Practice English Reading Exercises for A2 – School Rules & Problems

Exercises:   12345

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

A lucky mistake in the school hall

Toby is a thirteen-year-old student who really loves science. Last Thursday, his science lesson was after the lunch break. Toby was talking to his friends in the playground and forgot to check the time. When he heard the school bell, he realized he was going to be late. He picked up his heavy bag and started to run down the long corridor, even though students must walk inside the school.

Toby was moving very fast and looking down at his new watch. Because of this, he didn’t see what was in front of him. He turned the corner quickly and crashed right into a tall man. Toby’s books and pens fell all over the floor. He looked up and saw it was Mr. Harrison, the headteacher!

Toby felt terrible and his face went red. He was sure that the headteacher was going to be extremely angry and give him extra homework. However, Mr. Harrison didn’t shout. Instead, he smiled kindly and helped Toby pick up his things from the floor. He just wanted to know if Toby was hurt.

After they collected everything, Mr. Harrison told Toby to walk carefully in the future. He also gave Toby a short note to give to the science teacher. Because of this note, Toby’s teacher wasn’t angry that he arrived late. Toby felt very lucky and decided to always follow the school rules.

1   Why was Toby hurrying inside the building?

     (A) He didn’t notice the time while chatting outside.

     (B) He wanted to talk to his friends in the playground.

     (C) He needed to pick up his heavy bag.

2   Why did Toby bump into someone?

     (A) He wanted to show someone his new watch.

     (B) He was looking down at his books and pens.

     (C) He wasn’t watching the path in front of him.

3   What did Toby expect Mr. Harrison to do?

     (A) pick up his things from the floor

     (B) make him do more schoolwork

     (C) ask if he was hurt

4   How did Mr. Harrison’s note help Toby?

     (A) It explained to the science teacher why he wasn’t on time.

     (B) It told Toby to walk carefully in the future.

     (C) It made the science teacher angry.

5   What is the best title for the article?

     (A) A lucky mistake in the school hall

     (B) How to run fast in the playground

     (C) The headteacher’s extra homework

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

Finding the Right Story

Fifteen-year-old Toby loved spending his free time playing video games. He almost never opened a book unless he had to for his school homework. So, when his headteacher announced a new rule in January, Toby was very unhappy. Every student had to read for twenty minutes a day at home. Toby thought it sounded like a very long time.

On the first evening, Toby picked up an old history book from his dad’s shelf. He sat on his bed and started reading. However, the information was completely uninteresting to him. He kept looking at his watch every two minutes to check the time. When the twenty minutes finally finished, he quickly closed the book and turned on his computer.

A few days later, Toby was in the school library. The kind librarian, Mrs. Green, noticed him looking bored. She gave him a short mystery novel about a teenage detective. She told Toby that finding the right story was the most important thing for new readers.

That night, Toby opened the mystery novel. After a few pages, he really wanted to know what happened next. When he finally looked at his watch, forty-five minutes had passed! He was completely amazed. By the end of the week, Toby finished the whole story. Now, he usually reads for an hour before bed and doesn’t play as many video games.

1   What was Toby’s reaction when the new school rule started?

     (A) He was unhappy because he had to do more homework.

     (B) He was not pleased about having to do the activity.

     (C) He decided to spend his free time playing video games.

2   What was Toby’s experience on the first evening?

     (A) He turned on his computer after two minutes.

     (B) He thought the reading material was extremely boring.

     (C) He happily picked up an old history book from the shelf.

3   How did Mrs. Green help Toby?

     (A) She noticed him looking bored in the school library.

     (B) She wrote a short mystery novel about a teenage detective.

     (C) She provided a book that was a much better choice for him.

4   What was the result of Toby reading the mystery novel?

     (A) He looked at his watch for forty-five minutes.

     (B) He spent more time reading than the school asked him to.

     (C) He decided to play as many video games as before.

5   What is the best title for the article?

     (A) The boy who learned to enjoy reading

     (B) How to become a teenage detective

     (C) An old history book from the library

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

A Mistake During the Exam

Thirteen-year-old Harry usually enjoys going to school, but yesterday morning was very difficult for him. His class had a really important science test. Their strict teacher, Mr. Green, gave the students their test papers and asked everyone to be completely quiet. For the first ten minutes, the room was absolutely silent.

Then, Harry made a mistake on his paper. He wanted to change his answer, but he couldn’t find his eraser in his pencil case. He looked at his best friend, Leo, who was sitting at the desk next to him. Harry quietly asked Leo to give him his eraser. Unfortunately, Mr. Green heard him speaking.

The teacher walked to Harry’s desk immediately. He didn’t look happy at all. Mr. Green took Harry’s test paper and told him to leave the classroom. He instructed Harry to stand and wait in the hall outside until the end of the lesson. Harry felt extremely embarrassed as he walked slowly past his classmates.

Harry waited alone in the hall for twenty long minutes. He felt very worried about his science grade. Finally, the school bell rang, and the other students left for their morning break. Mr. Green came outside and explained why talking during an exam is a terrible idea. Harry apologized for his mistake and promised never to do it again.

1   What did Mr. Green do before the test started?

     (A) He told the children they must not make a sound.

     (B) He gave the students a really important science lesson.

     (C) He enjoyed going to school yesterday morning.

2   Why did Harry talk to the boy next to him?

     (A) He couldn’t find his pencil case on the desk.

     (B) He wanted to borrow a piece of school equipment.

     (C) He wanted to change his best friend, Leo.

3   How did Harry feel when he walked out?

     (A) happy at all to leave the classroom

     (B) extremely embarrassed about his test paper

     (C) uncomfortable because everyone saw him go

4   What happened when the exam finished?

     (A) Mr. Green apologized for his mistake.

     (B) Harry left for his morning break.

     (C) Harry learnt why his actions were wrong.

5   What is the best title for the text?

     (A) A hard lesson to learn

     (B) How to pass a science test

     (C) Harry’s wonderful morning break

Exercises:   12345