Practice English Reading Exercises for A2 – Special Events & Competitions
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Planning the Summer Festival
My name is Liam, and I am fifteen years old. Every year, my school has a big summer festival for students and their families. Usually, only the teachers organize it, but this year, I am helping them plan the music and the food. It is a lot of hard work, but I really enjoy it.
First, I am working with the music teacher, Mr. Davis. At past festivals, the school just played CDs. But I told Mr. Davis that live music is much better. So, we asked some students who play in a rock band to perform. We are also going to have a DJ to play dance music later in the evening.
I am also helping Mrs. Smith with the food. Some students wanted to have hot dogs, but I thought we should have something different. We decided to buy lots of pizzas and make a big salad. I also checked with all the students to see if anyone needed special food, so we will have some great vegetarian options too.
The festival is next Saturday. I have to arrive very early in the morning to put the tables in the garden. I feel a bit tired because I spend all my free time planning, but I can’t wait. I think it is going to be the best summer festival ever!
1 What is different about the school festival this year?
(A) Only the teachers are organizing it.
(B) A young person is helping to plan it.
(C) It is for students and their families.
2 What did Liam decide about the music?
(A) He is going to play in a rock band.
(B) There will be real people playing instruments.
(C) The school will just play CDs.
3 What does Liam say about the food?
(A) They are going to cook hot dogs.
(B) Mrs. Smith only wants to eat special food.
(C) People will be able to eat pizzas and salad.
4 How does Liam feel about the festival now?
(A) He is upset that he has to put tables in the garden.
(B) He is tired but he is really looking forward to it.
(C) He is sad because he spends all his free time planning.
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) How to play in a rock band
(B) Helping with a special school event
(C) The best vegetarian food in town
ANSWER KEY
1 B 2 B 3 C 4 B 5 B
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A scary moment on stage
Tom is fourteen and he loves acting. This year, his drama teacher, Mrs. Smith, gave him the most important part in the school play. Tom was very happy but also quite nervous. He spent three weeks practicing his words at home. His mum helped him every evening after dinner, and soon he knew everything perfectly.
Finally, the night of the play arrived. The school hall was full of people. Tom wore a fantastic king costume. When he walked onto the wooden stage, the lights were very bright. For the first twenty minutes, everything went really well. Tom spoke loudly and clearly, and the audience smiled.
But then, something went wrong. Tom looked at the front row and saw his grandparents. Suddenly, he couldn’t remember his next sentence. His mind was completely empty. He stood there quietly for a few seconds. His hands felt cold, and he wanted to run away.
Luckily, his best friend Leo was also on the stage. Leo walked close to Tom and quietly whispered the first word of the sentence. Immediately, Tom remembered what to say. He smiled and finished the play wonderfully. At the end, everybody clapped loudly. Tom felt very proud and he can’t wait for the next play!
1 How did Tom prepare for the play?
(A) He learned his lines with a family member.
(B) His drama teacher, Mrs. Smith, helped him.
(C) He practiced after dinner for fourteen days.
2 What happened during the first part of the performance?
(A) The audience wore a fantastic king costume.
(B) Tom did a great job for a while.
(C) Tom walked into the bright lights.
3 Why did Tom stop talking?
(A) His hands felt cold.
(B) He wanted to look at the front row.
(C) He forgot what he needed to speak.
4 How did Tom solve his problem?
(A) Another boy gave him some assistance.
(B) He quietly whispered the first word.
(C) He clapped loudly at the end.
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) How to make a fantastic king costume
(B) A difficult situation during a show
(C) Why I want to run away
ANSWER KEY
1 A 2 B 3 C 4 A 5 B
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A Big Musical Challenge
Fifteen-year-old Maya loves playing the piano. She usually plays modern pop songs in her bedroom for fun. However, next month, there is a large music competition between all the high schools in her town. Maya’s teacher asked her to enter, so she decided to try. She felt quite nervous about playing in front of a big audience.
To get ready, Maya had to change her daily routine. Instead of watching TV or chatting with her friends after school, she practised the piano for two hours every evening. Her music teacher, Mr. Jones, chose a very difficult classical piece for her. He told Maya that she needed to learn every note perfectly before the big day.
Finally, the day of the competition arrived. Maya went to the town hall with her family. When she saw the other students with their guitars and violins, she started to worry because they looked very confident. But when Maya sat at the piano and began to play, she closed her eyes and forgot about the audience. She didn’t make a single mistake.
At the end of the evening, the judges gave out the prizes. A boy from another school won first place, but Maya got the silver medal! Her parents and friends clapped loudly. Maya wasn’t sad about losing the main prize. She felt incredibly proud of herself. She learned that working hard brings great results.
1 Why did Maya decide to play in the competition?
(A) She felt quite nervous about playing in front of a big audience.
(B) Her instructor suggested that she should participate in it.
(C) She usually plays modern pop songs in her bedroom.
2 How did Maya prepare for the big event?
(A) She chose a very difficult classical piece.
(B) She spent a lot of her free time training.
(C) She enjoyed chatting with her friends after school.
3 What happened when Maya arrived at the town hall?
(A) She felt anxious when she looked at the other teenagers.
(B) She brought her guitars and violins with her family.
(C) She made a single mistake in front of the audience.
4 How did Maya feel about the competition results?
(A) She was sad about losing the main prize.
(B) She thought the boy from another school won first place.
(C) She was extremely pleased with what she achieved.
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) The boy from another school
(B) The reward of practising hard
(C) How to play modern pop songs
ANSWER KEY
1 B 2 B 3 A 4 C 5 B