly imagined and described [waɪl sˈnoʊˌbɔl ˈkɑnʤərd əp]
• pictures of fantastic machines: images of elaborate and imaginative devices [ˈpɪkʧərz əv fænˈtæstɪk məˈʃinz]
• which would do: that would perform [wɪʧ wʊd du]
• their work: the animals' tasks [ðɛr wərk]
• for them: on their behalf [fər ðɛm]
• while they grazed: while the animals ate grass [waɪl ðeɪ greɪzd]
• at their ease: comfortably and without worry [æt ðɛr iz]
• in the fields: in the pastures [ɪn ðə fildz]
• or improved: or enhanced [ər ˌɪmˈpruvd]
• their minds: their intellect and knowledge [ðɛr maɪndz]
• with reading: by engaging in the activity of reading [wɪθ ˈrɛdɪŋ]
• and conversation: and by engaging in discussions [ənd ˌkɑnvərˈseɪʃən]

Within a few weeks Snowball's plans for the windmill were fully worked out.

• Within: inside or not further than an inner boundary [wɪˈθɪn]
• a few weeks: a short period of time, more than two but not many [ə fju wiks]
• Snowball's plans: referring to the schemes or ideas devised by Snowball [sˈnoʊˌbɔlz plænz]
• for the windmill: indicating the purpose or object of the plans, which is the windmill [fər ðə ˈwɪndˌmɪl]
• were fully worked out: were completely developed, detailed, and finalized [wər ˈfʊli wərkt aʊt]

The mechanical details came mostly from three books which had belonged to Mr Jones – One Thousand Useful Things to Do About the House, Every Man His Own Bricklayer, and Electricity for Beginners.

• The mechanical details: specific aspects related to the mechanics or functioning of something [ðə məˈkænɪkəl ˈditeɪlz]
• came mostly from: originated primarily or largely from [keɪm ˈmoʊstli frəm]
• three books: a set of three written or printed works [θri bʊks]
• which had belonged to Mr Jones: indicating that the books were previously owned by Mr. Jones [wɪʧ hæd bɪˈlɔŋd tɪ ˈmɪstər ʤoʊnz]
• One Thousand Useful Things to Do About the House: title of one of the books [wən ˈθaʊzənd ˈjusfəl θɪŋz tɪ du əˈbaʊt ðə haʊs]
• Every Man His Own Bricklayer: title of one of the books [ˈɛvəri mæn hɪz oʊn ˈbrɪˌkleɪər]
• and: used to connect words of the same part of speech, clauses, or sentences, that are to be taken jointly [ənd]
• Electricity for Beginners: title of one of the books [ɪˌlɛkˈtrɪsəti fər bɪˈgɪnərz]

Snowball used as his study a shed which had once been used for incubators and had a smooth wooden floor, suitable for drawing on.

• Snowball: name of a character [sˈnoʊˌbɔl]
• used as his study: utilized a particular place as the location for his studying [juzd ɛz hɪz ˈstədi]
• a shed: a simple roofed structure used for storage or as a workshop [ə ʃɛd]
• which had once been used for incubators: indicating the shed's previous function as a place for incubators [wɪʧ hæd wəns bɪn juzd fər ˈɪŋkjuˌbeɪtərz]
• and had: used to connect two clauses, indicating that the shed possessed a certain characteristic [ənd hæd]
• a smooth wooden floor: a floor made of wood that is even and without roughness [ə smuð ˈwʊdən flɔr]
• suitable for drawing on: appropriate or fitting for the purpose of drawing [ˈsutəbəl fər drɔɪŋ ɔn]

He was closeted there for hours at a time.

• He was closeted there: He secluded himself in that place [hi wɑz ˈklɑzətɪd ðɛr]
• for hours at a time: spending many hours on each occasion [fər aʊərz æt ə taɪm]

With his books held open by a stone, and with a piece of chalk gripped between the knuckles of his trotter, he would move rapidly to and fro, drawing in line after line and uttering little whimpers of excitement.

