Practice English Reading Exercises for A2 – Music, Arts & Creative Hobbies

Exercises:   12345

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

Painting Outside

Fourteen-year-old Lily has always loved drawing pictures of people with pencils. However, last month she decided to try something completely different. She watched some online videos about watercolours and wanted to use them to paint landscapes. She thought the large park near her house was the perfect place to start.

On a sunny Saturday morning, Lily took her new paints and brushes to the park. She sat under a tall tree and looked at the beautiful lake. At first, painting with watercolours was very difficult. The wind was quite strong, and her paper kept moving. Also, the colours mixed together on the page and made a dirty brown colour. Lily felt a bit sad.

Suddenly, an old man walked past and stopped to look at her work. He was a retired art teacher. He told Lily that she was using too much water on her brush. He explained how to wait for one colour to dry before adding another. Lily tried his advice, and her next picture of the lake was fantastic.

Now, Lily goes to the park every weekend with her watercolours. She thinks painting outside is very relaxing. Her bedroom walls are full of her colourful landscapes. Next term, her school is having an art exhibition, and Lily hopes to show her best paintings to all her classmates.

1   Why did Lily decide to go to the park?

     (A) She wanted to draw pictures of people with pencils.

     (B) She needed a natural outdoor space to practice her new hobby.

     (C) She wanted to watch some online videos about watercolours.

2   What problem did Lily have in the park?

     (A) She did not bring her new paints and brushes.

     (B) The wind blew her paper into the beautiful lake.

     (C) She could not keep her page still because of the weather.

3   How did the old man help Lily?

     (A) He walked past and stopped to look at her work.

     (B) He gave her a tip about how wet her equipment should be.

     (C) He painted her next picture of the lake for her.

4   What is Lily planning to do?

     (A) go to the park every weekend with her watercolours

     (B) put lots of colourful landscapes on her bedroom walls

     (C) let the other students see her art later in the year

5   What is the best title for the article?

     (A) A teenager’s new outdoor art hobby

     (B) How to be a retired art teacher

     (C) Drawing beautiful pictures with pencils

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

Making My Own Music

My name is Lily and I am fifteen years old. I am a high school student, and I love music. When I was younger, my dad taught me how to play the keyboard. I enjoyed playing famous songs, but a few months ago, I decided to do something different. I started writing my own music.

Writing songs is not always easy. I usually write the words for my songs in a small red notebook. I do this during my lunch break at school or in my bedroom in the evening. Sometimes I can think of a great story quickly, but finding the perfect words often takes a long time.

The most difficult part is singing and playing the keyboard at the same time. When I first tried it, my hands stopped moving while I sang! So, I practised playing the music slowly first, without using my voice. Then, I added the words later. After weeks of hard work, I finally got it right.

Last week, I played one of my new songs at the school concert. Before I walked on stage, I felt very nervous. But when I finished singing, all my classmates clapped loudly. They really loved it! Next year, I hope to find some friends who play the guitar and drums so we can start a band together.

1   Why did Lily start writing her own music?

     (A) She wanted to try a completely new activity.

     (B) Her dad taught her how to do it.

     (C) She wanted to play famous songs.

2   What does Lily say about writing the words for her songs?

     (A) She can always think of a great story quickly.

     (B) It can be a slow process to get them exactly right.

     (C) She only does it in her bedroom in the evening.

3   What was Lily’s problem when she first sang and played together?

     (A) She couldn’t play her instrument while using her voice.

     (B) She practised playing the music slowly.

     (C) She needed weeks of hard work to write the music.

4   How did Lily feel after her performance at the school concert?

     (A) very nervous to walk on stage

     (B) pleased because the audience enjoyed her song

     (C) happy to clap loudly for her classmates

5   What is the main reason Lily wrote this text?

     (A) to teach teenagers how to play the keyboard and drums

     (B) to explain why she prefers playing famous songs on stage

     (C) to describe her experience of creating and performing her songs

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The Teenager Who Lives to Draw Cartoons

Fifteen-year-old Maya has a very special hobby. While her friends enjoy playing basketball or watching television after school, Maya prefers a quiet activity. For her last birthday, her parents gave her a beautiful large sketchbook. Since that day, she spends all her free time drawing funny cartoon characters.

Maya usually sits at the desk in her bedroom to draw. She doesn’t use normal pencils. Instead, she creates her pictures with expensive colourful markers. Sometimes, it takes her three or four hours to finish just one page. She draws animals with big eyes and people with crazy hair. It is hard work, but she finds it extremely relaxing.

Last month, Maya’s art teacher saw her beautiful sketchbook. He was very impressed. He asked Maya to design a large poster for the school play. At first, Maya felt quite nervous because everyone in the school would see her art. However, she worked all weekend and produced a fantastic picture.

When the teachers put the poster on the wall, the other students loved it. They asked Maya to draw characters for them, too. Now, Maya feels incredibly proud of her talent. When she finishes high school, she hopes to go to an art college. She wants to become a professional artist and make her own comic books.

1   How does Maya like to spend her time after school?

     (A) Creating amusing pictures in a big book.

     (B) Playing basketball with her friends.

     (C) Watching television in her bedroom.

2   What does Maya use to create her pictures?

     (A) Normal pencils at the desk in her bedroom.

     (B) Brightly coloured pens that are quite pricey.

     (C) Animals with big eyes and people with crazy hair.

3   How did Maya feel when her teacher asked for a poster?

     (A) She was very impressed by the beautiful sketchbook.

     (B) She worked all weekend to produce a fantastic picture.

     (C) She was anxious because the whole school would look at it.

4   What does Maya hope to do in the future?

     (A) To get a job as an artist and create comics.

     (B) To put the poster on the wall for the students.

     (C) To finish high school and feel incredibly proud.

5   What is the best title for the article?

     (A) Playing basketball or watching television

     (B) A schoolgirl’s passion for drawing characters

     (C) How to use expensive colourful markers

Exercises:   12345