LingoflyThe river changed color
A short text in Greek 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 river by the village changed color within a week. The grown-ups said the factory was to blame, but nobody took any…
Text
- Το ποτάμι πίσω από το χωριό άλλαξε χρώμα μέσα σε μια βδομάδα. Οι μεγάλοι έλεγαν ότι φταίει το εργοστάσιο, αλλά μέτρηση δεν είχε κάνει κανείς. Δύο κάτοικοι έγραψαν αναφορά και ζήτησαν έλεγχο. Ο έλεγχος έγινε τον επόμενο μήνα, και το εργοστάσιο πλήρωσε πρόστιμο.to potámi píso apó to khorió álakse khróma mésa se mia vdomáda. i megáli élegan óti ftéi to ergostásio, alá métrisi den íkhe káni kanís. dío kátiki égrapsan anaforá ke zítisan élenkho. o élenkhos éyine ton epómeno mína, ke to ergostásio plírose próstimoThe river by the village changed color within a week. The grown-ups said the factory was to blame, but nobody took any measurements. Two residents wrote a complaint and demanded an inspection. The inspection took place the next month, and the factory paid a fine.
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 was missing from the grown-ups' talk?
- What did the two residents do?
- How did it all end?
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.