Practice questions

What is the motto of the French Republic?

1. Liberty, equality, fraternity
2. Work, family, homeland
3. Unity, order, authority
4. Peace, strength, wealth

What are the colours of the French flag?

1. Blue, yellow, red
2. Blue, white, red
3. Green, white, red
4. Black, red, yellow

What is the name of the national anthem?

1. Le Chant des partisans
2. Ode to Joy
3. La Marseillaise
4. La Vie en rose

Who is Marianne?

1. A queen of France
2. A French city
3. A current minister
4. A personification of the Republic

What is the official language of the French Republic?

1. French
2. English
3. Latin
4. All European languages

When is the French national holiday?

1. 11 November
2. 14 July
3. 1 January
4. 8 May

Can a person freely change religion?

1. Only with state permission
2. Only after getting married
3. Yes, freedom of conscience permits it
4. No, religion is fixed at birth

What does secularism represent?

1. Banning every religion
2. An official religion
3. A duty to believe
4. State neutrality and freedom of conscience

A recruiter rejects an applicant solely because she is a woman. Which response respects equality?

1. Recognise discrimination and report it
2. Accept it because the employer decides everything
3. Require her to change her name
4. Reserve every job for men

A parent refuses a compulsory lesson for their child on religious grounds. What should they do?

1. Ask to replace the lesson with religion
2. Respect the curriculum and school rules
3. Impose their own curriculum
4. Ban the lesson for other pupils

At a town hall, a user refuses service from an employee because she is a woman. What must be respected?

1. Personal preferences before every rule
2. A ban on women working
3. Equality of staff regardless of sex
4. A right to reject any female employee

Someone calls for hatred against a religious group online. Is this protected by freedom of expression?

1. Yes, any publication is permitted
2. Yes, if the account is anonymous
3. Yes, if it gets many reactions
4. No, inciting hatred is prohibited

A neighbour practises no religion. How can you respect their freedom of conscience?

1. Respect their choice without imposing a belief
2. Force them to choose a religion
3. Exclude them from neighbourhood activities
4. Deny them public services

An association helps isolated people regardless of origin. Which value does this illustrate?

1. Hereditary privilege
2. Fraternity
3. Domination
4. Discrimination

Who appoints the Prime Minister?

1. The President of the Senate alone
2. The European Commission
3. The President of the Republic
4. The mayor of Paris

The Parliament consists of:

1. The President and prefects
2. Mayors and judges
3. The police and gendarmerie
4. The National Assembly and the Senate

Who votes on laws?

1. The Parliament
2. The courts
3. Companies
4. Prefects alone

How many deputies make up the National Assembly?

1. 27
2. 577
3. 100
4. 348

From what age can a person vote?

1. 21
2. 25
3. 18
4. 16

For how long is the French President elected?

1. 3 years
2. 6 years
3. 10 years
4. 5 years

Who leads the municipality?

1. The mayor
2. The regional prefect
3. The President of the European Commission
4. The head of the national police

What is the rule of law?

1. A state whose leaders are above the law
2. A state where everyone, including authorities, is subject to law
3. A state where only the President respects the law
4. A state without justice

Which right does a fair trial protect?

1. Choosing another person’s punishment
2. Avoiding every law
3. Being defended with a lawyer’s assistance
4. Being convicted without a hearing

What is the status of capital punishment in France today?

1. It is mandatory for theft
2. Each municipality decides
3. It is permitted without a trial
4. It is abolished

What does the presumption of innocence mean in criminal proceedings?

1. Not being considered guilty until guilt is established
2. Always being exempt from investigation
3. Being able to ban any trial
4. Being guilty as soon as accused

What essential condition makes a marriage valid?

1. No civil formalities
2. The free consent of both people
3. A neighbour’s agreement
4. One family’s decision

Can a married person request the end of their marriage?

1. Only with the mayor’s personal approval
2. Only after 30 years of marriage
3. Yes, through divorce proceedings
4. No, marriage can never end

What legal limit applies to expressing opinions?

1. Never criticise an idea
2. Speak only with ministerial permission
3. Publish only majority opinions
4. Do not incite hatred or violence

What common rule applies to people living in France?

1. Respect the law regardless of nationality
2. Respect it only if they vote
3. Choose the laws they like
4. Replace the law with family customs

Which everyday action helps protect the environment?

1. Abandon appliances in nature
2. Reduce and sort waste
3. Throw rubbish into the street
4. Waste drinking water

You witness an assault in the street. What is appropriate?

1. Ignore the victim
2. Encourage the attacker
3. Call emergency services and help without putting yourself in danger
4. Film solely to entertain social media

A family imposes marriage on someone who refuses. What principle applies?

1. The family may always impose marriage
2. Refusal has no value
3. Forced marriage becomes free after one week
4. Marriage requires free consent

You replace a broken household appliance. How should you dispose of the old one responsibly?

1. Use an appropriate collection service or recycling centre
2. Leave it by a river
3. Burn it in the street
4. Hide it in a park

Someone claims their nationality lets them ignore French laws. Which answer is correct?

1. Laws apply only to employees
2. Laws must be respected regardless of nationality
3. Only French citizens must obey the law
4. A visitor can choose their own rules

You criticise a political decision in a public message. Which attitude respects freedom of expression?

1. Publish a call for violence
2. Claim all criticism is prohibited
3. Express disagreement without threats or incitement to hatred
4. Threaten people who disagree

Someone collapses in front of you. Which action fulfils the duty to assist?

1. Leave without alerting anyone
2. Wait for someone to film
3. Move them needlessly despite danger
4. Alert emergency services and follow their instructions safely

Which year marks the start of the Revolution in France?

1. 1789
2. 1914
3. 1958
4. 1848

Which numbered Republic was established in 1958?

1. The fourth
2. The fifth
3. The first
4. The second

Which years correspond to the First World War?

1. 1789–1792
2. 1958–1962
3. 1914–1918
4. 1939–1945

Which period corresponds to the Second World War?

1. 1914–1918
2. 1804–1815
3. 1981–1989
4. 1939–1945

What political right did French women gain in 1944?

1. The right to vote and stand for election
2. The right to become king
3. The right to abolish Parliament
4. The exclusive right to vote

Which city is the French capital?

1. Bordeaux
2. Paris
3. Lyon
4. Marseille

Which ocean lies west of metropolitan France?

1. The Pacific Ocean
2. The Arctic Ocean
3. The Atlantic Ocean
4. The Indian Ocean

Which river passes near Notre-Dame in Paris?

1. The Rhône
2. The Loire
3. The Garonne
4. The Seine

Which place in Paris houses a major museum and the Mona Lisa?

1. The Louvre
2. Gare de Lyon
3. Stade de France
4. Hôtel de Matignon

In which field is Molière a major figure?

1. Polar navigation
2. Theatre
3. Astronautics
4. Surgery

Which French number reaches the SAMU directly for a medical emergency?

1. 119
2. 115
3. 15
4. 17

Which direct number is used to request firefighters in France?

1. 15
2. 115
3. 119
4. 18

Which direct number reports an ongoing assault to the police?

1. 17
2. 15
3. 115
4. 119

Which ages does compulsory education cover in France?

1. From 16 to 25
2. From 3 to 16
3. From 6 to 12
4. From 10 to 18

Which school stage normally follows elementary school?

1. A doctorate
2. Nursery school
3. Collège, the first stage of secondary school
4. University

Which qualification is normally prepared at the end of lycée?

1. A driving licence
2. The diplôme national du brevet
3. A doctorate
4. The baccalauréat