France May Have to Increase the Price of Baguettes
SYNONYM MATCH:
1. latter a) shaky
2. pressure b) entitled
3. soaring c) income
4. untenable d) strain
5. turnover e) modest
6. humble f) equal
7. intervened g) last-mentioned
8. eligible h) complained about
9. lamented i) escalating
10. equivalent j) got involved
Listening:
France is synonymous with (1) ____________________. In particular, the croissant and the baguette
(2) ____________________. The latter is currently under pressure. Increasing costs are (3)
____________________ to close their bakeries or raise baguette prices. Soaring energy costs and
wheat (4) ____________________ by the Ukraine War are making life financially untenable for many in
the baguette-making industry. One baker, Julien Pedussel, 36, expressed his fears (5)
____________________. He may have to raise his baguette prices from one to four euros. He told
reporters: "I cannot pay an electricity bill of 12,000 euros with (6) ____________________ 20,000
euros." He is concerned that big supermarkets are still selling baguettes for less than a euro.
The humble baguette is on the United Nations List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Baguette prices are
(7) ____________________ that France's President Macron has intervened. He recently described the
bread as being "250 grams of (8) ____________________". France's Ministry for the Economy has
initiated an "electricity damper". This will allow bakers to limit by how much their (9)
____________________. The ministry said: "Aid for bakers has been reinforced (10)
____________________ can benefit from it." Consumers are facing tough choices. One lamented: "I
won't pay three euros because it's (11) ____________________. Maybe, sometimes I would because
there is no equivalent to a baguette." She added she might have to start (12) ____________________.
TRUE / FALSE: true (T) or false (F).
1. The article says in France, the words "bread" and "pastry" are synonyms. T / F
2. The article says pastries in France are under price pressures. T / F
3. A French baker is worried about his livelihood. T / F
4. The baker has a 20,000-euro electricity bill. T / F
5. The baguette is on a U.N. cultural heritage list. T / F
6. The French president said baguettes were 250 grams of magic. T / F
7. France's government will give no aid to bakers. T / F
8. A consumer may start baking baguettes herself. T / F
PHRASE MATCH:
1. France is synonymous a) benefit from it
2. the croissant and the baguette b) for many
3. The latter is currently under c) of 20,000 euros
4. making life financially untenable d) bills rise
5. a turnover e) spring to mind
6. 250 grams of magic f) to a baguette
7. limit by how much their electricity g) facing tough choices
8. eligible bakeries can h) with bread and pastries
9. Consumers are i) and perfection
10. there is no equivalent j) pressure
GAP FILL:
forcing raise untenable spring turnover supply pastries expressed
France is synonymous with bread and (1) _____________________. In particular, the croissant and
the baguette (2) _____________________ to mind. The latter is currently under pressure. Increasing
costs are (3) _____________________ many bakers to close their bakeries or raise baguette prices.
Soaring energy costs and wheat (4) _____________________ issues caused by the Ukraine War are
making life financially (5) _____________________ for many in the baguette-making industry. One
baker, Julien Pedussel, 36, (6) _____________________ his fears for his livelihood. He may have to
(7) _____________________ his baguette prices from one to four euros. He told reporters: "I cannot
pay an electricity bill of 12,000 euros with a (8) _____________________ of 20,000 euros." He is
concerned that big supermarkets are still selling baguettes for less than a euro.
equivalent concern limit lamented intervened eligible humble perfection
The (9) _____________________ baguette is on the United Nations List of Intangible Cultural
Heritage. Baguette prices are of such (10) _____________________ that France's President Macron
has (11) _____________________. He recently described the bread as being "250 grams of magic and
(12) _____________________". France's Ministry for the Economy has initiated an "electricity
damper". This will allow bakers to (13) _____________________ by how much their electricity bills
rise. The ministry said: "Aid for bakers has been reinforced and (14) _____________________
bakeries can benefit from it." Consumers are facing tough choices. One (15)
_____________________: "I won't pay three euros because it's double the price. Maybe, sometimes I
would because there is no (16) _____________________ to a baguette." She added she might have to
start baking them herself.
All staple food, like bread and rice, should have government price controls.
Agree / Disagree
Reason 1: _________________________________
Reason 2: _________________________________
Reason 3: _________________________________
