The first marathon
A text in Persian at level B1. The translation sits next to it for checking, not for support: at this level the text is read whole, and an unknown word is usually guessed from the sentence. A year ago I did not do sport and tired quickly. First I learned the warm-up at the gym. In three months there was my…
Text
- سال پیش من ورزش نمیکردم و زود خسته میشدم. اول در باشگاه گرم کردن را یاد گرفتم. سه ماه بعد اولین رقابت کوچک بود. در ماراتن تهران خیلی ورزشکار بود. به خط پایان رسیدم — بدون مدال, اما با رکورد خودم.sâle pish man varzesh nemi-kardam â zud khaste mi-shâdam. avval dar bâshgâh garme kân râ yâd gereftam. se mâh ba'd avvaline raghbat kuchek bud. dar mârâtâne Tehrân kheyli varzeshkâr bud. be khatte pâyon residam — beâdune mâdâl, amma ba rekârde khâdam.A year ago I did not do sport and tired quickly. First I learned the warm-up at the gym. In three months there was my first small race. At the Tehran marathon there were very many athletes. I reached the finish line — without a medal, but with a personal record.
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 he a year ago?
- What did he learn at the gym?
- How many athletes were at the marathon?
- With what did he reach the finish line?
Frequently asked
What level do you need to read this text in Persian?
B1. That means: everyday topics are behind you, you know about three thousand words, and an unknown word is more often guessed from the sentence than looked up.
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.