Before the exam
A short in Kazakh text at level A2. 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. Last week the whole class prepared for the exam, because the grades go into the diploma. I reviewed the material two…
Text
- Өткен аптада бүкіл сынып емтиханға дайындалды, себебі бағалар дипломға жазылады. Мен күнде екі сағат материалды қайталадым, ал өлеңдерді жатқа үйрендім. Сыныптасым Айдос көшіріп жазуға дайындалып жүр еді, мұғалім оны байқап қалды. Емтиханда маған сексен бес ұпай қойды, ал бір қате жібердім — оны кейін өзім түзеттім. Ең жақсысы, енді университетке түсуге өтінім беруге болады.Last week the whole class prepared for the exam, because the grades go into the diploma. I reviewed the material two hours a day and memorized the poems by heart. My classmate Aidar was getting ready to cheat, but the teacher noticed it. On the exam I was given eighty-five points, and I made one mistake — I corrected it myself later. Best of all, now one can apply for university admission.
Comprehension questions
The questions are asked in Russian on purpose: we test your understanding of the text, not your ability to read the question.
- Why did the class prepare for the exam?
- How did the narrator prepare?
- What happened to Aidar?
- What can be done now?
Frequently asked
What level do you need to read this text in Kazakh?
A2. 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.