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 Superhero Costume
Last Wednesday afternoon, Tom and his older sister, Lily, went to a big shopping centre. Tom wanted to buy a new toy with his pocket money. They walked past a clothes shop. In the window, Tom saw a fantastic superhero costume. It was red and gold with black boots.
Examples
Tom and his sister went to a ………big shopping centre……… last Wednesday afternoon.
Tom wanted to use his pocket money to buy a ………new toy……… .
Questions
1 They walked past a ………………………… in the shopping centre.
2 Tom saw a fantastic ………………………… in the window.
3 The costume had ………………………… and it was red and gold.
Tom went inside the shop and looked at the price. The costume was fifty pounds! “Oh no,” said Tom. “That is too expensive for me. I only have ten pounds.” Tom felt very sad. Lily told him, “Don’t cry, Tom. Let’s go to the toy shop opposite the café. We can find something nice there.”
4 The price of the superhero costume was ………………………… .
5 Tom only had ………………………… so the costume was too expensive.
6 Tom felt ………………………… because he couldn’t buy it.
7 Lily wanted to go to the toy shop which was ………………………… the café.
In the toy shop, Tom saw a brilliant superhero doll. It had the same red and gold clothes. It was only eight pounds! Tom bought the doll and a sweet ice cream. He was very happy and played with his new hero all evening at home.
8 Inside the toy shop, Tom found a brilliant ………………………… .
9 The cost of the new toy was ………………………… .
10 Tom bought an ice cream and the toy, and he played with his new hero all ………………………… .
ANSWER KEY
1 clothes shop
2 superhero costume
3 black boots
4 fifty pounds / 50 pounds
5 ten pounds / 10 pounds
6 very sad / sad
7 opposite
8 superhero doll / doll
9 eight pounds / 8 pounds
10 evening
Reading 2
Read the story. Write words to complete the sentences about the story.
You can use 1, 2 or 3 words.
A Birthday Surprise for Mum
Last Sunday was Mum’s birthday. Sally and her younger brother, Dan, woke up very early in the morning. They went quietly into the kitchen because they wanted to make a surprise breakfast. Dan got some nice bread, and Sally washed some sweet red grapes.
Examples
The children’s mum had her birthday ………last Sunday……… .
Sally and Dan woke up ………very early……… in the morning.
Questions
1 The children went to the …………………… quietly to make a surprise breakfast.
2 Dan found some …………………… for the breakfast.
3 Sally washed some …………………… for their mother.
Then, the children made some hot tea and put it in a big yellow cup. They put the food and the tea on a tray. “Wait!” said Sally. She ran to her bedroom and found her paints. She quickly painted a beautiful card for her mother. It had a picture of a happy brown bear and a big red balloon on it.
4 The children put the …………………… in a big yellow cup.
5 Sally found her …………………… in her bedroom.
6 Sally painted a …………………… for Mum.
7 There was a …………………… and a balloon on the card.
The children carefully carried the breakfast tray upstairs. They opened their parents’ door and shouted, “Happy Birthday, Mum!” loudly. Mum woke up and looked at the food. She smiled. She loved her breakfast in bed, and she really liked the painted card. “This is the best morning,” she said, and gave them a big hug.
8 Sally and Dan carried the …………………… upstairs.
9 The children shouted “Happy Birthday” very …………………… .
10 Mum said it was the …………………… and hugged her children.
ANSWER KEY
1 kitchen
2 nice bread
3 sweet red grapes
4 hot tea
5 paints
6 beautiful card
7 happy brown bear
8 breakfast tray
9 loudly
10 best morning
Reading 3
Read the story. Write words to complete the sentences about the story.
You can use 1, 2 or 3 words.
Harry’s Old Comic
Last Tuesday afternoon, it rained a lot. Harry and his older brother, Paul, went shopping in the town. Harry’s favourite hobby is reading, so they walked to a small bookshop. Inside, the shop was very quiet and a little dark. There were hundreds of books on the long shelves.
Examples
Harry and his brother went shopping last ………Tuesday afternoon……… .
Paul is Harry’s ………older brother……… .
Questions
1 Harry’s ………………………… is reading.
2 The boys went to a ………………………… in the town.
3 The shop had hundreds of books on its ………………………… .
Paul looked at a new map for his car. But Harry wanted to buy a funny comic. He walked slowly to the back. He looked carefully under a heavy box on the bottom shelf. He found a very old comic there. It had a beautiful picture of a brave pirate on it. Harry thought it was really interesting.
4 Paul looked at a ………………………… inside the shop.
5 Harry walked to the ………………………… because he wanted to find a comic.
6 Harry found an old comic under a ………………………… .
7 The comic had a picture of a ………………………… on it.
Harry took the old comic to the man in the shop. ‘This is a great book,’ the man smiled. Harry bought the comic with his pocket money. Then, the two brothers went to a nice café. Harry read his new comic and drank some hot milk. He had a fantastic afternoon!
8 Harry used his ………………………… to buy the old comic.
9 Harry and Paul went to a ………………………… after the bookshop.
10 Harry drank ………………………… and read his comic.
ANSWER KEY
1 favourite hobby 2 small bookshop 3 long shelves
4 new map 5 back 6 heavy box 7 brave pirate
8 pocket money 9 nice café 10 some hot milk