Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – First Part-Time Jobs 2
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A Surprising Evening
When my neighbour, Mrs. Higgins, asked if I could babysit her three-year-old son, Leo, for a few hours on a Saturday evening, I immediately said yes. I was saving up for a new video game, and this seemed like the perfect way to earn some extra cash. My older sister used to babysit all the time, and she always told me it was the easiest job in the world. I completely expected to spend the whole evening relaxing on the sofa and watching my favourite television programmes while the child slept peacefully upstairs.
However, my relaxed mood disappeared almost as soon as Leo’s parents walked out of the front door. Instead of going quietly to bed, Leo decided he wanted to play. When I gently told him it was time to sleep, he started crying loudly and throwing his soft toys across the living room. I tried picking them up, but that only made him more upset. I quickly realised that babysitting was definitely not just about sitting in front of a screen. I felt completely stressed and had absolutely no idea what to do next.
I knew I had to calm him down, so I tried everything I could think of. I offered him some warm milk and even attempted to sing a few songs, but nothing worked. Then, I noticed a plastic toy dinosaur on the floor. I picked it up and suddenly started inventing a story about a brave little dinosaur who was searching for a magical, quiet cave to rest in. To my surprise, Leo stopped crying. He climbed onto the sofa next to me and listened carefully as I continued adding more silly details to the adventure.
By the time the dinosaur in my story finally closed its eyes in the cave, Leo had fallen fast asleep against my shoulder. I carefully carried him up to his bedroom and put him in his bed. Sitting back downstairs in the quiet house, I felt a massive sense of relief. More importantly, I felt incredibly proud of myself. I had always thought I was someone who got annoyed easily, but that evening I discovered a hidden level of patience. If Mrs. Higgins ever asks me to help out again, I will definitely say yes.
1 Why did the writer agree to babysit Leo?
(A) Because his older sister asked him to help her.
(B) To earn enough money to buy something he wanted.
(C) Because he wanted to watch television peacefully.
(D) To prove to his neighbour that he was responsible.
2 How did the writer feel shortly after Mrs. Higgins left?
(A) Angry that he had to clean the toys in the living room.
(B) Confident that he could stop the young boy from crying.
(C) Disappointed because he missed his favourite TV programme.
(D) Anxious because he could not manage the child’s behaviour.
3 What finally made Leo stop crying?
(A) Drinking a cup of warm milk.
(B) Listening to the writer sing a song.
(C) Hearing an original tale about a toy.
(D) Playing a new video game with the writer.
4 What did the writer learn about himself by the end of the evening?
(A) He is much better at making up stories than his sister.
(B) He never wants to look after young children anymore.
(C) He is able to stay calm and tolerant in difficult situations.
(D) He prefers staying at home instead of going out on Saturdays.
5 What would the writer write in his diary that night?
(A) I can’t believe how easy it was to babysit! Just like my sister said, I watched TV the whole time and got paid for it.
(B) Leo’s parents were so angry when they returned because the house was a mess. I don’t think they’ll ask me to help again.
(C) Looking after Leo was a real challenge at first, but using my imagination helped him sleep, and I realised how patient I can be.
(D) I was so stressed tonight that I just gave up and left Leo crying in the living room. Babysitting is definitely not the right job for me.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The text states in paragraph 1 that the writer was “saving up for a new video game, and this seemed like the perfect way to earn some extra cash,” which matches earning money to buy something he wanted.
2 D – Paragraph 2 explains that the child was crying and throwing toys, and the writer “felt completely stressed and had absolutely no idea what to do next,” mapping to feeling anxious about managing the child’s behaviour.
3 C – In paragraph 3, the writer notes that he “started inventing a story about a brave little dinosaur” and “To my surprise, Leo stopped crying.” This matches hearing an original tale.
4 C – Paragraph 4 details how the writer felt proud because he “discovered a hidden level of patience,” which means he learned he is able to stay calm and tolerant in difficult situations.
5 C – This option perfectly captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text: moving from unexpected stress to finding a creative solution, and finally discovering his own patience.
