Practice English Reading Exercises for A2 – School Subjects & Classroom Activities

Exercises:   12345

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

A Portrait of a Best Friend

Leo loves art. Last week, his teacher, Mr. Green, gave the class a new project. They had to paint a picture of someone they know well. Leo decided to paint his best friend, Toby. Toby was very happy about this, but he was a bit worried because he finds it difficult to sit in one place for a long time.

On Tuesday, they started the project. Leo looked carefully at Toby’s face. First, he drew the eyes and nose with a pencil. Then, he started using paint. Toby tried to help by giving Leo the different colours, but he kept moving his head to look at the other students’ pictures. “Please don’t move, Toby!” Leo said.

After an hour, Leo had a problem. He wanted to paint Toby’s brown hair, but the colour on the paper looked too dark. It looked black! Leo felt sad and wanted to throw the paper in the bin. His teacher saw him and said, “Don’t worry, Leo. Just add a little yellow and white.” Leo tried this, and the hair looked great.

Finally, the painting was ready. Leo was nervous when he showed it to his friend. Toby looked at the picture for a minute. “Wow! The nose is a bit big, but the smile is exactly like mine!” he laughed. Leo got a very good mark from Mr. Green, and Toby put the portrait on his bedroom wall.

1   Why was Toby worried about the art project?

     (A) He isn’t very good at staying still.

     (B) He had to paint a picture of Leo.

     (C) He needed to find someone he knows well.

2   What did Toby do while Leo was painting?

     (A) He drew the eyes and nose with a pencil.

     (B) He watched what his classmates were doing.

     (C) He used the different colours on the painting.

3   How did Mr. Green help Leo?

     (A) He told Leo to throw the paper in the bin.

     (B) He explained how to improve the dark colour.

     (C) He painted Toby’s brown hair black.

4   What did Toby think of the finished painting?

     (A) He felt nervous when he looked at the picture.

     (B) He thought the nose was exactly like his.

     (C) He was pleased with how his mouth looked.

5   What is the best title for the story?

     (A) Toby’s difficult painting project

     (B) How to get a good mark in art

     (C) A special picture of a best friend

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

Trying a New Sport

Mark is a 15-year-old high school student. He usually loves his physical education classes, but he only ever plays football. Yesterday, his PE teacher, Mr. Harris, said: ‘Today, we are going to learn a completely new sport: volleyball.’ Mark felt a bit worried because he had never played it before.

The lesson started with some practice. First, Mr. Harris showed everyone how to hit the ball. Mark tried to do it, but the ball hit him on the head! His friends laughed, but Mark wasn’t angry. He just tried again. After a few minutes, he learned to use his hands correctly to push the ball high over the net.

Next, the teacher divided the students into teams to play a real game. Mark was on a team with three girls and two other boys. The game was fast and exciting. Mark ran everywhere and jumped high to hit the ball. In the last minute of the lesson, Mark won the game for his group. Everyone shouted his name.

At the end of the class, Mark was very tired but really happy. He still thinks football is great, but now he knows volleyball is a fantastic sport too. He is going to join the school volleyball club next term so he can play every week.

1   How did Mark feel about the volleyball lesson at first?

     (A) He was a little afraid of trying it.

     (B) He was sad because he only plays football.

     (C) He loved his physical education classes.

2   What happened when Mark first tried to hit the ball?

     (A) He made a mistake that was funny.

     (B) He was angry because his friends laughed.

     (C) He pushed the ball high over the net.

3   During the volleyball game, Mark

     (A) got the final point for his team.

     (B) played on a team with two girls.

     (C) shouted his name in the last minute.

4   What is Mark planning to do in the future?

     (A) He wants to play volleyball regularly.

     (B) He wants to stop playing football.

     (C) He is going to start a volleyball club next term.

5   What is the best title for the article?

     (A) How to be the best football player

     (B) A great first volleyball lesson

     (C) A difficult physical education test

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

A Better Way to Learn

Mateo is fifteen years old and he loves studying English at his secondary school in Madrid. He is very good at reading and he always gets high marks in grammar tests. However, he usually feels terrible when he has to speak in front of others. He worries a lot that he will say the wrong words.

Last Thursday, his English teacher, Mr. Clark, gave the class a special speaking activity. He asked everyone to work with a partner and talk about their plans for the upcoming weekend. Mr. Clark put Mateo with a new student named Clara. Mateo felt very nervous because he didn’t know her at all.

When they started the activity, Clara tried to ask a question but she made a funny grammar mistake. She just smiled and laughed at her own mistake. Suddenly, Mateo felt much better and relaxed. He answered her question and then asked her about her hobbies. They talked a lot and found out that they both play basketball on Saturday mornings.

When the lesson finished, Mateo felt really proud of himself. He spoke in English for ten minutes without stopping! He knows he still makes mistakes, but he isn’t afraid of speaking anymore. He is actually looking forward to the next speaking class and practicing with his new friend.

1   What is Mateo’s main problem in his language class?

     (A) He is frightened of being incorrect when talking.

     (B) He is not very good at reading.

     (C) He gets terrible marks in his grammar tests.

2   Why was Mateo unhappy about the activity at first?

     (A) He was working with someone unfamiliar.

     (B) He had to talk about the upcoming weekend.

     (C) He did not want a special speaking activity.

3   What made Mateo feel more relaxed during the conversation?

     (A) Clara didn’t mind saying something incorrectly.

     (B) Clara answered her question.

     (C) Clara found out they both play basketball.

4   How does Mateo feel about his English now?

     (A) He feels more positive about talking in class.

     (B) He is afraid of speaking without stopping.

     (C) He is looking forward to making mistakes.

5   What is the best title for the article?

     (A) Finding confidence to speak

     (B) The top student in grammar

     (C) How to play basketball on Saturdays

Exercises:   12345