Graded story

B1 French story: a curtain becomes a stage costume

Follow floral cloth from a cupboard to the stage. A B1 French story with textile picture cards, six glosses and questions about what changes and what remains.

In short

Le tissu is the cloth; le rideau and la veste are objects made from it. In this story, part of an old curtain becomes a floral jacket. Follow the material, the added lining and the clothes Aline already owns.

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B1 · An object changes its use

Les fleurs montent sur scène

Pour la pièce de théâtre1 de son groupe, Aline cherchait un costume à fleurs. Sa grand-mère lui a montré un ancien rideau2, rangé depuis longtemps dans une armoire. « Les fleurs sont grandes, on les verra bien depuis le fond de la salle », a dit Aline. Le tissu3 était encore solide, même si le rideau ne servait plus à couvrir une fenêtre.

Avec l’aide de son amie Léa, qui savait coudre, Aline a découpé une partie du tissu pour en faire une veste. Elles ont gardé les fleurs sur le devant et ajouté une doublure unie4, plus douce contre la peau. Il restait assez de tissu pour un autre projet. La grand-mère l’a plié et l’a remis dans l’armoire.

Le soir de la représentation5, Aline portait la veste avec un pantalon noir qui lui appartenait déjà. Quand elle est entrée sur scène, sa grand-mère a reconnu les fleurs et a souri. Après le spectacle, un spectateur a demandé où Aline avait acheté son costume. « La veste vient du rideau de ma grand-mère ! » a-t-elle répondu. Le spectateur a regardé les fleurs de plus près. Il n’avait pas reconnu le tissu réutilisé6.

Read it in English

For her group’s play, Aline was looking for a floral costume. Her grandmother showed her an old curtain that had been stored in a cupboard for a long time. “The flowers are large; people will see them clearly from the back of the room,” said Aline. The cloth was still strong, although the curtain was no longer used to cover a window.

With help from her friend Léa, who could sew, Aline cut out part of the cloth to make a jacket. They kept the flowers on the front and added a plain lining that felt softer against the skin. There was enough cloth left for another project. Her grandmother folded it and put it back in the cupboard.

On the evening of the performance, Aline wore the jacket with black trousers she already owned. When she came on stage, her grandmother recognised the flowers and smiled. After the show, a spectator asked where Aline had bought her costume. “The jacket comes from my grandmother’s curtain!” she replied. The spectator looked more closely at the flowers. He had not recognised the reused fabric.

Picture the material and the outfit

From curtain to costume

Two meanings in their context
FrenchHereAnother use
une piècea play: une pièce de théâtrea room: une pièce de la maison
un costumea stage costume: sur scènea suit: un costume pour le bureau

En faire une veste means to make a jacket out of it: en points back to the cloth. The jacket has a new shape, the floral cloth has an earlier use, and the black trousers already belong to Aline. Those three details give each part of the outfit its own history.

Question 1No account needed
What happens to the remaining curtain fabric?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

La grand-mère le remet dans l’armoire.. The grandmother folds the remaining fabric and puts it back in the cupboard.

Question 2No account needed
Why does Aline like the large flowers?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

They can be seen from the back of the room.. Aline says the large flowers will be clearly visible from the back of the room.

Question 3No account needed
Which part of the outfit did Aline already own?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Le pantalon noir.. The text says she wore black trousers that already belonged to her.

Question 4No account needed
Who recognises the flowers during the performance?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

La grand-mère.. Her grandmother recognises the flowers when Aline comes on stage. The spectator asks about the costume later.