Practice English Reading Exercises for A2 – E-commerce, Finance & Smart Business

Exercises:   12345

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The Teenager Printing Buildings in His Bedroom

Seventeen-year-old Lucas has always been very good with computers. Last year, he saved enough of his pocket money to buy a 3D printer. At first, he just printed small plastic toys for his younger brothers. He watched videos on the internet to learn how to design things himself.

One weekend, his neighbor, Mr. Jones, visited. Mr. Jones works for a local architecture business and draws plans for new buildings. He saw Lucas’s plastic toys and had a brilliant idea. He asked Lucas to print a 3D model of a new house his company was building. Lucas agreed and was very excited.

However, making the first model was not easy. Lucas spent hours studying Mr. Jones’s paper drawings. The printing process was also very slow, and the machine sometimes stopped working. Lucas had to stay awake late at night to finish the project. But when Mr. Jones saw the finished model, he loved it!

Now, three different architecture businesses in the town pay Lucas to print their building models. He works every Saturday so he can still do his high school homework during the week. Lucas is keeping all his money in the bank. After high school, he hopes to go to university to learn how to become a real architect.

1   What did Lucas do when he first got his 3D printer?

     (A) He created things for his siblings.

     (B) He saved enough of his pocket money.

     (C) He bought small plastic toys.

2   How did Lucas get his first job making models?

     (A) He drew plans for new buildings.

     (B) Someone living near him requested his help.

     (C) He worked for a local architecture business.

3   What was difficult about making the first house model?

     (A) He had to make Mr. Jones’s paper drawings.

     (B) The printing process was too fast.

     (C) His equipment didn’t always work perfectly.

4   What is true about Lucas’s life today?

     (A) He pays three different architecture businesses.

     (B) He completes his high school homework on Saturdays.

     (C) He earns cash from several local companies.

5   What is the best title for the article?

     (A) The student who builds 3D models for businesses

     (B) How to buy a 3D printer with your pocket money

     (C) Why teenagers should learn to draw new buildings

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The Teenager Walking Dogs for His Future

Sixteen-year-old Leo wants to be an engineer when he is older. He knows that going to college is very expensive. His parents work hard, but Leo did not want to ask them for cash. Instead, he decided to start his own small business to save money for his future studies.

Because Leo loves animals, he thought dog-walking was a brilliant idea. He spent a weekend making colourful posters and put them up in the local supermarket. A few days later, a neighbor called Mrs. Higgins phoned him. She needed someone to walk her large dog, Buster, every afternoon.

At first, the job was quite difficult. Buster was very energetic and always pulled Leo down the street. Leo felt a bit tired after the walks. However, he didn’t give up. He watched some online videos about animal training and learned how to keep Buster calm. Soon, the walks became fun, and other neighbors noticed Leo’s excellent skills.

Now, Leo walks six different dogs every day after school. He doesn’t spend his money on video games or new clothes like his friends do. He puts all his earnings straight into a bank account. Leo feels incredibly proud of his growing business. He is learning how to be responsible and knows he will be ready for college in two years.

1   Why did Leo start his business?

     (A) To pay for his future education himself.

     (B) Because he wanted to ask his parents for cash.

     (C) Because his parents work hard to save money.

2   How did Leo get his first customer?

     (A) He phoned a neighbor called Mrs. Higgins.

     (B) He placed an advert in a store.

     (C) He spent a weekend at the local supermarket.

3   What happened when Leo first walked Buster?

     (A) The active pet made him feel weary.

     (B) Other neighbors noticed his excellent skills.

     (C) He watched some online videos down the street.

4   What does Leo do with the cash he makes?

     (A) He uses it to buy new clothes like his friends do.

     (B) He stores everything he earns to use later.

     (C) He spends his money on video games.

5   What is the best title for the article?

     (A) How to make colourful posters for a supermarket

     (B) The schoolboy who walks dogs to pay for college

     (C) Why going to college is very expensive

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The Teenager Turning Tiny Stamps into Big Money

Fifteen-year-old Alex has a very unusual hobby for a teenager. When he was just eight, his grandfather gave him a heavy book full of colourful stamps. Alex loved looking at them. While his classmates played football on Saturday mornings, Alex walked around local markets to look for rare stamps.

Last year, Alex’s hobby changed. He bought a very old Spanish stamp at a market for only two pounds. When he looked on the internet, he was shocked. Someone wanted to pay fifty pounds for it! He sold the stamp and discovered that he could make a great profit. Then, he built a small website to sell more items.

In the beginning, his online shop was very quiet. For a whole month, nobody visited the website. However, Alex didn’t stop trying. He joined a special internet group for stamp collectors and posted clear photos of his items. Suddenly, people from many different countries started buying from him. Now, he is always busy packing boxes after school.

Alex is extremely happy with his successful business. He doesn’t spend the cash he makes on new video games or clothes. Instead, he saves his money in the bank. When he finishes high school, he plans to study business at university. He feels proud that he changed his quiet hobby into a fantastic job.

1   What did Alex do at the weekends?

     (A) He searched the markets for special items.

     (B) He played football on Saturday mornings.

     (C) He gave his grandfather a heavy book.

2   Why did Alex decide to build a website?

     (A) He realised people would pay a high price for his stamps.

     (B) He wanted to pay fifty pounds for it.

     (C) He bought a very old Spanish stamp at a market.

3   How did Alex get more customers for his shop?

     (A) By showing images of his products to an online community.

     (B) Nobody visited the website for a whole month.

     (C) He is always busy packing boxes after school.

4   What does Alex do with the money he earns?

     (A) He keeps his cash to pay for his future education.

     (B) He spends the cash he makes on new video games.

     (C) He buys clothes when he finishes high school.

5   What is the best title for the article?

     (A) The schoolboy who made a business from his hobby

     (B) How to study business at university

     (C) The teenager who collects video games and clothes

Exercises:   12345