Gap-fill
French paragraph flow: repair the links, then fill the gaps
Repair a French paragraph about rehearsal hours. Trace pronouns, organise the ideas and choose connectors that match the reasoning, then try a short gap-fill.
- B2
- 3 gaps
- Translation included
- Learn this in the B2 notebook →
In short
Find the exact point where the reader loses the thread. Name an unclear reference, put the next idea beside the one it develops, then choose a connector that expresses their relationship. Donc helps only when the reason for the next step is already clear.
Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learnRed watch out
Where does the thread break?
La commune souhaite créer un espace de répétition. Les nuisances sonores préoccupent plusieurs habitants. Il faudrait mieux l’organiser. Cela serait utile.
The municipality wants to create a rehearsal space. Several residents are concerned about noise. It would need to be better organised. That would be useful.
What needs organising: the space, its timetable or the project? Who would benefit?
| Vague wording | More precise wording | What the reader gains |
|---|---|---|
| mieux l’organiser | encadrer l’utilisation de cet espace | Names the activity being organised. |
| Cela serait utile. | Ces horaires aideraient les groupes à planifier leurs répétitions. | Names the measure, its users and its benefit. |
| Ils seraient informés. | Les riverains connaîtraient les heures de répétition. | Names the people and the information. |
How do you improve the flow of a French paragraph?
La commune souhaite créer un espace de répétition. Plusieurs habitants s’inquiètent toutefois des nuisances sonores. L’utilisation de cet espace devrait donc être encadrée par des horaires clairement annoncés. Ces horaires aideraient les groupes à planifier leurs répétitions. Les riverains sauraient aussi à quels moments celles-ci sont prévues.
The municipality wants to create a rehearsal space. Several residents are, however, concerned about noise. Use of the space should therefore be governed by clearly announced hours. These hours would help groups plan their rehearsals. Local residents would also know when they are scheduled.
Follow the nouns through the paragraph: cet espace picks up the proposed space; ces horaires picks up the proposed hours; celles-ci refers to les répétitions. Each reference carries something familiar into the next sentence, which adds one useful detail.
| Relationship | Connector | Job in this paragraph |
|---|---|---|
| Contrast | toutefois | Introduces residents’ concern alongside the project. |
| Consequence or proposed response | donc | Links the concern to the proposed timetable. |
| Addition | aussi | Adds a benefit for residents. |
Try a new paragraph
Complete each gap with the connector named by the English hint. Then read the whole paragraph and identify what cette période refers to.
Une période d’essai
Le club souhaite proposer des répétitions le dimanche. Plusieurs riverains s’inquiètent (however) du bruit. Le club propose (therefore) une période d’essai avec des horaires limités. Cette période permettrait (also) de recueillir l’avis des habitants.
Read it in English
The club wants to offer rehearsals on Sundays. Several local residents are, however, concerned about noise. The club therefore proposes a trial period with limited hours. This period would also allow residents’ views to be collected.