LingoflyThe decision that dragged on
A text in Western Armenian 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. 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 տակաւին գարնան, բայց մենք յետաձգեցինք։ Ամրան վարպետը զբաղած էր, աշնան սկսան անձրեւները, եւ գործը ձգձգուեցաւ։ Հոկտեմբերին ջուրը ներս մտաւ, եւ վերանորոգումը դարձաւ երկու անգամ թանկ։ Ի վերջոյ ձեռնամուխ եղանք եւ մէկ շաբաթուան մէջ ամէն ինչ ըրինք ինչպէս հարկն է։ Յետաձգումը մեզի թանկ նստաւ, ու յաջորդ անգամ պիտի չսպասենք։dan danik'ə bedk' er p'okhel dagavin karnan, payts menk' hedatsketsink' Amran varbedə zpaghadz er, ashnan sgsan antsrevnerə, yev kordzə tsktskuetsav Hogdemperin churə ners mdav, yev veranorokumə tartsav yergu ankam t'ang I vercho tserrnamukh yeghank' yev meg shapat'van mech amen inch ərink' inchbes hargn e Hedatskumə mezi t'ang nsdav, u hachort ankam bidi chsbasenk'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 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. The delay cost us dearly, and next time we won't wait.
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: 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.