Practice English Reading Exercises for A1 – Special Days, Parties & Weekend Fun
Reading 1
Read the story. Write words to complete the sentences about the story.
You can use 1, 2 or 3 words.
The Zoo Birthday Party
Last Thursday was Daisy’s birthday. She was nine years old. Her parents took her to the city zoo for a special party. Daisy invited her best friends. They went to the zoo on a big yellow bus. The children were very excited to see all the animals.
Examples
Daisy had her birthday ………last Thursday……… .
Daisy was ………nine years old……… on her birthday.
Questions
1 Daisy went to the ………………………… for a special party.
2 Daisy and her friends went to the zoo on a ………………………… .
3 The children felt ………………………… to see all the animals.
When they arrived at the zoo, they looked at the funny monkeys and the sleeping lions first. Then, Daisy’s mother said, “Let’s go to the giraffes now.” The giraffes were very tall and beautiful. A zoo worker smiled and gave Daisy a basket. There were lots of green leaves inside it. Daisy picked up some leaves, and a baby giraffe ate them carefully.
4 At the zoo, the children saw the funny monkeys and the ………………………… first.
5 Daisy’s mother wanted to go and see the ………………………… next.
6 A zoo worker gave a ………………………… to Daisy.
7 A baby giraffe carefully ate some ………………………… .
After that, Daisy and her friends sat on the grass near a lake. Daisy’s father opened a bag and took out a delicious chocolate cake. They sang a happy song and ate the food. Daisy said, “This is the best birthday party ever!”
8 The children sat near a lake on the ………………………… .
9 Daisy’s father had a ………………………… inside his bag.
10 Daisy thought it was the best ………………………… ever.
ANSWER KEY
1 city zoo
2 big yellow bus / yellow bus
3 very excited / excited
4 sleeping lions / lions
5 giraffes
6 basket
7 green leaves / leaves
8 grass
9 delicious chocolate cake / chocolate cake / cake
10 birthday party / party
Reading 2
Read the story. Write words to complete the sentences about the story.
You can use 1, 2 or 3 words.
The huge holiday cake
Yesterday was a special holiday. It was New Year’s Day! Oliver woke up early and went downstairs. His grandmother was already in the kitchen. She drank some hot tea. ‘Let’s make a surprise for your parents,’ she said. Oliver was very happy. He loved cooking with his grandma.
Examples
Yesterday was a special holiday called ………New Year’s Day……… .
Oliver woke up early and walked ………downstairs……… .
Questions
1 Oliver’s grandmother was in the ………………………… .
2 Grandma had some ………………………… to drink.
3 Grandma and Oliver wanted to make a ………………………… for his parents.
They wanted to make a huge chocolate cake. Oliver found three brown eggs and some milk in the fridge. His grandmother got the flour and a lot of chocolate. They put everything in a big blue bowl. Oliver helped to mix the food. Suddenly, some flour flew on Oliver’s nose! His grandmother laughed and cleaned his dirty face with a towel.
4 They decided to make a very big ………………………… .
5 Oliver got milk and ………………………… from the fridge.
6 They mixed all the food inside a ………………………… .
7 Grandma used a ………………………… to clean Oliver’s dirty face.
Grandma put the cake in the cooker. After forty minutes, the cake was ready and it smelled great. Oliver put some sweet fruit on top. Then, his parents walked into the kitchen. They saw the beautiful surprise and smiled. The family ate the huge cake together and loved it.
8 The cake was in the cooker for ………………………… .
9 Oliver put ………………………… on top of the huge cake.
10 Oliver’s parents ………………………… when they saw the beautiful surprise.
ANSWER KEY
1 kitchen 2 hot tea 3 surprise
4 chocolate cake 5 three brown eggs 6 big blue bowl 7 towel
8 forty minutes 9 some sweet fruit 10 smiled
Reading 3
Read the story. Write words to complete the sentences about the story.
You can use 1, 2 or 3 words.
The Exciting Board Game
Last Saturday afternoon, Leo invited his best friends, Dan and Kim, to his house. It was raining a lot outside, so they decided to stay in the warm living room. Leo showed his friends a beautiful new board game. His favourite aunt bought it for his birthday.
Examples
Leo invited his friends to his house last ………Saturday afternoon……… .
The children stayed in the ………warm living room……… because it was raining.
Questions
1 Dan and Kim are Leo’s …………………… .
2 Leo showed his friends a beautiful …………………… .
3 Leo’s …………………… bought the game for his birthday.
The three children sat on the green rug and opened the big box. The game was about brave pirates and a hidden treasure map. First, it was very difficult to play because the rules were new and long. But it was very exciting! They rolled the dice and moved their little ships slowly around the board. They played the game all afternoon.
4 The children opened the big box on the …………………… .
5 The new game was about a hidden treasure map and …………………… .
6 The game was …………………… at first because the rules were new and long.
7 The children played the exciting game …………………… .
At five o’clock, Kim finally found the treasure in the game and she won! Leo and Dan clapped their hands loudly. They were tired but very happy. Then, Leo’s dad brought them some cold orange juice and sweet chocolate biscuits. “What a great weekend!” said Dan.
8 Kim won the game when she found the treasure at …………………… .
9 After Kim won, the boys …………………… loudly.
10 Leo’s dad gave the children sweet chocolate biscuits and some …………………… .
ANSWER KEY
1 best friends 2 new board game 3 favourite aunt
4 green rug 5 brave pirates 6 very difficult 7 all afternoon
8 five o’clock 9 clapped their hands 10 cold orange juice