The river behind the factory
A short in Ukrainian text at level B1. 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. People once swam in this river. Then the factory began discharging wastewater, and the fish disappeared within a few…
Text
- Колись у цій річці купалися. Потім завод почав скидати стічні води, і риба зникла за кілька років. Люди скаржилися, але вплив одного листа малий. Аж торік стічні води почали очищати, і вода посвітліла. Зграя качок повернулася першою. Кажуть, за десятиліття річка відродиться зовсім.People once swam in this river. Then the factory began discharging wastewater, and the fish disappeared within a few years. People complained, but one letter carries little weight. Only last year did they start treating the wastewater, and the water grew clearer. A flock of ducks returned first. They say in a decade the river will fully recover.
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 people once do in the river?
- Why did the fish disappear?
- What happened last year?
- Who returned first?
Frequently asked
What level do you need to read this text in Ukrainian?
B1. 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.