Question

None of the other animals on the farm could get further than the letter A. It was also found that the stupider animals, such as the sheep, hens, and ducks, were unable to learn the Seven Commandments by heart. After much thought Snowball declared that the Seven Commandments could in effect be reduced to a single maxim, namely: “Four legs good, two legs bad.” This, he said, contained the essential principle of Animalism.

–Animal Farm,
George Orwell

Which statement best explains what causes Snowball to change the Seven Commandments?

Snowball is pressured by the animals to simplify the commandments.
Some animals are unable to learn all of the commandments.
The smartest animals become impatient with the stupider animals.
The sheep, hens, and ducks refuse to learn the commandments.

Answer 1

Some animals are unable to learn all of the commandments.

The passage says the "stupider animals, such as the sheep, hens, and ducks, were unable to learn the Seven Commandments by heart," so Snowball simplifies them to one maxim they can remember.