Test of Russian as a Foreign Language (TORFL / ТРКИ) — Questions and Answers

Question 1: How many letters are in the Russian (Cyrillic) alphabet?

36
26
30
33 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 33

The modern Russian Cyrillic alphabet has 33 letters.

Question 2: What are 'блины' (blini)?

Fried bread rolls
Sweet pastries with jam
Small dumplings filled with meat
Thin Russian pancakes (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Thin Russian pancakes

Блины are thin Russian pancakes similar to crepes, traditionally made with buckwheat or wheat flour and served with various toppings.

Question 3: How do you say 'week' in Russian?

Месяц (mesyats)
Год (god)
День (den)
Неделя (nedelya) (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Неделя (nedelya)

'Неделя' (nedelya) means 'week' in Russian, comprising seven days.

Question 4: What does 'быстро' (bystro) mean?

slowly
carefully
quickly (Correct answer)
quietly

Correct answer: quickly

'Быстро' means 'quickly' or 'fast' in Russian.

Question 5: What is the Russian word for 'book'?

Газета
Книга (Correct answer)
Журнал
Письмо

Correct answer: Книга

'Книга' (kniga) is the Russian word for book, a fundamental everyday vocabulary word.

Question 6: What does the number 'nol' stand for?

fourteen
zero (Correct answer)
nine
one

Correct answer: zero

The Russian word 'ноль' (nol') directly translates to the number zero in English. It is used in the same context as 'zero' for counting, mathematical operations, and indicating the absence of quantity. This makes 'zero' the correct numerical value.

Question 7: How do you say 'Monday' in Russian?

Пятница (Pyatnitsa)
Вторник (Vtornik)
Понедельник (Ponedelnik) (Correct answer)
Среда (Sreda)

Correct answer: Понедельник (Ponedelnik)

Понедельник (Ponedelnik) is the Russian word for Monday, the first day of the work week.

Question 8: Which Russian vowel, when stressed, sounds like 'yo'?

Я
Е
Ю
Ё (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Ё

The letter Ё always sounds like 'yo' and is always stressed when present in a word.

Question 9: What is the dative case used for in Russian?

Location with prepositions
Possession or origin
Direct object of a verb
Indirect object (recipient) of an action (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Indirect object (recipient) of an action

The dative case marks the indirect object — the recipient of an action — equivalent to 'to/for' in English.

Question 10: What does 'полночь' (polnoch) mean in English?

Dawn
Afternoon
Midnight (Correct answer)
Noon

Correct answer: Midnight

'Полночь' (polnoch) means 'midnight' in Russian, the middle of the night at 12:00 AM.

Question 11: What does 'работа' (rabota) mean in English?

Robot
Work/Job (Correct answer)
Travel
Rest

Correct answer: Work/Job

'Работа' means work or job — it is the root of the English word 'robot' via Czech.

Question 12: What is 'десять' in English?

Nine
Eight
Seven
Ten (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Ten

Десять means ten in Russian; it is the base for the teen numbers (одиннадцать = eleven, etc.).

Question 13: What does 'Который час?' mean in English?

What day is it?
What is the date?
What year is it?
What time is it? (Correct answer)

Correct answer: What time is it?

'Который час?' (Kotoryy chas?) is the standard Russian way to ask what time it is.

Question 14: Which word means 'yes' in Russian?

хорошо
нет
да (Correct answer)
может

Correct answer: да

'Да' (da) is the Russian word for 'yes.'

Question 15: Bread is the most consumed food in Russia. How would you purchase it?

Bolnitsa
Bulochnaya (Correct answer)
Igrushechnyi Magazin
Promtovary

Correct answer: Bulochnaya

Булочная (Bulochnaya) is a bakery in Russian, specifically where one would go to purchase bread and other baked goods. Bread is a staple food in Russia, and bakeries are common establishments for its purchase.

Question 16: Which Russian word means 'work'?

отдых
игра
учёба
работа (Correct answer)

Correct answer: работа

'Работа' (rabota) means 'work' or 'job' in Russian.

Question 17: How do you say 'I don't understand' in Russian?

Я не хочу
Я не знаю
Я не говорю
Я не понимаю (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Я не понимаю

Я не понимаю means 'I don't understand' in Russian; не is the negation particle.

Question 18: What does 'время' (vremya) mean?

place
money
time (Correct answer)
weather

Correct answer: time

'Время' means 'time' in Russian.

Question 19: What is the Russian 'banya'?

A wooden storage building
A type of folk dance
A traditional steam bathhouse (Correct answer)
A traditional Russian feast

Correct answer: A traditional steam bathhouse

The banya is a traditional Russian steam bathhouse where people sweat, use birch branches (веники), and socialize — a deep cultural institution.

