I
Once(At one time in the past. [wəns]) when(At the time that. [wɪn]) I(The speaker or writer. [aɪ]) was(Past tense of 'to be'. [wɑz]) six years old(Having lived for six years. [sɪks jɪrz oʊld]) I(The speaker or writer. [aɪ]) saw(Past tense of 'see', meaning to perceive with the eyes. [sɔ]) a magnificent picture(An extremely impressive or beautiful image. [ə mægˈnɪfɪsənt ˈpɪkʧər]) in a book(Contained within the pages of a bound collection of printed or written pages. [ɪn ə bʊk]), called(Named or entitled. [kɔld]) True Stories from Nature(The title of the book, suggesting factual accounts of events in the natural world. [tru ˈstɔriz frəm ˈneɪʧər]), about(Concerning or relating to. [əˈbaʊt]) the primeval forest(A forest that has existed since ancient times; an untouched, original forest. [ðə praɪˈmivəl ˈfɔrɪst]). It(Referring to the picture. [ɪt]) was(Past tense of 'to be'. [wɑz]) a picture(A visual representation of something. [ə ˈpɪkʧər]) of(Indicating the subject of the picture. [əv]) a boa constrictor(A type of snake that kills its prey by constriction. [ə boʊə kənˈstrɪktər]) in the act of(In the process of doing something. [ɪn ðə ækt əv]) swallowing(Causing something to pass down the throat. [sˈwɑloʊɪŋ]) an animal(A living creature that is not a human being. [ən ˈænəməl]). Here(In this place. [hir]) is(Present tense of 'to be'. [ɪz]) a copy(A reproduction or duplicate. [ə ˈkɑpi]) of the drawing(Referring to the drawing mentioned earlier. [əv ðə drɔɪŋ]).
Boa fauve.png
In the book(Contained within the pages of a bound collection of printed or written pages. [ɪn ðə bʊk]) it(Referring to the book. [ɪt]) said(Past tense of 'say', meaning to express something in words. [sɛd]): "Boa constrictors(A type of snake that kills its prey by constriction. [boʊə kənˈstrɪktərz]) swallow(To cause something to pass down the throat. [sˈwɔloʊ]) their prey(An animal that is hunted or killed by another for food. [ðɛr preɪ]) whole(Complete; not divided or in pieces. [hoʊl]), without chewing it(Without breaking down the food with the teeth. [wɪˈθaʊt ʧuɪŋ ɪt]). After that(Following that event or time. [ˈæftər ðət]) they(Referring to the boa constrictors. [ðeɪ]) are not able(Lacking the capacity or ability. [ər nɑt ˈeɪbəl]) to move(To change position or go from one place to another. [tɪ muv]), and(Used to connect words or clauses. [ənd]) they(Referring to the boa constrictors. [ðeɪ]) sleep through(To sleep continuously during a period of time. [slip θru]) the six months(A period of approximately 180 days. [ðə sɪks mənθs]) that(Referring to the six months. [ðət]) they(Referring to the boa constrictors. [ðeɪ]) need(Require because it is essential or very important. [nid]) for digestion(The process of breaking down food for absorption. [fər daɪˈʤɛsʧən])."
