Practice English Reading Exercises for A2 – Part-time Jobs & Early Career

Exercises:   1234567

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

1   Who is allowed to eat without paying during their break?

     (A) Jake   (B) Tom   (C) Ryan

2   Who finds it hard to get out of bed for work?

     (A) Jake   (B) Tom   (C) Ryan

3   Who likes talking to the people who visit the café?

     (A) Jake   (B) Tom   (C) Ryan

4   Who is keeping their money to get something they really want?

     (A) Jake   (B) Tom   (C) Ryan

5   Who feels very tired when they finish working?

     (A) Jake   (B) Tom   (C) Ryan

6   Who works with someone they go to school with?

     (A) Jake   (B) Tom   (C) Ryan

7   Who hopes to have a job with food in the future?

     (A) Jake   (B) Tom   (C) Ryan

Weekend Jobs in a Busy Café

Jake

I started working at the corner café last month. We are always so busy on Saturday afternoons! I carry heavy trays of drinks all day, so when I go home, my feet ache and I usually need a long sleep. My brother wants to be a chef when he grows up, but I just do this to earn some extra pocket money. The best part of the job is our afternoon rest. The manager lets us choose any sandwich and a slice of cake from the menu, and it costs us absolutely nothing!

Tom

I work every Sunday morning. My alarm rings at 6:00 a.m., which is terrible because I love sleeping late. Leaving my warm room is always really difficult for me! We get a free hot drink during our break, but we have to bring our own snacks from home. I don’t spend anything I earn at the café. Instead, I put it all in the bank because I am planning to buy a new guitar soon. I enjoy making the coffees, and my dream is to run my own big kitchen when I am an adult.

Ryan

I am a waiter at a popular café near the park. It is a great place to work. One of my classmates also got a job there, so it is fun to do our weekend shifts together. A lot of different people visit us, especially when the weather is sunny. I am quite friendly, so having conversations with the men and women who come in is my favourite part of the day. I am never tired after my shift, so I usually go out with my friends later in the evening!

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

1   Who uses something to help them see in the dark?

     (A) Jamie   (B) Lucas   (C) Finn

2   Who returns to sleep when they finish their work?

     (A) Jamie   (B) Lucas   (C) Finn

3   Who finds the animals on their route annoying?

     (A) Jamie   (B) Lucas   (C) Finn

4   Who is keeping the money they earn to buy something?

     (A) Jamie   (B) Lucas   (C) Finn

5   Who thinks bad weather is the worst part of the job?

     (A) Jamie   (B) Lucas   (C) Finn

6   Who enjoys listening to audio while delivering papers?

     (A) Jamie   (B) Lucas   (C) Finn

7   Who gets a warm drink from a parent before leaving the house?

     (A) Jamie   (B) Lucas   (C) Finn

Early Morning Paper Rounds

Jamie

Getting out of bed at 5:30 a.m. is tough. Luckily, my mum always wakes up with me and boils some water for a nice cup of tea before I leave. Before the sun comes up, there are no street lamps where I live. I have to hold a small torch to find the right houses. People’s pets are usually still asleep, so they don’t bother me at all. It is hard work, but I get quite a lot of cash for doing it. I’m not spending any of it right now because I really want to get a new electric guitar soon!

Lucas

I have to leave my house at 6:00 a.m. every day. I don’t have time for breakfast or a hot coffee before I start riding my bike. The most difficult thing about the paper round is when it rains or the wind blows hard. Getting wet really ruins my morning! However, there is one good thing. When I get back home at 7:15 a.m., I immediately get under the covers again for an extra hour before school. I spend all my wages on video games right away, so I never keep any of my earnings!

Finn

My alarm rings at 5:45 a.m., and it is very difficult to get up. I don’t mind the cold wind or the rain on my route. The main problem is that some people leave their angry dogs in their front gardens. They often run to the gates and bark loudly at me, which is quite frightening! Because it is so quiet on the streets, I usually put my headphones on and enjoy my favourite pop albums while I cycle. When I finish the deliveries, I never go back to bed. I just stay awake and make myself some toast.

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

1   Which person walks a dog before going to school?

     (A) Ryan   (B) Olivia   (C) Noah

2   Which person takes care of a group of dogs together?

     (A) Ryan   (B) Olivia   (C) Noah

3   Which person spends their earnings on something they do for fun?

     (A) Ryan   (B) Olivia   (C) Noah

4   Which person throws things for the dog to catch?

     (A) Ryan   (B) Olivia   (C) Noah

5   Which person lets the dogs swim during their trip?

     (A) Ryan   (B) Olivia   (C) Noah

6   Which person looks after an animal that is not young anymore?

     (A) Ryan   (B) Olivia   (C) Noah

7   Which person sometimes gets a snack instead of money?

     (A) Ryan   (B) Olivia   (C) Noah

Earning Pocket Money by Dog-Walking

Ryan

I walk a neighbor’s dog named Buster every afternoon. He is fourteen years of age, so he cannot move very fast. We never take a ball to play with because he just likes walking slowly. The people next door usually give me cash for helping them, but sometimes they bake me a delicious cake! I don’t save my coins for clothes. I love painting, so I use everything I get to buy new brushes and paper. Next month, I hope to look after two dogs, but right now I just have 

Buster.

Olivia

During the weekend, I earn extra pocket money by helping people on my street. I usually collect three or four pets from different houses and we all go out. It can be quite difficult to hold all of them! There is a beautiful river near our town, and the animals absolutely love jumping into the cold waves there. The pets I walk are all very lively and full of energy, so I am always tired when we get back. I don’t go out early in the morning because I prefer to sleep late.

Noah

I look after a little dog called Max. His owners work very long hours, so I take him out at seven o’clock, right before my first class begins. Max loves running, so I always bring a small toy. I toss it far away across the grass, and he rushes to bring it back to me. We have so much fun! We only walk in the park because there isn’t a lake or beach nearby. I save all the cash I earn in a box because I want to buy a new bicycle, not toys or games.

Exercises:   1234567