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Schleswig-Holstein ESA German study materials
Schleswig-Holstein ESA German study resources

Schleswig-Holstein ESA German practice questions

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Question 1German grammar and language

In the sentence "Die Lehrerin gibt den Schülern ein neues Buch," which word is a Nomen (noun)?

  1. gibt
  2. neues
  3. Buch Correct answer.
  4. den

Explanation

"Buch" (book) names a thing and is capitalized, which is a defining feature of a German Nomen. Identifying nouns by their capitalization and their role as a named person, place or thing is a basic Wortarten skill tested at ESA level.

Question 2German grammar and language

Which word in the sentence "Der Hund läuft schnell über die Wiese" is the Verb?

  1. Hund
  2. läuft Correct answer.
  3. schnell
  4. Wiese

Explanation

"Läuft" (runs) expresses the action of the sentence and changes its form according to tense and person, which marks it as the Verb. This is a foundational Wortarten distinction tested throughout the ESA Sprache Bereich.

Question 3German grammar and language

In the sentence "Sie singt schön," what part of speech is "schön"?

  1. An Adjektiv used adverbially, describing how she sings Correct answer.
  2. A Nomen
  3. A Pronomen
  4. A Konjunktion

Explanation

"Schön" describes the manner of the action "singt" (sings beautifully). In German, the uninflected base form of an adjective can function adverbially to modify a verb, which is exactly what happens here.

Question 4German grammar and language

Which word in "Er hat ihr das Geschenk gegeben" is a Pronomen?

  1. Geschenk
  2. gegeben
  3. ihr Correct answer.
  4. hat

Explanation

"Ihr" stands in for a previously named female person as a Dativobjekt, which is the defining function of a Pronomen - replacing a noun rather than naming one directly. Recognizing pronouns by this substituting function is a core Wortarten skill.

Question 5German grammar and language

In the sentence "Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil es regnet," which word is the Konjunktion?

  1. bleibe
  2. weil Correct answer.
  3. regnet
  4. Hause

Explanation

"Weil" (because) connects the main clause to the subordinate clause and expresses a reason for staying home, which is the function of a subordinating Konjunktion. Spotting this connecting word helps identify the boundary between the Hauptsatz and the following Nebensatz.

Question 6German grammar and language

Which word functions as a Präposition in "Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch"?

  1. liegt
  2. auf Correct answer.
  3. Buch
  4. Tisch

Explanation

"Auf" governs the noun phrase "dem Tisch" and expresses a spatial relation between the book and the table, which is the defining role of a Präposition. Prepositions like this always take a specific case, here the dative in "dem Tisch."

Question 7German grammar and language

In "Ein Junge findet einen Hund," what type of Artikel is "ein/einen"?

  1. Bestimmter Artikel (definite article)
  2. Unbestimmter Artikel (indefinite article) Correct answer.
  3. Possessivartikel
  4. Demonstrativartikel

Explanation

"Ein/einen" introduces a person or thing that has not been previously specified, which is the function of the unbestimmter Artikel. This contrasts with "der/die/das," which marks something already known or definite.

Question 8German grammar and language

In the two sentences "Das ist ein schnelles Auto" and "Das Auto fährt schnell," how does the word "schnell" function differently?

  1. In both sentences it is a Nomen
  2. In the first it is an attributive Adjektiv before a noun (with an ending); in the second it functions adverbially, describing the verb (no ending) Correct answer.
  3. In the first it is a Verb; in the second a Pronomen
  4. There is no difference; both are Konjunktionen

Explanation

German adjectives take case, number and gender endings when placed directly before a noun ("schnelles Auto"), but appear in their unchanged base form when describing a verb adverbially ("fährt schnell"). This is the same word taking on two related grammatical roles, which is a more advanced Wortarten distinction than simply naming a word class.

Question 9German grammar and language

In "Die Kinder spielen im Garten," which part of the sentence is the Subjekt?

  1. Die Kinder Correct answer.
  2. spielen
  3. im Garten
  4. Garten (alone)

Explanation

"Die Kinder" performs the action and answers the question "Wer oder was spielt?" (who or what is playing), which is exactly how a Subjekt is identified in a German sentence. Identifying the Subjekt first often makes it easier to sort out the remaining Satzglieder correctly.

