Practice English Reading Exercises for A2 – Outdoor Adventures & Nature
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Becoming a Weather Expert
Fifteen-year-old Tom loves spending his weekends outdoors. He often goes cycling or walking in the hills with his classmates. However, last month, they had a terrible time. They went on a long bike ride, but it suddenly rained heavily. They didn’t have their coats and got completely wet. Tom decided he needed to change this.
Tom wanted to understand how the weather works. He downloaded a brilliant new app on his smartphone. It showed him information about the wind and different types of clouds. He also stayed after school to ask his geography teacher some questions. His teacher was very helpful and explained everything clearly.
Last week, Tom used his new skills for the first time. His friends wanted to visit the beach on Saturday afternoon. However, Tom looked at the app and saw that strong winds and dark clouds were coming. He told his friends to wait and suggested going on Sunday instead.
Tom was right! Saturday was very cold and wet, but Sunday was warm and sunny. The beach trip was fantastic, and his classmates were amazed. Now, nobody plans a weekend trip without asking Tom first. He enjoys doing this so much that he hopes to become a weather presenter on television one day.
1 Why did Tom decide to learn about the weather?
(A) He loves spending his weekends outdoors.
(B) A recent activity was ruined by unexpected rain.
(C) He went on a long bike ride to get completely wet.
2 How did Tom get information about the weather?
(A) He downloaded information about the wind and clouds.
(B) He stayed after school to use his smartphone.
(C) He used a mobile program and spoke to an instructor.
3 What did Tom do when his friends wanted to go to the beach?
(A) He advised them to change the day of their trip.
(B) He wanted to visit the beach on Saturday afternoon.
(C) He went outside and looked at the dark clouds.
4 In the final paragraph, we learn that Tom
(A) plans a weekend trip without asking anyone first.
(B) was amazed that Saturday was very cold and wet.
(C) would like to have a career talking about the weather.
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) A useful new skill for outdoor fun
(B) A terrible weekend at the beach
(C) How to make a new smartphone app
ANSWER KEY
1 B 2 C 3 A 4 C 5 A
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Keeping the Beach Clean
Fifteen-year-old Nina lives in a town near the sea. She loves walking on the sand and watching the fish in the water. But last month, she felt very sad. She watched a television programme about sea animals. It explained that turtles and birds often eat plastic because they think it is food, and this makes them very sick.
Nina wanted to help. The next day, she saw a poster at her school. It was an invitation to a beach clean-up on Saturday morning. Nina asked her classmates to go with her, but they were busy playing sports or studying for tests. In the end, she asked her dad, and he agreed to go with her.
On Saturday, Nina and her dad arrived at the beach early. They worked hard for three hours. They found a lot of plastic bottles, cups, and some old fishing nets on the sand. Together, they filled ten big bags with rubbish. Nina couldn’t believe that tourists left so many things behind.
When they finished, the leader of the clean-up thanked everyone. He gave them all a special t-shirt to say well done. Nina wore her t-shirt all weekend because she felt so proud. Next month, she is going to start a new club at her school to keep the local beaches clean.
1 Why was Nina unhappy last month?
(A) She saw some sick turtles and birds on the sand.
(B) She couldn’t find any fish in the water.
(C) She learned that rubbish is dangerous for sea life.
2 Who went to the clean-up with Nina?
(A) her classmates
(B) her father
(C) people playing sports
3 What surprised Nina on Saturday?
(A) having to work hard for three hours
(B) filling ten big bags with fishing nets
(C) the large amount of rubbish that visitors left
4 How was Nina rewarded for her work?
(A) She became the leader of the clean-up.
(B) She got a piece of clothing to keep.
(C) She started a new club at her school.
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) How to feed fish and turtles
(B) A teenager helps to protect nature
(C) The best weekend sports on the beach
ANSWER KEY
1 C 2 B 3 C 4 B 5 B
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A Summer in the Mountains
Sixteen-year-old Mark lives in a very noisy city. He usually spends his summer holidays playing video games in his bedroom or going to the local swimming pool. But this year, Mark wants to do something different. He is tired of the traffic and the crowded streets, so he has decided to organize a long camping trip in the mountains with three of his best friends.
Planning the holiday has taken a lot of time. The boys had a meeting at Mark’s house last weekend to discuss the details. His friend David wanted to camp near a lake, but Mark preferred the forest. Finally, they agreed on a campsite that has both. It took them hours to choose the right place!
After that, they had to think about what to take. Mark’s parents have a very large tent, so he is going to bring that. Another friend, Paul, is responsible for the food. They went to the sports shop yesterday to buy new sleeping bags. They were quite expensive, but they need to stay warm because the nights in the mountains are cold.
The trip begins next Monday. They are going to travel by train for four hours and then walk to the campsite. Mark is looking forward to spending a week in nature without any computers or televisions. He knows they will have a fantastic time away from the city.
1 Why does Mark want to go camping this summer?
(A) He wants to escape from the busy town.
(B) He wants to play video games in his bedroom.
(C) He wants to go to the local swimming pool.
2 Where are the boys going to camp?
(A) at a meeting at Mark’s house
(B) in a place with woods and water
(C) in an area that David wanted near a lake
3 What did the boys get from the sports shop yesterday?
(A) a very large tent
(B) the food for the trip
(C) something to sleep comfortably in
4 What is Mark excited about?
(A) travelling by train for four hours
(B) enjoying the outdoors without any screens
(C) watching televisions away from the city
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) How to survive a night in the forest
(B) The best summer video games
(C) Getting ready for a nature adventure
ANSWER KEY
1 (A) 2 (B) 3 (C) 4 (B) 5 (C)