Practice English Reading Exercises for A2 – Home Cooking & Ingredients

Exercises:   12345

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

1   Which person had to get something from someone else for the party?

     (A) Alex   (B) Ben   (C) Charlie

2   Which person is afraid that the weather might be bad?

     (A) Alex   (B) Ben   (C) Charlie

3   Which person chose the songs that people will listen to?

     (A) Alex   (B) Ben   (C) Charlie

4   Which person invited people from their job?

     (A) Alex   (B) Ben   (C) Charlie

5   Which person is providing meals for vegetarians?

     (A) Alex   (B) Ben   (C) Charlie

6   Which person had help from a family member to make the garden tidy?

     (A) Alex   (B) Ben   (C) Charlie

7   Which person plans to start cooking in the evening?

     (A) Alex   (B) Ben   (C) Charlie

Organizing a Weekend Barbecue

Alex

I am having a barbecue this Saturday and I am really excited. The weather forecast is perfect, so we can stay outside all day. I didn’t need to ask my neighbors for a grill because I already have a large one. A few of my guests do not eat meat, so I purchased lots of fresh salads and vegetables for them. I want everyone to dance and have a good time, so I spent an hour putting together a great list of pop songs on my smartphone. It is going to be a fantastic afternoon!

Ben

My garden is quite small, but I invited a few colleagues from my office for a barbecue this weekend. I washed the outdoor tables all by myself yesterday. Because I don’t have enough seats for everyone, I got some extra chairs from my uncle. We are going to light the fire at 7 p.m. after the sun goes down. One of my friends is bringing his guitar to play some live music. 

We are just going to eat burgers and sausages. I am looking forward to it!

Charlie

I am organizing a big family barbecue on Sunday. I didn’t invite anyone from my job, only my aunts, uncles, and cousins. Yesterday, my teenage brother helped me pick up the leaves and cut the long grass. I bought lots of chicken and steak, but I didn’t get any vegetables! The only problem is that the news said there might be heavy showers. I am really hoping the sky stays blue. If it gets wet, we will have to carry all the food into the living room!

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

1   Which person says preparing meals helps them to relax?

     (A) Leo   (B) Mia   (C) Noah

2   Which person cooks dinner for their parents?

     (A) Leo   (B) Mia   (C) Noah

3   Which person ate a lot of fast food when they were younger?

     (A) Leo   (B) Mia   (C) Noah

4   Which person likes choosing exactly what goes into their dinner?

     (A) Leo   (B) Mia   (C) Noah

5   Which person thinks their own meals are better for their body?

     (A) Leo   (B) Mia   (C) Noah

6   Which person says eating at home costs less money?

     (A) Leo   (B) Mia   (C) Noah

7   Which person learns to make new dishes by watching videos?

     (A) Leo   (B) Mia   (C) Noah

Why We Prefer Home-Cooked Meals

Leo

I really enjoy making my own meals instead of buying burgers or pizza. When I chop vegetables and fry them, I forget about my difficult schoolwork. It is a great way to feel completely calm after a busy day. Also, I love picking the exact things that go into my bowl. If I don’t want onions, I just don’t add them! I don’t use books to find out how to bake or fry things. Instead, I look at different channels online and copy what the chefs do. My parents sometimes buy fast food, but I always make my own dinner.

Mia

I rarely eat fast food because the prices in restaurants are so high now. I prefer to keep my cash and buy fresh vegetables from the supermarket. I save so much by doing it this way! Also, eating fries and drinking sweet cola always made me feel tired and heavy. Since I started preparing fresh salads in my kitchen, I feel much fitter and stronger. My meals are really good for my health. I don’t cook for my mother and father because we all like different things, so I usually make a big healthy plate just for myself.

Noah

A few years ago, I bought hot dogs and chips on my way home from school almost every single day. I couldn’t stop eating them! But then I decided to learn how to make proper meals. Now, I spend my evenings in the kitchen. Both my mother and father work very late, so I prepare their dinner for them. They are always happy to come home to a hot, fresh meal. Sometimes, I buy expensive meat for my dishes, so I don’t always save money. However, making food for my family is the best part of my day.

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

1   Who uses a pen and paper to remember the instructions?

     (A) Leo   (B) Maya   (C) Sam

2   Who says cooking the dish was not as easy as they thought?

     (A) Leo   (B) Maya   (C) Sam

3   Who explains that their grandmother doesn’t measure the food exactly?

     (A) Leo   (B) Maya   (C) Sam

4   Who only prepares the meal for a specific celebration?

     (A) Leo   (B) Maya   (C) Sam

5   Who added something new to their grandmother’s dish?

     (A) Leo   (B) Maya   (C) Sam

6   Who needed a lot of practice to cook the meal perfectly?

     (A) Leo   (B) Maya   (C) Sam

7   Who wants to show another person how to make the dish later?

     (A) Leo   (B) Maya   (C) Sam

Grandma’s Secret Recipe

Leo

My grandmother makes the most amazing chocolate cake. When I asked her how to make it, she just smiled. She never uses spoons or cups to check how much sugar or flour she needs; she just guesses! Because of this, my first few cakes were terrible. I had to bake it five or six times before it finally tasted like hers. Now, I am really good at it. One day, I hope to teach my own children how to bake it, so our family secret never dies.

Maya

My grandma’s special chicken soup looks so simple. However, when she invited me to her kitchen to learn, I realised it takes hours of careful work. It was definitely not a quick job! She showed me how to cut everything perfectly. I followed her rules, but I decided to put some extra carrots in my pot to make it different. My grandma laughed, but she agreed it was delicious. I didn’t write anything in a notebook because I can keep it easily in my head.

Sam

Every year, my grandmother makes a wonderful meat pie for the New Year’s dinner. We never eat it at any other time. Last December, she finally agreed to share her secret with me. She knows all the exact amounts for the salt and butter, so I brought a small book with me to record every word she said. If I don’t have it on a page, I will forget it! It was surprisingly simple to prepare, and I got it right on my very first try.

Exercises:   12345