Practice English Reading Exercises for A2 – School Trips & Excursions
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A City Boy Visits the Farm
Thirteen-year-old Charlie lives in a busy city. He usually sees vegetables inside plastic bags at the supermarket. Last week, his science teacher, Mr. Green, planned a school trip to Sunny Farm. He wanted the students to understand how food is actually grown. Charlie was quite excited, although he thought the trip might be a little boring.
When they arrived, the farmer, Mrs. Smith, took them to the fields. First, she talked about potatoes. Charlie was surprised to learn that they grow completely under the ground! Mrs. Smith asked him to dig one up with his hands. His favourite t-shirt got very dirty, but he really enjoyed the activity.
After a lovely picnic, the class went inside a large glass building to see the tomatoes. Mrs. Smith explained that these plants need a lot of water and sunlight to become red and sweet. She gave Charlie a hose to water some tiny plants. He accidentally sprayed cold water on his best friend, Leo! They both laughed a lot.
Before getting back on the school bus, Charlie visited the farm shop. He used his pocket money to buy a box of fresh carrots for his parents. The trip made him understand that farming is extremely hard work. Now, Charlie wants to start a small vegetable garden on his balcony at home.
1 How did Charlie feel about the school trip before going?
(A) He wanted the students to understand how food is actually grown.
(B) He was looking forward to it but thought it might not be interesting.
(C) He expected to see vegetables inside plastic bags at the supermarket.
2 What did Charlie do in the potato fields?
(A) He pulled a vegetable out of the earth himself.
(B) He asked Mrs. Smith to dig one up with his hands.
(C) He washed his favourite t-shirt because it got very dirty.
3 What happened in the large glass building?
(A) Charlie explained that the plants need a lot of water and sunlight.
(B) Leo accidentally sprayed cold water on his best friend.
(C) Charlie got his classmate wet without meaning to.
4 At the end of the trip, Charlie
(A) spent his parents’ pocket money on a box of fresh carrots.
(B) planned to create a little farming space at his house.
(C) started to do some extremely hard work on the farm.
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) Charlie’s hard work at the supermarket
(B) How to grow sweet red tomatoes
(C) A surprising and educational farm visit
ANSWER KEY
1 B 2 A 3 C 4 B 5 C
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A Night at the Theatre
Fourteen-year-old Sam is a high school student. In his English classes, he is learning about a famous writer named William Shakespeare. Sam usually finds reading the old language very difficult and boring. Last week, his teacher, Mrs. Evans, told the class some exciting news. They were going to the big city theatre to watch a famous Shakespeare play called Romeo and Juliet.
On Friday evening, the students took a school bus to the city centre. Sam sat next to his best friend, Toby. When they arrived, Sam looked at the theatre. It was huge and very beautiful inside. Sam had never been to a real theatre before, only to the local cinema with his family. He suddenly felt quite excited about the evening.
The lights went down and the play began. To Sam’s surprise, he understood the story easily. The actors spoke clearly and moved around the stage with lots of energy. The actors’ fights were very fast and exciting. Sam thought it was much better than just reading the words in a thick book at a desk.
After the show, the students travelled back to school. Sam talked to Mrs. Evans and thanked her for the trip. He learned an important lesson that night. Shakespeare’s plays are not just for reading in a quiet classroom; they are made for watching on a stage. Sam is already planning to see another play next month!
1 What does Sam usually think about studying Shakespeare?
(A) It is exciting news.
(B) It is hard and not very interesting.
(C) He likes reading the old language.
2 What do we learn about Sam in the second paragraph?
(A) He often goes to the big theatre with his family.
(B) He had never visited a real theatre before.
(C) He sat next to his family on the school bus.
3 During the play, Sam
(A) read the words from a thick book.
(B) moved around the stage with energy.
(C) had no problems following the story.
4 After the show, what did Sam understand about Shakespeare’s plays?
(A) They are best enjoyed by watching them.
(B) They are just for reading in a quiet classroom.
(C) They are about travelling back to school.
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) How to act in a school play
(B) A great experience at the theatre
(C) The history of a famous writer
ANSWER KEY
1 B 2 B 3 C 4 A 5 B
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A Weekend in the Mountains
Mark is fifteen years old and he really loves the outdoors. Last week, his science teacher organised a weekend camping trip in the mountains for his class. Mark was very excited about the trip, but he also felt a bit nervous. He usually sleeps in a comfortable bed, and this was his first time sleeping outside in a tent.
On Saturday morning, the students travelled by bus for two hours to reach the campsite. When they arrived, everybody had a job to do. Mark and his best friend, Leo, had to build their tent. The wind was blowing strongly, so the boys had a big problem keeping the tent on the ground. Finally, their teacher came over and showed them what to do.
After lunch, the class went for a long walk up the mountain. The weather became quite hot. Mark’s backpack was very heavy with all his water and snacks, so he felt incredibly tired. But when they reached the top, they saw a spectacular waterfall. They all sat down to eat their sandwiches and took lots of amazing photos.
In the evening, they sat around a fire, sang songs, and talked. At night, it was quite cold in the tent, but Mark enjoyed looking at the bright stars. The trip was difficult at times, but Mark thought it was a fantastic adventure. He is already asking his parents to buy him a new sleeping bag for the next trip!
1 Why was Mark anxious about the school trip?
(A) He had zero experience of staying in a tent.
(B) His science teacher organised it.
(C) He had a comfortable bed.
2 What problem did Mark and Leo have at the campsite?
(A) They couldn’t put up their tent because of the weather.
(B) They had to travel by bus for two hours.
(C) Their teacher had a big problem with the tent.
3 Why did Mark feel very tired during the afternoon walk?
(A) His bag was full of heavy things.
(B) The weather became quite hot.
(C) He sat down to eat his sandwiches.
4 What do we learn about Mark at the end of the story?
(A) He bought a new sleeping bag for the next trip.
(B) He had a great time and wants to camp again.
(C) He was quite cold around the fire.
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) An exciting weekend in nature
(B) How to build a tent in the wind
(C) The spectacular waterfall
ANSWER KEY
1 A 2 A 3 A 4 B 5 A