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Schleswig-Holstein MSA English study materials
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Schleswig-Holstein MSA English practice questions

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Question 1Hörverstehen

Listening task: You hear a woman at the Schleswig-Holstein tourist information desk say: "The ferry to the island leaves twice a day, but in winter only the morning crossing runs." What does she tell the caller about winter ferries?

  1. The ferry stops running completely during winter.
  2. Ferries run more often in winter than in summer.
  3. Only one crossing operates each day in winter. Correct answer.
  4. Two crossings run daily all year round.

Explanation

The speaker contrasts the normal twice-daily service with winter, when only the morning crossing runs. That means a single daily departure in the cold season. Listeners must connect "only the morning crossing" with the reduced frequency.

Question 2Hörverstehen

You hear a station announcement at Kiel Hauptbahnhof: "The regional express to Flensburg is delayed by twenty minutes due to a signal fault." Why is the train late?

  1. Bad weather on the route
  2. Engineering works at the station
  3. A staff shortage
  4. A problem with the signals Correct answer.

Explanation

The announcement names the cause directly: a signal fault. "Due to" introduces the reason for the delay. The other reasons are plausible but not mentioned in the recording.

Question 3Hörverstehen

In a radio interview a Lübeck shop owner says: "I'd rather keep the shop closed on Sundays than hire more staff I can't afford." What is her main reason for staying closed on Sundays?

  1. She believes Sunday should stay a family day.
  2. She expects too few customers on Sundays.
  3. She wants to avoid the cost of extra employees. Correct answer.
  4. She cannot get a permit to open on Sundays.

Explanation

The comparative structure "I'd rather ... than hire more staff I can't afford" shows that cost is the deciding factor. The preference for closing follows from not being able to pay for staff.

Question 4Hörverstehen

A weather forecast for the North Sea coast says: "Tomorrow will start dry with light winds, but heavy rain will move in from the west by late afternoon." What should a hiker planning a full-day walk expect?

  1. Strong winds throughout the whole day
  2. Clear skies for the entire day
  3. Dry conditions early, with rain arriving later in the day Correct answer.
  4. Rain from early morning until the evening

Explanation

The forecast separates the morning (dry, light winds) from the late afternoon (heavy rain from the west). A full-day plan must account for both phases. Only the first option matches this two-part picture.

Question 5Hörverstehen

You hear a museum audio guide in Schleswig say: "The Viking ships in this hall were not built for long sea voyages; they were mainly used for short coastal trips." What does the guide say about the ships?

  1. They were used only for fishing.
  2. They were built as copies for display.
  3. They were designed for crossing the Atlantic.
  4. They were mostly used for short journeys along the coast. Correct answer.

Explanation

The guide corrects a common assumption by stressing "not ... long sea voyages" and "mainly ... short coastal trips". The contrast tells you the ships served local coastal travel.

Question 6Hörverstehen

A teacher gives instructions before a listening exercise: "You will hear the recording twice. First note the key facts, then check your answers during the second listening." What are students told to do during the first listening?

  1. Compare answers with a partner
  2. Answer the questions in full sentences
  3. Write down the main information Correct answer.
  4. Read the transcript

Explanation

The instruction sequences two tasks: first note key facts, then check answers. The first listening is therefore for capturing the main information. "Then" marks the checking stage as the second step.

Question 7Hörverstehen

On a podcast about regional food, the host says: "Labskaus looks strange to visitors, yet most people who try it end up ordering it again." What is the host's point about Labskaus?

  1. It is unpopular with visitors because of its taste.
  2. Its appearance puts people off, but the taste wins them over. Correct answer.
  3. It is only eaten by older local people.
  4. It is usually served as a dessert.

Explanation

The contrast between "looks strange" and "end up ordering it again" shows appearance versus taste. "Yet" signals the surprise: people enjoy it despite its look.

Question 8Hörverstehen

A voicemail from a friend says: "I can't make it to the football match on Saturday after all - my shift at the hospital was changed." Why can the friend no longer come?

  1. They have lost interest in football.
  2. They are ill and in hospital.
  3. The match has been cancelled.
  4. Their work schedule has changed. Correct answer.

