Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Cafés, Bakeries & Quick Bites

Exercises:   12345

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a co-working cafe to work in.

There are descriptions of eight cafes.

Decide which cafe would be the most suitable for the people below.

1   Sam works online and needs excellent internet speed for video calls. He has several devices to charge at the same time and requires a completely silent space to concentrate deeply on his projects without any background noise.

2   David is a student freelancer on a tight budget who looks for very cheap drinks. He needs to keep his laptop plugged in constantly and wants a cafe that stays open until very late into the night.

3   Sarah frequently meets clients and requires large tables for group discussions. She needs a reliable web connection to show her presentations and prefers a location that offers free parking spaces for her visitors.

4   Elena wants a peaceful atmosphere free from loud music to focus on her writing. She needs access to many power outlets for her computer and prefers a menu with plenty of healthy vegan food choices.

5   Michael travels by train and needs a workspace situated right next to the station. He requires high-speed web access to download large files and wants a place where he can print documents easily.

Co-working Cafes

A The Secret Workspace

Our modern cafe is designed for productive individuals. We guarantee a completely quiet area where talking is discouraged, allowing you to focus perfectly. Every single seat features multiple charging points for your equipment. Plus, our rapid connection is perfect for downloading data and making smooth video chats all day long.

B Night Owl Cafe

If you prefer working when the sun goes down, we stay open until 2 a.m. every day. Our menu features incredibly inexpensive coffees and snacks, perfect for anyone saving money. Every desk has a dedicated power source to keep your laptop running, though it can get quite lively and noisy.

C The Meeting Point

This spacious spot is ideal for professionals. We have massive desks with plenty of room for hosting several people comfortably. Guests can enjoy our complimentary car park right outside, making your arrival stress-free. We also provide a strong, stable online connection that is completely free for everyone to use.

D Green Leaf Lounge

We specialize in delicious, plant-based meals and organic salads. Freelancers love our exceptionally peaceful environment, which has a strict no-music policy to ensure total concentration. You will find rows of power outlets running along every wall, making it easy to keep your laptop fully charged while you eat.

E The Transit Hub

Located just steps away from the central railway platforms, this cafe is incredibly convenient for commuters. We offer lightning-fast internet speeds that can handle any online task easily. We also have high-quality paper copying and printing machines available for customer use, though we do not have wall sockets for charging.

F The Quiet Corner

This peaceful retreat offers a beautifully silent environment where you can work without any distractions. Our high-speed web network is famous for being incredibly fast and reliable. While we serve great drinks, please note that our historic building has no power outlets available for public use, so come with full batteries.

G Smart Office Café

Need space to collaborate with others? Our venue offers huge wooden tables perfect for team meetings or client discussions. We also provide a large, complimentary parking area for all visitors. Enjoy our casual atmosphere and selection of pastries, but please be aware that we do not offer any Wi-Fi connection at this time.

H Central Hub Café

Situated directly opposite the main train station entrance, we are highly accessible for travelers. Our tables are packed with convenient power outlets to charge all your mobile phones and laptops. We open early and close late, but our basic web connection is quite slow and we do not have printing facilities.

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a vegan or juice bar to visit.

There are descriptions of eight vegan and juice bars.

Decide which vegan and juice bar would be the most suitable for the people below.

1   Maria is looking for a café run by local relatives. She wants to drink fresh vegetable juices, specifically carrot and spinach. She is happy to spend a lot of money because she only eats high-quality, organic ingredients.

2   David usually finishes his workout in the evening and needs a place open late. He wants filling, plant-based meals to build muscle. He also needs a quiet spot with internet access to finish his university assignments.

3   Sarah and Tom want to eat sweet plant-based treats this weekend. They are bringing their puppy, so animals must be allowed. They also prefer sitting outside in the fresh air to enjoy the sunny weather.

4   Leo is a student with very little money. He is always in a hurry and needs his drinks prepared instantly to take away. He loves drinking cold blends made from tropical fruits like pineapple and mango.

5   Anna wants to learn how to prepare plant-based dishes herself. She needs a place right in the middle of town. She also wants to buy packaged vegan products to cook with in her own kitchen.

Vegan and Juice Bars

A Green Dreams

This popular café is owned and operated by a local husband and wife. Everything is completely natural, and they specialize in healthy carrot and spinach drinks. The bills here are quite expensive, but the outstanding quality of our fresh, local produce makes it totally worth spending the extra cash.

B The Juice Box

We offer the fastest takeaway service in the neighborhood, which is perfect if you are rushing! Come and enjoy our delicious carrot and spinach blends, or try our famous vegan chocolate cakes. Our prices are extremely low to help students. Unfortunately, we only have two tables indoors and no outdoor seating available.

