The 15 quiz questions
Question 1 : The French verb "décevoir" means in English:
Possible answers:
- Deceive
- Disappoint
- Believe
- Receive
Explanation: "Décevoir" (to cause disappointment) translates to "disappoint". "To deceive" in English means "to trick" or "to dupe" — a very different meaning!
Question 2 : What does the English word "library" mean?
Possible answers:
- A library
- A book
- A reading
- A bookstore
Explanation: "Library" is a false friend: it means a place where books are borrowed (bibliothèque), not a bookstore (librairie in French).
Question 3 : The French word "résumer" translates to:
Possible answers:
- Summarize
- Assume
- Presume
- Resume
Explanation: "Résumer" (to make a summary) translates to "summarize" in English. "To resume" means "to continue" or "to restart"! The CV is called a "résumé" in American English.
Question 4 : "Assister à un concert" (in French) translates to English as:
Possible answers:
- Attend a concert
- Help a concert
- Assist a concert
- Watch a concert
Explanation: "Assister à" in French means "to be present at" and translates to "attend". "To assist" in English means "to help"! This confusion is very common.
Question 5 : In French, "prétendre" mainly means:
Possible answers:
- Mentir
- Imaginer
- Affirmer, soutenir
- Faire semblant
Explanation: In French, "prétendre" means "to claim, to assert something". In English, "to pretend" means "to fake". Two very different meanings!
Question 6 : What does "éventuellement" mean in French?
Possible answers:
- Toujours
- Finalement
- Peut-être
- Certainement
Explanation: Unlike English "eventually" (in the end), "éventuellement" in French means "possibly, if the occasion arises".
Question 7 : What is the difference between "amener" and "emmener"?
Possible answers:
- Nombre de personnes
- No difference
- Type de transport
- Direction of movement
Explanation: "Amener" means to bring someone to where you are, while "emmener" means to take someone with you away from a place.
Question 8 : What does "sensible" mean in French (unlike in English)?
Possible answers:
- Intelligent
- Emotional/Sensitive
- Reasonable
- Logical
Explanation: In French, "sensible" means "sensitive, easily moved by emotions", whereas in English "sensible" means "reasonable".
Question 9 : Which is correct in French: "Je me rappelle DE cet événement" or "Je me rappelle cet événement"?
Possible answers:
- With DE
- Without DE
- It depends on context
- Both are correct
Explanation: "Se rappeler" is a direct transitive verb: you say "Je me rappelle cet événement" (without DE). "Se souvenir" takes DE: "Je me souviens DE cet événement".
Question 10 : What does "actuellement" mean in French?
Possible answers:
- Really/Truly
- Really
- Actually
- At this moment
Explanation: "Actuellement" means "at the moment, currently" and not "really" like the English "actually".
Question 11 : Which is the correct French spelling: "balade" or "ballade"?
Possible answers:
- Both depending on meaning
- Neither is correct
- Always "ballade"
- Always "balade"
Explanation: "Balade" (one L) = a walk, a stroll. "Ballade" (two L's) = a poem or a song. Both exist but have different meanings.
Question 12 : What does "bénéfice" mean in French compared to "benefit" in English?
Possible answers:
- Social assistance
- General advantage
- Financial gain/Profit
- Gift
Explanation: In French, "bénéfice" mainly refers to financial profit, whereas in English "benefit" generally means "advantage".
Question 13 : What does "attendre" mean in French?
Possible answers:
- To attend
- To wait
- To participate
- To take care of
Explanation: "Attendre" in French means "to wait for someone/something", unlike the English "attend" which means "to be present at".
Question 14 : Are "entrée" and "entry" false friends?
Possible answers:
- Yes, opposite meanings
- Yes, completely different
- Partially, culinary sense
- No, same meaning
Explanation: Partially: "entrée" in French can mean a starter dish, a meaning that "entry" does not have in English.
Question 15 : What does "préservatif" mean in French?
Possible answers:
- Condom
- Food preservative
- Preserving agent
- General protection
Explanation: "Préservatif" in French means a condom, whereas in English "preservative" refers to a food additive.
