Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Everyday Repairs & Errands

Exercises:   12345

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a dry cleaning or laundry service.

There are descriptions of eight laundry shops.

Decide which laundry shop would be the most suitable for the people below.

1   Tom needs to get his heavy winter coats washed before the cold season. He has a difficult juice stain on one of them and needs the clothes returned by tomorrow afternoon for a business trip.

2   Elena wants an inexpensive laundry service to clean her massive bedding sheets and heavy duvets. Because she works long hours from Monday to Friday, she strictly requires a shop that is open for collection on Sundays.

3   Sarah wants a delicate silk dress professionally cleaned without using harsh chemicals that damage the environment. She is too busy to visit a shop, so she needs a company that offers a free home pick-up service.

4   Marco needs his smart business suits cleaned and ironed for work. One button is missing from his favorite jacket, so he needs a repair service. He is in a rush and wants a fast two-hour service.

5   Rachel wants to find a professional cleaner to press and iron her shirts, as she hates doing it herself. She travels by public transport, so the shop must be located right next to the local bus station.

Dry Cleaners and Laundry Services

A Express Cleaners

Bring your heavy jackets and outdoor overcoats to us before the cold season begins. Our advanced treatment easily removes deep, tricky marks caused by food or drinks. Best of all, we guarantee to have your items completely fresh and ready for collection within 24 hours, making it perfect for urgent trips.

B Master Cleaners

We specialize in washing thick wool overcoats and winter clothing to keep you warm. Our experienced team uses powerful treatments to lift difficult, old marks from any fabric. However, because our high-quality process is very detailed, all orders take a full week to complete, so please do not come for urgent requests.

C The Laundry Basket

We provide a fantastic service for large household items like heavy blankets, sheets, and duvets. Our budget-friendly prices mean you can wash everything without spending a fortune. To help busy professionals, our doors stay open all weekend, allowing you to drop off or collect your clean laundry every Sunday until 8 p.m.

D Green & Clean

We take special care of delicate evening wear, wedding gowns, and silk garments. We are proud to use 100% natural, eco-friendly methods that protect both your clothes and the planet from dangerous chemicals. There is no need to visit us; simply use our website to arrange a complimentary driver to collect items from your door.

E Instant Tailors

Keep your workspace clothes looking sharp with our premium care for jackets and trousers. Our on-site sewing team can easily fix broken zippers or attach replacement buttons while you wait. If you are in a desperate hurry, ask for our super-express option, which promises to wash and press everything within just two hours.

F The Ironing Board

If you hate smoothing out creases, let us handle your shirts and blouses! Please note we do not wash clothes; we only provide expert pressing and folding services. Our shop is located directly beside the central coach terminal, making it incredibly convenient to visit while traveling on public transport.

G Luxury Care

We offer premium treatments for fine silk clothing and delicate evening wear. Busy clients can take advantage of our popular complimentary mobile service, where a van collects your garments directly from your house. Please note we use strong traditional chemical solvents to ensure a bright finish, which may not suit eco-conscious shoppers.

H Station Fresh

Located right outside the main bus depot gates, we are highly convenient for commuters. We provide excellent automated washing for t-shirts, jeans, and heavy winter coats. However, we do not own any pressing machines, so we are completely unable to iron your clothes or remove wrinkles. You must do that at home.

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a clothes alteration shop or tailor.

There are descriptions of eight tailors and alteration shops.

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

1   Anna needs to have a pair of smart trousers made shorter for an event this Saturday. She also has a winter coat with a broken zip that needs to be completely replaced before the weekend.

2   Mark wants to adjust the waist of his formal suit trousers to fit him better. He is busy all week and needs a shop open on Sunday. He also wants to buy high-quality clothing dye while he is there.

3   Chloe has some denim jeans that are too long and need shortening. She doesn’t have a car, so the shop must be right next to a train station. She also wants to get a pair of curtains shortened at the same time.

4   David needs a broken zip fixed on his favorite leather jacket. He works long hours during the day, so he needs a tailor open until at least 9 p.m. on weeknights. He also wants a shop that provides free parking outside.

5   Elena wants to alter a delicate silk wedding dress for an upcoming celebration. She wants a specialized bridal tailor who can also design a custom veil. She requires the finished dress to be delivered straight to her home.

Tailors and Alteration Shops

A Express Alterations

Do you have an urgent clothing emergency before Friday night? Bring your items to us! We specialize in rapid turnarounds, ensuring your clothes are fully ready for the weekend. Our team can easily make long trousers shorter and replace broken zips on jackets and coats in no time.

B Sunday Stitch & Style

We are one of the few shops in the city proudly open every single Sunday for your convenience! We excel at adjusting waistlines on suits and trousers for a flawless fit. In addition to our tailoring services, we stock a wide range of premium fabric accessories and professional clothing dyes.

