The renovation that dragged on
A text in Polish 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. We planned the bathroom renovation for two weeks, but it dragged on for two months. First there was a glitch with the…
Text
- Remont łazienki planowaliśmy na dwa tygodnie, a trwał dwa miesiące. Najpierw były zakłócenia w dostawie i praca przeciągnęła się. Mistrz zwlekał z odpowiedzią, a klęska wydawała się bliska. Kiedy płytki w końcu przyszły, wyszło na jaw, że połowa jest w złym kolorze. Zakłócenie usunęliśmy w trzy dni i potem pracowaliśmy wytrwale do końca. Teraz łazienka jest zrobiona porządnie, choć trwało to dłużej, niż myśleliśmy.We planned the bathroom renovation for two weeks, but it dragged on for two months. First there was a glitch with the delivery, and the work dragged. The workman delayed his answer, and failure seemed near. When the tiles finally came, it turned out that half of them were in a different colour. We fixed the glitch in three days and then worked hard until the end. Now the bathroom is done properly, although it took more time than we thought.
Comprehension questions
The questions are asked in Russian on purpose: we test your understanding of the text, not your ability to read the question.
- How long did the renovation actually drag on?
- Why did the work drag at the beginning?
- What turned out when the tiles came?
- How did it all end?
Frequently asked
What level do you need to read this text in Polish?
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.