Practice English Reading Exercises for A2 – Community Events & Festivals 1
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A Party Outside Our Front Door
My name is Jamie, and I am fifteen years old. I live on a long, quiet road. We have lived here for two years, but we only know the family next door. Last month, my mum decided to organise a street party because she wanted to meet all our neighbours.
Mum asked me to help her with the preparations. First, I designed some colourful invitations on my computer. Then, I walked down the street and put them into everyone’s letterboxes. A few days later, lots of people knocked on our door to say they were coming. They were really excited about the idea!
On the day of the party, we woke up early. Some strong men from the street helped my dad move tables and chairs outside. We completely closed the road so cars couldn’t drive through. Every family cooked a different dish. The food was absolutely delicious, and the weather was warm and sunny all afternoon.
During the party, I chatted with an old man called Mr Harrison. He told me funny stories about his life and taught me some amazing card games. I had a fantastic time. Before the party, I thought it would be boring, but now I really hope we can do it again next summer!
1 Why did Jamie’s mum want to have a street party?
(A) She wanted to get to know the people living nearby.
(B) She preferred to live on a long, quiet road.
(C) She decided to invite only the family next door.
2 How did Jamie help with the event?
(A) He asked other people to help her with the preparations.
(B) He knocked on our door to say they were coming.
(C) He created paper messages and delivered them to homes.
3 What happened on the day of the party?
(A) Vehicles were stopped from entering the area.
(B) Some strong men cooked a different dish.
(C) Cars had to drive through the tables and chairs.
4 What did Jamie do at the street party?
(A) He shared funny stories about his life.
(B) He spent time talking and learning a new activity.
(C) He felt tired because he thought it would be boring.
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) How to design colourful invitations
(B) A brilliant afternoon with the neighbourhood
(C) Teaching amazing card games to an old man
ANSWER KEY
1 A 2 C 3 A 4 B 5 B
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
An Amazing Weekend of Music
Hi everyone! I’m Toby, and last weekend I went to the summer music festival in my town. The festival happens every July, and I usually go with my family just to watch the singers. But this year, I went with my school friends, and we discovered there were lots of amazing activities to do.
In the morning, we visited a special music tent. A teacher showed people how to play different instruments. I decided to try the drums. I hit them loudly, but it was really difficult to keep the rhythm. My friend Lily was fantastic, but that’s because she always practices the piano at home.
By two o’clock, we felt extremely hungry. There were many colourful food stalls everywhere. My friends wanted to get some hot dogs. However, I asked them to buy vegetarian pizza because it looked so delicious. We sat on the grass and ate our meal while a brilliant rock band played on the small stage.
When it got dark, the main concert began. We danced for hours, and my feet hurt a lot! Even though I was exhausted, I didn’t want to go home early. Before leaving, I bought a cool festival T-shirt. It was the best weekend ever, and I definitely want to return next summer.
1 Who did Toby go to the festival with this year?
(A) some people from his class
(B) with his family
(C) the singers
2 What does Toby say about the music tent?
(A) Toby showed people how to play different instruments.
(B) His friend was better at playing an instrument than he was.
(C) A teacher practices the piano at home.
3 What did Toby and his friends eat for lunch?
(A) some hot dogs
(B) a meal on the small stage
(C) a dish without any meat
4 What do we learn about Toby at the end of the evening?
(A) He wanted to go home early.
(B) He left because his feet hurt a lot.
(C) He purchased an item of clothing.
5 What is Toby’s main purpose for writing this blog?
(A) to explain how to play different instruments
(B) to describe a fun experience at a local event
(C) to tell people where to get some hot dogs
ANSWER KEY
1 A 2 B 3 C 4 C 5 B
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The Giant Pumpkin
My name is Sam, and I am fifteen years old. I live on a small farm, and my favourite hobby is growing vegetables. In the spring, I decided to plant a pumpkin seed. I wanted to grow the biggest pumpkin for our town’s annual farming competition in October.
During the summer, my pumpkin grew very quickly. It was always thirsty, so I had to give it a lot of water every morning and evening. My friends often laughed when they saw it. They said it was as big as a small car! But I didn’t listen to them because I knew my hard work was important.
On the day of the competition, we had a big problem. The pumpkin was too heavy to carry! My dad had to ask two neighbours to help us lift it into the back of our truck. When we finally arrived at the town square, there were many other farmers with their vegetables.
In the afternoon, the judges weighed all the pumpkins. Mine was the heaviest one there! I won first prize and got a beautiful blue ribbon. My friends stopped laughing and took lots of photos with me. I am very proud, and I am already planning to grow an even bigger pumpkin next year.
1 Why did Sam plant the pumpkin seed?
(A) He hoped to enter a local event later in the year.
(B) He wanted to start a new vegetable hobby in the spring.
(C) He needed to grow food for his family’s small farm.
2 What did Sam’s friends think about his pumpkin?
(A) They believed it looked like a small car.
(B) They wanted to give it a lot of water.
(C) They thought its size was very funny.
3 How did the pumpkin get into the truck?
(A) Sam and his dad carried it by themselves.
(B) Some people who lived near them helped to move it.
(C) Many other farmers lifted it in the town square.
4 What did Sam’s friends do at the end of the day?
(A) They stopped laughing and gave him a blue ribbon.
(B) They used cameras to get pictures with the winner.
(C) They weighed all the pumpkins in the afternoon.
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) The problem with heavy farm trucks
(B) Growing a winning vegetable
(C) How to water a garden in the summer
ANSWER KEY
1 A 2 C 3 B 4 B 5 B