Practice English Reading Exercises for A2 – Clubs & Extracurricular Activities
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The Star of the School Play
Fourteen-year-old Emma has always loved acting, but she usually only gets small parts in school shows. Last month, her drama teacher, Mrs. Smith, told the class they were going to do a funny play. Emma decided to try for the main part. When she saw her name at the top of the actor list, she couldn’t believe it! She felt extremely excited.
However, preparing for the play wasn’t easy. Emma had to learn a lot of words. Every evening after dinner, she stood in the living room and practised her lines. Her older brother, David, read the other parts from the book to help her. Emma was quite worried that she might forget everything on the big night.
Finally, the evening of the show arrived. While Emma was waiting behind the stage, her stomach felt terrible. But when she walked out and saw her parents in the front row, she suddenly felt brave. She said her first line loudly, and the whole room laughed. From that moment, she relaxed and really enjoyed herself.
When the play finished, the teachers and parents clapped for a long time. Mrs. Smith gave Emma some beautiful yellow flowers. Emma was very proud of her performance. She told her parents that she definitely wants to go to drama college and become a professional actor when she leaves school.
1 Why couldn’t Emma believe it when she looked at the actor list?
(A) She got the most important role in the show.
(B) She usually only gets small parts in school shows.
(C) Her drama teacher told the class about a funny play.
2 What did Emma’s brother, David, do to help?
(A) He had to learn a lot of words.
(B) He practised the play with his sister.
(C) He stood in the living room after dinner.
3 What made Emma feel brave during the show?
(A) Waiting behind the stage.
(B) Saying her first line loudly.
(C) Seeing her family in the audience.
4 What is Emma’s plan for the future?
(A) She hopes to make acting her real career one day.
(B) She wants to give Mrs. Smith some beautiful yellow flowers.
(C) She plans to leave school and clap for a long time.
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) How to learn a lot of words
(B) A successful night on stage
(C) A terrible stomach ache
ANSWER KEY
1 A 2 B 3 C 4 A 5 B
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Speaking Up at School
Fifteen-year-old Alex is a student at Greenhill High School. This year, the school has new uniform rules. Students must wear a dark blue jacket and a grey tie every single day. Alex thinks the clothes are very uncomfortable, especially when it is hot. He really wants to change these strict rules.
One afternoon, Alex saw a large poster on the library door. It was for the school debate club. The club meets every Friday after school to talk about important topics. Alex decided to join because he wanted to share his ideas about the uniforms. His best friend, Ben, agreed to go with him.
At the first meeting, the teacher asked if anyone wanted to speak. Alex stood up. He felt a little nervous, but he spoke loudly and clearly. He explained that students usually learn much better when they wear their own comfortable clothes. He also said that the dark blue jackets are just too warm for the summer months.
Everyone in the room listened carefully to his words. The club teacher, Mr. Jones, smiled and said Alex had some excellent points. Alex felt very proud and happy. He didn’t change the rules today, but he is going to write a letter to the headteacher next week. He hopes the school will finally listen to him!
1 Why does Alex want to change the school rules?
(A) He wants to wear a dark blue jacket.
(B) The uniform doesn’t feel good to wear.
(C) He goes to Greenhill High School every single day.
2 Why did Alex decide to join the debate club?
(A) He wanted to talk about what students have to wear.
(B) He wanted to see a large poster on the library door.
(C) His best friend Ben agreed to go with him every Friday.
3 When Alex stood up to speak, he said that
(A) he felt a little nervous in the summer months.
(B) students learn much better when they wear dark blue jackets.
(C) teenagers can study well in their personal clothes.
4 What is Alex planning to do next week?
(A) send a written message to the boss of the school
(B) change the rules today so he can feel proud
(C) smile and tell Mr. Jones he had excellent points
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) The best debate club in the city
(B) How to buy a new school uniform
(C) Trying to change the school clothes
ANSWER KEY
1 B 2 A 3 C 4 A 5 C
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
School Life Through a Lens
Leo is fifteen years old and he loves taking photos. Last month, he joined the photography club at his secondary school. Most of the students in the club enjoy going to the park to take pictures of trees and birds. However, Leo is different. He wanted to photograph daily life inside his school.
Last Wednesday, Leo brought his new camera to the cafeteria during the lunch break. It was very loud and busy. He took photos of his classmates eating their sandwiches and laughing together. He also took some great pictures of the cooks making hot meals in the kitchen. Everyone was very friendly and smiled for him.
After lessons finished, Leo went to the gym to photograph a basketball game. This was quite difficult. The players were running and jumping very fast, so his first pictures were terrible. He had to change the settings on his camera. Finally, he managed to get a brilliant photo of his best friend throwing the ball.
A week later, the teachers decided to put Leo’s pictures in the school magazine. When the students saw the magazine, they loved the photos. Now, everybody asks Leo to take their picture! He is extremely proud of his hard work and hopes to become a professional photographer in the future.
1 What does Leo prefer to take pictures of?
(A) things that happen in his school
(B) trees and birds in the park
(C) the students in the photography club
2 What did Leo do during the lunch break?
(A) He helped the cooks making hot meals.
(B) He captured images of people in the cafeteria.
(C) He ate sandwiches and laughed with his classmates.
3 Why was photographing the basketball game difficult?
(A) He had to change the settings on his camera.
(B) His best friend was throwing the ball.
(C) The people in the match were moving quickly.
4 How did the students react to Leo’s photos?
(A) They decided to put Leo’s pictures in the school magazine.
(B) They requested that he capture images of them too.
(C) They decided to become a professional photographer.
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) The history of the school magazine
(B) A successful school photography project
(C) How to play a basketball game
ANSWER KEY
1 A 2 B 3 C 4 B 5 B