Practice English Reading Exercises for A2 – Daily Shopping & Supermarkets 5
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The Perfect Green Jacket
My name is Leo and I love fashion. Last Tuesday afternoon, I was walking home from school when I saw an amazing green jacket in a shop window. It was perfect for the winter, but it cost forty pounds. I only had ten pounds in my bag, so I couldn’t buy it immediately.
I went inside the shop and spoke to the friendly assistant, a young woman called Sarah. I explained my problem to her. I told her that my parents always give me my monthly pocket money on Friday mornings. I asked her to keep the clothes for me until then.
At first, Sarah looked unsure. She said that the shop was usually very busy and they never save items for customers. I was very polite and promised to return. I even helped her pick up some sweaters that were on the floor. Finally, she smiled and agreed to hide the green jacket in the back room for three days.
On Friday, my mum gave me my pocket money before breakfast. After school, I ran straight to the clothes shop. Sarah was there, and she gave me the jacket. I paid for it and thanked her. I wore it to my best friend’s birthday party on Saturday, and everyone said it looked fantastic!
1 Why couldn’t Leo get the jacket on Tuesday?
(A) He didn’t have enough cash with him.
(B) He left his ten pounds in his bag.
(C) He had to keep walking home from school.
2 What did Leo explain to Sarah?
(A) He wanted her to give him his monthly pocket money.
(B) He receives his cash at the end of the school week.
(C) He needed to speak to the friendly assistant.
3 Why did Sarah agree to do what Leo asked?
(A) because the shop was usually very busy
(B) because she wanted to hide in the back room for three days
(C) because he was nice to her and assisted with a task
4 What happened on Friday?
(A) Leo purchased the item he really wanted.
(B) Leo gave his mum his pocket money before breakfast.
(C) Leo went to his best friend’s birthday party.
5 What is the main purpose of this text?
(A) to tell a story about getting a special item of clothing
(B) to explain how to get a job in a clothes shop
(C) to describe the best way to save pocket money
ANSWER KEY
1 A 2 B 3 C 4 A 5 A
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Shopping for the Cold
Last month, nineteen-year-old David moved from the sunny south of Spain to a city in the north of England to start university. The weather is already becoming very cold, and it often snows there in January. David quickly understood that he needed some good winter clothes to stay warm.
On Saturday morning, he took the bus to a large shopping centre in the middle of town. He wanted to buy a few warm jumpers and some strong boots. However, the most important thing on his shopping list was a thick winter coat. He spent an hour walking around different stores looking for the perfect one.
Finally, David found a fantastic, heavy black jacket in a famous sports shop. He tried it on, and it looked great. But when he looked at the price tag, he was completely shocked. The coat was almost two hundred pounds! He couldn’t believe how expensive thick coats were. He only had ninety pounds in his wallet, so he had to put it back.
Instead of buying new clothes, David returned to his student house and turned on his laptop. He found a very nice, second-hand winter coat on a website for only fifty pounds. He ordered it immediately. Now, he is ready for the cold weather and he still has money for food!
1 Why did David need to get new clothes?
(A) He is going to visit the sunny south of Spain.
(B) He wanted to protect himself from the low temperatures.
(C) He wanted to play when it often snows there in January.
2 What was David’s main reason for going to the shopping centre?
(A) to get a few warm jumpers
(B) to look for some strong boots
(C) to find a heavy jacket for the cold season
3 How did David feel when he was in the sports shop?
(A) surprised by the high cost of the item
(B) happy to pay almost two hundred pounds
(C) pleased to have ninety pounds in his wallet
4 What did David do in the end?
(A) He decided to buy new clothes.
(B) He purchased a used item on the internet.
(C) He spent all his money for food.
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) The best sports shop in town
(B) A smart way to shop for winter
(C) How to move to a new country
ANSWER KEY
1 B 2 C 3 A 4 B 5 B
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Why Local Food is the Best
My name is Maya, and I am fifteen years old. In the past, my family always bought our food from a large supermarket. It was quick and easy to get everything in one place. However, two months ago, we started visiting the local farmers’ market every Saturday morning, and it changed how I think about food.
The most important difference is the taste. In big supermarkets, fruit and vegetables often travel hundreds of kilometers in trucks. They pick them before they are ready. But at the farmers’ market, the food is completely fresh. The farmers usually pick the tomatoes and apples the same morning they sell them. They are much sweeter!
Also, buying from local farmers is much better for the environment. Because the food doesn’t travel far, there is less pollution. I also really like knowing that our money helps families in our town, not big companies. The farmers are very friendly, and they often give us great advice on how to cook their vegetables.
Of course, supermarkets are open every day, and farmers’ markets are only open on weekends. You also have to carry heavy bags home from the market. But for me, the amazing taste and helping the planet are more important. I think everyone should visit their local market!
1 What do we learn about Maya’s family in the first paragraph?
(A) They recently started buying their food in a new place.
(B) They still buy everything from a large supermarket.
(C) They go to the farmers’ market because it is quick and easy.
2 Why does Maya think the food from the market tastes better?
(A) It travels for hundreds of kilometers in trucks.
(B) It is taken from the plants that exact morning.
(C) It is picked before it is completely ready.
3 What does Maya like about the local farmers?
(A) They help families make big companies.
(B) They share ideas about preparing meals.
(C) They cause a lot of pollution in the town.
4 What is one negative thing about the farmers’ market?
(A) You cannot shop there on a Tuesday.
(B) You must carry heavy bags to the supermarket.
(C) You have to work there every day.
5 What is Maya doing in this text?
(A) complaining about the price of food in her town
(B) describing the best way to grow fruit and vegetables
(C) explaining the benefits of getting food from local markets
ANSWER KEY
1 A 2 B 3 B 4 A 5 C