Practice English Reading Exercises for A2 – Culinary Tourism & Local Food

Exercises:   12345

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

A Delicious Breakfast on the River

Fifteen-year-old Leo loves traveling. Last week, he went on a family holiday to Thailand. On their second day, his parents woke him up at five o’clock in the morning. They wanted to visit a famous floating market. Leo felt extremely tired, but he was also excited to travel on the water.

When they arrived, his father hired a small wooden boat for them. The river was already very busy with hundreds of other tourists. Leo looked around and saw small boats everywhere. Local people were wearing large hats to protect themselves from the sun. They were cooking hot noodles and selling different vegetables.

After an hour on the river, Leo started to feel quite hungry. Suddenly, a small boat came near theirs. An old woman smiled at Leo. Her boat was full of beautiful fresh fruit. Leo bought some sweet yellow mangoes and a bunch of bananas. He ate them immediately. He thought they were the most delicious food he had ever tried!

The boat trip finished at midday because it was too hot. Leo felt completely full and very happy. He took dozens of wonderful pictures of the market to show his classmates. He hopes his family will return to the floating market before they fly back to England.

1   How did Leo feel on the morning of the trip?

     (A) He was sleepy but looking forward to going on the river.

     (B) He wanted to sleep because he was traveling on the water.

     (C) He was angry that his parents woke him up at five o’clock.

2   What did Leo see the local people doing?

     (A) preparing warm meals on their boats

     (B) buying different vegetables from tourists

     (C) protecting hundreds of other tourists from the sun

3   What happened when Leo wanted a snack?

     (A) An old woman ate some sweet yellow mangoes.

     (B) He bought a boat full of beautiful fresh fruit.

     (C) He purchased something tasty from a seller on the water.

4   What do we learn about Leo at the end of the text?

     (A) He hopes to fly back to England at midday.

     (B) He wants to visit the same place again soon.

     (C) He feels too hot to show his classmates his pictures.

5   What is the best title for the article?

     (A) How to cook hot noodles on a boat

     (B) The best way to fly to Thailand

     (C) A fantastic shopping trip on the river

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The Hotel’s Secret Soup

Fifteen-year-old Ben loves cooking. Last month, he went on a winter skiing holiday to the mountains with his parents and younger sister. It was freezing outside, so they decided to eat dinner in the hotel dining room every evening. The menu had many choices, but Ben usually picked chicken.

One night, the waiter suggested the special mushroom soup. Ben usually hates mushrooms, but he decided to try it. When he took a spoonful, he was completely amazed. The soup was fantastic! It had a wonderful taste of garlic and fresh cream. He finished his bowl very quickly and even ate his sister’s soup because she didn’t want it.

The next morning after breakfast, Ben walked to the kitchen door. He felt a little nervous, but he really wanted to know how to make the soup. A friendly chef named Carlos came out. Ben explained how much he enjoyed the meal and politely asked for the instructions to make it.

Carlos smiled and was very pleased. He didn’t just tell Ben the ingredients. Instead, he wrote everything down on a piece of paper. He also gave Ben a small bag of his special dry herbs to take home. Ben was thrilled. Now he is planning to make the delicious dish for his friends this weekend.

1   Why did Ben’s family stay in the hotel for their evening meals?

     (A) The temperatures outdoors were extremely low.

     (B) The menu had many choices for them.

     (C) Ben usually picked chicken for his dinner.

2   What happened when Ben tasted the soup?

     (A) He consumed food that belonged to another family member.

     (B) He remembered that he usually hates mushrooms.

     (C) He asked the waiter for the fresh cream.

3   Why did Ben go to the kitchen door?

     (A) to get his breakfast the next morning

     (B) to meet a friendly chef named Carlos

     (C) to learn the steps for preparing the dish

4   What did Carlos do for Ben?

     (A) He provided a written guide and something to put in the food.

     (B) He just told Ben the ingredients for the soup.

     (C) He decided to make the delicious dish for his friends.

5   What is the best title for the article?

     (A) How to Serve a Large Family Dinner

     (B) Discovering the Recipe for a Great Meal

     (C) A Winter Skiing Holiday in the Mountains

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The Best Secret in Town

My name is Sam, and I am fifteen years old. I really love eating dishes from different countries. Last Saturday evening, my friends and I were looking for a place to have dinner. We walked away from the busy city centre and quickly found a very quiet, narrow street.

At the end of the street, we saw a tiny Thai restaurant called “The Smiling Elephant”. From the outside, the building looked quite old and dark. Because of this, my friends almost decided not to go inside. But when we finally opened the door, it was a big surprise. The room was bright, warm, and the smell of the food was amazing.

We sat down and looked at the short menu. I chose a green chicken curry, and my friends got some fried noodles. They were worried that the meal would be too spicy for them, but the taste was actually perfect. Our waiter was very kind and he even gave us some fresh mango for free after our dinner!

I think everyone should try this brilliant place. The dishes were delicious, and the bill was much cheaper than the famous restaurants in the main square. It is a fantastic secret spot, and I am definitely going to eat there again for my mum’s birthday next month!

1   What did Sam and his friends want to do last Saturday?

     (A) Get a meal together.

     (B) Walk around the busy city centre.

     (C) Cook dishes from different countries.

2   Why did Sam’s friends nearly stay outside the restaurant?

     (A) They didn’t like how the building looked.

     (B) They wanted to find a big surprise.

     (C) They liked that it was old and dark.

3   What does Sam say about their food?

     (A) The flavours were exactly right.

     (B) It was too spicy for them.

     (C) The waiter chose a green chicken curry.

4   What did Sam like about paying for the meal?

     (A) It wasn’t as expensive as other places.

     (B) It was the same as the famous restaurants.

     (C) He paid for his mum’s birthday.

5   Why has Sam written this text?

     (A) To describe a great place to eat.

     (B) To explain how to cook delicious dishes.

     (C) To talk about the busy city centre.

Exercises:   12345