Animal Farm by George Orwell- page 65

As for the others, their life, so far as they knew, was as it had always been.

• As for: Regarding; concerning [ɛz fər]
• the others: the remaining individuals or animals not previously mentioned [ðə ˈəðərz]
• their life: the existence or way of living of the animals [ðɛr laɪf]
• so far as: to the extent or degree that [soʊ fɑr ɛz]
• they knew: they were aware or had knowledge [ðeɪ nu]
• was as: was the same as [wɑz ɛz]
• it had always been: the way it had been in the past; unchanged [ɪt hæd ˈɔlˌweɪz bɪn]

They were generally hungry, they slept on straw, they drank from the pool, they laboured in the fields; in winter they were troubled by the cold, and in summer by the flies.

• They were: Referring to the animals [ðeɪ wər]
• generally hungry: usually or often feeling the need for food [ˈʤɛnərəli ˈhəŋgri]
• they slept: they rested or slumbered [ðeɪ slɛpt]
• on straw: on dried stalks of grain, used as bedding [ɔn strɔ]
• they drank: they consumed liquid [ðeɪ dræŋk]
• from the pool: from a small body of standing water [frəm ðə pul]
• they laboured: they worked hard; they toiled [ðeɪ laboured]
• in the fields: in areas of land used for growing crops [ɪn ðə fildz]
• in winter: during the coldest season of the year [ɪn ˈwɪntər]
• they were troubled: they were bothered or disturbed [ðeɪ wər ˈtrəbəld]
• by the cold: by the low temperature [baɪ ðə koʊld]
• and in summer: and during the warmest season of the year [ənd ɪn ˈsəmər]
• by the flies: by the insects that are often a nuisance [baɪ ðə flaɪz]

Sometimes the older ones among them racked their dim memories and tried to determine whether in the early days of the Rebellion, when Jones's expulsion was still recent, things had been better or worse than now.

• Sometimes: Occasionally; now and then [ˈsəmˌtaɪmz]
• the older ones: the animals that were advanced in age [ðə ˈoʊldər wənz]
• among them: within the group of animals [əˈməŋ ðɛm]
• racked: strained or exerted forcefully [rækt]
• their dim memories: their faint or unclear recollections [ðɛr dɪm ˈmɛməriz]
• and tried: and attempted [ənd traɪd]
• to determine: to find out or establish exactly [tɪ dɪˈtərmən]
• whether: if; indicating a choice or doubt [ˈwɛðər]
• in the early days: during the initial period [ɪn ðə ˈərli deɪz]
• of the Rebellion: of the revolt or uprising [əv ðə rɪˈbɛljən]
• when Jones's expulsion: when the removal or forced departure of Jones [wɪn ˈʤoʊnzɪz ɪkˈspəlʃən]
• was still recent: was still a fresh or recent event [wɑz stɪl ˈrisənt]
• things had been: the circumstances or conditions had been [θɪŋz hæd bɪn]
• better or worse: of a higher or lower quality; more or less favorable [ˈbɛtər ər wərs]
• than now: compared to the present time [ðən naʊ]

They could not remember.

• They could not remember: The animals were unable to recall [ðeɪ kʊd nɑt rɪˈmɛmbər]

There was nothing with which they could compare their present lives: they had nothing to go upon except Squealer's lists of figures, which invariably demonstrated that everything was getting better and better.

• There was nothing: There existed no thing [ðɛr wɑz ˈnəθɪŋ]
• with which: with what [wɪθ wɪʧ]
• they could compare: they were able to assess the similarity or dissimilarity of [ðeɪ kʊd kəmˈpɛr]
• their present lives: their current existence [ðɛr ˈprɛzənt lɪvz]
• they had nothing: they possessed no thing [ðeɪ hæd ˈnəθɪŋ]
• to go upon: to base their judgment or opinion on [tɪ goʊ əˈpɑn]
• except: excluding; only [ɪkˈsɛpt]
• Squealer's lists of figures: Squealer's documented numbers and statistics [squealers lɪsts əv ˈfɪgjərz]
• which invariably: which always or without exception [wɪʧ ˌɪnˈvɛriəbli]
• demonstrated: showed clearly; proved [ˈdɛmənˌstreɪtɪd]
• that everything: that all things [ðət ˈɛvriˌθɪŋ]
• was getting: was becoming [wɑz ˈgɪtɪŋ]
• better and better: of increasingly higher quality or more favorable [ˈbɛtər ənd ˈbɛtər]

The animals found the problem insoluble; in any case they had little time for speculating on such things now.

