Practice English Reading Exercises for A2 – Fashion, Design & Crafts

Exercises:   12345

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The Teenager Painting His School’s Shoes

Fifteen-year-old Toby has always loved drawing and fashion. Last year, his parents bought him some plain white trainers for his birthday. Toby thought they looked a bit boring, so he used his art supplies to paint colorful shapes on them. When he wore the shoes to high school, his classmates were amazed.

Soon, Toby’s friends asked him to decorate their footwear, too. Toby agreed, and he started a small weekend project. His friends usually buy the shoes and give them to Toby with a few ideas. Then, Toby spends his Saturday afternoons painting them. He only charges a little money for his hard work.

At first, Toby used normal pens, but the colors washed away in the rain. Now, he buys special paint that stays on the shoes even when the weather is bad. It takes him about four hours to complete one pair. Last month, he drew the wrong animal on his best friend’s shoe, but luckily, he easily changed it into a cool monster!

Toby is keeping all the cash he earns in a box in his bedroom. He plans to buy a better laptop for drawing digital pictures. Next year, he wants to go to a special art college. He feels extremely proud when he walks down the street and sees people wearing his fantastic designs.

1   What did Toby’s classmates think of his shoes?

     (A) They thought they looked a bit boring.

     (B) They bought him some plain white trainers.

     (C) They really admired what he created.

2   How does Toby get the shoes to paint?

     (A) Toby usually buys the shoes himself.

     (B) The other teenagers provide the footwear for him.

     (C) He charges a little money to go to the shops.

3   What is true about Toby’s painting process?

     (A) He uses normal pens to complete one pair.

     (B) The colors he uses now do not disappear in the wet.

     (C) He drew the wrong animal on his own shoe.

4   Why is Toby saving his cash?

     (A) To pay to go to a special art college next year.

     (B) To get a new computer for his artwork.

     (C) To give it to people wearing his fantastic designs.

5   What is the best title for the article?

     (A) The teenager whose art is on his friends’ feet

     (B) How to buy special paint for winter weather

     (C) The school with the best weekend art projects

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

Lily’s Silver Rings

Fifteen-year-old Lily has always loved fashion and jewellery. Last year, her grandfather gave her some old tools for her birthday. Lily watched videos on the internet and started making her own silver rings in her bedroom. Her first rings were quite ugly and too big, but she didn’t stop trying. Soon, she learned how to make beautiful shapes.

When Lily wore her rings to school, her classmates loved them. They often asked where she bought them. When they found out she made them, they asked her to make some for them. Because of this, Lily decided to open an online store. Her parents thought it was a great idea and helped her create the website.

Running the business was not easy at first. Making silver rings took a lot of time, and Lily sometimes burned her fingers because the silver was very hot. Also, she was afraid because nobody visited her store in the beginning. However, after three weeks, someone from another country bought two rings! Lily was incredibly excited.

Now, Lily’s online store is very successful. She doesn’t spend the money she earns on clothes or video games. Instead, she buys better tools and more silver. Next year, she is going to take a class to learn how to make silver necklaces. She hopes that her hobby will become her future job.

1   What happened when Lily first started making rings?

     (A) The things she created were not very pretty.

     (B) Her grandfather gave her some ugly rings.

     (C) She decided to stop trying in her bedroom.

2   Why did Lily open her online store?

     (A) Her parents asked her to create the website.

     (B) Other young people wanted to pay for her art.

     (C) She wanted to wear her rings to school.

3   What was Lily’s problem in the beginning?

     (A) She burned her fingers after three weeks.

     (B) Someone from another country took a lot of time.

     (C) People did not go to her shop at the start.

4   What does Lily do with the money from her store?

     (A) She gets the items she needs for her hobby.

     (B) She buys clothes or video games.

     (C) She takes a class to learn how to make necklaces.

5   What is the best title for the article?

     (A) A teenager’s successful jewellery business

     (B) How to make beautiful silver necklaces

     (C) The grandfather who bought silver rings

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The Teenager Turning Old Trousers into New Fashion

Sixteen-year-old Chloe has always loved fashion. She often goes shopping with her friends, but she knows that buying new clothes is expensive and bad for the environment. Last year, while she was cleaning her bedroom, she found a lot of old jeans. They were too small for her, but she didn’t want to put them in the bin.

She decided to make something new. Her grandmother gave Chloe an old sewing machine and showed her how to use it. At first, cutting the thick material was very difficult and she made a lot of mistakes. However, she didn’t stop. She watched videos on the internet for hours and finally made a beautiful modern jacket.

The next week, Chloe wore her new jacket to school. Her classmates thought it was amazing. They couldn’t believe she made it from old jeans! Three of her friends asked her to make jackets for them, too. Chloe agreed, but she told them they had to bring their own old trousers.

Now, Chloe makes and sells her clothes on a popular website. She feels very proud because her hobby helps the planet. When she finishes high school, she is going to study design at university. She also hopes to start a club to teach other teenagers how to reuse their old clothes.

1   Why did Chloe keep her small jeans?

     (A) She preferred not to throw them in the rubbish.

     (B) She often goes shopping with her friends.

     (C) Buying new clothes is expensive.

2   What happened when Chloe first tried to create a jacket?

     (A) She finally made a beautiful modern jacket.

     (B) She watched videos on the internet for hours.

     (C) She found it hard to work with the heavy cloth.

3   What did Chloe tell her classmates to do to get a jacket?

     (A) Wear her new jacket to school.

     (B) Give her their used clothes to cut up.

     (C) Ask her to make jackets for them, too.

4   What does Chloe want to do in the future?

     (A) Show other young people how to upcycle.

     (B) Make and sell her clothes on a popular website.

     (C) Get a new sewing machine for her bedroom.

5   What is the best title for the article?

     (A) Why buying new clothes is bad for the environment

     (B) The girl making stylish jackets from old clothes

     (C) How to watch videos on the internet for hours

Exercises:   12345