Gap-fill
French economics gap-fill: a larger share of a smaller budget
Complete a French budget commentary where a category’s share rises but its amount falls. Use supplied totals to distinguish percentage and euros.
- B2
- 6 gaps
- Translation included
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In short
A share can rise while its amount falls if the whole budget shrinks enough. Compare both the percentage and the euro amount. Here 20% of €1,000 is €200, while 25% of €600 is €150.
Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn
The association’s total budget falls between two years. Training occupies a larger fraction of the smaller budget. The table supplies all the figures. Complete the French commentary while keeping the numerator, denominator and absolute amount distinct.
| Year | Total budget | Training share | Training amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | €1,000 | 20% | €200 |
| 2025 | €600 | 25% | €150 |
Une part plus grande, un montant plus faible
La part de la formation passe de 20 % à 25 %. Elle augmente donc de cinq (percentage points), et non de cinq pour cent au sens d’une variation relative. (however), le budget total diminue de 1 000 à 600 euros.
Le montant consacré à la formation passe ainsi de 200 à (new amount) euros. La hausse de sa part ne signifie donc pas une hausse (in absolute terms). La formation représente une fraction plus importante d’un ensemble devenu plus petit.
Pour résumer fidèlement, il faut conserver le (denominator) et le montant. Dire seulement que « la formation augmente » serait ambigu. On peut écrire que sa part progresse, (whereas) les crédits correspondants diminuent.
Read it in English
Training’s share goes from 20% to 25%. It rises by five percentage points, not by five per cent as a relative change. However, the total budget falls from €1,000 to €600.
The amount devoted to training therefore goes from €200 to €150. The rise in its share does not mean a rise in absolute terms. Training represents a larger fraction of a smaller whole.
To summarise faithfully, retain the denominator and amount. Saying only that “training increases” would be ambiguous. Its share rises, whereas the corresponding funds fall.
Two calculations, two conclusions
Multiplying the budget by the share gives the item’s amount: 1,000 × 0.20 = 200; 600 × 0.25 = 150. The amount falls by €50, or 25% of its starting €200. The share rises by five percentage points, which is a relative increase of 25% from 20%. Those two 25% figures refer to different quantities.
La formation occupe une place proportionnellement plus grande, mais reçoit cinquante euros de moins.
Training occupies a proportionally larger place, but receives fifty euros less.
Useful phrases include en proportion du total, en montant and les crédits correspondants. They make the switch of measure explicit. The table shows a changing allocation; it does not by itself explain the association’s priorities or the reason for the overall budget reduction.