Question 20: What is the correct pronunciation of 'В' in Russian?

Like English 'w'
Like English 'f'
Like English 'b'
Like English 'v' (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Like English 'v'

The Russian letter В is pronounced like the English 'v' as in 'victory'.

Question 21: How do you say 'I am a student' in Russian?

Я студент (Correct answer)
Я работник
Я учитель
Я врач

Correct answer: Я студент

'Я студент' means 'I am a (male) student'; females say 'Я студентка'.

Question 22: What is 'Новый год' and how is it celebrated in Russia?

Orthodox Christmas on January 7th
Victory Day, celebrating WWII victory
Easter, the most important religious holiday
New Year's, the biggest secular holiday celebrated with gifts and family gatherings (Correct answer)

Correct answer: New Year's, the biggest secular holiday celebrated with gifts and family gatherings

Новый год (New Year) is the biggest holiday in Russia, involving decorated trees, gift-giving by Ded Moroz (Grandfather Frost), fireworks, and family feasts.

Question 23: What does 'нет' (nyet) mean in English?

Not yet
No (Correct answer)
Never
Nothing

Correct answer: No

'Нет' (nyet) means no and is one of the most universally recognized Russian words.

Question 24: What is the Russian word for 'money'?

магазин
деньги (Correct answer)
банк
цена

Correct answer: деньги

'Деньги' (dengi) is the Russian word for 'money' and is always used in plural form.

Question 25: What does the term 'dasvidanya' mean?

cheese
good morning
hello
goodbye (Correct answer)

Correct answer: goodbye

'Dasvidanya' (До свидания) is the standard and formal Russian phrase for 'goodbye.' It literally translates to 'until we meet again' or 'until seeing.' This term is widely used to bid farewell in various social contexts in Russia.

Question 26: How is the Russian present tense formed for imperfective verbs?

By adding a prefix to the infinitive
By using an auxiliary verb plus infinitive
By conjugating the verb stem with personal endings (Correct answer)
By adding tense markers before the verb

Correct answer: By conjugating the verb stem with personal endings

The Russian present tense is formed by removing the infinitive ending and adding personal endings that indicate person and number.

Question 27: What is the Russian word for 'one hundred'?

Сотня
Тысяча
Сотен
Сто (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Сто

Сто is the standard Russian word for 100; тысяча means 1,000.

Question 28: What does 'любить' (lyubit') mean in Russian?

to know
to love (Correct answer)
to forget
to hate

Correct answer: to love

'Любить' means 'to love' or 'to like' in Russian.

Question 29: What is 'сорок' in English?

14
30
40 (Correct answer)
50

Correct answer: 40

Сорок means 40 in Russian; it is an irregular form unlike other tens.

Question 30: Which of these would you call if you were in need of emergency medical care?

Skoraya Pomosch (Correct answer)
Pozharnye
Santehnik
Militsiya

Correct answer: Skoraya Pomosch

Скорая помощь (Skoraya Pomosch) directly translates to 'fast help' or 'ambulance' and is the term used in Russia for emergency medical services. If you needed urgent medical attention, you would call for 'Skoraya Pomosch'.

Question 31: Russian verbs conjugate for which of the following?

Tense only
Person, number, gender (past tense), and aspect (Correct answer)
Person and number only
Aspect and mood only

Correct answer: Person, number, gender (past tense), and aspect

Russian verbs conjugate for person and number in present/future tense, and for gender and number in past tense, as well as aspect.

Question 32: How is the letter 'Х' pronounced in Russian?

Like English 'h' in 'hot'
Like the Scottish 'ch' in 'loch' (Correct answer)
Like English 'x' in 'fox'
Like English 'k'

Correct answer: Like the Scottish 'ch' in 'loch'

Russian Х is a voiceless velar fricative, similar to the Scottish 'ch' in 'loch' or German 'ch' in 'Bach'.

Question 33: What does 'утро' (utro) mean in English?

Evening
Morning (Correct answer)
Afternoon
Night

Correct answer: Morning

'Утро' (utro) means 'morning' in Russian, referring to the early part of the day.

Question 34: How do you say 'second' (ordinal) in Russian?

Двойной
Два
Второй (Correct answer)
Двадцатый

Correct answer: Второй

Второй means 'second' (ordinal) in Russian; it is an irregular form, not derived directly from два (two).

Question 35: What does 'семья' (semya) mean in Russian?

friend
family (Correct answer)
neighbor
colleague

Correct answer: family

'Семья' means 'family' in Russian.

Question 36: Which of these Russian letters is a vowel?

Э (Correct answer)
Г
Б
Ф

Correct answer: Э

Э (E) is a vowel in Russian, pronounced like the 'e' in 'bed'; the others are consonants.

