Practice English Reading Exercises for A2 – Arts, Music & Literature
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The Teenager Sharing His Magical World
Fifteen-year-old Leo has always loved reading fantasy books about dragons and magic. Last year, he couldn’t find a new book to read, so he decided to write his own story. He spent two hours every evening typing on his laptop in his bedroom instead of watching TV with his family.
Writing a long novel was quite difficult. Sometimes Leo didn’t know what his characters should do next. He asked his English teacher, Mrs. Green, for some advice. She read his first pages and told him to make the beginning of the story more exciting. Leo worked hard to change it.
After six months, the novel was finally finished. Leo didn’t try to sell it to a bookstore. Instead, he put his chapters on a free website for young writers. During the first week, only his best friends read it. But soon, teenagers from different countries started leaving positive messages about his magical world.
Now, Leo’s story has over five thousand readers. Some fans even draw pictures of his characters and send them to him. He feels very proud of his work. He is going to write a second book next summer, and he hopes to become a professional author when he is older.
1 Why did Leo start writing his own story?
(A) He wanted to spend two hours every evening watching TV.
(B) He was unable to find another novel he wanted to read.
(C) He wanted to read fantasy books about dragons and magic.
2 How did Mrs. Green help Leo?
(A) She told him what his characters should do next.
(B) She gave him ideas to make the start of his tale better.
(C) She helped him to write a long novel.
3 What did Leo do when his book was ready?
(A) He tried to sell it to a bookstore.
(B) He posted it online for people to enjoy for free.
(C) He started leaving positive messages for young writers.
4 How do some people show they like Leo’s story?
(A) They write a second book next summer.
(B) They hope to become a professional author.
(C) They make art based on the people in his book.
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) How to sell a long novel to a bookstore
(B) The schoolboy who published his own fantasy tale online
(C) Why teenagers should draw pictures of dragons
ANSWER KEY
1 B 2 B 3 B 4 C 5 B
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The Teenager Who Makes Perfect Study Music
Fifteen-year-old Jamie loves music. Last year, he saw that his friends were very worried about their school exams. They often listened to loud pop music while they were reading their books, but it didn’t help. The songs had too many words, and this made it difficult for them to concentrate on their studies.
Jamie plays the piano very well, so he decided to do something to help his friends. Every evening after school, he went to his bedroom and started recording some new music. He didn’t sing or use heavy drums. He just played slow, quiet tunes on his electronic keyboard. He put ten of these relaxing songs together in a special playlist.
The next week, Jamie shared the music with his classmates. At first, some of them thought it was a bit boring, but they tried it while doing their homework. A few days later, they told Jamie that the music was actually amazing. They could focus easily and finish their tasks much faster.
Now, Jamie puts his relaxing music on the internet, and thousands of teenagers listen to it every day. He feels extremely happy because he is helping other students. When he leaves high school, Jamie hopes to study music at university and become a professional composer for films.
1 Why was pop music bad for Jamie’s friends when they studied?
(A) It contained lyrics that stopped them from thinking clearly.
(B) They only listened to it while they were reading their books.
(C) It made them feel very worried about their school exams.
2 What kind of music did Jamie record in his bedroom?
(A) Peaceful tracks that did not include any voices.
(B) A special playlist of loud pop music.
(C) Songs where he sang and used heavy drums.
3 What did Jamie’s classmates think of the playlist?
(A) They liked it a lot more after they used it for working.
(B) They thought it was a bit boring to do their homework.
(C) They told Jamie it was amazing the next week.
4 What does Jamie plan to do in the future?
(A) Get a job writing music for movies.
(B) Put his relaxing music on the internet.
(C) Leave high school to help other students.
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) A teenager’s helpful tunes for studying
(B) How to pass your school exams easily
(C) The boy who plays loud pop music
ANSWER KEY
1 A 2 A 3 A 4 A 5 A
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Brightening Up the Hospital Walls
Sixteen-year-old Maya has always loved art and drawing. Last year, she visited her sick aunt in a local hospital. While she was walking down the halls, she noticed that the walls in the children’s rooms were completely white and boring. The place felt very sad and quiet, so Maya decided to use her favourite hobby to change this.
She talked to the hospital manager, and he happily agreed to let her paint. Maya asked her friends from school to help her, but they were busy playing sports or doing their homework. Because they didn’t have time, Maya started the large project alone. She used her own pocket money to buy all the brushes and paint.
Drawing big pictures on the wall was quite hard work. At first, Maya painted a large green forest, but she really didn’t like the tall trees. Then, she changed her idea and decided to paint bright sea animals instead. The doctors and nurses loved the happy fish and turtles. It took her two long months to finish the whole room.
Now, the hospital looks amazing. The sick children feel much happier and less afraid when they look at Maya’s beautiful walls. Next summer, she is going to visit another hospital in her city to paint their waiting room. She hopes that her colourful art will always help people to smile.
1 Why did Maya want to paint the hospital walls?
(A) She thought the rooms looked too plain and unhappy.
(B) She wanted to visit her sick aunt in a local hospital.
(C) She needed a quiet place to practice her favourite hobby.
2 What did Maya do when she started the project?
(A) She paid for the art supplies herself.
(B) She received help from her friends from school.
(C) She spent her time playing sports or doing homework.
3 What happened while Maya was painting?
(A) She chose to create a different image on the wall.
(B) The doctors and nurses loved the large green forest.
(C) It took her two long months to draw tall trees.
4 What is Maya planning to do next summer?
(A) Decorate a different medical centre in her town.
(B) Make the sick children feel much happier and less afraid.
(C) Sit in a waiting room at another hospital in her city.
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) A young artist brings colour to hospital rooms
(B) How to paint a large green forest on a wall
(C) A teenager’s dream to work as a hospital manager
ANSWER KEY
1 A 2 A 3 A 4 A 5 A