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French passé simple test for French 4 (free PDF download)

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Reading Stories Told in the Passé Simple – French 4 test with Zoé, the Français PDF coach

Quick answer: The passé simple is a literary past tense that narrates finished actions in novels, fairy tales and history books. This French 4 test on passé simple has 8 questions worth 20 points, to do in 45 minutes: recognize the infinitive, form the passé simple and imparfait or passé simple. The scoring guide is on a separate page; free printable PDF.

This test checks whether you can recognize and form the passé simple and read a short narrative. Work alone, without notes, and write complete answers. The test has eight questions and is worth 20 points.

Level: French 4 (high school, ACTFL Intermediate Mid) · Standards: ACTFL Intermediate Mid, WL 1.2 Interpretive, WL 1.3 Presentational, WL 4.1 Language Comparisons

Time: 45 minutes · 8 questions · Total: 20 points · No dictionary

Question 1 Recognize the infinitive (2 points)

Write the infinitive of each verb.

  1. il vint (1 point)
  2. elle eut (1 point)

Question 2 Form the passé simple (3 points)

Give the il/elle passé simple.

  1. tomber (1 point)
  2. réfléchir (1 point)
  3. boire (1 point)

Question 3 Imparfait or passé simple (2 points)

Complete with the correct tense.

Il ______ (neiger) quand le facteur ______ (frapper) à la porte.

  1. first blank (1 point)
  2. second blank (1 point)

Question 4 Make it plural (3 points)

Rewrite with a plural subject.

  1. Elle vit un renard. (1 point)
  2. Il dut attendre. (1 point)
  3. Elle fut en retard. (1 point)

Question 5 Correct the form (2 points)

Correct the wrong verb.

  1. Il prena son sac. (1 point)
  2. Elle venit seule. (1 point)

Question 6 Translate into French (3 points)

Translate using the passé simple: She opened the window and saw a bird.

  1. verb 1 (1 point)
  2. verb 2 (1 point)
  3. rest of the sentence (1 point)

Question 7 Reading a gate scene (3 points)

A castle gate with a knight at the left and a dragon at the rightle chevalierle dragon
The scene of the text.

Le chevalier arriva devant la porte. Un dragon dormait. Il fit un pas, mais le sol trembla et le dragon se réveilla.

  1. Which verb is in the imparfait and why? (1 point)
  2. Give the infinitive of fit. (1 point)
  3. What woke the dragon? (1 point)

Question 8 Short writing (2 points)

Write two sentences in the passé simple about a character who finds a letter. Use trouver and lire.

See the French Passé Simple test answer key with scoring

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