Practice English Reading Exercises for A2 – Volunteering & Community Service 1

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

Cooking for the Community

My name is Lucas, and I am fifteen years old. Most teenagers like to sleep late or play video games on Saturday mornings. However, I do something different. Every weekend, I volunteer at the Community Hope Center in my town. I help to cook free soup for people who are hungry and don’t have much money.

My Saturday starts very early. At eight o’clock, I go to the local market with the center’s manager, Mrs. Davis. We buy lots of fresh vegetables, like carrots, potatoes, and onions. The farmers often give us cheaper prices because they know we are helping people. Then, we go back to the large kitchen at the center, and I start washing and cutting the food.

At midday, the soup is finally ready. The doors open and many people come inside. It is my job to give everyone a warm bowl of soup and some fresh bread. The people are always very polite. They smile and say thank you. I sometimes sit and talk to them while they are eating. They have interesting stories to tell.

By three o’clock in the afternoon, the kitchen is clean and I can go home. I am usually very tired, and my feet always hurt. But I also feel incredibly happy. I love cooking and helping others. In the future, I hope to get a job as a chef in a famous restaurant.

1   What does Lucas say about his Saturday mornings?

     (A) He sleeps late and plays video games.

     (B) He prepares free food for poor people.

     (C) He gives money to the Community Hope Center.

2   Why do the farmers sell vegetables for less money?

     (A) Because they know the food is for a good reason.

     (B) Because Mrs. Davis is the center’s manager.

     (C) Because Lucas buys lots of carrots and potatoes.

3   What does Lucas do when the center opens at midday?

     (A) He eats some warm soup and fresh bread.

     (B) He tells interesting stories to the visitors.

     (C) He serves the meal to the people who come inside.

4   How does Lucas feel when he goes home?

     (A) He has little energy but feels very pleased.

     (B) He is angry because his feet always hurt.

     (C) He feels excited to go to a famous restaurant.

5   What is the best title for the article?

     (A) How to cook the best vegetable soup

     (B) A teenager’s weekend volunteer work

     (C) The easiest way to become a chef

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

A Warm Winter for Everyone

My name is Leo, and I am fourteen years old. Last month, the weather became incredibly cold. While I was walking to school in my thick winter coat, I noticed several people waiting at the bus stop without warm clothes. They looked freezing, so I decided I had to do something to help them.

I spoke to my head teacher, Mr. Harris, about my idea. He kindly agreed to let me put a large cardboard box in the main hall. After that, I spent the weekend designing colourful posters. The posters asked my classmates to bring in old coats that were too small for them now.

For the first two days, the box was completely empty. I felt a bit sad because I thought nobody cared. But by Friday afternoon, there was a big surprise. The box was full! My best friends helped me count the clothes. We collected fifty jackets in total, and we carefully washed and folded all of them.

On Saturday, my parents drove me to a local charity centre to give away the clothes. The volunteers there were amazed by our hard work. Seeing the happy faces of the families who received the coats was the best feeling in the world. Next year, I hope to collect even more!

1   Why did Leo decide to start his project?

     (A) He wanted to buy a thick winter coat.

     (B) He was waiting at the bus stop without warm clothes.

     (C) He saw some people who needed heavier jackets.

2   What did Leo do so people would know about his idea?

     (A) He made some paper notices for his schoolmates to read.

     (B) He agreed to put a large cardboard box in the main hall.

     (C) He brought in old coats that were too small for him.

3   What happened at the end of the school week?

     (A) The container was successfully filled with items.

     (B) The cardboard box was completely empty.

     (C) He felt a bit sad because he thought nobody cared.

4   How did the clothes get to the charity centre?

     (A) Leo drove his parents there on Saturday.

     (B) Leo’s mother and father took him there in their car.

     (C) The volunteers drove there to receive the coats.

5   What is the best title for the article?

     (A) How to carefully wash and fold fifty jackets

     (B) The thick winter coat at the bus stop

     (C) A successful student plan to help others stay warm

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

A Special Afternoon of Stories

My name is Sarah and I am fifteen years old. Most of my friends spend their weekends playing video games or going shopping. I enjoy those things too, but last Saturday, I wanted to do something different. Because I love reading, I decided to visit the local city hospital to read stories to the sick children.

In the morning, I went to the town library to find some good books. I didn’t want to take my boring school textbooks! Instead, I chose some funny picture books about animals and a few exciting adventure stories. When I arrived at the children’s building after lunch, I carried a very heavy bag of books.

I walked into a large room with five young children. At first, I felt a bit nervous because they were very quiet. But when I started reading a story about a clever dog, a little boy laughed loudly. Soon, all the children were listening and smiling. One tired girl even fell asleep while I was reading.

I stayed at the hospital for three hours. When I walked home, my voice was completely tired from speaking so much, but I felt incredibly happy. Helping people is a fantastic experience. Next weekend, I am going to return with some different stories. When I finish school, I hope to become a children’s doctor!

1   Why did Sarah go to the hospital on Saturday?

     (A) to share something she loves doing with young patients

     (B) to spend her weekends playing video games

     (C) to go shopping with most of her friends

2   What did Sarah take to the hospital?

     (A) some entertaining tales with drawings in them

     (B) her boring school textbooks

     (C) a very heavy bag from the children’s building

3   What happened when Sarah was in the room?

     (A) One of the kids found a tale very amusing.

     (B) The children felt a bit nervous because it was quiet.

     (C) All the children fell asleep while she was reading.

4   How did Sarah feel after the activity?

     (A) joyful, even though it was painful to speak

     (B) completely tired from walking home

     (C) ready to become a children’s doctor next weekend

5   What is the best title for the article?

     (A) Sharing Stories to Help Others

     (B) How to Become a Children’s Doctor

     (C) Playing Video Games at the Weekend

Exercises:   123456