The neighbor upstairs
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. Ivan, my mom's friend, lives in my building. He is of medium height, slim and gray-haired. He has a kind face and very…
Text
- В моём доме живёт Иван, друг моей мамы. Он среднего роста, стройный и седой. У него доброе лицо и очень тёмные брови. Иван трудолюбивый и заботливый: он часто помогает моей маме. Соседи говорят, что он надёжный человек и очень скромный.V moyom dome zhivyot Ivan, drug moey mamy. On srednego rosta, stroynyy i sedoy. U nego dobroe litso i ochen tyomnye brovi. Ivan trudolyubivyy i zabotlivyy: on chasto pomogaet moey mame. Sosedi govoryat, chto on nadyozhnyy chelovek i ochen skromnyy.Ivan, my mom's friend, lives in my building. He is of medium height, slim and gray-haired. He has a kind face and very dark eyebrows. Ivan is hardworking and caring: he often helps my mom. The neighbors say he is a reliable person and very modest.
Comprehension questions
The questions are asked in Russian on purpose: we test your understanding of the text, not your ability to read the question.
- Who is Ivan?
- What does he look like?
- What is his character like?
- What do the neighbors say about him?
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.