C Station Tailors

Located exactly adjacent to the main railway platforms, our shop is incredibly easy to visit without a vehicle. We offer excellent hem adjustments to make long denim jeans shorter, and our large workshop can handle heavy household fabrics like curtains and drapes with ease.

D Moonlight Tailoring

We keep our doors open until 10 p.m. every Monday through Friday, making after-work drop-offs incredibly simple. Our expert tailors can repair broken zips on tough materials like leather coats and bags. Drivers will love our massive, complimentary customer car park located directly outside.

E Bridal & Silk Designs

We specialize exclusively in high-end luxury garments and wedding dresses. Our expert designers can alter delicate gowns and hand-craft beautiful custom veils to match. To save you time, we offer a safe courier service that delivers your completed dress directly to your front door.

F Fast Fix Tailors

We can quickly replace broken zips and repair torn seams on shirts and skirts while you wait. We are open late on Friday nights until 9 p.m., making it great for weekend preparations. However, please note that we do not work on trousers, jeans, or heavy coats, and we do not have a car park.

G The Hemming Hub

Need your trousers or skirts made shorter? We offer a brilliant express service that gets your garments ready in less than an hour. We are situated right outside the central train station. Please note that we specialize strictly in clothing length adjustments, so we do not handle household items like curtains, and we cannot fix zips.

H Weekend Threads

Open all day Saturday and Sunday, we are perfect for weekend shoppers. We offer fantastic deals on custom embroidery and alterations for suits, jackets, and formal trousers. Unfortunately, we do not provide delivery services, and we do not work on leather materials or household curtains.

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a bicycle repair mechanic.

There are descriptions of eight bicycle repair shops.

Decide which bicycle repair shop would be the most suitable for the people below.

1   Tom needs a full yearly inspection for his racing bicycle because the stopping system is completely broken. He cannot walk to work, so he needs to borrow a substitute two-wheeler while the mechanic works on his machine.

2   Elena wants a professional to teach her how to adjust her gear system during her days off on Saturday. She is a university student with very little money, so she requires a special lower rate for the lesson.

3   Marcus needs someone to repair a flat tyre on his heavy battery-powered bicycle in less than an hour. Because he commutes by train, the workshop must be situated very close to the railway platforms.

4   Sarah wants to repaint the frame of her vintage bicycle to make it look beautiful. She looks for a neighborhood family business that will examine her tires and chains for free without any hidden costs.

5   David has a damaged front wheel that must be replaced immediately at his apartment. He is on a strict budget and wants a repair service that charges one single set price for the job.

Bicycle Repair Shops

A The Cycle Hub

Bring your vehicle in for our comprehensive twelve-month maintenance review! Our mechanics are excellent at repairing faulty stopping systems to ensure you slow down safely. If you require transport to keep you moving while your machine is in our workshop, we gladly provide a courtesy bicycle completely free of charge.

B Weekend Wheelers

We host fantastic interactive classes every Saturday and Sunday to show you how to maintain and adjust mechanical gear networks yourself. It is a fun, practical environment. We know education can be costly, so we offer an amazing twenty percent reduction for anyone with a valid university card.

C Platform Mechanics

Specialising in modern battery-powered e-bikes, we handle tricky electronic repairs with ease. If you have a flat tyre, drop by our counter for a rapid puncture fix that takes under thirty minutes. Our workshop is situated directly inside the central train terminal, making your daily travel completely effortless.

D Generations Bikes

Run by our family for three decades, we provide a warm, local service. We love giving old frames a new life with our beautiful, custom painting options. Before we start any job, we always complete a comprehensive safety assessment of your chains and wheels for zero cost.

E Mobile Repair Pros

No time to visit a shop? Our van will travel directly to your house to fix your machine! We carry a huge stock of parts to install fresh front and rear wheels immediately. Best of all, we charge one single, flat fee for our visits, so you never pay extra.

F Fast Fixes

We provide excellent twelve-month check-ups to keep your bicycle safe throughout the year. Our skilled mechanics are experts at repairing broken brakes, cables, and chains quickly. Please note that we are a small workshop, so we cannot offer any substitute loan vehicles while your machine is being repaired.

G Central Spares

Our shop is located right beside the town’s main train lines, making it perfect for commuters. We are fully qualified to manage electronic e-bike motors and internal wiring systems. We can resolve any issue, from punctures to broken lights, though all repairs take a minimum of three working days to complete.

H Home Wheel Services

We specialize in wheel replacements and alignments, saving you a trip to the store. Our mechanics will drive out to your apartment to swap your damaged parts for high-quality alternatives immediately. We do not use flat-rate fees; instead, we bill by the hour, ensuring you only pay for the exact time spent.

Exercises:   12345