C The Night Owl

If you feel hungry after exercising, our large plant-based protein bowls and tofu dishes will keep you full! We welcome customers until midnight every single day. Inside, the atmosphere is very peaceful, and we provide excellent free Wi-Fi, making it the perfect environment for studying or working on your computer.

D Sweet Leaves

Located directly in the city center, we serve the most amazing dairy-free chocolate cakes and delicious fruit pies. We also have a lovely outdoor terrace where you can enjoy the sunshine. However, please note that for hygiene and safety reasons, we cannot allow dogs or other pets anywhere on our property.

E Sunny Garden

We serve incredible dairy-free baked goods, including amazing cookies, cupcakes, and fruit tarts! Customers absolutely love our beautiful backyard patio, which provides plenty of fresh air. We are also extremely welcoming to your four-legged friends, providing water bowls and special vegan biscuits just for dogs while you relax and eat.

F Tropical Express

Grab your food and go! We focus on lightning-fast service for busy people who need their delicious drinks packed and ready. Our colorful menu features exotic ice blends starring fresh mango, papaya, and coconut. Best of all, our budget-friendly menu is designed specifically so you will never empty your wallet.

G City Vegan Hub

Situated right in the heart of the downtown area, this is much more than just a café! Every weekend, our expert chefs host fantastic workshops to teach you how to make wonderful dairy-free meals. Before you leave, browse our grocery section to purchase packaged plant-based goods for your own pantry.

H The Green Kitchen

Come to our quiet café to read or write using our reliable internet connection. We also sell fantastic vegan ingredients like specialty nuts and sauces in our mini-market. We are open from early morning until late afternoon, so please remember we close our doors at five o’clock sharp every evening.

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a dessert-only café to visit.

There are descriptions of eight cafés.

Decide which café would be the most suitable for the people below.

1   Anna wants to eat a massive ice cream. She only has a short break, so she needs a place where she won’t have to wait in a queue. She also wants to sit outside in the fresh air.

2   Tom wants to eat some warm, freshly baked waffles. He works until 9 p.m., so the café must stay open late. He also hopes to listen to some live bands while he enjoys his sweet treat.

3   Maria is taking her children out for a slice of rich chocolate cake. She needs a café that provides a fun play area for the kids. Because she is driving, the café must have a car park.

4   Lucas is meeting friends to eat sweet things, but he doesn’t have much money. He doesn’t eat dairy products, so he needs a vegan dessert. He also wants a place located right next to the railway station.

5   Sophie wants to try a fresh fruit dessert today. She loves taking pictures for social media, so the café must have a beautifully decorated interior. It is very hot outside, so she needs a cool, air-conditioned room.

Dessert-Only Cafés

A The Frozen Spoon

Come and enjoy our famous, enormous frozen dairy treats covered in sweet sauces! You will never see a line of waiting people here, because our staff serve everybody immediately. Customers can relax and eat their delicious snacks on our beautiful, sunny street terrace. It is the perfect spot for a quick break.

B Sugar Cabin

We serve the absolute best hot batter cakes and huge frozen dairy cups in town. You can enjoy your meal on our peaceful outdoor balcony while looking at the fantastic views. However, because our food is so incredibly popular, you will always find a long line of waiting customers outside our doors.

C Midnight Treats

If you want a hot, freshly cooked batter grid covered in sweet syrup, this is the place! We keep our doors unlocked until midnight every single day, making us perfect for evening visitors. You can also relax and watch local guitar players perform wonderful popular songs on our small indoor stage.

D Cocoa Kingdom

Families love our fantastic selection of dark cocoa sponges and sweet pastries. We have a safe, colourful room filled with toys where your little ones can run around and have fun. Visitors don’t need to worry about their vehicles, because we provide a large, complimentary area outside for your car.

E Sweet Pennies

This budget-friendly café is famous for its delicious, inexpensive cocoa sponges and huge dairy snacks. It is a fantastic place for young students to save their pocket money. Unfortunately, we only use traditional milk and butter in our recipes. Also, there is absolutely nowhere to leave a vehicle on this busy street.

F The Green Baker

Located just a one-minute walk from the main railway platforms, we are incredibly easy to find. Our menu features completely plant-based puddings made without any milk or animal ingredients. Our prices are extremely low, so you can easily enjoy a wonderful, sweet snack without emptying your wallet before you travel.

G Berry Beautiful

Escape the summer heat and relax in our wonderfully cold, temperature-controlled dining room. We specialise in fresh, healthy puddings made entirely from strawberries, apples, and bananas. Our amazing furniture and bright wall paintings make it the absolute perfect place to capture stunning images to share with all your friends on the internet.

H The Glass Room

Experience our spectacular giant frozen dairy towers, completely covered in chocolate and nuts! Our café features stunning historic glass windows and beautiful lighting, providing a truly magical atmosphere for taking photos. However, we do not have any cooling fans or modern temperature systems, so it gets very warm inside during summer.

Exercises:   12345