Question 10German grammar and language

Which part of "Meine Schwester kauft neue Schuhe" is the Prädikat?

  1. Meine Schwester
  2. kauft Correct answer.
  3. neue Schuhe
  4. neue

Explanation

"Kauft" is the finite verb form that carries the sentence's action and agrees with the Subjekt in person and number, which is exactly what defines the Prädikat. Locating the Prädikat first is usually the fastest way to then identify the sentence's Subjekt and objects.

Question 11German grammar and language

In "Der Vater liest seinem Sohn ein Buch vor," which part is the Akkusativobjekt?

  1. Der Vater
  2. seinem Sohn
  3. ein Buch Correct answer.
  4. vor

Explanation

"Ein Buch" answers the question "Wen oder was liest der Vater vor?" and stands in the accusative case, which identifies it as the Akkusativobjekt. This sentence also contains a Dativobjekt ("seinem Sohn") and a separable verb particle ("vor"), so correctly sorting all three requires careful attention.

Question 12German grammar and language

In the same sentence, "Der Vater liest seinem Sohn ein Buch vor," which part is the Dativobjekt?

  1. Der Vater
  2. seinem Sohn Correct answer.
  3. ein Buch
  4. liest

Explanation

"Seinem Sohn" answers the question "Wem liest der Vater vor?" (to whom), which is exactly the defining question for a Dativobjekt in German. Distinguishing it from the Akkusativobjekt in the same sentence requires asking the right question for each case.

Question 13German grammar and language

Which part of "Wir fahren morgen früh nach Hamburg" is the adverbiale Bestimmung der Zeit?

  1. Wir
  2. fahren
  3. morgen früh Correct answer.
  4. nach Hamburg

Explanation

"Morgen früh" answers the question "Wann?" (when), which identifies it as the adverbiale Bestimmung der Zeit, distinct from the destination phrase in the same sentence. Distinguishing time expressions from place expressions is a common source of confusion in Satzglied exercises.

Question 14German grammar and language

In "Die Katze schläft auf dem Sofa," which part is the adverbiale Bestimmung des Ortes?

  1. Die Katze
  2. schläft
  3. auf dem Sofa Correct answer.
  4. dem

Explanation

"Auf dem Sofa" answers the question "Wo?" (where) and describes the location of the action, which is exactly how the adverbiale Bestimmung des Ortes is identified. This kind of location phrase is easy to confuse with a time expression unless the "wo?" question is asked directly.

Question 15German grammar and language

In "Sie löst die Aufgabe sehr sorgfältig," which part is the adverbiale Bestimmung der Art und Weise?

  1. Sie
  2. löst
  3. die Aufgabe
  4. sehr sorgfältig Correct answer.

Explanation

"Sehr sorgfältig" answers the question "Wie?" (how), describing the manner in which the task is solved, which is the defining question for the adverbiale Bestimmung der Art und Weise. Manner expressions like this are often confused with time or place expressions, so asking "wie?" specifically helps confirm the category.

Question 16German grammar and language

In "Am Montag schenkt die Großmutter ihrem Enkel überraschend ein Fahrrad," what Satzglied is "ihrem Enkel"?

  1. Subjekt
  2. Akkusativobjekt
  3. Dativobjekt Correct answer.
  4. adverbiale Bestimmung der Zeit

Explanation

"Ihrem Enkel" answers the question "Wem schenkt die Großmutter das Fahrrad?" and is in the dative case, marking it as the Dativobjekt. This sentence contains four different Satzglieder - Subjekt, Dativobjekt, Akkusativobjekt and a time expression - so correctly sorting them all requires careful analysis.

Question 17German grammar and language

What defines a Hauptsatz (main clause) in German?

  1. It can stand alone as a complete sentence, with the finite verb in second position Correct answer.
  2. It always begins with a subordinating conjunction
  3. It always has the finite verb at the very end
  4. It cannot contain a Subjekt

Explanation

A Hauptsatz is grammatically independent and places its finite verb in the second position (Verbzweitstellung), which allows it to stand alone as a complete sentence. Recognizing this word-order rule is essential for telling a Hauptsatz apart from a Nebensatz.

