Reading Comprehension
Reading Comprehension
The reading paper presents two or more authentic French texts - articles, interviews, opinion pieces - and asks questions in French. At Higher Level you answer in French, so the paper tests both comprehension and controlled production.
Approach
- Skim once for gist: title, source, first and last paragraphs.
- Read the questions, then scan for the relevant section.
- Answer in French at Higher Level; paraphrase rather than copy long chunks.
- Match the question word: Pourquoi needs a reason; Comment needs a manner; Selon le texte limits you to the text.
Worked example
Text: « Les jeunes sont de plus en plus soucieux de l'environnement, même si beaucoup admettent acheter des vêtements de fast fashion. » Question: Quel paradoxe l'article souligne-t-il ? Answer: Ils se disent écologistes mais continuent d'acheter des vêtements de fast fashion. Reasoning: the contrast marker même si signals the paradox; the answer must include both sides. A response like « les jeunes aiment l'environnement » misses the contradiction and earns little.
Traps that cost marks
- Writing English when the paper requires French.
- Lifting whole sentences: examiners reward reformulation and may ignore copied material.
- Ignoring negation: ne...que means only; ne...pas means not.
- Confusing the author's view with a quoted interviewee's view.
- Missing question limits: selon le texte, dans le premier paragraphe.