LingoflyThe night train
A text in Ukrainian 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. Once I rode a night train and nearly slept through my station. Suddenly the attendant knocked on the compartment door…
Text
- Якось раз я їхав нічним потягом і мало не проспав свою станцію. Провідниця зненацька постукала у двері: «Вам за пʼять хвилин виходити». Як зараз бачу той перон і два ліхтарі. Мені довелося йти пішки три кілометри, бо автобуси вже не ходили. У підсумку я дійшов до ранку й сміявся всю дорогу.Yakos raz ya yikhav nichnym potiahom i malo ne prospav svoiu stantsiiu. Providnytsia znenatska postukala u dveri: «Vam za piat khvylyn vykhodyty». Yak zaraz bachu toi peron i dva likhtari. Meni dovelosia yty pishky try kilometry, bo avtobusy vzhe ne khodyly. U pidsumku ya diishov do ranku y smiiavsia vsiu dorohu.Once I rode a night train and nearly slept through my station. Suddenly the attendant knocked on the compartment door: you get off in five minutes. I can still see that platform and two lamps. I had to walk three kilometers, because the buses had stopped running. In the end I made it by morning and laughed the whole way.
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 almost happened to the narrator?
- Who knocked on the door?
- Why did he have to walk?
- How did the trip end?
Frequently asked
What level do you need to read this text in Ukrainian?
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.