• With his books held open by a stone: describing how the books were kept open using a stone [wɪθ hɪz bʊks hɛld ˈoʊpən baɪ ə stoʊn]
• and with: in addition to [ənd wɪθ]
• a piece of chalk gripped between the knuckles of his trotter: holding a piece of chalk tightly between the joints of his foot [ə pis əv ʧɔk grɪpt bɪtˈwin ðə ˈnəkəlz əv hɪz ˈtrɑtər]
• he would move rapidly to and fro: he would move quickly back and forth [hi wʊd muv ˈræpədli tɪ ənd froʊ]
• drawing in line after line: creating drawings with many consecutive lines [drɔɪŋ ɪn laɪn ˈæftər laɪn]
• and uttering little whimpers of excitement: making soft, emotional sounds expressing enthusiasm [ənd ˈətərɪŋ ˈlɪtəl whimpers əv ɪkˈsaɪtmənt]

Gradually the plans grew into a complicated mass of cranks and cog-wheels, covering more than half the floor, which the other animals found completely unintelligible but very impressive.

• Gradually: slowly, over a period of time [ˈgræʤuəli]
• the plans grew into: the plans developed or evolved into [ðə plænz gru ˈɪntu]
• a complicated mass of cranks and cog-wheels: an intricate collection of rotating parts and toothed wheels [ə ˈkɑmpləˌkeɪtəd mæs əv kræŋks ənd cog-wheels]
• covering more than half the floor: occupying a significant portion of the floor space [ˈkəvərɪŋ mɔr ðən hæf ðə flɔr]
• which the other animals found completely unintelligible: that the other animals could not understand at all [wɪʧ ðə ˈəðər ˈænəməlz faʊnd kəmˈplitli ˌənɪnˈtɛləʤəbəl]
• but very impressive: but they found it admirable and imposing [bət ˈvɛri ˌɪmˈprɛsɪv]

All of them came to look at Snowball's drawings at least once a day.

• All of them came to look at Snowball's drawings: Every animal came to see Snowball's drawings [ɔl əv ðɛm keɪm tɪ lʊk æt sˈnoʊˌbɔlz drɔɪŋz]
• at least once a day: a minimum of one time each day [æt list wəns ə deɪ]

Even the hens and ducks came, and were at pains not to tread on the chalk marks.

• Even the hens and ducks came: Even the chickens and ducks came [ˈivɪn ðə hɛnz ənd dəks keɪm]
• and were at pains not to tread on the chalk marks: and they took great care to avoid stepping on the chalk marks [ənd wər æt peɪnz nɑt tɪ trɛd ɔn ðə ʧɔk mɑrks]

Only Napoleon held aloof.

• Only Napoleon held aloof: Only Napoleon remained distant and uninvolved [ˈoʊnli nəˈpoʊljən hɛld əˈluf]

He had declared himself against the windmill from the start.

• He had declared himself against the windmill: He had stated his opposition to the windmill [hi hæd dɪˈklɛrd hɪmˈsɛlf əˈgɛnst ðə ˈwɪndˌmɪl]
• from the start: from the beginning [frəm ðə stɑrt]

One day, however, he arrived unexpectedly to examine the plans.

• One day, however: On a particular day, nevertheless [wən deɪ ˌhaʊˈɛvər]
• he arrived unexpectedly: he came without prior notice [hi əraɪvd ˌənɪkˈspɛktɪdli]
• to examine the plans: for the purpose of inspecting the plans [tɪ ɪgˈzæmɪn ðə plænz]

He walked heavily round the shed, looked closely at every detail of the plans and snuffed at them once or twice, then stood for a little while contemplating them out of the comer of his eye; then suddenly he lifted his leg, urinated over the plans and walked out without uttering a word.

• He walked heavily round the shed: He walked with a weighty step around the shed [hi wɔkt ˈhɛvəli raʊnd ðə ʃɛd]
• looked closely at every detail of the plans: carefully examined each aspect of the plans [lʊkt ˈkloʊsli æt ˈɛvəri ˈditeɪl əv ðə plænz]
• and snuffed at them once or twice: and sniffed at them a couple of times [ənd snəft æt ðɛm wəns ər twaɪs]
• then stood for a little while: then remained standing for a short period [ðɛn stʊd fər ə ˈlɪtəl waɪl]
• contemplating them out of the comer of his eye: observing them indirectly or slyly [ˈkɑntəmˌpleɪtɪŋ ðɛm aʊt əv ðə ˈkəmər əv hɪz aɪ]
• then suddenly he lifted his leg: then abruptly he raised his leg [ðɛn ˈsədənli hi ˈlɪftɪd hɪz lɛg]
• urinated over the plans: released urine onto the plans [urinated ˈoʊvər ðə plænz]
• and walked out without uttering a word: and left without saying anything [ənd wɔkt aʊt wɪˈθaʊt ˈətərɪŋ ə wərd]