Formes i mides
A short in Valencian text at level A2. 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. For working at home I wanted a big table, but the study corner is narrower than I thought. With a meter in my hands I…
Text
- Per treballar a casa volia una taula gran, però el racó del despatx és més estret del que pensava. Amb el metre a la mà, vaig mesurar tot: huitanta centímetres d'ample i un metre de llarg, ni un pam més. Al final vaig triar una taula quadrada de superfície llisa, perquè les cantonades punxegudes no cabien entre la porta i l'armari. El mirall vell, oval i descolorit, va passar al passadís, i allà sembla més gran que mai. Ara l'espai queda ordenat: cada cosa al seu lloc, i encara hi cap una cadira de més.For working at home I wanted a big table, but the study corner is narrower than I thought. With a meter in my hands I measured everything: eighty centimeters wide and a meter long, not a span more. In the end I chose a square table with a smooth surface, because the sharp corners did not fit between the door and the wardrobe. The old oval and faded mirror moved to the hallway, and there it seems bigger than ever. Now the space is in order: every thing in its place, and one extra chair still fits.
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 shape of table did the author choose?
- Why did the table with sharp corners not fit?
- Where did the old mirror move to?
- What else fits in the study in the end?
Frequently asked
What level do you need to read this text in Valencian?
A2. 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.