🔊 As each day passed I would learn, in our talk, something about the little prince's planet, his departure from it, his journey. The information would come very slowly, as it might chance to fall from his thoughts. It was in this way that I heard, on the third day, about the catastrophe of the baobabs.

Each day, I learned something from our talks about the little prince's planet, how he left it, and his travels. The information came slowly, as if it just happened to come from his mind. This is how I heard about the baobab disaster on the third day.

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catastrophe /kəˈtæstrəfi/

n. a sudden event that causes great damage or suffering➕

🔊 This time, once more, I had the sheep to thank for it. For the little prince asked me abruptly—as if seized by a grave doubt—"It is true, isn't it, that sheep eat little bushes?"

Again, I had the sheep to thank for this. The little prince suddenly asked me—as if worried by a big doubt—"Is it true that sheep eat small bushes?"

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abruptly /əˈbrʌptli/

adv. suddenly and unexpectedly➕

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grave /ɡreɪv/

adj. giving cause for alarm; serious➕

🔊 "Yes, that is true."

"Yes, that's true."

🔊 "Ah! I am glad!"

"Ah! I'm glad!"

🔊 I did not understand why it was so important that sheep should eat little bushes. But the little prince added: "Then it follows that they also eat baobabs?"

I didn't understand why it was so important for sheep to eat small bushes. But the little prince added: "So, does that mean they also eat baobabs?"

🔊 I pointed out to the little prince that baobabs were not little bushes, but, on the contrary, trees as big as castles; and that even if he took a whole herd of elephants away with him, the herd would not eat up one single baobab.

I told the little prince that baobabs are not small bushes, but instead, trees as big as castles; and even if he brought a whole group of elephants, they wouldn't eat one baobab.

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herd /hɜːrd/

n. a large group of animals of the same type that live and feed together➕

🔊 The idea of the herd of elephants made the little prince laugh. "We would have to put them one on top of the other," he said.

The thought of the elephant group made the little prince laugh. "We'd have to stack them on top of each other," he said.

🔊 But he made a wise comment: "Before they grow so big, the baobabs start out by being little."

But he said something smart: "Before they get so big, baobabs start as small plants."

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wise /waɪz/

adj. having or showing experience, knowledge, and good judgment➕

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comment /ˈkɑːment/

n. a spoken or written remark expressing an opinion or reaction➕

🔊 "That is strictly correct," I said. "But why do you want the sheep to eat the little baobabs?"

"That's exactly right," I said. "But why do you want the sheep to eat the small baobabs?"

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strictly /ˈstrɪktli/

adv. in a way that involves rigid enforcement or that must be obeyed➕

🔊 He answered me at once, "Oh, come, come!", as if he were speaking of something that was self-evident. And I was obliged to make a great mental effort to solve this problem, without any assistance.

He answered right away, "Oh, come on!", as if it was obvious. And I had to think hard to figure this out, without any help.

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self-evident /ˌself ˈevɪdənt/

adj. clearly true and needing no more proof➕

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obliged /əˈblaɪdʒd/

adj. made to do something because it is a law, duty, or is necessary➕

🔊 Indeed, as I learned, there were on the planet where the little prince lived—as on all planets—good plants and bad plants. In consequence, there were good seeds from good plants, and bad seeds from bad plants. But seeds are invisible. They sleep deep in the heart of the earth's darkness, until some one among them is seized with the desire to awaken. Then this little seed will stretch itself and begin—timidly at first—to push a charming little sprig inoffensively upward toward the sun. If it is only a sprout of radish or the sprig of a rose-bush, one would let it grow wherever it might wish. But when it is a bad plant, one must destroy it as soon as possible, the very first instant that one recognizes it.

As I found out, on the little prince's planet—like on all planets—there are good plants and bad plants. So, there are good seeds from good plants and bad seeds from bad plants. But seeds are invisible. They sleep deep in the dark earth until one of them wants to wake up. Then the seed stretches and starts—shyly at first—to push a nice little shoot up towards the sun. If it's just a radish sprout or a rose-bush shoot, you let it grow where it wants. But if it's a bad plant, you must destroy it as soon as you know it.

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consequence /ˈkɑːnsəkwens/

n. a result or effect of an action or condition➕

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invisible /ɪnˈvɪzəbl/

adj. unable to be seen➕

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desire /dɪˈzaɪər/

n. a strong feeling of wanting to have something or wishing for something to happen➕

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timidly /ˈtɪmɪdli/

adv. in a shy or nervous manner, without much confidence➕

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charming /ˈtʃɑːrmɪŋ/

adj. very pleasant or attractive➕

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sprout /spraʊt/

n. a new growth on a plant; a shoot➕

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destroy /dɪˈstrɔɪ/

v. to put an end to the existence of (something) by damaging or attacking it➕

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instant /ˈɪnstənt/

n. a precise moment in time➕

🔊 Now there were some terrible seeds on the planet that was the home of the little prince; and these were the seeds of the baobab. The soil of that planet was infested with them. A baobab is something you will never, never be able to get rid of if you attend to it too late. It spreads over the entire planet. It bores clear through it with its roots. And if the planet is too small, and the baobabs are too many, they split it in pieces . . .

