Practice English Reading Exercises for A2 – Technology & App Development 3
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A Winning Weather Idea
Seventeen-year-old Liam has always loved computers. While his classmates enjoyed playing video games after school, Liam preferred writing computer programs. Last spring, his IT teacher told him about a national coding competition for teenagers. Liam decided to enter, but he needed to think of a great idea first.
He thought about his father, who cycles to work every day. His dad often got wet because the weather changed quickly. So, Liam decided to create a smart weather app. His app doesn’t just tell you if it is going to rain. It tells you exactly what time you should leave your house to stay dry!
Building the app was quite difficult. Liam had to spend all his weekends in his bedroom looking at his screen. His friends went to the park to play football, but Liam stayed at home. Sometimes, his program stopped working, and he felt very angry. However, he didn’t give up because he really wanted to finish his project.
He sent his app to the judges and waited. Two months later, he received an email saying he was the winner! He got a fantastic new laptop as a prize. Liam is now planning to add more information to his app, like a daily clothing guide, to help people decide what to wear.
1 How did Liam find out about the competition?
(A) A person at his school gave him the information.
(B) He saw it while playing video games after school.
(C) He was writing computer programs with his classmates.
2 Why did Liam make this specific app?
(A) To help a family member avoid the rain.
(B) Because he cycles to work every day.
(C) Because the weather changed quickly for his friends.
3 While he was building the app, Liam
(A) stayed indoors to focus on his work.
(B) went to the park to play football.
(C) stopped working because he felt very angry.
4 What is Liam going to do next?
(A) Put some extra details into his software.
(B) Send his app to the judges.
(C) Buy a fantastic new laptop.
5 What is the best title for this article?
(A) A young programmer’s successful project
(B) How to win a fantastic new laptop
(C) Playing video games after school
ANSWER KEY
1 A 2 A 3 A 4 A 5 A
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The Boy Who Invented a Healthy App
Fourteen-year-old Leo loves writing computer programmes. Last year, he noticed that his younger sister, Mia, often had bad headaches. The doctor said she was fine, but she didn’t drink enough water during the day. Mia loved playing outside and just forgot to drink. Leo decided to do something to help her.
He wanted to make a smartwatch app. Because he didn’t know how to do it, he watched lots of online videos. After a few weeks, he created an app with a little blue character called ‘Drop’. When the user drinks water, Drop smiles. If they don’t drink anything, Drop looks sad.
Leo put the app on Mia’s smartwatch to test it. At first, there was a problem. The app sent a message every ten minutes. Mia felt angry because she couldn’t play with her friends without looking at her watch. So, Leo changed the app. He made it make a quiet noise only every two hours.
Now, the app is perfect. Mia always remembers to drink her water and her headaches have stopped. Leo has put the app on the internet for free, and over five thousand children have downloaded it. Leo feels very proud. He is already planning to invent an app to help kids remember their homework!
1 Why did Leo decide to make the app?
(A) The doctor asked him to do something to help her.
(B) His sister was unwell because she needed more water.
(C) His sister forgot how to play outside.
2 How did Leo learn to build the smartwatch app?
(A) He worked on it for a few weeks.
(B) He watched a little blue character.
(C) He found some lessons on the internet.
3 What did Mia dislike about the app in the beginning?
(A) It contacted her too often.
(B) It sent a message to her friends.
(C) It made a quiet noise every two hours.
4 What do we learn in the final paragraph?
(A) Leo makes people pay to download his app on the internet.
(B) Leo is creating an app to do his homework.
(C) A lot of young people are using Leo’s app today.
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) Why children should drink water every day
(B) The boy who solved a problem with technology
(C) How to make your own smartwatch
ANSWER KEY
1 B 2 C 3 A 4 C 5 B
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The Teenager Giving Old Computers a New Life
Fifteen-year-old Mark has a very useful hobby. While his classmates spend their free time playing football or watching television, Mark enjoys working with technology. Last year, he heard that many children in his town could not do their homework because they didn’t have a computer. Mark decided he wanted to change this.
He started asking people to give him their old, broken laptops instead of putting them in the rubbish bin. Mark cleans the machines carefully and puts in new pieces to make them fast again. He gave the first laptop he ever fixed to a family who lives on his street. The children were delighted!
Of course, the work is not always easy. Sometimes, finding the right parts for a very old computer takes a long time. Mark can feel quite tired after working for hours. Luckily, his dad often drives him to special tech shops in the city to find exactly what he needs.
So far, Mark has given fifty computers to families who need them. He gets letters from parents thanking him for his kindness. Mark feels proud of his project. He hopes to study computer science at university and plans to start his own technology business when he finishes school.
1 Why did Mark decide to start his computer project?
(A) He wanted to help young people who needed equipment for school.
(B) He wanted to do his homework on a new computer.
(C) He wanted to spend his free time playing football.
2 What does Mark do with the broken laptops?
(A) He puts them in the rubbish bin.
(B) He repairs them by adding different parts.
(C) He asks a family who lives on his street to help.
3 What does Mark find difficult about his hobby?
(A) Getting the correct pieces to fix the machines.
(B) Working for hours in special tech shops.
(C) When his dad often drives him to the city.
4 What does Mark want to do in the future?
(A) He plans to study computer science at school.
(B) He hopes to get letters from parents thanking him.
(C) He would like to have a career in technology.
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) How to study computer science at university
(B) The boy who repairs machines to help others
(C) Why finding the right parts takes a long time
ANSWER KEY
1 A 2 B 3 A 4 C 5 B