Subject: English Language
Class: SS 2
Topic: Reading Comprehension
Title: Animals plan to overthrow man.
‘Is it not crystal clear, then, comrades, that all the evils of this life of ours spring from the tyranny of human beings? Only get rid of man, and the produce of our labour would be our own. Almost overnight, we could become rich and free. What then must we do? Why work night and day, body and soul,for the overthrown of the human race! That is my message to you, comrades:Rebellion will come; it might be in a week or in a hundred years, but I know, as surely as I see this straw beneath my feet, that sooner or later, justice will be done. Fix your eyes on those comrades, throughout the short remainder of your lives! And above all, pass on this message of mine to those who come after you, so that future generations shall carry on the struggle until it is victorious.
‘And remember, comrades, your resolution must never falter. No argument must lead you astray. Never listen when they tell you that man and the animals have a common interest, that the prosperity of the one is the prosperity of the other. It is all lies. Man serves the interests of no creature except himself. And among us animals, let there be perfect unity, perfect comradeship in the struggle. All men are animals. All animals are comrades’ .
At this moment there was a tremendous uproar. While Major was speaking, four large rats had crept out of their holes and were sitting on their hindquarters, listening to him. The dogs had suddenly caught sight of them, and it was only by a swift dash for their holes that the rats saved their lives. Major raised his trotter for silence.
‘Comrades, ‘he said, here is a point that must be settled. The wild creatures, such as rats and rabbits -are they our friends or our enemies? Let us put it to the vote. I propose this question to the meeting :Are rats comrades? ‘
The vote was taken at once, and it was agreed by an overwhelming majority that rats were comrades. There were only four dissentients, the three dogs and the cat, who was afterwards discovered to have voted on both sides. Major continued.
I have little more to say. I merely repeat, remember always your duty of enmity towards man and all his ways. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy. Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend. And remember also that, in fighting against man, we must not come to resemble him. Even when you have conquered him, do not adopt his vices. No animal must ever live in a house, or sleep in a bed, or wear clothes, or drink alcohol, or smoke tobacco, or touch money, or engage in trade. All the habits of man are evil. And, above all, no animal must ever tyrannise over his own kind. Weak or strong, clever or simply, we are all brothers. No animal must ever kill any other animal. All animals are equal.
‘And now, comrades,I will tell you about my dream last night. I cannot describe that dream to you. It was a dream of the earth as it will be when man has vanished. But it reminded me of something that I had long forgotten. Many years ago, when I was a little pig, my mother and the other sows used to sing an old song of which they knew only the tune and the first three words. I had known that tune in my infancy, but it had long since passed out of my mind. Last night, however, it came back to me in my dream.What is more, the words of the song also came back -words, I am certain which were sung by the animals long ago and have been lost to memory for generations. I will sing you that song now, comrades. I am old and my voice is hoarse, but, when I have taught you the tune, you can sing it better for yourselves.It is called ‘Beast of England’ .
The Questions
1- What type of writing is this passage?
2-What is the message of the passage?
3-What word in the passage means evil?
4-What happening temporarily disturbed the meeting of the animals?
5-What was Old Major’s dream about?
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