ANIMAL FARM Chapter VII 英语

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It was a bitter winter. The stormy weather was followed by sleet and snow, and then by a hard frost 定语从句which did not break till well into February. The animals carried on 比较从句as best they could with the rebuilding of the windmill, 分词状语well knowing 宾语从句that the outside world was watching them and that the envious human beings would rejoice and triumph if the mill were not finished on time.

Out of spite, the human beings pretended not to believe 宾语从句that it was Snowball 强调句who had destroyed the windmill: they said 宾语从句that it had fallen down 原因从句because the walls were too thin. The animals knew 宾语从句that this was not the case. Still, it had been decided to build the walls three feet thick this time instead of eighteen inches as before, 定语从句which meant collecting much larger quantities of stone. For a long time the quarry was full of snowdrifts and nothing could be done. Some progress was made in the dry frosty weather 定语从句that followed, but it was cruel work, and the animals could not feel so hopeful about it 比较从句as they had felt before. They were always cold, and usually hungry as well. Only Boxer and Clover never lost heart. Squealer made excellent speeches on the joy of service and the dignity of labour, but the other animals found more inspiration in Boxer’s strength and his never-failing cry of “I will work harder!”

In January food fell short. The corn ration was drastically reduced, and it was announced 主语从句that an extra potato ration would be issued to make up for it. Then it was discovered that the greater part of the potato crop had been frosted in the clamps, 定语从句which had not been covered thickly enough. The potatoes had become soft and discoloured, and only a few were edible. For days at a time the animals had nothing to eat but chaff and mangels. Starvation seemed to stare them in the face.

It was vitally necessary to conceal this fact from the outside world. 分词状语Emboldened by the collapse of the windmill, the human beings were inventing fresh lies about Animal Farm. Once again it was being put about 主语从句that all the animals were dying of famine and disease, and that they were continually fighting among themselves and had resorted to cannibalism and infanticide. Napoleon was well aware of the bad results 定语从句that might follow 条件状语if the real facts of the food situation were known, and he decided to make use of Mr. Whymper to spread a contrary impression. Hitherto the animals had had little or no contact with Whymper on his weekly visits: now, however, a few selected animals, mostly sheep, were instructed to remark casually in his hearing 宾语从句that rations had been increased. In addition, Napoleon ordered the almost empty bins in the store-shed to be filled nearly to the brim with sand, 定语从句which was then covered up with what remained of the grain and meal. On some suitable pretext Whymper was led through the store-shed and allowed to catch a glimpse of the bins. He was deceived, and continued to report to the outside world 宾语从句that there was no food shortage on Animal Farm.

Nevertheless, towards the end of January it became obvious 主语从句that it would be necessary to procure some more grain from somewhere. In these days Napoleon rarely appeared in public, but spent all his time in the farmhouse, 定语从句which was guarded at each door by fierce-looking dogs. 时间状语从句When he did emerge, it was in a ceremonial manner, with an escort of six dogs 定语从句who closely surrounded him and growled 条件状语从句if anyone came too near. Frequently he did not even appear on Sunday mornings, but issued his orders through one of the other pigs, usually Squealer.

那是一个寒冷的冬天。狂风暴雨的天气刚刚过去,这又下起了雨夹雪,接着又是大雪纷飞。然后,严寒来了,冰天冻地一般,直到二月才见和缓。动物们都在全力以赴地赶建风车,因为他们都十分清楚:外界正在注视着他们,如果风车不能重新及时建成,那些妒火中烧的人类便会为此幸灾乐祸的。
那些人不怀好意,佯称他们不相信风车会是斯诺鲍毁坏的。他们说,风车之所以倒塌纯粹是因为墙座太薄。而动物们认为事实并非如此。不过,他们还是决定这一次要把墙筑到三呎厚,而不是上一次的一呎半。这就意味着得采集更多的石头。但采石场上好长时间积雪成堆,什么事也干不成。后来,严冬的天气变得干燥了,倒是干了一些活,但那却是一项苦不堪言的劳作,动物们再也不象先前那样满怀希望、信心十足。它们总感到冷,又常常觉得饿。只有鲍克瑟和克拉弗从不气馁。斯奎拉则时不时来一段关于什么劳动的乐趣以及劳工神圣之类的精彩演讲,但使其他动物受到鼓舞更大的,却来自鲍克瑟的踏实肯干和他总是挂在嘴边的口头禅:“我要更加努力工作。”
一月份,食物就开始短缺了。谷类饲料急骤减少,有通知说要发给额外的土豆来弥补。可随后却发现由于地窖上面盖得不够厚,绝大部分土豆都已受冻而发软变坏了,只有很少一些还可以吃。这段时间里,动物们已有好些天除了吃谷糠和萝卜外,再也没有别的可吃的了,他们差不多面临着饥荒。
对外遮掩这一实情是非常必要的。风车的倒塌已经给人壮了胆,他们因而就捏造出有关动物庄园的新奇的谎言。这一次,外面又谣传说他们这里所有的动物都在饥荒和瘟疫中垂死挣扎,而且说他们内部不断自相残杀,已经到了以同类相食和吞食幼崽度日的地步。拿破仑清醒地意识倒饲料短缺的真相被外界知道后的严重后果,因而决意利用温普尔先生散布一些相反的言论。本来,到目前为止,对温普尔的每周一次来访,动物们还几乎与他没有什么接触。可是这一次,他们却挑选了一些动物,大都是羊,要他们在温普尔能听得到的地方,装作是在无意的聊天中谈有关饲料粮增加的事。这还不够,拿破仑又让储藏棚里那些几乎已是完全空空如也的大箱子满沙子,然后把剩下的饲料粮盖在上面。最后找个适当的借口,把温普尔领到储藏棚,让他瞥上一眼。温普尔被蒙骗过去了,就不断在外界报告说,动物庄园根本不缺饲料云云。
然而快到一月底的时候,问题就变得突出了,其关键就是,必须得从某个地方弄到些额外的粮食。而这些天来,拿破仑轻易不露面,整天就呆在庄主院里,那儿的每道门都由气势汹汹的狗把守着。一旦他要出来,也必是一本正经,而且,还有六条狗前呼后拥着,不管谁要走近,那些狗都会吼叫起来。甚至在星期天早晨,他也常常不露面,而由其他一头猪,一般是斯奎拉来发布他的指示。

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