'Why (ну),' said the Dodo, 'the best way to explain it is to do it (самый лучший способ объяснить, что это такое — это показать; to do — делать, производить действие; осуществлять, выполнять).' (And, as you might like to try the thing yourself, some winter day (и, так как вам, возможно, захочется испробовать эту /игру/ самим, одним зимним днем; to like — любить /что-либо/; хотеть, желать), I will tell you how the Dodo managed it (я расскажу вам, как Додо организовал ее/; to manage — руководить, управлять, заведовать).)
First it marked out a race-course, in a sort of circle (сперва он разметил беговую дорожку, наподобие круга), ('the exact shape doesn't matter,' it said ("точная форма не имеет значения", сказал он),) and then all the party were placed along the course, here and there (и после этого вся компания была размещена вдоль той дорожки, здесь и там).
explain [Ik'spleIn], might [maIt], racecourse ['reIskO:s], circle [sE:kl], exact [Ig'zxkt]
'Why,' said the Dodo, 'the best way to explain it is to do it.' (And, as you might like to try the thing yourself, some winter day, I will tell you how the Dodo managed it.)
First it marked out a race-course, in a sort of circle, ('the exact shape doesn't matter,' it said,) and then all the party were placed along the course, here and there.
There was no 'One, two, three, and away,' but they began running when they liked (не было /никакой команды, вроде/: "один, два, три, марш", а они начали бежать, когда захотели), and left off when they liked (и остановились/сошли с дистанции, когда захотели; to leave off — переставать делать /что-либо/; останавливаться), so that it was not easy to know when the race was over (так что нелегко было понять, когда бег закончился; to know — знать; осознавать, понимать). However, when they had been running half an hour or so, and were quite dry again (однако, когда они бегали уже полчаса или около того, и когда они были снова вполне сухими), the Dodo suddenly called out 'The race is over!' (Додо неожиданно выкрикнул: "Бег закончен!") and they all crowded round it, panting, and asking, 'But who has won?' (и все они столпились вокруг него, тяжело дыша и спрашивая: "Но кто же победил?"; to win).
easy ['i:zI], however [haV'evq], hour ['aVq], quite [kwaIt], suddenly ['sAdnlI], crowded ['kraVdId], won [wAn]
There was no 'One, two, three, and away,' but they began running when they liked, and left off when they liked, so that it was not easy to know when the race was over. However, when they had been running half an hour or so, and were quite dry again, the Dodo suddenly called out 'The race is over!' and they all crowded round it, panting, and asking, 'But who has won?'
