Practice English Reading Exercises for A1 – Animals, Nature & Weather
Reading 1
Read the story. Write words to complete the sentences about the story.
You can use 1, 2 or 3 words.
The cat in the tree
Last Saturday afternoon, Tom and his sister Lucy walked to the big park. The weather was very windy. They wanted to fly their new red kite. Their small black cat, Midnight, went to the park with them. Midnight loved running and hiding in the long green grass.
Examples
Tom and his sister Lucy went to the ………big park……… on Saturday afternoon.
It was a ………very windy……… day.
Questions
1 The children wanted to play with a ………………………… in the park.
2 ………………………… is the name of the children’s small black cat.
3 The cat enjoyed hiding in the ………………………… .
Suddenly, a loud dog ran into the park. Midnight was very afraid. He ran quickly and climbed up a tall tree. The wind blew hard, and the small cat couldn’t come down. “Oh no!” said Lucy. “He is too high!” Tom called his cat, but Midnight just cried. Tom tried to climb the tree, but it was too difficult.
4 Midnight was afraid because a ………………………… came into the park.
5 The small black cat climbed up a ………………………… .
6 The cat couldn’t come down because the wind ………………………… .
7 Climbing the tree was ………………………… for Tom.
Then, a friendly park keeper saw the children. He had a long ladder. He put the ladder under the tree and climbed up carefully. He brought Midnight down and gave him to Lucy. The children said thank you. Midnight was safe and very happy.
8 A ………………………… saw Tom and Lucy.
9 The man used a ………………………… to climb up the tree.
10 When the cat was safe, the children said ………………………… to the man.
ANSWER KEY
1 new red kite 2 Midnight 3 long green grass
4 loud dog 5 tall tree 6 blew hard 7 too difficult
8 friendly park keeper 9 long ladder 10 thank you
Reading 2
Read the story. Write words to complete the sentences about the story.
You can use 1, 2 or 3 words.
The bear in the mountains
Last Sunday, Fred and his family went on a trip to the beautiful mountains. They traveled there in their new black car. Dad drove very carefully because the mountain roads were small and difficult. Fred sat in the back and looked out of the window. He liked looking at the tall green trees.
Examples
Fred went to the beautiful mountains with ………his family……… last Sunday.
The family traveled in their ………new black car……… .
Questions
1 Dad drove the car …………………… because the roads were small.
2 Fred looked out of the window from the …………………… of the car.
3 Fred enjoyed looking at the …………………… outside.
In the afternoon, the car stopped near a noisy waterfall. The family got out of the car to take some pictures. Suddenly, Fred’s younger sister, Daisy, pointed at a big grey rock. There was a big brown bear behind it! The bear was very hungry and ate some sweet fruit. The children were quiet and a little afraid.
4 The family stopped the car next to a …………………… .
5 The family wanted to …………………… when they got out.
6 Daisy saw a big brown bear behind a …………………… .
7 The bear ate some …………………… because it was hungry.
The big bear didn’t look at the family. After a few minutes, it walked slowly into the dark forest. Then, Mum said, “Let’s go back to the car now.” They got inside safely and drove down the mountain to their town. Fred was very excited. He talked about the hungry bear all evening.
8 The bear went into the …………………… slowly.
9 The family drove back to …………………… after they got in the car.
10 Fred was very excited and talked about the …………………… all evening.
ANSWER KEY
1 very carefully 2 back 3 tall green trees
4 noisy waterfall 5 take some pictures 6 big grey rock 7 sweet fruit
8 dark forest 9 their town 10 hungry bear
Reading 3
Read the story. Write words to complete the sentences about the story.
You can use 1, 2 or 3 words.
Mango the clever parrot
Paul lived in a nice house with his family. He had a beautiful pet parrot called Mango. Mango was red and green. He lived in a big cage in the kitchen. Every morning, Paul gave his parrot some fruit and water before school. Mango was a very clever bird.
Examples
Paul lived in a ………nice house……… with his family.
Paul’s beautiful pet parrot was called ………Mango……… .
Questions
1 The colours of the parrot were …………………… .
2 Mango lived in a big cage in the …………………… .
3 Paul gave his parrot water and some …………………… before school.
On Sunday afternoon, Paul’s mother cleaned the kitchen. She opened Mango’s cage but she didn’t close it. Mango was happy and flew out of the door. He flew into the living room. Paul’s baby sister had lots of toys there. Mango saw a bright yellow ball on the rug. He jumped on the ball and started to play with it.
4 Paul’s mother cleaned the kitchen on …………………… .
5 Paul’s mother opened the cage but she didn’t …………………… it.
6 Mango flew into the …………………… where Paul’s sister had lots of toys.
7 Mango started to play with a bright yellow ball on the …………………… .
Paul heard a noise and walked into the living room. He saw his parrot on the floor. Mango was very funny with the yellow ball. Paul laughed and took a photo with his tablet. Then, he carried his clever pet back to the kitchen.
8 Paul went into the living room because he …………………… .
9 Paul took a …………………… of Mango with his tablet.
10 Paul carried his …………………… back to the kitchen.
ANSWER KEY
1 red and green 2 kitchen 3 fruit/some fruit
4 Sunday afternoon 5 close 6 living room 7 rug
8 heard a noise 9 photo 10 clever pet/pet