Explanation

The phrase "my shift ... was changed" explains the cancellation of the plan. A shift is a work period, so the friend's working hours are the reason.

Question 9Hörverstehen

You hear a news item: "The council has approved plans for a new cycle path along the Schlei, although local farmers had objected to losing land." What does the report say about the farmers?

  1. They opposed the project because of the land it would take. Correct answer.
  2. They were not consulted about the plans.
  3. They will build the cycle path themselves.
  4. They supported the cycle path from the start.

Explanation

The concessive clause "although local farmers had objected to losing land" tells you they were against the plan and why. "Although" contrasts their objection with the council's approval.

Question 10Hörverstehen

A tour guide says: "If the tide is out, you can walk across to the small island, but do check the timetable - the water comes back quickly." What warning does the guide give?

  1. Walking across is impossible at any time.
  2. The timetable is only available online.
  3. The island is closed to visitors at high tide.
  4. Walkers must return before the tide comes back in. Correct answer.

Explanation

The guide explains the crossing is possible at low tide but warns that the water returns fast. The practical message is to check times and return in time. The danger is being cut off by the incoming tide.

Question 11Hörverstehen

In a job interview recording, an applicant says: "I've worked in three hotels, which taught me to stay calm when guests complain." What is the applicant doing with this statement?

  1. Giving evidence of a skill gained through experience Correct answer.
  2. Explaining why they left their previous jobs
  3. Criticising the hotels they worked for
  4. Asking about the salary and working hours

Explanation

The applicant links past experience (three hotels) to a personal quality (staying calm with complaints). This is a classic way of supporting a claimed skill with evidence. The focus is on competence, not on reasons for leaving.

Question 12Hörverstehen

A radio phone-in caller says: "Honestly, the new bus timetable is a joke - my daughter now has to leave home an hour earlier for school." What is the caller's attitude towards the new timetable?

  1. Uncertain about whether it has changed
  2. Supportive because buses are more frequent
  3. Strongly critical of its practical effects Correct answer.
  4. Neutral and simply informative

Explanation

Calling the timetable "a joke" and giving a concrete burden (an hour earlier) signals strong criticism. The example shows the practical effect she objects to. Tone words like "honestly" reinforce the complaint.

Question 13Hörverstehen

You hear: "The exhibition was supposed to open in March, but the roof of the old warehouse needed repairs, so it opened in June instead." What caused the change of date?

  1. Building repairs that had to be done first Correct answer.
  2. A lack of interest from the public
  3. A delay in printing the catalogues
  4. The illness of the exhibition organiser

Explanation

The causal chain is explicit: the roof needed repairs, therefore the opening moved from March to June. "So" marks the consequence of the repair work. Only one option matches this cause.

Question 14Hörverstehen

A language-course advert on the radio says: "Classes are small - never more than eight learners - so everyone gets to speak in every session." What benefit does the advert emphasise?

  1. Native-speaker teachers only
  2. Lower fees than other language schools
  3. Flexible evening and weekend times
  4. More speaking practice because of the small group size Correct answer.

Explanation

The advert connects the limited class size ("never more than eight") with the result that everyone speaks each session. The emphasised benefit is therefore speaking practice. Price, teachers and timing are not part of the sentence.

Question 15Hörverstehen

You hear a student say: "I was going to take the biology exam in June, but I've decided to postpone it until next year and do an internship first." What is the student's plan?

  1. Take the biology exam twice this year
  2. Do an internship before taking the biology exam Correct answer.
  3. Start an internship after passing the exam
  4. Give up biology completely

Explanation

The student moves the exam to next year in order to do an internship first. "Postpone ... and do an internship first" makes the order of events clear. The exam is delayed, not abandoned.

Question 16Hörverstehen

A recorded safety briefing on a ferry says: "In the unlikely event of an evacuation, leave your luggage behind and follow the crew to the nearest exit." What are passengers told to do with their luggage?

  1. Store it in the lifeboats
  2. Leave it where it is Correct answer.
  3. Take it to the nearest exit
  4. Hand it to a crew member

Explanation

The instruction "leave your luggage behind" is direct: passengers should not carry bags during an evacuation. Safety speed matters more than belongings. The crew are there to guide people, not to collect bags.

