AP French Language · Unit 4
La science et la technologie: every key term you need (+ practice quiz)
36 flashcard terms for AP French Language Unit 4, written to match the course framework. Study them here, then drill them as interactive flashcards, or test yourself with the 20-question quiz — free, no account needed.
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La science et la technologie AP theme covering ethics, discoveries, health, technological innovation, the future, and their effects on society.
Le Minitel French videotex terminal launched in 1982 offering directories, banking and messaging years before the web; shut down in 2012.
Le TGV Train à grande vitesse launched in 1981 between Paris and Lyon; French rail engineering symbol running at 320 km/h.
Airbus European aircraft maker headquartered in Toulouse; the A380 and A320 families illustrate Franco-European industrial cooperation.
Ariane European launcher family operated from Kourou in French Guiana; Ariane 6 first flew in 2024.
Le nucléaire civil About 65-70% of French electricity comes from nuclear reactors, the highest share in the world; EDF operates the fleet.
Marie Curie Polish-born French physicist, first woman to win a Nobel Prize (1903) and only person to win in two sciences (physics and chemistry).
Louis Pasteur 19th-century scientist who developed pasteurization and the rabies vaccine; the Institut Pasteur remains a research leader.
La Station F World's largest startup campus, opened in Paris in 2017 by Xavier Niel; symbol of the French Tech ecosystem.
La French Tech Government label and network launched in 2013 promoting French startups; unicorns include Doctolib, BlaBlaCar and Mistral AI.
Le RGPD Règlement général sur la protection des données (2018), EU rules giving users control over personal data; enforced in France by the CNIL.
La CNIL, l'autorité de protection des données Commission nationale de l'informatique et des libertés, created in 1978 to protect privacy in the face of computer files.
La fracture numérique entre les générations Digital divide between those with connectivity and skills and those without; 13 million French people are considered 'éloignés du numérique'.
L'intelligence artificielle AI: France hosted the 2025 AI Action Summit; debates cover jobs, bias, and the EU AI Act.
Le télétravail Remote work, made widespread by the 2020 pandemic; French law grants a 'droit à la déconnexion' since 2017.
Le droit à la déconnexion Right to disconnect from work email outside hours, written into the Loi Travail of 2016 for companies over 50 employees.
La bioéthique Ethics of biology and medicine; French lois de bioéthique are revised periodically (2021 law opened PMA to all women).
La PMA Procréation médicalement assistée; the 2021 bioethics law extended it to single women and female couples.
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Les OGM Organismes génétiquement modifiés; cultivation is largely banned in France while research continues, a recurring ethical debate.
La Sécurité sociale Public health insurance created in 1945; la Carte Vitale allows reimbursement of medical costs.
La télémédecine Remote consultations reimbursed by Sécurité sociale since 2018; Doctolib became the main booking platform.
Le vaccin French vaccination schedule expanded to 11 mandatory vaccines for infants in 2018; vaccine hesitancy is a common article topic.
L'énergie renouvelable Wind, solar and hydro; France aims for 33% renewables in final energy by 2030 alongside nuclear.
La voiture électrique Government bonus écologique and EU ban on new combustion cars in 2035 drive adoption; Renault Zoé was an early leader.
L'aéroport et l'écologie 2021 climate law banned short domestic flights where a train under 2h30 exists, illustrating technology-policy trade-offs.
Le Concorde Franco-British supersonic airliner (1976-2003), Paris to New York in 3.5 hours; ended after the 2000 crash and high costs.
Le cinématographe Invented by the Lumière brothers in Lyon; first public screening in Paris in 1895.
Le braille Tactile writing system created by Louis Braille in 1824, an example of French inclusive innovation.
Le système métrique Decimal measurement system introduced during the Revolution (1795) and now global.
Le CNRS Centre national de la recherche scientifique, Europe's largest public research organization, founded in 1939.
Le smartphone et les jeunes French law banned phone use in collèges in 2018; 'la portable pause' expanded in 2024-2025.
Les réseaux sociaux Debates about cyberharcèlement, fake news (infox) and screen time; a 2023 law requires parental consent under 15.
Le vocabulaire du numérique Un logiciel, un ordinateur, télécharger, un mot de passe, une appli, le courriel, un réseau; the Académie prefers French terms.
Le futur simple Used to predict technological futures: 'Les robots remplaceront-ils les médecins?' Irregular stems: ser-, aur-, fer-, ir-, pourr-.
Le passif Être + participe passé to describe processes: 'Le vaccin a été découvert par Pasteur.' Common in scientific texts.
Exprimer la cause et la conséquence Grâce à, à cause de, en raison de, de sorte que, si bien que; needed to explain effects of technology.
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