Animal Farm by George Orwell- page 31

But it was a slow, laborious process.

• But: conjunction indicating contrast or introduction of something different [bət]
• it: refers to a previously mentioned situation or activity, likely the process of moving boulders [ɪt]
• was: past tense of 'to be', linking the subject to the description [wɑz]
• a slow, laborious process: describes the process as being time-consuming and requiring a lot of effort [ə sloʊ ləˈbɔriəs ˈprɔˌsɛs]

Frequently it took a whole day of exhausting effort to drag a single boulder to the top of the quarry, and sometimes when it was pushed over the edge it failed to break.

• Frequently: often; happening at many times or at short intervals [ˈfrikwɛntli]
• it: referring to the same process [ɪt]
• took: past tense of 'take', meaning required or consumed [tʊk]
• a whole day: an entire day, from morning to evening [ə hoʊl deɪ]
• of exhausting effort: effort that causes extreme tiredness [əv ɪgˈzɔstɪŋ ˈɛfərt]
• to drag: to pull (something or someone) along forcefully, roughly, or with difficulty [tɪ dræg]
• a single boulder: just one large rock [ə ˈsɪŋgəl ˈboʊldər]
• to the top of the quarry: to the highest point of the area where stone is extracted [tɪ ðə tɔp əv ðə kˈwɔri]
• and: conjunction used to connect words or clauses [ənd]
• sometimes: occasionally, now and then [ˈsəmˌtaɪmz]
• when it: referring to the boulder [wɪn ɪt]
• was pushed: past passive form of 'push', meaning forced forward [wɑz pʊʃt]
• over the edge: beyond the brink or boundary [ˈoʊvər ðə ɛʤ]
• it: referring to the boulder [ɪt]
• failed: did not succeed [feɪld]
• to break: to separate into pieces [tɪ breɪk]

Nothing could have been achieved without Boxer, whose strength seemed equal to that of all the rest of the animals put together.

• Nothing: no single thing; not anything [ˈnəθɪŋ]
• could have been achieved: would have been possible to accomplish [kʊd hæv bɪn əˈʧivd]
• without: in the absence of; not having [wɪˈθaʊt]
• Boxer: name of a character, likely an animal known for strength [ˈbɑksər]
• whose strength: referring to Boxer's physical power [huz strɛŋθ]
• seemed: appeared to be [simd]
• equal: the same in quantity, size, degree, or value [ˈikwəl]
• to that of all the rest of the animals: comparable to the combined strength of all other animals [tɪ ðət əv ɔl ðə rɛst əv ðə ˈænəməlz]
• put together: combined or added up [pʊt təˈgɛðər]

When the boulder began to slip and the animals cried out in despair at finding themselves dragged down the hill, it was always Boxer who strained himself against the rope and brought the boulder to a stop.

• When: at the time that; as soon as [wɪn]
• the boulder: the large rock [ðə ˈboʊldər]
• began: started [bɪˈgæn]
• to slip: to slide unintentionally [tɪ slɪp]
• and: conjunction connecting two related events [ənd]
• the animals: the group of animals working together [ðə ˈænəməlz]
• cried out: shouted loudly [kraɪd aʊt]
• in despair: feeling a loss of hope [ɪn dɪˈspɛr]
• at finding themselves: upon discovering that they were [æt ˈfaɪndɪŋ ðɛmˈsɛlvz]
• dragged down the hill: pulled downwards against their will [drægd daʊn ðə hɪl]
• it: referring to the situation [ɪt]
• was: past tense of 'to be' [wɑz]
• always: on every occasion; invariably [ˈɔlˌweɪz]
• Boxer: the character's name [ˈbɑksər]
• who strained himself: who exerted maximum effort [hu streɪnd hɪmˈsɛlf]
• against the rope: applying force against the rope to hold it [əˈgɛnst ðə roʊp]
• and: conjunction connecting two actions [ənd]
• brought: past tense of 'bring', meaning caused to stop [brɔt]
• the boulder: the large rock [ðə ˈboʊldər]
• to a stop: to a complete halt [tɪ ə stɑp]

To see him toiling up the slope inch by inch, his breath coming fast, the tips of his hoofs clawing at the ground and his great sides matted with sweat, filled everyone with admiration.

• To see him: watching him [tɪ si ɪm]
• toiling up the slope: working very hard to move uphill [ˈtɔɪlɪŋ əp ðə sloʊp]
• inch by inch: moving very slowly and gradually [ɪnʧ baɪ ɪnʧ]
• his breath coming fast: breathing rapidly due to exertion [hɪz brɛθ ˈkəmɪŋ fæst]
• the tips of his hoofs: the ends of his feet [ðə tɪps əv hɪz hʊfs]
• clawing at the ground: digging into the ground for grip [klɔɪŋ æt ðə graʊnd]
• and: conjunction connecting two descriptions [ənd]
• his great sides: his large body [hɪz greɪt saɪdz]
• matted with sweat: covered in clumps of sweat [matted wɪθ swɛt]
• filled: caused to be full of [fɪld]
• everyone: all the people present [ˈɛvriˌwən]
• with admiration: with a feeling of respect and approval [wɪθ ˌædmərˈeɪʃən]

Clover warned him sometimes to be careful not to overstrain himself, but Boxer would never listen to her.

