Driving in Deutschland
In pursuing obtaining my German drivers license (why now after 2 years you ask? Good question, I don't know either, it just seems like the right thing to do) the nice people at the driving schools provide you with a manual and a practice test with over 1000 (YES that is right 1000) questions in it. Keep in mind you might actually answer 50-100 of these questions on the actual test, but as Germans like to be prepared for any and all circumstances- including every possible scenario you might encounter while driving, and anything associated with it- you get a practice test with over 1000 questions.
The nature of these questions and sometimes the vocabulary used in them is what makes this such a humorous cultural "exercise" Let me share a few of them, and maybe after reading you too, will be prepared for this driving exam, and thus life on the potentially hazardous but normally orderly = roads of Deutschland:
(see bottom of post for the answers)
1.) Immediately before setting off you have felt very angry and you are furious. What is right?
a.) you set off and get rid of your anger while driving.
b.) you should not drive while you are furious.
2.) Just 1 drop of oil can contaminate up to how much water?
a.) 1 liter
b.) 50 liters
c.) 600 liters
3.) While driving down a tree lined street in the middle of winter, what must you be prepared to reckon with? (yes, they use the word reckon).
a.) snow, black ice, and fallen leaves making the road slippery.
b.) cobbled streets which when wet make it difficult to control a car when it slides.
c. Not a. The trees will protect the road from getting too icy or snowy.
So there you have it. After going through the other 997+ questions, I hope I have a chance of passing this test. I am not just being fecitious either. Some of the more challenging questions include having to memorize the exact distance needed to stop when pulling a trailer carrying a weight of more than 2 tons, and driving at 80/kmh. There is apparently a formula involved in calculating stopping distance that I need to learn. Seeing as how there are at least 30 questions on the practice test related to this exact thing. oi.
(answers: 1.b 2.c 3. both a and b.)
The nature of these questions and sometimes the vocabulary used in them is what makes this such a humorous cultural "exercise" Let me share a few of them, and maybe after reading you too, will be prepared for this driving exam, and thus life on the potentially hazardous but normally orderly = roads of Deutschland:
(see bottom of post for the answers)
1.) Immediately before setting off you have felt very angry and you are furious. What is right?
a.) you set off and get rid of your anger while driving.
b.) you should not drive while you are furious.
2.) Just 1 drop of oil can contaminate up to how much water?
a.) 1 liter
b.) 50 liters
c.) 600 liters
3.) While driving down a tree lined street in the middle of winter, what must you be prepared to reckon with? (yes, they use the word reckon).
a.) snow, black ice, and fallen leaves making the road slippery.
b.) cobbled streets which when wet make it difficult to control a car when it slides.
c. Not a. The trees will protect the road from getting too icy or snowy.
So there you have it. After going through the other 997+ questions, I hope I have a chance of passing this test. I am not just being fecitious either. Some of the more challenging questions include having to memorize the exact distance needed to stop when pulling a trailer carrying a weight of more than 2 tons, and driving at 80/kmh. There is apparently a formula involved in calculating stopping distance that I need to learn. Seeing as how there are at least 30 questions on the practice test related to this exact thing. oi.
(answers: 1.b 2.c 3. both a and b.)
posted by r cook at 6:58 AM
0 comments
