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GCSE · French

FR.TR8 Traditional Festivals and Celebrations in the French-Speaking World

AQA 8652 · Calculators not allowed · about 50 minutes

Total Marks

Name: _______________________________ Date: ____ / ____ / ______

Accents have been omitted for print compatibility; write them correctly in your answers. Traduisez les textes suivants en francais or en anglais as instructed. For the longer translation passages write full, natural sentences. Time guidance: 50 minutes.

Festival vocabulary matching: match the French word to its English meaning in the context of public celebrations in France and the Francophone world. Context: common festival terms.

A. le feu d'artifice
B. la fete de la musique
C. le carnaval
D. la Toussaint

(Total for Question 1 is 1 mark)

Gap-fill vocabulary: complete the short English prompt with the single French word that fits the festival context. Context: French street celebrations. "The crowd watched the ________ at the end of the concert." Provide the French noun (no accents printed).

(Total for Question 2 is 1 mark)

Short grammar gap: Complete the French sentence used when describing a past one-off celebration. Context: describing last year's national day. "L'annee derniere, on ____ (celebrer) le 14 juillet avec un grand defile." Write the correct passe compose form (no accents).

(Total for Question 3 is 1 mark)

Vocabulary choice: Which French phrase best means 'people usually wear costumes' when talking about carnival customs? Context: carnival traditions in Nice or the Antilles.

A. les gens portent des costumes habituellement
B. les gens ont l'habitude de porter des costumes
C. les gens porteront des costumes
D. les gens portent des costumes demain

(Total for Question 4 is 1 mark)

Translate this short English paragraph into French. Context: English to French passage about Noel preparations in a French town. Traduisez le texte suivant en francais: "In my town we prepare for Christmas every year. Families decorate the streets with lights. The local choir sings carols in the church. On Christmas Eve, many people have a big meal called le reveillon. Last year we invited our neighbours to celebrate with us."

(a)In my town we prepare for Christmas every year.(2)

(b)Families decorate the streets with lights.(2)

(c)The local choir sings carols in the church.(2)

(d)On Christmas Eve, many people have a big meal called le reveillon.(2)

(e)Last year we invited our neighbours to celebrate with us.(2)

(Total for Question 5 is 10 marks)

Short matching: match the French phrase to the English sense about habitual festival behaviour. Context: habitual expressions about customs.

A. on fete
B. les gens ont l'habitude de
C. chaque annee
D. souvent

(Total for Question 6 is 1 mark)

Gap-fill grammar: Fill the French verb to make this habitual sentence correct. Context: describing what people usually do on 14 juillet. "Chaque 14 juillet, les gens ____ (regarder) les feux d'artifice et ecoutent de la musique." Give the present tense third person plural form (no accents).

(Total for Question 7 is 1 mark)

Short correction: Identify the mistake in this French sentence and write the corrected single-word verb form. Context: imperfect used for habitual past. Sentence: "Quand j'etais petit, on celebrait Noel chaque annee, et nous mangeons toujours du chocolat." Give the corrected verb for the second clause to express habitual past (no accents).

(Total for Question 8 is 1 mark)

Translate this short French paragraph into English. Context: French to English passage about Carnaval customs in a francophone Caribbean island. Traduisez le texte suivant en anglais: "A la Martinique, le carnaval commence toujours en fevrier. On porte des masques colores et on danse dans les rues. Les enfants ont l'habitude de lancer des confettis. Pendant la soiree, il y a souvent de la musique et des spectacles. L'annee derniere, le roi et la reine du carnaval ont ete choisis par la ville."

(a)A la Martinique, le carnaval commence toujours en fevrier.(2)

(b)On porte des masques colores et on danse dans les rues.(2)

(c)Les enfants ont l'habitude de lancer des confettis.(2)

(d)Pendant la soiree, il y a souvent de la musique et des spectacles.(2)

(e)L'annee derniere, le roi et la reine du carnaval ont ete choisis par la ville.(2)

(Total for Question 9 is 10 marks)

Translate this short English paragraph into French. Context: English to French passage about la Fete de la Musique in a French city. Traduisez le texte suivant en francais: "Every year on 21 June, the whole city celebrates the Fete de la Musique. Amateur bands play in the squares and young people sing in the streets. Many bars open late and there are free concerts. People usually go out with friends and dance. Two years ago the mayor gave a speech at the main concert."