• Clover: name of a character [ˈkloʊvər]
• warned: advised someone of a potential danger [wɔrnd]
• him: referring to Boxer [ɪm]
• sometimes: occasionally [ˈsəmˌtaɪmz]
• to be careful: to take precautions [tɪ bi ˈkɛrfəl]
• not to overstrain himself: to avoid pushing himself too hard [nɑt tɪ overstrain hɪmˈsɛlf]
• but: conjunction introducing a contrast [bət]
• Boxer: the character's name [ˈbɑksər]
• would never listen: refused to pay attention [wʊd ˈnɛvər ˈlɪsən]
• to her: referring to Clover [tɪ hər]

His two slogans, ‘I will work harder’ and ‘Napoleon is always right’, seemed to him a sufficient answer to all problems.

• His two slogans: two phrases he often repeated [hɪz tu sˈloʊgənz]
• I will work harder: a statement of his intention to increase his effort [‘‘i wɪl wərk ˈhɑrdər]
• and: conjunction connecting two slogans [ənd]
• Napoleon is always right: a statement of unwavering belief in Napoleon's correctness [‘‘napoleon ɪz ˈɔlˌweɪz raɪt]
• seemed: appeared [simd]
• to him: in his opinion [tɪ ɪm]
• a sufficient answer: an adequate response [ə səˈfɪʃənt ˈænsər]
• to all problems: for every difficulty [tɪ ɔl ˈprɑbləmz]

He had made arrangements with the cockerel to call him three-quarters of an hour earlier in the mornings instead of half an hour.

• He: referring to Boxer [hi]
• had made arrangements: had organized [hæd meɪd ərˈeɪnʤmənts]
• with the cockerel: with the rooster [wɪθ ðə cockerel]
• to call him: to wake him up [tɪ kɔl ɪm]
• three-quarters of an hour: 45 minutes [θˌrikˈwɔrtərz əv ən aʊər]
• earlier: sooner [ˈərliər]
• in the mornings: during the early part of the day [ɪn ðə ˈmɔrnɪŋz]
• instead of: in place of [ˌɪnˈstɛd əv]
• half an hour: 30 minutes [hæf ən aʊər]

And in his spare moments, of which there were not many nowadays, he would go alone to the quarry, collect a load of broken stone and drag it down to the site of the windmill unassisted.

• And: conjunction used to connect related clauses [ənd]
• in his spare moments: during his free time [ɪn hɪz spɛr ˈmoʊmənts]
• of which there were not many nowadays: which he didn't have much of recently [əv wɪʧ ðɛr wər nɑt ˈmɛni ˈnaʊəˌdeɪz]
• he: referring to Boxer [hi]
• would go: used to go [wʊd goʊ]
• alone: by himself [əˈloʊn]
• to the quarry: to the stone extraction site [tɪ ðə kˈwɔri]
• collect: gather together [kəˈlɛkt]
• a load of broken stone: a quantity of fragmented rock [ə loʊd əv ˈbroʊkən stoʊn]
• and: conjunction connecting two actions [ənd]
• drag: pull forcefully [dræg]
• it: referring to the load of broken stone [ɪt]
• down to the site: to the location [daʊn tɪ ðə saɪt]
• of the windmill: where the windmill was being built [əv ðə ˈwɪndˌmɪl]
• unassisted: without help [ˌənəˈsɪstɪd]

The animals were not badly off throughout that summer, in spite of the hardness of their work.

• The animals: referring to the group of animals on the farm [ðə ˈænəməlz]
• were not badly off: were not in a poor or difficult situation; were reasonably comfortable [wər nɑt ˈbædli ɔf]
• throughout that summer: during the entire duration of that summer [θruaʊt ðət ˈsəmər]
• in spite of: despite; notwithstanding [ɪn spaɪt əv]
• the hardness of their work: the difficulty and strenuous nature of the work they were doing [ðə ˈhɑrdnəs əv ðɛr wərk]

If they had no more food than they had.

• If they had no more food than they had: Conditional statement indicating that their food supply was not greater than before [ɪf ðeɪ hæd noʊ mɔr fud ðən ðeɪ hæd]

had in Jones's day, at least they did not have less.

• had in Jones's day: referring to the time when Mr. Jones was in charge of the farm [hæd ɪn ˈʤoʊnzɪz deɪ]
• at least: at the minimum; even if nothing else is true [æt list]
• they did not have less: their food supply was not smaller than before [ðeɪ dɪd nɑt hæv lɛs]

The advantage of only having to feed themselves, and not having to support five extravagant human beings as well, was so great that it would have taken a lot of failures to outweigh it..

