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French news headlines and faits divers test for French A2 (free PDF download)

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

Quick answer: French headlines are short: they drop articles and use the present tense for past events, as in Le maire démissionne. This French A2 test on French news headlines and faits divers has 9 questions worth 20 points, to do in 40 minutes: news vocabulary, participles and auxiliaries and from headline to sentence. The scoring guide is on a separate page; free printable PDF.

This test checks news vocabulary, the passé composé with avoir and être, headlines, a short flash to read and a short writing task. Write in full sentences, with accents. No notes are allowed. The total is 20 points.

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

Time: 40 minutes · 9 questions · Total: 20 points · No dictionary

Question 1 News vocabulary (2 points)

Give the French word.

  1. fire
  2. witness
  3. firefighters
  4. theft

(½ point each)

Question 2 Participles and auxiliaries (2 points)

Write the passé composé.

  1. il (tomber)
  2. ils (voir)
  3. elle (arriver)
  4. nous (prendre)

(½ point each)

Question 3 From headline to sentence (2 points)

Write a full sentence in the passé composé.

  1. Le maire démissionne
  2. Incendie à Rouen

(1 point each)

Question 4 News flash (2 points)

Read the flash and answer in French.

Black and white news flash from Annecy: on Saturday morning a boat broke down on the lake, four tourists stayed two hours, rescuers arrived at 11 and nobody was injuredFLASH — AnnecySamedi matin, un bateau est tombé en panne sur le lac.Quatre touristes sont restés deux heures sur l’eau.Les secours sont arrivés à 11 h. Personne n’est blessé.
A short news flash from Annecy.
  1. Qui est resté sur l’eau ?
  2. Combien de temps ?
  3. Où est-ce arrivé ?

(⅔ point each)

Question 5 Find the mistake (2 points)

Correct each sentence.

  1. Les secours ont arrivés.
  2. Une femme est tombé.
  3. Personne a été blessé.
  4. La police a arrêté deux voleur.

(½ point each)

Question 6 Negative sentences (2 points)

Rewrite in the negative.

  1. Le bus est arrivé.
  2. On a trouvé le chien.
  3. Quelqu’un a vu l’accident.
  4. Les pompiers sont partis.

(½ point each)

Question 7 Reading (3 points)

Samedi matin, un homme a perdu son portefeuille dans le train de Lausanne à Genève. Une passagère l’a trouvé et l’a rapporté au contrôleur. Le propriétaire est venu le chercher à Genève. Il a remercié la passagère avec un bouquet de fleurs.

Answer in English.

  1. Where did the man lose his wallet?
  2. Who found it?
  3. How did he thank her?

(1 point each)

Question 8 Translation (3 points)

Translate into French (passé composé).

  1. The police arrested two men.
  2. The tourists left early.
  3. Nobody saw the fire.

(1 point each)

Question 9 Short writing (2 points)

Write 3 sentences in the passé composé about an event: a market, a storm or a lost dog. Say what happened, where and when.

See the French News Headlines And Faits Divers test answer key with scoring

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