I(The speaker or writer. [aɪ]) pondered deeply(Thought about something seriously and carefully. [ˈpɑndərd ˈdipli]), then(At that time. [ðɛn]), over(Concerning or in relation to. [ˈoʊvər]) the adventures(An unusual and exciting, typically hazardous, experience or activity. [ðə ædˈvɛnʧərz]) of the jungle(A tropical forest in which vegetation is dense and luxuriant. [əv ðə ˈʤəŋgəl]). And(Used to connect words or clauses. [ənd]) after(Following in time or order. [ˈæftər]) some work(Effort or activity directed toward a goal. [səm wərk]) with(Accompanied by. [wɪθ]) a colored pencil(A pencil with a colored lead. [ə ˈkələrd ˈpɛnsəl]) I(The speaker or writer. [aɪ]) succeeded(Achieved the desired outcome. [səkˈsidɪd]) in making(In the process of creating. [ɪn ˈmeɪkɪŋ]) my first drawing(The initial visual representation created by the speaker. [maɪ fərst drɔɪŋ]). My Drawing Number One(The speaker's first drawing, labeled as number one. [maɪ drɔɪŋ ˈnəmbər wən]). It(Referring to the drawing. [ɪt]) looked(Appeared or seemed. [lʊkt]) something like this(Resembling the following description or image. [ˈsəmθɪŋ laɪk ðɪs]):
Sombrero.png
I(The speaker or writer; the person narrating the story. [aɪ]) showed(Past tense of 'show', meaning to display or present something. [ʃoʊd]) my masterpiece(The speaker's best or most important piece of work. [maɪ ˈmæstərˌpis]) to the grown-ups(To the adults. [tɪ ðə ˈgroʊˌnəps]), and(Used to connect words, phrases, or clauses. [ənd]) asked(Past tense of 'ask', meaning to put a question to someone. [æst]) them(Referring to the grown-ups. [ðɛm]) whether(Expressing a doubt or choice between alternatives. [ˈwɛðər]) the drawing(A picture or diagram made with a pencil, pen, or crayon. [ðə drɔɪŋ]) frightened(Past tense of 'frighten', meaning to cause someone to become afraid. [ˈfraɪtənd]) them(Referring to the grown-ups. [ðɛm]). But(Used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or contradicts something that has been said previously. [bət]) they(Referring to the grown-ups. [ðeɪ]) answered(Past tense of 'answer', meaning to say something in response to a question or statement. [ˈænsərd]): "Frighten(To cause fear in someone. [ˈfraɪtən])? Why(For what reason or purpose. [waɪ]) should(Used to indicate obligation, duty, or correctness, typically when criticizing someone's actions. [ʃʊd]) any one(Any person. [ˈɛni wən]) be frightened(To experience fear. [bi ˈfraɪtənd]) by a hat(Because of a hat. [baɪ ə hæt])?"
My drawing(The speaker's picture. [maɪ drɔɪŋ]) was not(Was not equal to. [wɑz nɑt]) a picture(A visual representation of something. [ə ˈpɪkʧər]) of a hat(Depicting a hat. [əv ə hæt]). It(Referring to the drawing. [ɪt]) was(Past tense of 'be'. [wɑz]) a picture(A visual representation. [ə ˈpɪkʧər]) of a boa constrictor(Depicting a snake that constricts its prey. [əv ə boʊə kənˈstrɪktər]) digesting(The process of breaking down food in the stomach. [ˈdaɪˌʤɛstɪŋ]) an elephant(A very large animal with a trunk. [ən ˈɛləfənt]). But(Used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or contradicts something that has been said previously. [bət]) since(Because. [sɪns]) the grown-ups(The adults. [ðə ˈgroʊˌnəps]) were not able(Did not have the ability. [wər nɑt ˈeɪbəl]) to understand(To comprehend. [tɪ ˌəndərˈstænd]) it(Referring to the drawing. [ɪt]), I(The speaker. [aɪ]) made(Past tense of 'make', meaning to create or produce something. [meɪd]) another drawing(An additional picture. [əˈnəðər drɔɪŋ]): I(The speaker. [aɪ]) drew(Past tense of 'draw', meaning to create a picture. [dru]) the inside(The inner part. [ðə ˌɪnˈsaɪd]) of a boa constrictor(The inner part of a snake that constricts its prey. [əv ə boʊə kənˈstrɪktər]), so that(In order that. [soʊ ðət]) the grown-ups(The adults. [ðə ˈgroʊˌnəps]) could see(Were able to see. [kʊd si]) it(Referring to the drawing. [ɪt]) clearly(In a way that is easy to see or understand. [ˈklɪrli]). They(Referring to the grown-ups. [ðeɪ]) always(Every time; on all occasions. [ˈɔlˌweɪz]) need(Require. [nid]) to have things explained(To have things made clear or understandable. [tɪ hæv θɪŋz ɪkˈspleɪnd]). My Drawing Number Two(The speaker's second picture. [maɪ drɔɪŋ ˈnəmbər tu]) looked like this(Appeared in this way. [lʊkt laɪk ðɪs]):
Boa.png
