B1 · First read or listen without the translation. Then answer the questions.
Bızdıñ üidıñ aulasynda eskı oryndyq pen şağyn bos alañ bar edı. Köktemde körşımız Älia sol jerge gül egudı ūsyndy. Al balalar futbol oinaityn oryn kerek ekenın aitty. Alğaşqy jinalysta tūrğyndar bır şeşımge kele almady. Sondyqtan Älia är päterge qysqa saualnama taratyp, adamdardyñ pıkırın jinady.
Translation
Our courtyard had an old bench and a small open area. In spring, our neighbour Aliya suggested planting flowers there. The children said they needed a place to play football. At the first meeting, the residents could not agree on a decision. So Aliya delivered a short survey to every flat and collected people's opinions.
Jinalysqa kele almağan körşıler de saualnamağa jauap berdı. Köpşılık alañdy ekı bölıkke böludı qoldady. Üige jaqyn jerge gül egıp, oryndyqty jöndeuge kelıstı. Al joldan alys bölıktı balalarğa qaldyrdy. Aqşany tūrğyndar öz erkımen jinady, qūraldardy bırneşe körşı äkeldı.
Translation
Neighbours who had been unable to attend the meeting also answered the survey. Most supported dividing the area into two parts. They agreed to plant flowers near the building and repair the bench. They left the part farther from the road for the children. Residents contributed money voluntarily, and several neighbours brought tools.
Senbı künı bärı bırge jūmys ıstedı. Endı keşke balalar oinap, ülkender oryndyqta demalady. Älia üşın eñ mañyzdysy ädemı gülder emes, körşılerdıñ bırın-bırı tyñdağany boldy.
Translation
On Saturday, everyone worked together. Now the children play in the evenings while the adults relax on the bench. For Aliya, what mattered most was not the beautiful flowers but the fact that the neighbours had listened to one another.
Check your understanding
What is the main idea of the text?
- The entire courtyard should be planted with flowers.
- Listening to different views can help people find a shared solution.
- Children should play somewhere outside the courtyard.
- Only professionals should take part in improving the courtyard.
Answer and explanation
Listening to different views can help people find a shared solution.
At first, the residents could not agree. After the survey, they accommodated both the suggestion to plant flowers and the children's need for a place to play. The final sentence explicitly highlights that the neighbours listened to one another.
Which part of the area did they leave for the children?
- The part farther from the road.
- The part planted with flowers.
- Only the space where the bench stood.
- The entire area.
Answer and explanation
The part farther from the road.
The second paragraph says: ‘Al joldan alys bölıktı balalarğa qaldyrdy’ — they left the part farther from the road for the children.
Why was the survey useful?
- It forced the residents to contribute money.
- It immediately reduced the price of flowers.
- It helped include the views of people who had not attended the meeting.
- It helped remove the space intended for children.
Answer and explanation
It helped include the views of people who had not attended the meeting.
Connect the end of the first paragraph with the start of the second: surveys were delivered to the flats, and neighbours who had missed the meeting also answered. The survey widened participation in the discussion; financial contributions remained voluntary.