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(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(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(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(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(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(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(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(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(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(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(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(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(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(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(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(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(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(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(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]).