Practice English Reading Exercises for A2 – Community Events & Festivals 4
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
My First Newspaper Job
My name is Sam and I am fifteen years old. Photography is my favourite hobby. Last week, my art teacher told me some exciting news. The town newspaper needed a high school student to take photos at the weekend. The town was having a community clean-up day at the local park. I felt a bit nervous, but I said yes immediately!
On Saturday morning, I woke up early and walked to the park. When I arrived, there were already hundreds of people there. Everyone was wearing heavy gloves and carrying large plastic bags. I walked around with my camera and took photos of my classmates picking up rubbish near the river.
After lunch, I saw something very interesting. The town’s mayor was there with a group of young children. They were planting small trees next to the sports field. I quickly took some pictures of them smiling and working together. Suddenly, it started to rain heavily, but luckily, my bag kept my camera safe.
On Sunday, I bought the newspaper. I couldn’t believe it! My photo of the mayor and the children was on the front page. The newspaper also printed my name under the picture. My parents were extremely proud of me. Before this weekend, I wasn’t sure about my future, but now I know I want to be a professional photographer.
1 What did Sam’s teacher talk to him about?
(A) A high school student who needed to take photos of her.
(B) A chance to use his camera for a local news company.
(C) A community clean-up day at his art school.
2 When Sam arrived at the park, he saw that
(A) people had something to put the waste in.
(B) his classmates were wearing heavy gloves and carrying cameras.
(C) hundreds of people were picking up his plastic bags.
3 What did Sam do after lunch?
(A) He planted small trees next to the sports field with some children.
(B) He used his bag to keep the town’s mayor safe from the heavy rain.
(C) He photographed an important person helping out in the town.
4 What do we learn about Sam in the last paragraph?
(A) The newspaper printed his parents’ names on the front page.
(B) He felt very pleased to see his image and name in print.
(C) He knew he wanted to be a professional photographer before this weekend.
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) How to plant small trees in the rain
(B) The best way to clean up the local park
(C) A successful weekend with my camera
ANSWER KEY
1 B 2 A 3 C 4 B 5 C
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A Night to Shine
Fifteen-year-old Lily loves watching music and dance competitions on television. She knows that many young people in her town are excellent at singing and dancing. However, they do not have a place to perform for an audience. So, last month, Lily decided to organise a special talent show just for them.
First, she needed to find a large room. She asked her teachers at school, but the sports gym was too small. Next, she visited the manager of the local town hall. Luckily, he loved her idea. He said she could use the building for free on a Saturday afternoon. Lily immediately began making colourful posters to advertise the event.
When the day of the show arrived, the hall was full of people. Many kids went on stage to sing pop songs, dance, or play the guitar. At the beginning of the afternoon, Lily felt quite nervous because she wanted everything to be perfect. But when she heard the crowd clapping and cheering, she relaxed and had a great time.
The talent show was a huge success. Everybody had a wonderful day. At the end, the manager of the hall asked Lily to organise another show next year. Lily happily agreed. She is already planning to make it even bigger and wants to include a comedy and magic category too!
1 Why did Lily decide to organise the event?
(A) to give local teenagers a chance to perform for people
(B) to watch music and dance competitions on television
(C) to teach young people how to be excellent at singing
2 Why did Lily choose to have the show at the town hall?
(A) The space at her school was not big enough.
(B) Her teachers asked her to visit the manager there.
(C) She needed a free place to make colourful posters.
3 How did Lily feel during the talent show?
(A) She was worried at first, but then she had fun.
(B) She felt quite nervous to go on stage to sing pop songs.
(C) She was upset because the hall was full of people.
4 What do we learn about the manager of the hall?
(A) He would like Lily to plan another event next year.
(B) He wants to include a comedy and magic category too.
(C) He organised a huge success at the end of the day.
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) A Special Show for Local Children
(B) How to Win a Television Competition
(C) The Best Sports Gym in Town
ANSWER KEY
1 A 2 A 3 A 4 A 5 A
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A Sweet Holiday Surprise
My name is Sophie, and I am fourteen years old. I really love cooking, especially making sweet things. Every December, our neighborhood has a big winter holiday market. People sell handmade gifts and hot drinks. This year, I decided to do something different. I wanted to bake cookies and give them to people for free to make them happy.
On Friday afternoon, I checked our kitchen cupboards. I needed a lot of things, like flour, sugar, and butter. I went to the large supermarket near my school to buy them. I also wanted to get some special dark chocolate, but the supermarket didn’t have any left. I had to walk to a small shop in the next street to find it.
I spent the whole of Saturday baking. My mom helped me mix everything together because my arms got tired. The kitchen was very warm and smelled amazing! By the evening, we had exactly two hundred chocolate cookies. I waited for them to cool down, and then I put them into pretty little bags with red ribbons.
The holiday market was on Sunday morning. It was freezing outside, but I wore my thickest coat. When I offered my cookies to people, they were very surprised that they didn’t have to pay. Everyone said they were delicious. At the end of the day, I didn’t have any cookies left. I felt tired but incredibly proud.
1 Why did Sophie decide to make cookies?
(A) She wanted to sell handmade gifts like other people.
(B) She hoped to bring joy to the people in her neighborhood.
(C) She needed to make some hot drinks for the winter holiday.
2 What problem did Sophie have when she went shopping?
(A) She had to buy flour and sugar from a small shop.
(B) She couldn’t find everything she needed in the first store.
(C) She forgot to check her kitchen cupboards before going out.
3 Why did Sophie’s mother help her?
(A) Because she wanted to put the cookies into pretty little bags.
(B) Because she needed to wait for the cookies to cool down.
(C) Because Sophie didn’t have enough energy to do all the mixing.
4 How did the people at the market feel?
(A) They were freezing outside in their thickest coats.
(B) They were tired but incredibly proud of Sophie.
(C) They were amazed that the food cost no money.
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) A special winter gift for the neighborhood
(B) How to make money at a holiday market
(C) The best supermarket for baking chocolate
ANSWER KEY
1 B 2 B 3 C 4 C 5 A