Question 17Hörverstehen

In a discussion about wind farms, one speaker says: "I'm not against renewable energy as such; my concern is that we're building these turbines faster than the grid can handle the power." What is the speaker's position?

  1. Convinced that wind power is unnecessary
  2. Supporting renewables but questioning the pace of expansion Correct answer.
  3. Demanding that all turbines be removed
  4. Opposed to renewable energy in principle

Explanation

The speaker distinguishes principle from practice: "not against ... as such" accepts renewables, while "my concern is" raises a practical objection about grid capacity. This is a qualified, not a fundamental, opposition.

Question 18Hörverstehen

A recorded message from a library says: "Items borrowed from the reference collection may be used in the building only and cannot be taken home." What does this mean for users?

  1. They can order them from another library.
  2. They may borrow them for one week.
  3. They may read such items on site but not borrow them. Correct answer.
  4. They must pay a deposit to take them home.

Explanation

"Used in the building only" and "cannot be taken home" together define reference items as on-site use only. The message rules out home borrowing entirely, regardless of duration or deposit.

Question 19Hörverstehen

You hear a speaker at a community meeting say: "Let's be clear - nobody here is saying the new housing is unwelcome. The question is whether the roads and schools can cope." What is the speaker doing?

  1. Complaining that too few people attended
  2. Rejecting the housing project outright
  3. Reframing the debate around infrastructure rather than opposition Correct answer.
  4. Announcing that the plans have been cancelled

Explanation

The speaker denies opposition ("nobody here is saying ... unwelcome") and redirects attention to roads and schools. This shifts the argument from whether to build to whether services can support it. The rhetorical "Let's be clear" underlines the reframing.

Question 20Hörverstehen

A radio report says: "The number of visitors to the Wadden Sea national park rose by a third last year, prompting rangers to introduce guided walks to protect the breeding birds." Why were the guided walks introduced?

  1. To attract even more tourists to the park
  2. To raise money for new visitor centres
  3. To replace the rangers' other duties
  4. To reduce damage to breeding birds caused by more visitors Correct answer.

Explanation

The participle clause "prompting rangers to introduce ..." links the rise in visitors to a protective measure. The purpose is conservation of breeding birds in response to pressure. The measure is a reaction to growth, not a way of increasing it.

Question 21Hörverstehen

In an interview, a climate researcher says: "People often assume that mild winters mean the problem is easing. In fact, the variability is exactly what the models predict." How does the researcher respond to the assumption?

  1. By agreeing that the problem is easing
  2. By refusing to comment on the models
  3. By admitting that the models have failed
  4. By correcting it: greater variability is consistent with predictions Correct answer.

Explanation

The researcher contrasts a common assumption ("often assume") with the scientific view ("In fact ..."). The correction is that variability itself is expected, not evidence of improvement. The key is recognising the assume/in fact contrast.

Question 22Hörverstehen

A speaker at a tourism conference says: "Promoting the region only in summer is short-sighted; the real opportunity lies in the quiet months, when visitors want exactly what we take for granted." What strategy is the speaker recommending?

  1. Marketing the region as an off-season destination Correct answer.
  2. Investing mainly in new summer attractions
  3. Reducing the number of summer visitors by law
  4. Focusing promotion on foreign markets only

Explanation

"Short-sighted" criticises summer-only promotion, and "the real opportunity lies in the quiet months" points to off-season marketing. The argument rests on the idea that quiet-season qualities are attractive to visitors. No legal restriction or market focus is proposed.

Question 23Hörverstehen

You hear a lecturer say: "The Hanseatic League never had a founding charter or a permanent army; its power rested on shared commercial interests and the credible threat of boycotts." What does the lecturer stress about the League?

  1. It relied chiefly on a standing army.
  2. It collapsed as soon as it was founded.
  3. Its influence came from economic cooperation rather than formal institutions. Correct answer.
  4. It was governed by a written constitution.

