"Les chats cherchent des souris."

Translation: The cats are looking for mice.

[VaclavKlic]

is the fast voice saying " les souris " ?

[IanSinclai2]

I am glad that I am not the only person hearing that.
The fast version really sounds like "Les chats cherchent les souris." But the slow version is clearly "Les chats cherchent des souris."

[Jsdouglas]

Yes, I am sure of it. It seems the slow version is a separate recording and can be different. I have noticed this before. Regards...james.

[Nicodraxus]

Yes. Same here. It sounds entirely like "les" in the woman's voice in full-speed. Slower it sounds like "des" (although the sound is still a little odd.)

[n6zs]

The female audio is bad at normal speed. It should not be presented as a "type what you hear" exercise.

[Deusfaux]

Why isn't this a general statement where the first word 'the' should be ignored? "Cats look for mice"

[Christian491946]

In this context I would say cherchent could definitely be translated to "are hunting for."

[n6zs]

It is possible. Added.

[brian648024]

"The cats look for mice" failed. Really?

[n6zs]

I'm not sure how the sentence was originally set up but all the standard variations are now in place: look for, are looking for, search for, are searching for, hunt for, are hunting for, seek, are seeking. With or without "some". At about six months ago, some sentences were put in play and may not have been fully populated with all the necessary variations. It should all be fixed now.

[arandaneri]

Duolingo, please fix the fast and slow sounds so they match on "des souris " The fast mode sounds like "les souris"

[n6zs]

I wish it was possible but moderators cannot fix any audio. It is a complete package and we will have to wait until Duo is able to replace the current audio set.

[ScottRJ]

Audio problem, impossible to distinguish 'les souris' and 'des souris' with this exercise even with a trained ear.

[Jsdouglas]

And the normal speed audio sounds different to the slow speed. I am sure the the slow speed audio is a different recording and sometimes they are a bit different. Regards...james.

[Hannelore643253]

Quick audio: Les chats cherchent LES souris; Slow audio: Les chats cherchent DES souris. --- reported

[StephanieCronk]

Why isn't it "the mice" since that's what they wanted for another activity?

[n6zs]

No, "des souris" (mice) is the plural of "une souris" (a mouse). "The mice" = "les souris".

[GrahamMullan]

When read quickly she says "les" but slowly she says "des." ?!?

[JwCmv1te]

why not the cats search mice.
chercher surely means to search, same meaning as look for

[smatprabby]

Did you use "search" or "search for"?
"Search for" -- "look for" = same thing.
"Search" -- "look for" = not the same thing.

[GoldenEagl4]

Why is 'the cats look for' wrong?

[paulofilho.92]

How do I know if in this sentence the word "souris" is singular or plural? As far as I know, souris is both singular and plural in french. Thanks in advance!

[SamusErin]

You can tell because it's "des" instead of "de la". Otherwise, you just have to guess (like words with the same singular and plural in English).