Graded story

B2 French story: the moderator gives the question back

Read a B2 French story where a moderator returns a question to the person addressed. Follow turn-taking, mistaken assumptions and the final summary.

In short

Name the intended speaker and return the question courteously: Je voudrais d’abord entendre Léa. The moderator can acknowledge the interruption without treating it as Léa’s answer. A faithful summary waits for her actual position.

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A hand offers a microphone to a blue wooden figure among four figures.
A moderator can restore the right person's turn. Illustration: Atelier

A residents’ meeting discusses a late bus. One participant answers a question addressed to someone else. Read how the moderator restores the turn and separates two different reasons for concern.

B2 · Fair discussion

La question revient à Léa

La réunion portait sur le dernier bus du soir. Samia, qui animait la discussion, s’est tournée vers Léa : « Vous rentrez tard plusieurs fois par semaine. Quels horaires vous aideraient ? » Avant que Léa ne réponde, Marc a pris la parole. « Elle veut sûrement un bus à minuit, comme nous tous. »

Samia a levé légèrement la main. « Merci, Marc. Je voudrais d’abord entendre Léa, puisque la question lui était adressée. Vous pourrez compléter ensuite. » Elle a laissé un silence, puis a repris : « Léa, quel est votre besoin précis ? »

Léa a expliqué qu’elle finissait son travail à vingt-deux heures trente. Un départ à vingt-trois heures lui permettrait de rentrer sans attendre trop longtemps. Elle ne demandait pas forcément un service jusqu’à minuit. Son autre difficulté concernait la distance entre son lieu de travail et l’arrêt.

Marc a reconnu qu’il avait supposé1 sa réponse. Pour lui, minuit restait important en raison des spectacles du week-end. Samia a distingué les deux besoins au tableau : retour du travail en semaine et sortie culturelle le samedi. Elle n’a pas cherché à les présenter comme une demande unique.

À la fin, elle a reformulé2 chaque position en demandant confirmation. Léa a ajouté que l’accès à l’arrêt3 devait aussi figurer dans le compte rendu. Le groupe disposait désormais de deux propositions à examiner, et chacun avait pu expliquer la sienne.

Read it in English

The meeting concerned the last evening bus. Samia asked Léa, who often returned late, which times would help. Marc spoke before Léa could reply, saying she surely wanted a midnight bus like everyone else.

Samia thanked Marc but said she wanted to hear Léa first because the question had been addressed to her. She left a pause and asked Léa about her exact need.

Léa finished work at 10.30 pm. An 11 pm departure would help her get home without a long wait. She did not necessarily need service until midnight. Her other difficulty was the distance from work to the stop.

Marc acknowledged assuming her answer. He still wanted midnight service because of weekend shows. Samia separated the weekday work journey and Saturday cultural outing instead of merging them into one request.

At the end she paraphrased each position and asked for confirmation. Léa added that access to the stop belonged in the minutes. The group now had two proposals to examine, and everyone had explained their own.

Question 1No account needed
Why does Samia return the question to Léa?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

It was addressed to Léa. Samia explicitly identifies Léa as the intended respondent before allowing Marc to add his view.

Question 2No account needed
What time meets Léa’s stated departure need?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

23:00. Léa says an 11 pm departure would fit her 10.30 pm work finish.

Question 3No account needed
Why are the needs kept separate?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

They concern different purposes and times. Léa discusses weekday work travel and stop access, while Marc raises Saturday cultural outings.