Practice English Reading Exercises for A2 – Open Spaces & Special Buildings
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
1 Who says the town hall is a good place to make new friends?
(A) David (B) Maria (C) Kevin
2 Who talks about learning how to do something new at the town hall?
(A) David (B) Maria (C) Kevin
3 Who thinks the building should be fixed?
(A) David (B) Maria (C) Kevin
4 Who goes to the town hall on foot?
(A) David (B) Maria (C) Kevin
5 Who helped to plan a special day at the town hall?
(A) David (B) Maria (C) Kevin
6 Who enjoys the snacks you can get at the town hall?
(A) David (B) Maria (C) Kevin
7 Who visits the town hall with a relative?
(A) David (B) Maria (C) Kevin
The Importance of Our Town Hall
David
I often visit the town hall with my grandfather. We go to a community club there on Saturdays. Last month, I assisted the club leaders in preparing a big party for the neighbourhood. It was a lot of hard work but very fun! The town hall is amazing, but the roof and some of the windows are quite old. I really hope the council spends some money to mend them soon. I usually eat a big meal before I go, so I never buy the cakes they sell inside the building.
Maria
Our town hall is incredibly important. Because my flat is just down the street, I never drive or catch a bus there; I just use my legs! I go every Wednesday evening for the community meeting. It is wonderful because you can chat with lots of different men and women and get to know them. My sister sometimes wants to come with me, but she is always too busy with her office work. The town hall looks perfectly clean and modern, so everyone loves spending time in the main room.
Kevin
The town hall is the best place in our area. I don’t know many people there yet, but I am taking a brilliant painting class every Tuesday. The teacher is showing us how to draw landscapes and animals. I live quite far away, so I have to drive my car to get there. During the break, we always go to the little café inside the building. The biscuits and sandwiches are absolutely delicious, and I always buy some! Next year, I want to join the group of people that manages the building.
ANSWER KEY
1 B 2 C 3 A 4 B 5 A 6 C 7 A
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
1 Who thought the person showing them the cave made them laugh?
(A) Ethan (B) Sarah (C) Jason
2 Who felt a bit afraid during their visit?
(A) Ethan (B) Sarah (C) Jason
3 Who wore thick clothes because of the temperature?
(A) Ethan (B) Sarah (C) Jason
4 Who spent money on a picture of themselves?
(A) Ethan (B) Sarah (C) Jason
5 Who was sad because there were no animals inside?
(A) Ethan (B) Sarah (C) Jason
6 Who says it was not easy to move around inside the cave?
(A) Ethan (B) Sarah (C) Jason
7 Who wants to take their parents there next time?
(A) Ethan (B) Sarah (C) Jason
Exploring Underground Caves
Ethan
I visited the underground caves with my school club. I really hoped to find some bats or strange fish in the dark river there. Unfortunately, the place was completely empty, which was a pity! I didn’t need a heavy jacket because we walked a lot and that kept me warm. The tour was great, but suddenly all the lamps went out for a minute to show us how black it really is. I really didn’t like that and my heart beat very fast! We took lots of photos on our phones for free.
Sarah
My trip to the cave was brilliant. I thought it might be scary under the ground, but I wasn’t frightened at all. The man leading our group told us so many great jokes, we couldn’t stop smiling! Near the exit, there was a gift shop. They had printed images of us walking through the rock tunnels. It cost a few pounds, but I got one for my bedroom wall. I loved the experience so much that I am asking my mum and dad to come with me again next summer.
Jason
Going into the deep caves is a real adventure! Before you go in, you must remember that it is freezing down there. I had to put on a big winter jumper to feel comfortable. We spent two hours looking at the beautiful rocks and we even saw lots of tiny bugs on the walls. However, the ground was very wet and we had to climb over huge stones. You had to look down all the time so you didn’t fall over. It was quite tiring for my legs!
ANSWER KEY
1 B 2 A 3 C 4 B 5 A 6 C 7 B
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
1 Which person says they brought the wrong things to wear?
(A) Martin (B) Sofia (C) Diego
2 Which person liked looking at the beautiful objects carved from ice?
(A) Martin (B) Sofia (C) Diego
3 Which person says they couldn’t get a good night’s rest?
(A) Martin (B) Sofia (C) Diego
4 Which person says they want to go back there with a family member?
(A) Martin (B) Sofia (C) Diego
5 Which person did something fun outside the building?
(A) Martin (B) Sofia (C) Diego
6 Which person visited the ice hotel for a special day?
(A) Martin (B) Sofia (C) Diego
7 Which person complained that what they ate or drank was too cold?
(A) Martin (B) Sofia (C) Diego
The Ice Hotel
Martin
I spent one night at the ice hotel. Because everything is frozen, I thought I needed all my thickest coats. But the sleeping bags they give you are really warm, so I slept perfectly. Actually, I didn’t need half the heavy trousers and jumpers I packed in my suitcase! In the morning, the breakfast was hot and delicious. The whole experience was absolutely fantastic. I went there alone on this trip, but my sister would love it. I’m planning to take her there next winter.
Sofia
My parents bought me a ticket for the ice hotel because I love winter. I made sure to bring plenty of warm hats and gloves, which was a good idea! The most amazing part of the hotel was the shapes cut from the frozen water, like the beautiful beds and chairs in the halls. During the afternoon, we left our room and went fast riding on the snow pulled by dogs. That was so exciting! Later, we had dinner in the restaurant. My soup got freezing in just two minutes, so I couldn’t finish it!
Diego
My wife and I stayed at this unusual place for our tenth wedding anniversary. It was definitely a holiday to remember! The building looks amazing, but I didn’t spend much time looking at the frozen statues. It was snowing heavily outside, so we stayed indoors all day. The main problem was during the night. The air in our room was around minus five degrees. Even with a thick winter blanket, I kept waking up feeling like ice. Next time we celebrate, we will definitely choose a nice, warm beach!
ANSWER KEY
1 A 2 B 3 C 4 A 5 B 6 C 7 B