Cheat sheet

French reading evidence: choose the phrase that proves your answer

A B1 reference sheet for matching evidence to a question, keeping conditions and distinguishing missing information from a negative fact.

In short

Choose evidence that supports the whole answer, including its conditions. En ligne proves how to register; avant vendredi proves when. A familiar word is useful only when it answers the question being asked.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learnRed watch out

A museum attendant welcomes two teenage visitors at a French gallery entrance, with a plain admissions counter and open exhibition beyond.
The visitors give l’accès gratuit pour les moins de dix-huit ans a setting. Illustration: Atelier

Justifier une réponse · quatre réflexes

1 · Match the question’s focus

For method, keep the method phrase. For deadline, keep the time phrase. The same sentence can supply both, but they support different answers.

Comment ? — En ligne.How? — Online.
Avant quand ? — Avant vendredi.Before when? — Before Friday.

L’inscription doit se faire en ligne avant vendredi.Registration must be completed online before Friday.

2 · Keep the restriction

Carry the eligible group with the benefit. Quoting only gratuit broadens the claim and loses the age limit.

L’accès est gratuit pour les moins de dix-huit ans.Admission is free for under-eighteens.

Les moins de dix-huit ans bénéficient de la gratuité.Under-eighteens receive free admission.

3 · Separate silence from a negative fact

A detail absent from a passage remains unknown from that passage. An explicit negative statement supports a negative answer within its stated scope.

La brochure ne donne aucune information sur le stationnement.The brochure gives no information about parking.

Aucun parking n’est prévu pour cette rencontre.No car park is planned for this meeting.

4 · Make the inference visible

When two facts jointly answer the question, show their connection. Use the times supplied in the task and keep the conclusion limited to that situation.

La séance commence à 17 heures. Inès n’est disponible qu’à partir de 18 heures.The session starts at 5 pm. Inès is only available from 6 pm.

Inès ne peut donc pas assister à toute la séance.Inès therefore cannot attend the whole session.

A quotation should do a specific job
QuestionUseful evidenceWhat it proves
Comment s’inscrire ?en ligneThe registration method.
Qui bénéficie de la gratuité ?les moins de dix-huit ansThe stated eligible group.
Inès peut-elle assister à toute la séance ?17 heures / à partir de 18 heuresThe start is earlier than her availability.

Try the four questions below with fresh notices. Each distractor either answers another question, drops a condition or adds a conclusion the passage leaves open. Read the question first, then keep enough wording to prove the answer you choose. When asked for a quotation, copy the relevant phrase; when asked for a reformulation, express the same limits in your own words.

Question 1No account needed
Which phrase proves the deadline?Envoyez votre demande par courriel avant mardi soir.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

avant mardi soir. Avant mardi soir states the deadline. Par courriel gives the method.

Question 2No account needed
Who is explicitly covered by the free admission?L’entrée est gratuite pour les membres de l’association.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Association members.. Pour les membres identifies the group covered. The sentence gives no Saturday condition.

Question 3No account needed
What parking conclusion follows?La notice indique les horaires, mais ne précise rien sur le stationnement.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

The notice leaves parking arrangements unknown.. The sentence concerns information supplied by the notice, not a ban or a parking service.

Question 4No account needed
Which conclusion follows from both times?La réunion commence à 18 h 30. Lina est disponible à partir de 19 heures.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Lina ne peut pas être présente dès le début.. The start is 18:30; Lina is available from 19:00. The passage announces no change of time.