LingoflyHow we make decisions
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. In our family there is a rule: before deciding, we write the reasons down on a sheet of paper. On one side the pros, on…
Text
- У нашій родині є правило: перш ніж вирішувати, ми виписуємо причини на аркуші. З одного боку — плюси, з іншого — мінуси. Якщо різниця невелика, чекаємо добу. Насправді допомагає не сам список, а пауза: наступного ранку половина причин здається дрібницею. Врешті-решт ми майже завжди доходимо згоди.U nashii rodyni ye pravylo: persh nizh vyrishuvaty, my vypysuiemo prychyny na arkushi. Z odnoho boku — pliusy, z inshoho — minusy. Yakshcho riznytsia nevelyka, chekaiemo dobu. Naspravdi dopomahaie ne sam spysok, a pauza: nastupnoho ranku polovyna prychyn zdaietsia dribnytseiu. Vreshti-resht my maizhe zavzhdy dokhodymo zghody.In our family there is a rule: before deciding, we write the reasons down on a sheet of paper. On one side the pros, on the other the cons. If the difference is small, we wait a day. In fact, it is not the list that helps but the pause: the next morning half the reasons seem like trifles. In the end we almost always reach agreement.
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 before deciding?
- What do they do if the difference is small?
- What actually helps?
- How does it usually 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.