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Il faut éteindre le portable, sinon la lecture est difficile.

Il faut éteindre le portable, sinon la lecture est difficile.
You have to turn off the cellphone, otherwise reading is difficult.
From Lesson 254:Conditional alternatives (sinon)·French

Questions & Answers about Il faut éteindre le portable, sinon la lecture est difficile.

How is sinon used in this sentence?
Sinon translates to "otherwise" or "if not". It connects the two halves of the sentence, introducing the negative consequence (reading is difficult) that will happen if the first action (turning off the phone) isn't done.
Does la lecture mean "the lecture" like in a university?
No, it is a false friend! La lecture means "reading" or "the act of reading" (from the verb lire). A university lecture would be un cours or une conférence.
Why does le portable mean "cellphone"? Isn't there a longer word for it?
While you can say le téléphone portable (literally "the portable telephone"), it is almost always shortened to just le portable in everyday French. Note that le portable can also refer to a laptop (un ordinateur portable), but context usually makes it clear.
Why does the sentence use Il faut instead of Tu dois or Vous devez?
Il faut (from the verb falloir) is an impersonal expression meaning "it is necessary to" or "one must". It is very common in French for stating general rules or broad advice, whereas tu dois (you have to) makes the command specifically about the person you are talking to.
What is the opposite of éteindre (to turn off) here?
The opposite is allumer, which means "to turn on" or "to light". Both verbs are highly irregular but are extremely common and frequently used with electronics like le portable or lights.

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