The family purse
A text in Russian 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 every month my wife and I look at how much money is left. First we pay the rent and the electricity…
Text
- Каждое первое число мы с женой смотрим, сколько денег осталось. Сначала платим аренду и счёт за электричество, потом еду, и только в конце — всё остальное. В прошлом году мы тратили слишком много, и в конце месяца денег всегда не хватало. Теперь мы экономим на маленьких покупках и кладём немного на счёт каждый месяц. Если цены не вырастут, через два года накопим на машину.Kazhdoe pervoe chislo my s zhenoy smotrim, skolko deneg ostalos. Snachala platim arendu i schyot za elektrichestvo, potom edu, i tolko v kontse — vsyo ostalnoe. V proshlom godu my tratili slishkom mnogo, i v kontse mesyatsa deneg vsegda ne khvatalo. Teper my ekonomim na malenkikh pokupkakh i kladyom nemnogo na schyot kazhdyy mesyats. Esli tseny ne vyrastut, cherez dva goda nakopim na mashinu.On the first of every month my wife and I look at how much money is left. First we pay the rent and the electricity bill, then food, and only at the end everything else. Last year we spent too much, and at the end of the month there was never enough money. Now we save on small purchases and put a little into the account every month. If prices do not rise, in two years we will have saved up for a car.
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 does the family do on the first of the month?
- What do they pay first?
- What was last year like?
- What does the family save on now?
Frequently asked
What level do you need to read this text in Russian?
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.