Practice English Reading Exercises for A2 – Movies, TV & Music

Exercises:   12345

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

1   Which person says that music sounds better on a screen?

     (A) Daniel   (B) Maya   (C) Harry

2   Which person thinks tickets for live shows are too expensive?

     (A) Daniel   (B) Maya   (C) Harry

3   Which person likes using their voice with other people at a concert?

     (A) Daniel   (B) Maya   (C) Harry

4   Which person says you get a clearer view of the band on a screen?

     (A) Daniel   (B) Maya   (C) Harry

5   Which person likes to buy something to remember the concert?

     (A) Daniel   (B) Maya   (C) Harry

6   Which person prefers having food in their own house while watching?

     (A) Daniel   (B) Maya   (C) Harry

7   Which person thinks there are too many people at live concerts?

     (A) Daniel   (B) Maya   (C) Harry

Watching Live Concerts vs. Screens

Daniel

I always choose to go to a live music event instead of staying in my room. Making noise together with thousands of other fans who love the same songs is amazing. Sometimes I stand at the back of the room, which means I can’t look at the singer perfectly, but I don’t care! The feeling is wonderful. Also, I always get a t-shirt before I leave to keep as a special memory. You can’t do that when you watch a show online!

Maya

I watched my favourite pop group on my laptop last week. For me, it is the best way to enjoy a performance. At a stadium, the audio can be terrible, but the songs are much clearer through my headphones at home. I also love that the cameras get really close to the singers’ faces, so you never miss anything! I usually sing loudly in my bedroom, but obviously, no one else is there to join in. I don’t eat during the show because I want to focus on the music.

Harry

Going to a real concert is fun, but these days you have to spend a lot of cash just to get inside. Because of this, I prefer finding a free video of the performance on the internet. I can sit on my comfortable sofa and make some hot popcorn in my kitchen. Another problem with big stadiums is that they are always completely packed with fans pushing you. I prefer having space! I don’t need to buy a poster or hat to prove I like a band.

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

1   Which person says that podcasts help them complete their homework more quickly?

     (A) Mark   (B) Sophie   (C) Tom

2   Which person learns about topics that are not taught at their school?

     (A) Mark   (B) Sophie   (C) Tom

3   Which person changed from playing music to listening to podcasts?

     (A) Mark   (B) Sophie   (C) Tom

4   Which person likes shows where more than one person is speaking?

     (A) Mark   (B) Sophie   (C) Tom

5   Which person takes notes from the podcasts for their own projects?

     (A) Mark   (B) Sophie   (C) Tom

6   Which person usually listens to podcasts at the end of the day?

     (A) Mark   (B) Sophie   (C) Tom

7   Which person uses podcasts to help them understand numbers and calculations?

     (A) Mark   (B) Sophie   (C) Tom

Listening to Podcasts During Homework

Mark

I started playing educational audio shows a few months ago. I still enjoy pop songs, but spoken shows are better for my brain. I always sit down to study straight after school in the afternoon. When I have a history podcast on, I actually get through my school tasks in less time! I don’t just listen, though. I often keep a pen nearby to copy down interesting details that the speaker says. Later, I add these to my essays for my teacher.

Sophie

I usually play podcasts before breakfast, but I also love having them on while I do my homework. I never write things down because I just like to listen. I try to find out about science subjects that we never read about in our classes. It is so interesting to discover new information! For me, the best ones are the shows that make hard shapes and sums seem very easy. I also prefer it when there is a group of guests discussing a subject together, rather than just a single presenter.

Tom

It takes me a long time to finish my school tasks. Because I am busy with football practice, I prefer to do my reading and writing after dinner when it is dark outside. In the past, I had my favourite bands playing on my phone while I worked. However, my parents told me to turn it off because I wasn’t focusing. Now, I put on geography podcasts instead. I like shows with just one person talking who tells amazing stories about different countries. It makes doing my homework feel much less boring!

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

1   Who thinks the music in the scary parts of the movie was poor?

     (A) Jamie   (B) Nina   (C) Toby

2   Who paid for the music to enjoy on their own device?

     (A) Jamie   (B) Nina   (C) Toby

3   Who says the songs showed the emotions of the people in the story?

     (A) Jamie   (B) Nina   (C) Toby

4   Who found it hard to understand the conversations because of the noisy soundtrack?

     (A) Jamie   (B) Nina   (C) Toby

5   Who found a new favourite musician by watching the film?

     (A) Jamie   (B) Nina   (C) Toby

6   Who feels the song at the end of the movie was the perfect choice?

     (A) Jamie   (B) Nina   (C) Toby

7   Who wants to play a piece of music from the film on an instrument?

     (A) Jamie   (B) Nina   (C) Toby

Reviewing a Movie Soundtrack

Jamie

I went to see the new action movie yesterday. The music was amazing! When the heroes were sad or happy, the tunes really helped you know exactly what was in their hearts. During the scary moments, the fast beats were brilliant too. Before this, I didn’t know the girl who sang the main track, but now I think her voice is wonderful and I listen to her online. I actually practice the piano, and I am going to ask my teacher to show me how to play the beautiful tune from the start of the film.

Nina

The music in this film was mostly by famous pop bands. The volume was very high, but I still heard everything the actors said perfectly. I loved the tunes so much that I went on the internet and paid to put the whole album on my mobile. Now I play it on my way to school! I don’t play any instruments, so I just sing along. The scene where the story finishes is beautiful, and the slow, quiet song they chose for that moment was exactly right.

Toby

I usually love movie music, but this one wasn’t great. In the parts where you are supposed to feel afraid, the tunes were actually quite boring and slow. It just didn’t work well for the story! Also, during the big arguments between the characters, the rock songs were so noisy that I couldn’t hear the words they were saying to each other. I definitely wouldn’t spend cash to keep these tracks on my phone. The only good thing was the song at the finish, which made me smile.

Exercises:   12345