Practice English Reading Exercises for A2 – Daily Problems & Solutions 5
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A Kitchen Disaster and a Perfect Pizza
My name is Charlie, and I am fourteen years old. Last Friday, my parents had to work late at the office. I wanted to do something nice for them, so I decided to cook a special dinner. I chose a simple pasta recipe that I saw on a popular cooking show.
I went into the kitchen and found all the vegetables and meat. I turned on the cooker and put the food in a large pan. Everything was going well. Suddenly, my smartphone rang. It was my best friend, Tom. He wanted to chat about a recent football match. We talked for twenty minutes, and I completely forgot about the meal.
Suddenly, a terrible smell came from the kitchen. I ran back and saw dark smoke everywhere. The food was black and completely burned. I felt incredibly upset because my beautiful surprise was ruined. I opened all the windows to clear the air.
When my parents finally arrived home, I explained everything. Fortunately, they weren’t angry at all. My dad just laughed and said accidents happen. Instead of pasta, we used my tablet to order two huge pizzas from our favourite Italian restaurant. We ate together and had a brilliant, funny evening. Next time, I won’t use my phone while cooking!
1 Why did Charlie decide to cook on Friday?
(A) He had to work late at the office.
(B) He hoped to prepare a kind treat for his mum and dad.
(C) He saw a simple pasta recipe on a popular cooking show.
2 Why did Charlie stop paying attention to his food?
(A) He found all the vegetables and meat in the kitchen.
(B) He wanted to chat about a recent football match.
(C) He had a long telephone conversation with his mate.
3 When Charlie returned to the kitchen, he
(A) was very unhappy because his meal was a disaster.
(B) heard a terrible smell came from the kitchen.
(C) opened all the windows to ruin his beautiful surprise.
4 How did Charlie’s parents react when they got home?
(A) They explained everything about the dark smoke.
(B) They were angry at all about the burned food.
(C) They found the situation amusing and got a delivery.
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) How to use a tablet to order two huge pizzas
(B) A cooking mistake ends with a fun fast-food dinner
(C) The best way to cook simple pasta with vegetables
ANSWER KEY
1 B 2 C 3 A 4 C 5 B
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The Hunt for the Missing Remote
My name is Jamie, and Saturday is my favourite day. Last Saturday afternoon, there was a very important football match on television. I prepared a big bowl of popcorn and a cold drink. Then, I walked into the living room, ready to relax. But I quickly realised there was a problem. The television remote control was missing!
First, I returned to the kitchen to check the table and near the fridge. My older sister, Clara, was making lunch there earlier, so I thought she had it. But she didn’t know anything about it. Next, I ran upstairs to my bedroom and looked under my bed, but I only found some dirty socks.
After that, I went out to the garden. My parents were planting some new flowers. I asked them about the remote control, but they couldn’t help me. My dad told me to go back inside and search the living room one more time. I started to feel very angry because my favourite players were already on the sports channel.
Finally, I went back to the living room. I was so tired that I dropped heavily onto the sofa. Suddenly, I felt something hard under my leg. I lifted the large grey cushion, and the remote control was right there! I turned on the screen just in time to see the beginning of the great game.
1 What did Jamie find out when he entered the living room?
(A) He prepared a big bowl of popcorn.
(B) He noticed that an essential object was not there.
(C) He saw a very important football match.
2 Why did Jamie think Clara knew where the remote was?
(A) She was in the cooking area before him.
(B) She ran upstairs to his bedroom.
(C) She looked under his bed.
3 How did Jamie feel after he spoke to his parents?
(A) happy to plant some new flowers
(B) ready to search the living room one more time
(C) stressed because the event on TV was beginning
4 How did Jamie locate the lost item?
(A) He dropped it heavily onto the sofa.
(B) He discovered it when he sat down to rest.
(C) He turned on the screen to see it.
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) My Favourite Football Players
(B) A Frustrating Search for a Small Object
(C) How to Make a Bowl of Popcorn
ANSWER KEY
1 B 2 A 3 C 4 B 5 B
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A Flat-Pack Disaster
Last Saturday, my parents bought me a new wooden desk for my bedroom. The man from the shop brought it in a large, flat box. My mum and dad were at the supermarket, so I decided to build it alone. I wanted to give them a great surprise!
When I opened the heavy box, I found lots of different pieces. There was also a small paper book with instructions. ‘I really don’t need to read this,’ I thought. ‘Building a desk is an easy job!’ So, I threw the paper into the bin and started working immediately.
After two long hours, my new furniture looked very strange. It only had three legs on the floor, and the last leg was on top of the desk! I carefully put my laptop on it to test it. Suddenly, the whole desk fell down with a loud noise, and the pieces went everywhere.
When my parents finally came home, they didn’t get angry. They just looked at the wood on the floor and laughed loudly. I quickly took the small paper book out of the bin. We built the desk together in thirty minutes. Next time, I will always read the instructions first!
1 What did the writer want to do in the first paragraph?
(A) He hoped to do something special for his mum and dad.
(B) He wanted to buy a new wooden desk for his bedroom.
(C) He needed to go to the supermarket with his parents.
2 What did the writer do with the small paper book?
(A) He put it in the rubbish.
(B) He decided to read it immediately.
(C) He thought it was an easy job.
3 What was the problem with the new furniture?
(A) One of its parts was in the wrong position.
(B) It had three legs on top of the desk.
(C) It fell down after two long hours.
4 When the writer’s parents arrived, they
(A) found the situation very funny.
(B) quickly took the small paper book out.
(C) didn’t get the wood on the floor.
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) A silly mistake with a new desk
(B) The loud noise in the supermarket
(C) How to use a laptop on a flat box
ANSWER KEY
1 A 2 A 3 A 4 A 5 A