The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupery- page 25

"A geographer is a scholar who knows the location of all the seas, rivers, towns, mountains, and deserts."

• A geographer: A person who studies geography [ə ʤiˈɑgrəfər]
• is a scholar: An academic or learned person [ɪz ə ˈskɑlər]
• who knows: Has knowledge of [hu noʊz]
• the location: The position or place of something [ðə loʊˈkeɪʃən]
• of all the seas: Every ocean or large body of saltwater [əv ɔl ðə siz]
• rivers: Natural flowing watercourses [ˈrɪvərz]
• towns: Populated areas, smaller than cities [taʊnz]
• mountains: Large natural elevations of the earth's surface [ˈmaʊntənz]
• and deserts: Dry, barren areas of land [ənd ˈdɛzərts]

"That is very interesting," said the little prince. "Here at last is a man who has a real profession!" And he cast a look around him at the planet of the geographer.

• That is very interesting: An expression of interest in something that has been said [ðət ɪz ˈvɛri ˈɪntəˌrɛstɪŋ]
• said the little prince: Indicates who is speaking [sɛd ðə ˈlɪtəl prɪns]
• Here at last: Finally, after some time or effort [hir æt læst]
• is a man: A male human being [ɪz ə mæn]
• who has a real profession: Someone with a genuine and meaningful occupation [hu həz ə ril prəˈfɛʃən]
• And he cast a look: He glanced or looked briefly [ənd hi kæst ə lʊk]
• around him: In the area surrounding him [əraʊnd ɪm]
• at the planet: Referring to the celestial body where the geographer lives [æt ðə ˈplænət]
• of the geographer: Belonging to or associated with the geographer [əv ðə ʤiˈɑgrəfər]

It was the most magnificent and stately planet that he had ever seen.

• It was the most magnificent: It was extremely beautiful and impressive [ɪt wɑz ðə moʊst mægˈnɪfɪsənt]
• and stately planet: A dignified and impressive planet [ənd ˈsteɪtli ˈplænət]
• that he had ever seen: More than any other planet he had previously observed [ðət hi hæd ˈɛvər sin]

"Your planet is very beautiful," he said. "Has it any oceans?"

• Your planet is very beautiful: Direct quote indicating the speaker finds the planet aesthetically pleasing [jʊr ˈplænət ɪz ˈvɛri ˈbjutəfəl]
• he said: Attribution of the quote to a male speaker [hi sɛd]
• Has it any oceans: A question inquiring whether the planet possesses any large bodies of saltwater [həz ɪt ˈɛni ˈoʊʃənz]

"I couldn't tell you," said the geographer.

• I couldn't tell you: Expression indicating the speaker's lack of knowledge on the subject [aɪ ˈkʊdənt tɛl ju]
• said the geographer: Attribution of the statement to the geographer [sɛd ðə ʤiˈɑgrəfər]

"Ah!" The little prince was disappointed. "Has it any mountains?"

• Ah: An exclamation expressing disappointment or realization [ɑ]
• The little prince: Refers to a young royal character [ðə ˈlɪtəl prɪns]
• was disappointed: Indicates the little prince's feeling of letdown [wɑz ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪnɪd]
• Has it any mountains: A question inquiring whether the planet possesses any elevated landforms [həz ɪt ˈɛni ˈmaʊntənz]

"I couldn't tell you," said the geographer.

• I couldn't tell you: Expression indicating the speaker's lack of knowledge on the subject [aɪ ˈkʊdənt tɛl ju]
• said the geographer: Attribution of the statement to the geographer [sɛd ðə ʤiˈɑgrəfər]

"And towns, and rivers, and deserts?"

• And towns, and rivers, and deserts: A list of geographical features being inquired about, including human settlements, flowing bodies of water, and arid landscapes [ənd taʊnz ənd ˈrɪvərz ənd ˈdɛzərts]

"I couldn't tell you that, either."

• I couldn't tell you that, either: Expression indicating the speaker's continued lack of knowledge on the subject, emphasizing that they cannot provide information on any of the previously mentioned features [aɪ ˈkʊdənt tɛl ju ðət ˈiðər]

"But you are a geographer!"

• But you are a geographer: An exclamation expressing surprise or disbelief that a geographer would not know basic geographical information about a planet [bət ju ər ə ʤiˈɑgrəfər]

"Exactly," the geographer said. "But I am not an explorer.

• Exactly: Agreement with the previous statement [ɪgˈzæktli]
• the geographer said: Attribution of the statement to the geographer [ðə ʤiˈɑgrəfər sɛd]
• But I am not an explorer: The geographer clarifies that their role is not to explore and discover new places [bət aɪ æm nɑt ən ɪkˈsplɔrər]

I haven't a single explorer on my planet.