Question 37: What does 'большой' (bolshoy) mean in Russian?

big (Correct answer)
small
fast
old

Correct answer: big

'Большой' means 'big' or 'large' in Russian, as in the famous Bolshoi Theatre.

Question 38: What is the best way to ask the time on Russian?

Prasteetye
Katori chas (Correct answer)
Kak dela
Gdye tooalyet

Correct answer: Katori chas

"Katori chas?" (Который час?) is the direct and most common way to ask "What time is it?" in Russian. This phrase is essential for practical communication, allowing you to inquire about the current time in any situation. It translates literally to "Which hour?". It's a fundamental question for daily interactions.

Question 39: What is 'среда' (sreda) in English?

Wednesday (Correct answer)
Thursday
Monday
Tuesday

Correct answer: Wednesday

'Среда' (sreda) means Wednesday, the middle day of the work week.

Question 40: What are the two main forms of address in Russian, and when are they used?

Ты (informal/singular) and Вы (formal/plural) (Correct answer)
Мой (my) and Твой (your)
Он (he) and Она (she)
Этот (this) and Тот (that)

Correct answer: Ты (informal/singular) and Вы (formal/plural)

Ты is used informally with friends, family, and children; Вы is the formal/plural 'you' used with strangers, elders, and in professional contexts.

Question 41: What does 'Где находится...?' mean?

When does ... open?
How much does ... cost?
Where is ... located? (Correct answer)
What is ...?

Correct answer: Where is ... located?

'Где находится...?' is the essential phrase for asking where something is located.

Question 42: What does the Russian letter 'Й' (short I) sound like?

Like 'y' in 'yes' (Correct answer)
Like 'ee' in 'bee'
Like 'w' in 'wet'
Like 'i' in 'bit'

Correct answer: Like 'y' in 'yes'

Й (Kratkoe) is a semivowel pronounced like the 'y' in 'yes', often appearing at the end of words like мой (my).

Question 43: Which Russian vowel letter corresponds to the 'yu' sound?

Е
Я
Ё
Ю (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Ю

Ю (Yu) is pronounced like the 'yu' in 'you' or 'yu' in 'universe'.

Question 44: Which of these is a Russian informal greeting?

Spasibo
Zdravstvuite
Do Svidaniya
Preevet (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Preevet

Привет (Privet) is the common informal greeting in Russian, equivalent to 'Hi' or 'Hello' in English. It is used among friends, family, and people of similar age or status, contrasting with the more formal Здравствуйте (Zdravstvuite).

Question 45: How do you say 'I am lost' in Russian?

Я заблудился/заблудилась (Correct answer)
Я устал
Я потерял кошелёк
Я опоздал

Correct answer: Я заблудился/заблудилась

Я заблудился (male) / заблудилась (female) means 'I got lost' — it is a past-tense reflexive verb that changes ending by gender.

Question 46: How do you say 'zero' in Russian?

Ноль / Нуль (Correct answer)
Нет
Пустой
Один

Correct answer: Ноль / Нуль

Zero in Russian is ноль or нуль; both forms are correct and used interchangeably.

Question 47: How do you say 'thank you' in Russian?

спасибо (Correct answer)
пожалуйста
извините
привет

Correct answer: спасибо

'Спасибо' (spasibo) is the standard way to say 'thank you' in Russian.

Question 48: What word order is most common in Russian sentences?

OVS (Object-Verb-Subject)
VSO (Verb-Subject-Object)
SOV (Subject-Object-Verb)
SVO (Subject-Verb-Object) (Correct answer)

Correct answer: SVO (Subject-Verb-Object)

While Russian word order is flexible due to cases, SVO (Subject-Verb-Object) is the most neutral and common default order.

Question 49: In Russian, adjectives must agree with nouns in which categories?

Gender only
Gender, number, and case (Correct answer)
Number only
Case only

Correct answer: Gender, number, and case

Russian adjectives must agree with the nouns they modify in gender, number, and case.

Question 50: Which Russian letter looks like a backwards 'N' and sounds like 'i'?

Ч
Ц
И (Correct answer)
Й

Correct answer: И

И (I) resembles a backwards N and is pronounced like the 'ee' in 'see' or 'i' in 'machine'.

Question 51: Which Russian verb aspect describes a completed action with a definite result?

Habitual aspect
Iterative aspect
Imperfective aspect
Perfective aspect (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Perfective aspect

The perfective aspect in Russian describes a completed action with a defined result, while imperfective describes ongoing or repeated actions.

Question 52: Russian nouns belong to which grammatical genders?