• The animals found: The animals considered [ðə ˈænəməlz faʊnd]
• the problem insoluble: the issue impossible to solve [ðə ˈprɑbləm ˌɪnˈsɑljəbəl]
• in any case: regardless; anyway [ɪn ˈɛni keɪs]
• they had little time: they possessed a limited amount of time [ðeɪ hæd ˈlɪtəl taɪm]
• for speculating: for pondering or guessing [fər ˈspɛkjəˌleɪtɪŋ]
• on such things: about matters like these [ɔn səʧ θɪŋz]
• now: at the present time [naʊ]

Only old Benjamin professed to remember every detail of his long life and to know that things never had been, nor ever could be, much better or much worse – hunger, hardship and disappointment being, so he said, the unalterable law of life.

• Only old Benjamin: Just the elderly donkey named Benjamin [ˈoʊnli oʊld ˈbɛnʤəmən]
• professed: claimed or asserted [prəˈfɛst]
• to remember: to recall from memory [tɪ rɪˈmɛmbər]
• every detail: each and every specific aspect [ˈɛvəri ˈditeɪl]
• of his long life: of the extensive period of his existence [əv hɪz lɔŋ laɪf]
• and to know: and to be aware [ənd tɪ noʊ]
• that things: that circumstances or conditions [ðət θɪŋz]
• never had been: had never existed in the past [ˈnɛvər hæd bɪn]
• nor ever could be: nor would ever be possible [nɔr ˈɛvər kʊd bi]
• much better or much worse: significantly more favorable or unfavorable [məʧ ˈbɛtər ər məʧ wərs]
• hunger: the feeling of needing to eat [ˈhəŋgər]
• hardship: severe suffering or difficulty [ˈhɑrdʃɪp]
• and disappointment: and the feeling of sadness or dissatisfaction caused by the failure of expectations [ənd ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪntmənt]
• being: existing as [biɪŋ]
• so he said: according to his statement [soʊ hi sɛd]
• the unalterable law: the unchanging rule [ðə əˈnɔltərəbəl lɔ]
• of life: of existence [əv laɪf]

And yet the animals never gave up hope.

• And: conjunction used to connect words, phrases, or clauses [ənd]
• yet: but; nevertheless [jɛt]
• the animals: referring to the collective group of animals on Animal Farm [ðə ˈænəməlz]
• never: at no time in the past or future [ˈnɛvər]
• gave up hope: stopped believing that something good would happen [geɪv əp hoʊp]

More, they never lost, even for an instant, their sense of honour and privilege in being members of Animal Farm.

• More: in addition; furthermore [mɔr]
• they: referring to the animals [ðeɪ]
• never lost: did not cease to have [ˈnɛvər lɔst]
• even for an instant: not even for a very short period of time [ˈivɪn fər ən ˈɪnstənt]
• their sense of honour and privilege: their feeling of pride and special status [ðɛr sɛns əv ˈɑnər ənd ˈprɪvɪlɪʤ]
• in being members of Animal Farm: because they belonged to the unique community of Animal Farm [ɪn biɪŋ ˈmɛmbərz əv ˈænəməl fɑrm]

They were still the only farm in the whole country – in all England! – owned and operated by animals.

• They: referring to the animals [ðeɪ]
• were still: continued to be [wər stɪl]
• the only farm: the sole farm [ðə ˈoʊnli fɑrm]
• in the whole country: throughout the entire nation [ɪn ðə hoʊl ˈkəntri]
• in all England: specifically within England [ɪn ɔl ˈɪŋglənd]
• owned and operated by animals: controlled and managed by the animals themselves [oʊnd ənd ˈɑpərˌeɪtəd baɪ ˈænəməlz]

Not one of them, not even the youngest, not even the newcomers who had been brought from farms ten or twenty miles away, ever ceased to marvel at that.

• Not one of them: none of the animals [nɑt wən əv ðɛm]
• not even the youngest: including the youngest animals [nɑt ˈivɪn ðə ˈjəŋgəst]
• not even the newcomers: including the newly arrived animals [nɑt ˈivɪn ðə ˈnuˌkəmərz]
• who had been brought from farms ten or twenty miles away: who were transported from farms located a distance away [hu hæd bɪn brɔt frəm fɑrmz tɛn ər tˈwɛnti maɪəlz əˈweɪ]
• ever ceased to marvel at that: never stopped being amazed by that fact [ˈɛvər sist tɪ ˈmɑrvəl æt ðət]

And when they heard the gun booming and saw the green flag fluttering at the masthead, their hearts swelled with imperishable pride, and the talk turned always towards the old heroic days, the expulsion of Jones, the writing of the Seven Commandments, the great battles in which the human invaders had been defeated.

