Practice English Reading Exercises for A2 – Working Animals & Therapy Pets
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A Project About Clever Dogs
Fourteen-year-old Ben recently had to do a science project at school. His teacher asked the students to write about amazing animals. Many classmates chose to write about dangerous wild animals like tigers or sharks. However, Ben decided to write about guide dogs after he watched a clever dog helping a man in the town centre.
To learn more, Ben visited a guide dog training school last weekend. A trainer showed him how the young dogs learn to do their job. Ben was surprised to see the puppies practising on fake roads. They learn how to stop at traffic lights and how to safely walk around things on busy streets.
During his visit, Ben spoke to a blind man called David, who has a beautiful guide dog named Buster. David explained that he cannot see the fast cars, but Buster always watches the traffic. David said, “Before I had Buster, I never left my house alone. Now, we go everywhere together.”
Ben finished his project on Sunday and gave it to his teacher. She loved it and gave him the highest mark in the class. Next year, Ben hopes to start helping at the training centre at weekends. He wants to train these fantastic dogs when he finishes school.
1 Why did Ben choose to write about guide dogs?
(A) He saw one working in the middle of the city.
(B) His teacher asked him to write about amazing animals.
(C) He wanted to write about dangerous wild animals.
2 What did Ben find surprising about the puppies?
(A) They learned how to stop traffic lights.
(B) They were doing their lessons on streets that were not real.
(C) They were already walking around things on busy streets safely.
3 What did David say about his life with Buster?
(A) Buster cannot see the fast cars.
(B) He never left his house alone with his dog.
(C) The animal makes it possible for him to travel.
4 What does Ben want to do when his studies are over?
(A) give his project to his teacher
(B) start helping at the training centre at weekends
(C) teach these special animals how to work
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) How to cross busy streets safely
(B) A teenager’s school work on some very helpful pets
(C) The dangerous wild animals in the town centre
ANSWER KEY
1 A 2 B 3 C 4 C 5 B
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The Dogs That Bring Sunshine
My name is Ben and I am fifteen years old. Last Tuesday, I went to the large city hospital with my teacher and two classmates. We were there to learn about the jobs people do in the hospital for a science project at school. I was a bit nervous because I don’t like hospitals very much.
First, a nice nurse showed us the children’s area. There were many young boys and girls in the beds. Some of them were reading books, but most of the children looked very tired and quite sad. They couldn’t go outside to play in the sunshine, and I felt really sorry for them.
Suddenly, a woman walked into the room with two beautiful golden dogs. They were therapy dogs, and they visit the hospital every week. The dogs walked slowly to the beds and carefully put their heads near the children’s hands. Immediately, the sick children stopped looking sad. They started to smile, laugh, and talk to the friendly animals.
It was amazing to see how the dogs changed the room in just a few minutes. The children completely forgot about being ill. When we left the hospital, I felt very happy. Now, I know exactly what I want to do when I am older. I want to buy a dog and train it to help people, too.
1 Why did Ben visit the hospital?
(A) to find out some information for his studies
(B) to do one of the jobs people do there
(C) to see his teacher and two classmates
2 How did most of the young patients seem to feel?
(A) unhappy and without much energy
(B) excited to play in the sunshine
(C) very interested in reading books
3 What happened when the dogs came into the room?
(A) They made the young boys and girls feel much better.
(B) They carefully put their heads on the beds.
(C) They walked slowly behind the woman.
4 What does Ben want to do in the future?
(A) teach an animal to do this kind of work
(B) change the room in just a few minutes
(C) visit the hospital every week when he is older
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) How special dogs can help sick children
(B) A difficult science project at school
(C) The best nurse in the city hospital
ANSWER KEY
1 A 2 A 3 A 4 A 5 A
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The Clever Dogs of the Forest
Fourteen-year-old Toby recently visited a police training center in his town. He went there because he wanted to learn about police dogs and how they can find people who are lost in the forest.
A police officer named Sarah showed Toby around. She explained that the dogs do not start by looking for real people. First, they play simple games with their favorite toys. The trainers hide a ball in the grass, and the dog has to use its nose to find it. When the dog finds the ball, the trainer gives it a nice reward, like a snack or more playtime.
After the dogs are very good at finding toys, they start practicing in the woods. An officer hides behind a large tree or a rock. They always hold a piece of clothing, like an old T-shirt or a sock, that belongs to the hidden person. This helps the dog understand exactly which smell it needs to follow.
Toby watched a clever dog named Max find a hidden officer in just five minutes! Toby was completely surprised. “I always thought these dogs used their eyes to see lost people in the dark,” Toby said. “But their noses do all the hard work. I would love to help train these amazing animals when I am older!”
1 Why did Toby go to the police training center?
(A) to get a new police dog for his town
(B) to learn how dogs search for missing people in the woods
(C) to teach people how to survive in the forest
2 How do the dogs begin their training?
(A) by looking for a real police officer
(B) by eating a nice reward in the grass
(C) by searching for objects they like to play with
3 Why do the trainers use an old T-shirt or sock?
(A) It gives the dogs something to play with.
(B) It teaches the dogs what smell they are looking for.
(C) It keeps the hidden person warm in the woods.
4 What did Toby learn from watching Max?
(A) Dogs use their sense of smell to do the difficult work.
(B) Dogs usually find people by looking in the dark.
(C) Dogs take more than five minutes to find someone.
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) How to hide from a police dog in the forest
(B) Why dogs love playing with their favorite toys
(C) A teenager’s visit to a dog training center
ANSWER KEY
1 B 2 C 3 B 4 A 5 C