Explanation

The lecturer lists what the League lacked (charter, army) and then names what its power rested on (commercial interests, boycott threats). The emphasis is on informal economic power. This contrast between absence of institutions and real influence is the core point.

Question 24Hörverstehen

A podcast host says: "Critics called the novel's ending rushed, yet the same critics praise its refusal to tie up every thread. You can't have it both ways." What is the host accusing the critics of?

  1. Misreading the novel's central theme
  2. Holding two positions that contradict each other Correct answer.
  3. Ignoring the novel's commercial success
  4. Praising the novel without having read it

Explanation

The host sets two critical claims side by side and concludes "You can't have it both ways". This idiom accuses someone of inconsistency. The two complaints are treated as mutually incompatible, not as separate valid points.

Question 25Hörverstehen

At a town-hall meeting a resident says: "Before we vote on the bypass, I'd like the council to publish the traffic counts it keeps referring to. Until then, any decision would be based on hearsay." What is the resident asking for?

  1. Access to the evidence before a decision is taken Correct answer.
  2. A new council election
  3. An immediate vote on the bypass
  4. A public apology from the council

Explanation

The resident makes publication of the traffic counts a condition ("Before we vote ... Until then"). The reason given is that a decision without the data would rest on hearsay. The request is procedural transparency, not a demand for a vote.

Question 26Hörverstehen

A recorded announcement at Kiel station says: "The 14:20 service to Flensburg will depart from platform 6 instead of platform 3. Passengers travelling beyond Schleswig should change at Rendsburg because of engineering work." What should a passenger going to Flensburg do?

  1. Take an earlier service to Schleswig only
  2. Board at platform 3 and change at Rendsburg
  3. Board at platform 6 and stay on the train Correct answer.
  4. Ask staff to move the train to platform 3

Explanation

The announcement names platform 6 as the departure point and limits the change at Rendsburg to passengers travelling beyond Schleswig. Since Flensburg lies before that point on this route, the traveller simply boards at platform 6 and remains on the train. Listening for the condition attached to the instruction is the key skill here.

Question 27Hörverstehen

A weather forecast for the North Sea coast says: "Tomorrow starts bright, but cloud will build from the west by midday and showers will reach the coast by late afternoon. Winds will strengthen to gale force overnight." When is rain most likely?

  1. Late afternoon onwards Correct answer.
  2. Only after midnight
  3. Around midday
  4. Early morning

Explanation

The forecast links showers to the arrival of cloud from the west and places them at the coast by late afternoon, with stronger winds following overnight. Rain is therefore expected from late afternoon rather than at the start of the day. Times given in sequence in a forecast should be matched to the events attached to them.

Question 28Hörverstehen

In a radio interview a fisherman says: "Thirty years ago you could go out and be back by lunchtime with a full catch. Now I steam for hours to find shoals that my father would have called poor." What is he mainly describing?

  1. A change in the price of fuel
  2. The retirement of his father
  3. An improvement in boat engines
  4. A decline in fish stocks over time Correct answer.

Explanation

The speaker contrasts an easy, quick catch in the past with long journeys for smaller shoals today. That comparison points to fewer fish rather than to costs, family matters or technology. Identifying the contrast a speaker draws is central to this kind of listening task.

Question 29Hörverstehen

A museum audio guide says: "This room closes fifteen minutes before the museum itself. If you wish to see the silver collection on the upper floor, please go there first, as it shuts at four." What advice is given to a visitor who wants to see the silver?

  1. Ask a guard to unlock the upper floor
  2. Visit the silver collection before this room Correct answer.
  3. Leave the museum fifteen minutes early
  4. Return tomorrow morning for the silver

Explanation

The guide warns that the silver collection closes at four and advises going there first. The fifteen-minute rule applies to the current room, so the visitor should prioritise the upper floor. Following the order of instructions prevents missing a time-limited exhibit.

Question 30Hörverstehen

You hear a shop assistant say: "I'm afraid we've sold out of the rain jackets in your size, but I can order one for collection on Thursday, or you could take the blue one in the next size up today." What two choices does the assistant offer?

