Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – First Part-Time Jobs 3
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A Whistle and a Wake-Up Call
When I applied for a summer job as a junior lifeguard at my local swimming pool, I honestly believed I had found the perfect way to spend my holidays. I imagined myself sitting in a high chair under the warm sun, getting a fantastic tan, and chatting with my friends when they came to swim. Because I was already a strong swimmer, I was completely convinced that the work would be incredibly relaxing and completely stress-free.
However, the reality of my first few weeks was quite different. Before I was allowed to sit by the water, I had to complete a difficult first-aid course and learn a long list of strict safety rules. Once I actually started my shifts, I spent most of my time doing dull tasks. I had to organise the pool equipment, test the water temperature, and constantly blow my whistle to stop younger teenagers from running. Although I wasn’t getting a tan, I still didn’t think the job involved any real danger.
My attitude changed dramatically during a crowded Saturday afternoon in July. The pool was full of noisy families, and I was carefully watching the deep end. Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a small boy running far too fast along the wet edge of the pool. Before I could even shout a warning, his feet slipped on the tiles, and he fell heavily into the deep water. For a brief second, my heart completely stopped in shock.
Fortunately, my training instantly took over. I immediately blew my whistle to alert the other staff and rushed towards the edge. Because the boy was struggling close to the side, I didn’t even need to jump in. I quickly lay flat on the ground, reached out with my long rescue float, and pulled him safely out of the water. He was coughing and crying, but he was completely unhurt. His parents ran over a moment later, thanking me repeatedly for my quick reaction.
That terrifying afternoon taught me a highly valuable lesson about my new job. I finally understood that being a lifeguard is not just an easy way to earn pocket money; it carries a massive amount of responsibility. While I still enjoy working at the pool, I never relax when I am on duty anymore.
1 Why did the writer want to become a junior lifeguard?
(A) He wanted to improve his swimming skills during the summer holidays.
(B) He expected it to be a very easy and enjoyable summer job.
(C) He needed to earn enough money to go on holiday with his friends.
(D) He wanted to watch his friends compete in swimming races.
2 What does the writer say about his first few weeks of work?
(A) He spent too much time sitting in the sun and getting a tan.
(B) He failed his difficult first-aid course and had to retake it.
(C) He found his actual daily responsibilities to be rather boring.
(D) He had to deal with teenagers who were swimming in the deep end.
3 When the incident happened on Saturday, the writer
(A) was busy talking to some of the noisy families.
(B) noticed a young child ignoring the pool rules.
(C) was standing near the shallow end of the swimming pool.
(D) shouted a loud warning before the boy hit the water.
4 How did the writer rescue the little boy?
(A) He jumped straight into the deep water to save him.
(B) He called the boy’s parents to come and get him.
(C) He blew his whistle so the other staff would rescue him.
(D) He used a piece of equipment to drag him to safety.
5 What would the writer write in his diary that evening?
(A) Working at the pool is exactly as relaxing as I imagined! I even got to use my rescue float today without getting wet.
(B) The other lifeguards had to rescue a boy today because I panicked. I definitely need to pay more attention from now on.
(C) I was so scared today when a child fell in. It made me realise that keeping people safe is serious work, not just a way to get a tan.
(D) A kid slipped and fell into the pool today. I am so annoyed because his parents didn’t even say thank you to me afterwards.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In the first paragraph, the writer states he “honestly believed I had found the perfect way to spend my holidays” and was convinced “the work would be incredibly relaxing and completely stress-free.”
2 C – The second paragraph mentions that once he started his shifts, he “spent most of my time doing dull tasks,” which paraphrases to finding his daily responsibilities boring.
3 B – In the third paragraph, the writer saw a small boy “running far too fast along the wet edge of the pool,” which means the child was ignoring the safety rules against running.
4 D – The fourth paragraph details that the writer “reached out with my long rescue float, and pulled him safely out of the water,” meaning he used equipment to drag the boy to safety.
5 C – This option accurately captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text: moving from expecting a relaxing summer job to experiencing a frightening incident that taught him the heavy responsibility of being a lifeguard.
