Reading

Pollution or nuisance? Read a French neighbourhood report

Read a short B1 neighbourhood report about air pollution and noise disturbance. Explore the vocabulary, follow the speakers and answer four questions.

In short

La pollution names environmental contamination or harmful noise or light. Une nuisance focuses on a harmful or troublesome effect on daily life, as in des nuisances sonores. Noise can be both une pollution sonore and a source of nuisances.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learnRed watch out

An unmarked delivery lorry stands beneath French apartment windows at dusk as a resident looks out.
Les nuisances sonores affect the residents’ rest. Illustration: Atelier

Neighbourhood newsletter · B1

Une rue plus agréable

Dans la rue des Tilleuls, les habitants parlent de deux problèmes. Le matin, de nombreuses voitures passent devant l’école. L’association du quartier souhaite réduire la pollution de l’air1 et propose de développer les transports en commun.

Le soir, les habitants du premier étage entendent le moteur d’un camion de livraison. « Le bruit nous empêche de dormir », explique Nora. Elle décrit les nuisances sonores2 qu’elle subit plusieurs fois par semaine.

Lors de la réunion, Malik ajoute : « On peut aussi parler de pollution sonore3. Les deux expressions mettent l’accent sur des aspects différents du même bruit. » L’association propose de déplacer les livraisons en journée. Selon les habitants4, cette solution améliorerait leur repos. Le commerçant accepte de discuter des horaires avec son fournisseur.

Read it in English

In Rue des Tilleuls, residents are discussing two problems. In the morning, many cars pass the school. The neighbourhood association wants to reduce air pollution and proposes developing public transport.

In the evening, first-floor residents hear a delivery lorry’s engine. “The noise stops us sleeping,” Nora explains. She describes the noise disturbance she experiences several times a week.

At the meeting, Malik adds: “We can also speak of noise pollution. The two expressions emphasise different aspects of the same noise.” The association proposes moving deliveries to daytime. According to residents, this solution would improve their rest. The shopkeeper agrees to discuss the times with his supplier.

Objects and places in the report

Three useful sentence patterns
PatternExampleMeaning
polluer + nomLes gaz d’échappement polluent l’air.Exhaust fumes pollute the air.
nuire à + nomLe bruit nuit au repos des habitants.The noise disrupts residents’ rest.
des nuisances + adjectifLes nuisances sonores gênent Nora.The noise disturbance bothers Nora.

English “a nuisance” can mean a person or thing that annoys you. For “You’re being annoying”, say Tu es pénible. French nuisances, especially in the plural, often describes disturbances such as noise or unpleasant smells: des nuisances olfactives. The word can describe a serious impact on daily life.

Question 1No account needed
What does the association want to reduce in the morning?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

la pollution de l’air. The first paragraph connects morning traffic with la pollution de l’air.

Question 2No account needed
What is Nora describing?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Noise that stops her sleeping.. Nora says the noise prevents sleep; the account concerns nuisances sonores.

Question 3No account needed
How do Malik’s two noise expressions relate?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

They emphasise different aspects of the same noise.. Malik explicitly says the expressions focus on different aspects of the same noise.

Question 4No account needed
Whose view is that daytime deliveries would improve rest?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

The residents’ view.. Selon les habitants attributes the expected improvement to the residents.