Don't fall for the heard-word trap

Why the correct answer is rephrased

If the correct answer repeated the document word for word, recognizing sounds would be enough to succeed. So the questions usually rephrase: « Le train est supprimé » (the train is cancelled) becomes « Il n'y aura pas de train » (there will be no train); « Je ne suis pas disponible jeudi » (I'm not free on Thursday) becomes « Elle refuse le rendez-vous proposé » (she turns down the suggested appointment). Get used to looking for the same meaning in other words, not the same words.

In the example below, the announcement says the pool stays closed until the end of the month. A possible correct answer is « La piscine n'ouvrira pas avant le mois prochain » (the pool won't open before next month). A possible distractor is « Des travaux auront lieu à la fin du mois » (work will take place at the end of the month): it reuses « travaux » and « fin du mois », but changes the meaning.

Trap 1: the right word, the wrong meaning

A distractor reuses a word from the document but changes the relationship between the ideas: it reverses cause and effect, gives the action to the wrong person or changes the time.

In the dialogue below, the question is « Pourquoi B a-t-il annulé ? » (why did B cancel?). The distractor « Parce que le médecin était absent » (because the doctor was away) contains the word « médecin ». The answer is « Parce qu'il se sent mieux » (because he feels better).

Trap 2: negation and restriction

The small words that change everything go by quickly in speech: « ne… plus » (no longer), « ne… jamais » (never), « ne… que » (only), « sauf » (except), « sans » (without). A sentence like « Le magasin n'accepte que les paiements par carte » (the shop only accepts card payments) can be turned into a distractor (« Le magasin n'accepte pas la carte », the shop doesn't accept cards). When you hear a « ne », listen closely: what follows pins down the meaning.

In the examples below, the matching distractors would be « Le parking est gratuit tous les jours » (parking is free every day) and « Elle viendra le mardi et le jeudi » (she will come on Tuesdays and Thursdays).

Trap 3: the change of mind

In dialogues, a person may suggest an idea, then think better of it. Both options are said aloud, and the first one becomes the distractor. Listen for « finalement » (in the end), « tout compte fait » (all things considered), « à la réflexion » (on second thought), « non, plutôt » (no, rather). The question is most often about the final decision.

In the dialogue below, the question is « Comment vont-ils voyager ? » (how will they travel?). The answer: by carpooling, not by train.

The anti-trap method

• Before listening, read the question and rephrase it in your own words: what exactly are you looking for (a cause, a decision, a place, a person)?
• While listening, follow the meaning of the whole sentence rather than isolated words.
• After listening, be wary of the option that contains the most words from the document: check that it really answers the question.
• Rule out the options contradicted by a negation, a restriction or a change of mind you heard.

This reflex comes with practice. Do a practice set in exam mode (a single listening), then reread the transcript of the questions you missed: you will often see that the word that misled you was indeed in the document, but not with that meaning. The lesson on numbers and times deals with the same trap applied to figures.

A common mistake

✗ Hearing « Non, j'ai annulé : je me sens mieux » and choosing « Parce que le médecin était absent », because the word « médecin » was said.

✓ Looking for the cause actually expressed: « je me sens mieux ». B cancelled because he feels better.

An option that repeats a word you heard is not necessarily correct. Check that it matches the meaning of the sentence, not just its vocabulary.

Frequently asked questions