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Learning the Ropes
When I finally got a part-time job as a waiter at a popular local Italian restaurant, I was absolutely delighted. I had always enjoyed eating out with my family, and I assumed that serving food would be quite an easy way to earn some extra money during the weekends. During my first few shifts, I watched the older staff members confidently balancing several dishes on their arms at the same time. I was determined to be just as fast and efficient as they were, mostly because I wanted to impress the manager and prove that I was a hard worker who could handle anything.
However, my confidence quickly disappeared during an extremely busy Saturday night. The restaurant was completely full, and the busy kitchen was producing orders much faster than we could serve them. When three large, heavy plates of hot pasta were ready for a table, I decided to carry them all at once. I thought it would save time and make me look like a professional. But as I walked across the crowded dining room, my arms started to shake. Suddenly, the top plate slipped, and all three meals crashed onto the hard floor. The loud noise made everyone in the restaurant stop and stare at me. I had never felt so humiliated in my entire life.
I immediately started picking up the terrible mess, completely convinced that I was going to lose my job that very night. I expected the head chef, Marco, to come out of the kitchen and shout at me. Instead, he walked over, handed me a clean cloth, and calmly helped me wipe the floor. He kindly explained that even the most experienced waiters drop things sometimes. He told me that my biggest mistake wasn’t dropping the food, but trying to do everything completely on my own without communicating with the rest of the staff.
After that embarrassing evening, my whole attitude towards the job changed. Instead of trying to be a superhero, I started asking the other waiters for help whenever my hands were full. If I had a large order, someone would always walk with me to the table. I quickly realised that a restaurant works best when everyone cooperates. I no longer feel anxious before my shifts, and I actually enjoy the fast pace of the job, knowing that I am part of a supportive team.
1 What was the writer’s initial opinion about working as a waiter?
(A) He believed it would be a simple way to make some cash.
(B) He thought the older staff members were too slow.
(C) He wanted to become a restaurant manager as quickly as possible.
(D) He expected it to be a very difficult way to spend his weekends.
2 Why did the writer try to carry three plates at the same time?
(A) The head chef told him to serve the food as fast as possible.
(B) There were no other waiters available to help him in the dining room.
(C) He wanted to work quickly and appear experienced.
(D) The customers at the table were complaining about a delay.
3 What did the head chef do after the plates were dropped?
(A) He told the writer that he was going to lose his job.
(B) He shouted at the writer for creating a terrible mess.
(C) He suggested that the writer needed to practise balancing heavy items.
(D) He pointed out that the writer should have asked for assistance.
4 How did the writer’s approach to his job change?
(A) He decided to only serve small tables to avoid accidents.
(B) He recognised the importance of working together with his colleagues.
(C) He stopped feeling nervous when speaking to the customers.
(D) He tried to act like a superhero to impress the rest of the team.
5 What would the writer write in his diary that night?
(A) I dropped three meals tonight, and I’m sure I’ll be fired tomorrow. The chef was furious with me for ruining the busy Saturday service.
(B) Working as a waiter is much easier than I thought! The older staff always carry my heavy plates for me so I don’t have to work hard.
(C) It was horrible dropping the food in front of everyone, but the chef’s advice taught me that being part of a team is better than trying to do everything alone.
(D) I really wish I hadn’t taken this restaurant job. The kitchen is always too busy, and the other waiters refuse to communicate with me.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 A – The text states in paragraph 1 that he “assumed that serving food would be quite an easy way to earn some extra money,” which paraphrases to believing it would be a simple way to make some cash.
2 C – Paragraph 2 explains that he carried them all at once because he “thought it would save time and make me look like a professional,” which matches wanting to work quickly and appear experienced.
3 D – In paragraph 3, Marco explains that his “biggest mistake wasn’t dropping the food, but trying to do everything completely on my own without communicating,” indicating he should have asked for help.
4 B – Paragraph 4 details how he “started asking the other waiters for help” and “realised that a restaurant works best when everyone cooperates,” mapping directly to recognising the importance of working together.
