Graded story

A2 French story: looking after the neighbour’s cat

Follow Lucie through a weekend of cat-sitting. Read a glossed French story, learn four pictured words and check who gets the key back.

In short

Garder le chat de son voisin means to look after the neighbour’s cat. Here Lucie visits the cat at its home for the weekend, then gives the key back on Sunday.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

La clé dans l’enveloppe verte

Vendredi soir, le voisin de Lucie a frappé à sa porte. Il partait voir sa sœur pour le week-end. « Tu peux garder mon chat1 jusqu’à dimanche ? » Lucie a accepté. Le voisin lui a donné une clé dans une petite enveloppe verte et a laissé ses instructions sur la table de la cuisine.

Samedi matin, Lucie est entrée chez lui. Le chat dormait près de la fenêtre. Elle a regardé sa gamelle2, puis elle a suivi les instructions du voisin. Ensuite, elle s’est assise quelques minutes. Le chat est venu près d’elle et a joué avec le coin de l’enveloppe. Lucie a vite rangé la clé dans son sac.

Dimanche soir, le voisin est rentré. Lucie lui a rendu3 la clé avec l’enveloppe. « Tout s’est bien passé ? — Oui ! Ton chat aime beaucoup cette enveloppe. » Le voisin a souri et l’a remerciée4. Le chat, lui, était déjà retourné près de la fenêtre.

Read it in English

On Friday evening, Lucie’s neighbour knocked on her door. He was going to see his sister for the weekend. “Can you look after my cat until Sunday?” Lucie agreed. The neighbour gave her a key in a small green envelope and left his instructions on the kitchen table.

On Saturday morning, Lucie went into his flat. The cat was sleeping near the window. She looked at its bowl, then followed the neighbour’s instructions. Next she sat down for a few minutes. The cat came over and played with the corner of the envelope. Lucie quickly put the key in her bag.

On Sunday evening, the neighbour came back. Lucie returned the key with the envelope. “Did everything go well?” “Yes! Your cat really likes this envelope.” The neighbour smiled and thanked her. The cat had already gone back to the window.

Meet the objects in the text

garderto look after

Focus: the help Lucie gives for a short time

Lucie garde le chat pendant le week-end.
Lucie looks after the cat over the weekend.

rendreto give back

Focus: the key going back to the neighbour

Elle lui rend sa clé.
She gives him his key back.

Question 1No account needed
Where does Lucie go to look after the cat?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

To her neighbour’s flat.. She enters chez lui: the neighbour’s home, where the cat stays.

Question 2No account needed
Why does Lucie quickly put the key in her bag?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

The cat is playing with the envelope.. The cat plays with the envelope’s corner; Lucie then puts the key away.

Question 3No account needed
Who does l’ refer to in il l’a remerciée?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Lucie.. The neighbour thanks Lucie for her help; remerciée agrees with her.