Lesen Teil 3:
Understanding texts and recognising traps

In Lesen Teil 3 you see three short texts. These can be letters, emails, notices or messages. For each text there are two tasks. In total that is 6 tasks (numbers 31 to 36) and 6 points.

The texts are slightly longer than in Teil 2 – but not very long either. Usually it is half a letter. You must understand what the person is really saying. Not every word – but the most important information.

Lesen Teil 3 is like a little detective work. Every text has its secrets. Sometimes the text says the opposite of what the question claims. Sometimes the answer is there in completely different words. Sometimes there are two or three numbers – but only one is the correct one. Those who know the traps are sure to win their points.

Each text comes with two different tasks. It is important to understand this because you need a different method for both types.

Type 1: True or false?

The first task is always a sentence. You must decide: does this sentence agree with the text or not? There are only two answers: richtig or falsch.

Type 2: Three answers (a, b, c)

The second task gives you three answer options. You must choose the correct one. Be careful here: often two answers are plausible, but only one really agrees with the text.

In Teil 3 there is a small trick that saves a lot of time. Do not read the whole text first. Read the two questions below it first. Only then do you read the text – and you already know what to pay attention to.

This is how you work like a detective: you already know what you are looking for before you enter the scene of the crime. This way you immediately see what is important – and what is only a distraction.

Underline the key words

Take a pen. Underline in the questions:

• Nouns (Wohnung, Geld, Termin, Schule)
• Verbs (kaufen, mieten, anrufen, kommen)
• Numbers (date, price, age, percentage)
• Negations (nicht, kein, niemals)

These underlined words tell you what you must find in the text. That saves time and energy.

A good plan is half the battle. If you always proceed in the same way, you make fewer mistakes and save time.

Step 1: Read the two questions

Read question 1 (richtig/falsch) and question 2 (a, b, c). Understand what is being asked. Underline the most important words.

Step 2: Skim the text once

Read the text quickly. You do not need to understand every word. Just look: what is it about? Who is writing? To whom?

Step 3: Find the right passage

Now read the text more slowly. Look for the words from the question. Sometimes the same words appear – sometimes only similar synonyms. Mark this passage.

Step 4: Compare carefully

Read the sentence in the question and the sentence in the text word for word. Does the text really say the same thing? Or is something different written there? Pay attention to small words such as „nicht“, „kein“, „nur“, „ohne“.

Step 5: Decide and mark

If you are certain, mark your answer. If you are uncertain: look at the other answers. Sometimes one answer is definitely wrong – and that helps you.

When preparing for the DTZ exam, similar types of traps can be observed again and again. We have systematically compiled them for you. Now let us look at all 12 of them, with examples and explanations.

This is the most important trap in Lesen Teil 3. If you understand this trap, you will already solve half of all tasks correctly. A Parafrase means: saying the same thing but with different words.

The correct answer almost never contains the same words as the text. You must recognise synonyms. Anyone who only looks for the same word will not find the answer.

Common paraphrases

In this trap the question claims the opposite of what the text says. The topic is correct, but the direction is reversed. Anyone who reads quickly often does not notice this.

Typical inversion pairs

• eröffnet ↔ geschlossen
• mehr ↔ weniger
• neu ↔ alt / wieder
• billiger ↔ teurer
• zu viele ↔ zu wenige
• im Zentrum ↔ am Stadtrand
• spart ↔ verbraucht

A small word such as nicht, kein or weder can completely reverse the meaning of a sentence. These words are short and inconspicuous – but very important.

Negation words you must pay attention to

• nicht – makes the opposite
• kein / keine – none of it
• weder ... noch – neither of the two
• leider – often connected with negation
• ohne – something is missing

Some words are absolute: alle, immer, nur, jeder. If such a word appears in the question, you must check: does the text really say „alle“? Or perhaps only „manche“?

Pay attention to these words

• alle – everyone without exception
• immer – every time, without exception
• nur – nothing else
• jeder – without exception
• ausschließlich – only that
• komplett – completely, without exception

In many texts there are several numbers. One of them is the correct answer. The others are there to confuse you. You must read carefully which number belongs to which piece of information.

In this trap everything revolves around the point in time. Has something already happened? Or does it still need to happen? Is something the case now – or was it the case in the past?

Time signals you must pay attention to

• haben + Partizip – already happened (haben gemacht, ist gekommen)
• werden – will happen in the future
• bald – will happen
• vor fünf Wochen – already happened
• schon – already happened or done
• noch nicht – still needs to be done

In this trap the topic is correct, but the action – the verb – is wrong. A carpet can be repaired or bought – that is not the same thing. Clothing can be sold or donated – that is also not the same thing.

Typical verb traps

Sometimes a place name appears in the text and in the question – but it has a different meaning. This is a particularly nasty trap.

This trap is about what the text really does. Does the text describe something? Or does it explain something? These two things are different.

Sometimes there are two similar names or numbers in the text. Buslinie 19 is not Buslinie 91. Familie Meyer is not Familie Mayer. Examiners often use similar names to see whether you read carefully.

Sometimes an answer sounds plausible and logical – but it is simply not written in the text at all. You must ask yourself: Is this really in the text? Or do I only think that it could be so?

Who is writing this letter? To whom? Why? These questions are often very important. Sometimes you must understand exactly who the person in the text is.

In this trap you must conclude from the text which role the person has. Pay attention to:

• Who can do what? (kündigen, vermieten, kaufen, verkaufen)
• Who pays whom? (Mieter zahlt Vermieter, Kunde zahlt Firma)
• Who writes to whom? (Firma an Kunde, Schule an Eltern)

Now we summarise everything. These 7 rules will help you in every B1 DTZ exam. Learn them by heart.

Rule 1: Questions first, then the text

Always read the two questions first. Underline the most important words. Only then do you read the text. That way you already know what you are looking for.

Rule 2: Synonyms instead of the same words

The correct answer almost never contains the same words as the text. Look for synonyms. If a word is exactly the same, this is often a warning signal.

Rule 3: Pay attention to small words

Words such as „nicht“, „kein“, „nur“, „alle“, „immer“ are small – but very important. They can change the whole meaning.

Rule 4: Read the whole sentence

Never read only a single word or a number. Always read the whole sentence. Only then do you understand what the word really means.

Rule 5: Check all three answers

For the question with a, b, c: read all three answers. First eliminate those that are definitely wrong. That leaves the correct one at the end.

Rule 6: Only what is in the text

An answer is only correct if it is in the text. No matter how logical it sounds – if the text does not say it, the answer is wrong.

Rule 7: Note the verb and the time

Pay attention to the action (the verb) and the time (already happened / still needs to happen). These two things often decide between right and wrong.

For the entire exam section Lesen you have 45 minutes. For Lesen Teil 3 you need approximately 10 to 12 minutes. That is approx. 3 to 4 minutes per text.

These paraphrases appear again and again when preparing for the DTZ exam. Those who know them by heart solve the tasks much faster.