Practice English Reading Exercises for A2 – Weekend Activities & Leisure

Exercises:   12345

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

A Sweet Sunday

Sundays are always special in my family. Every Sunday afternoon, my parents and I sit together to drink tea and talk about our week. Usually, my mum buys some biscuits from the bakery. However, last weekend, my dad and I decided to do something different. We wanted to bake a large chocolate cake.

Before we started, we found a great recipe on the internet. We checked the cupboards in the kitchen. We already had plenty of sugar and flour, but we didn’t have any butter or dark chocolate. So, my dad and I walked to the local supermarket to buy what we needed.

When we got back home, the fun began. My dad mixed all the ingredients together in a big bowl. It was hard work! My job was to prepare the baking tin and turn on the oven. After we put the cake inside, the whole kitchen smelled amazing. I watched the clock because I couldn’t wait to eat it.

An hour later, the cake was finally ready. We put it on the table with our cups of tea. When my mum tried a piece, she smiled and said it was the best cake she had ever eaten. I felt really proud of our hard work. Next Sunday, I am going to try making apple pies!

1   What was different about last weekend?

     (A) The writer prepared a sweet snack with her father.

     (B) The writer’s mum bought some biscuits from the bakery.

     (C) The parents sat together to drink tea and talk.

2   Why did the writer and her dad go out to the shops?

     (A) to purchase a few things they did not have

     (B) to buy plenty of sugar and flour

     (C) to find a great recipe on the internet

3   While they were in the kitchen, the writer

     (A) made sure the cooker was ready to use.

     (B) mixed all the ingredients together in a big bowl.

     (C) watched the clock to see the hard work.

4   How did the writer feel at the end of the day?

     (A) very pleased because her mother loved the food

     (B) proud that she smiled and said it was the best cake

     (C) excited because she tried making apple pies

5   What is the best title for the article?

     (A) Baking a Special Cake with Dad

     (B) The Best Biscuits in the Bakery

     (C) How to Find a Great Recipe

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

A Windy Day at the Park

My name is Mark, and I am sixteen years old. Last Saturday, my parents were busy painting the house. It was a very windy day, so I decided to take my younger brother, Toby, and my sister, Emma, to the local park. I wanted to teach them how to fly a kite.

When we arrived, Toby wanted to hold the kite first. He was very excited, but he ran too fast and dropped it on the grass. Then, Emma tried to fly it, but the wind stopped for a few minutes. The kite didn’t go up, and the children started to feel a bit sad.

I told them not to worry. I held the kite and waited for the wind to blow again. When it did, I let the string out slowly. Suddenly, the wind caught the toy, and it went high into the blue sky. Emma and Toby jumped up and down and cheered loudly.

We stayed at the park for two hours. I let Toby and Emma hold the string, and they watched the red kite fly above the trees. When we finally walked home, my siblings were tired but very happy. I felt really proud because I gave them a fantastic weekend afternoon.

1   Why did Mark take his brother and sister to the park?

     (A) His parents wanted to teach them to fly a kite.

     (B) He was busy painting the house.

     (C) His mom and dad had work to do at home.

2   What happened when Toby and Emma first tried to fly the kite?

     (A) The younger children couldn’t get it into the air.

     (B) The strong wind blew it onto the grass.

     (C) Toby was successful because he ran very fast.

3   How did Mark manage to make the kite fly?

     (A) He jumped up and down with the toy.

     (B) He gave out the string without hurrying.

     (C) He cheered loudly at the blue sky.

4   How did the children feel at the end of the trip?

     (A) Toby and Emma had little energy but were glad.

     (B) Mark felt tired after walking home.

     (C) The siblings felt really proud of their brother.

5   What is the writer doing in this text?

     (A) explaining how to build a new kite

     (B) describing a fun trip out with his family

     (C) giving advice about what to do in the park

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

A Perfect Weekend Indoors

My name is Toby, and I am fourteen years old. Most of my friends usually hope for sunny weather at the weekend. They want to go to the park and play football or basketball. However, I always feel happy when the sky is grey and it rains. I do not like getting hot and tired outside. I prefer staying inside my house.

My perfect weekend starts on Friday afternoon. After school, I always walk to the local bookshop to buy some new comics. Sometimes, my older brother, David, gives me his old superhero magazines, too. When I get home, I take a lot of pillows and make my bed very comfortable for the next day.

On Saturday morning, I never wake up early. I stay under my warm blankets and listen to the rain hit the bedroom window. My mum usually brings me a large cup of hot chocolate. Then, I start reading my new comics. I can spend six or seven hours following the amazing adventures of my favourite characters.

My classmates often say that I am a lazy person because I do not go out. But I do not mind. Reading in bed makes me feel extremely relaxed and calm. For me, a quiet, rainy weekend indoors is the best way to rest before school begins again on Monday morning.

1   How is Toby different from his friends?

     (A) He hopes for sunny weather at the weekend.

     (B) He wants to go to the park and play football.

     (C) He dislikes becoming exhausted from outdoor sports.

2   Where does Toby get his reading material?

     (A) He purchases them and also receives some from a family member.

     (B) He buys old superhero magazines from his older brother, David.

     (C) He walks to the local bookshop with his older brother, David.

3   What does Toby do on Saturday morning?

     (A) He wakes up early to make a large cup of hot chocolate.

     (B) He spends a long time reading stories in his cozy bed.

     (C) His mum listens to the rain hit the bedroom window.

4   How does Toby feel about his weekends?

     (A) He thinks he is a lazy person because he does not go out.

     (B) He finds that they are an excellent way to feel peaceful.

     (C) He feels extremely relaxed when school begins again on Monday.

5   What is the best title for the article?

     (A) Why I love a rainy weekend at home

     (B) The best sunny weather for playing football

     (C) How to buy new comics from the bookshop

Exercises:   12345