The river that got clean
A short in Armenian text at level B1. 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. For twenty years the factory's wastewater poured into the river, and the fish almost died out. In the water samples…
Text
- Քսան տարի գործարանի կեղտաջրերը լցվում էին գետը, և ձուկը գրեթե ոչնչացավ: Ջրի փորձանմուշներում գտնում էին վնասակար խառնուրդներ, իսկ ափին կուտակվում էին թափոններ: Երբ գործարանը փակվեց, բնակիչները սկսեցին մաքրել ափը և տեսակավորել աղբը: Հինգ տարի անց ջուրը պարզվեց, և թռչունները վերադարձան բույն հյուսելու: Այսօր գետը արգելավայրի մաս է, և այնտեղ ձուկը կրկին բազմանում է:K'san tari gortsarani keghtajrerə ltsvum ein getə, yev dzukə gret'e vochnchatsav. Jri p'ordzanmushnerum gtnum ein vnasakar kharrnurdner, isk ap'in kutakvum ein t'ap'onner. Yerb gortsaranə p'akvets, bnakichnerə sksetsin mak'rel ap'ə yev tesakavorel aghbə. Hing tari ants jurə parzvets, yev t'rrchunnerə veradardzan buyn hyuselu. Aysor getə argelavayri mas e, yev ayntegh dzukə krkin bazmanum e.For twenty years the factory's wastewater poured into the river, and the fish almost died out. In the water samples harmful impurities were found, and on the bank waste was piling up. When the factory closed, the residents began cleaning the bank and sorting the trash. Five years later the water cleared, and the birds returned to nest. Today the river is part of a nature sanctuary, and there the fish multiply again.
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 happened to the fish?
- What was found in the water samples?
- What did the residents start doing?
- What has the river become today?
Frequently asked
What level do you need to read this text in Armenian?
B1. 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.