Graded story

A2 French story: the hotel sends the bag to the previous room

Follow an A2 French hotel story in which an old room label sends a bag to the wrong floor. Use six glosses and comprehension questions to track the fix.

In short

Track the change from room 203 to room 305. The bag’s old label still says 203, so the employee takes it to the previous room. Iris gives her current room number and describes the bag; the employee then brings it to the right floor.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

A hotel room with red curtains, a wall-mounted television and luggage by the beds.
A hotel room in central Nice, photographed in 2014. Resized and converted to WebP. JIP · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0

Read for the cause of the mistake before using the glosses. The bag is not described as stolen or damaged. The story gives a narrower explanation: the room changed, but the label did not. Follow which number each person is using at each stage.

A2 · un malentendu à l’hôtel

Le sac au mauvais étage

À son arrivée à l’hôtel, Iris a laissé son sac de voyage à la réception1. Sa chambre, la 203, n’était pas encore prête. La réceptionniste lui a proposé de revenir après le déjeuner. Iris a gardé son petit sac à dos et est sortie se promener.

À quatorze heures, elle est revenue chercher sa clé. La réceptionniste lui a expliqué qu’elle avait une autre chambre : la 305, plus calme. Iris était contente. Elle a demandé si quelqu’un pouvait monter2 son sac de voyage. « Bien sûr », a répondu un employé.

Une demi-heure plus tard, le sac n’était toujours pas là. Iris a appelé la réception. L’employé lui a dit : « Je l’ai déposé devant votre porte, au deuxième étage. » Iris a compris le malentendu3. L’ancienne étiquette4 portait encore le numéro 203.

Elle a précisé : « J’ai changé de chambre. Je suis maintenant dans la 305, au troisième étage. Mon sac est bleu, avec une poignée5 grise. » L’employé a vérifié le numéro, puis il est allé chercher le bagage devant la porte de la 203.

Quelques minutes après, il a apporté le sac à Iris. Elle a vérifié la poignée et les poches : tout était en bon état. L’employé a retiré l’ancienne étiquette avant de partir. Iris l’a remercié. Cette fois, le sac et sa propriétaire étaient au même étage6.

Read it in English

When she arrived at the hotel, Iris left her travel bag at reception. Her room, 203, was not ready yet. The receptionist suggested she return after lunch. Iris kept her small backpack and went out for a walk.

At two p.m., she came back to collect her key. The receptionist explained that she had another room: 305, which was quieter. Iris was pleased. She asked whether someone could take her travel bag upstairs. “Of course,” an employee replied.

Half an hour later, the bag was still not there. Iris called reception. The employee said, “I left it outside your door, on the second floor.” Iris understood the misunderstanding. The old label still showed the number 203.

She clarified: “I’ve changed rooms. I’m now in 305, on the third floor. My bag is blue, with a grey handle.” The employee checked the number, then went to collect the bag from outside room 203.

A few minutes later, he brought the bag to Iris. She checked the handle and pockets: everything was in good condition. The employee removed the old label before leaving. Iris thanked him. This time, the bag and its owner were on the same floor.

The old label explains the wrong destination

L’ancienne étiquette refers to the label made before the room change. Maintenant in Iris’s correction points to the current room. The floors are explicitly stated in this practice hotel; use those statements rather than assuming that every hotel numbers its rooms in the same way.

Question 1No account needed
Why did the employee take the bag to room 203?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

The old label still showed 203.. L’ancienne étiquette portait encore le numéro 203 gives the cause.

Question 2No account needed
Which room is Iris actually staying in after the change?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

305, on the third floor. Iris explicitly says 305, au troisième étage.

Question 3No account needed
What happens at the end?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

The employee brings the bag and removes the old label.. The final paragraph describes delivery and removal of the outdated tag.

A useful correction combines the changed fact and the identifying detail: Je suis maintenant dans la 305. Mon sac est bleu, avec une poignée grise. It gives the employee a destination and an object to look for without retelling the whole stay.