Pel barri
A short in Catalan text at level A1. The translation sits next to it: reading with a dictionary is still too early at this level, and without support it will not happen at all. Marta's quarter is a calm residential quarter by the old town. In the middle there is a small park with a green lawn…
Text
- El barri de la Marta és una illa de cases tranquil·la vora el casc antic. Al mig hi ha els jardins amb la gespa verda i un fanal vell al costat de la porta de l'església. El carrer principal és de vianants: els nens hi juguen i els passavolants pregunten l'hora. A l'altra banda hi ha un bloc de pisos nou, i després del gir, la botiga de rebosteria de la Rosa, amb bunyols els divendres. Al vespre el barri és un silenci; només se senten els passos de qui torna a casa pel camí curt.Marta's quarter is a calm residential quarter by the old town. In the middle there is a small park with a green lawn and an old lamp post by the church door. The main street is pedestrian: children play on it, and passers-by ask what time it is. On the other side there is a new apartment block, and round the corner — Rosa's sweet shop, with doughnuts on Fridays. In the evening the quarter is quiet; only the steps of those coming home by the short way are heard.
Comprehension questions
The questions are asked in Russian on purpose: we test your understanding of the text, not your ability to read the question.
- What stands in the middle of the quarter?
- What is the quarter's main street like?
- When do they make doughnuts at the sweet shop?
- What is the quarter famous for in the evening?
Frequently asked
What level do you need to read this text in Catalan?
A1. That means: you know the letters and have a stock of everyday words — about two or three hundred.
How to read a text in an unfamiliar language usefully?
First all the way through without peeking at the translation — just to catch the familiar words. Then with the translation. Then all the way through again: the second pass brings noticeably more, and that feeling matters more than any rule.