5 C – This option accurately captures the global meaning and narrative arc: experiencing a humiliating mistake, receiving valuable advice from the chef, and learning that teamwork is essential.
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The Blue Book Mystery
When I got a weekend job at ‘The Corner Bookstore’, I was absolutely thrilled. As a huge literature fan, I imagined my shifts would be incredibly peaceful. I pictured myself sitting behind a quiet wooden desk, drinking tea, and reading my favourite novels for hours while occasionally scanning a barcode. I honestly believed that working in a bookshop was the perfect way to get paid for doing my favourite relaxing hobby.
However, my quiet expectations were shattered during my second week. An older gentleman walked in looking quite distressed. He desperately wanted to buy a specific novel he had seen a few months ago, but there was a massive problem: he didn’t know the title, and he couldn’t remember the author’s name. When I asked him what he did remember, he simply smiled and said, “It was a big book, and the cover was bright blue.” At first, I felt completely helpless looking at the thousands of books on our shelves.
Instead of telling him I couldn’t help, I decided to play detective. I started asking him gentle questions about the story. He remembered that it was a historical novel set in France during the 1920s. Using these small clues, I went to the store’s computer and typed in various keywords. After ten minutes of scrolling through search results and running back and forth between the aisles to check book covers, I finally spotted a thick, bright blue spine on the bottom shelf.
When I handed him the book, his face completely lit up with joy, and he thanked me repeatedly. As I watched him leave the store with a huge smile, I felt an unexpected rush of pride. I realised that I had completely misunderstood what makes retail work special. The best part of my job isn’t hiding in a quiet corner with a book; it is connecting with people, playing detective, and experiencing the thrill of solving their problems.
1 Why was the writer excited about getting a job at the bookshop?
(A) She wanted to write her own historical novel in peace.
(B) She believed it would be a relaxing job where she could read.
(C) She needed a way to buy cheaper books for her collection.
(D) Her friends recommended it as an easy place to make money.
2 What information did the customer provide about the book initially?
(A) He remembered the exact name of the French author.
(B) He had a photograph of the book’s bright blue cover.
(C) He only knew what the cover looked like and the size of it.
(D) He knew exactly where the book was located on the bottom shelf.
3 How did the writer react to the customer’s difficult request?
(A) She told him it was impossible to search through thousands of books.
(B) She asked him questions about the plot and searched on the computer.
(C) She asked the store manager to help her find the correct aisle.
(D) She immediately guessed the title because it was her favourite book.
4 How did the writer feel after the customer left the store?
(A) Annoyed that she had to spend so much time searching the shelves.
(B) Worried that she had given the man the wrong historical novel.
(C) Disappointed because she didn’t have time to finish her own reading.
(D) Proud because she discovered she loved helping people solve mysteries.
5 What would the writer say about her experience working at the bookshop?
(A) I’m so glad I work in a quiet place where I can just drink tea and ignore the customers all day long.
(B) Customers who don’t know the title of a book are frustrating, so I usually just tell them to look for it themselves.
(C) I expected to just sit and read, but I learned that acting as a detective to help customers is actually incredibly rewarding.
(D) I finally found the blue book, but the physical stress of running between the aisles made me realise I want a different job.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In paragraph 1, the writer explains her expectations: “I pictured myself sitting behind a quiet wooden desk, drinking tea, and reading my favourite novels… I honestly believed that working in a bookshop was the perfect way to get paid for doing my favourite relaxing hobby.”
2 C – In paragraph 2, the writer states that the man didn’t know the title or author, but simply said, “It was a big book, and the cover was bright blue.”
3 B – In paragraph 3, the writer explains her method: “I started asking him gentle questions about the story… Using these small clues, I went to the store’s computer and typed in various keywords.”
4 D – In paragraph 4, the writer notes she “felt an unexpected rush of pride” and realized the best part of the job is “connecting with people, playing detective, and experiencing the thrill of solving their problems.”
5 C – This option perfectly captures the global meaning and the writer’s transformation. It summarizes her initial incorrect expectation (a quiet job reading books) and her ultimate