Leichtere Übungen: Schlüssel / Key

1. A Lions' Story

Two lions were walking slowly along Broadway in New York – a grandfather and his grandson. It was a cold, grey day, a light wind was blowing and it was drizzling softly.

"Surprisingly few people around today," said the young lion.

"You're constantly thinking of food," said the grandfather. "You mustn't do that. It isn't good for you. You've got enough flesh on your bones. You needn't eat more than you usually do."

"I wasn't thinking about food," answered the grandson. "In fact, I was looking at that girl over there. Isn't she beautiful?"

"She's beautifully dressed," said the grandfather. "She has a nice figure too. I don't like them too thin."

"Now you are thinking of food," said the grandson with a thinly disguised smile.

The old lion felt slightly annoyed. "I think we should go and eat something good. I know a place where we can eat well and talk intelligently about important things."

Ten minutes later they were sitting comfortably in a nice, cosy restaurant. At the next table a stout woman was eating a huge steak. The older lion eyed both her and the steak greedily.

After the waitress had taken their orders, they sat quietly, the older lion occasionally stealing a quick glance at the stout woman, who was now eagerly devouring an enormous dessert.

Seeing that his grandfather was in a somewhat melancholy mood, the grandson wanted to start a conversation about something pleasant. "Tell me, grandpa," he said, "how is it that you're so extremely well-educated?"

The old lion's face immediately brightened. Like most old men he liked to talk about himself. "I have had a long life," he said, "and during a long life you learn a lot of things. You just have to keep your eyes open. But luckily I also went to a good school. That was in Germany, many years ago."

"You went to school in Germany, grandpa? You never told me about that."

"Yes, in Berlin it was, the German capital. They have a kind of high school there that's only for adults. It's called Victor Klemperer College. I studied there for three years."

"And you got your diploma?"

"Yes I did, but in my last year they almost kicked me out."

"Kicked you out, grandpa? I can't believe it. You're such a wonderfully well-behaved lion."

"I certainly behaved well. I was punctual, always did my homework, didn't smoke, didn't do drugs, didn't contradict the teacher. I was popular among my fellow students and most of the teachers liked me too. But on one occasion I did a foolish thing ..."

"You of all lions acted foolishly, grandpa? What did you do?"

"I roared."

"You roared?"

"Yes, I roared terribly. I know it was a terrible roar, and the teacher got so terribly frightened she almost fainted, the poor woman.

"But why did you roar, grandpa? We all know we mustn't roar when we're in polite society."

"It was in our English Literature class. We were reading George Orwell's Animal Farm, and there's this stupid sentence in the story, 'All animals are equal'. The moment I read these words I got furious. Everybody knows, or should know, that the lion is the king of beasts. No other animal can be equal with a lion! So I roared like our wild forefathers in the savannas of Africa. The English teacher took me to the principal, saying I was a danger to teachers and students and should be kicked out."

"And what did the principal say?"

"She said, 'Leo, this is a serious matter. Teachers are sensitive people. If you scare them out of their wits, they'll become ill and then we have no one to teach you. Promise faithfully that you'll never roar again.' Well, I promised of course, and I apologized to the teacher, and back in class she said, 'Now, Leo, go on reading.' And I read, 'All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.' So Orwell had got it right after all, there had been no reason for me to roar, and since then I have been all for equality, always adding silently: 'But we lions are more equal than all the other animals.'"

2. Mit oder ohne -ly? – Lösungen

a. Fast cars are a real danger on our roads.

b. Drunk drivers are really a danger on our roads.

c. The driver was obviously drunk.

d. It was obvious that the driver was drunk.

e. It's obviously safer to drive slow(ly).

f. Accidents are frequent here.

g. Accidents are frequently caused by drunken drivers.

h. Was she seriously injured? – No, the injuries were not serious.

i. Unfortunately I didn't have my mobile with me.

j. Unfortunately my battery is extremely low.

k. The battery normally lasts about two years.

l. Under normal conditions the battery will last several years.

m. He cannot control his emotions well and easily becomes angry.

n. Elephants are highly intelligent and peaceful animals.

o. Times have changed radically since the war.

p. There have been radical changes since the war.

q. She can read English texts relatively easily with the help of a dictionary.

r. For a child, a sting in the throat is extremely dangerous.

s. His political views are dangerously extreme.

t. They hotly debated the decision.

u. There was a hot debate among the committee members.

v. We should remove graffiti as quickly as possible.

w. All graffiti will be quickly removed.

x. Quick removal of graffiti is the best way to discourage taggers.

3. No time for Jim

Jim is on his mobile phone to Liz.

Jim:   Hi, Liz, I must see you. Are you free this afternoon?

Liz:    No, I'm afraid not, Jim. I have an appointment at the hairdresser.

Jim:   Hmm, that's too bad. Actually, I can't see why you must go to the hairdresser. Your hair is OK. When is it anyway?

Liz:    What?

Jim:   The appointment, the hairdresser –

Liz:    Oh, at two o'clock I think, no – half past two – quarter to three possibly. I'm not sure, really.

Jim:   If you must go to the hairdresser, can't we meet afterwards – say, at four thirty? We could have a coffee or something.

Liz:    No, I'm sorry, Jim. I'll be in a bit of a rush then.

Jim:   Why will you be in a rush? I have all the time in the world.

Liz:    Well, you see, I must get / have some new clothes and shoes and make-up and –

Jim:   Why must you get all those things? You're pretty enough for me.

Liz:    But not pretty enough for Harry. I've got a date with him tonight.

4. Verneinung im present tense – Lösungen

a. I don't love her.

b. I can't understand that.

c. They aren't very good.

d. He doesn't see her.

e. He can't see her.

f. He isn't happy.

g. You don't know her?

h. You shouldn't go there.

i. I am not alone.

j. They don't have breakfast in the living room.

k. He doesn't have a shower every day.

l. You don't have to do it.

m. We aren't on the wrong train.

n. You won't be surprised.

o. He couldn't do it in one day.

p. I wouldn't wait till she comes back.

q. I don't need a dictionary.

r. She doesn't look like her mother.

s. He's not a doctor. / He isn't a doctor.

t. We don't have a car. / We haven't got a car.

u. She doesn't have a flat of her own. / She hasn't got a flat of her own.

5. Frageform – Lösungen

a. Is he in love with her?

b. Which is the best dictionary?

c. Do you love her?

d. Does she love him?

e. Do the super-rich travel by private jet?

f. Can she swim?

g. Why can't she swim?

h. Can we take a taxi?

i. Were they surprised?

j. Did they meet in Paris?

k. Where did they meet?

l. Did you see her on the train?

m. Why did she kill him?

n. When did they get married?

o. Have you got a ticket?

p. Have you read the book?

q. Is he a doctor?

r. Has he got a car?

s. Will they keep their word?

t. Will we be staying at the Ritz?

u. How many children do they have?

v. Do we have breakfast in the dining room?

w. Are we going to have breakfast in the dining room?

x. Where did the other guests have breakfast?

y. Who lived in this mansion?

z. Where did George Washington live?