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Who was Marguerite Yourcenar?
Model-written, not yet read by a native reader.
Correct answer: The first woman elected to the Académie française. Marguerite Yourcenar is a French writer of the 20th century. She became the first woman elected to the Académie française, in 1980. She wrote Mémoires d’Hadrien. Source: the Ministry of the Interior sheet “Patrimoine français : des artistes emblématiques parmi les auteurs (3/3)” (in French).
Sources: Sheet “Patrimoine français : des artistes emblématiques parmi les auteurs (3/3)” (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 first woman to vote in French electionsLa première femme qui vote en FranceWomen got the right to vote in 1944.
- ✓ The first woman elected to the Académie françaiseLa première femme élue à l’Académie françaiseCorrect answer. Marguerite Yourcenar is a French writer of the 20th century. She became the first woman elected to the Académie française, in 1980. She wrote Mémoires d’Hadrien.
- ✗ A French sculptor, the creator of La ValseUne sculptrice de La ValseThe sculptor of La Valse is Camille Claudel.
- ✗ A French singer of L’Hymne à l’amourUne chanteuse de L’Hymne à l’amourThat singer is Édith Piaf.
What the source says
« Elle devient en 1980 la première femme élue à l’Académie française »
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: « Qui est Marguerite Yourcenar ? ». Learn the English idea above and the French words in the options.
This question is on the official list for the resident card (CR) and on the naturalisation list (PDF read on 14 October 2026). The Ministry's wording: “Qui était Marguerite Yourcenar ?”.
Where the Ministry explains it
Sheet “Patrimoine français : des artistes emblématiques parmi les auteurs (3/3)” (French).
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