Practice English Reading Exercises for A2 – Special Events & Competitions
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Making the school yearbook fun
Max is fifteen years old and he loves taking pictures. Last month, his teacher, Mr. Jones, asked him to help with the school yearbook. Mr. Jones gave Max a nice digital camera. Usually, yearbook photos are very serious. However, Max wanted his pictures to be different and make people laugh.
The next day, Max walked around the school during the lunch break. He went into the school canteen and saw his best friend, Liam. Liam was trying to eat a huge sandwich. Suddenly, tomatoes and cheese fell all over his shirt. Max quickly took a photo. Liam looked surprised, but then he smiled.
After that, Max visited the sports hall. Some girls were playing basketball. One of the players, Chloe, tried to catch the ball but she tripped. She fell right into a big pile of basketballs! Max caught the funny moment on his camera. Chloe laughed loudly and asked Max to send her the picture.
On Friday, Max showed his work to Mr. Jones. The teacher looked at the pictures and thought they were brilliant. He said they were exactly what the yearbook needed. Max felt extremely proud of his work. He hopes to buy his own camera soon and become a professional photographer one day.
1 What did Max decide to do for the yearbook?
(A) Take very serious photos.
(B) Give a nice digital camera.
(C) Create amusing pictures of the students.
2 When Max took a picture of Liam, his friend
(A) dropped tomatoes and cheese on Max.
(B) seemed glad after dropping his meal.
(C) walked around the school during the lunch break.
3 What happened in the sports hall?
(A) Max fell right into a big pile of basketballs.
(B) Chloe asked Max to catch the ball.
(C) A girl fell over during a game.
4 How did Mr. Jones feel about the photos?
(A) He was very pleased with them.
(B) He felt extremely proud of his work.
(C) He hopes to buy his own camera soon.
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) How to buy a nice digital camera
(B) Max’s fun school photography project
(C) The girl who loves playing basketball
ANSWER KEY
1 C 2 B 3 C 4 A 5 B
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A Morning to Remember
Fourteen-year-old Charlie usually hates the morning school assembly. The headteacher often talks for a long time about rules, and Charlie finds these meetings quite boring. Charlie really loves playing basketball, but recently he isn’t a very confident player. He sometimes thinks about leaving the school team because he feels he isn’t fast enough.
However, this Wednesday was completely different. When Charlie walked into the big school hall, he saw a famous basketball player, David Stone, standing at the front. Charlie couldn’t believe his eyes! He always watches David’s games on television every weekend with his dad.
David smiled and talked to the students about his life. He explained that he wasn’t always a fantastic athlete. When he was exactly Charlie’s age, his sports coach didn’t choose him for the best team because he was too short. But David didn’t just stop playing. Instead of sitting at home or playing video games, he practised throwing the ball in his garden every single evening.
Hearing this amazing story made Charlie feel incredibly positive. He realised that even the greatest sports stars have difficult times. After the assembly finished, Charlie didn’t want to leave his team anymore. He immediately asked his friends to train together on Saturday morning. Charlie is definitely ready to work hard and improve his skills!
1 Why does Charlie consider giving up his sport?
(A) He lacks belief in his own abilities on the court.
(B) The headteacher often talks for a long time.
(C) He finds these meetings quite boring.
2 When Charlie went into the hall on Wednesday, he
(A) watched David’s games on television.
(B) was amazed to see a very well-known sports star.
(C) couldn’t believe his dad was standing at the front.
3 What did the guest speaker say about his own teenage years?
(A) His sports coach chose him for the best team.
(B) He was sitting at home and playing video games.
(C) He worked on his skills at his house every night.
4 What did Charlie do straight after the presentation?
(A) He wanted to leave his team after the assembly finished.
(B) He organised an extra practice session for the weekend.
(C) He had difficult times with the greatest sports stars.
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) A special talk that changed a student’s mind
(B) Watching basketball games on television
(C) The headteacher’s morning school assembly
ANSWER KEY
1 A 2 B 3 C 4 B 5 A
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A Great Reward for Liam
Fourteen-year-old Liam is a good student, but he did something very special this year. He didn’t miss a single day of school. Even when the weather in winter was terrible or he felt a bit tired in the mornings, he always caught the school bus.
Yesterday was the last day of the summer term. All the students sat together in the main school hall. The headteacher, Mr. Davis, stood at the front and started talking about a special prize. Liam listened quietly, but he was thinking about his long summer holiday. He didn’t expect to hear his own name.
Suddenly, Mr. Davis called “Liam Smith” to the front of the hall. Liam was completely surprised. He walked slowly past his classmates. Mr. Davis smiled warmly and gave him a beautiful paper certificate. He explained to everyone that it was for perfect attendance because Liam was in his classes every day from September to July.
Liam felt extremely proud of his achievement. After school, he went home and immediately showed the certificate to his parents. They were so pleased with his hard work that they bought him a new video game to celebrate. Liam now knows that going to school every day is important, and he hopes to do it again next year.
1 What was special about Liam this year?
(A) He never stayed at home on a school day.
(B) He enjoyed the terrible weather in winter.
(C) He always felt a bit tired in the mornings.
2 What was Liam thinking about in the school hall?
(A) a special prize from the headteacher
(B) his upcoming break from studying
(C) his own name being called
3 Why did Mr. Davis give Liam the certificate?
(A) because he walked slowly past his classmates
(B) because he attended all of his lessons
(C) because he was completely surprised
4 What did Liam’s parents do after school?
(A) They went home and immediately showed the certificate.
(B) They decided to go to school every day next year.
(C) They got him a fun present for his success.
5 What is the best title for the text?
(A) How to play a new video game
(B) An excellent prize for being present
(C) Mr. Davis’s terrible winter weather
ANSWER KEY
1 A 2 B 3 B 4 C 5 B