The shelf in three parts
A short in Greek text at level A2. 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. The shelf arrived in three parts and a little bag of screws. The instructions were almost without words, just pictures.…
Text
- Το ράφι ήρθε σε τρία κομμάτια και μια σακούλα με βίδες. Οι οδηγίες ήταν σχεδόν χωρίς λέξεις, μόνο σχήματα. Το τρίτο κομμάτι δεν χωρούσε, γιατί το είχα βάλει ανάποδα. Μετά από δύο ώρες στεκόταν ίσιο, και δεν έμεινε ούτε μία βίδα περίσσια.to ráfi írthe se tría komátia ke mia sakúla me vídes. i odiyíes ítan skhedón khorís léksis, móno skhímata. to tríto komáti den khorúse, yatí to íkha váli anápoda. metá apó dío óres stekótan ísio, ke den émine úte mía vída perísiaThe shelf arrived in three parts and a little bag of screws. The instructions were almost without words, just pictures. The third part wouldn't go in, because I had put it on the wrong way. Two hours later it stood straight, and not one screw was left over.
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 were the instructions like?
- Why wouldn't the third part go in?
- How many screws were left over?
Frequently asked
What level do you need to read this text in Greek?
A2. 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.