Introduction

We have divided this part of the exam into three different web pages: this one looks at the explanations of expressions from the text. Another one deals with the questions, and a third one looks at the sentences for translation. There is no prescribed order though, you can start with any of these. The only thing you have to do first is read the text.

Explanations of underlined expressions

For this exercise you need to re-phrase some expressions taken from the text. The footnotes should give you some help with finding alternative ways of expression or paraphrases. The point of this exercise is to test whether you understand the text in detail. The first of the expressions has been done as a model, click on 'Sample Explanations' to have a look. Some standard strategies when paraphrasing include:
  • using the negative of the opposite: kalt becomes nicht warm
  • paraphrasing a noun by using a related adjective and turning it into a noun: die Gefahr becomes das Gefährliche
  • paraphrasing a passive construction by using a construction with man kann
  • a Konjunktiv construction expressing probability can often be paraphrased using adverbs like wahrscheinlich, vielleicht, möglicherweise
  • a prepositional phrase like die in Urlaub fahrenden Deutschen can be transformed into a relative sentence: die Deutschen, die in Urlaub fahren
  • compounds can be unpacked: Urlaubsträume becomes Träume vom Urlaub

    For more information on tourism in German speaking countries, click here for Germany, here for Austria and here for Switzerland. You can revise vocabulary on these countries in Blaue Blume chapters:28, 40, and 46 and in Upgrade Your German chapter 6.

    Some Instructions