A licence at the first attempt
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. I took the driving exam at twenty-nine, much later than my friends. I was advised to drive calmly, otherwise I would…
Text
- Egzamin na prawo jazdy zdawałem w wieku dwudziestu dziewięciu lat, dużo później niż przyjaciele. Poradzili mi jechać spokojnie, inaczej zrobiłbym błąd. Na egzaminie okazało się, że najtrudniejsze jest parkowanie między dwoma samochodami. Skręciłem za bardzo w prawo, ale poprawiłem się i egzaminator nic nie powiedział. O ile wiem, u nas przynajmniej połowa nie zdaje za pierwszym razem. Mi udało się za pierwszym razem, najprawdopodobniej dlatego, że trenowałem w każdy koniec tygodnia.I took the driving exam at twenty-nine, much later than my friends. I was advised to drive calmly, otherwise I would make a mistake. At the exam it turned out that the hardest thing was parking between two cars. I turned too far to the right, but corrected myself, and the examiner said nothing. As far as I know, here at least a half does not pass at the first attempt. I managed at the first attempt, most likely because I trained every weekend.
Comprehension questions
The questions are asked in Russian on purpose: we test your understanding of the text, not your ability to read the question.
- At what age did he take the exam?
- What was he advised?
- What turned out to be the hardest?
- Why, in his opinion, did he pass at the first attempt?
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.