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Directions: The  following email from a French-speaker in Brussels will be used for the 11 reading comprehension questions on this exam. It will be repeated for each question, but it is the same email. Read the email and use the footnotes to help you navigate the passage. Should you get stuck on a word, come back to it! Keep reading and try to figure out the meaning from context, based on the French that you already know. Then, answer the comprehension question in English below the passage.  —- Salut ! Tu vas bien ? Je suis en forme ici à Bruxelles. Les fêtes1 viennent bientôt et mon beau-frère vient ce week-end ! C’est le fils du premier mariage de ma mère. Nous allons visiter des musées en ville2. Mon beau-frère, a vingt-trois ans et il est grand et mince. Pas comme moi ! Il s’entraîne souvent mais il ne voyage pas beaucoup, alors c’est une semaine spéciale. Ma grand-mère a quatre-vingt-six ans mais elle est toujours très active. Elle se lève très tôt le matin et elle fait la cuisine pour toute la famille. Physiquement, elle est plutôt comme moi : rousse et forte, et elle s’habille très bien. Il fait mauvais ici à Bruxelles : le ciel est couvert et il pleut beaucoup. En général, il ne fait pas beau en hiver, donc c’est une bonne saison pour inviter des amis à manger. Qu’est-ce que tu vas faire pour les fêtes ? Tu vas venir en Belgique ? Passe un petit « coucou »3 à ta mère pour moi ! Je t’embrasse très fort, Dominique — 1 par exemple, les célébrations religieuses et non religieuses en décembre et janvier 2 downtown 3 give a little hello (between close friends)QUESTION: Which of the following is similar in meaning to je suis en forme in the opening sentence?  ( ½  pt.)

Directions: Decide whether the sentence you hear is talking about one personne (une personne), several people (plusieurs), or whether it is impossible to tell (impossible à savoir). Attention! Make sure to pay attention to the pronunciation of the verb, and to listen for any linking sounds between the subject and the verb, if applicable. Modèle : You hear : Ils resent (Il reste) à la maison. ;  You choose : impossible à savoir     

Directions: For each cultural question, indicate all responses that apply. There may be more than one correct answer to each question.   In what ways does la bise show variation in the French-speaking world? a. How many “kisses” to give total b. What check to start on c. Whether or not to actually make contact with the person’s cheek d. Whether to do it with coworkers

Directions: Decide whether the event you hear is happening now (maintenant) or later (plus tard). Pay attention to how many verbs there are in the question to know whether you are listening to a present tense or future tense sentence.     

Directions: For each cultural question, indicate all responses that apply. There may be more than one correct answer to each question. Which of the following statements is/are true regarding family in the French-speaking world? a. A high percentage of couples in Québec live together without being married, either with or without children. b. Same-sex marriage is illegal in Canada. c. In Francophone Africa, it is common for elderly family members to live with younger family members. d. There is a robust system of retirement plans and pensions in Francophone Africa.

Directions:  Conjugate the verb in parentheses to make a complete sentence about someone’s routines. Make sure to make the reflexive verbs agree (pronoun and ending), and be careful that the words ne pas are correctly placed when they appear. ATTENTION! If there is an accent on a verb conjugation, and you are unable to type it in your keyboard, indicate in words where the accent is and what type it is   (e.g. accent grave/downward accent on the first E). If you type nothing, I will assume that there are no accents on your conjugated verb.   Elles ________________ (se sécher) les cheveux au soleil quand il fait beau.

Directions: Now, indicate what the following people want to do. For each item, Conjugate the verb vouloir to make it agree with the subject. Circle the activity that they likely want to do, based on the context. François termine (is finishing) sa douche et il ______________ (vouloir) a. se sécher               b. se déshabiller           c. me baigner               d. te réveiller

Directions:  Answer the following question by doing two things: 1. Indicate in the first blank that the person is not doing the action now. Use the present tense in the negative. 2. Next, indicate that the person is going to do the same action later: future tense with aller + infinitive **Pay attention to what subject you are asked to use, and make sure that your verbs agree. Modèle:          Il écoute la radio maintenant ? — Use il                        Non, il n’écoute pas la radio maintenant. (present tense negative)                        Il       va écouter la radio plus tard.           (future tense)   Il va au parc maintenant? — Use il Non, il _____________________________________ maintenant. (present tense negative) Il _____________________________________ plus tard. (future tense)

Directions: Complete the following sentence about destinations and activities by doing the following things: In the first blank: Provide the correct form of aller. In the second blank: Insert à + le/la/l’ to mean ‘to the’. Mais, attention!!! Make sure you pay attention to the gender of the following vocabulary word (m./f.) and make any contractions as necessary. Select the logical activity based on the place. Note that pour… at the end means ‘in order [to]…’ If the sentence is negative, choose the activity that is not logical.   Je ____________ (aller) ________  (‘to the’)  café (m.) pour… a. parler avec des amis        b. conduire               c. jouer au billard                     d. chanter

Directions: Now, indicate what the following people want to do. For each item, Conjugate the verb vouloir to make it agree with the subject. Circle the activity that they likely want to do, based on the context. Elles ont une voiture. Elles ____________ (vouloir) a. se raser en voiture       b. se baigner en voiture     c. se réveiller en voiture      d. se promener en voiture