Masculine and feminine only
Masculine, feminine, neuter, and common
Masculine, feminine, and neuter (Correct answer)
Animate and inanimate only

Correct answer: Masculine, feminine, and neuter

Russian nouns have three genders: masculine, feminine, and neuter, which affect adjective agreement and case endings.

Question 53: What unique sound does the Russian vowel 'Ы' represent?

A central unrounded vowel with no English equivalent (Correct answer)
Like English 'i' in 'it'
Like English 'oo' in 'book'
Like English 'ee'

Correct answer: A central unrounded vowel with no English equivalent

Ы is a central unrounded vowel that does not exist in English; it is produced with the tongue in a central-back position.

Question 54: What does 'сегодня' (segodnya) mean?

Tomorrow
This week
Yesterday
Today (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Today

'Сегодня' means today and literally combines 'сего' (of this) and 'дня' (day) in archaic Russian.

Question 55: What is the name of the Russian soft sign (ь)?

Yeru
Myagky znak (Correct answer)
Tvyordy znak
Kratkoe

Correct answer: Myagky znak

The ь is called 'myagky znak' (мягкий знак), meaning soft sign, and it softens the preceding consonant.

Question 56: What's the Russian word for "excellent"?

Zakrito
Ostorozhno
Otleechno (Correct answer)
Normal'no

Correct answer: Otleechno

"Otleechno" (Отлично) is the Russian word for "excellent" or "great." It can be used to describe something of high quality, a positive outcome, or to express that one is doing very well when asked "Kak dela?". This is a useful adjective and adverb for expressing strong approval or positive status.

Question 57: How do you say 'Thank you' in Russian?

Пожалуйста
Извините
Здравствуйте
Спасибо (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Спасибо

Спасибо means 'Thank you' in Russian and is one of the most essential polite expressions.

Question 58: How do you say 'I don't speak Russian well' in Russian?

Я плохо говорю по-русски (Correct answer)
Я не понимаю по-русски
Я учу русский
Я не знаю русский

Correct answer: Я плохо говорю по-русски

Я плохо говорю по-русски means 'I speak Russian badly/poorly'; плохо means 'poorly' and по-русски means 'in Russian'.

Question 59: What is the cultural significance of sunflowers (подсолнухи) in Russia?

They are used exclusively for religious ceremonies
They are a major agricultural crop and a beloved national symbol of joy and abundance (Correct answer)
They represent mourning at funerals
They are considered unlucky and avoided

Correct answer: They are a major agricultural crop and a beloved national symbol of joy and abundance

Russia is one of the world's largest producers of sunflowers, and the sunflower is culturally associated with warmth, happiness, and the vast Russian steppe landscapes.

Question 60: What does 'магазин' (magazin) mean in English?

Magazine
Library
Store/Shop (Correct answer)
Museum

Correct answer: Store/Shop

'Магазин' means store or shop — a common false friend since it looks like 'magazine.'

Question 61: How do you say 'please' in Russian (when making a request)?

Спасибо
Конечно
Извините
Пожалуйста (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Пожалуйста

'Пожалуйста' (pozhaluysta) means please and is also used to say 'you're welcome.'

Question 62: In Russian, what is the instrumental case used to express?

The means or instrument used, or being with someone (Correct answer)
The location of an action
Possession
The goal or destination

Correct answer: The means or instrument used, or being with someone

The instrumental case expresses the means or tool used to perform an action and also indicates being 'with' someone or something.

Question 63: Which pair of Russian letters are called the 'hard sign' and 'soft sign'?

Ю and Я
Э and Е
Ъ and Ь (Correct answer)
Ы and И

Correct answer: Ъ and Ь

Ъ is the hard sign (tvyordy znak) and Ь is the soft sign (myagky znak); neither is independently pronounced.

Question 64: How is the Russian letter 'Р' pronounced?

Like English 'p'
Like English 'r' in 'run'
Like English 'l'
As a trilled or rolled 'r' (Correct answer)

Correct answer: As a trilled or rolled 'r'

The Russian Р is pronounced as a trilled or rolled 'r', similar to Spanish 'r', not the English 'r'.

Question 65: Which Russian word means 'half past' in time expressions?

Без (bez)
Четверть (chetvert)
Половина (polovina) (Correct answer)
Ровно (rovno)

Correct answer: Половина (polovina)

'Половина' (polovina) means 'half' and is used in time expressions like 'половина второго' (half past one).

Test of Russian as a Foreign Language (TORFL / ТРКИ)

The TORFL (Test of Russian as a Foreign Language) is the official Russian state certification that assesses proficiency across five competencies: vocabulary/grammar, reading, listening, writing, and speaking, aligned to CEFR levels A1–C2.

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90 min

Time Limit

66%

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