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 Rain and the Umbrellas
Last Saturday morning, Ben and his family went to the city centre. They wanted to visit the new library and the big cinema. But the weather was very bad. The sky was grey and the rain started falling. Ben and his parents were very cold and wet.
Examples
Ben went to the city centre with his family last ………Saturday morning……… .
The family wanted to visit the big cinema and the ………new library……… .
Questions
1 The weather was ………………………… on Saturday.
2 The sky was grey and the ………………………… began to fall.
3 Ben and his parents felt very ………………………… .
The family stood under a tall tree because the rain didn’t stop. They were sad because they didn’t have their warm coats or hats. ‘Wait here,’ Ben’s dad said. He ran across the street to a small clothes shop. He bought three big black umbrellas for the family. He quickly carried them back to Ben and Mum.
4 The rain didn’t stop, so the family stood under a ………………………… .
5 The family were sad because they didn’t have their hats or ………………………… .
6 Ben’s dad ran to a small ………………………… across the street.
7 Dad bought three ………………………… for his family.
Dad gave an open umbrella to Mum and another one to Ben. ‘These are great,’ Mum smiled. The family walked in the rain, but their clothes didn’t get wet again. After that, they went to a nice café and drank hot chocolate. It was a good day.
8 Mum smiled and said the umbrellas were ………………………… .
9 The family’s ………………………… didn’t get wet when they walked in the rain.
10 The family went to a nice café to drink some ………………………… .
ANSWER KEY
1 very bad 2 rain 3 cold and wet
4 tall tree 5 warm coats 6 clothes shop 7 big black umbrellas
8 great 9 clothes 10 hot chocolate
Reading 2
Read the story. Write words to complete the sentences about the story.
You can use 1, 2 or 3 words.
A Present for Mr. Green
It was Friday afternoon. School finished and Peter walked home with his mother. Next week was the last week of school. Peter wanted to buy a present for Mr. Green. Mr. Green was his favourite teacher because he told funny stories. “Let’s go to the sweet shop,” his mother said.
Examples
Peter and his mother walked home on ………Friday afternoon……… .
Peter wanted to get a ………present……… for Mr. Green.
Questions
1 Mr. Green was Peter’s ………………………… .
2 Peter liked his teacher because he told ………………………… .
3 Peter’s mother wanted to go to the ………………………… .
The sweet shop was next to the big cinema. Inside, there were lots of sweets and cakes. Peter saw some red apples, but he didn’t want fruit. Then, he looked at some chocolates. They were in a big gold box. “This box is very expensive,” Peter said. “But Mr. Green loves chocolate.” His mother smiled and paid for the box.
4 The sweet shop was next to the ………………………… .
5 Peter looked at some red apples, but he didn’t want to buy ………………………… .
6 The chocolates were inside a ………………………… .
7 The box of chocolates was ………………………… , but Peter’s mother bought it.
On Monday morning, Peter carried the box to school in his bag. He gave it to his teacher before the first lesson. Mr. Green was very surprised. He opened the box and ate one chocolate. “Thank you, Peter!” he said. “This is the best present.” Peter felt very happy.
8 Peter put the box inside ………………………… on Monday morning.
9 Peter gave the chocolates to Mr. Green before the ………………………… .
10 Mr. Green opened the box and ate ………………………… .
ANSWER KEY
1 favourite teacher
2 funny stories
3 sweet shop
4 big cinema
5 fruit
6 big gold box
7 very expensive
8 his bag
9 first lesson
10 one chocolate
Reading 3
Read the story. Write words to complete the sentences about the story.
You can use 1, 2 or 3 words.
The New Guitar
Last Saturday morning, David and his dad went to the town. David wanted a new hobby because he loves music. They walked to a big music shop. Inside the shop, David saw lots of drums and pianos, but he didn’t want them. He wanted a guitar.
Examples
David and his dad went to the town ………last Saturday morning……… .
David loves music, so he wanted a ………new hobby……… .
Questions
1 David and his dad went inside a ………………………… in the town.
2 David looked at pianos and ………………………… in the shop.
3 David didn’t want a piano, he wanted a ………………………… .
A nice man worked in the shop. He showed David three guitars. One was black, one was red, and one was brown. David picked up the brown guitar. It wasn’t too heavy, and he liked the colour. “Can I have this one, please?” David asked. His dad smiled and bought the brown guitar. He also bought a small music book for David.
4 The nice man in the shop showed David ………………………… .
5 David chose the brown guitar because it wasn’t heavy and he liked ………………………… .
6 David’s dad bought the ………………………… for his son.
7 Dad also got a small ………………………… for David to use.
When they went home, David carried his new guitar upstairs to his bedroom. He sat on his bed and opened his music book. He played his guitar all afternoon. It was difficult first, but then he played a happy song. His dad came in and smiled.
8 At home, David took his new guitar upstairs to ………………………… .
9 David opened his music book when he sat on ………………………… .
10 David played a ………………………… after a lot of practice.
ANSWER KEY
1 big music shop / music shop
2 lots of drums / drums
3 guitar
4 three guitars / 3 guitars
5 the colour / its colour
6 brown guitar
7 music book
8 his bedroom / the bedroom
9 his bed / the bed
10 happy song