Question 18German grammar and language

What is a defining feature of a Nebensatz (subordinate clause) introduced by "weil," "dass," or "wenn"?

  1. The finite verb moves to the end of the clause Correct answer.
  2. It can always stand alone as a complete sentence
  3. It never contains a Subjekt
  4. It always comes before the Hauptsatz

Explanation

In a Nebensatz, the conjugated verb is pushed to the final position (Verbendstellung), which is the key structural marker that distinguishes it from a Hauptsatz's Verbzweitstellung. This word-order shift is one of the clearest signals that a clause is dependent rather than independent.

Question 19German grammar and language

What is a Satzreihe?

  1. A single simple sentence with one verb
  2. Two or more Hauptsätze connected by a coordinating conjunction such as "und," "aber," or "oder" (or by a comma) Correct answer.
  3. A Hauptsatz combined with a Nebensatz
  4. A sentence without any Subjekt

Explanation

A Satzreihe links two or more independent main clauses (Hauptsätze) of equal rank, typically with coordinating conjunctions like "und," "aber," or "oder," or simply a comma between them. Each Hauptsatz inside a Satzreihe keeps its own complete Subjekt and Prädikat.

Question 20German grammar and language

What is a Satzgefüge?

  1. Two Hauptsätze of equal rank joined by "und"
  2. A combination of one Hauptsatz and at least one Nebensatz Correct answer.
  3. A single word standing alone
  4. A list of Nomen without any verb

Explanation

A Satzgefüge consists of a main clause (Hauptsatz) combined with one or more dependent subordinate clauses (Nebensätze), unlike a Satzreihe, which links clauses of equal rank. Unlike a Hauptsatz, the Nebensatz in a Satzgefüge cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.

Question 21German grammar and language

Which sentence correctly combines the two sentences "Ich treffe einen Jungen. Ich mag ihn wirklich gerne" using a Relativsatz?

  1. Ich treffe einen Jungen, den ich wirklich gerne mag. Correct answer.
  2. Ich treffe einen Jungen und mag ihn wirklich gerne.
  3. Ich treffe einen Jungen, weil ich ihn wirklich gerne mag.
  4. Ich mag einen Jungen, ich treffe ihn wirklich gerne.

Explanation

The relative pronoun "den" (accusative, referring back to "einen Jungen") correctly introduces a Relativsatz that embeds the second sentence's information into the first. This is exactly the kind of sentence-combining task used in official ESA Sprache exercises.

Question 22German grammar and language

Which of the following is an unvollständiger Satz (incomplete sentence, missing a Subjekt or Prädikat)?

  1. Wirklich echt kein Problem! Correct answer.
  2. Ich bin fünfzehn, mir sollte das egal sein.
  3. Wenn es mir schlecht geht, tröstet sie mich.
  4. Sie kocht jeden Tag ein Essen.

Explanation

"Wirklich echt kein Problem!" has no finite verb and no clearly stated Subjekt performing an action, which makes it an unvollständiger Satz - a form common in exclamatory, spoken-style language. Telling this apart from a Satzreihe or Satzgefüge, which both contain complete clauses, requires careful reading.

Question 23German grammar and language

Which sentence is written in the Präsens (present tense)?

  1. Sie kaufte ein neues Kleid.
  2. Sie kauft ein neues Kleid. Correct answer.
  3. Sie hat ein neues Kleid gekauft.
  4. Sie wird ein neues Kleid kaufen.

Explanation

"Kauft" is the conjugated present-tense form of "kaufen," describing an action happening now or generally, which is exactly what defines the Präsens. Recognizing verb endings such as "-t" for third-person singular helps confirm the tense quickly.

Question 24German grammar and language

What is the correct Perfekt form of "Die Gäste tragen elegante Kleidung"?

