The river that was cleaned
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. For twenty years the factory's waste waters flowed 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 հիւսելու: Այսօր գետը արգելաւայրի մաս է, եւ այնտեղ ձուկը կրկին բազմանում է:k'san dari kordzarani geghdachrerə ltsvum ein kedə, yev tsugə kret'e vochnchatsav Chri p'ortsanmushnerum kdnum ein vnasagar kharrnurtner, isg ap'in gudagvum ein t'ap'onner Yerp kordzaranə p'agvets, pnagichnerə sgsetsin mak'rel ap'ə yev desagavorel aghpə Hink dari ants churə barzvets, yev t'rrchunnerə veratartsan puyn hyuselu Aysor kedə arkelavayri mas e, yev ayndegh tsugə grgin pazmanum eFor twenty years the factory's waste waters flowed into the river, and the fish almost died out. In the water samples harmful impurities were found, and on the bank waste accumulated. When the factory closed, the residents began to clean the bank and sort the garbage. Five years later the water became clean, and the birds returned to build nests. Today the river is part of a reserve, 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 begin to do?
- What has the river become today?
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.