Лето на даче
Summer at the Dacha
Why millions of Russians leave the city every weekend in summer: a country plot to tend, vegetables to grow, shashlik by the fire, and a swim in the lake.
You will practice: The instrumental for tools and activities (поливая, борясь), aspectual contrasts (сажают, выращивать), and покупать/собирать with the accusative.
Words to know
Skim these before you read — they carry the story. Tap the star to add one to your saved words.
- дачаdacha, country house
- участокplot of land
- природаnature
- грядкаvegetable bed
- огурецcucumber
- помидорtomato
- картошкаpotatoes
- огородvegetable garden
- поливатьto water (plants)
- сорнякweed
- костёрcampfire, bonfire
- шашлыкshashlik, grilled meat
- озероlake
- грибmushroom
- свежийfresh
Did you get it?
5 quick questions — no grades, just a comprehension check.
1. What is a dacha?
2. When do people travel to their dachas?
3. Why is growing your own produce described as a source of pride?
4. What do families do in the evening when the heat dies down?
5. How does dacha life help city dwellers?
Too hard? Pick an easier text in the reading library. Understanding most of a text without translations is the goal — struggling through is not.