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Which ocean borders the west coast of France?
Model-written, not yet read by a native reader.
Correct answer: The Atlantic Ocean. The Atlantic Ocean borders the west coast of France. The English Channel and the North Sea are to the north-west. The Mediterranean Sea is to the south. Source: the Ministry of the Interior sheet “Les frontières de la France” (in French).
Sources: Sheet “Les frontières de la France” (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
- ✗ The Pacific OceanL'océan PacifiqueThe Pacific is not the ocean on the west coast: it is the Atlantic that borders it.
- ✗ The Indian OceanL'océan IndienThe Indian Ocean is not the ocean on the west coast: it is the Atlantic that borders it.
- ✗ The Mediterranean SeaLa mer MéditerranéeIt is a sea, to the south of France.
- ✓ The Atlantic OceanL'océan AtlantiqueCorrect answer. The Atlantic Ocean borders the west coast of France. The English Channel and the North Sea are to the north-west. The Mediterranean Sea is to the south.
What the source says
« À l’ouest : l’océan Atlantique. »
Sentence copied word for word from the source, in French, read on 21 October 2026.
How it reads on exam day
The exam is in French, so this is the question you will see: « Quel océan borde la côte ouest de la France ? ». 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: “Quel océan borde la côte ouest française ?”.
Where the Ministry explains it
Sheet “Les frontières de la France” (French).
All 47 “History, geography and culture” questions on the CSP list
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