  1. Die Gäste trugen elegante Kleidung.
  2. Die Gäste haben elegante Kleidung getragen. Correct answer.
  3. Die Gäste werden elegante Kleidung tragen.
  4. Die Gäste tragen elegante Kleidung gehabt.

Explanation

The Perfekt tense is formed with the conjugated auxiliary verb "haben" (or "sein" for certain verbs) plus the Partizip II of the main verb. Since "tragen" forms the participle "getragen," the correct Perfekt is "haben...getragen."

Question 25German grammar and language

What is the correct Futur I form of "Das Brautpaar beginnt mit dem Tanz"?

  1. Das Brautpaar begann mit dem Tanz.
  2. Das Brautpaar hat mit dem Tanz begonnen.
  3. Das Brautpaar wird mit dem Tanz beginnen. Correct answer.
  4. Das Brautpaar beginnt mit dem Tanz gewesen.

Explanation

Futur I is formed with the conjugated auxiliary "werden" plus the infinitive of the main verb, giving "wird...beginnen" to describe an action that will happen in the future. This tense is commonly used for plans, predictions and promises about events that have not yet happened.

Question 26German grammar and language

Which sentence uses the Präteritum (simple past), typically used in written narration?

  1. Er spielt Fußball im Park.
  2. Er spielte Fußball im Park. Correct answer.
  3. Er hat Fußball im Park gespielt.
  4. Er wird Fußball im Park spielen.

Explanation

"Spielte" is the Präteritum (simple past) form of "spielen," the tense typically used for narrating past events in written texts such as stories and reports, as opposed to the spoken Perfekt. German speakers typically favor Perfekt in everyday conversation but keep Präteritum for formal written narration.

Question 27German grammar and language

Which sentence correctly uses the Plusquamperfekt to show an action completed before another past action?

  1. Nachdem sie gegessen hatte, ging sie ins Bett. Correct answer.
  2. Nachdem sie isst, geht sie ins Bett.
  3. Nachdem sie essen wird, geht sie ins Bett.
  4. Nachdem sie gegessen hat, ging sie ins Bett gewesen.

Explanation

The Plusquamperfekt ("hatte...gegessen") expresses an action completed before another past action ("ging"), which is exactly its function when paired with "nachdem" in past narration. Recognizing when two past actions need to be sequenced with the Plusquamperfekt, rather than a simple Präteritum, is a more advanced Zeitformen skill.

Question 28German grammar and language

Which word correctly completes the sentence "Ich glaube, ___ er heute kommt"?

  1. das
  2. dass Correct answer.
  3. Both spellings are correct here
  4. Neither spelling is correct here

Explanation

"Dass" (with a double s) introduces a subordinate clause after verbs like "glauben," functioning purely as a conjunction here rather than as an article or pronoun. This das/dass distinction is one of the most frequently tested Rechtschreibung points at ESA level.

Question 29German grammar and language

Which sentence uses "das" correctly, as an article or pronoun rather than a conjunction?

  1. Ich hoffe, das du mir hilfst.
  2. Sie sagt, das sie müde ist.
  3. Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch. Correct answer.
  4. Er weiß, das es regnet.

Explanation

In "Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch," "das" is a definite article referring directly to "Buch," which is the correct use of "das" (single s) rather than the conjunction "dass." This distinguishes it from the three other options, which all require the conjunction "dass" instead.

Question 30German grammar and language

Which strategy correctly helps confirm the spelling of an uncertain word ending, such as checking whether a word ends in "d" or "t"?

  1. Extending the word (Wortverlängerung) to hear the sound clearly, for example comparing related word forms Correct answer.
  2. Guessing based on how it sounds in fast, casual speech
  3. Ignoring the word because it is short
  4. Checking only the first letter of the word

Explanation

Wortverlängerung - extending or relating a word to a form where the uncertain ending sound becomes clearly audible - is a standard Rechtschreibstrategie taught for checking uncertain spellings, alongside identifying the Wortstamm (word stem). This strategy works because German spelling closely follows how related word forms are built from a shared stem.

Question 31German grammar and language

Which sentence uses Getrennt- und Zusammenschreibung (separate versus combined writing) correctly for the separable verb "aufmachen" in the Perfekt tense?

