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

Exercises:   1234567

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

1   Which person gets assistance with things that are difficult to carry?

     (A) Jake   (B) Maria   (C) Tariq

2   Which person says their team teaches them how to prepare different food?

     (A) Jake   (B) Maria   (C) Tariq

3   Which person likes their team because they make them laugh?

     (A) Jake   (B) Maria   (C) Tariq

4   Which person explains that washing the restaurant is fast when they do it together?

     (A) Jake   (B) Maria   (C) Tariq

5   Which person feels less stressed about unhappy visitors because of their colleagues?

     (A) Jake   (B) Maria   (C) Tariq

6   Which person gets help when they cannot remember what a guest asked for?

     (A) Jake   (B) Maria   (C) Tariq

7   Which person changes the days they work with other people on the team?

     (A) Jake   (B) Maria   (C) Tariq

Working in a Restaurant Team

Jake

I love my job at the café. Serving people is great because I enjoy chatting with our guests. They are usually very polite, so I never worry about them! My colleagues are amazing, too. We often share amusing stories, and I always smile when I’m with them. Sometimes, my mind goes blank and I forget what drink a table wanted. When that happens, another waiter always tells me the right one. Also, if I want to play football on a Saturday, a friend will work my hours for me, and I do theirs later. I sometimes bring big boxes of water inside, but I do that alone.

Maria

Working in a large restaurant can be tiring, but my team makes it wonderful. I always write down what people want to eat in my notebook, so I never make mistakes with their meals. At the end of the day, we all tidy up the dining room. Because everyone helps to brush the floors and wipe the tables, we finish in just ten minutes! I don’t cook the food, I just take it to the guests. Lifting huge plates of hot food can be hard. Luckily, my friends always open the doors for me or hold a heavy bowl for me.

Tariq

My part-time job in the kitchen is fantastic. It is not a place for joking around, because we are too busy to tell amusing tales! I work every Friday and Saturday evening, and I never ask anyone to work my days. My favorite thing is that the head cook shows me how to make unfamiliar meals. I am learning lots of fresh recipes! Sometimes, people in the restaurant get angry because they have to wait. I get anxious when this happens, but my fantastic team members always go and speak to them for me. After we close, I clean the kitchen slowly by myself.

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

1   Which person bought something to read with their tip?

     (A) Liam   (B) Emma   (C) Noah

2   Which person says they were surprised to receive the money?

     (A) Liam   (B) Emma   (C) Noah

3   Which person got a tip from people with young kids?

     (A) Liam   (B) Emma   (C) Noah

4   Which person gave some of the extra cash to a different person?

     (A) Liam   (B) Emma   (C) Noah

5   Which person got a tip because they did their job quickly?

     (A) Liam   (B) Emma   (C) Noah

6   Which person helped a customer look for an item they dropped?

     (A) Liam   (B) Emma   (C) Noah

7   Which person carried the money around with them for a while?

     (A) Liam   (B) Emma   (C) Noah

Getting a Great Tip at Work

Liam

I work as a waiter in a busy café. Last week, it was full of hungry people. One man wanted his lunch immediately because he had a train to catch. I ran to the kitchen and brought his meal in just five minutes! He was so happy that he left me five pounds. I really didn’t think he would leave anything extra, so it was amazing! I didn’t spend it right away. In fact, it stayed inside my winter coat for over a week! Another waiter lost his pen later, but I couldn’t find it for him.

Emma

I have a weekend job in a popular clothing shop. A few days ago, a friendly lady bought a lot of summer dresses. I carried all her heavy bags to her car for her. She gave me a ten-pound note to say thank you. It made me feel wonderful! My little sister wanted a sweet treat, so I handed half of the cash to her. With the rest, I went to a store and got a new comic. I know some workers get tips for being fast, but I always take my time with shoppers.

Noah

I help at a hotel reception during the school holidays. Yesterday, a mother and father arrived with their three small boys. It was very noisy! While I was giving them their room keys, the mother noticed her gold ring was missing. I spent twenty minutes checking the floor until I finally discovered it under a large chair. She was so pleased that she gave me a huge tip! I didn’t keep it in my trousers like my friends do; I put it straight into my money box at home. I definitely wasn’t surprised because I worked so hard!

Exercises:   1234567