C1 · 22 words
Kalle and the drought in Brandenburg
For the third summer in a row hardly any rain has fallen, and the pine forests beyond Schmöckwitz are as dry as tinder. Learn to talk about drought - groundwater, forest fires, water shortage - and about what foresters and everyone else can do to prevent the worst.
Learn These 22 WordsDialogue
A short conversation with the words of this scenario. Tap "Translation" under a line to see what it means.
Role-play: pick a role. The other lines are read aloud, and yours stay hidden until you have said them yourself.
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Otti
Kalle, hier knistert ja alles! Ist das normal für einen Kiefernwald?
Your line. Say it in German, then check it.
Translation
Kalle, everything crackles here! Is that normal for a pine forest?
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Otti
Und das Grundwasser? Ist das auch knapp?
Your line. Say it in German, then check it.
Translation
And the groundwater? Is that scarce too?
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Forester
Sehr, der Grundwasserspiegel ist um fast einen Meter gesunken. Der Wassermangel ist überall sichtbar: Junge Kiefern verdorren, kleine Waldseen trocknen aus.
Your line. Say it in German, then check it.
Translation
Very, the water table has dropped by almost a metre. The water shortage is visible everywhere: young pines are withering and small forest lakes are drying up.
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Kalle
Am meisten Sorgen macht mir aber das Feuer. Ein einziger Funke genügt für einen verheerenden Waldbrand.
Your line. Say it in German, then check it.
Translation
But what worries me most is fire. A single spark is enough for a devastating forest fire.
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Otti
Und was hilft zur Vorbeugung, außer Regen?
Your line. Say it in German, then check it.
Translation
And what helps prevent it, apart from rain?
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Kalle
Nämlich: kein Grill, keine Zigarette, kein Lagerfeuer. Wer darüber lacht, spielt mit dem Feuer.
Your line. Say it in German, then check it.
Translation
Namely: no barbecue, no cigarette, no campfire. Anyone who laughs at that is playing with fire.
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Otti
Alles klar: Der Grill bleibt ab sofort zu Hause!
Your line. Say it in German, then check it.
Translation
Got it: from now on the barbecue stays at home!
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Words and Phrases
- die Dürre drought
- das Grundwasser groundwater
- der Grundwasserspiegel water table
- der Waldbrand forest fire
- die Trockenheit dryness
- der Niederschlag precipitation
- der Wassermangel water shortage
- die Vorbeugung prevention
- der Kiefernwald pine forest
- der Funke spark
- der Zunder tinder
- versickern to seep away
- vorbeugen to prevent
- austrocknen to dry out
- verdorren to wither
- leichtsinnig reckless
- verheerend devastating
- mit dem Feuer spielen to play with fire
- das Feuer fire
- der Regen rain
- das Wasser water
- löschen to delete
Grammar in This Scenario
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