The decision that dragged on
A short in Western 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. The roof of the house had to be replaced back in spring, but we put it off. In summer the master was busy, in autumn…
Text
- Տան տանիքը պէտք էր փոխել դեռ գարնանը, բայց մենք հետաձգեցինք: Ամռանը վարպետը զբաղած էր, աշնանը սկսվեցին անձրեւները, եւ գործը ձգձգվեց: Հոկտեմբերին ջուրը ներս մտավ, եւ վերանորոգումը դարձավ երկու անգամ թանկ: Ի վերջո ձեռնամուխ եղանք եւ մէկ շաբաթում ամեն ինչ արեցինք ինչպէս հարկն է: Հիմա գիտենք. հետաձգված գործը ոչ թե կ'անհետանայ, այլ թանկանում:dan danik'ə bedk' er p'okhel terr karnanə, payts menk' hedatsketsink' Amrranə varbedə zpaghadz er, ashnanə sgsvetsin antsrevnerə, yev kordzə tsktskvets Hogdemperin churə ners mdav, yev veranorokumə tartsav yergu ankam t'ang I vercho tserrnamukh yeghank' yev meg shapat'um amen inch aretsink' inchbes hargn e Hima kidenk'. hedatskvadz kordzə voch t'e g'anhedanay, ayl t'anganumThe roof of the house had to be replaced back in spring, but we put it off. In summer the master was busy, in autumn the rains began, and the job dragged on. In October water got inside, and the repair became twice as expensive. In the end we set about it and in a week did everything properly. Now we know: a postponed job does not disappear — it grows more expensive.
Comprehension questions
The questions are asked in Russian on purpose: we test your understanding of the text, not your ability to read the question.
- When did the roof have to be replaced?
- Why did the job drag on in summer?
- What happened in October?
- What conclusion did they come to?
Frequently asked
What level do you need to read this text in Western 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.