Practice English Reading Exercises for A2 – Family Relationships & Relatives
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A Letter to Aunt Sarah
Dear Aunt Sarah,
How are you doing in Australia? We all miss you very much here in London. I am writing to tell you what is happening with our family, because everyone is doing different things and we are very busy right now.
First, my older brother, Tom, is not living at home with us anymore. He started university last month! He is studying engineering and he has a small flat near his classes. He loves his new place and his new friends, but he often calls us on Sundays because he misses our mum’s delicious dinners.
Our parents are doing well, too. Dad just got a new job at a large bank in the city centre. Because it is far away, he had to buy a new car so he could drive to his office every morning. Mum is spending her free time changing the house. She is currently painting the kitchen walls a bright green colour. It looks really nice!
As for me, I have a new hobby. I joined the school basketball team two weeks ago! We practise every Wednesday afternoon, and we have a big match next weekend. I really hope we win. Please come and visit us next summer so you can watch me play! We really want to see you soon.
Love, Mia
1 Why is Mia writing the letter to her aunt?
(A) To share the latest information about her relatives.
(B) To ask what is happening with our family right now.
(C) To say that she misses her friends here in London.
2 What is Tom unhappy about?
(A) He does not like having a small flat near his classes.
(B) He wishes he could eat the meals his mother makes.
(C) He is tired of studying engineering at the university.
3 What did Mia’s dad do recently?
(A) He purchased a vehicle for his daily journey to work.
(B) He started spending his free time changing the house.
(C) He began painting the kitchen walls a bright green colour.
4 What do we learn about Mia in the last paragraph?
(A) She is going to visit Australia next summer.
(B) She started a new hobby every Wednesday afternoon.
(C) She is preparing for an important sports game soon.
5 What is the best title for the letter?
(A) Tom’s First Year at University
(B) Updates and News from Our Family
(C) How to Play on a Basketball Team
ANSWER KEY
1 A 2 B 3 A 4 C 5 B
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Teaching My Parents to Video Call
My name is Leo, and I am fifteen years old. Last month, my older sister, Mia, moved to Spain to study at university. My parents missed her a lot and wanted to see her face, not just talk on the phone. So, I decided to teach them how to use a new video calling app called ‘ChatTime’.
The first lesson was quite difficult. My dad didn’t understand the buttons and he kept turning off the camera by mistake. He thought the screen was broken! My mom had a different problem. She thought Mia couldn’t hear her, so she always shouted loudly into the phone. I had to tell her to speak normally.
After a few days, I had a good idea. I wrote down some simple instructions on a piece of paper for them. Then, we practised. My parents sat at the kitchen table with their phone, and I went to my bedroom with my tablet. They followed my notes and called me. This time, everything was fine!
On Sunday, my parents finally called Mia in Spain. They talked for an hour and there were no mistakes. My mom didn’t shout and my dad kept the camera on. Now, they use the app to call her every weekend. I am very happy that I could help them.
1 Why did Leo decide to teach his parents about the new app?
(A) They wished to look at their daughter while speaking.
(B) They just wanted to talk on the phone.
(C) He moved to Spain to study at university.
2 What was the problem with Leo’s mother?
(A) She kept turning off the camera by mistake.
(B) She thought the screen was broken.
(C) She talked too noisily during the video calls.
3 How did Leo and his parents practise using the app?
(A) He made some written notes for them to read.
(B) He sat at the kitchen table with his tablet.
(C) He went to his bedroom with their phone.
4 What happened during the call on Sunday?
(A) The parents had a conversation without making errors.
(B) Leo’s mom shouted into the phone for an hour.
(C) Leo’s dad turned the camera off by mistake.
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) Mia’s new life at university in Spain
(B) A successful technology lesson
(C) How to fix a broken tablet screen
ANSWER KEY
1 A 2 C 3 A 4 A 5 B
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
When Emma Went Away
My name is Toby, and I am fourteen years old. I have always been very close to my older sister, Emma. We love playing video games and watching funny movies together at the weekend. Last month, Emma got a letter from a university in London. She was going to study there. I was really pleased for her, but I also felt quite sad.
The day Emma left, our house was very busy. Mum and Dad put all Emma’s heavy bags into the car. They drove her to London, but I stayed at home because I had school the next morning. When they drove away, the house suddenly felt completely empty. I could not hear Emma’s loud music or her talking on the phone.
The first week without her was really difficult. Emma usually helped me with my maths homework, but I had to do it by myself. I tried to play my favourite video game in the evening, but it was just boring without my sister.
Then, on Saturday morning, my computer rang. It was a video call from Emma! She showed me her new bedroom and introduced me to her university friends. She looked very happy. We talked for an hour and decided to play our video games online every Sunday afternoon. I smiled because I knew that even though she was far away, we were still best friends.
1 How did Toby feel about his sister’s news?
(A) He was glad but also a bit unhappy.
(B) He wanted to go to a university in London.
(C) He decided to stop watching funny movies.
2 Why didn’t Toby travel with his parents?
(A) He had to put all the heavy bags into the car.
(B) He needed to attend his classes the following day.
(C) He wanted to listen to his sister’s loud music.
3 During the first week, Toby
(A) helped Emma with her maths homework.
(B) played his favourite video game with his sister.
(C) finished his school tasks without any assistance.
4 What happened on Saturday morning?
(A) He travelled to London to meet her university friends.
(B) He saw his sister’s room through a computer screen.
(C) He played video games online with Emma.
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) A difficult change but a happy ending
(B) The best video games to play online
(C) How to get into a university in London
ANSWER KEY
1 A 2 B 3 C 4 B 5 A