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

Exercises:   1234567

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

1   Which person says that the lights stop working when a room is empty?

     (A) Leo   (B) Mia   (C) Noah

2   Who talks about eating outside the building?

     (A) Leo   (B) Mia   (C) Noah

3   Which person thinks the equipment on top of the school looks unusual?

     (A) Leo   (B) Mia   (C) Noah

4   Who explains that the school doesn’t need heating when it is cold?

     (A) Leo   (B) Mia   (C) Noah

5   Which person likes that the rooms get a lot of sun inside?

     (A) Leo   (B) Mia   (C) Noah

6   Who says the students learn about the environment from the building?

     (A) Leo   (B) Mia   (C) Noah

7   Which person mentions that the school produces things to eat?

     (A) Leo   (B) Mia   (C) Noah

Our Eco-Friendly School

Leo

Our new school is completely green! The best part is the technology. When everyone leaves a classroom, the electricity switches itself off, so we don’t waste energy. It is a fantastic way for us to study how to look after our planet. One thing I don’t really like is the roof. The big black solar panels on it just don’t look very normal to me. We also have a great canteen inside where we eat. It is always warm in there because we run around so much!

Mia

I think the design of our eco-friendly school is beautiful. Some people don’t like the solar panels, but I think they look really modern! My favorite thing is the large windows. They let in so much natural light, so we never need to turn on the lamps during the day. There is also a lovely garden full of pretty flowers. We don’t eat in the dining hall anymore. Instead, we have our sandwiches at the wooden tables in the fresh air. It’s the perfect place to sit with friends.

Noah

The new eco-building is amazing because it uses the sun for power. The walls are built with special materials. Because of this, the temperature inside is always high enough, even in December, and we never turn on the radiators! The bright lights in the science labs are great for studying, too. At the back of the school, we have a small farm area. The teachers help us plant vegetables like carrots and potatoes, which the chef uses for our lunches! It is a brilliant place to be a student.

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

1   Who stopped to get photographs of the water?

     (A) Leo   (B) Maria   (C) Sam

2   Who felt afraid during the walk?

     (A) Leo   (B) Maria   (C) Sam

3   Who crossed the bridge in the evening?

     (A) Leo   (B) Maria   (C) Sam

4   Who had to put on extra clothes?

     (A) Leo   (B) Maria   (C) Sam

5   Who did the walk with someone who lives in the area?

     (A) Leo   (B) Maria   (C) Sam

6   Who noticed wildlife near the bridge?

     (A) Leo   (B) Maria   (C) Sam

7   Who gave some money to cross the bridge?

     (A) Leo   (B) Maria   (C) Sam

Crossing the Old Stone Bridge

Leo

I visited the stone bridge early in the morning, so there was lots of bright light. Because there was a strong wind that day, I needed a thick jumper for the trip. The bridge is very famous, and you don’t need a ticket to walk on it, which is great. However, it is very high up and there is not much space for your feet. To be honest, I was really frightened! I kept my phone in my pocket the whole time, so I didn’t capture any memories of the place. I was just happy to reach the other side safely.

Maria

I wanted to learn about the history of the bridge, so I walked across it with a woman from the village. She knew everything about it! We had to buy tickets before stepping onto the stones, but it wasn’t too expensive. The bridge is quite narrow, but I wasn’t scared at all. Halfway across, I used my camera to get some great shots of the river under us. I hoped to see some fish or frogs, but there were none around. We finished our walk just before lunch.

Sam

My friends and I arrived at the bridge after the sun went down. There were small lights along the path, so it looked very beautiful. It was a warm summer night, so a t-shirt was fine. We didn’t have anyone to show us around, we just used a map. As we were walking slowly over the stones, we heard a quiet noise. Suddenly, we saw a family of ducks resting on the rocks below! It was amazing to see them. The bridge was quite small, but crossing it was actually perfectly safe and relaxing.

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

1   Who gets their tickets on the internet so they don’t have to wait?

     (A) Liam   (B) Zara   (C) Noah

2   Who prefers visiting the rink when there are fewer people?

     (A) Liam   (B) Zara   (C) Noah

3   Who learned how to skate from someone in their family?

     (A) Liam   (B) Zara   (C) Noah

4   Who thinks the cold air inside is pleasant during the hottest months?

     (A) Liam   (B) Zara   (C) Noah

5   Who feels that the meals at the rink cost too much money?

     (A) Liam   (B) Zara   (C) Noah

6   Who had to get some different skates recently?

     (A) Liam   (B) Zara   (C) Noah

7   Who likes to hear songs while they are on the ice?

     (A) Liam   (B) Zara   (C) Noah

The Indoor Ice Rink

Liam

I love the ‘Ice World’ rink because it is open every day of the year. I always pay for my visit on my phone before I leave home. That way, I don’t have to stand in long lines with everyone else. It is always full of teenagers on weekends, which is really fun. However, I never get burgers or chips at the café there. You have to spend so much cash for a simple lunch! I just put some sandwiches in my bag instead. Also, I don’t own my own skates, so I use the ones they have at the door.

Zara

I live right next to the indoor rink. I don’t like busy places, so I usually go on Tuesday mornings. The ice is almost empty then, so I can practice easily. I never use the website for tickets; I just get my pass at the desk. I love putting my headphones on and moving fast to my favourite pop bands. The best thing is visiting during the summer holidays. When it is thirty degrees outside in August, this place is brilliant because you can quickly cool down. It is much better than the beach!

Noah

I go to the ice rink every week. My uncle showed me how to move on the ice when I was a little boy, and now I am quite fast! I don’t listen to anything when I skate because I like chatting with my mates. My feet grew a lot this year, so I couldn’t wear my old skates anymore. I had to go to a sports shop and choose another pair. After we finish skating, my friends and I always go to the café. I usually buy a hot dog because the prices are really low.

Exercises:   1234567