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A Walk in the Park
When I decided I wanted to earn some extra pocket money, dog walking seemed like the perfect solution. I have always loved animals, and I figured that walking around the neighbourhood in the sunshine would be an incredibly relaxing activity. In my mind, it was basically easy money. I quickly printed some flyers and was completely thrilled when a neighbour hired me to walk her dog, Buster, every afternoon. I confidently assumed it would be the easiest job in the world.
However, my confidence completely disappeared on our very first walk. Buster was a massive dog, and he was full of wild energy. Everything was going reasonably well until he suddenly saw a squirrel run across the grass. Without warning, Buster pulled the leash with incredible force. I wasn’t prepared at all, and I instantly lost my balance. Before I could let go of the handle, I was dragged face-first right through a large, wet puddle of mud. As I walked back to my house covered in dirt, I realised that dog walking was actually going to be quite difficult and physically challenging.
Instead of giving up and quitting the job, I decided I needed a much better strategy. That evening, I spent hours watching professional dog training videos online. I learned that trying to control a large dog using only physical strength was impossible. The videos explained that dogs respond best to positive rewards. I realised that if I wanted to have true authority over Buster, I needed to capture his attention and guide his behaviour using small food treats.
The next afternoon, I arrived at Buster’s house with my jacket pockets completely full of dog biscuits. As soon as we stepped outside and he started to pull, I stopped walking and held out a treat. To my absolute amazement, he immediately sat down and looked up at me. Throughout the entire walk, I used the treats to reward him for staying close to my side. The technique worked perfectly. I finally understand that managing a pet isn’t just about holding a piece of rope; it requires patience, clear communication, and a genuine understanding of animal psychology.
1 Why did the writer choose to start dog walking?
(A) He wanted to get more physical exercise in the sunshine.
(B) He believed it would be an effortless way to earn cash.
(C) He needed to train his own dog to behave much better.
(D) His neighbour begged him to look after her massive dog.
2 What caused the writer to fall into the mud on the first walk?
(A) He tripped over a large tree branch in the park.
(B) The dog suddenly ran after a smaller animal.
(C) He accidentally dropped the leash in a wet puddle.
(D) The dog wanted to jump and play in the dirty water.
3 What did the writer discover from watching the online videos?
(A) You should always let go of the leash if a large dog pulls.
(B) Physical strength is the most important skill for a dog walker.
(C) Rewarding the dog is the most effective way to control it.
(D) Massive dogs like Buster can never be trained properly.
4 How did the writer change his method on the second walk?
(A) He pulled the rope much harder than he did the day before.
(B) He refused to let the dog go outside into the street.
(C) He brought a professional dog trainer to help him.
(D) He used food to get the dog to focus and obey his commands.
5 What would the writer write in his diary about his new job?
(A) Dog walking is completely impossible if the dog is bigger than you, so I’m going to find a different part-time job tomorrow.
(B) I was completely right from the start! Dog walking is the easiest money I’ve ever made, and I don’t even have to try.
(C) Giving a dog treats is a fun trick, but I still think being physically stronger than the animal is the only way to lead them.
(D) The muddy accident was terrible, but I’m glad it forced me to learn proper animal psychology and effective training techniques.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In paragraph 1, the writer explains his motivation, stating: “I figured that walking around the neighbourhood in the sunshine would be an incredibly relaxing activity. In my mind, it was basically easy money.”
2 B – In paragraph 2, the accident happens when Buster “suddenly saw a squirrel run across the grass” and pulled the leash, causing the writer to lose his balance and be dragged into the mud.
3 C – In paragraph 3, the writer learns from the videos that controlling a dog with physical strength is impossible and that “dogs respond best to positive rewards” and food treats.
4 D – In paragraph 4, the writer explains his new strategy: “I arrived at Buster’s house with my jacket pockets completely full of dog biscuits” and used them to reward the dog for good behavior.
5 D – This option perfectly captures the global meaning and the writer’s final reflection. It summarizes the initial disaster (the muddy accident) and the positive outcome of learning about animal behavior, authority, and psychology to succeed at the job.
