German listening: until six or for six hours

The idea

First identify the purpose of the message. On the second pass, listen specifically for an ending time versus duration. Negation, contrast words and time expressions can change an earlier detail. Write a short answer to each question before opening the answer. A correct response must match the message; information that sounds plausible but is not stated should stay out of your notes.

Listen for the decision

This original message tests an ending time versus duration. Keep the transcript closed for a first listen if your browser provides a German synthetic voice. Then replay and write down the specific detail needed for each question. The voice is device-generated; it is not a human recording, an exam recording or a test of natural background noise.

Read the text

Examples

• Hallo, zur Nutzung des Proberaums möchte ich eine Angabe präzisieren.Hello, I would like to clarify a detail about use of the rehearsal room.
• Der Raum steht uns heute bis sechs Uhr abends zur Verfügung.The room is available to us until six this evening.
• Das bedeutet nicht, dass wir ihn ab jetzt noch sechs Stunden nutzen können.That does not mean we can use it for another six hours from now.
• Wir beginnen um sechzehn Uhr und haben damit zwei Stunden.We start at four p.m. and therefore have two hours.
• Bitte plant das Aufräumen innerhalb dieser Zeit ein.Please include tidying up within this time.
• Um achtzehn Uhr soll der Schlüssel wieder am Empfang liegen.At six p.m., the key should be back at reception.

Watch out

Do not confuse a mentioned option with the speaker's final instruction. For the first question, the supported answer is: Zwei Stunden. Locate its evidence in the message. If your device has no German voice, this remains a reading-and-note-taking task; a transcript alone is not listening audio.

Try it yourself

1. Wie lange kann die Gruppe ab sechzehn Uhr üben und aufräumen?

   Show answer or example answer

   Zwei Stunden.

   Zwei Stunden. The fixed end is eighteen o’clock.

2. Darf das Aufräumen erst nach achtzehn Uhr beginnen?

   Show answer or example answer

   Nein, es muss innerhalb der gebuchten Zeit stattfinden.

   Nein, es muss innerhalb der gebuchten Zeit stattfinden. The message includes cleanup in the two-hour window.

3. Wo soll der Schlüssel am Ende sein?

   Show answer or example answer

   Am Empfang.

   Am Empfang. The return deadline is the same as the end of room use.

Use it today

Replay the message without reading. Give another person a two-sentence summary that preserves an ending time versus duration. Then compare your summary with the transcript. Change one factual detail and ask the person to identify the change on a final listen.