Practice English Reading Exercises for A1 – Family, Home & Daily Life
Reading 1
Read the story. Write words to complete the sentences about the story.
You can use 1, 2 or 3 words.
The beautiful pink dress
Last Saturday morning, Mary and her mother went to the big market in the town. They needed to find a nice present for Mary’s cousin, Lily. Lily’s birthday party was on Sunday afternoon and Mary wanted to give her something special. Mary was very excited because she loved parties.
Examples
Mary and her mother went shopping ………last Saturday morning……… .
They visited the ………big market……… in the town.
Questions
1 They wanted to get a …………………… for Mary’s cousin.
2 Lily’s …………………… was on Sunday afternoon.
3 Mary loves parties, so she felt …………………… .
At the market, there were lots of people and many small shops to look at. They saw some red skirts, white jackets, and blue t-shirts, but Mary wanted to buy a dress for her cousin. They walked slowly and looked inside three different shops. Then, Mary stopped and pointed at a beautiful pink dress. It was very long and it had a small yellow flower on it. “Lily loves pink,” Mary said.
4 There were lots of people and …………………… at the market.
5 Mary wanted to get a …………………… for her cousin.
6 Mary and her mother looked inside …………………… .
7 The pink dress was very long with a …………………… on it.
“That is perfect!” Mary’s mother answered. She bought the beautiful pink dress for Lily and put it in her bag. Before they went home, they bought some sweet mangoes to eat on the bus. The next day, Mary gave the dress to Lily at the party. Lily was very surprised and she loved her new clothes!
8 Mary’s mother put the pink dress in …………………… .
9 They bought …………………… to eat when they travelled on the bus.
10 At the party, Lily felt …………………… when Mary gave her the new clothes.
ANSWER KEY
1 nice present 2 birthday party 3 very excited
4 many small shops 5 dress 6 three different shops 7 small yellow flower
8 her bag 9 some sweet mangoes 10 very surprised
Reading 2
Read the story. Write words to complete the sentences about the story.
You can use 1, 2 or 3 words.
Midnight and the sausage
Toby lived in a small flat with his father. They had a funny black cat called Midnight. Midnight was a very naughty pet, but Toby loved him a lot. On Saturday evening, Toby’s father was in the kitchen. He cooked some rice and sausages for dinner.
Examples
Toby and his father lived in a ………small flat……… .
Toby’s family had a funny black cat called ………Midnight……… .
Questions
1 Midnight was a very …………………… , but Toby loved him.
2 Toby’s father was in the …………………… on Saturday evening.
3 Toby’s father cooked some rice and …………………… for dinner.
Toby’s father put the hot food on the dining table. Then, he went to the living room because he wanted to find his phone. The kitchen was very quiet. Midnight walked in and looked at the nice food. The hungry cat jumped on the table, picked up a big sausage in his mouth, and quickly ran under the sofa.
4 Toby’s father put the …………………… on the dining table.
5 Toby’s father went to the living room to look for his …………………… .
6 The …………………… jumped on the table to get the nice food.
7 Midnight put a big sausage in his …………………… and quickly ran under the sofa.
Toby walked into the kitchen and looked at the table. “Dad, where is my sausage?” he asked. His dad came back and saw the naughty cat under the sofa with the food. Toby’s dad laughed and said, “Don’t worry, Toby. You can eat my sausage!” Midnight was happy too!
8 Toby looked at the …………………… when he walked into the kitchen.
9 Toby’s dad saw the naughty cat with the …………………… under the sofa.
10 Toby’s dad …………………… when he saw the cat and gave Toby his sausage.
ANSWER KEY
1 naughty pet 2 kitchen 3 sausages
4 hot food 5 phone 6 hungry cat 7 mouth
8 table 9 food 10 laughed
Reading 3
Read the story. Write words to complete the sentences about the story.
You can use 1, 2 or 3 words.
A picnic in the rain
Last Sunday, Tom and his family went for a picnic in the green forest. The weather was beautiful and sunny. Tom’s father drove their big red car to the forest. Tom and his sister, Lily, were very happy. They loved the forest because they liked looking at the plants and animals there.
Examples
Tom’s family went for a picnic in the ………green forest……… last Sunday.
The weather was ………beautiful and sunny……… on the day of the picnic.
Questions
1 The family travelled to the forest in a big …………………… .
2 Tom’s sister is called …………………… .
3 Tom and Lily enjoyed looking at the …………………… in the forest.
They found a nice place under a tall tree and put a blanket on the grass. They ate sandwiches and drank some sweet lemonade. Then, Tom and Lily played with a ball. Suddenly, the sky went black. “Look at those clouds,” their mother said. It started to rain very hard. The family quickly picked up all their things and ran back to the car.
4 They put a blanket on the grass under a …………………… .
5 The family had sandwiches and some sweet …………………… .
6 Tom and Lily played with a …………………… before the sky went black.
7 When it started to rain, the family ran back to the …………………… .
They were very wet and cold when they got inside the car. Tom’s father drove them home. When they arrived, they went into the living room. Tom’s mother made hot soup for everyone. They sat on the floor and had a great indoor picnic!
8 The family were cold and …………………… inside the car.
9 When the family got home, they went to the …………………… .
10 Tom’s mother gave everyone some …………………… to eat.
ANSWER KEY
1 red car/car 2 Lily 3 plants and animals
4 tall tree 5 lemonade 6 ball 7 car
8 (very) wet 9 living room 10 (hot) soup