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French news headlines and faits divers test answer key with scoring for French A2 (free PDF download)

Reading headlines and short news reports – French A2 test answer key with Zoé, the Français PDF coach

The questions are on the French News Headlines And Faits Divers test. Take it under real conditions before reading the answer key.

Quick answer: French headlines are short: they drop articles and use the present tense for past events, as in Le maire démissionne. This scoring guide gives the expected answers and the points for the 9 questions of the French A2 test on French news headlines and faits divers, from news vocabulary to short writing, with the equivalent answers to accept.

Use this key to mark the test. Award the points described in each scoring note. Give half points when the meaning is right but one agreement or accent is wrong. Add up to 20 and compare with the goal of 12.

Level: French A2 (CEFR elementary) · Standards: CEFR A2, Reading

Question 1 News vocabulary (2 points)

a) un incendie b) un témoin c) les pompiers d) un vol

Scoring: ½ point per word.

Question 2 Participles and auxiliaries (2 points)

a) il est tombé b) ils ont vu c) elle est arrivée d) nous avons pris

Scoring: ½ point per correct form.

Question 3 From headline to sentence (2 points)

a) Le maire a démissionné. b) Un incendie a éclaté à Rouen.

Scoring: 1 point each; ½ if the auxiliary or participle is wrong.

Question 4 News flash (2 points)

a) Quatre touristes. b) Deux heures. c) Sur le lac d’Annecy.

Scoring: ⅔ point each, 2 points in total.

Question 5 Find the mistake (2 points)

a) Les secours sont arrivés. b) Une femme est tombée. c) Personne n’a été blessé. d) deux voleurs

Scoring: ½ point per correction.

Question 6 Negative sentences (2 points)

a) Le bus n’est pas arrivé. b) On n’a pas trouvé le chien. c) Personne n’a vu l’accident. d) Les pompiers ne sont pas partis.

Scoring: ½ point per correct sentence.

Question 7 Reading (3 points)

a) On the train from Lausanne to Geneva. b) A woman passenger. c) With a bouquet of flowers.

Scoring: 1 point each.

Question 8 Translation (3 points)

a) La police a arrêté deux hommes. b) Les touristes sont partis tôt. c) Personne n’a vu le feu.

Scoring: 1 point each; ½ for one small error.

Question 9 Short writing (2 points)

Model: Hier matin, une tempête a frappé Saint-Malo. Des arbres sont tombés sur la route. Personne n’a été blessé.

Scoring: 1 point for correct passé composé forms; 1 point for place, time and clear meaning.

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