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

Exercises:   1234567

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

1   Which person finds the tasks at the center make them very tired?

     (A) Tom   (B) Emma   (C) Jake

2   Who goes to the rescue center with someone in their family?

     (A) Tom   (B) Emma   (C) Jake

3   Which person spends time with the animals to make them friendly?

     (A) Tom   (B) Emma   (C) Jake

4   Who hopes to go to university to learn more about animals?

     (A) Tom   (B) Emma   (C) Jake

5   Which person is responsible for washing the animals’ beds?

     (A) Tom   (B) Emma   (C) Jake

6   Who chose to help out at the center after speaking to a classmate?

     (A) Tom   (B) Emma   (C) Jake

7   Which person mentions that public transport doesn’t go near the center?

     (A) Tom   (B) Emma   (C) Jake

Volunteering at an Animal Rescue Center

Tom

I go to the animal center every Saturday morning. My father drives me because he likes helping out there too, so we always work together. We usually look after the older dogs. My main job is making sure their rooms are completely clean and giving them fresh blankets. It is quite a dirty job, but I don’t mind! Some people think it is hard work, but I always have lots of energy. I love playing with my own dog at home, but here I am usually too busy washing things to play.

Emma

Volunteering here is brilliant because I want to be a vet when I finish school. Learning how to take care of sick cats is perfect practice for my future degree. The center is deep in the countryside. Because there are no buses that stop out there, you definitely need a car to reach it. I usually get a lift from one of the managers. My sister loves animals too, but she doesn’t come with me. Lifting heavy bags of food means your arms and legs really ache by the evening!

Jake

I didn’t know about the rescue center until a mate from my class told me what a great place it was. I decided to join him last month. When I arrive, I usually wash the dirty food bowls. However, my favorite thing is sitting quietly with the scared rabbits and cats. If you are gentle, they soon learn not to fear humans anymore, which helps them find a new home faster! It isn’t difficult to travel there, as I just cycle from my village. I’m hoping to study photography at college next year.

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

1   Who says the weather was bad on the day of their visit?

     (A) Oliver   (B) Maya   (C) Lucas

2   Who bought a plant to keep at their house?

     (A) Oliver   (B) Maya   (C) Lucas

3   Who went to the greenhouse to complete some homework?

     (A) Oliver   (B) Maya   (C) Lucas

4   Who felt uncomfortably hot inside the building?

     (A) Oliver   (B) Maya   (C) Lucas

5   Who used a device to capture images of the rare flowers?

     (A) Oliver   (B) Maya   (C) Lucas

6   Who mentions that there were a lot of visitors inside?

     (A) Oliver   (B) Maya   (C) Lucas

7   Who learned facts from a person whose job is at the greenhouse?

     (A) Oliver   (B) Maya   (C) Lucas

A Visit to the Tropical Greenhouse

Oliver

I decided to visit the new glasshouse on Saturday morning. I didn’t see anyone else, so the paths were completely empty. The storm outside was terrible, and water was pouring from the sky, but I stayed dry among the fantastic tropical trees. I really wanted to get a beautiful flower from the gift shop to take home, but unfortunately, I forgot my wallet. The only problem was the heating. They keep it like a jungle for the rare trees, so I started sweating immediately. I had to carry my heavy winter coat in my arms!

Maya

My science teacher asked the class to write about unusual plants, so I travelled to the large greenhouse on Sunday. It was a lovely, sunny afternoon. I spent two hours looking at the strange, colourful leaves for my school assignment. I didn’t chat with anyone who looks after the place, but there were lots of signs with useful information. I couldn’t write everything down, so I pulled out my smartphone and got some amazing photos of the brightest flowers. The temperature was perfectly warm, not like a hot oven, so I stayed there until it closed!

Lucas

I went to the greenhouse just for fun, not because of any school lessons. When I walked in, I couldn’t believe my eyes! However, it was a holiday, so the building was completely packed with tourists. It was hard to move around the rare plants! Luckily, a very kind woman in a uniform showed my group around and explained how the plants survive. It was so interesting to hear her stories. I didn’t bring my camera, so I just looked at everything. Before leaving, I spent five pounds on a tiny green tree for my bedroom desk.

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

1   Who explains that the town has more people living in it now?

     (A) Mark   (B) Sarah   (C) David

2   Who mentions that there is a better place for police cars now?

     (A) Mark   (B) Sarah   (C) David

3   Who says that the old building needed a lot of repairs?

     (A) Mark   (B) Sarah   (C) David

4   Who states that the new station is easier for visitors to find?

     (A) Mark   (B) Sarah   (C) David

5   Who talks about the modern technology the police bought?

     (A) Mark   (B) Sarah   (C) David

6   Who explains that there wasn’t a quiet space to talk to people before?

     (A) Mark   (B) Sarah   (C) David

7   Who says that the town has more police officers than before?

     (A) Mark   (B) Sarah   (C) David

A New Home for the Local Police

Mark

I work as a police officer here. We really had to move because the old office was falling down! The roof let the rain in, and fixing it was just too expensive. Also, our team is much larger today, and we didn’t have enough desks for all the new men and women we gave jobs to. In the past, if someone came in to talk about a problem, everybody could hear. Now, we have closed rooms to listen to them privately. We still need better computers, though!

Sarah

I think changing buildings was a great idea. Our area isn’t small anymore because so many new families have bought houses here recently. We need a bigger police team to keep everyone safe. The old office was hidden down a dark, little street, and I never knew exactly where it was. The new one is right on the main square next to the supermarket. Anyone can see it and get there without a map! I usually walk, so I don’t know if they have enough space for visitors’ cars.

David

My shop is opposite the new police station. I think they moved because they needed to get better machines. I know they spent a lot of cash on the latest computers, cameras, and screens for the new place. Also, behind the old office, the street was always blocked. Now, they have a huge area at the back to leave all their vans and motorbikes safely. The building looks fantastic because they painted the outside recently, so they won’t have to spend any money fixing it.

Exercises:   1234567