The old wardrobe
A short text in Russian 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. In grandpa's shed stands an old wardrobe; it is older than my father. The wood is rough to the touch, and the paint has…
Text
- В сарае у деда стоит старый шкаф, он старше моего отца. Дерево на ощупь шершавое, а краска выцвела на солнце и уже не блестит. Одна дверца кривая, на нижней полке тёмное пятно от масла. Всё же шкаф целый и ещё годный, только замок заржавел. Дед говорит, что почистит замок и покроет дерево новым слоем лака. Мне нравится этот шкаф: в нём живёт запах времени.V sarae u deda stoit staryy shkaf, on starshe moego ottsa. Derevo na oshchup shershavoe, a kraska vytsvela na solntse i uzhe ne blestit. Odna dvertsa krivaya, na nizhney polke tyomnoe pyatno ot masla. Vsyo zhe shkaf tselyy i eshchyo godnyy, tolko zamok zarzhavel. Ded govorit, chto pochistit zamok i pokroet derevo novym sloem laka. Mne nravitsya etot shkaf: v nyom zhivyot zapakh vremeni.In grandpa's shed stands an old wardrobe; it is older than my father. The wood is rough to the touch, and the paint has faded in the sun and no longer shines. One door is crooked; on the bottom shelf there is a dark stain from oil. Still, the wardrobe is whole and still fit; only the lock has rusted. Grandpa says he will clean the lock and cover the wood with a new layer of lacquer. I like this wardrobe: the smell of time lives in it.
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 is the wood like to the touch?
- What happened to the paint?
- What is wrong with the lock?
- What does grandpa intend to do?
Frequently asked
What level do you need to read this text in Russian?
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.