sin parar
without stoppingDescribes the characters’ continuous talking.
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Alicia en el país de las maravillas
B2 · Chapter 3 of 4 · Edition 1
Una merienda sin fin
An endless tea party
Adapted from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll.
La mesa de la merienda prometía compañía, pero sus ocupantes recibieron a Alicia negándole un sitio que sobraba. Entre la Liebre de Marzo y el Sombrerero dormitaba un lirón, ajeno a las discusiones. El Sombrerero propuso un acertijo y luego admitió desconocer la solución. Alicia comprendió que allí las preguntas no siempre buscaban una respuesta y que la cortesía podía convertirse en otra regla invertida.
Según el Sombrerero, una disputa con el Tiempo había detenido el reloj a las seis. Los invitados conversaban sin parar, rotando alrededor de la mesa para disponer de tazas limpias. En lugar de atender a Alicia, convertían cada comentario en una objeción. Harta de aquella hospitalidad, ella se marchó. Cuando por fin accedió al jardín, ya había aprendido a desconfiar de las apariencias acogedoras.
The tea table promised company, but its occupants greeted Alice by denying her a place when there was plenty of room. A dormouse dozed between the March Hare and the Hatter, oblivious to the arguments. The Hatter offered a riddle and then admitted that he did not know the solution. Alice understood that questions there did not always seek an answer, and that courtesy could become another rule turned upside down.
According to the Hatter, a dispute with Time had stopped the clock at six. The guests talked without stopping, moving around the table to have clean cups available. Instead of paying attention to Alice, they turned every comment into an objection. Tired of that hospitality, she left. By the time she finally entered the garden, she had learned to distrust welcoming appearances.
Key Phrases
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En lugar de
instead ofContrasts listening with the interruptions that actually happen.
acertijo
riddleA puzzling question; the Hatter has no answer to his own.
Original source and edition
Adapted from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll.
A short, abridged Spanish retelling by Read Spanish Daily, adapted from the original English novel. Events and dialogue are simplified for each reading level; this is not the complete novel or a literal translation.
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland — Project Gutenberg eBook 11, English text. Project Gutenberg, 2008.
Original source and edition →