El libro prestado del muelle
The Borrowed Book from the Dock
The test
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6 questions about this story. Two minutes. Nothing to sign up for, and nothing about you is saved.
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Exercises
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1 · Fill in the blank
This book is not hers: it is borrowed.
2 · Write it in Spanish
That smell brings her a nice memory.
The dock is long and dark.
She has to go down the stairs of the building.
Beatriz takes it and reads the first words.
Beatriz reads out loud on the balcony.
3 · Put the words in order
4 · Match the word to the picture
Write the letter of the picture next to the word.
Vocabulary
18 words from this story. You will hear all of them in the song.
La canción · The song
The story, line by line
Read the Spanish first. Say it out loud. The English is there only when you need it.
El libro está abierto sobre la mesa pequeña.
The book is open on the small table.
Es un libro viejo, de páginas amarillas.
It is an old book, with yellow pages.
Beatriz lee en voz alta en el balcón.
Beatriz reads out loud on the balcony.
Lee despacio, porque le gusta oír las palabras.
She reads slowly, because she likes hearing the words.
El libro huele a sal y a madera.
The book smells like salt and wood.
Ese olor le trae un recuerdo bonito.
That smell brings her a nice memory.
Beatriz recuerda las mañanas en el muelle.
Beatriz remembers the mornings at the dock.
Recuerda el olor de las baleadas calientes.
She remembers the smell of hot baleadas.
Harina, frijoles, queso y mantequilla en una tortilla.
Flour, beans, cheese and butter in a tortilla.
El muelle huele así cada mañana temprano.
The dock smells like that every early morning.
Pero ahora es de noche en La Ceiba.
But now it is night in La Ceiba.
La noche está seca y muy tranquila.
The night is dry and very calm.
Beatriz cierra el libro y lo mira despacio.
Beatriz closes the book and looks at it slowly.
Este libro no es suyo: es prestado.
This book is not hers: it is borrowed.
Beatriz tiene que devolverlo esta noche.
Beatriz has to return it tonight.
En el muelle hay una estantería de madera.
At the dock there is a wooden bookshelf.
Es una estantería abierta, con libros para leer.
It is an open bookshelf, with books to read.
Un libro sale de allí y luego vuelve.
A book leaves from there and then comes back.
Beatriz tiene que llevar este libro de vuelta.
Beatriz has to take this book back.
Guarda el libro en el bolso.
She puts the book in her bag.
Tiene que bajar la escalera del edificio.
She has to go down the stairs of the building.
La calle está callada y las lámparas brillan.
The street is quiet and the lamps shine.
Beatriz camina hacia el mar.
Beatriz walks toward the sea.
El muelle no está lejos de su casa.
The dock is not far from her house.
Tiene que cruzar dos calles y una plaza.
She has to cross two streets and a square.
Camina despacio, porque no tiene prisa.
She walks slowly, because she is not in a hurry.
El aire trae olor de mar.
The air brings a smell of the sea.
Beatriz oye el agua contra la madera.
Beatriz hears the water against the wood.
El muelle es largo y oscuro.
The dock is long and dark.
Unas lámparas pequeñas brillan sobre el agua.
Some small lamps shine over the water.
Hay barcos tranquilos, uno al lado de otro.
There are calm boats, one next to another.
Hay redes mojadas sobre el suelo de madera.
There are wet nets on the wooden floor.
Las redes huelen a pescado y a sal.
The nets smell like fish and salt.
Beatriz camina despacio entre las redes.
Beatriz walks slowly between the nets.
Arriba, las estrellas brillan sobre el mar.
Above, the stars shine over the sea.
El muelle de noche es otro muelle.
The dock at night is another dock.
Por la mañana aquí hay ruido y calor.
In the morning there is noise and heat here.
Por la mañana aquí huele a baleadas.
In the morning it smells like baleadas here.
Ahora solo hay agua, viento y silencio.
Now there is only water, wind and silence.
Beatriz llega al final del muelle.
Beatriz arrives at the end of the dock.
Allí está la estantería, contra la pared de madera.
There is the bookshelf, against the wooden wall.
Beatriz saca el libro del bolso.
Beatriz takes the book out of her bag.
Lo abre una última vez y lo mira.
She opens it one last time and looks at it.
Tiene que leer una página más.
She has to read one more page.
Beatriz lee en voz alta, para el mar.
Beatriz reads out loud, for the sea.
Su voz suena pequeña entre los barcos.
Her voice sounds small among the boats.
El agua suena despacio debajo del muelle.
The water sounds slowly under the dock.
Beatriz termina la página y cierra el libro.
Beatriz finishes the page and closes the book.
Está un poco triste, pero sonríe.
She is a little sad, but she smiles.
El libro no es suyo y tiene que dejarlo.
The book is not hers and she has to leave it.
Beatriz pone el libro en la estantería.
Beatriz puts the book on the shelf.
Lo pone al lado de los otros libros.
She puts it next to the other books.
Dice adiós al libro en voz baja.
She says goodbye to the book in a low voice.
Ahora la estantería está completa otra vez.
Now the bookshelf is complete again.
Beatriz mira los libros un momento.
Beatriz looks at the books for a moment.
Hay un libro verde, pequeño y viejo.
There is a green book, small and old.
Beatriz lo toma y lee las primeras palabras.
Beatriz takes it and reads the first words.
Le gusta. Lo guarda en el bolso.
She likes it. She puts it in her bag.
Este libro también es prestado.
This book is borrowed too.
Un día tiene que devolverlo aquí.
One day she has to return it here.
Y ese día va a volver al muelle.
And that day she is going to come back to the dock.
Beatriz camina de vuelta por el muelle.
Beatriz walks back along the dock.
Las lámparas brillan sobre el agua oscura.
The lamps shine over the dark water.
El olor a sal queda en sus manos.
The smell of salt stays on her hands.
Mañana tiene que levantarse temprano.
Tomorrow she has to get up early.
Va a desayunar baleadas cerca del muelle.
She is going to have baleadas for breakfast near the dock.
Y por la noche va a leer otra vez.
And at night she is going to read again.
Beatriz sube la escalera de su casa.
Beatriz goes up the stairs of her house.
Sale al balcón con el libro nuevo.
She goes out to the balcony with the new book.
Abre la primera página y lee en voz alta.
She opens the first page and reads out loud.
Su voz sale al barrio tranquilo de La Ceiba.
Her voice goes out into the quiet neighborhood of La Ceiba.
Answers
Now watch it again with no subtitles.
The third pass of the video is the one that counts. Put the guide down and just listen.