The family budget
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. On the first of the month mum and dad sit down at the table and count the money. First they pay the rent and the…
Text
- Pierwszego dnia miesiąca mama i tata siadają przy stole i liczą pieniądze. Najpierw płacą czynsz i rachunek za prąd, potem jedzenie, na końcu reszta. W zeszłym roku wydatki były duże i pod koniec miesiąca brakowało pieniędzy. Teraz oszczędzają na ogrzewaniu i odkładają sto euro co miesiąc. Ich oszczędności rosną, a to ich cieszy.On the first of the month mum and dad sit down at the table and count the money. First they pay the rent and the electricity bill, then food, and at the end — everything else. Last year the expenses were big, and by the end of the month money ran short. Now they economise on heating and put aside a hundred euros every month. Their savings are growing, and that makes them glad.
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 do the parents do on the first of the month?
- What is paid first of all?
- What do they economise on now?
- How much do they put aside every month?
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.