Practice English Reading Exercises for A2 – Household Chores & Family Duties
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Looking Smart for School
Fourteen-year-old Leo always wants to look smart for school. Every morning, he wears a white shirt and dark trousers. Usually, his mother irons his school uniform for him. But last month, she started a new full-time job, so she doesn’t have much free time in the evenings anymore. Leo decided he needed to learn how to do it himself.
On Sunday afternoon, Leo took his favourite white shirt and turned on the iron. He wanted to finish quickly, so he made the iron very hot. When he put it on the shirt, it started to smell bad. He almost burned the material! Leo felt worried and stopped immediately. He didn’t want to ruin his uniform.
Just then, his dad walked into the room and smiled. “You have to be careful with that,” his dad said. He showed Leo exactly what to do. First, he told him to read the small label inside the clothes. Then, he explained how to choose the right temperature. He also showed Leo that it is easier to iron the collar of the shirt first.
After that day, Leo practiced a lot. In the beginning, it took him twenty minutes just to do one shirt, but now he is much faster. He irons his uniform every evening before bed. He looks very smart at school, and his mother is very happy with his great new skill.
1 Why did Leo decide to iron his own clothes?
(A) He needs to buy a white shirt and dark trousers.
(B) His mother is too busy to do it now.
(C) He wants to start a new full-time job.
2 What happened when Leo tried to iron his shirt on Sunday?
(A) He used a temperature that was too high.
(B) He finished ironing the material quickly.
(C) He ruined his favourite white shirt.
3 What did Leo’s dad teach him to do first?
(A) Iron the collar of the shirt.
(B) Choose the right temperature.
(C) Check the information on the shirt.
4 What does Leo say about ironing now?
(A) He needs twenty minutes to do one shirt.
(B) He does it every morning before school.
(C) He can do it more quickly than before.
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) How to start a new full-time job
(B) Learning a useful new skill at home
(C) The boy who ruined his school uniform
ANSWER KEY
1 B 2 A 3 C 4 C 5 B
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A Weekend of Hard Work
Fifteen-year-old Mia usually spends her weekends relaxing. Last Friday, her parents travelled to another city to visit her aunt. They left Mia at home alone for the first time. Mia felt very excited. She planned to watch her favourite TV shows and order a large cheese pizza. She thought it was going to be an easy and quiet weekend.
However, on Saturday morning, Mia woke up and looked around. The house was really messy. There were dirty plates in the kitchen sink from Friday’s dinner, and her clothes were on the floor in her bedroom. She knew her parents liked a clean house, so she decided to do some chores before they came back.
First, Mia washed the dishes and dried them carefully. After that, she cleaned the bathroom and vacuumed the large rug in the living room. The housework took her almost four hours! When she finally finished, she sat down on the sofa. Her arms and legs hurt. She was incredibly surprised that keeping a house tidy was such a difficult job.
On Sunday afternoon, her parents arrived home. They walked inside and were amazed because everything looked perfect. Her mother thanked her and gave her a big hug. Mia smiled and told her parents that she wanted to help them with the housework every week. Now, she really understands how hard they work!
1 Why was Mia happy on Friday?
(A) She was going to spend time away from her parents.
(B) She wanted to travel to another city to visit her aunt.
(C) She was leaving her parents at home alone for the first time.
2 What did Mia notice on Saturday morning?
(A) Her parents liked a clean house.
(B) The home was not very tidy.
(C) There was a large cheese pizza in the kitchen sink.
3 How did Mia feel after she finished cleaning?
(A) angry because the housework took her almost four hours
(B) sad because she had to clean the bathroom and vacuum
(C) amazed at how hard it was to do daily chores
4 What happened when Mia’s parents returned?
(A) They asked Mia to help them with the housework every week.
(B) Her mother told her parents she really understands how hard they work.
(C) Mia offered to do tasks around the house more often.
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) How to order a large cheese pizza
(B) An unexpected lesson in housework
(C) A relaxing trip to another city
ANSWER KEY
1 A 2 B 3 C 4 C 5 B
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A Perfect Present for Mum
Fourteen-year-old Jamie lives with his mother. She works long hours as a nurse at the local hospital, so she is usually very tired when she comes home. Tomorrow is her birthday. Jamie doesn’t have enough money to buy her an expensive piece of jewellery or perfume. Instead, he wants to give her a very special surprise. He plans to do all the housework for her.
On Saturday morning, his mother went to the supermarket to buy some food. Jamie didn’t go with her. He stayed in the house and started working immediately. First, he washed all the dirty plates and cups in the kitchen. After that, he tidied the living room and put his young brother’s toys away in the cupboard.
The most difficult job was washing the family’s clothes. Jamie usually hates doing chores, and he didn’t know how to use the washing machine. However, he read the instructions on the box of soap carefully. He put the clothes inside, chose the correct programme, and waited. Soon, everything was clean, and he hung the wet clothes outside in the garden.
When his mother returned home two hours later, she couldn’t believe her eyes. She looked at the beautiful living room and the tidy kitchen. She smiled warmly and gave Jamie a big hug. She told him that a clean house was the best birthday present in the world. Jamie felt incredibly proud of his hard work.
1 Why did Jamie decide to do the housework?
(A) He didn’t have the cash for another kind of present.
(B) He wanted to buy an expensive piece of jewellery.
(C) His mother works long hours doing the housework.
2 What did Jamie do on Saturday morning?
(A) He went to the supermarket to buy some food.
(B) He cleaned the rooms while his mum was out.
(C) He decided to play with his young brother’s toys.
3 What was Jamie’s problem with the laundry?
(A) He had to hang the wet clothes inside the house.
(B) He usually hates reading the instructions carefully.
(C) He didn’t understand how to make the machine work.
4 How did Jamie’s mother react when she came home?
(A) She was extremely pleased with what her son achieved.
(B) She couldn’t believe her eyes because it was very dirty.
(C) She gave Jamie the best birthday present in the world.
5 What is the best title for the text?
(A) Jamie’s difficult morning at the supermarket
(B) A wonderful birthday surprise for a mother
(C) How to use a modern washing machine
ANSWER KEY
1 A 2 B 3 C 4 A 5 B