• I haven't a single explorer on my planet: The geographer states that there are no explorers on their planet [aɪ ˈhævənt ə ˈsɪŋgəl ɪkˈsplɔrər ɔn maɪ ˈplænət]

It is not the geographer who goes out to count the towns, the rivers, the mountains, the seas, the oceans, and the deserts.

• It is not the geographer who goes out to count the towns, the rivers, the mountains, the seas, the oceans, and the deserts: The geographer explains that their job is not to physically count geographical features [ɪt ɪz nɑt ðə ʤiˈɑgrəfər hu goʊz aʊt tɪ kaʊnt ðə taʊnz ðə ˈrɪvərz ðə ˈmaʊntənz ðə siz ðə ˈoʊʃənz ənd ðə ˈdɛzərts]

The geographer is much too important to go loafing about.

• The geographer is much too important to go loafing about: The geographer believes their role is too significant to be spent idly exploring [ðə ʤiˈɑgrəfər ɪz məʧ tu ˌɪmˈpɔrtənt tɪ goʊ loafing əˈbaʊt]

He does not leave his desk.

• He does not leave his desk: The geographer stays in their office [hi dɪz nɑt liv hɪz dɛsk]

But he receives the explorers in his study.

• But he receives the explorers in his study: The geographer interacts with explorers in their office [bət hi rɪˈsivz ðə ɪkˈsplɔrərz ɪn hɪz ˈstədi]

He asks them questions, and he notes down what they recall of their travels.

• He asks them questions, and he notes down what they recall of their travels: The geographer gathers information from explorers about their journeys [hi æsks ðɛm kˈwɛsʧənz ənd hi noʊts daʊn wət ðeɪ ˈriˌkɔl əv ðɛr ˈtrævəlz]

"Why is that?"

• Why: asking for the reason or cause of something [waɪ]
• is: third-person singular present of the verb 'to be', indicating a state or condition [ɪz]
• that: referring to something previously mentioned or understood [ðət]

"Because an explorer who told lies would bring disaster on the books of the geographer.

• Because: introducing a reason or explanation [bɪˈkəz]
• an explorer: a person who explores unknown or unfamiliar places [ən ɪkˈsplɔrər]
• who told lies: a person who did not tell the truth [hu toʊld laɪz]
• would bring disaster: would cause a serious problem or misfortune [wʊd brɪŋ dɪˈzæstər]
• on the books: records or accounts [ɔn ðə bʊks]
• of the geographer: belonging to the geographer, a person who studies the earth's physical features [əv ðə ʤiˈɑgrəfər]

"Why is that?" asked the little prince.

• Why: asking for the reason or cause of something [waɪ]
• is: third-person singular present of the verb 'to be', indicating a state or condition [ɪz]
• that: referring to something previously mentioned or understood [ðət]
• asked: to put a question to [æst]
• the little prince: the young royal character [ðə ˈlɪtəl prɪns]

"Because intoxicated men see double.

• Because: introducing a reason or explanation [bɪˈkəz]
• intoxicated men: men who are drunk or affected by alcohol [ˌɪnˈtɑksɪˌkeɪtɪd mɛn]
• see double: have blurred vision, seeing two of everything [si ˈdəbəl]

"I know some one," said the little prince, "who would make a bad explorer."

• I know: I am acquainted with [aɪ noʊ]
• some one: a person [səm wən]
• said: uttered words [sɛd]
• the little prince: the young royal character [ðə ˈlɪtəl prɪns]
• who would make: who is likely to become [hu wʊd meɪk]
• a bad explorer: an incompetent explorer [ə bæd ɪkˈsplɔrər]

"That is possible.

• That: referring to something previously mentioned [ðət]
• is possible: it could happen [ɪz ˈpɑsəbəl]

"One goes to see it?"

• One: Refers to a person; used in a general sense to mean 'someone' or 'people' [wən]
• goes: moves or travels; proceeds [goʊz]
• to see: to observe or witness something [tɪ si]
• it: referring to something previously mentioned or understood in the context [ɪt]

"No.

• No: Indicates a negative response or disagreement [noʊ]

That would be too complicated.

• That: Refers to something previously mentioned or understood [ðət]
• would be: Indicates a conditional or hypothetical situation [wʊd bi]
• too complicated: Excessively complex or difficult to understand [tu ˈkɑmpləˌkeɪtəd]

But one requires the explorer to furnish proofs.

• But: Introduces a contrasting statement [bət]
• one: Refers to a person; used in a general sense to mean 'someone' or 'people' [wən]
• requires: Needs or demands something [rikˈwaɪərz]
• the explorer: A person who explores or investigates unknown regions [ðə ɪkˈsplɔrər]
• to furnish: To provide or supply something [tɪ ˈfərnɪʃ]
• proofs: Evidence or arguments establishing a fact or the truth of a statement [prufs]