Practice English Reading Exercises for A2 – Neighbors & Neighborhood Life 1

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

A Sweet Welcome for the New Neighbours

My name is Toby, and I am fourteen years old. For a long time, the house next to ours was empty. But last Saturday morning, a big truck arrived. I looked out of my bedroom window and saw a new family moving in. I wanted to be friendly and welcome them to our street.

I decided to make a special present for our new neighbours. I went into the kitchen and prepared a recipe I know well. My mum helped me use the hot oven, but I did everything else by myself. After thirty minutes, the sweet treats were ready. They smelled fantastic, and I put them carefully on a beautiful white plate.

In the afternoon, I walked over to the house next door. I felt a bit nervous because I didn’t know the family. I knocked loudly on the front door. Suddenly, a boy opened it. He looked exactly the same age as me. I smiled, gave him the plate of cookies, and said hello.

The boy’s name was Leo. We stood outside and talked for ten minutes. I found out that he loves playing football, just like me! I invited him to come to the local park with my friends on Sunday. Walking back home, I felt incredibly happy. I made a great new friend just by baking some simple cookies.

1   Why did Toby decide to do something on Saturday morning?

     (A) He wanted to greet the new arrivals in a nice way.

     (B) He liked looking out of his bedroom window.

     (C) He noticed that the house next to ours was empty.

2   What does Toby say about making the cookies?

     (A) His mum did everything else by myself.

     (B) He completed almost all of the cooking tasks without assistance.

     (C) He decided to use the hot oven on his own.

3   How did Toby feel right before the door opened?

     (A) He was exactly the same age as me.

     (B) He was happy to knock loudly on the front door.

     (C) He was slightly anxious about meeting complete strangers.

4   After Toby introduced himself, he

     (A) asked his neighbour to play a sport with him the next day.

     (B) stood outside and played football for ten minutes.

     (C) told his friends on Sunday to bake some simple cookies.

5   What is the best title for the article?

     (A) A tasty gift leads to a great friendship

     (B) The family moving in on a Saturday

     (C) How to use a hot oven safely

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

A Noisy Morning Problem

My name is Toby and I live in a quiet street with my family. I am a student and I usually like my neighbourhood. However, two months ago, a new family called the Clarks moved into the house next to ours. They brought a very large brown dog with them. His name is Buster.

The problem happens every morning. At eight o’clock, I sit at the kitchen table to eat my breakfast and finish my school homework. Just then, the postman arrives with our letters. When Buster sees the man in his uniform, he runs to the fence and starts barking very loudly. The terrible noise always gives me a bad headache.

Last week, I asked my mum to do something about it. She went next door and had a chat with Mr Clark. He was very polite and said sorry. He promised to keep the dog inside the house until the postman finished his work. I felt really pleased because the next few mornings were completely quiet.

Sadly, the peace did not last long. Yesterday morning, the dog was outside again, making as much noise as before. I am quite angry now because it is hard to concentrate on my studies. Tomorrow, I am going to write a friendly letter to our neighbours to ask for their help again.

1   What does Toby say about his new neighbours?

     (A) They live in a quiet street with Toby’s family.

     (B) They came to live there recently with a pet.

     (C) They moved away from the house next to ours.

2   Why does the dog make a lot of noise at eight o’clock?

     (A) Toby eats his breakfast and finishes his school homework.

     (B) Buster sees Toby in his uniform at the fence.

     (C) A worker comes to deliver the family’s mail.

3   What did Mr Clark agree to do?

     (A) make sure his pet does not go outdoors

     (B) ask his mum to do something about it

     (C) have a chat with the postman next door

4   What is Toby planning to do next?

     (A) concentrate on his studies yesterday morning

     (B) make as much noise as the dog outside

     (C) send a nice note to the people living nearby

5   Why has Toby written this text?

     (A) to complain about the postman in his street

     (B) to describe an annoying situation with an animal

     (C) to explain how to train a large brown dog

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

A Helpful Neighbor

My name is Liam, and I am fourteen years old. Yesterday afternoon, I was walking home from school. When I entered my apartment building, I saw my older neighbor, Mrs. Higgins. She is eighty years old and lives on the third floor. She was standing at the bottom of the stairs with three large, heavy shopping bags.

She looked very tired, so I immediately walked over to her. I asked if she needed some help. She smiled and said, “That is very kind, Liam, but I don’t want to give you any trouble.” I told her I was happy to help and took the two heaviest bags from her hands.

We started walking up the stairs together. We went very slowly because the bags were quite heavy even for me! We stopped on the second floor to rest for a minute. While we rested, she told me that she bought lots of fruit and flour because her grandchildren were visiting for the weekend. She wanted to bake them a big apple cake.

When we finally reached her flat, I put the bags down by her front door. She was extremely thankful. She opened her bag and gave me a fresh chocolate biscuit to say thank you. I felt really good about helping her, and I promised to carry her bags anytime she needed me.

1   What did Liam see when he arrived at his building?

     (A) Mrs. Higgins coming down from the third floor.

     (B) An older lady waiting with some large bags.

     (C) A tired person walking home from school.

2   How did Mrs. Higgins reply to Liam’s offer?

     (A) She told him to take the two heaviest bags.

     (B) She said she was very happy to help him.

     (C) She was worried about making extra work for him.

3   Why did Liam and Mrs. Higgins stop on the second floor?

     (A) because they needed to take a short break

     (B) because Mrs. Higgins’ grandchildren were visiting

     (C) because Liam wanted to eat an apple cake

4   What happened at the end of the story?

     (A) Liam put his own bags down by the front door.

     (B) Mrs. Higgins gave Liam something sweet to eat.

     (C) Liam baked a cake with fresh chocolate.

5   What is Liam’s main reason for writing this text?

     (A) to explain how to bake a cake for grandchildren

     (B) to describe doing a kind thing for someone else

     (C) to complain about the heavy bags at his apartment

Exercises:   123456