Джордж Оруэлл - Animal Farm - a Fairy Story and Essay's Collection / Скотный двор и сборник эссе. Книга для чтения на английском языке

And now, he said finally, he would ask the company to rise to their feet and make certain that their glasses were full. ‘Gentlemen,’ concluded Mr Pilkington, ‘gentlemen, I give you a toast: To the prosperity of Animal Farm!’

There was enthusiastic cheering and stamping of feet. Napoleon was so gratified that he left his place and came round the table to clink his mug against Mr Pilkington’s before emptying it. When the cheering had died down, Napoleon, who had remained on his feet, intimated that he too had a few words to say.

Like all of Napoleon’s speeches, it was short and to the point. He too, he said, was happy that the period of misunderstanding was at an end. For a long time there had been rumours – circulated, he had reason to think, by some malignant enemy – that there was something subversive and even revolutionary in the outlook of himself and his colleagues. They had been credited with attempting to stir up rebellion among the animals on neigh-bouring farms. Nothing could be further from the truth! Their sole wish, now and in the past, was to live at peace and in normal business relations with their neighbours. This farm which he had the honour to control, he added, was a co-operative enterprise. The tide-deeds, which were in his own possession, were owned by the pigs jointly.

He did not believe, he said, that any of the old suspicions still lingered, but certain changes had been made recently in the routine of the farm which should have the effect of promoting confidence still further. Hitherto the animals on the farm had had a rather foolish custom of addressing one another as ‘Comrade’. This was to be suppressed. There had also been a very strange custom, whose origin was unknown, of marching every Sunday morning past a boar’s skull which was nailed to a post in the garden. This too would be suppressed, and the skull had already been buried. His visitors might have observed, too, the green flag which flew from the masthead. If so, they would perhaps have noted that the white hoof and horn with which it had previously been marked had now been removed. It would be a plain green flag from now onwards.

He had only one criticism, he said, to make of Mr Pilkington’s excellent and neighbourly speech. Mr Pilkington had referred throughout to ‘Animal Farm’. He could not of course know – for he, Napoleon, was only now for the first time announcing it – that the name ‘Animal Farm’ had been abolished. Henceforward the farm was to be known as ‘The Manor Farm’ – which, he believed, was its correct and original name.

‘Gentlemen,’ concluded Napoleon, ‘I will give you the same toast as before, but in a different form. Fill your glasses to the brim. Gentlemen, here is my toast: To the prosperity of The Manor Farm!’

There was the same hearty cheering as before, and the mugs were emptied to the dregs. But as the animals outside gazed at the scene, it seemed to them that some strange thing was happening. What was it that had altered in the faces of the pigs? Clover’s old dim eyes flitted from one face to another. Some of them had five chins, some had four, some had three. But what was it that seemed to be melting and changing? Then, the applause having come to an end, the company took up their cards and continued the game that had been interrupted, and the animals crept silently away.

But they had not gone twenty yards when they stopped short. An uproar of voices was coming from the farmhouse. They rushed back and looked through the window again. Yes, a violent quarrel was in progress. There were shoutings, hangings on the table, sharp suspicious glances, furious denials. The source of the trouble appeared to be that Napoleon and Mr Pilkington had each played an ace of spades simultaneously.

Twelve voices were shouting in anger, and they were all alike. No question, now, what had happened to the faces of the pigs. The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again: but already it was impossible to say which was which.

Match the animals with their names:

Say whether the following statements are true or false:

1. The name of the song sang by Major was ‘Beasts of England’. 2. Animals gathered harvest by themselves two days later than men usually did.

3. Boxer was an admiration of everybody.

4. The farm flag was red with green stripes.

5. Snowball was organizing the other animals into Animal Committees.

6. All of the animal organization projects were the failure.

7. All of the farmers wanted to help Mr Jones to get his farm back.

8. The pigs always were in agreement between themselves.

9. Since Napoleon had become in charge the animals worked like slaves.

10. It was decided by the animals majority to have a broker to administrate the farm business.

11. The pigs suddenly moved to the farmhouse.

12. It was announced that the pigs would get up an hour earlier than others.

13. It was decided to build windmill walls thicker than the first time.

14. The hens agreed to surrender their eggs eagerly.

15. Snowball was proclaimed to be guilty of all the bad things that took place at the farm.

16. Suddenly it was forbidden to sing ‘Beasts of England’.

17. Boxer was cured by a veterinarian.

18. After being exploded the mill had some small destructions.

Explain who is more treacherous and thoughtful to your opinion, Napoleon or Snowball, and why.

Describe the life at the farm after a lot of years of pigs ruling.

Describe the new order of things at the farm after Napoleon became in charge.

Choose the correct item:

1. Mr Pilkington and Mr Federick … each other very much.

• liked

• disliked

• despited

• attracted

2. A wave of rebelliousness ran through the … .

• neighbor farm

• village

• town

• countryside

3. Mollie was accused of … .

• being a witch

• talking to a man

• chewing the gum

• sabotaging the work

Answer the following questions:

1. Who was Major?

2. Who was proclaimed to be a real enemy of the animals by Major?

3. What was the result of voting upon mice to be friends or enemies?

4. What happened to Major in a few days after the meeting?

5. What kind of complete system were Major’s teachings elaborated into?

6. What was the problem with some animals about the progression of Animalism?

7. How was the unexpected Rebellion carried through?

8. What did the animals start to do right away after people had run away?

9. What were the seven commandments of Animalism?

10. What happened to milk one evening?

11. What was the main business that the pigs had on the farm?

12. Did everyone work as hard as others?

13. How did Sundays pass usually?

14. Were all the animals of the farm literate enough in a while?

15. Where did milk and apples go to?

16. Were there any attempts of the humans to bring the farm back?

17. Which strategy of war campaign did the animals follow?

18. What was the result of fighting with the humans?

19. What was the decision made upon firing the gun lost by Mr Jones?

20. What kind of improvements was made to ease animals’ lives?

21. What were the suggestions of improvements on further farm defense?

22. Who of the pigs became in charge after all?