• The advantage of: the benefit or positive aspect of [ðə ædˈvæntɪʤ əv]
• only having to feed themselves: needing to provide food only for the animals themselves [ˈoʊnli ˈhævɪŋ tɪ fid ðɛmˈsɛlvz]
• and not having to support: and not needing to provide for [ənd nɑt ˈhævɪŋ tɪ səˈpɔrt]
• five extravagant human beings: five humans who spent resources wastefully [faɪv ɛkˈstrævəgənt ˈjumən biɪŋz]
• as well: in addition; also [ɛz wɛl]
• was so great: was so significant or large [wɑz soʊ greɪt]
• that it would have taken: that it would have required [ðət ɪt wʊd hæv ˈteɪkən]
• a lot of failures: many unsuccessful attempts or events [ə lɔt əv ˈfeɪljərz]
• to outweigh it: to exceed or surpass the advantage in negative impact [tɪ ˈaʊtˌweɪ ɪt]

And in many ways the animal method of doing things was more efficient and saved labour.

• And in many ways: In numerous aspects or manners [ənd ɪn ˈmɛni weɪz]
• the animal method of doing things: the way the animals approached tasks [ðə ˈænəməl ˈmɛθəd əv duɪŋ θɪŋz]
• was more efficient: was more productive and less wasteful [wɑz mɔr ɪˈfɪʃənt]
• and saved labour: and reduced the amount of work needed [ənd seɪvd ˈleɪbər]

Such jobs as weeding, for instance, could be done with a thoroughness impossible to human beings.

• Such jobs as weeding: Specific tasks like removing unwanted plants [səʧ ʤɑbz ɛz ˈwidɪŋ]
• for instance: as an example [fər ˈɪnstəns]
• could be done: were able to be completed [kʊd bi dən]
• with a thoroughness: with a high degree of detail and completeness [wɪθ ə ˈθəroʊnəs]
• impossible to human beings: that humans could not achieve [ˌɪmˈpɑsəbəl tɪ ˈjumən biɪŋz]

And again, since no animal now stole it was unnecessary to fence off pasture from arable land, which saved a lot of labour on the upkeep of hedges and gates.

• And again: Furthermore; also [ənd əˈgɛn]
• since no animal now stole: because no animal was currently stealing [sɪns noʊ ˈænəməl naʊ stoʊl]
• it was unnecessary: it was not needed [ɪt wɑz ənˈnɛsəˌsɛri]
• to fence off: to separate with a barrier [tɪ fɛns ɔf]
• pasture from arable land: grassland used for grazing from land used for growing crops [ˈpæsʧər frəm ˈærəbəl lænd]
• which saved a lot of labour: which reduced the amount of work needed [wɪʧ seɪvd ə lɔt əv ˈleɪbər]
• on the upkeep of: on the maintenance of [ɔn ðə ˈəpˌkip əv]
• hedges and gates: bushes planted in a line and barriers used to close an opening in a fence or wall [ˈhɛʤɪz ənd geɪts]

Nevertheless as the summer wore on various unforeseen shortages began to make themselves felt.

• Nevertheless: However; despite this [ˌnɛvərðəˈlɛs]
• as the summer wore on: as the summer progressed [ɛz ðə ˈsəmər wɔr ɔn]
• various unforeseen shortages: different unexpected lacks of supplies [ˈvɛriəs ˌənfɔrˈsin ˈʃɔrtɪʤɪz]
• began to make themselves felt: started to become noticeable or problematic [bɪˈgæn tɪ meɪk ðɛmˈsɛlvz fɛlt]

There was need of paraffin oil, nails, string, dog biscuits and iron for the horses’ shoes, none of which could be produced on the farm.

• There was need of: There was a requirement for [ðɛr wɑz nid əv]
• paraffin oil: a type of oil used as fuel or solvent [ˈpɛrəfən ɔɪl]
• nails: small metal fasteners [neɪlz]
• string: thin rope made of twisted strands [strɪŋ]
• dog biscuits: hard baked food for dogs [dɔg ˈbɪskəts]
• and iron for the horses’ shoes: and metal for the horses' hooves protection [ənd aɪərn fər ðə ˈhɔrsɪz ʃuz]
• none of which could be produced: which could not be made [nən əv wɪʧ kʊd bi prəˈdust]
• on the farm: at the farm [ɔn ðə fɑrm]

Later there would also be need for seeds and artificial manures, besides’ various tools and, finally, the machinery for the windmill.

• Later there would also be need for: Subsequently, there would also be a requirement for [ˈleɪtər ðɛr wʊd ˈɔlsoʊ bi nid fər]
• seeds: plant embryos used for growing crops [sidz]
• and artificial manures: synthetic fertilizers [ənd ˌɑrtəˈfɪʃəl manures]
• besides: in addition to [ˌbiˈsaɪdz]
• various tools: different implements used for tasks [ˈvɛriəs tulz]
• and, finally: and, lastly [ənd ˈfaɪnəli]
• the machinery for the windmill: the equipment needed for the windmill [ðə məˈʃinəri fər ðə ˈwɪndˌmɪl]

How these were to be procured no one was able to imagine.

• How these were to be procured: How these items were to be obtained [haʊ ðiz wər tɪ bi proʊˈkjʊrd]
• no one was able to imagine: nobody could conceive of a way to get them [noʊ wən wɑz ˈeɪbəl tɪ ˌɪˈmæʤən]