  1. Er hat das Fenster auf gemacht.
  2. Er hat das Fenster aufgemacht. Correct answer.
  3. Er hat das Fenster aufge macht.
  4. Er hat das Fenster auf-gemacht.

Explanation

"Aufmachen" is a separable verb, and in the Perfekt tense its past participle is written as a single word, "aufgemacht," with the separable prefix "auf-" attached directly to the participle "gemacht." Distinguishing this from an incorrectly split spelling requires attention to how separable verbs behave specifically in the Perfekt.

Question 32German grammar and language

Which spelling correctly reflects the German rule that a short, stressed vowel is usually followed by a doubled consonant?

  1. Er rent schnell zur Schule.
  2. Er rennt schnell zur Schule. Correct answer.
  3. Er ren't schnell zur Schule.
  4. Er rähnt schnell zur Schule.

Explanation

Because the vowel "e" in "rennen" is short and stressed, the following consonant is doubled ("nn"), following the standard German spelling rule linking short stressed vowels to double consonants. This same short-vowel-to-double-consonant pattern applies to many other common German verbs.

Question 33German grammar and language

Where should a comma be placed in "Ich koche das Essen mein Bruder deckt den Tisch" when written as a Satzreihe without a coordinating conjunction?

  1. Ich koche das Essen, mein Bruder deckt den Tisch. Correct answer.
  2. Ich, koche das Essen mein Bruder deckt den Tisch.
  3. Ich koche das Essen mein, Bruder deckt den Tisch.
  4. No comma is needed anywhere in this sentence.

Explanation

Two independent main clauses (Hauptsätze) joined without a coordinating conjunction like "und" must be separated by a comma, marking the grammatical boundary between the two complete clauses. Missing this comma is one of the most frequent Zeichensetzung mistakes in a Satzreihe.

Question 34German grammar and language

Where does the comma belong in "Ich bleibe zu Hause weil es regnet"?

  1. Ich, bleibe zu Hause weil es regnet.
  2. Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil es regnet. Correct answer.
  3. Ich bleibe zu Hause weil, es regnet.
  4. No comma is required in this sentence.

Explanation

A comma is required before a subordinating conjunction like "weil" that introduces a Nebensatz, marking the boundary between the Hauptsatz and the Nebensatz. This comma rule applies no matter which subordinating conjunction introduces the Nebensatz.

Question 35German grammar and language

Which sentence correctly punctuates direct speech (direkte Rede)?

  1. Sie sagte Ich komme morgen vorbei.
  2. Sie sagte, "Ich komme morgen vorbei".
  3. Sie sagte: „Ich komme morgen vorbei.“ Correct answer.
  4. Sie sagte „Ich komme morgen vorbei“.

Explanation

German direct speech is introduced with a colon and enclosed in German-style quotation marks „…“, with the closing punctuation mark placed inside the final quotation mark. Missing the colon or using non-German quotation marks are both common Zeichensetzung mistakes with direct speech.

Question 36German grammar and language

Which sentence correctly punctuates a list (Aufzählung)?

  1. Sie kauft Äpfel Birnen und Trauben.
  2. Sie kauft Äpfel, Birnen und Trauben. Correct answer.
  3. Sie kauft, Äpfel, Birnen, und, Trauben.
  4. Sie kauft Äpfel, Birnen, und, Trauben.

Explanation

Items in a list are separated by commas, but no comma is placed directly before the final item when it is joined by "und," which is the standard German rule for Aufzählungen. Recognizing where commas are required and where they are specifically forbidden makes this a more demanding Zeichensetzung task.

Question 37German grammar and language

Which prefix correctly completes the sentence "Man sollte versuchen, möglichst alle Lebensmittel zu ___werten" so that it means "to make use of / utilize"?

  1. ver Correct answer.
  2. be
  3. ein
  4. an

Explanation

"Verwerten" means to make use of or utilize something, and the prefix "ver-" combined with "werten" forms this specific meaning. Choosing the right prefix from several plausible options is a standard Wortbildung task at ESA level.

