Alice - CL 1SEC

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Alice was very surprised. "This is getting weirder and weirder!" she said. She was so surprised that she forgot to speak good English. "Now I’m growing like the biggest telescope! Goodbye, feet!" When Alice looked down, her feet were so far away that she could hardly see them. "Oh, my poor little feet! Who will put shoes on you now? I can’t reach you anymore. You’ll have to take care of yourselves. But I must be kind to them," she thought, "or maybe they won’t walk where I want to go. I know! I’ll give them new shoes every Christmas." She started thinking about how she would send them shoes. Then, Alice’s head hit the ceiling. She was now more than nine feet tall! She quickly picked up the little golden key and hurried to the garden door. But poor Alice! She could only look into the garden with one eye. It was impossible to get through the door now. She sat down and began to cry again.

Chapter 2. The pool of tears

Click to listen to the audiobook.

Weirder

• Explanation: Stranger or more unusual than before.
• Example: "This is getting weirder and weirder!" means something is becoming more strange and hard to understand.

Telescope

• Explanation: A tool to see distant objects, usually in the sky.
• Example: "Growing like the biggest telescope" means becoming very tall.

Reach

• Explanation: To be able to touch or get something.
• Example: "I can’t reach you anymore" means she is no longer able to touch her feet.

Ceiling

• Explanation: The top inside surface of a room.
• Example: "Alice’s head hit the ceiling" means her head touched the top of the room.

Hurry

• Explanation: To move or do something quickly.
• Example: "She quickly picked up the little golden key and hurried to the garden door" means she moved fast to pick up the key and go to the door.

"You should be ashamed," Alice told herself. "You’re a big girl, and you’re crying like a baby! Stop crying right now!" But she couldn’t stop, and soon there was a big pool of tears around her. The water was four inches deep and filled half of the hall. After a while, Alice heard little footsteps in the distance. She quickly dried her eyes to see who it was. It was the White Rabbit, coming back. He was dressed very nicely, holding a pair of white gloves in one hand and a big fan in the other. He was talking to himself, "Oh no, the Duchess! She will be so angry if I’m late!" Alice was so desperate that she decided to ask the Rabbit for help. When he came near, she said in a small, shy voice, "Excuse me, sir—" The Rabbit jumped, dropped the gloves and fan, and ran away as fast as he could.

Click to listen to the audiobook.

Ashamed

• Explanation: Feeling bad or guilty because of something you did.
• Example: "You should be ashamed" means you should feel bad about your actions.

Pool

• Explanation: A small area filled with water.
• Example: "A big pool of tears" means a large area on the floor covered with her tears.

Tears

• Explanation: The drops of liquid that come from your eyes when you cry.
• Example: "There was a big pool of tears around her" means that Alice cried so much that there was a lot of liquid (tears) on the ground.

Inches

• Explanation: A unit of length; there are 12 inches in a foot.
• Example: "Four inches deep" means the water was four inches tall.

Hall

• Explanation: A large, open space inside a building.
• Example: "Filled half of the hall" means the water covered half of the big room.

Footsteps

• Explanation: The sound of someone walking.
• Example: "Alice heard little footsteps" means she heard the sound of someone walking nearby.

Dried

• Explanation: To remove moisture or water from something.
• Example: "She quickly dried her eyes" means she wiped away her tears.

Gloves

• Explanation: Clothing that covers the hands and fingers.
• Example: "The Rabbit was holding a pair of white gloves" means the Rabbit had gloves in his hand.

Fan

• Explanation: A device to create airflow, often used to cool down.
• Example: "She started fanning herself" means she used the fan to cool down.

Duchess

• Explanation: A woman of high rank or title in some European countries.
• Example: "The Duchess! She will be so angry" means a high-ranking woman might be upset.

Shy

• Explanation: Feeling nervous or uncomfortable around other people.
• Example: "She said in a small, shy voice" means she spoke quietly because she felt nervous.