On the little prince's planet, there were some awful seeds: the baobab seeds. The soil was full of them. If you don't deal with a baobab early, you'll never get rid of it. It spreads all over the planet. Its roots go deep through it. And if the planet is small and there are too many baobabs, they break it apart...

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infested /ɪnˈfestɪd/

adj. (of a place) overrun or inhabited in large numbers by pests or parasites➕

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rid /rɪd/

v. to make someone or something free of (an unwanted person or thing)➕

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spreads /spredz/

v. to extend over a large or increasing area➕

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bores /bɔːrz/

v. to make a hole in something, especially with a rotating tool➕

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split /splɪt/

v. to break or cause to break forcibly into parts, especially into halves or along the grain➕

🔊 "It is a question of discipline," the little prince said to me later on. "When you've finished your own toilet in the morning, then it is time to attend to the toilet of your planet, just so, with the greatest care. You must see to it that you pull up regularly all the baobabs, at the very first moment when they can be distinguished from the rosebushes which they resemble so closely in their earliest youth. It is very tedious work," the little prince added, "but very easy."

"It's about discipline," the little prince told me later. "After you finish getting ready in the morning, it's time to take care of your planet, just as carefully. You must regularly pull up all the baobabs as soon as you can tell them apart from rosebushes, which they look like when young. It's very boring work," he added, "but very easy."

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discipline /ˈdɪsəplɪn/

n. the practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behavior➕

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toilet /ˈtɔɪlət/

n. the process of washing oneself, dressing, and attending to one's appearance➕

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distinguished /dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃt/

adj. recognized as different or distinct➕

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resemble /rɪˈzembl/

v. to have a similar appearance to or qualities in common with (someone or something); look or seem like➕

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tedious /ˈtiːdiəs/

adj. too long, slow, or dull; tiresome or monotonous➕

🔊 And one day he said to me: "You ought to make a beautiful drawing, so that the children where you live can see exactly how all this is. That would be very useful to them if they were to travel some day. Sometimes," he added, "there is no harm in putting off a piece of work until another day. But when it is a matter of baobabs, that always means a catastrophe. I knew a planet that was inhabited by a lazy man. He neglected three little bushes ..."

One day he said to me: "You should make a nice drawing so the children where you live can see how this is. It would be very helpful if they ever travel. Sometimes," he added, "it's okay to delay work for another day. But with baobabs, it always leads to disaster. I knew a planet where a lazy man lived. He ignored three small bushes..."

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useful /ˈjuːsfl/

adj. able to be used for a practical purpose or in several ways➕

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harm /hɑːrm/

n. physical injury, especially that which is deliberately inflicted➕

🔊 So, as the little prince described it to me, I have made a drawing of that planet. I do not much like to take the tone of a moralist. But the danger of the baobabs is so little understood, and such considerable risks would be run by anyone who might get lost on an asteroid, that for once I am breaking through my reserve. "Children," I say plainly, "watch out for the baobabs!"

So, as the little prince told me, I made a drawing of that planet. I don't like to sound like I'm preaching. But the danger of baobabs is not well known, and there are big risks for anyone lost on an asteroid, so for once I'm speaking out. "Children," I say clearly, "be careful of baobabs!"

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moralist /ˈmɔːrəlɪst/

n. a person who teaches or promotes morality➕

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considerable /kənˈsɪdərəbl/

adj. notably large in size, amount, or extent➕

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risks /rɪsks/

n. situations involving exposure to danger➕

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asteroid /ˈæstərɔɪd/

n. a small rocky body orbiting the sun, especially between Mars and Jupiter➕

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reserve /rɪˈzɜːrv/

n. a reluctance to express one's feelings or thoughts➕

🔊 My friends, like myself, have been skirting this danger for a long time, without ever knowing it; and so it is for them that I have worked so hard over this drawing. The lesson which I pass on by this means is worth all the trouble it has cost me.

My friends, like me, have been near this danger for a long time without knowing it; so I worked hard on this drawing for them. The lesson I share this way is worth all the effort.

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skirting /ˈskɜːrtɪŋ/

v. going around or past the edge of something➕

🔊 Perhaps you will ask me, "Why are there no other drawings in this book as magnificent and impressive as this drawing of the baobabs?"

You might ask, "Why aren't there other drawings in this book as great and striking as this baobab drawing?"

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magnificent /mæɡˈnɪfɪsnt/

adj. extremely beautiful, elaborate, or impressive➕

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impressive /ɪmˈpresɪv/

adj. evoking admiration through size, quality, or skill➕

🔊 The reply is simple. I have tried. But with the others I have not been successful. When I made the drawing of the baobabs I was carried beyond myself by the inspiring force of urgent necessity.

The answer is simple. I tried. But with the others, I didn't succeed. When I made the baobab drawing, I was driven by the urgent need to do it.

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inspiring /ɪnˈspaɪərɪŋ/

adj. having the effect of inspiring someone➕

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urgent /ˈɜːrdʒənt/

adj. requiring immediate action or attention➕

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