Practice English Reading Exercises for A1 – Shopping, Clothes & Presents
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 mum caught a bus to the big town centre. Mary was very excited. She needed some new clothes because there was a big dance at her school on Friday. “Let’s find something nice to wear,” her mum said.
Examples
Mary and her mum went to the big town centre by ………bus……… .
Mary felt ………very excited……… on Saturday morning.
Questions
1 Mary had to get some …………………… because of a school dance.
2 The big dance at Mary’s school was on …………………… .
3 Mary’s mum wanted to find something …………………… to wear.
They walked to a large clothes shop next to the library. First, Mary tried on a short blue skirt and a clean white T-shirt. “I don’t like these,” Mary said to her mum. Then, her mum pointed to a beautiful dress in the shop window. It was long and pink with little white flowers on it. Mary put it on quickly. “Wow! You look great,” her mum smiled.
4 The clothes shop was next to the …………………… .
5 Mary put on a clean white T-shirt and a …………………… first.
6 Mary’s mum saw a beautiful dress in the …………………… .
7 The long pink dress had …………………… on it.
Her mum bought the pink dress and some new white shoes for Mary. On Friday evening, Mary wore her new clothes to the fun school dance. All her friends loved her beautiful dress. Mary danced a lot with them and had a wonderful time.
8 Mary’s mum also bought some …………………… for her daughter.
9 Mary went to the …………………… on Friday evening.
10 Mary had a …………………… at the dance with her friends.
ANSWER KEY
1 new clothes 2 Friday 3 nice
4 library 5 short blue skirt 6 shop window 7 little white flowers
8 new white shoes 9 fun school dance 10 wonderful time
Reading 2
Read the story. Write words to complete the sentences about the story.
You can use 1, 2 or 3 words.
Mary’s Noisy Present
It was Charlie’s birthday on Saturday. Charlie was Mary’s best friend. On Friday afternoon, Mary and her dad went to the big toy shop in the town centre. Mary wanted to buy a great present for Charlie. She looked at some board games and a nice green kite, but she didn’t like them.
Examples
Charlie’s birthday was on ………Saturday……… .
Charlie was Mary’s ………best friend……… .
Questions
1 Mary and her dad went to a big toy shop on ………………………… .
2 The toy shop was in the ………………………… .
3 Mary saw a green kite and some ………………………… in the shop.
Then, Mary saw a funny robot on a high shelf. Her dad took it down for her. ‘This is perfect!’ said Mary. The robot was silver and had big red eyes. It was a very clever toy. When Mary pushed a small button on its back, the robot walked and sang a loud song. It was very noisy! Mary and her dad bought it.
4 Mary found a ………………………… on a high shelf.
5 The robot was silver and it had ………………………… .
6 The robot walked and sang when Mary pushed a ………………………… .
7 The robot sang a loud song, so it was ………………………… !
On Saturday morning, Mary went to Charlie’s house for his party. She gave the present to her friend. Charlie opened the box and the robot started singing. All the children at the party laughed. Charlie played with his new robot all afternoon. ‘Thank you, Mary!’ he smiled. It was a fantastic day.
8 Mary gave Charlie his ………………………… at his house.
9 When Charlie opened the box, the robot ………………………… .
10 Charlie ………………………… with his robot all afternoon.
ANSWER KEY
1 Friday afternoon 2 town centre 3 board games
4 funny robot 5 big red eyes 6 small button 7 very noisy
8 present 9 started singing 10 played
Reading 3
Read the story. Write words to complete the sentences about the story.
You can use 1, 2 or 3 words.
Making a Big Cake
Last Wednesday afternoon, Sam and his grandpa wanted to make a big cake for Sam’s mother. Her birthday was on Thursday. But they didn’t have the right food in the kitchen. So, they drove their car to the large supermarket in the town. Sam carried a small red basket.
Examples
Sam and his grandpa wanted to make a ………big cake……… for his mother.
Sam’s mother had her birthday on ………Thursday……… .
Questions
1 They couldn’t make the cake because they didn’t have the ………………………… in the kitchen.
2 They went to the ………………………… in the town by car.
3 Sam had a ………………………… to carry the food.
Inside the big supermarket, there were lots of people. First, Grandpa found the sugar near the fruit. Then, Sam looked for the flour. It was on a high shelf, but a tall man helped Sam to get it. Next, they needed six large eggs. Sam saw a white box of eggs below the bread. He put the box carefully into his basket.
4 Inside the supermarket, there were ………………………… .
5 Grandpa found the sugar ………………………… in the supermarket.
6 A ………………………… helped Sam to get the flour from a high shelf.
7 Sam found a white box of eggs under the ………………………… .
Then, they walked to the front of the shop. Grandpa paid for the food and he bought Sam a chocolate ice cream. They drove home quickly and cooked the cake together. Sam’s mother loved it. She was very surprised!
8 At the front of the shop, Grandpa ………………………… the food.
9 Grandpa got a ………………………… for Sam.
10 Sam’s mother felt ………………………… when she saw the cake.
ANSWER KEY
1 right food 2 large supermarket 3 small red basket
4 lots of people 5 near the fruit 6 tall man 7 bread
8 paid for 9 chocolate ice cream 10 very surprised