La rencontre au marché
It was Saturday morning, and the Croix-Rousse market was in full swing. The stalls overflowed with colorful vegetables and fragrant spices.
What you'll learn
- Bilingual graded story
- Native narration
- 6 useful words
- 5 comprehension questions
Then shadow
Borrow the narrator’s rhythm
Pause after this line and repeat it aloud without translating. Aim for three clean repetitions.
1Listen first
Hear the whole story
Native French narration of this exact text. Keep the transcript visible on the first pass.
Playback speed: Natural
2Then shadow
C'était samedi matin, et le marché de la Croix-Rousse battait son plein. Les étals débordaient de légumes colorés et d'épices odorantes.Warm-up vocabulary
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Your French story
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C'était samedi matin, et le marché de la Croix-Rousse battait son plein. Les étals débordaient de légumes colorés et d'épices odorantes. Devant de fromages, une dizaine de personnes attendaient leur tour. Chloé regardait la dernière portion de Comté avec envie. « Il ne me reste qu'une portion de Comté », annonça . Quand leur tour arriva, Chloé et un jeune homme — Hugo — demandèrent le Comté en même temps. Ils échangèrent un regard gêné. « Après vous, madame, » proposa Hugo poliment. Chloé hésita. « Non, vraiment, vous étiez là avant moi, je crois. » Finalement, Hugo fit un geste élégant et dit : « Je vous cède la place. Mais peut-être pourrions-nous partager ? » Chloé sourit. « Partager ? C'est une idée qui me plaît. » Le fromager les regarda, amusé, et coupa la portion en deux. Pendant qu'il emballait les parts, Hugo et Chloé se mirent à discuter. Il était architecte ; elle travaillait dans une librairie du Vieux Lyon. « Vous connaissez un bon endroit pour déguster du Comté avec un verre de vin ? » demanda Hugo. Chloé réfléchit une seconde. « Oui, justement, le bistro en bas de ma rue. Si vous voulez, je vous montrerai. » Leur compétition s'était transformée en rendez-vous.
Show full English translation
It was Saturday morning, and the Croix-Rousse market was in full swing. The stalls overflowed with colorful vegetables and fragrant spices. In front of the cheese stall, about ten people were waiting their turn. Chloé eyed the last portion of Comté eagerly. “I only have one portion of Comté left,” the cheesemonger announced. When their turn came, Chloé and a young man—Hugo—asked for the Comté at the same time. They exchanged an awkward look. "After you, madam," Hugo offered politely. Chloé hesitated. "No, really, you were here before me, I think." Finally, Hugo made an elegant gesture and said, “I'll let you go first. But perhaps we could share the portion?” Chloé smiled. “Share? That's an idea I like.” The cheesemonger watched them, amused, and cut the portion in two. While he wrapped the portions, Hugo and Chloé started chatting. He was an architect; she worked in a bookshop in Old Lyon. "Do you know a good place to taste Comté with a glass of wine?" asked Hugo. Chloé thought for a second. "Yes, actually, the bistro at the bottom of my street. If you want, I'll show you." Their competition had turned into a date.
Vocabulary recap
Reading Comprehension Exercise
B1 French Reading Comprehension Exercises
1. Where does the story take place?
Correct: At the Croix-Rousse market in Lyon
The story takes place at the Croix-Rousse market, a famous Lyon market, on a Saturday morning.
2. Why do Chloé and Hugo end up competing?
Correct: For the last portion of Comté
There is only one portion of Comté left, and they both ask for it when their turn comes.
3. What solution does Hugo propose?
Correct: To share the portion
Hugo suggests sharing the last portion of Comté.
4. What is Hugo's profession?
Correct: Architect
Hugo says he is an architect, while Chloé works in a bookshop in Old Lyon.
5. How does their meeting end?
Correct: They decide to taste Comté together
Their competition turns into a friendly date: Chloé offers to show Hugo a bistro where they can taste the Comté.
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- ✓ 215 words read
- 6 new expressions
- 3 grammar patterns
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