  1. Reserve a jacket online or pay by card
  2. Wait for a refund or buy a cheaper jacket
  3. Try another shop or return next week
  4. Order for Thursday or buy a larger blue jacket now Correct answer.

Explanation

The assistant presents two concrete possibilities: ordering the right size for Thursday collection, or buying the blue jacket one size larger today. Both options are stated directly with their conditions. Recognising paired alternatives is a common listening requirement.

Question 31Hörverstehen

A school notice read aloud says: "The Year 9 trip to the Wadden Sea Centre leaves at 7:45 sharp. Pupils should bring a packed lunch and waterproof shoes; the centre provides binoculars." What should pupils bring themselves?

  1. A change of clothes for the afternoon
  2. Binoculars
  3. A packed lunch and waterproof shoes Correct answer.
  4. Money for the centre café

Explanation

The notice lists a packed lunch and waterproof shoes as things pupils must bring, while binoculars are supplied by the centre. The distinction between what is provided and what is required is the point being tested. Note the contrast word "provides".

Question 32Hörverstehen

A doctor's surgery answering machine says: "For repeat prescriptions, please use the online form. The reception line is for appointments only and opens at eight. If you feel unwell outside opening hours, call the emergency number." A patient needs a repeat prescription. What should they do?

  1. Phone the reception line at eight
  2. Use the online form Correct answer.
  3. Call the emergency number
  4. Visit the surgery in person

Explanation

The message directs repeat prescriptions to the online form and reserves the phone line for appointments. The emergency number is only for feeling unwell outside opening hours. Matching each need to its stated channel is the listening skill involved.

Question 33Hörverstehen

A sports club announcement says: "Training moves indoors this week because the pitch is frozen. Meet at the sports hall at the usual time, and bring trainers rather than boots." What has changed?

  1. The location and footwear Correct answer.
  2. The day of training
  3. The time of training
  4. The coach taking the session

Explanation

The announcement states that training moves indoors and that trainers replace boots, so both location and footwear change. The time is described as usual, and no day or coach is mentioned. Separating what stays the same from what changes sharpens careful listening.

Question 34Hörverstehen

A radio presenter says: "The author insists her novel is not autobiographical, yet the heroine grows up in a lighthouse keeper's family on exactly the island where the author spent her childhood." What attitude does the presenter show?

  1. Polite scepticism about the author's claim Correct answer.
  2. Indifference to the author's biography
  3. Admiration for the novel's plot
  4. Complete agreement with the author

Explanation

The word "yet" signals a contrast between the author's denial and the close parallels the presenter lists. By pointing out those parallels, the presenter gently doubts the claim without stating outright that the author is lying. Tone words such as "yet" and "insists" carry this kind of implied criticism.

Question 35Hörverstehen

In a lecture on the Hanseatic cities, the speaker says: "Lübeck's wealth did not come from its harbour, which lay some distance away, but from its control of the overland route to Hamburg and its monopoly on certain goods." What was the basis of Lübeck's prosperity?

  1. Fishing rights in the Baltic Sea
  2. Military conquest of Hamburg
  3. Control of trade routes and monopolies Correct answer.
  4. A deep-water harbour in the city centre

Explanation

The speaker explicitly contrasts the distant harbour with the overland route and monopolies that generated wealth. The negation "did not come from its harbour" rules out the obvious but wrong answer. Noticing such negations is essential in lecture listening.

Question 36Hörverstehen

A caller to a radio programme says: "I'm not saying the new car park shouldn't be built. My worry is that the plans show no lighting, and the path to the town centre runs behind a row of garages." What is the caller's main concern?

  1. That the site will feel unsafe at night Correct answer.
  2. That the town centre will lose shoppers
  3. That the garages will be demolished
  4. That the car park will be too small

Explanation

The caller distances himself from opposition to the car park and focuses on missing lighting and an isolated path. Together these details point to a safety worry rather than to size, trade or demolition. Recognising what a speaker is not objecting to is as important as what they object to.

Question 37Hörverstehen

You hear a voicemail: "Hi, it's Mareike. The seminar room is double-booked on Tuesday, so I've moved our group presentation to Thursday at ten. Could you let the others know before Friday? I'll be offline until then." What is the listener asked to do?

