B2 · First read or listen without the translation. Then answer the questions.
Jaña noutbuk tañdağanda, bastapqyda eñ quatty modeldı alğym keldı. Jarnamada onyñ mümkındıgı köp ekenı aityldy, al syrtqy körınısı mağan ūnady. Bıraq satyp almas būryn, kündelıktı ne ısteitınımdı jazyp şyqtym: mätın daiyndaimyn, beinekezdesuge qatysamyn, keide suretterdı öñdeimın. Kürdelı oiyn oinamaimyn, ülken beinejobalarmen de jūmys ıstemeimın.
Translation
When choosing a new laptop, I initially wanted the most powerful model. The advert highlighted its many features, and I liked how it looked. Before buying, though, I listed my daily tasks: writing documents, joining video meetings and occasionally editing photos. I do not play demanding games or work on large video projects.
Dükende ekı nūsqany salystyrdym. Bırınşısınıñ ekrany ülken, jady köbırek, bıraq özı auyrlau. Ekınşısı jeñıl ärı bağasy tömen. Ony sömkeme salyp jüru yñğaily bolar edı. Degenmen tek salmağyna qarap şeşım qabyldağym kelmedı. Mağan pernetaqta, kamera jäne quattağyşsyz jūmys ısteu uaqyty da mañyzdy boldy.
Translation
I compared two options in the shop. The first had a larger screen and more memory, but it was heavier. The second was lighter and cheaper, so it would be convenient to carry in my bag. Still, I did not want weight alone to determine the decision. The keyboard, camera and battery life mattered too.
Satuşy jeñıl modeldıñ quaty künı boiy jetetının aitty. Men mūny naqty qandai jağdaida teksergenın sūradym. Onyñ qolynda beinekezdesu kezındegı ölşem bolmady. Sondyqtan būl sözdı rastalğan nätije retınde qabyldamadym. Özıme tanys bağdarlamany aşyp, qysqa mätın terdım. Kamerany teksergende, bölmedegı jaryqtyñ äserın de eskeruge tyrystym.
Translation
The salesperson said the lighter model's battery would last all day. I asked under what conditions that had been tested. They had no measurement for video calls, so I did not treat the claim as a confirmed result. I opened a familiar program and typed a short passage. When testing the camera, I also tried to account for the lighting in the room.
Tağy bır sūrağym qūrylğyny keiın jöndeu turaly boldy. Qyzmet körsetu ortalyğy qaida ornalasqanyn, bölşekke tapsyrys beru mümkındıgın sūrastyrdym. Ekı modelge de qyzmet körsetıletının bıldım, bıraq jöndeudıñ naqty merzımı aqauğa bailanysty eken. Būl aqparattyñ özı bır model mındettı türde ūzaq qyzmet etedı degendı bıldırmeidı.
Translation
I also asked about future repairs: where the service centre was and whether parts could be ordered. I learned that both models could be serviced, but repair time would depend on the fault. That information alone did not prove that one model would necessarily last longer than the other.
Soñynda jeñıl nūsqany tañdadym. Onyñ pernetaqtasy yñğaily, al teksergen bağdarlamalarym qalypty jūmys ıstedı. Ülken ekrannyñ ornyna, üide būrynnan bar bölek ekrandy paidalanamyn. Ünemdelgen aqşanyñ bärın bırden basqa zatqa jūmsaudyñ qajetı joq dep şeştım. Mağan qajet emes qosymşa mümkındıkter üşın tölemegenım dūrys boldy.
Translation
In the end, I chose the lighter option. Its keyboard was comfortable, and the programs I tested worked properly. At home, I would use the separate monitor I already owned instead of relying on a larger built-in screen. I decided there was no need to spend all the money saved on something else immediately. For me, it made sense not to pay for extra features I did not need.
Būl tañdau är adamğa bırdei jaramaidy. Kün saiyn beine öñdeitın adamğa basqa qūrylğy qajet boluy mümkın. Menıñ qorytyndym qarapaiym: aldymen öz mındetıñdı anyqta, sodan keiın ūsynysty sol mındetpen salystyr. Al tekserılmegen uädenı senımdı derekpen şatastyrma.
Translation
This choice will not suit everyone. Someone who edits video every day may need a different device. My conclusion is simple: identify your own tasks first, then compare the offer against them. Do not confuse an untested promise with reliable evidence.
Check your understanding
What was the narrator's main principle in making the choice?
- The model with the most features suits everyone.
- Any device is sufficient as long as it is cheaper.
- Choose according to personal tasks and the features actually checked.
- Appearance matters more than all other criteria.
Answer and explanation
Choose according to personal tasks and the features actually checked.
The narrator starts by listing tasks, checks usability and the necessary programs, and states this principle at the end. The lower price is one factor, not the only reason.
How should the claim about all-day battery life be assessed?
- The narrator personally tested it for a full day.
- It was not confirmed for video meetings because relevant data was unavailable.
- The salesperson admitted the promise was false.
- A lighter device always has longer battery life.
Answer and explanation
It was not confirmed for video meetings because relevant data was unavailable.
There is no evidence for that particular use case. This does not prove the promise false, but it does not verify it for the narrator's needs either. No full-day test takes place in the story.
Which conclusion does the narrator avoid applying to everyone else?
- It is useful to consider your tasks before buying.
- Promises should be distinguished from verified evidence.
- Several criteria can affect the choice of a device.
- The lighter model he chose is equally suitable for everyone.
Answer and explanation
The lighter model he chose is equally suitable for everyone.
The final paragraph explicitly notes that someone editing video every day may need a different device. A personal choice is not presented as a universal recommendation.