Practice FrenchB1Full sample
Le concert sous la pluie
The Concert in the Rain — Rain interrupts an outdoor concert, but some listeners stay and the musicians keep playing.
Écouter · listen to the opening
The complete recorded narration.
Lire · read in French
Le concert en plein air devait commencer à vingt heures pile, sur la place derrière la mairie. Nora est arrivée tôt, avec une couverture et une bouteille d’eau. Les musiciens accordaient encore leurs instruments quand les premières gouttes sont tombées. En dix minutes, la pluie est devenue franche. Une partie du public est partie vers le métro. D’autres se sont réfugiés sous le grand tilleul, un peu trop serrés, un peu trop humides. Un vendeur de crêpes a baissé sa bâche, puis il est resté écouter, les bras croisés. Le violoniste a regardé la chef d’orchestre, a levé l’archet, puis il a joué quand même, sans micro. La chef a hoché la tête comme si rien n’avait changé. On entendait la pluie sur les feuilles et, par moments, la mélodie. Un enfant a commencé à taper le rythme sur une boîte en plastique. Personne n’a demandé de remboursement. À la fin, Nora a rangé sa couverture trempée et a dit à son voisin qu’elle n’oublierait pas ce concert-là. Il a répondu que les plus beaux n’ont pas toujours lieu comme prévu.
Vocabulary
- en plein airoutdoors
- un tilleula linden tree
- une chef d’orchestrea conductor
- un archeta bow (violin)
- un remboursementa refund
Show English translation
The outdoor concert was supposed to start at eight o’clock sharp, on the square behind the town hall. Nora arrived early, with a blanket and a bottle of water. The musicians were still tuning their instruments when the first drops fell. In ten minutes the rain became heavy. Part of the audience left toward the metro. Others took shelter under the large linden tree, a little too crowded, a little too damp. A crêpe seller lowered his canvas, then stayed to listen, arms crossed. The violinist looked at the conductor, raised his bow, then played anyway, without a microphone. The conductor nodded as if nothing had changed. You could hear the rain on the leaves and, at times, the melody. A child began tapping the rhythm on a plastic box. Nobody asked for a refund. At the end, Nora folded her soaked blanket and told her neighbor she would not forget this concert. He answered that the most beautiful ones do not always happen as planned.
Comprehension questions
1. What happens to the outdoor concert?
- Rain starts, but some people stay and the music continues
- It is moved to the metro station
- It is cancelled and everyone is refunded
- It starts on time under a clear sky
Show answer
Rain starts, but some people stay and the music continues
2. Where do the remaining listeners take shelter?
- Inside the town hall
- Under a large linden tree
- In the crêpe seller’s van
- At the metro entrance
Show answer
Under a large linden tree
3. Nora leaves as soon as the rain becomes heavy.
Show answer
false
4. Complete with what nobody asked for: Les spectateurs restés sous l’arbre n’ont pas demandé de ___.
Show answer
remboursement
5. What does “un archet” mean here?
- a bow (violin)
- a tent
- a microphone
- a refund
Show answer
a bow (violin)
Continue interactively
Open this exact story for the full narration, comprehension exercises, dictation, translation help, and saved progress.