The 'about' doesn't always work
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 recipe said three hundred grams of flour, but I had no scales. I measured with a cup, and it came out about the…
Text
- Στη συνταγή έγραφε τριακόσια γραμμάρια αλεύρι, αλλά ζυγαριά δεν είχα. Μέτρησα με ένα φλιτζάνι και βγήκε περίπου το ίδιο. Το γλυκό ανέβηκε λιγότερο απ’ όσο έπρεπε, όμως η γεύση ήταν σωστή. Την επόμενη φορά αγόρασα ζυγαριά, γιατί το «περίπου» δεν δουλεύει πάντα.sti sindayí égrafe triakósia gramária alévri, alá zigariá den íkha. métrisa me éna flidzáni ke vyíke perípu to ídio. to glikó anévike ligótero ap’ óso éprepe, ómos i yéfsi ítan sostí. tin epómeni forá agórasa zigariá, yatí to «perípu» den dulévi pándaThe recipe said three hundred grams of flour, but I had no scales. I measured with a cup, and it came out about the same. The pie rose less than it should have, but the taste was right. The next time I bought scales, because 'about' doesn't always work.
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 did the narrator measure the flour with?
- What went wrong?
- What conclusion did he draw?
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.