  1. Book a different seminar room
  2. Contact Mareike before Tuesday
  3. Tell the other group members about the change Correct answer.
  4. Prepare the presentation alone

Explanation

Mareike has already moved the presentation herself and asks the listener to inform the others before Friday. The request is limited to passing on the message, since she will be offline. Distinguishing the action already taken from the action requested is the key step.

Question 38Hörverstehen

A guide at a nature reserve says: "We ask visitors to stay on the marked paths not because the ground is dangerous, but because the nesting birds on the dunes are easily disturbed." Why does the reserve want visitors to keep to the paths?

  1. To protect visitors from unsafe ground
  2. To keep the paths in good condition
  3. To avoid disturbing nesting birds Correct answer.
  4. To make it easier for staff to count visitors

Explanation

The guide explicitly rejects the danger explanation and gives bird disturbance as the real reason. The structure "not because ... but because" signals the true cause in the second half. Listeners must attach the reason to the correct clause.

Question 39Hörverstehen

A careers adviser says: "Your CV lists plenty of skills, but employers in this region want evidence. For each skill, add one sentence showing what you actually did and what changed as a result." What does the adviser recommend?

  1. Shortening the list of skills
  2. Applying to employers outside the region
  3. Adding concrete examples with outcomes Correct answer.
  4. Removing the skills section entirely

Explanation

The adviser's point is that skills need proof, and the suggested sentence combines an action with its result. This is not about cutting the list but about supporting each entry. Listening for the specific instruction after a general observation is the skill tested.

Question 40Hörverstehen

On a podcast about language learning, a guest says: "I tried learning Danish with an app for a year and could order coffee perfectly. It was only when I started watching television without subtitles that I began to hear where words ended." What helped the guest most?

  1. Reading Danish newspapers
  2. Ordering coffee in Danish
  3. Using the app for a full year
  4. Watching television without subtitles Correct answer.

Explanation

The guest describes the app as producing only limited results and identifies unsubtitled television as the turning point. The phrase "only when" marks the decisive experience. Distinguishing a preparatory activity from the effective one is the listening challenge.

Question 41Hörverstehen

A recorded message from a sports centre says: "The pool will be closed on Monday morning for its annual deep clean. Swimming lessons scheduled before noon will be moved to the following week; all other sessions run as normal." Who is affected by the closure?

  1. Everyone using the sports centre on Monday
  2. Nobody, because the pool reopens at noon
  3. Only swimmers with lessons before noon Correct answer.
  4. Only staff working the deep clean

Explanation

The message says lessons before noon are moved to the following week, while all other sessions run normally. The affected group is therefore limited to those with morning swimming lessons. Careful listening requires matching the exception to the right group.

Question 42Hörverstehen

A speaker at a parents' evening says: "We no longer publish a single end-of-term grade. Instead, pupils receive short comments on three pieces of work, and you will see the grade only in the summer report." How has assessment changed?

  1. Parents must request comments from teachers
  2. Pupils no longer receive any grades
  3. Grades are now given every term as before
  4. Feedback is more frequent and grades appear later Correct answer.

Explanation

The school has replaced a single termly grade with comments on three pieces of work and moved the grade to the summer report. That means more frequent feedback and a later grade. Comparing the old and new systems is the analytical task here.

Question 43Hörverstehen

A radio traffic report says: "The B76 is closed between Eckernförde and Kappeln after a lorry shed its load. Traffic is being diverted through Rieseby, adding roughly twenty minutes to journeys." What should drivers expect?

  1. A diversion and about twenty minutes' delay Correct answer.
  2. A complete ban on travel to Kappeln
  3. A shorter route through Eckernförde
  4. The road reopening within minutes

Explanation

The report gives both a diversion through Rieseby and an estimated extra twenty minutes. Those two facts together describe what drivers should expect. Traffic reports usually pair a disruption with its practical consequence.

Question 44Hörverstehen

In a documentary about the Wadden Sea, the narrator says: "The mudflats look empty, yet a single square metre can hold thousands of tiny creatures. The birds that feed here depend on that hidden life, which is why protecting the surface matters more than it seems." What is the narrator's point?

