The first month with a motorbike
A text in Urdu 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. I bought a second-hand motorbike on Sunday. On Monday I asked the mechanic to set the headlights right. The brakes were…
Text
- پرانی موٹر سائیکل میں نے اتوار کو خریدی۔ پیر کو ہیڈ لائٹ جلانے کے لیے مکینک سے کہا۔ بریک کمزور تھے، انجن کی آواز عجیب۔ بدھ کو راستے میں ٹائر پنکچر ہو گیا، ٹو کر نہیں آیا، پنکچر والے نے ہی ٹھیک کیا۔ جمعے کو سب کچھ ٹھیک تھا اور میں پہلی بار شاہراہ پر تیز چلا۔purani motar saikl main ne atwar ko khuridi. pir ko hed lait dzhalane ke lie makinik se kaha. braik kamzor the, indzhan ki awaz adzhib. budh ko raste main tair pankchar ho gaya, to kar nahin aya, pankchar wale ne hi thik kiya. dzhume ko sab kachh thik tha aur main pehli bar shahrah per tiz chala.I bought a second-hand motorbike on Sunday. On Monday I asked the mechanic to set the headlights right. The brakes were weak, the engine’s sound strange. On Wednesday the tyre went flat on the way; the tow truck did not come — the master by the road fixed it himself. On Friday everything was in order, and for the first time I rode fast along the avenue.
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 was bought on Sunday?
- What was wrong with the brakes?
- Who fixed the puncture?
- What happened on Friday?
Frequently asked
What level do you need to read this text in Urdu?
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.