Reading Comprehension
What the section tests
Reading tasks in the DZI French exam ask you to extract both explicit information and implied meaning from authentic-style texts: short articles, notices, advertisements, letters, and informative passages. You must identify the main idea, locate specific details, infer the writer's attitude, and understand how a text is organised. Typical item formats include multiple-choice questions, true/false with justification, matching headings to paragraphs, and gap-fill summaries.
Concepts to master
Build a reliable bank of connectors because they signal logical relationships: cependant, toutefois, en revanche (contrast), par conséquent, donc (consequence), en effet, car (cause). Recognise pronoun reference (celui-ci, dont, en, y) since questions often test what a pronoun points to. Practise distinguishing fact from opinion and identifying register (formal letter versus informal message).
Traps to watch
Do not choose an option merely because it repeats words from the text; distractors recycle vocabulary while distorting meaning. Watch for scope words such as tous, toujours, jamais, uniquement that make an option too absolute. Check negation and double negation carefully. In matching tasks, one paragraph may fit two headings superficially, so verify the whole paragraph, not the first sentence.
Rule of thumb
Read the question first, then scan for the relevant paragraph, then read that paragraph fully before answering. Justify every answer with a phrase from the text. If you cannot point to the supporting words, the option is probably a trap.
Worked example: Text says Bien que le projet soit coûteux, la mairie l'a approuvé. Question: Did the town hall reject the project? Answer: No - bien que concedes the cost but a approuvé confirms approval.