The stream by the factory
A text in Hebrew 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. For ten years the factory's wastewater flowed straight into the stream. The fish disappeared, and there were harmful…
Text
- עשר שנים מי השופכין של המפעל זרמו ישר לנחל. הדגים נעלמו, ובמים היו חומרים מזיקים. כשהבדיקות הראו מה קורה, חייבו את המפעל לעשות סדר. אנשים מהכפר ניקו את הגדה ונטעו עצים חדשים. את הנחל הצליחו לשקם, אבל לא כל הדגים חזרו. היום המקום הוא גן לאומי, ועל השילוט כתוב: אל תזרוק זבל.эсэр шаним мей ха-шофхин шель ха-мифаль зарму яшар ле-нахаль. ха-дагим ниэлму, ве-ба-маим хайу хомерим мазиким. ке-ше-ха-бдикот хэру ма корэ, хихью эт ха-мифаль лаасот седер. анашим ми-ха-кфар нику эт ха-гада ве-натэу эцим хадашим. эт ха-нахаль хицлиху лешакем, аваль ло коль ха-дагим хазру. ха-йом ха-маком ху ган леуми, ве-аль ха-шилут катув: аль тизрок зэвель.For ten years the factory's wastewater flowed straight into the stream. The fish disappeared, and there were harmful impurities in the water. When inspections showed what was happening, the factory was obliged to put things in order. People from the village cleaned the bank and planted new trees. The stream was restored, but not all the fish came back. Today this place is a nature reserve, and the sign says: "Do not throw litter".
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 flowed into the stream?
- What forced a change?
- What did the people from the village do?
- What does the sign say today?
Frequently asked
What level do you need to read this text in Hebrew?
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.