Practice English Reading Exercises for A2 – Culinary Arts & Food Industry

Exercises:   12345

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The Teenage Food Critic

Seventeen-year-old Carlos loves eating, but he doesn’t just eat for fun. He wants to be a professional food critic one day. Most of his classmates prefer sweet desserts like chocolate cake or ice cream. However, Carlos has a different favourite. He absolutely loves spicy dishes and always adds extra chillies to his meals.

Because he is a student, Carlos doesn’t have much money to visit expensive restaurants. Instead, he goes to local buffets in his town. Buffets are great because you pay one price and can try many different things. Carlos always looks for the hottest food. He takes careful notes and photos with his phone, and then he writes his opinions on his food blog.

Last Sunday, Carlos visited a new Asian buffet near his home. The owner saw Carlos taking photos and brought him a special bowl of noodles. The owner said it was the spiciest dish in the kitchen. Carlos’s eyes watered while he ate it, but he finished every bit. He gave the meal five stars online.

Carlos is going to study journalism at university next year. He hopes this will help him write even better articles. Now, many people in his town read his blog before they go out for dinner. Carlos is proud that his hobby is helping others find exciting places to eat.

1   What do we learn about Carlos in the first paragraph?

     (A) He enjoys eating food that is very hot.

     (B) He prefers sweet desserts.

     (C) He eats lots of chocolate cake.

2   Why does Carlos choose to visit local buffets?

     (A) He wants to visit expensive restaurants.

     (B) He does not need to spend a lot of money.

     (C) He gets paid to take careful notes.

3   When Carlos went to a new buffet last Sunday,

     (A) he brought the owner a special bowl of noodles.

     (B) he cooked the spiciest dish in the kitchen.

     (C) he successfully ate a very difficult meal.

4   What is Carlos planning to do next year?

     (A) Learn about writing at university.

     (B) Go out for dinner with many people.

     (C) Find exciting places to eat.

5   What is the best title for this article?

     (A) How to cook the spiciest dish

     (B) The teenager who reviews hot meals

     (C) The most expensive restaurants in town

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

Sam’s Culinary Dream

Sixteen-year-old Sam loves being in the kitchen. During the week, he is a normal high school student, but on Saturday mornings, he does not play football with his classmates. Instead, he takes special cooking classes in his town. Sam’s biggest dream is to study at a famous culinary college when he finishes school.

In his weekend classes, Sam learns how to prepare many different meals. His teacher, Mrs. Clark, worked in a big restaurant for many years. She shows the young students how to make hot soups, fresh salads, and sweet desserts. Sam finds the lessons quite difficult because he has to work very fast, but he really enjoys them.

Last weekend, the students had a cooking competition. They had two hours to make a main meal. Sam decided to cook a chicken and mushroom pasta dish. He was a bit nervous, but he remembered everything Mrs. Clark taught him. He won first prize, and he took the delicious food home for his parents to eat.

Next year, Sam is going to apply to a famous food college in London. To prepare for this, he wants to find a summer job as a kitchen assistant in a local café. He knows he needs more practice, but he is excited to become a real chef one day.

1   What does Sam do on Saturday mornings?

     (A) He plays football with his classmates.

     (B) He attends a course to learn about food.

     (C) He studies at a famous culinary college.

2   How does Sam feel about Mrs. Clark’s classes?

     (A) They are hard but he has fun doing them.

     (B) They are useful for working in a big restaurant.

     (C) They are difficult because of the hot soups.

3   What did Sam do last weekend?

     (A) He cooked a delicious meal with his parents.

     (B) He helped the students make a pasta dish.

     (C) He prepared a winning dish for a contest.

4   Why does Sam want to work in a café next summer?

     (A) to get more experience before he applies to college

     (B) to travel to a famous food college in London

     (C) to work as a real chef for the first time

5   What is the best title for the article?

     (A) A teenager’s journey to prepare for his perfect career

     (B) How to win a weekend cooking competition

     (C) The best culinary colleges to study at in London

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

Oliver’s Cozy Cafe Dream

Oliver is fifteen years old and he loves spending his free time in the kitchen. While his friends play football or watch videos, Oliver bakes delicious cakes and biscuits. His family always enjoys eating his sweet food at the weekend. Oliver’s biggest dream is to open a cozy cafe one day.

To learn about the business, Oliver works at his uncle’s coffee shop every Saturday morning. He doesn’t cook the food there. Instead, he cleans the tables and prepares hot drinks. He pays attention to how his uncle talks to the customers. Oliver knows that making people feel welcome is just as important as serving amazing coffee.

Last month, the coffee shop had a big problem. The chef was ill and couldn’t come to work. Oliver’s uncle was worried, but Oliver quickly offered to help. He baked his favourite chocolate cake and some fresh fruit biscuits. By the afternoon, there was no cake left! The customers loved everything he made and asked for more.

Now, Oliver feels more certain about his future. He is putting the money he earns into a bank account. Next year, he plans to take a special business course at college. He knows it will be hard work, but he hopes to open his own cafe very soon.

1   What does Oliver enjoy doing when he is not at school?

     (A) Preparing sweet things to eat.

     (B) Playing football.

     (C) Watching videos.

2   What is Oliver’s job at the coffee shop?

     (A) He cooks the food there.

     (B) He washes the tables and makes hot beverages.

     (C) He talks to the customers.

3   How did Oliver help his uncle last month?

     (A) He was ill and couldn’t come to work.

     (B) He made desserts for the coffee shop.

     (C) He asked for more chocolate cake.

4   What is Oliver planning to do next year?

     (A) Put the money he earns into a bank account.

     (B) Open his own cafe very soon.

     (C) Study about business at college.

5   What is the best title for the article?

     (A) A teenager’s plan for a future cafe

     (B) How to bake a chocolate cake

     (C) Working hard to prepare hot drinks

Exercises:   12345