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Whose view is it? Follow quoted opinions in a French reading

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Read a B1 debate about a neighbourhood park. Track residents, a quoted letter and the writer, then answer four questions about who supports what.

In short

Attach each view to its owner before answering. A writer can quote a proposal, accept its reason and still reject its conclusion. Follow the words after the quote as carefully as the quote itself.

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Families and other residents using a neighbourhood park in late afternoon.
Nora points to people still using le parc after work. Illustration: Atelier

Courrier du quartier · signed by Nora

Faut-il fermer le parc plus tôt ?

Certains habitants affirment1 que le parc devrait fermer à 18 heures. Ils expliquent que son entretien coûte cher. Je comprends cette inquiétude : les bancs et les jeux pour enfants ont besoin de réparations.

Cependant, je ne partage pas leur conclusion. À 18 heures, de nombreuses familles viennent encore profiter du parc après le travail. « Ce parc ne sert à personne en fin de journée », lit-on dans une lettre. Cette formule oublie2 les parents qui accompagnent leurs enfants aux jeux et les personnes qui se reposent sur les bancs.

Il est vrai que l’entretien représente une dépense importante. Cela ne justifie3 pas, selon moi, une fermeture plus tôt. Je souhaite que le parc garde ses horaires actuels. Nous pourrions plutôt organiser une discussion sur les réparations prioritaires4 et sur leur financement.

Read it in English

Some residents say that the park should close at 6 pm. They explain that its maintenance is expensive. I understand this concern: the benches and children’s play equipment need repairs.

However, I do not share their conclusion. At 6 pm, many families still come to enjoy the park after work. “This park is of no use to anyone at the end of the day,” a letter says. This wording overlooks parents taking their children to the play area and people resting on the benches.

It is true that maintenance is a significant expense. In my view, that does not justify earlier closing. I want the park to keep its current hours. We could instead organise a discussion about priority repairs and their funding.

How do you tell whose opinion it is in a French text?

Who owns each claim?
VoicePositionNora’s response
Some residentsClose at 6 pm because maintenance is expensive.Accepts the concern about cost; rejects earlier closing.
The quoted letterNobody uses the park at the end of the day.Points to families and people using benches.
NoraKeep the current hours and discuss priority repairs.This is the writer’s own conclusion.

In the first paragraph, ils refers to the residents. In the next, leur conclusion refers to their earlier-closing proposal. Nora’s il est vrai que accepts the cost concern; cela ne justifie pas rejects the step from that concern to closing earlier.

The park in the passage

A small neighbourhood park in late afternoon, viewed from above at a gentle angle. An open iron gate leads to a winding path. Two adults rest on a wooden bench,
Question 1No account needed
Who proposes closing the park at 6 pm?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Some residents.. The opening attributes the proposal to certains habitants. Nora then says she disagrees with their conclusion.

Question 2No account needed
Which concern does Nora accept?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Maintenance is expensive.. L’entretien représente une dépense importante accepts the cost concern. Nora keeps that concern separate from the proposed closing time.

Question 3No account needed
Why does Nora mention people resting on benches?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

To challenge the claim that nobody uses the park then.. The bench users and families counter the letter’s sweeping claim, ne sert à personne en fin de journée.

Question 4No account needed
What does Nora want?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Keep the current hours and discuss priority repairs.. The final paragraph states both the current-hours preference and the proposed discussion. It gives no all-night opening proposal.

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