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French press articles worksheet with answers for French B2 (free PDF download)

Understanding editorials and press bias – French B2 worksheet with Zoé, the Français PDF coach

Quick answer: To read a French press article, identify its parts (titre, chapeau, légende), its type (report, éditorial or tribune) and its sources. For French B2 students practising French press articles, this worksheet gives 20 problems from easy to hard: match the press terms, fact or opinion? and name the type of text. The answer key is on a separate page, and the worksheet is a free printable PDF.

These twenty problems train the CEFR B2 reading standard on press texts. You will name the parts of an article, tell facts from opinions, decode the conditional of uncertainty and detect loaded words, then read short editorials and reports in French.

Start with the vocabulary problems, then read slowly: underline the words that carry judgment before you answer. The last five problems ask for longer reading and writing, as in the DELF B2 exam.

Level: French B2 (CEFR upper intermediate) · Standards: CEFR B2, Reading

Problem 1 Match the press terms ★★★

Match each term 1-4 with its definition a-d.

  1. le titre
  2. le chapeau
  3. la légende
  4. la rubrique
  1. Text under a photo
  2. A section of the paper
  3. The name of the article
  4. Short introduction under the title

Problem 2 Fact or opinion? ★★★

Write fact or opinion.

  1. Le conseil municipal a voté le budget par 27 voix contre 12.
  2. Ce budget est une honte.
  3. La piscine ouvrira en mai.
  4. Il est urgent de fermer ce chantier.

Problem 3 Name the type of text ★★★

Write brève, éditorial, fait divers or tribune.

  1. A two-line news item on a new bus line.
  2. A text expressing the newspaper’s own opinion.
  3. A report on a car accident in a village.
  4. A column by a university expert, signed by her.

Problem 4 Sure or not sure? ★★★

Choose the verb form that matches the information (confirmed or unconfirmed).

  1. Le maire a démissionné / aurait démissionné — the mayor himself announced it.
  2. L’usine a fermé / aurait fermé — rumor reported by one union.
  3. Deux personnes sont blessées / seraient blessées — firefighters have confirmed.
  4. Le prix va doubler / doublerait — one anonymous source.

Problem 5 Neutral or loaded? ★★★

Write neutral or loaded.

  1. avouer
  2. annoncer
  3. un fléau
  4. un groupe d’intérêt

Problem 6 Publisher or editor? ★★★

Choose the correct French term (éditeur or rédacteur en chef).

  1. The person who decides what goes on the front page.
  2. The company that publishes books.
  3. The head of a newspaper’s newsroom.

Problem 7 Choose the source marker ★★★

Complete with selon, d’après, prétendument or soi-disant.

  1. ______ un syndicat, cinquante postes seraient supprimés.
  2. Le directeur, ______ innocent, a refusé de répondre.
  3. ______ la préfecture, la route rouvrira lundi.
  4. Le projet est ______ écologique.

Problem 8 Say it with the conditional ★★★

Rewrite each sentence in the conditional to show the information is unconfirmed.

  1. L’usine fermera en juin.
  2. Le ministre quitte son poste.
  3. Deux cents emplois sont menacés.

Problem 9 Neutralize the vocabulary ★★★

Replace the loaded word with a neutral one.

  1. Le maire a avoué que le budget était équilibré.
  2. Un lobby a financé l’étude.
  3. La mairie a imposé la fermeture de la rue.

Problem 10 Translate into French ★★★

Translate into French.

  1. According to the mayor, the road will reopen.
  2. The editorial criticizes the plan.
  3. The article was written by an outside expert.

Problem 11 Label the article ★★★

Write the French name of each numbered part.

Simple article layout with five numbered zones: 1 big headline, 2 short text under it, 3 photo, 4 words under the photo, 5 name of the author at the end12345
Numbered zones of an article.

Problem 12 Correct the vocabulary ★★★

Correct the mistake in each sentence.

  1. Elle est l’éditeur du journal local.
  2. Le porte-parole a avoué que la ville est propre.
  3. J’ai lu un bref sur la grève.

Problem 13 Show distance ★★★

Underline the word or form that shows the journalist keeps a distance, then say why.

  1. Le directeur aurait menti, selon plusieurs témoins.
  2. Le directeur a menti.

Problem 14 Pick the stance verb ★★★

Choose annoncer, dénoncer or prétendre for the attitude described.

  1. The journalist reports a decision without comment.
  2. The journalist strongly criticizes an abuse.
  3. The journalist doubts the truth of a claim.

Problem 15 Three versions of one fact ★★★

Write neutral, favorable or hostile.

  1. La mairie a fermé la rue.
  2. La mairie a enfin sauvé la rue des voitures.
  3. La mairie a brutalement imposé la fermeture de la rue.

Problem 16 Read an editorial ★★★

Read, then answer in English.

Fermer la piscine de Valence était, paraît-il, “inévitable”. Pourtant, la mairie, qui a trouvé deux millions d’euros pour repeindre le parvis de l’hôtel de ville, n’a pas osé en chercher un pour l’eau des enfants. Les nageurs, dont on vante la patience, auront tout leur temps pour prendre le car jusqu’à la commune voisine. Il est temps que les élus choisissent enfin entre les façades et les familles.

  1. What is the thesis?
  2. Find two loaded expressions.
  3. What is the effect of the quotation marks around “inévitable”?
  4. Is the author neutral? Justify.

Problem 17 Read a report ★★★

Read, then answer in English.

La fermeture de l’usine de Châtellerault serait envisagée pour juin, selon un syndicat. La direction, qui n’a pas confirmé l’information, dit seulement “étudier plusieurs scénarios”. Deux cents emplois seraient concernés.

  1. What is certain?
  2. What is unconfirmed, and how do you know?
  3. Whose voice is missing?

Problem 18 Compare two headlines ★★★

Look at the headlines, then answer.

Two front-page headlines about the same budget vote: a calm one on the left and a dramatic one on the rightTitre ALe conseil municipaladopte le budgetpar 27 voix contre 12Titre BBudget : l’oppositionétrillée par la majoritéUn vote sans appel
Two ways of announcing the same event.
  1. Which headline is neutral? Justify.
  2. Which word in the other headline shows bias?
  3. Write a third neutral headline in French.

Problem 19 Rewrite neutrally ★★★

Rewrite this paragraph in a neutral tone, keeping the facts.

Les cyclistes ont envahi la rue Carnot. Excédés, les commerçants dénoncent une décision brutale. Le maire, lui, prétend que la mesure est populaire.

Problem 20 Write an opinion piece ★★★

Write 60 to 80 words in French for an editorial: take a position on closing the city center to cars. Include a thesis, two arguments and a final sentence with a call to action.

See the French Press Articles worksheet answer key

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