Practice English Reading Exercises for A2 – Open Spaces & Special Buildings

Exercises:   1234567

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

1   Who travelled to the botanical garden by bus?

     (A) Jamie   (B) Clara   (C) Felix

2   Who needed to do homework during their visit?

     (A) Jamie   (B) Clara   (C) Felix

3   Who bought food for the birds at the garden?

     (A) Jamie   (B) Clara   (C) Felix

4   Who thought the temperature was uncomfortably warm?

     (A) Jamie   (B) Clara   (C) Felix

5   Who went to the lake in the morning?

     (A) Jamie   (B) Clara   (C) Felix

6   Who says the birds approached them without fear?

     (A) Jamie   (B) Clara   (C) Felix

7   Who visited the lake with some schoolmates?

     (A) Jamie   (B) Clara   (C) Felix

Feeding Ducks at the Botanical Garden

Jamie

I had a completely free day with absolutely no studying to do, so my older sister and I went to the botanical garden. We caught the number 42 from my street and arrived late in the afternoon. We didn’t bring any snacks from home, so we paid for a bag of special seeds at the visitor desk. We stood by the beautiful lake and threw the seeds into the water. However, the ducks stayed out in the middle of the lake and didn’t come near us. It was quite a cool day, which was perfect for walking around the trees.

Clara

My mum drove me and my brother to the garden on Sunday. I didn’t go just for fun; I actually had to finish a science project about leaves! After looking at the plants, we walked down to the lake. We brought some lettuce from our kitchen to give to the birds, so we didn’t have to spend any money at the garden shop. Unfortunately, the sun was so strong that we were feeling very hot and needed a rest in the shade. It wasn’t the morning, so the ducks just slept on the grass far away and didn’t want our food.

Felix

I rode my bike to the botanical garden and arrived just after breakfast. The air was nice and chilly, so I wore a light jacket. I met a few guys from my class there. We finished all our lessons on Friday, so we could just relax by the lake. I found some peas in my bag, and as soon as I dropped them on the ground, the animals walked right up to my shoes! I didn’t take public transport, so I didn’t have to wait for the bus to go home. We spent hours watching the wildlife.

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

1   Who entered the building when it was light outside?

     (A) Leo   (B) Maya   (C) Sam

2   Who heard an unusual sound from the factory?

     (A) Leo   (B) Maya   (C) Sam

3   Who wants the town leaders to pull the building down?

     (A) Leo   (B) Maya   (C) Sam

4   Who lost a personal item while escaping?

     (A) Leo   (B) Maya   (C) Sam

5   Who got advice from a parent to avoid the place?

     (A) Leo   (B) Maya   (C) Sam

6   Who noticed a wild creature inside the place?

     (A) Leo   (B) Maya   (C) Sam

7   Who used a camera to get a picture of the factory?

     (A) Leo   (B) Maya   (C) Sam

The Scary Old Factory

Leo

The empty factory at the end of my street looks terrible. My dad told me never to go near it because it isn’t safe. But last weekend, my friends and I decided to look inside. We went in the middle of the afternoon while the sun was shining, so we weren’t too afraid. It was completely quiet inside, not like a working business at all! I thought I noticed a black dog in the corner, but it 

was just a shadow. I didn’t take any pictures because it was too dark away from the windows.

Maya

I live very close to the old factory. One evening, my sister and I stood outside in the dark. I used my smartphone to get a photo of the broken windows. Suddenly, we listened to a really loud ‘bang’ coming from the roof! We were terrified and ran back home as fast as possible. While we were running, my favourite winter hat fell on the ground, but I didn’t stop to get it! I just left it there. I don’t want the town to break the building, though. I hope someone fixes it up instead.

Sam

That empty factory has been there since I was a baby. My parents don’t really care about it, but I hate walking past it. Last Tuesday, I looked through a hole in the front door. I spotted a large fox sleeping on some old papers! I held my school bag tightly so nothing could fall out and wake it up. The building is very ugly and quite dangerous now. I really think the city needs to clear the space completely and build a nice green park for the neighbourhood there instead.

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

1   Which person says the building was in a different place before?

     (A) Peter   (B) Sarah   (C) David

2   Which person says the machine didn’t do any work for a long time?

     (A) Peter   (B) Sarah   (C) David

3   Which person explains that something dangerous happened to the building?

     (A) Peter   (B) Sarah   (C) David

4   Which person says the windmill helps make food for the town?

     (A) Peter   (B) Sarah   (C) David

5   Which person says that a rich family paid for the windmill?

     (A) Peter   (B) Sarah   (C) David

6   Which person tells visitors they can go up high inside the building?

     (A) Peter   (B) Sarah   (C) David

7   Which person says it is their job to show people around?

     (A) Peter   (B) Sarah   (C) David

The Old Wooden Windmill

Peter

This wooden windmill is very special. A family with lots of cash paid workers to put it together in 1750. Interestingly, it didn’t always stand on this hill. Fifty years later, they took it apart and carried all the pieces here, because the wind was much stronger. I know another old mill caught fire once, but luckily this one has always been completely safe. Today, people bring their sandwiches to sit on the grass outside, but you can’t actually buy any bread here.

Sarah

I get paid to walk around with tourists and explain the history of this amazing machine. We still use the wind to make flour. The baker down the street then uses it to bake fresh loaves for the people who live here! A long time ago, the large wooden arms broke during a bad storm. It sat empty and did nothing at all for twenty years before someone finally fixed it. Some people think a king built it, but it was just a poor farmer.

David

I visit the windmill often to take photographs, not to earn money. My favourite part is walking up the wooden stairs. When you reach the small window under the roof, you have a great view of the countryside! The history is quite exciting. In 1890, the dry wood started burning because it was too hot inside. The whole building was nearly lost, but farmers quickly brought water from the river. It only closed for one afternoon to clean up the mess, and hasn’t stopped since!

Exercises:   1234567