(a)Every year on 21 June, the whole city celebrates the Fete de la Musique.(2)

(b)Amateur bands play in the squares and young people sing in the streets.(2)

(c)Many bars open late and there are free concerts.(2)

(d)People usually go out with friends and dance.(2)

(e)Two years ago the mayor gave a speech at the main concert.(2)

(Total for Question 10 is 10 marks)

Translate this short French paragraph into English. Context: French to English passage about Toussaint and remembering family members. Traduisez le texte suivant en anglais: "En France on visite souvent les cimetiere le premier novembre. Les familles mettent des fleurs sur les tombes et allument des bougies. C'est un moment pour se souvenir des ancetres. Beaucoup d'ecoles expliquent la tradition aux enfants. L'annee passee, ma famille est allee ensemble au cimetiere."

(a)En France on visite souvent les cimetiere le premier novembre.(2)

(b)Les familles mettent des fleurs sur les tombes et allument des bougies.(2)

(c)C'est un moment pour se souvenir des ancetres.(2)

(d)Beaucoup d'ecoles expliquent la tradition aux enfants.(2)

(e)L'annee passee, ma famille est allee ensemble au cimetiere.(2)

(Total for Question 11 is 10 marks)

Short grammar check: Choose the best English rendering of the French impersonal 'on' in this festival sentence. Context: impersonal subject use. French sentence: "On fete la musique dans toute la ville." Which English sentence is the best equivalent?

A. I celebrate music in the whole city.
B. They celebrate the music throughout the city.
C. People celebrate the Fete de la Musique across the city.
D. You celebrate the music in all the city.

(Total for Question 12 is 1 mark)

Mark scheme · FR.TR8 Traditional Festivals and Celebrations in the French-Speaking World

Question 1

B1 A correctly matched to 'fireworks' (feu d'artifice) and B to 'music festival', C to 'carnival', D to 'All Saints' Day'
Answer: A->3, B->1, C->2, D->4

Question 2

B1 correct phrase feu d'artifice as the word for a large public fireworks display
Answer: feu d'artifice

Question 3

B1 a celebre, passe compose third person singular of celebrer with on as impersonal subject for a one-off past event
Answer: a celebre

Question 4

B1 option B correctly uses avoir l'habitude de + infinitive to express the habitual sense 'people usually wear costumes'
Answer: B

Question 5

(a) B1 Dans ma ville or Dans mon village or Dans ma commune as a phrase meaning 'In my town'
(a) B1 on se prepare pour Noel chaque annee or nous nous preparons pour Noel chaque annee to convey 'we prepare for Christmas every year'
(a) Answer: Dans ma ville on se prepare pour Noel chaque annee.
(b) B1 Les familles decorent les rues or On decore les rues conveying 'families decorate the streets'
(b) B1 avec des lumieres or avec des guirlandes lumineuses conveying 'with lights'
(b) Answer: Les familles decorent les rues avec des lumieres.
(c) B1 Le choeur local chante or Le choeur du village chante indicating 'the local choir sings'
(c) B1 des cantiques or des chants de Noel dans l'eglise to express 'carols in the church'
(c) Answer: Le choeur local chante des cantiques dans l'eglise.
(d) B1 La veille de Noel or Le soir de Noel correctly used for 'On Christmas Eve'
(d) B1 Beaucoup de gens prennent un grand repas appelle le reveillon conveying 'many people have a big meal called le reveillon'
(d) Answer: Le soir de Noel, beaucoup de gens prennent un grand repas appelle le reveillon.
(e) B1 L'annee derniere or L'annee passee used to show past time 'last year'
(e) B1 Nous avons invite nos voisins a celebrer avec nous or Nous avons invite nos voisins a etre avec nous as the idea 'we invited our neighbours to celebrate with us' with correct passe compose construction
(e) Answer: L'annee derniere nous avons invite nos voisins a celebrer avec nous.