• And: conjunction used to connect clauses [ənd]
• when they heard the gun booming: when they listened to the loud sound of the gun firing [wɪn ðeɪ hərd ðə gən ˈbumɪŋ]
• and saw the green flag fluttering at the masthead: and observed the green flag waving on the top of the flagpole [ənd sɔ ðə grin flæg ˈflətərɪŋ æt ðə ˈmæˌsthɛd]
• their hearts swelled with imperishable pride: they felt an overwhelming and lasting sense of pride [ðɛr hɑrts swɛld wɪθ imperishable praɪd]
• and the talk turned always towards the old heroic days: and the conversation invariably shifted to the past days of bravery and heroism [ənd ðə tɔk tərnd ˈɔlˌweɪz təˈwɔrdz ðə oʊld hɪˈroʊɪk deɪz]
• the expulsion of Jones: the act of driving Mr. Jones off the farm [ðə ɪkˈspəlʃən əv ʤoʊnz]
• the writing of the Seven Commandments: the creation of the fundamental rules of Animal Farm [ðə ˈraɪtɪŋ əv ðə ˈsɛvən kəˈmændmənts]
• the great battles in which the human invaders had been defeated: the significant conflicts where the humans attempting to take back the farm were overcome [ðə greɪt ˈbætəlz ɪn wɪʧ ðə ˈjumən ˌɪnˈveɪdərz hæd bɪn dɪˈfitɪd]

None of the old dreams had been abandoned.

• None of the old dreams had been abandoned: none of the original aspirations had been given up [nən əv ðə oʊld drimz hæd bɪn əˈbændənd]

The Republic of the Animals which Major had foretold, when the green fields of England should be untrodden by human feet, was still believed in.

• The Republic of the Animals: the ideal state where animals governed themselves [ðə riˈpəblɪk əv ðə ˈænəməlz]
• which Major had foretold: that Old Major had predicted [wɪʧ ˈmeɪʤər hæd fɔrˈtoʊld]
• when the green fields of England should be untrodden by human feet: when humans would no longer walk on the fields of England [wɪn ðə grin fildz əv ˈɪŋglənd ʃʊd bi untrodden baɪ ˈjumən fit]
• was still believed in: was still held as a valid belief [wɑz stɪl bɪˈlivd ɪn]

Some day it was coming: it might not be soon, it might not be within the lifetime of any animal now living, but still it was coming. Even the tune of ‘Beasts of England’ was perhaps hummed secretly here and there: at any rate it was a fact that every animal on the farm knew it, though no one would have dared to sing it aloud.

• Some day it was coming: it was going to happen in the future [səm deɪ ɪt wɑz ˈkəmɪŋ]
• it might not be soon: it might not happen in the near future [ɪt maɪt nɑt bi sun]
• it might not be within the lifetime of any animal now living: it might not occur during the lifespan of any current animal [ɪt maɪt nɑt bi wɪˈθɪn ðə ˈlaɪfˌtaɪm əv ˈɛni ˈænəməl naʊ ˈlɪvɪŋ]
• but still it was coming: but it was definitely going to happen [bət stɪl ɪt wɑz ˈkəmɪŋ]
• was perhaps hummed secretly here and there: was possibly sung quietly in different places [wɑz pərˈhæps hummed ˈsikrɪtli hir ənd ðɛr]
• at any rate: in any case; regardless [æt ˈɛni reɪt]
• it was a fact: it was undeniable [ɪt wɑz ə fækt]
• that every animal on the farm knew it: that all the animals were familiar with the song [ðət ˈɛvəri ˈænəməl ɔn ðə fɑrm nu ɪt]
• though no one would have dared to sing it aloud: although no one would have been brave enough to sing it publicly [ðoʊ noʊ wən wʊd hæv dɛrd tɪ sɪŋ ɪt əˈlaʊd]

It might be that their lives were hard and that not all of their hopes had been fulfilled; but they were conscious that they were not as other animals.

• It might be that their lives were hard: it was possible that their lives were difficult [ɪt maɪt bi ðət ðɛr lɪvz wər hɑrd]
• and that not all of their hopes had been fulfilled: and that some of their aspirations had not been realized [ənd ðət nɑt ɔl əv ðɛr hoʊps hæd bɪn fʊlˈfɪld]
• but they were conscious that they were not as other animals: but they were aware that they were different from other animals [bət ðeɪ wər ˈkɑnʃəs ðət ðeɪ wər nɑt ɛz ˈəðər ˈænəməlz]

If they went hungry, it was not from feeding tyrannical human beings; if they worked hard, at least they worked for themselves.

• If they went hungry: if they experienced hunger [ɪf ðeɪ wɛnt ˈhəŋgri]
• it was not from feeding tyrannical human beings: it was not because they were feeding oppressive humans [ɪt wɑz nɑt frəm ˈfidɪŋ tərˈænɪkəl ˈjumən biɪŋz]
• if they worked hard: if they labored intensely [ɪf ðeɪ wərkt hɑrd]
• at least they worked for themselves: they were working for their own benefit [æt list ðeɪ wərkt fər ðɛmˈsɛlvz]

No creature among them went upon two legs. No creature called any other creature ‘Master’. All animals were equal.

• No creature among them went upon two legs: none of the animals walked on two legs [noʊ ˈkriʧər əˈməŋ ðɛm wɛnt əˈpɑn tu lɛgz]
• All animals were equal: all animals had the same status and rights [ɔl ˈænəməlz wər ˈikwəl]