Question 38German grammar and language

Which suffix correctly turns the adjective "freundlich" into a noun meaning "friendliness"?

  1. -heit (as in Freiheit)
  2. -lichkeit (as in Freundlichkeit) Correct answer.
  3. -ung (as in Bildung)
  4. -bar (as in essbar)

Explanation

The suffix "-lichkeit" attaches to adjectives ending in "-lich," such as "freundlich," to form abstract nouns like "Freundlichkeit" (friendliness), a common Wortbildung pattern in German. Recognizing this suffix pattern helps with both spelling and understanding related word families.

Question 39German grammar and language

"Der gedeckte Tisch sah mich vorwurfsvoll an." Which Stilmittel is used in this sentence?

  1. Personifikation (giving a human quality to a non-human object) Correct answer.
  2. Reim (rhyme)
  3. Alliteration
  4. Ellipse

Explanation

Attributing a human ability - looking at someone reproachfully - to an inanimate table is a Personifikation, a stylistic device tested at ESA level for recognizing figurative language in short text excerpts. Spotting a Stilmittel like this also helps explain why a passage feels vivid rather than purely factual.

Question 40German reading comprehension

Read the short passage: "Nach der Schule geht Lena sofort ins Schwimmbad, weil sie um 16 Uhr Training hat. Ihre Mutter bringt ihr die Sporttasche vorbei, weil Lena sie morgens vergessen hat." What does Lena's mother do in this passage?

  1. She picks Lena up from swim training
  2. She brings Lena's sports bag to the pool Correct answer.
  3. She cancels Lena's swim training
  4. She takes Lena to school

Explanation

The passage states directly that the mother drops off ("bringt vorbei") the sports bag because Lena forgot it that morning. This is a literal comprehension task: the answer is stated word-for-word in the text, which is the most basic Lesen skill tested at ESA level.

Question 41German reading comprehension

Read the short passage: "Tim arbeitet samstags in der Bäckerei seines Onkels. Er verdient dort sein erstes eigenes Geld und spart es für ein neues Fahrrad." Why is Tim saving the money he earns?

  1. To buy a new bicycle Correct answer.
  2. To pay for a school trip
  3. To help his uncle pay rent
  4. To buy a birthday present

Explanation

The text states directly that Tim "spart es für ein neues Fahrrad" (saves it for a new bicycle). Locating this single stated fact and matching it to the correct option is a core literal-comprehension skill at ESA level.

Question 42German reading comprehension

Read the short passage: "Weil es den ganzen Tag geregnet hat, verschieben die Lehrer das Sommerfest der Schule auf den kommenden Freitag." Why is the school's summer festival postponed?

  1. Because of rain Correct answer.
  2. Because of a teacher shortage
  3. Because too few students registered
  4. Because the gym is being renovated

Explanation

The passage gives a direct cause-and-effect statement: "weil es den ganzen Tag geregnet hat" (because it rained all day) leads to the festival being postponed. Recognizing a stated "weil" (because) clause is a basic literal-comprehension task at ESA level.

Question 43German reading comprehension

Read the short passage: "Jonas schaut immer wieder auf die Uhr und rutscht unruhig auf seinem Stuhl hin und her, während der Lehrer die Ergebnisse der Mathearbeit austeilt." What can be inferred about Jonas from his behavior?

  1. He is bored by the lesson
  2. He is nervous about his grade Correct answer.
  3. He wants to leave early to catch a bus
  4. He already knows he has passed

Explanation

Repeatedly glancing at the clock and fidgeting while grades are being handed out are classic textual signals of anxious anticipation, not boredom. ESA Lesen tasks often ask readers to draw this kind of inference from described behavior rather than from a directly stated feeling.

Question 44German reading comprehension

Read the short passage: "Als Paula ihrer Freundin von der Prüfung erzählt, spricht sie sehr schnell und lacht immer wieder, obwohl es dafür eigentlich keinen Grund gibt." What do Paula's fast speech and unexplained laughter most likely indicate?

