Practice English Reading Exercises for A2 – Part-time Jobs & Early Career

Exercises:   1234567

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

1   Which person began their job very early in the day?

     (A) Leo   (B) Maya   (C) Toby

2   Which person had to put on special things to stay safe?

     (A) Leo   (B) Maya   (C) Toby

3   Which person received some money for their work?

     (A) Leo   (B) Maya   (C) Toby

4   Which person got fruit from places high off the ground?

     (A) Leo   (B) Maya   (C) Toby

5   Which person had zero energy left when they finished?

     (A) Leo   (B) Maya   (C) Toby

6   Which person consumed some of the food while they were working?

     (A) Leo   (B) Maya   (C) Toby

7   Which person had to move items that were not light?

     (A) Leo   (B) Maya   (C) Toby

Helping Out on a Local Fruit Farm

Leo

I helped my uncle pick strawberries last weekend. I had to get out of bed at five o’clock while it was still dark outside! It was quite hard to wake up. We didn’t get any cash for helping, but my uncle gave us a huge bowl of fruit to take home instead. The little plastic boxes we used were quite light, so moving them around the farm was really simple. The best part of the day was that we could try the strawberries while we were busy. I think I put more in my mouth than in the boxes!

Maya

A farmer near my village needed teenagers to collect apples. We started the job at nine in the morning, which was great because I hate waking up before the sun. My task was to collect the full baskets and take them to the farmer’s truck. They were completely full of apples, so my arms really hurt from lifting such large weights all day. When five o’clock finally arrived, I just wanted to go to sleep immediately. However, the farmer gave me twenty pounds, which made me smile! I didn’t eat a single apple, though.

Toby

I spent Saturday on a farm collecting blackberries. These plants have sharp parts that can scratch you, so the farmer told us to put on thick trousers and long jackets. We also needed heavy gloves for our hands. The plants were actually huge, much taller than me! I had to stand on a ladder to reach the fruit at the very top. I wanted to taste one, but we had to wash them first. At the end of the afternoon, my friends needed a rest, but I felt completely fine and ready to play football!

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

1   Who found the machine buttons confusing to use at first?

     (A) Dan   (B) Mia   (C) Leo

2   Who says that their manager is very patient when they make mistakes?

     (A) Dan   (B) Mia   (C) Leo

3   Who had to learn how to fix the machine when it ran out of paper?

     (A) Dan   (B) Mia   (C) Leo

4   Who feels less worried about the job now than on their first day?

     (A) Dan   (B) Mia   (C) Leo

5   Who received help from a colleague to learn the system?

     (A) Dan   (B) Mia   (C) Leo

6   Who mentions that the café is always busy with customers?

     (A) Dan   (B) Mia   (C) Leo

7   Who says they have to be careful with the money in the machine?

     (A) Dan   (B) Mia   (C) Leo

Learning to use the Cash Register

Dan

Using the cash register was quite scary for me during my first shift. There were so many buttons, and I didn’t know which one to press to open the drawer. I was sure I would do something wrong and get fired! Luckily, an older worker named Sarah stayed with me for an hour and showed me how everything worked. Now, I feel much more relaxed. I even know how to put a new roll of paper inside when the machine tells me it is empty. It’s a great skill to have for future jobs.

Mia

I work in a supermarket where there are always long lines of people waiting to pay. It was very difficult to learn the correct way to type in the prices, and I often pressed the wrong key. However, my boss is a really kind man. He never gets angry when I mess up; he just smiles and tells me to try again. I have to count the coins and notes very carefully at the end of every hour because we can’t afford to lose a single cent. It is a big responsibility.

Leo

I work in the small shop at the station, and it is a very busy place. I find the register system simple to learn, but sometimes it stops working correctly. I had to practice changing the paper roll three times before I could do it fast enough! I don’t get much help from the manager, but I don’t mind. I like working here, although I get nervous when I see the long line of people waiting. I just focus on my work, and the time passes really quickly until my break starts.

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

1   Who works with someone in their family?

     (A) Toby   (B) Lucas   (C) Simon

2   Who wants to travel to the coast for their holiday?

     (A) Toby   (B) Lucas   (C) Simon

3   Who spent their own cash on things to wash with?

     (A) Toby   (B) Lucas   (C) Simon

4   Who thought the job would not be so tiring?

     (A) Toby   (B) Lucas   (C) Simon

5   Who puts up paper notices to find new customers?

     (A) Toby   (B) Lucas   (C) Simon

6   Who enjoys their favourite tunes while washing cars?

     (A) Toby   (B) Lucas   (C) Simon

7   Who starts doing their job very early in the day?

     (A) Toby   (B) Lucas   (C) Simon

Washing Cars for a Trip

Toby

My school is planning a holiday to the mountains next winter, so I need to save up! I clean cars in my street every Sunday afternoon. I imagined it would be a simple way to get cash, but my shoulders really ache after just two vehicles! I don’t do it alone because my younger brother comes outside to help me scrub the wheels. We don’t listen to anything; we just chat about football while we work. Luckily, I don’t need to buy anything because my dad lets us borrow all his buckets and cloths.

Lucas

I am keeping my earnings for a big city trip with my classmates. Finding people who need clean cars is easy because I just message my neighbours on my smartphone. At first, I asked my parents for some washing liquids, but they didn’t have any. I had to use my own pocket money to get sponges and soap from the supermarket! I always wash cars by myself. To make the time go faster, I connect my phone to a speaker and play all my top pop playlists. It makes washing cars so much fun!

Simon

My dream is to spend a week by the sea this summer. To pay for the hotel, I offer a car washing service. It is actually quite an easy job, so I never feel too exhausted. To make sure everyone on my street knows about my business, I stick large pieces of paper on the trees and bus stops. People usually call me quite fast! I prefer to do all the work at 7:00 a.m. on Saturdays. The street is quiet, the neighbours are asleep, and it isn’t too hot to work.

Exercises:   1234567