Practice English Reading Exercises for A2 – Planning, Packing & Preparation
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The Young Holiday Planner
My name is Tom and I am fourteen years old. Usually, when my family goes on holiday, my parents organise everything. But for our trip to Rome last week, I decided to make the daily plan. My mum and dad were very surprised, but they let me do it.
Before the trip, I spent two weeks reading guidebooks and looking at websites. I wrote down a careful timetable. I wanted to include something for everyone. I chose historical buildings for my dad, big clothes shops for my mum, and the best ice cream cafes for my little sister, Lucy.
On the first day, my plan worked perfectly. We visited the famous Colosseum in the morning and had delicious pasta for lunch. However, in the afternoon, it rained heavily. We couldn’t go to the city park for a picnic. I felt really upset, but my dad just laughed and suggested going to an indoor market instead.
We are back home now, and everyone had a fantastic time. I learned that having a timetable is very helpful, but you cannot control the weather. I am already thinking about our next holiday to the beach. Next time, I will definitely plan fewer activities so we can just relax!
1 What was different about the trip to Rome?
(A) Tom arranged the family’s schedule for the holiday.
(B) His parents decided to make the daily plan.
(C) His mum and dad were very surprised to go on holiday.
2 How did Tom prepare for the trip?
(A) He spent two weeks looking at big clothes shops.
(B) He used the internet and books to find places to visit.
(C) He wrote down a careful timetable for his little sister, Lucy.
3 What happened on the first afternoon of the trip?
(A) They visited the famous Colosseum in the rain.
(B) Bad weather ruined their idea to eat in the park.
(C) Tom’s dad felt really upset about going to the market.
4 What did Tom decide at the end of the holiday?
(A) He learned that you cannot control the weather at the beach.
(B) He wants to have less to do on their next trip.
(C) He thinks having a timetable is very helpful to just relax.
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) How to make your parents surprised
(B) A fantastic trip to the beach
(C) The teenage holiday manager
ANSWER KEY
1 A 2 B 3 B 4 B 5 C
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Leo’s French Food Research
Fifteen-year-old Leo is going on a school trip to Paris next month. He is very excited to visit the famous museums and take photos. However, he only has a little pocket money. He knows that food in another country can be very expensive, so he wants to find cheap places to eat.
Instead of asking his parents for more cash, Leo decided to use the internet. On Sunday afternoon, he looked at famous travel websites, but they only showed expensive restaurants. Finally, he found a fantastic food blog. It was written by a French university student who loves eating well for very little money.
Leo read some excellent advice on the blog. He learned about a busy street market that sells fresh bread and amazing cheese. It is much cheaper than eating in a restaurant. He also discovered a tiny pizza cafe near his hotel. If you show a school card there, you get a big discount. Leo quickly wrote all these details in his notebook.
Now, Leo feels completely ready for his holiday. Yesterday, he showed his notes to his classmates. They were extremely happy because they wanted to save money too, and they agreed to visit the market together. Leo is proud of his hard work and cannot wait to try the delicious French food.
1 Why is Leo looking for cheap places to eat?
(A) He is very excited to visit the famous museums.
(B) He doesn’t have a lot of funds for his trip.
(C) He wants to ask his parents for more cash.
2 What helped Leo find good places to eat?
(A) An online diary written by someone who lives there.
(B) The famous travel websites he checked on Sunday.
(C) A phone call with a French university student.
3 What did Leo learn about the pizza cafe?
(A) It sells fresh bread and amazing cheese.
(B) It offers lower prices for people in education.
(C) It is much cheaper than eating in a restaurant.
4 How did Leo’s friends react to his research?
(A) They wanted to show his notes to his classmates.
(B) They decided to try the delicious French food.
(C) They were pleased to discover a way to spend less.
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) How to write a fantastic food blog
(B) A teenager’s smart plan for holiday meals
(C) The most expensive restaurants in Paris
ANSWER KEY
1 B 2 A 3 B 4 C 5 B
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The Perfect Shoes for a Long Walk
Fourteen-year-old Mia was very excited. Next month, she is going on a special school trip to Paris. The students plan to walk around the city for six hours every day to look at famous buildings. Mia’s old trainers were broken, and they always made her feet hurt, so she needed to buy something new.
On Saturday, Mia went to a large sports shop in town with her mother. First, Mia saw some beautiful red boots. She really wanted them, but when she picked them up, they were extremely heavy. Her mother said they were a bad idea for a long walking tour.
Then, a friendly shop assistant brought Mia some grey walking shoes to try. Mia didn’t like the colour at all, and she thought they looked quite ugly. However, when she put them on and walked around the shop, she was surprised. They felt like walking on soft clouds!
Mia decided to buy the grey shoes. When she finally went to Paris, she wore them every day. Her classmates complained about their feet hurting, but Mia felt completely fine. She walked everywhere without any problems. Now she knows that when you are travelling, comfortable feet are much more important than fashionable shoes!
1 Why did Mia need to go shopping for shoes?
(A) Her previous sports shoes were damaged and painful.
(B) She wanted to look at famous buildings.
(C) She walks around the city for six hours every day.
2 What was the problem with the red boots?
(A) They were a bad idea for her mother.
(B) They weighed a lot.
(C) The friendly shop assistant picked them up.
3 What did Mia think of the grey shoes before she put them on?
(A) She felt like she was walking on soft clouds.
(B) She was surprised to walk around the shop.
(C) She thought their appearance was unattractive.
4 What happened during the school trip to Paris?
(A) Mia complained about her feet hurting.
(B) Some of the other students experienced pain.
(C) Mia decided to buy fashionable shoes.
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) How to buy beautiful red boots
(B) A terrible school trip to Paris
(C) Learning to choose the right travel shoes
ANSWER KEY
1 A 2 B 3 C 4 B 5 C