Practice English Reading Exercises for A2 – Household Chores & Family Duties
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The Perfect Kitchen Plan
My name is Oliver, and I am fifteen years old. I have a very special hobby. Every weekend, I love making big meals for my parents and my younger sister. Most of my friends play video games in their free time, but I prefer watching cooking videos on the internet and trying new recipes. My family always says my food is delicious!
However, there is one big problem when I am in the kitchen. I really hate cleaning the plates and glasses after we eat. When I finish making a nice dinner, the kitchen is always very dirty. I leave dirty pans and spoons everywhere. My parents always tell me to wash them, but I think it is the most boring job in the world.
Last week, my mother had a great idea to help me. She made a new rule for our family. She said that if I cook a wonderful dinner on Saturday or Sunday, my sister and my parents will clean the kitchen. I only have to make the food. I do not have to touch the dirty dishes at all!
This weekend, I made a fantastic chicken and vegetable pizza. It was my best meal ever. After we finished eating, I went to the living room to relax on the sofa. My sister and my parents stayed in the kitchen to wash the dirty pans. Now, everyone in the house is perfectly happy with this new plan.
1 What does Oliver like doing when he has free time?
(A) He enjoys learning how to make different dishes online.
(B) He plays video games with most of his friends.
(C) He likes making big meals for his friends.
2 What is the problem when Oliver cooks?
(A) He thinks cooking is the most boring job in the world.
(B) He makes a mess and strongly dislikes tidying up.
(C) He washes the plates and glasses after they eat.
3 What is the new rule in Oliver’s house?
(A) His mother has to cook a wonderful dinner on Saturday or Sunday.
(B) Oliver’s relatives will wash up if he prepares the food.
(C) Oliver must touch all the dirty dishes in the kitchen.
4 After dinner this weekend, what did Oliver do?
(A) He rested comfortably in another room.
(B) He stayed in the kitchen to wash the dirty pans.
(C) He made a fantastic chicken and vegetable pizza.
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) The most boring job in the world
(B) How to make chicken and vegetable pizza
(C) A great agreement for a young chef
ANSWER KEY
1 A 2 B 3 B 4 A 5 C
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Teamwork on a Sunday
Meet Tom. He is thirteen years old. For most teenagers, Sunday morning is a time to sleep late. However, in Tom’s family, things are different. Every Sunday, everyone gets up at eight o’clock to clean their large house together. Tom doesn’t think cleaning is a fun hobby, but he understands why they must do it.
The family always follows the same plan. Tom’s father cleans the kitchen and prepares a big meal for later. His mother washes the two bathrooms. Tom has his own special jobs, too. He must tidy his bedroom and use the vacuum cleaner in the living room. He also takes the rubbish outside.
Sometimes, Tom feels quite tired and wants to play online video games with his classmates instead. To make the work easier, his parents always turn on the radio. They listen to loud pop music while they wash and tidy. Tom and his parents often sing and laugh, which actually makes the morning quite enjoyable.
By eleven o’clock, the whole house is perfectly clean and smells fresh. After they finish, the three of them sit at the dining table and enjoy the delicious food his dad cooked. Tom feels very proud when he looks at his tidy room. The best part is that he has the rest of the Sunday free to relax and have fun!
1 What does the writer say about Tom’s family in the first paragraph?
(A) They do housework instead of staying in bed.
(B) They think cleaning is a very fun hobby.
(C) They like to sleep late on Sunday mornings.
2 What is Tom’s job in the house?
(A) He washes the two bathrooms.
(B) He makes his own room and the living room clean.
(C) He prepares a big meal for his parents.
3 How do Tom and his parents make the work more fun?
(A) They play online video games with classmates.
(B) They listen to music and sing together.
(C) They watch loud pop music on television.
4 What do the family do when the cleaning is finished?
(A) They begin cooking some delicious food.
(B) They go out to relax and have fun.
(C) They sit down and have something to eat.
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) A busy Sunday morning routine
(B) The boy who hates the weekend
(C) How to cook a delicious big meal
ANSWER KEY
1 A 2 B 3 B 4 C 5 A
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A Fair Way to Clean
Fourteen-year-old Sam lives with his busy parents, his older brother Tom, and his younger sister Mia. Because his parents work long hours, the children have to help at home. However, Sam was unhappy. He felt that he was always washing the dishes and cleaning the living room, while his siblings just watched television or played games.
Last weekend, Sam decided to change things. He went to the supermarket and bought a large piece of cardboard and some colourful pens. He sat at the kitchen table and made a list of all the household jobs. Then, he wrote everyone’s name next to different tasks. He created a fair schedule for the whole week.
On Sunday evening, Sam showed his new chart to his brother and sister. At first, Tom was quite angry because he hates taking out the rubbish. But Mia was excited. She loved the idea of putting a big red tick next to her name when she finished tidying her bedroom. Finally, they both agreed to try it.
Two weeks later, the new system is working brilliantly. The house is completely tidy, and the siblings never argue about the housework anymore. Their parents are so pleased with the clean house that they are giving the children extra pocket money. Sam feels very proud of his clever idea.
1 Why was Sam unhappy about the situation at home?
(A) He believed that he was doing most of the work.
(B) He wanted to watch television or play games.
(C) His parents had to work long hours.
2 What did Sam do on Saturday?
(A) He bought a kitchen table from the supermarket.
(B) He prepared a clear plan for sharing the chores.
(C) He successfully finished all the household jobs.
3 How did Sam’s siblings react to the chart?
(A) Mia was quite angry because she hates taking out the rubbish.
(B) Tom wanted to put a big red tick next to his name.
(C) They had completely different opinions about it at the beginning.
4 What do we learn about the family after two weeks?
(A) The siblings still argue about the housework.
(B) The mother and father rewarded the teens with cash.
(C) The parents are giving the children a completely tidy house.
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) How to buy colourful pens for your siblings
(B) A teenager’s smart solution for household chores
(C) The easiest jobs to do in the living room
ANSWER KEY
1 A 2 B 3 C 4 B 5 B