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.
New Clothes for the Mountains
Next weekend, Anna and her family wanted to go to the snowy mountains. Anna was very excited about the trip. But the weather there was very cold. Anna needed some new winter clothes. So, on Saturday morning, she went to the big shopping centre with her older brother, Tom.
Examples
Anna’s family wanted to travel to the ………snowy mountains……… next weekend.
The weather in the mountains was ………very cold……… .
Questions
1 Anna needed to buy some new ………………………… .
2 Anna went to the shopping centre on ………………………… .
3 Anna went shopping with Tom, who is her ………………………… .
First, they walked into a large clothes shop. Anna looked for some warm gloves for her cold hands. She found some beautiful wool gloves on a small table. They were blue and very soft. Then, Tom helped Anna look for a scarf. Anna wanted a long red scarf to wear outside. They saw a nice one next to the hats.
4 Anna and Tom went inside a ………………………… .
5 Anna found some beautiful ………………………… on a small table.
6 Tom helped his sister to find a ………………………… .
7 They found a red scarf near the ………………………… .
Tom bought the gloves and the red scarf for Anna. They put the clothes in a bag and caught a bus home. At home, Anna put on her new clothes. She was ready for the snowy mountains. “Thank you, Tom,” she smiled. “I love my new clothes!”
8 Tom bought the gloves and the ………………………… for his sister.
9 Anna and Tom went home on ………………………… .
10 Anna put on her clothes and was ready for the ………………………… .
ANSWER KEY
1 winter clothes 2 Saturday morning 3 older brother
4 large clothes shop 5 wool gloves 6 scarf 7 hats
8 red scarf 9 a bus 10 snowy mountains
Reading 2
Read the story. Write words to complete the sentences about the story.
You can use 1, 2 or 3 words.
The Big Picture Puzzle
Last Friday, Emma went to the toy shop with her mother. She wanted a present for her best friend, Alex. Alex’s birthday party was on Saturday. Emma looked at many toys. Then, she bought a big picture puzzle. It had a beautiful picture of a jungle on it.
Examples
Emma and her mother went to the ………toy shop……… last Friday.
Emma needed to buy a ………present……… for her friend, Alex.
Questions
1 Alex’s ………………………… was on Saturday.
2 Emma chose a ………………………… for her friend.
3 There was a beautiful picture of a ………………………… on the puzzle.
When Emma went home, she took the puzzle to her bedroom. She wanted to put colourful paper on the present. The paper had blue stars and yellow moons on it. But the puzzle box was very big and heavy. This was difficult for Emma. She used a lot of paper and dropped her scissors. Her mother came into the room to help her.
4 Emma took her friend’s puzzle to her ………………………… .
5 The colourful paper had yellow moons and ………………………… on it.
6 The puzzle box was ………………………… and heavy, so it was difficult for Emma.
7 Emma’s ………………………… helped her with the paper.
On Saturday afternoon, Emma walked to Alex’s house for the weekend party. She gave him the present. Alex opened it quickly and smiled. “Wow, a jungle puzzle!” he said. “I love difficult puzzles!” They sat on the living room floor and started to play with it together. It was a great party.
8 Emma walked to her friend’s house on ………………………… .
9 When Alex saw the present, he opened it quickly and ………………………… .
10 The two friends played with the puzzle on the ………………………… .
ANSWER KEY
1 birthday party 2 big picture puzzle / picture puzzle / puzzle 3 jungle
4 bedroom 5 blue stars 6 very big / big 7 mother / mum
8 Saturday afternoon 9 smiled 10 living room floor / floor
Reading 3
Read the story. Write words to complete the sentences about the story.
You can use 1, 2 or 3 words.
A Trip to the Market
Last Saturday morning, Fred and his dad walked to the busy market in their town. They wanted to buy food for a big family dinner. The sun was hot, but Fred was very happy to help. They found a big stall with lots of different food.
Examples
Fred went to the ………busy market……… with his dad on Saturday morning.
Dad and Fred needed to get food for a ………big family dinner……… .
Questions
1 Fred was happy to help his dad, but the …………………… was hot.
2 The stall at the market had lots of …………………… .
First, Dad bought some sweet fruit. He chose some yellow bananas and a big green watermelon. Then, they looked at the vegetables for the dinner. Fred picked some nice green beans and clean carrots. Dad paid the man and put everything inside two plastic bags. The bags were very heavy! “Can you carry one bag, Fred?” asked his dad. “Yes, I am strong!” Fred answered.
3 At the market, Dad got some …………………… first.
4 Dad chose yellow bananas and a large …………………… .
5 Fred selected some clean carrots and …………………… for the dinner.
6 Dad put all the food inside …………………… .
7 Fred’s dad needed help because the bags were …………………… .
Fred carried the heavy bag all the way home. They walked slowly down the street because the food was heavy. When they arrived at their house, Dad was very pleased. “Thank you for your great help,” Dad said. He gave Fred a sweet banana and a cold drink. Fred was tired but proud.
8 Fred and his dad …………………… because of the heavy food.
9 Dad felt …………………… when they got to their house.
10 Dad gave his son a cold drink and a …………………… .
ANSWER KEY
1 sun 2 different food 3 sweet fruit
4 green watermelon 5 nice green beans 6 two plastic bags 7 very heavy
8 walked slowly 9 very pleased 10 sweet banana