  1. She is relieved that the exam was cancelled
  2. She is trying to hide her nervousness Correct answer.
  3. She found the exam extremely easy
  4. She is angry with her friend

Explanation

Speaking quickly and laughing "ohne Grund" (without an obvious reason) is a typical sign of masking nervous tension rather than genuine amusement. The word "obwohl" (although) signals that the laughter does not match a normal, relaxed reaction, pointing readers toward an inference rather than a literal statement.

Question 45German reading comprehension

Read the short passage: "Herr Krause blättert zum dritten Mal durch dieselben Unterlagen und seufzt leise, bevor er den Elternabend eröffnet." What does Herr Krause's behavior suggest before the parents' evening begins?

  1. He is well prepared and completely relaxed
  2. He feels some tension about the meeting Correct answer.
  3. He has forgotten the documents
  4. He is looking forward to the meeting with excitement

Explanation

Flipping through the same papers a third time and sighing quietly are physical signs of tension or apprehension before an important event. Readers are expected to connect these small described actions to an underlying feeling rather than rely on a stated emotion.

Question 46German reading comprehension

Read the short passage: "Ich packe meine Tasche und laufe die Treppe hinunter. Meine Schwester ruft mir noch etwas hinterher, aber ich höre es nicht mehr richtig." From which narrative perspective is this passage written?

  1. Third-person narrator
  2. First-person narrator (Ich-Erzähler) Correct answer.
  3. Omniscient narrator
  4. Second-person narrator

Explanation

The repeated use of "ich" (I) throughout the passage marks it as a first-person, Ich-Erzähler perspective. Identifying narrative perspective from pronoun use is a standard structural-feature task in ESA Lesen exercises.

Question 47German reading comprehension

Read the short passage: "Marie öffnete die Tür und wusste sofort, dass etwas nicht stimmte. Ihr Bruder Ben saß still am Tisch und sah sie nicht an." Which narrative perspective is used here?

  1. First-person (Ich-Erzähler)
  2. Third-person (Er/Sie-Erzähler) Correct answer.
  3. Second-person (Du-Erzähler)
  4. Dialogue only, with no narrator

Explanation

The text refers to "Marie" and "ihr Bruder" using names and third-person pronouns rather than "ich", which marks a third-person narrator. This is the opposite structural pattern from an Ich-Erzähler passage, and ESA tasks often ask students to tell the two apart.

Question 48German reading comprehension

Read the short passage: "Jetzt, zwei Jahre später, erinnert sich Felix noch genau an den Moment, als er damals zum ersten Mal die neue Schule betrat." What structural feature does this sentence introduce?

  1. A flashback (Rückblick) to an earlier event Correct answer.
  2. A description of the weather
  3. Direct speech between two characters
  4. The final ending of the story

Explanation

The phrase "jetzt, zwei Jahre später" combined with "erinnert sich...an den Moment, als er damals..." signals a shift back in time to an earlier event. Recognizing this kind of Rückblick is one of the structural features ESA Lesen tasks test alongside literal comprehension.

Question 49German reading comprehension

Read the short passage: "Ob Anna sich am Ende für die neue Schule entscheidet oder doch bei ihren alten Freunden bleibt, bleibt am Ende der Geschichte offen." What kind of ending does this story have?

  1. A closed ending (geschlossenes Ende)
  2. An open ending (offenes Ende) Correct answer.
  3. A flashback ending
  4. A dialogue-only ending

Explanation

The narrator explicitly states that Anna's decision "bleibt offen" (remains open), which is the definition of an offenes Ende - the outcome is deliberately left unresolved for the reader. ESA-level Lesen tasks often ask students to name this structural feature directly.

Question 50German reading comprehension

Read the short passage: "„Kommst du mit ins Kino?“, fragte Ben. „Ich weiß nicht, ich habe noch Hausaufgaben“, antwortete Lisa." Which structural feature is used in this passage?

  1. Direct speech / dialogue (Dialog) Correct answer.
  2. A flashback
  3. An eyewitness report
  4. A list of instructions

Explanation

Quotation marks around spoken words exchanged between two named characters, Ben and Lisa, mark this as Dialog, or direct speech. Recognizing dialogue as a distinct structural element is part of the Lesen skills tested at ESA level.