  1. Birds prefer feeding on dry sand
  2. The visible surface hides an ecosystem that supports birds Correct answer.
  3. The mudflats are less important than they appear
  4. The mudflats should be closed to all visitors

Explanation

The narrator contrasts the empty appearance with the dense hidden life and links it to the birds' food supply. That makes the surface worth protecting precisely because of what lies beneath it. The word "yet" sets up the contrast being explained.

Question 45Hörverstehen

A student says: "I chose the topic because it looked straightforward, but every source I found contradicted the last one. In the end the essay was less about answering the question than about explaining why the sources disagreed." How did the student's approach change?

  1. From answering a question to analysing disagreement Correct answer.
  2. From a group project to individual work
  3. From a historical topic to a scientific one
  4. From a short essay to a longer one

Explanation

The student began expecting a simple answer and ended up explaining why the sources conflicted. The phrase "less about ... than about" marks the shift in purpose. Recognising such comparative structures is a frequent listening demand.

Question 46Hörverstehen

A tourism officer says: "We are not short of visitors in July and August. The problem is that the same restaurants and beaches are overwhelmed while businesses in the quieter months struggle. Our strategy therefore targets spring and autumn." What is the aim of the strategy?

  1. To spread visitor numbers across the year Correct answer.
  2. To reduce the total number of tourists
  3. To close businesses in the quiet months
  4. To attract more visitors in summer

Explanation

The officer identifies overcrowding in summer and struggling businesses at other times, then targets spring and autumn. The goal is to shift demand rather than to increase or cut it overall. Following a problem-solution structure leads to the correct answer.

Question 47Hörverstehen

A scientist being interviewed says: "People hear 'mild winter' and conclude the trend has stopped. But a single warm season tells us almost nothing; what matters is the direction of travel across decades." What is the scientist correcting?

  1. A misunderstanding about what one season shows Correct answer.
  2. The idea that winters are getting colder
  3. A claim that data are unavailable
  4. The belief that decades are too short to study

Explanation

The scientist challenges the inference from one mild winter to a change in the long-term trend. The correction concerns how a single observation should be interpreted, not the direction of the trend itself. Listening for the word "but" helps locate the correction.

Question 48Hörverstehen

A lecturer says: "It is tempting to describe the league as a government. It had no charter, no treasury in the modern sense and no standing army; its rules were obeyed because members needed the trading privileges it could withdraw." What is the lecturer's argument?

  1. The league was a fully developed state
  2. The league functioned through economic leverage rather than formal authority Correct answer.
  3. The league failed because it had no rules
  4. The league relied mainly on its army

Explanation

The lecturer lists the features of government that the league lacked, then explains that compliance came from control of trading privileges. That is an argument for economic leverage replacing formal authority. The structure "tempting to describe ... it had no ..." signals a corrective thesis.

Question 49Hörverstehen

In a debate about a new bypass, a councillor says: "Supporters point to the traffic counts and opponents to the wildlife survey. Both sets of figures are sound. The real question is which we weight more heavily when they conflict." What is the councillor doing?

  1. Announcing a decision in favour of the bypass
  2. Rejecting one set of figures as unreliable
  3. Reframing the dispute as a question of priorities Correct answer.
  4. Asking for the surveys to be repeated

Explanation

The councillor accepts both bodies of evidence and identifies the underlying issue as the weight given to each. That moves the debate from facts to values. Recognising when a speaker shifts the level of a disagreement is a higher-order listening skill.

Question 50Hörverstehen

A podcast host says: "The film was praised for its slowness, and criticised for the same thing. That tells you less about the film than about the reviewers, who were clearly looking for different kinds of cinema." What conclusion does the host draw?

  1. The film is objectively too slow
  2. The reviews reveal the critics' expectations Correct answer.
  3. The film should have been shorter
  4. The reviewers agreed with each other

Explanation

The host notes that the same quality drew praise and blame, then reads that split as evidence about the reviewers' tastes. The comparison "less about ... than about" marks the conclusion. The host takes no position on the film's pace.