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B2 French reading: spot irony in a street-concert commentary

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Read a French concert commentary and explain its irony. Find the fact that overturns the opening praise and identify exactly what the writer criticises.

In short

The opening praise is ironic because the poster went up after the concert. The writer criticises the publicity’s timing and reach. The next paragraph preserves the musicians’ work and the audience’s enjoyment.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

Une annonce après la musique

Le concert du quartier

Quelle organisation exemplaire1 ! L’affiche annonçant le concert a été posée le lendemain de la représentation2. Ceux qui avaient découvert l’événement par hasard ont pu en profiter ; les autres ont surtout appris ce qu’ils avaient manqué. On nous expliquera peut-être3 que l’information circulait déjà entre quelques habitués. Cela ne remplace pas une annonce destinée à l’ensemble du quartier.

Pour le prochain concert

Ce retard ne retire rien4 au plaisir des personnes présentes ni au travail des musiciens. Il montre cependant qu’un événement ouvert à tous doit encore être rendu visible à temps. Pour le prochain concert, je souhaite surtout que l’annonce précède la musique. Une affiche posée après la fête ressemble davantage à un souvenir qu’à une invitation. La prochaine fois, donnons aux voisins le temps de s’organiser pour venir.

Read it in English

What exemplary organisation! The poster announcing the concert was put up the day after the performance. Those who discovered the event by chance could enjoy it; the others mainly learnt what they had missed. Perhaps we will be told the information was already circulating among a few regulars. That does not replace an announcement intended for the whole neighbourhood.

The delay takes nothing away from the enjoyment of those present or the musicians’ work. It does, however, show that an event open to everyone still needs to be made visible in time. For the next concert, I mainly want the announcement to come before the music. A poster put up after the event is more like a souvenir than an invitation. Next time, let us give neighbours time to arrange to come.

Four objects in the street-concert scene

The same praise in two contexts
French wordingNext factReading
Quelle organisation exemplaire !L’affiche arrive le lendemain.Ironic: the detail undercuts the praise.
Quelle organisation exemplaire !Tout était annoncé un mois à l’avance.Sincere: the detail supports the praise.
Explain the tone in your own words

A self-review aid, not a grade. Ticks are not saved.

Question 1No account needed
What makes the opening ironic here?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

A poster announcing an event that has already happened.. The timing contradicts the literal praise of organisation. That conflict supports the ironic reading.

Question 2No account needed
Which direct sentence keeps the same criticism?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

L’annonce est arrivée trop tard pour informer tout le quartier.. The direct version targets late publicity, as the commentary does.

Question 3No account needed
What is the status of the explanation about regulars?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

It is a possible defence anticipated by the writer.. On nous expliquera peut-être presents an anticipated explanation. The text supplies no actual reply.

Question 4No account needed
Which detail limits the target of the criticism?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

The writer says the delay takes nothing away from the musicians’ work.. The second paragraph explicitly separates publicity from musical work and enjoyment.

Now write one sincere sentence praising a well-publicised concert. Add a concrete detail that supports the praise, such as the date the invitations arrived. The adjective can stay the same; the surrounding facts change the reading.

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