Compréhension à la lecture en anglais : niveaux B1+ et B2-

Discover Aran Isle

Aran Isle is a small island off the west coast of Ireland, famous for its cliffs, its stone walls and its warm welcome. Only 1,200 people live here all year, but in summer more than 30,000 visitors arrive.

What to see
The highlight of any visit is the Black Fort, an ancient stone fort that stands on the edge of a 90-metre cliff. It is over 2,000 years old and it offers a wonderful view of the Atlantic Ocean. Between May and September, you can also watch seals on the beach at Cormorant Bay, and the small heritage museum in the main village tells the story of the island's fishermen.

Getting around
There are no trains on the island, and cars are rare. Most visitors hire a bicycle (10 euros a day) or take a horse and cart tour (15 euros per person). The ferry from the mainland takes 40 minutes and runs four times a day in summer, but only once a day between October and March, and it is cancelled in bad weather.

Practical tips
Bring a raincoat and strong shoes: the weather changes quickly and the paths are often muddy. There is only one bank on the island and it is open two days a week, so bring enough cash, because not all shops accept cards. Finally, book your accommodation early: in July and August, everything is full.

The Last Lighthouse (2025) - four stars out of five

Lena is a 17-year-old who spends the summer with her grandfather, Tom, in a remote lighthouse on the Scottish coast. Tom, a retired sailor, has just been told that the lighthouse will close because it is going to be automated, and he refuses to leave. At first, Lena finds the place boring, with no phone signal and nothing to do. But slowly she discovers her grandfather's old diaries and learns about the storms he survived, and a friendship grows between them.

Director Hannah Ross films the sea beautifully: the storm scene, shot with real waves, is impressive. The two actors are excellent, especially newcomer Ella Ward, who plays Lena with both humour and sensitivity. On the other hand, the film is quite slow, and some viewers may find the middle part too long. The final scene is also a little predictable, and the music is sometimes too loud.

Despite these weaknesses, I really enjoyed it. It is a warm, thoughtful film about memory and family that made me think about my own grandparents. I would recommend it to anyone who likes quiet stories and beautiful landscapes, but not to those who want action.

Taking a break before starting adult life: the gap year

Ten years ago, a gap year was mostly a British tradition. Today, from Brussels to Berlin, more and more school leavers decide to wait for a year before university or work. In a recent survey of 2,000 European students, one in four said they planned to take a gap year, compared with one in ten in 2015.

Why is it becoming so popular? The first reason is exhaustion. Many students say that secondary school was so stressful that they need a break before starting again. The second reason is uncertainty. In a world where jobs change quickly, many young people do not know what to study, and they prefer to explore before making a choice that costs a lot of money. Finally, social media has shown them another way of life: the photos of friends volunteering in Africa or working on farms in New Zealand make the traditional path look less attractive.

The benefits can be real. Studies show that students who take a gap year often get better grades at university, because they are more motivated and more mature. They also learn practical skills: they manage a budget, solve problems on their own, and often improve their foreign languages. Employers like these experiences on a CV, provided that the year has a clear content and is not just a long holiday.

However, gap years are not without problems. They can be expensive: a year of travelling can cost more than 10,000 euros, which makes it possible only for wealthy families. Some students never go back to their studies, or lose the habit of working. And a poorly planned year can be disappointing: "I spent six months on my sofa," admits Tom, 19. Universities therefore advise students to plan their year carefully, with clear goals, a budget and, if possible, a job or a volunteer project.

In short, a gap year is neither a miracle nor a waste of time. What matters is what you do with it.

Letters to the editor

Dear Editor,

I am writing in response to your article of 12 May about electric scooters ("A revolution on two wheels"). As a nurse who works in the city centre, I would like to give a different point of view.

Some people believe that e-scooters are a clean and cheap way to travel. It is true that they produce no exhaust fumes, and I accept that many young people can now reach work without a car. However, this argument ignores the reality of our pavements. Last month, three of my patients were injured by scooters travelling at 25 km/h among pedestrians. In our hospital, we now treat about five scooter accidents a week.

Furthermore, the scooters are often abandoned in the middle of the pavement, which is a serious problem for wheelchair users and for people with a visual impairment. My grandmother, who is 82, no longer goes shopping alone for fear of falling over one.

Of course, I do not want to ban scooters completely. But the town council should introduce three simple rules: a speed limit of 15 km/h in the centre, compulsory helmets, and dedicated parking areas. Only then can e-scooters become a real part of our transport system.

Yours faithfully,
Sophie Mertens

Document 1

Green Light for a Car-Free Centre

Ledbury Town Council announced yesterday that, from 1 September next year, private cars will no longer be allowed in the town centre between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. The decision follows a two-year study showing that traffic is the main source of air pollution in the town, and that the number of pedestrians hurt on High Street has risen by 40% since 2019.

The council will spend 2 million pounds on new bike lanes, benches and trees. Two car parks on the edge of the town will be extended, and a free shuttle bus will link them to the centre every ten minutes. Deliveries to shops will still be allowed before 9 a.m. Councillor Maria Jones said: "This is not about banning cars. It is about giving the centre back to the people who live and shop here." A public meeting will take place on 14 June, and residents can send their comments online until the end of the month.

Document 2

A wonderful idea (for someone else)

So the council has decided to close the town centre to cars. What a wonderful idea! I have run a small hardware shop on High Street for twenty-three years, and I suppose I should be grateful that my customers will now enjoy trees and benches while they wait for a shuttle bus. My customers buy paint, ladders and bags of cement. Perhaps the council imagines they will carry them on their bicycles?

I am not against clean air. I cycle to work myself. But last year, my sales fell by 15% when they closed the road for just three weeks for repairs, and I nearly had to dismiss one of my two employees. Nobody at the council asked me about that. The "public meeting" will take place at 6 p.m. on a Tuesday, when most shop owners are still working.

I will go to the meeting anyway. And I will bring my accounts.

The Train

The train was already late when Anna reached the platform, and she felt the familiar knot in her stomach. Nothing serious, she told herself. Trains are always late. Still, she checked her phone for the fifth time in ten minutes.

In her bag, next to her phone, lay the letter. She had read it so many times that the paper had gone soft at the folds. "We are delighted to offer you a place," it said, and the words "delighted" and "offer" had never looked so heavy. A place at the art school in Glasgow, four hundred kilometres from her mother's kitchen.

She had not told her mother yet. Every evening since the letter had arrived, she had opened her mouth at the dinner table and, every evening, she had talked about the weather instead. Her mother, who had worked two jobs since Anna's father left, would say nothing. She would simply smile that tired smile and say "That's wonderful, love," in a voice that was a little too bright. Anna knew that voice. It was the voice her mother used for bills and for bad news.

The train finally arrived. Anna found a seat by the window and watched the grey suburbs slide past. A little girl across the aisle was drawing a house with a very large sun. "Do you like it?" the girl asked, holding up the paper. "It's beautiful," Anna said and, to her surprise, her eyes filled with tears.

At the next station she got out. She stood on the empty platform for a while, breathing the cold air. Then she took the letter from her bag, smoothed it against her knee, and began to walk back towards home, quickly, before she could change her mind.