Question 6

B1 B matched to 'people usually', A to 'we celebrate / one celebrates', C to 'every year', D to 'often'
Answer: A->2, B->1, C->3, D->4

Question 7

B1 regardent, present tense ils/elles form matching les gens
Answer: regardent

Question 8

B1 mangions, the imperfect nous form required for a habitual past action, replacing the present tense mangeons
Answer: mangions

Question 9

(a) B1 A la Martinique correctly rendered: In Martinique or In the island of Martinique
(a) B1 le carnaval commence toujours en fevrier correctly rendered: the carnival always starts in February
(a) Answer: In Martinique, the carnival always starts in February.
(b) B1 On porte des masques colores rendered: people wear colourful masks
(b) B1 et on danse dans les rues rendered: and dance in the streets
(b) Answer: People wear colourful masks and dance in the streets.
(c) B1 les enfants ont l'habitude de correctly rendered: children usually / the children are used to
(c) B1 lancer des confettis correctly rendered: throw/sprinkle confetti
(c) Answer: Children usually throw confetti.
(d) B1 Pendant la soiree correctly rendered: during the evening / in the evening
(d) B1 il y a souvent de la musique et des spectacles correctly rendered: there is often music and performances/shows
(d) Answer: During the evening there is often music and shows.
(e) B1 L'annee derniere correctly rendered: Last year
(e) B1 le roi et la reine du carnaval ont ete choisis par la ville correctly rendered: the king and queen of the carnival were chosen by the town/city
(e) Answer: Last year, the king and queen of the carnival were chosen by the town.

Question 10

(a) B1 Chaque annee or Tous les ans used and 21 juin correctly included
(a) B1 Toute la ville fete la Fete de la Musique or Dans toute la ville on fete la Fete de la Musique
(a) Answer: Chaque annee, le 21 juin, toute la ville fete la Fete de la Musique.
(b) B1 Des groupes amateurs jouent dans les places or sur les places to render 'amateur bands play in the squares'
(b) B1 les jeunes chantent dans les rues to render 'young people sing in the streets'
(b) Answer: Des groupes amateurs jouent sur les places et les jeunes chantent dans les rues.
(c) B1 Beaucoup de bars ouvrent tard correctly rendered
(c) B1 il y a des concerts gratuits or il y a des concerts libres to render 'there are free concerts'
(c) Answer: Beaucoup de bars ouvrent tard et il y a des concerts gratuits.
(d) B1 Les gens ont l'habitude de sortir avec des amis or On sort habituellement avec des amis to express 'people usually go out with friends'
(d) B1 et danser correctly rendered: and dance
(d) Answer: Les gens ont l'habitude de sortir avec des amis et de danser.
(e) B1 Il y a deux ans or Il y a deux ans used to express 'two years ago'
(e) B1 Le maire a prononce un discours au concert principal or Le maire a fait un discours au concert principal to render 'the mayor gave a speech at the main concert' with passe compose
(e) Answer: Il y a deux ans le maire a prononce un discours au concert principal.

Question 11

(a) B1 En France correctly rendered: In France
(a) B1 on visite souvent les cimetiere le premier novembre correctly rendered: people often visit the cemeteries on the first of November
(a) Answer: In France people often visit the cemeteries on the first of November.
(b) B1 Les familles mettent des fleurs sur les tombes rendered: Families put flowers on the graves
(b) B1 et allument des bougies rendered: and light candles
(b) Answer: Families put flowers on the graves and light candles.
(c) B1 C'est un moment pour correctly rendered: It is a time to / It is a moment to
(c) B1 se souvenir des ancetres rendered: remember ancestors / remember family members
(c) Answer: It is a time to remember ancestors.
(d) B1 Beaucoup d'ecoles correctly rendered: Many schools
(d) B1 expliquent la tradition aux enfants correctly rendered: explain the tradition to the children
(d) Answer: Many schools explain the tradition to children.
(e) B1 L'annee passee correctly rendered: Last year / The year before
(e) B1 ma famille est allee ensemble au cimetiere correctly rendered: my family went together to the cemetery
(e) Answer: Last year my family went together to the cemetery.

Question 12

B1 option C correctly renders 'on' as impersonal people/one and uses a natural phrase 'celebrate the Fete de la Musique across the city'
Answer: C

Traditional Festivals and Celebrations in the French-Speaking World - Worksheets, Questions and Revision