Practice English Reading Exercises for A2 – Exercise & Keeping Fit
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
1 Who says they had to buy new things for their feet?
(A) Leo (B) Maya (C) Toby
2 Who says they feel very tired after training?
(A) Leo (B) Maya (C) Toby
3 Who explains that they are eating differently now?
(A) Leo (B) Maya (C) Toby
4 Who had a problem with their legs when they started?
(A) Leo (B) Maya (C) Toby
5 Who gets out of bed earlier than they used to?
(A) Leo (B) Maya (C) Toby
6 Who thinks the exercises before running are the most difficult?
(A) Leo (B) Maya (C) Toby
7 Who says they need to drink more during the day?
(A) Leo (B) Maya (C) Toby
School Athletics: The Physical Challenge
Leo
Joining the athletics team is great, but it is hard work. My coach told me to stop having burgers and sweet snacks. Now, I have plenty of chicken and vegetables instead. I also make sure I always have a big bottle of water with me because I am so thirsty all the time! I usually get up at 7:00 a.m., which hasn’t changed. The worst part for me is the stretching we do at the start of practice. Touching my toes is really tough for me! My feet are completely fine, though.
Maya
When I first joined the team last month, my knees and ankles ached so much after every run. The coach looked at my old trainers and said they were no good. So, I went to the sports shop and got a special, expensive pair, and now I feel much better. We do easy stretching before we run, which I actually enjoy. I still eat the same meals as before, but I know I need to be careful. I love athletics, but I am sometimes glad when practice is over!
Toby
The school athletics team meets three mornings a week. Because of this, my alarm clock rings at 6:00 a.m. now, instead of 7:30 a.m.! It was hard at first, but I bought a louder clock to help me wake up. During practice, we run a lot of kilometres. I always have a quick drink afterwards. By the time I get home from school later that afternoon, I usually want to fall asleep immediately because I have zero energy left. My legs feel strong, though, so I am happy about that.
ANSWER KEY
1 B 2 C 3 A 4 B 5 C 6 A 7 A
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
1 Who feels that their legs are much stronger now?
(A) Felix (B) Oscar (C) Julian
2 Who likes riding their bike where there is no traffic?
(A) Felix (B) Oscar (C) Julian
3 Who says their legs hurt when they first started this activity?
(A) Felix (B) Oscar (C) Julian
4 Who goes cycling with someone in their family?
(A) Felix (B) Oscar (C) Julian
5 Who uses their bicycle to travel to their classes?
(A) Felix (B) Oscar (C) Julian
6 Who got a different bicycle not long ago?
(A) Felix (B) Oscar (C) Julian
7 Who goes for a ride before they have their morning meal?
(A) Felix (B) Oscar (C) Julian
Building Leg Muscles on a Bike
Felix
I want to get fit, so I spend sixty minutes every day on my bike. It is the best way to get large leg muscles. I usually wake up very early and do it before I eat anything. When I return, I am always very hungry! I don’t go alone. My older brother comes with me, which makes it really fun. We usually ride on the busy roads in our town. The traffic can be bad, but we are careful. I have had the same old bicycle for five years, so I really want to save money for a new one!
Oscar
I used to catch the bus to college, but now I ride my bike there every afternoon. The journey takes exactly half an hour each way, which is great daily exercise. I recently spent my cash on a fantastic mountain bike. It is quite heavy, but building leg muscles is important to me. Since I began doing this last month, my lower body has so much more power! I never cycle with my parents or cousins because they prefer walking. My legs never feel painful because I always rest well at night.
Julian
A few weeks ago, I started riding my bike for an hour daily to make my legs bigger. During the first few days, my body was in terrible pain! It was really hard work, but it is much easier now. I always take some water and a small snack to eat during my trip. I hate noisy streets, so I only cycle on the quiet dirt paths in the local forest. It is great because you don’t see any cars or buses there! I don’t use my bike to go to school because it is too far. I just do it for fitness.
ANSWER KEY
1 B 2 C 3 C 4 A 5 B 6 B 7 A
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
1 Who needed someone to help them walk after the sport?
(A) Mark (B) Nina (C) Pablo
2 Who only felt the pain the day after they played?
(A) Mark (B) Nina (C) Pablo
3 Who plans to never try the activity again?
(A) Mark (B) Nina (C) Pablo
4 Who used something warm to make their body feel better?
(A) Mark (B) Nina (C) Pablo
5 Who thinks their muscles hurt because they didn’t stop to relax?
(A) Mark (B) Nina (C) Pablo
6 Who says the top half of their body was painful?
(A) Mark (B) Nina (C) Pablo
7 Who did the sport with a relative?
(A) Mark (B) Nina (C) Pablo
A Painful New Sport
Mark
I tried ice skating for the first time this weekend. While I was moving on the ice, I felt fantastic. However, when I woke up on Sunday, my legs felt terrible! Getting out of bed was really difficult. I think the problem was that I stayed on the ice for three hours without taking a break. My friend fell and hurt his shoulders, but my own arms were actually fine. I am definitely going to go skating again next month, but I will make sure to sit down and rest sometimes.
Nina
My class went to an indoor rock climbing centre. Pulling my body up the high walls was very hard work. By the end of the afternoon, my hands and shoulders ached so much that I couldn’t even carry my bag! It was a fun school trip, but I am certainly not going to do it a second time. My feet were okay, so I walked to the bus stop easily without any help. When I got home, I just had a cold drink and went straight to sleep.
Pablo
I went horse riding in the countryside with my uncle on Saturday. Sitting on the horse looked easy, but you have to use your legs a lot! When the ride finished, my knees and back hurt immediately, not the next morning. In fact, I couldn’t stand up straight, and my uncle had to hold my arm to get me to the car. When I finally arrived back at my house, I got into a really hot bath. The high temperature was exactly what my aching muscles needed to relax.
ANSWER KEY
1 C 2 A 3 B 4 C 5 A 6 B 7 C