Practice English Reading Exercises for A2 – Office Environment, Tech & Automation

Exercises:   123456789101112

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

1   Who felt worried about answering questions from the managers?

     (A) Thanh   (B) Ninh   (C) Thoa

2   Who says they practised their speech many times before the meeting?

     (A) Thanh   (B) Ninh   (C) Thoa

3   Who showed a short film during their presentation?

     (A) Thanh   (B) Ninh   (C) Thoa

4   Who wore clothes that they don’t usually put on?

     (A) Thanh   (B) Ninh   (C) Thoa

5   Who was surprised by how quickly the meeting ended?

     (A) Thanh   (B) Ninh   (C) Thoa

6   Who had a problem with the technology in the room?

     (A) Thanh   (B) Ninh   (C) Thoa

7   Who explains that their new program will help people save time?

     (A) Thanh   (B) Ninh   (C) Thoa

Presenting New Software Ideas

Thanh

I presented my idea for a new video analysis program. It automatically checks other channels online so creators don’t have to do it themselves. This will certainly give workers more free hours every week! I always wear a smart suit to the office, so I felt comfortable in the big boardroom. However, when I tried to start, the large screen on the wall wouldn’t turn on. I was quite stressed, but my boss fixed it. After that, I played a little movie to show exactly how my software works.

Ninh

My new software creates lots of different voices from written text. It is a fantastic tool! Before the boardroom meeting, I decided to put on a tie and a formal jacket, which I never normally do. I wanted to look completely professional! My laptop worked perfectly, and I didn’t have any issues showing my colourful slides. My presentation was great, but at the end, I was really afraid of what the directors might ask me. Thankfully, they only wanted to know simple things, and they really liked my voice program.

Thoa

I stood up in the boardroom to talk about my new language learning app. To get ready for the big day, I repeated my words in front of the mirror every night for a week. Because of that, I wasn’t frightened at all when I spoke to the managers. I didn’t play any movies; I just explained the grammar rules my app teaches. I was given thirty minutes, but I couldn’t believe it was over so soon! I was happy to chat with everyone and hear their thoughts.

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

1   Which person says that human workers are still needed?

     (A) Kevin   (B) Lara   (C) Toby

2   Which person says that people can finish their tasks quicker now?

     (A) Kevin   (B) Lara   (C) Toby

3   Which person points out that smart machines do not get tired?

     (A) Kevin   (B) Lara   (C) Toby

4   Which person thinks that there will be fewer jobs for people?

     (A) Kevin   (B) Lara   (C) Toby

5   Which person says that computers rarely do things wrong?

     (A) Kevin   (B) Lara   (C) Toby

6   Which person hopes to learn how to make smart machines?

     (A) Kevin   (B) Lara   (C) Toby

7   Which person mentions that workplaces are less dangerous now?

     (A) Kevin   (B) Lara   (C) Toby

Smart Machines at Work

Kevin

My dad works in a large office, and I visited him last week. They have new software that does a lot of the typing. Because of this, the staff save so much time and can often go home early! Before, people typed everything and sometimes spelled words incorrectly. Now, the new program writes things perfectly, with almost zero errors. My uncle works in a car factory with huge robots. He says nobody gets hurt anymore because the machines do all the heavy lifting. I am glad it is completely safe for him now!

Lara

I watched a TV programme about modern factories yesterday. It is amazing how much work the new robots can do! Real people usually want a break after a few hours, but these machines never need to sleep or stop for a sandwich. They just keep going all day and night. Some of my friends worry that these robots will leave humans with nothing to do, but I disagree. Actually, I am trying to get excellent grades at school. I really want to go to university and study how to create these clever computers myself!

Toby

I read that many businesses are buying smart software and robots. It is true that a computer can follow instructions very well. However, I think this could be a big problem in the future. If a robot does everything, lots of factory workers will stop being useful. It will be very difficult for them to find new ways to earn cash. On the other hand, machines cannot think exactly like us. If there is a difficult problem to solve, we still must have real men and women in the office to fix it.

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

1   Who uses an AI program to help them plan internet videos?

     (A) Leo   (B) Maya   (C) Sam

2   Who began using AI tools after going on a business trip?

     (A) Leo   (B) Maya   (C) Sam

3   Who likes how fast the computer program is?

     (A) Leo   (B) Maya   (C) Sam

4   Who thinks the AI sometimes gives silly answers?

     (A) Leo   (B) Maya   (C) Sam

5   Who reads the AI’s suggestions with a partner?

     (A) Leo   (B) Maya   (C) Sam

6   Who uses AI to find out what other similar businesses are doing?

     (A) Leo   (B) Maya   (C) Sam

7   Who says they must change the words the AI writes?

     (A) Leo   (B) Maya   (C) Sam

Brainstorming with AI

Leo

I make a lot of short films for my channel online. Before I turn on my camera, I use a smart computer program to get fresh thoughts for my advertisements. It is very useful for planning! However, not everything the software suggests is brilliant. Sometimes, the information is quite unusual and makes me laugh! Also, when it writes a message for my fans, I never just copy it. I always have to rewrite the sentences so they sound like my real voice. I usually do this alone in my bedroom.

Maya

I sell clothes on the internet. Thinking of new ways to sell things can be hard, so I use an AI app. I love it because it gives me ten amazing ideas in just a few seconds! It saves me so many hours. I also ask the program to check what other popular clothing stores are doing online. It helps me understand why people buy their dresses. My brother sometimes looks at my screen, but he doesn’t work with me. The computer’s words are always perfect, so I don’t need to fix anything!

Sam

Last month, I travelled to Hanoi for a big meeting about digital marketing. At the event, a speaker showed us how to use smart software to create campaigns. Since I returned from that journey, I use it every day! I work for a large travel company, and my desk is next to my friend, David. We always look at the laptop and read the software’s answers together. Then, we pick the best plan for our next advertisement. We never make videos, but we write a lot of emails.

Exercises:   123456789101112