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A1 French short story: the baker who works while the town sleeps

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Follow a French baker through the night in an easy present-tense story, with glosses and a translation, then put the steps of the work in order.

In short

An A1 story about routines and times. Martin the baker starts work at three in the morning. Read it, tap the glosses, then put his night in order.

A baker preparing baguettes in a warm bakehouse before dawn.
Martin works in le fournil while the town sleeps. Illustration: Atelier

La nuit de Martin

Le réveil1 de Martin sonne à deux heures et demie. Dehors, il fait nuit et la rue est silencieuse. Martin boit un café et va à pied à la boulangerie.

À trois heures, il est dans le fournil2. Il prépare la pâte3 avec de la farine, de l'eau, du sel et de la levure. La machine pétrit4 la pâte pendant vingt minutes.

À cinq heures, le four5 est chaud. Martin cuit les baguettes et les croissants. À six heures et demie, tout est doré6. Ça sent très bon.

À sept heures, la boulangerie ouvre. Il y a déjà une file d'attente7. Martin vend du pain jusqu'à treize heures. L'après-midi, il fait une longue sieste8.

Read it in English

Martin's alarm rings at half past two. Outside, it's dark and the street is silent. Martin drinks a coffee and walks to the bakery.

At three o'clock, he is in the bakehouse. He prepares the dough with flour, water, salt and yeast. The machine kneads the dough for twenty minutes.

At five o'clock, the oven is hot. Martin bakes the baguettes and the croissants. At half past six, everything is golden. It smells wonderful.

At seven, the bakery opens. There is already a queue. Martin sells bread until one o'clock. In the afternoon, he takes a long nap.

Question 1No account needed
Put the night in order: what comes first?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Martin prepares the dough.. At three he prepares the dough; the oven is hot at five; the shop opens at seven.

Question 2No account needed
What time does the alarm ring?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

2.30. Deux heures et demie: half past two.

Question 3No account needed
What does Martin do in the afternoon?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

He takes a long nap.. Il fait une longue sieste.

Question 4No account needed
La file d'attente is…

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

the queue. A file d'attente is a line of people waiting.

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