Alice picked up the fan and gloves. The hall was very hot, so she started fanning herself while she talked. "Oh dear! Everything is so strange today! Yesterday, everything was normal. Did I change in the night? Let me think: was I the same when I woke up this morning? I feel different. But if I’m not the same, then who am I?" Alice started thinking about all the children she knew who were her age. Could she have turned into one of them? "I’m sure I’m not Ada," she said, "because her hair is curly, and mine isn’t. And I can’t be Mabel because I know a lot of things, and she doesn’t know much. Besides, she’s she, and I’m me! Oh, this is so confusing! Let me see if I still know the things I used to know. What is 4 times 5? Is it 12? And 4 times 6 is 13? Oh no! I’m getting everything wrong! Maybe I’m turning into Mabel!"

Click to listen to the audiobook.

Fanning

• Explanation: Moving a fan or something similar to make yourself cooler by creating a breeze.
• Example: "She started fanning herself" means she used a fan to cool down.

Strange

• Explanation: Something that is unusual or different from what you are used to.
• Example: "Everything is so strange today" means things are not normal or are very different.

Woke up

• Explanation: To stop sleeping and become awake.
• Example: "Was I the same when I woke up?" means Alice is thinking about how she felt when she stopped sleeping that morning.

Curly

• Explanation: Hair that is not straight but forms curves or loops.
• Example: "Her hair is curly" means her hair has a lot of twists and turns.

Turned into

• Explanation: To change into something different.
• Example: "Could she have turned into one of them?" means Alice wonders if she has become another person.

Confusing

• Explanation: When something is difficult to understand or makes you feel unsure.
• Example: "Oh, this is so confusing!" means Alice finds it hard to understand what is happening.

Alice tried to say a poem she knew, but the words came out all wrong: "Those aren’t the right words!" Alice said, and she began to cry again. "I must be Mabel after all! I’ll have to live in her tiny little house with no toys and lots of lessons to learn. No, I won’t do it! If I’m Mabel, I’ll stay here. If anyone calls me to come up, I’ll just say, ‘Who am I? Tell me that first, and if I like being that person, I’ll come up. If not, I’ll stay down here until I become someone else.’ But oh dear!" cried Alice, starting to cry again, "I wish someone would tell me who I am! I’m so tired of being alone!"

How does the little crocodileImprove his shining tail,And pour the waters of the Nile On every golden scale!

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Nile

• Explanation: A major river in Africa, the longest in the world.
• Example: "And pour the waters of the Nile" means to pour water from the famous river in Africa.

Scale

• Explanation: A small, flat piece of skin or a covering found on the body of certain animals, like fish or reptiles. Scales can also refer to a tool used to measure weight, but in this context, it’s about the covering on an animal.
• Example: "On every golden scale" means on each small, shiny piece of skin on the crocodile’s body.

Tired of

• Explanation: Feeling bored or impatient because something is no longer interesting or enjoyable.
• Example: "I’m so tired of being alone" means Alice feels bored or unhappy about being by herself.

Alone

• Explanation: Without anyone else; by oneself.
• Example: "I’m so tired of being alone" means Alice is by herself and feels lonely.

Shining

• Explanation: Reflecting light, bright, or glowing.
• Example: "Improve his shining tail" means making the crocodile's tail more bright or reflective.

As she said this, she looked down at her hands and noticed that she had put on one of the Rabbit’s white gloves without realizing it. "How did I do that?" she wondered. "I must be shrinking again!" She got up and went to measure herself by the table. Sure enough, she was now about two feet tall and getting smaller fast! She realized it was because she was holding the Rabbit’s fan, so she quickly dropped it, just in time to stop shrinking completely."That was close!" Alice said, feeling a bit scared but happy to still be herself. "Now, let’s get to the garden!" She ran back to the little door, but it was shut again, and the golden key was back on the glass table. "This is worse than ever!" thought the poor girl. "I’ve never been this small before, never! And it’s really not fair!"

Click to listen to the audiobook.

Shrinking

• Explanation: Getting smaller in size.
• Example: "I must be shrinking again!" This means she is becoming smaller.

Measure

• Explanation: To find the size, length, or amount of something.
• Example: "She went to measure herself by the table." This means she wanted to see how tall she was.

