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A1 French story: the choir practises in the wrong room

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Read a present-tense French choir story with eight glosses. Follow the rehearsal time, distinguish an old poster from the current programme and find the right room.

In short

The choir rehearsal is at 19:00 in room 2. The three friends enter room 1 because they read an old poster. Émile at reception gives the corrected location and shows the current week’s programme. His information explains why the choir is missing from the first room.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

A violin, sketchbook and blank calendar arranged on a table.
Use the story’s current weekly programme to find the choir’s rehearsal room. Illustration: Atelier

Two room numbers appear, but they do not have equal status: one belongs to an old poster and the other to the current programme. Read who supplies each detail and when Aïcha checks it. The eight glosses support the story without requiring you to know musical terminology in advance.

A1 · A rehearsal mix-up

Trois voix dans la salle 1

Le mardi soir, Aïcha chante dans une chorale1. La répétition commence à dix-neuf heures dans la salle 2. Aujourd’hui, elle arrive à dix-huit heures cinquante. Elle voit Marc et Julie devant la porte. Ils regardent une ancienne affiche : « Chorale, salle 1 ». Tous les trois entrent dans la salle 1 et ouvrent leurs partitions2.

À dix-neuf heures, Marc commence à chanter. Mais il n’y a que trois voix dans la pièce. Aïcha regarde autour d’elle. Le piano est fermé3, et les autres membres du groupe ne sont pas là. « Où sont les autres ? » demande Julie. Marc pense qu’ils sont en retard. Aïcha préfère vérifier4 à l’accueil.

La personne à l’accueil s’appelle Émile. Il explique : « La chorale est dans la salle 2 ce soir. L’affiche devant la salle 1 est ancienne5. » Il montre le programme de cette semaine. Aïcha revient chercher ses amis. « Nous sommes dans la mauvaise6 salle ! Émile dit que la répétition est à côté. » Ils ferment leurs partitions et vont dans la salle 2. La pianiste les accueille : « Vous voilà ! On commence ensemble7. » Julie sourit : « La prochaine fois, nous regardons le programme de la semaine8 ! »

Read it in English

On Tuesday evenings, Aïcha sings in a choir. The rehearsal starts at seven in room 2. Today she arrives at ten to seven. She sees Marc and Julie outside the door. They are looking at an old poster: “Choir, room 1.” All three enter room 1 and open their sheet music.

At seven, Marc starts singing. But there are only three voices in the room. Aïcha looks around. The piano is closed, and the other members of the group are not there. “Where are the others?” asks Julie. Marc thinks they are late. Aïcha prefers to check at reception.

The person at reception is called Émile. He explains, “The choir is in room 2 tonight. The poster outside room 1 is old.” He shows this week’s programme. Aïcha goes back to fetch her friends. “We are in the wrong room! Émile says the rehearsal is next door.” They close their sheet music and go to room 2. The pianist welcomes them: “There you are! Let’s start together.” Julie smiles: “Next time, we’ll look at the week’s programme!”

Question 1No account needed
Where should the choir rehearse this evening?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Room 2. The current programme and Émile both identify room 2.

Question 2No account needed
Who gives Aïcha the corrected location?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Émile. Aïcha checks at reception, where Émile explains that the choir is in room 2.

Question 3No account needed
Why do the three friends initially enter room 1?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

They read an old poster. The old poster says Chorale, salle 1, leading them into the wrong room.

Ancienne describes the poster’s age and explains the misleading room number. Cette semaine identifies the relevant programme. When comparing two notices, those small time expressions help you decide which detail applies to the event you are attending.

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