An argument about the old windows
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. At the residents' meeting the manager proposed replacing the old windows. In his words, the heating costs would fall by…
Text
- Na zebraniu mieszkańców zarządca zaproponował wymianę starych okien. Po jego słowach koszty ogrzewania spadłyby o ćwierć. Sąsiad z drugiego piętra był przeciwko i podniósł głos. Twierdził, że już zapłaciliśmy za naprawę dachu i że to nie jest uczciwe. Zarządca go wysłuchał, przyznał się do błędu w wyliczeniach i obiecał nowe warunki. Na koniec umówiliśmy się na sondaż, a decyzję odłożyliśmy na jesień.At the residents' meeting the manager proposed replacing the old windows. In his words, the heating costs would fall by a quarter. The neighbour from the second floor was against it and raised his voice. He argued that we had already paid for the roof repair and that this was unfair. The manager listened to him, admitted an error in the calculations and promised new terms. In the end we agreed on a survey, and the decision was postponed to autumn.
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 did the manager propose?
- By how much would the heating costs fall?
- Why was the neighbour against it?
- How did the meeting 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.