Ville de rêve ou ville de cauchemar?

4Reading
texts
literary and cultural MODULE 4

George Sand is the pseudonym of Amantine Dupin, a French Although this text was written over
novelist of the 19th century. This extract has been adapted from 100 years ago, there is nothing to
her novel Leone Leoni, a love story set in Venice. In this extract prevent you understanding it. The
language used is still current and,
the narrator is describing the city. though you won’t know every word,
you don’t need to. It is far more
When authors write under an alternative name, it is important to focus on what you do
known as a pseudonym, or ‘pen name’. know and what you can work out
from the context.

A Read the extract and try to understand its general meaning.

J’étais à Venise. Le froid et la pluie avaient chassé les promeneurs de la place et des quais. La nuit
était sombre et silencieuse. On n'entendait au loin que la voix monotone de l'Adriatique se brisant sur
les îlots, et de temps en temps les cris des hommes de la frégate qui gardait l'entrée du canal Saint-
Georges. C'était un beau soir de carnaval dans l'intérieur des palais et des théâtres; mais au dehors
tout était morne, et les réverbères se reflétaient sur les trottoirs humides, où retentissaient de loin en
loin les pas précipités d'un homme attardé, enveloppé dans son manteau.
J’étais dans une des salles de l'ancien palais Nasi, situé sur le quai des Esclavons, et converti
aujourd'hui en auberge, la meilleure de Venise. Je pouvais voir la place Saint-Marc avec les bâtiments
luxueux et il y avait les restaurants et les cafés pleins de gens qui évitaient le mauvais temps, et les
anciennes librairies et les magasins de vêtements chics.

B Read the extract again and find the meaning of the following words by choosing from the English
words in the box.
1 le froid ______________________ Some of the words are
easy to work out. Then
2 les promeneurs ______________________ look for other clues. For
example, do they look like
3 la nuit ______________________
English words (quai,
4 la voix ______________________ voix)? Can you spot one
word that looks very much
5 les cris ______________________ like an English one, but
6 l’entrée ______________________ has a different meaning?

7 les trottoirs ______________________

8 les pas ______________________ bookshops cold night footsteps pavements
9 le quai ______________________
walkers shouts entrance voice dock
10 les librairies
______________________

B Which four of the following sentences are true?

Write the sentence numbers. If you are asked to find sentences
which are true, be careful with
1 There were lots of people on the streets of Venice. negatives in the text like ne…pas (not)
2 The weather was bad. or ne…que (only) as they change the
meaning.
3 It was night time. When you have made your decision,
check your answers with a partner
4 There was a lot of noise.
and discuss any differences you have.
5 The narrator was in an inn.
6 The narrator could see the buildings in a square

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