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Which big French city is on the Mediterranean Sea?
Model-written, not yet read by a native reader.
Correct answer: Marseille. Marseille is on the Mediterranean Sea. It is a major seaport. It is the préfecture (main administrative city) of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. Source: the Ministry of the Interior sheet “Les ports français” (in French). The other three choices are explained below.
Sources: Sheet “Les ports français” (French), read on 21 October 2026. Answer written by Hexaciv from this source. Hexaciv is an independent preparation tool. It is not an official website, is not linked to any government body and does not give legal advice. The authoritative source is the Ministry of the Interior's, cited on this page.
The four choices and why
- ✗ LilleLilleLille is not the city on the Mediterranean Sea: it is Marseille.
- ✗ StrasbourgStrasbourgStrasbourg is not the city on the Mediterranean Sea: it is Marseille.
- ✗ ToulouseToulouseToulouse is not the city on the Mediterranean Sea: it is Marseille.
- ✓ MarseilleMarseilleCorrect answer. Marseille is on the Mediterranean Sea. It is a major seaport. It is the préfecture (main administrative city) of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region.
How it reads on exam day
The exam is in French, so this is the question you will see: « Quelle grande ville française est au bord de la mer Méditerranée ? ». Learn the English idea above and the French words in the options.
This question is on the official list for the multi-year residence card (CSP). The Ministry's wording: “Quelle ville est située au bord de la mer Méditerranée ?”.
Where the Ministry explains it
Sheet “Les ports français” (French).
All 47 “History, geography and culture” questions on the CSP list
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