The grown-ups' response(The reaction or answer of adults to something. [ðə ˈgroʊˌnəps rɪˈspɑns]), this time(On this particular occasion. [ðɪs taɪm]), was to advise(Was to give counsel or recommendations. [wɑz tɪ ədˈvaɪz]) me to lay aside(To put something away; to stop considering something. [leɪ əˈsaɪd]) my drawings of boa constrictors(Pictures or sketches of large snakes that constrict their prey. [drɔɪŋz əv boʊə kənˈstrɪktərz]), whether from the inside or the outside(Referring to drawings showing either the interior or exterior of the snake. [ˈwɛðər frəm ðə ˌɪnˈsaɪd ər ðə ˈaʊtˈsaɪd]), and devote myself(To dedicate oneself fully to something. [dɪˈvoʊt ˌmaɪˈsɛlf]) instead(As an alternative. [ˌɪnˈstɛd]) to geography(The study of the Earth's physical features, atmosphere, and human activity. [ʤiˈɑgrəfi]), history(The study of past events. [ˈhɪstəri]), arithmetic(The branch of mathematics dealing with numbers and calculations. [ˌɛrɪθˈmɛtɪk]), and grammar(The rules governing the structure of a language. [ˈgræmər]). That is why(For that reason; therefore. [ðət ɪz waɪ]), at the age of six(When I was six years old. [æt ðə eɪʤ əv sɪks]), I gave up(Stopped doing something; abandoned. [geɪv əp]) what might have been(Something that could have potentially been. [wət maɪt hæv bɪn]) a magnificent career(An impressive and successful profession. [ə mægˈnɪfɪsənt kərɪr]) as a painter(Working as an artist who creates paintings. [ɛz ə ˈpeɪnər]). I had been disheartened(I had lost enthusiasm and confidence. [aɪ hæd bɪn dɪsˈhɑrtənd]) by the failure(Because of the lack of success. [baɪ ðə ˈfeɪljər]) of my Drawing Number One(The first drawing. [drɔɪŋ ˈnəmbər wən]) and my Drawing Number Two(The second drawing. [drɔɪŋ ˈnəmbər tu]). Grown-ups(Adults. [ˈgroʊˌnəps]) never understand(Do not ever comprehend. [ˈnɛvər ˌəndərˈstænd]) anything(Anything at all. [ˈɛniˌθɪŋ]) by themselves(On their own; without help. [baɪ ðɛmˈsɛlvz]), and it is tiresome(It is annoying or wearisome. [ɪt ɪz ˈtaɪərsəm]) for children(For young people. [fər ˈʧɪldrən]) to be always and forever(Constantly and perpetually. [tɪ bi ˈɔlˌweɪz ənd fərˈɛvər]) explaining things(Making things clear or understandable. [ɪkˈspleɪnɪŋ θɪŋz]) to them(To the grown-ups. [tɪ ðɛm]).
So(used to indicate a transition to a new topic or a conclusion [soʊ]) then(at that time; also used to indicate a sequence of events [ðɛn]) I(the speaker or writer referring to themself [aɪ]) chose(past tense of 'choose', meaning to select or decide on something [ʧoʊz]) another(one more; an additional one [əˈnəðər]) profession(a job or occupation that requires specific education or training [prəˈfɛʃən]), and(used to connect words or phrases [ənd]) learned(past tense of 'learn', meaning to gain knowledge or skill [ˈlərnɪd]) to pilot(to operate or fly an aircraft [tɪ ˈpaɪlət]) airplanes(aircraft with fixed wings, used for flying [ˈɛrpleɪnz]). I(the speaker or writer referring to themself [aɪ]) have flown(past participle of 'fly', meaning to travel by air [hæv floʊn]) a little(a small amount or extent [ə ˈlɪtəl]) over(across or above [ˈoʊvər]) all parts of(every region or area of [ɔl pɑrts əv]) the world(the earth, including its countries and people [ðə wərld]); and(used to connect words or phrases [ənd]) it is true(used to emphasize that something is correct or factual [ɪt ɪz tru]) that(introduces a subordinate clause [ðət]) geography(the study of the physical features of the earth and its atmosphere, and of human activity as it affects and is affected by these [ʤiˈɑgrəfi]) has been(present perfect tense of 'be', indicating a state or condition that started in the past and continues to the present [həz bɪn]) very useful(extremely helpful or beneficial [ˈvɛri ˈjusfəl]) to me(for my benefit or advantage [tɪ mi]). At a glance(immediately; with a quick look [æt ə glæns]) I(the speaker or writer referring to themself [aɪ]) can distinguish(to recognize or point out the difference between two or more things [kən dɪˈstɪŋgwɪʃ]) China(a country in East Asia [ˈʧaɪnə]) from(used to indicate separation or difference [frəm]) Arizona(a state in the southwestern United States [ˌɛrɪˈzoʊnə]). If(used to introduce a conditional clause [ɪf]) one(a person; anyone [wən]) gets lost(to become unable to find one's way [gɪts lɔst]) in the night(during the hours of darkness [ɪn ðə naɪt]), such knowledge(this kind of information or understanding [səʧ ˈnɑlɪʤ]) is valuable(is important or useful [ɪz ˈvæljəbəl]).