Practice English Reading Exercises for A2 – Unusual Pets & Exotic Animals
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Wild Animals Belong in Nature
Fifteen-year-old Tom loves learning about nature. Last week, his science teacher gave the class some interesting homework. They had to write a long essay about animals. Most of Tom’s friends decided to write about farm animals or zoo animals. However, Tom chose to write about wild pets. He got this idea after he watched a video of a family with a pet monkey.
At the weekend, Tom spent three hours doing research on the internet. He learned a lot of new things. For example, he found out that wild animals like monkeys and snakes are very different from cats or dogs. Normal pets are happy to live in a house, but wild animals need a lot of space and special food.
In his essay, Tom also explained the dangers of keeping wild animals. He wrote that some baby animals look extremely cute, so people buy them. But when these animals grow big, they can easily hurt their owners. Because of this, many people become afraid of their pets and have to give them to a zoo.
On Monday morning, Tom gave his homework to his teacher. His teacher was very pleased with his hard work. Now, Tom hopes to put his essay in the school magazine. He wants to teach other teenagers that beautiful wild animals belong in the forest, not in our bedrooms!
1 Why did Tom choose his essay topic?
(A) His friends decided to write about farm animals.
(B) He saw a short film about some people keeping a monkey.
(C) His science teacher told him to write about wild pets.
2 What did Tom find out from the internet?
(A) Normal pets need a lot of space and special food.
(B) Monkeys and snakes are completely happy to live in a house.
(C) Creatures from the wild require different things than usual pets.
3 What happens when wild pets get older?
(A) They might injure the people who look after them.
(B) They look extremely cute, so people buy them.
(C) They become afraid of their pets and give them to a zoo.
4 What does Tom want to do next?
(A) share his written work with the other students
(B) give his homework to his teacher on Monday morning
(C) keep beautiful wild animals in his bedroom
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) How to take care of pet monkeys and snakes
(B) A student’s project on why wild animals aren’t good pets
(C) Tom’s wonderful trip to see animals in the forest
ANSWER KEY
1 B 2 C 3 A 4 A 5 B
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The Best Little Friends in the World
My name is Alex and I am thirteen years old. Most of my school friends have big pets like dogs or cats. They always talk about taking them for long walks or playing in the park. But I live in a small flat without a garden, so I wanted something different. Last year, I bought two little pet mice.
My mice are called Pip and Squeak. They are very small, white animals with long pink tails. Some people are afraid of mice, but I think they are beautiful. They are also very clever. They don’t need a lot of space, which is perfect for my bedroom, and they are always very clean.
The best part about having pet mice is watching them. I have a large glass cage for them. Every weekend, I put empty toilet paper rolls and small cardboard boxes inside. Pip and Squeak love exploring. They run very fast through the little tunnels and climb on top of the boxes. It is much better than watching television!
Taking care of them is quite easy. I just have to give them special food and fresh water every day, and I clean their home once a week. My little mice are wonderful pets. Next month, I am going to buy some small wooden toys and try to teach them some fun new tricks.
1 Why did Alex decide to get mice?
(A) His home was not suitable for a larger animal.
(B) He wanted to take them for long walks.
(C) Most of his school friends have big pets.
2 What does Alex say about Pip and Squeak?
(A) They are intelligent and tidy creatures.
(B) Some people are afraid of mice.
(C) They need a lot of space in his bedroom.
3 What does Alex enjoy doing most with his pets?
(A) seeing them run and play in their home
(B) putting empty toilet paper rolls inside
(C) watching television every weekend
4 What is Alex’s plan for the future?
(A) He wants to show the animals how to do clever things.
(B) He has to give them special food and fresh water.
(C) He is going to clean their home once a week.
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) Why tiny pets are perfect for me
(B) How to build a large glass cage
(C) The best dogs and cats in the park
ANSWER KEY
1 A 2 A 3 A 4 A 5 A
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The Pet of Many Colours
Thirteen-year-old Toby has a very unusual pet. While most of his friends at school keep dogs, cats, or fish, Toby has a small chameleon named Ziggy. Toby’s parents bought Ziggy for his birthday last month. Toby absolutely loves his new pet because Ziggy is completely different from any other animal he knows.
Before he got Ziggy, Toby thought that chameleons only changed colour to hide in the trees and stay safe. However, after reading a book about them, he learned something amazing. Ziggy actually changes colour to show how he is feeling! This means Toby can always understand his pet’s mood just by looking at him.
For example, when Ziggy is relaxed and happy, his body is usually a beautiful, bright green. This happens a lot when Toby feeds him his favourite insects in the morning. But if Ziggy feels angry or afraid, his skin quickly becomes very dark. One afternoon, a loud noise from a car outside frightened Ziggy, and he turned almost black!
Toby’s classmates didn’t believe his stories at first. They told him it was impossible. Because of this, Toby took some fantastic photos of Ziggy in different colours to show them. Now, everyone at school wants to come to Toby’s house to see the amazing reptile. Toby is very proud and thinks Ziggy is the best pet in the world.
1 How did Toby get his pet chameleon?
(A) His friends at school gave it to him.
(B) It was a present from his family.
(C) He bought it himself last month.
2 What did Toby discover about chameleons?
(A) They only change colour to hide in the trees.
(B) They change their skin colour to stay safe.
(C) Their colours show their emotions.
3 Why did Ziggy turn almost black one afternoon?
(A) He was scared of a sound in the street.
(B) Toby forgot to feed him his favourite insects.
(C) He felt very relaxed and happy.
4 Why did Toby take photos of Ziggy?
(A) because everyone at school wanted to visit his house
(B) to make the other students believe him
(C) to show that Ziggy is the best pet in the world
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) How to find a pet chameleon in the trees
(B) The fascinating pet that shows its feelings
(C) Why dogs and cats are the best pets
ANSWER KEY
1 B 2 C 3 A 4 B 5 B