Practice English Reading Exercises for A2 – School Trips & Excursions
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
An Exciting Trip to Paris
Fourteen-year-old Emma loves learning French at her school in London. When her teacher asked if anyone wanted to go on a language exchange trip to France, Emma immediately said yes. She was extremely excited but also a bit nervous because she had never travelled to another country without her parents. Before leaving, she bought a nice box of English tea as a present for her host family.
The flight to Paris only took an hour. When Emma arrived at the airport, the Laurent family was waiting for her. They had a large sign with her name on it. Mr and Mrs Laurent were very friendly, but Emma found it difficult to understand them at first. They spoke much faster than her teacher!
During the first week, Emma went to a local high school with their daughter, Chloe. The school days were much longer than in England, and she had a lot of homework. Emma was worried about the history and science classes, but Chloe’s friends were very kind and helped her translate the difficult words.
By the end of the two weeks, Emma felt much more confident. Her vocabulary improved, and she could finally understand people when they talked quickly. When it was time to pack her suitcase, she felt quite sad. She had a fantastic time in Paris and hopes Chloe will come to stay at her house next summer.
1 How did Emma feel about going to France?
(A) She was anxious because she wasn’t travelling with her family.
(B) She was worried because her teacher asked her to go.
(C) She was extremely excited to buy a nice box of English tea.
2 What happened when Emma met her host family?
(A) The Laurent family was waiting for her for an hour.
(B) Her teacher spoke much faster than Mr and Mrs Laurent.
(C) She struggled to know what they were saying.
3 What was different about the high school in Paris?
(A) The lessons finished later in the day than she was used to.
(B) She went to a local high school without Chloe’s friends.
(C) She had a lot of homework in the history and science classes.
4 How did Emma feel when her trip finished?
(A) She was much more confident to pack her suitcase.
(B) She was unhappy because it was time to go home.
(C) She was sad because people talked quickly.
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) A memorable stay in another country
(B) Learning French at a school in London
(C) How to travel to Paris without your parents
ANSWER KEY
1 A 2 C 3 A 4 B 5 A
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A Lunchtime Surprise
Fourteen-year-old Leo was very excited. His class was going on a school trip to a famous old castle. The night before, he packed his school bag carefully. He put his camera, his raincoat, and his notebook inside. However, he left his lunchbox in the fridge!
On the bus the next morning, his best friend Mark asked him what he had for lunch. Leo opened his bag to check. He suddenly felt very worried. His sandwiches and apple were not there. He only had five pounds of pocket money in his wallet.
When they arrived at the castle, the tour was very interesting. They saw old weapons and climbed tall towers. But Leo was hungry and couldn’t stop thinking about food. At half past twelve, the teacher told the students to sit on the grass and eat their packed lunches.
Leo walked to the small castle café. He looked at the menu, but the hot meals were eight pounds. That was too expensive for him. Then, he saw a sign for a special offer: a slice of pizza and a bottle of water for four pounds and fifty pence. He bought it and went outside to sit with his friends.
The pizza was actually delicious! Leo thought it was much better than his usual cheese sandwiches. He was happy that he still had fifty pence left. He had a great day at the castle, but next time, he will definitely remember to check the fridge!
1 What mistake did Leo make before the trip?
(A) He forgot to put his food in his bag.
(B) He packed his notebook in the fridge.
(C) He left his camera and his raincoat at home.
2 How did Leo feel on the bus?
(A) excited about his five pounds of pocket money
(B) anxious because he didn’t have his meal
(C) sad because Mark ate his sandwiches and apple
3 Why didn’t Leo buy a hot meal at the café?
(A) They cost more money than he could pay.
(B) He preferred to look at the eight pounds menu.
(C) He wanted to spend all his pocket money on water.
4 What do we learn about Leo in the last paragraph?
(A) He bought some delicious cheese sandwiches.
(B) He lost his fifty pence at the castle.
(C) He really enjoyed the food he bought.
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) How to make a packed lunch
(B) A problem on a school trip
(C) The best hot meals in the castle
ANSWER KEY
1 A 2 B 3 A 4 C 5 B
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A Visit to Blackwood House
Lily is fourteen years old and her favourite subject is history. Last Wednesday, her class went on a trip to Blackwood House, a very old and famous building near her town. While the other students just wanted to look around, Lily had her notebook ready. She needed to write a long report for her homework.
The tour began in the huge old kitchen. The guide, Mr. Harris, explained how people cooked their meals hundreds of years ago. He spoke quite fast, but Lily was careful to write down everything he said. Some of her friends were talking quietly, but Lily didn’t listen to them because she wanted to get all the facts right.
Next, Mr. Harris took the group upstairs to the library. The room was full of old books and beautiful paintings. Then, the guide told them about a secret door behind the bookshelves. For the first time, Lily stopped taking notes. She was so amazed by the hidden door that she just wanted to explore the room.
At the end of the day, the students relaxed in the garden. Lily felt quite tired after all her hard work, but she was very happy. She read her notes and knew she had enough information for a fantastic school project. Now, she is sure she will get a top mark from her teacher next week!
1 Why did Lily have a notebook during the trip?
(A) She had to collect information for a school task.
(B) She just wanted to look around the famous building.
(C) She needed to write a long report for the other students.
2 What happened while the group was in the kitchen?
(A) Lily made sure to record the guide’s descriptions.
(B) Lily learned how she cooked her meals hundreds of years ago.
(C) Lily was talking quietly to some of her friends.
3 Why did Lily stop writing in the library?
(A) She wanted to learn more about an unseen entrance.
(B) She wanted to read the old books and beautiful paintings.
(C) She needed to take the group upstairs to the library.
4 How did Lily feel at the end of the day?
(A) confident that her assignment will be successful
(B) quite tired of relaxing in the garden
(C) sure she will get a top mark from her friends
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) A useful history trip for a good student
(B) How to find a secret door behind bookshelves
(C) The guide who spoke quite fast in the kitchen
ANSWER KEY
1 A 2 A 3 A 4 A 5 A