Realizing

• Explanation: To suddenly understand or become aware of something.
• Example: "She realized it was because she was holding the Rabbit’s fan." This means she suddenly understood why she was getting smaller.

Scared

• Explanation: Feeling fear or worry.
• Example: "Alice said, feeling a bit scared but happy to still be herself." This means she felt afraid but was glad she was still herself.

Fair

• Explanation: Just or equal; when something is reasonable.
• Example: "And it’s really not fair!" This means she thinks the situation is not right or not reasonable.

Wondered

• Explanation: To think about something with curiosity or to ask yourself questions about something, usually when you are trying to understand or figure it out.
• Example: "She wondered, 'How did I do that?'" means she was curious and trying to understand how she had accidentally put on the Rabbit’s glove.

As she said this, her foot slipped, and suddenly, splash! She was up to her chin in salty water. At first, Alice thought she had fallen into the sea. "If that’s the case, I can take the train back home," she thought. (Alice had been to the beach once and remembered there were always people swimming, children playing in the sand, and a train station nearby.) But soon she realized she was in the pool of tears she had cried when she was nine feet tall."I wish I hadn’t cried so much!" said Alice, swimming around and trying to find a way out. "Now I’m going to be punished by drowning in my own tears! How strange everything is today."Just then, Alice noticed something splashing in the pool a little way off. She swam closer to see what it was. At first, she thought it might be a walrus or a hippopotamus, but then she remembered how small she was now. She soon realized it was just a mouse that had slipped into the pool like she did.

Click to listen to the audiobook.

Slipped

• Explanation: To slide accidentally or lose your balance.
• Example: "As she said this, her foot slipped, and suddenly, splash!" This means she lost her balance and fell into the water.

Suddenly

• Explanation: Happening quickly and unexpectedly, without warning.
• Example: "Suddenly, splash! She was up to her chin in salty water." This means the splash happened very quickly and unexpectedly.

Salty

• Explanation: Containing salt; like the taste of seawater.
• Example: "She was up to her chin in salty water." This means the water had a lot of salt in it, like the sea.

Punished

• Explanation: To be made to suffer for something wrong or bad that you did.
• Example: "Now I’m going to be punished by drowning in my own tears!" This means she feels like she’s being punished for crying too much.

Drowning

• Explanation: To be covered completely by water and unable to breathe.
• Example: "Now I’m going to be punished by drowning in my own tears!" This means she feels like she might be overwhelmed by the tears she cried.

Walrus

• Explanation: A large marine animal with tusks and flippers, found in the Arctic.
• Example: "At first, she thought it might be a walrus or a hippopotamus." This means she thought the splashing might be caused by a large sea animal.

Hippopotamus

• Explanation: A large, mostly herbivorous mammal found in Africa, with a large mouth and short legs.
• Example: "At first, she thought it might be a walrus or a hippopotamus." (This means she thought the splashing might be caused by a large animal with a big mouth.)

"Maybe I should talk to it," thought Alice. "Everything is so strange here, so maybe the mouse can talk too. There’s no harm in trying." So she began, "O Mouse, do you know the way out of this pool? I’m very tired of swimming around here, O Mouse!" Alice thought this was the right way to talk to a mouse.The Mouse looked at her curiously, but it didn’t say anything. "Maybe it doesn’t understand English," thought Alice. "It might be a French mouse." (Alice didn’t really know much about history.) So she tried again, "Où est ma chatte?" which was the first sentence in her French lesson book.

Click to listen to the audiobook.

"Où est ma chatte?" is a French phrase that translates to "Where is my cat?" in English.

The Mouse jumped out of the water and shivered with fear. "Oh, I’m sorry!" cried Alice, realizing she had scared the poor mouse. "I forgot you don’t like cats.""Don’t like cats?" the Mouse said in a high, angry voice. "Would you like cats if you were me?""Well, maybe not," Alice replied, trying to be nice. "But I wish I could show you our cat, Dinah. You might like cats if you saw her. She’s so sweet and quiet, and she purrs so nicely by the fire, licking her paws and washing her face. And she’s so soft and nice to cuddle with. Oh, and she’s great at catching mice—oh, I’m sorry!" Alice cried, seeing the Mouse was getting upset again.

