The questions are on the French Press Articles test. Take it under real conditions before reading the answer key.
Quick answer: To read a French press article, identify its parts (titre, chapeau, légende), its type (report, éditorial or tribune) and its sources. This scoring guide gives the expected answers and the points for the 9 questions of the French B2 test on French press articles, from press vocabulary to short writing, with the equivalent answers to accept.
Level: French B2 (CEFR upper intermediate) · Standards: CEFR B2, Reading
Question 1 Press vocabulary (2 points)
a) le chapeau; b) la une; c) la légende; d) la rubrique sport.
Scoring: 0.5 point per term.
Question 2 Type of text (2 points)
a) tribune; b) brève; c) éditorial; d) reportage.
Scoring: 0.5 point per answer.
Question 3 Fact or opinion? (2 points)
a) fact; b) opinion; c) opinion; d) fact.
Scoring: 0.5 point per answer.
Question 4 Conditional of uncertainty (2 points)
a) Le directeur partirait à la retraite. b) Quatre personnes seraient blessées.
Scoring: 1 point per sentence; 0.5 if the conditional is chosen but the form has an error.
Question 5 Neutral or loaded? (2 points)
a) dire (or déclarer); b) un groupe d’intérêt; c) un problème; d) décider.
Scoring: 0.5 point per answer.
Question 6 Reading: the editorial (3 points)
a) The author doubts that free buses are a good idea and thinks taxpayers will pay. b) fièrement and bien sûr, jamais consultés (also un cadeau qui coûte cher). c) Any figure or official statement on the cost, or the opinion of residents or the council.
Scoring: 1 point per sub-question.
Question 7 False friends of the press (2 points)
a) rédacteur en chef; b) critique; c) actualités; d) éditeur.
Scoring: 0.5 point per answer.
Question 8 Rewrite neutrally (2 points)
Model: Le maire a dit que la facture serait payée par les contribuables.
Scoring: 1 point for neutral verbs («a dit» for «a avoué»), 1 point for removing the judgment («énorme») and keeping the fact.
Question 9 Short writing (3 points)
Model: Titre : Une salle de lecture ouverte la nuit à Liège . Chapeau : La bibliothèque centrale de Liège ouvre dès lundi une salle de lecture de nuit pour les étudiants. Elle restera accessible jusqu’à minuit pendant toute la période des examens, a annoncé la direction.
Scoring: 1 point for a neutral headline, 1 point for the key facts (who, what, where, when), 1 point for correct French.