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A Rainy Delivery
I started working as a part-time pizza delivery driver last month because I really wanted to save up for a new skateboard. Since I already cycle everywhere and know the streets of my town perfectly, I figured it would be the easiest job in the world. For the first few weeks, everything went smoothly. I enjoyed riding around in the warm evening air, listening to music on my headphones, and earning my own money.
However, my confidence disappeared completely during one shift last Saturday. I received a large order that had to be delivered to a house on the opposite side of town. Just as I started my journey, the sky turned dark grey and a sudden, violent rainstorm began. I had stupidly left my waterproof jacket at home because the morning weather forecast had predicted sunshine. Within minutes, my clothes were completely soaked, and the wind was blowing so heavily that I could barely pedal my bicycle.
I desperately tried to keep the pizza boxes dry inside my special delivery bag, but the terrible weather made riding extremely difficult. A journey that normally takes just fifteen minutes took me almost forty. As I finally approached the customer’s house, my stomach turned with anxiety. I was absolutely certain the man would be furious about his late food. I imagined him demanding a full refund and calling my boss to complain, which would probably mean losing my job.
When the customer opened his front door, I immediately began to apologize for the delay and explained how the storm had caught me by surprise. To my absolute amazement, he didn’t look angry at all. Instead, he smiled warmly and told me he was just relieved that I had arrived safely without having an accident in the dangerous traffic.
Not only did he accept the pizzas without complaining, but he also gave me an incredibly generous tip for my hard work in the rain. As I cycled slowly back to the restaurant, my clothes were still wet, but my mood had completely changed. That challenging evening taught me a valuable lesson. I realised that if you are honest and show genuine effort, people will appreciate your hard work, even if things don’t go perfectly according to plan.
1 Why did the writer initially decide to become a pizza delivery driver?
(A) He wanted to listen to music while exploring his town.
(B) He needed to earn enough money to buy a skateboard.
(C) He was asked to deliver food to the opposite side of town.
(D) He wanted to improve his cycling skills in the evenings.
2 What problem did the writer face during his Saturday delivery?
(A) He was caught in a heavy storm without the correct clothing.
(B) He lost his way because the sky was too dark to see.
(C) He dropped his special delivery bag because of the strong wind.
(D) He had to wait a long time for the weather forecast to change.
3 How did the writer feel as he reached the customer’s house?
(A) Confident that the delivery bag had kept the food perfectly warm.
(B) Angry that the customer had ordered so much food during a storm.
(C) Worried that his late arrival would cause serious trouble at work.
(D) Annoyed because the forty-minute journey was extremely tiring.
4 How did the customer react when the writer arrived?
(A) He refused to pay for the pizzas because they were late.
(B) He complained about the dangerous traffic in the town.
(C) He offered the writer a waterproof jacket to wear on the way back.
(D) He rewarded the writer with extra money for completing the difficult trip.
5 What would the writer write in his diary that night?
(A) The weather was awful today, and my boss fired me because the customer complained. I really hate riding my bicycle in the rain!
(B) Delivering pizzas is definitely the easiest job in the world. Even when you arrive completely soaked, customers don’t mind cold food.
(C) I should have checked the weather forecast today! Luckily, my waterproof jacket kept the pizzas dry and the customer was happy.
(D) It was a terrifying ride in the storm, but the customer’s kindness showed me that people truly value honesty and dedication.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In the first paragraph, the writer explicitly states that he started the job “because I really wanted to save up for a new skateboard.”
2 A – The second paragraph explains that a “violent rainstorm began” and he had “stupidly left my waterproof jacket at home,” leaving him completely soaked.
3 C – The third paragraph describes the writer’s anxiety: he was “absolutely certain the man would be furious” and imagined him “calling my boss to complain, which would probably mean losing my job.”
4 D – In the fourth and fifth paragraphs, the customer was relieved the writer was safe and gave him an “incredibly generous tip for my hard work in the rain.”
5 D – This option accurately captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text: moving from a stressful, dangerous ride in the rain to feeling relieved and learning that customers appreciate genuine effort and honesty.