Click to listen to the audiobook.

Forget

• Explanation: To fail to remember something.
• Example: "I forgot you don’t like cats," means Alice did not remember that the Mouse was afraid of cats.

Purrs

• Explanation: The soft, continuous sound that cats make when they are happy.
• Example: "She purrs so nicely by the fire," means Dinah makes a gentle, soothing sound when she is comfortable.

Cuddle

• Explanation: To hold close in a loving or comforting way.
• Example: "She’s so soft and nice to cuddle with," means Dinah is gentle and warm, making it pleasant to hold her close.

Upset

• Explanation: Feeling disturbed or unhappy due to something.
• Example: "Alice cried, seeing the Mouse was getting upset again," means Alice saw that the Mouse was becoming distressed or unhappy.

Shivered

• Explanation: To shake slightly because of being cold or frightened.
• Example: "The Mouse jumped out of the water and shivered with fear," meaning the Mouse shook because it was scared.

"We won’t talk about her anymore if you don’t want to," Alice said quickly."We indeed!" cried the Mouse, trembling all the way down to its tail. "As if I would talk about such a thing! Our family has always hated cats—nasty, low, vulgar creatures! Don’t mention that name again!""I won’t!" said Alice, wanting to change the subject. "Do you like dogs?" The Mouse didn’t answer, so Alice continued, "There’s a nice little dog near our house that I think you’d like. It has bright eyes and long, curly brown hair. It’s really smart and can do all sorts of tricks! The farmer who owns it says it’s worth a lot of money because it catches all the rats and—oh dear!"Alice stopped, realizing she had offended the Mouse again. The Mouse was swimming away as fast as it could, making a big splash in the water.

Click to listen to the audiobook.

Indeed

• Explanation: A word used to emphasize or confirm something that has been said. It means "truly" or "in fact."
• Example: "We indeed!" cried the Mouse, means the Mouse is strongly agreeing with what was said.

Trembling

• Explanation: Shaking slightly, usually because of fear or cold.
• Example: "Cried the Mouse, trembling all the way down to its tail," means the Mouse was shaking because it was very scared.

Nasty

• Explanation: Very unpleasant or offensive.
• Example: "Our family has always hated cats—nasty, low, vulgar creatures!" means the Mouse thinks cats are very unpleasant.

Tricks

• Explanation: Special actions or skills that someone or an animal can do, often for entertainment.
• Example: "It’s really smart and can do all sorts of tricks!" means the dog can perform various impressive actions.

"Mouse, please come back!" Alice called softly. "We won’t talk about cats or dogs if you don’t like them!" The Mouse turned around and swam back to her, its face looking pale. "Let’s get to the shore," the Mouse said in a trembling voice, "and then I’ll tell you why I hate cats and dogs."It was time to go, as the pool was getting crowded with birds and animals that had fallen into it: a Duck, a Dodo, a Lory, an Eaglet, and several other strange creatures. Alice led the way, and they all swam to the shore.

Click to listen to the audiobook.

Pale

• Explanation: Lacking color; looking very light or white, often because of fear or illness.
• Example: "The Mouse’s face looking pale" means the Mouse looked very light in color, possibly because it was scared or anxious.

Shore

• Explanation: The land along the edge of a body of water like a lake or sea.
• Example: "Alice led the way to the shore" means Alice led everyone to the land area next to the water where they could safely get out.

Trembling

• Explanation: Shaking or quivering, often due to fear or cold.
• Example: "The Mouse said in a trembling voice" means the Mouse's voice was shaking because it was scared or nervous.

Crowded

• Explanation: Filled with too many people or things, making it hard to move around.
• Example: "The pool was getting crowded with birds and animals" means the pool was becoming full of many animals.

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Alice's adventures in Wonderlandis a Digital resource for Reading comprehension created by the content team of

© Alice adventures in Wonderlandby Lewis CarrollPublic domain workAdaptation by the editorial team

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