B2 · First read or listen without the translation. Then answer the questions.
Qalanyñ şetınde jaña tūrğyn üiler köbeigen soñ, äkımdık avtobus bağytyn özgertudı ūsyndy. Joba boiynşa avtobus ortalyqqa qysqa jolmen jetedı, bıraq būrynğy ekı aialdamağa toqtamaidy. Aldyn ala esepte sapar uaqyty jiyrma minutqa qysqaratyny körsetılgen. Jūmysqa kün saiyn qatynaityn tūrğyndar būl jañalyqty qoldady. Alaida sol aialdamalardy paidalanatyn zeinetkerler men balaly ata-analar jaña aialdamağa deiın ūzaq jüruge tura keletının aitty.
Translation
As more new housing appeared on the city's outskirts, the local administration proposed changing a bus route. Under the proposal, the bus would take a shorter road to the centre but would no longer serve two existing stops. Preliminary calculations indicated that the journey would be twenty minutes shorter. Residents who commute to work every day welcomed the news. However, pensioners and parents with children who use those stops said they would face a long walk to the new stop.
Qoğamdyq talqylauda bır tūrğyn sapardyñ jalpy uaqytyn üiden şyqqan sätten bastap esepteudı ūsyndy. Onyñ pıkırınşe, avtobusta ötkızetın uaqyttyñ azaiuy är adam üşın bırdei paida äkelmeidı. Tağy bır qatysuşy keşkı reisterdıñ sirek ekenın eske saldy: kündızgı jyldamdyq artqanymen, jūmystan keş qaitatyndarğa būl jetkılıksız. Äkımdık ökılı jaña bağyttyñ şyğyny äzırge tolyq eseptelmegenın, sondyqtan bilet bağasy jönınde uäde bere almaitynyn tüsındırdı.
Translation
During the public discussion, one resident suggested measuring total journey time from the moment people leave home. In his view, spending less time on the bus does not benefit everyone equally. Another participant pointed out that evening services are infrequent: faster travel during the day would not be enough for people returning late from work. The administration's representative explained that the full costs of the new route had not yet been calculated, so he could not make promises about fares.
Soñynda bağytty alty apta synap köruge kelıstı. Osy kezeñde jolauşylar sany, kütu uaqyty jäne aialdamağa jetu qiyndyğy turaly derek jinalady. Būrynğy aialdamalarğa baratyn şağyn avtobusty uaqytşa qaldyru da qarastyrylady. Tüpkılıktı şeşım tek ortaşa jyldamdyqqa süienbei, ärtürlı jolauşylardyñ jağdaiyn eskere otyryp qabyldanady. Talqylau ūsynysty bırden maqūldaumen emes, ony ädıl bağalaudyñ şarttaryn anyqtaumen aiaqtaldy.
Translation
They eventually agreed to trial the route for six weeks. During that period, they will collect data on passenger numbers, waiting times and difficulties reaching the stops. They will also consider temporarily retaining a minibus service to the old stops. The final decision will account for different passengers' circumstances instead of relying solely on average speed. The discussion ended by establishing the conditions for a fair assessment, rather than by immediately approving the proposal.
Check your understanding
Which approach does the text support?
- The new route should be judged solely by the bus's speed.
- Every change should be rejected immediately.
- The route should be trialled and its effects on different passengers assessed together.
- The route should immediately become permanent even if the fare is unknown.
Answer and explanation
The route should be trialled and its effects on different passengers assessed together.
The first paragraph presents differing passenger needs, the second shows why speed alone is insufficient, and the third sets out a trial with several kinds of data. Together, these support a comprehensive assessment.
What did they decide at the end of the discussion?
- To reduce the fare by twenty per cent.
- To trial the new route for six weeks.
- To cancel all evening services.
- To approve the route immediately without collecting more data.
Answer and explanation
To trial the new route for six weeks.
The start of the third paragraph states the duration directly: ‘bağytty alty apta synap köruge kelıstı’. Twenty in the first paragraph refers to the estimated minutes saved, not a percentage discount.
Why might a shorter bus journey be insufficient for some residents?
- The time saved on the bus may not make up for a long walk and wait.
- The new bus will not go to the city centre at all.
- All passengers travel only at night.
- Residents have been forbidden from joining the public discussion.
Answer and explanation
The time saved on the bus may not make up for a long walk and wait.
Connect the concern about a distant stop with the proposal to measure the journey from home and the comment about infrequent evening services. Time saved on the bus may not translate into enough time saved over the whole journey.