Practice English Reading Exercises for A2 – Software Development & App Design

Exercises:   12345

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

Saving Up for a Dream

Fifteen-year-old Mark loves technology. He spends most of his free time creating simple games on his parents’ old laptop. However, this computer is very slow and often stops working. To make better software, Mark needs to buy a fast and powerful new computer, but these cost a lot of money.

Mark decided to find a part-time job to pay for it. His uncle owns a busy café in the town centre, so Mark started washing dishes there every Saturday and Sunday. While his friends were at the cinema or buying new clothes, Mark was working hard. He kept all his money in a box in his bedroom.

After six months, Mark checked his box. He almost had the total amount he needed. Then, he found a fantastic computer on the internet that was much cheaper than the ones in the local shops. Because his birthday was in two weeks, his parents gave him the extra money to finally buy it.

Now, Mark has the new machine on his desk and he is building a brilliant mobile app. He thinks learning to write complex code is quite difficult, but his new computer makes everything so much faster. He hopes people around the world will download his game next year.

1   Why does Mark want a new computer?

     (A) He wants to play simple games on it.

     (B) He wants to develop more advanced programs.

     (C) He needs to fix a computer that stops working.

2   How did Mark earn his cash?

     (A) by spending the weekend at the cinema

     (B) by cleaning plates in his uncle’s business

     (C) by buying new clothes for his friends

3   How was Mark able to get his new computer?

     (A) His family gave him the rest of the cash he needed.

     (B) He paid for it using the total amount in his box.

     (C) He bought a cheaper one from the local shops.

4   How does Mark feel about making his new mobile app?

     (A) His new computer makes everything quite difficult.

     (B) He is sure everyone will download his game next year.

     (C) It is not an easy task to do.

5   What is the best title for the article?

     (A) The best ways to write complex code

     (B) A teenager’s hard work to buy a machine

     (C) How to find cheap computers on the internet

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

Coding for the Future

Sixteen-year-old Sam has always loved computers. While his classmates enjoy playing video games, Sam prefers writing computer programs. His biggest dream is to work for a famous technology company when he is older. Last month, he decided to enter a national coding competition because he wanted future bosses to see what he could do.

Sam spent every weekend preparing for the big day. Instead of going to the park to play football with his friends, he stayed in his bedroom to write code. He chose to build a special mobile app to help students organise their daily homework. It was hard work, but he finally finished it.

On the day of the competition, Sam travelled to a large hotel in the city centre. There were more than a hundred other teenagers there. When Sam saw their amazing projects, he suddenly felt very nervous. However, when it was his turn to show his app to the judges, he spoke clearly and answered all their difficult questions.

In the end, Sam didn’t win the first prize, but he got third place. After the competition, a manager from a top software company came to speak to him. The manager gave Sam his business card and told him to call when he finishes school. Sam felt incredibly happy because he got exactly what he wanted.

1   Why did Sam decide to enter the coding competition?

     (A) to play video games with his classmates

     (B) to show his skills to future managers

     (C) to work for a famous technology company immediately

2   How did Sam prepare for the big day?

     (A) He created a helpful program for school children.

     (B) He went to the park to play football.

     (C) He asked his friends to organise his daily homework.

3   How did Sam feel when he saw the other teenagers’ projects?

     (A) He wanted to ask the judges difficult questions.

     (B) He was worried because their work looked very good.

     (C) He felt happy to be in a large hotel in the city centre.

4   What was the result of the competition for Sam?

     (A) He won the first prize for his mobile app.

     (B) He immediately got a job at a top software company.

     (C) A businessman offered him a possible job in the future.

5   What is the best title for the article?

     (A) The teenager who won first prize

     (B) A teenager’s plan for his career

     (C) How to build a mobile app for homework

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

Tom’s Big Technology Dream

Seventeen-year-old Tom is not like most teenagers. While his friends spend their free time playing sports or watching films, Tom sits at his computer. He learned to write code when he was fourteen. Now, his biggest dream is to start his own software business before his twentieth birthday.

Last year, Tom created a special app for his school. It helps students to remember their homework and plan their study time. The teachers thought it was an excellent idea. Today, almost everyone in the school uses the app. Because of this success, Tom feels very confident about his future in technology.

At the moment, Tom is preparing for his final school exams. This is a difficult time because his parents think he should only focus on his school subjects. However, Tom wakes up at six o’clock every morning to work on a new business app before his classes begin. He always finishes his school work first, so he balances everything well.

To start his company, Tom needs a much faster computer. Because of this, he works in a local café every Saturday to earn money. He hopes to open his software business next year, when he is eighteen. Tom knows it won’t be easy, but he is ready to work hard.

1   What is Tom’s main goal for the future?

     (A) To learn to write code when he is twenty.

     (B) To have his own tech company while he is still a teenager.

     (C) To spend his free time playing sports.

2   What happened with the app Tom made for his school?

     (A) A large number of pupils use it regularly.

     (B) The teachers use it to plan their study time.

     (C) He created it to remember his own homework.

3   How do Tom’s parents feel at the moment?

     (A) They want him to wake up at six o’clock every morning.

     (B) They want him to work on a new business app.

     (C) They would prefer him to spend all his time studying.

4   Why does Tom have a weekend job?

     (A) Because he wants to open a local café next year.

     (B) He is saving cash to buy better equipment.

     (C) Because he wants to be eighteen to start his company.

5   What is the best title for the article?

     (A) How to make a school app

     (B) A teenager’s big plans for the future

     (C) Working in a local café

Exercises:   12345