LingoflyThe family budget
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 a month my wife and I sit down and count. Our income is steady, but expenses grow: rent, utilities, food…
Text
- Ми з дружиною раз на місяць сідаємо і рахуємо. Дохід у нас сталий, а витрати ростуть: оренда, комуналка, їжа, проїзд. Найбільша стаття — житло. Торік ми взяли холодильник у розстрочку і щомісяця платимо внесок. Заощаджувати виходить мало, але хоч щось відкладаємо на відпустку.My z druzhynoiu raz na misiats sidaiemo i rakhuiemo. Dokhid u nas stalyi, a vytraty rostut: orenda, komunalka, yizha, proizd. Naibilsha stattia — zhytlo. Torik my vzialy kholodylnyk u rozstrochku i shchomisiatsia platymo vnesok. Zaoshchadzhuvaty vykhodyt malo, ale khoch shchos vidkladaiemo na vidpustku.Once a month my wife and I sit down and count. Our income is steady, but expenses grow: rent, utilities, food, transport. The biggest item is housing. Last year we bought a fridge in installments and pay a monthly payment. There is little to save, but we still put something aside for a vacation.
Comprehension questions
The questions are asked in Russian on purpose: we test your understanding of the text, not your ability to read the question.
- How often does the family count the budget?
- Which expense item is the biggest?
- What did they buy in installments?
- What do they save money for?
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.