Practice English Reading Exercises for A2 – Clubs & Extracurricular Activities

Exercises:   12345

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

Harry’s New Chess Club

Fourteen-year-old Harry learned to play chess during the summer holidays. He played every day with his grandad and began to love the game. When he went back to school in September, he wanted to join a chess club. However, he checked the school website and found out that there wasn’t one. Harry felt quite disappointed.

Harry decided to talk to his maths teacher, Mr. Clark, about it. Mr. Clark thought a chess club was a brilliant idea. He told Harry he could start one himself and offered him a classroom to use every Thursday afternoon. Harry spent the weekend making colourful posters to put on the school walls.

On the first Thursday, Harry waited in the classroom. After ten minutes, nobody was there. He worried that his posters weren’t very good and almost went home. But suddenly, six students walked through the doors! Two of them even brought their own chess boards. Harry was so pleased.

The chess club is now the most popular group at school. They meet every week to practise and learn new moves. Next month, they are going to play a match against a different high school. Harry is really glad he started the club because he has met lots of new people who share his favourite hobby.

1   Why was Harry unhappy in September?

     (A) He couldn’t find a group for his favourite game at school.

     (B) He couldn’t play every day with his grandad anymore.

     (C) He could not check the school website to find out.

2   How did Mr. Clark help Harry?

     (A) He gave him a space to run his new club.

     (B) He made some colourful posters for the school walls.

     (C) He started a chess club himself on Thursday afternoon.

3   What happened on the first day of the club?

     (A) Harry thought that no one was going to arrive.

     (B) Harry went home after ten minutes.

     (C) Harry brought his own chess board.

4   What is the chess club planning to do next month?

     (A) Have a competition with students from another school.

     (B) Meet every week to practise together.

     (C) Learn some new moves during their meetings.

5   What is the best title for the article?

     (A) Starting a successful school club

     (B) How to win a chess match

     (C) The brilliant maths teacher

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

Finding the Courage to Sing

Meet Lucas. He is a 14-year-old student who loves music. He listens to pop songs every day and plays the guitar at home. However, Lucas has a secret. He really enjoys singing, but he is extremely shy. He only ever sings in his bedroom when nobody else is in the house.

One morning, his music teacher, Mrs. Evans, put a poster on the classroom wall. It was about the school choir. ‘We need new singers for the summer concert,’ she told the students. ‘Everyone is welcome.’ Lucas read the poster and felt excited, but he was too afraid to write his name on the list.

At lunchtime, his best friend, Maya, saw him looking at the poster again. ‘You should join,’ she said. ‘You have a beautiful voice.’ Lucas wasn’t sure, but Maya promised to go with him to the first practice. With his friend’s help, Lucas finally decided to try it.

During the first practice, Lucas was nervous. His hands were shaking. But when all the students started singing together, he forgot his fears. His voice was loud and clear, and he felt wonderful. Mrs. Evans smiled at him. Now, Lucas is not shy anymore, and he can’t wait for the summer concert next month!

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

     (A) He plays his guitar every day at school.

     (B) He only sings when no one else is at home.

     (C) He enjoys singing pop songs with his family.

2   When Lucas saw the poster for the school choir, he

     (A) wrote his name on the list immediately.

     (B) felt interested but was too scared to join.

     (C) asked the other students to sing in the summer concert.

3   Maya helped Lucas by

     (A) telling the teacher about his beautiful voice.

     (B) reading the poster to him at lunchtime.

     (C) saying she would go to the meeting with him.

4   During the first practice, Lucas

     (A) couldn’t sing because his hands were shaking.

     (B) stopped feeling afraid when everyone sang together.

     (C) smiled because his voice was louder than Mrs. Evans.

5   What is the best title for the article?

     (A) A boy who overcame his fear

     (B) How to be a famous singer

     (C) The best summer concert

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

Practicing for the Pitch

Jamie is fourteen years old and his biggest dream is to play for his school football team, the Lions. Last year, he tried to join the team, but the sports teacher said he wasn’t fast enough. Jamie felt sad, but he decided to work harder this year.

Every afternoon, when school finishes, Jamie walks straight to the local park. He doesn’t play video games or watch television with his classmates. Instead, he runs around the large trees to get faster. He also practices kicking his football against a high brick wall. Even when it is raining heavily, Jamie never stays inside.

After three weeks of doing this, Jamie felt completely exhausted. His legs hurt a lot, and he almost stopped his daily practice. Luckily, his older brother, David, noticed the problem. David is an excellent football player. He bought Jamie some new sports shoes and explained that taking a rest is just as important as running.

Finally, the day of the team test arrived. Jamie felt quite nervous, but he ran much faster than last year and even scored a beautiful goal. The teacher smiled and handed him a red team shirt. Jamie was absolutely delighted. He knows the afternoon practice was difficult, but he is already looking forward to his first real match.

1   Why wasn’t Jamie on the school football team last year?

     (A) He needed to be able to move more quickly.

     (B) He felt sad about the sports teacher.

     (C) He decided to work harder this year.

2   How does Jamie spend his time after school?

     (A) He does exercises outdoors on his own.

     (B) He watches television with his classmates.

     (C) He stays inside when it is raining heavily.

3   What did David do to help Jamie?

     (A) He got him something to wear and gave him advice.

     (B) He almost stopped his daily practice because his legs hurt.

     (C) He noticed the problem with the excellent football player.

4   What happened on the day of the team test?

     (A) Jamie was invited to be a part of the school club.

     (B) Jamie ran much faster last year.

     (C) Jamie smiled and handed him a red team shirt.

5   What is the best title for the article?

     (A) Working hard to achieve a sporting dream

     (B) An excellent football player named David

     (C) Why you should play video games with classmates

Exercises:   12345