Practice English Reading Exercises for A2 – Working Animals & Therapy Pets
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The Amazing Mountain Helpers
Sam is a fourteen-year-old student who loves reading about different countries. Last week, his geography teacher gave him an interesting book about walking holidays. While he was reading it, he learned something very surprising about traveling in the mountains.
The book described places where the mountains are very high and the paths are steep. Travelers often have to walk for many days to reach the top. However, they do not carry their own heavy bags. Instead, special animals do all this difficult work. They use donkeys!
Sam read that these donkeys are incredibly strong. They can walk on dangerous paths easily and they never fall down. At first, Sam felt sad for the animals because the travelers’ bags looked so heavy in the photos. But the book explained that the guides take excellent care of the donkeys. They get lots of good food and have long rests every day.
Sam was completely amazed by these wonderful animals. Usually, he hates walking and prefers taking the bus. But after finishing the book, he has changed his mind. He has decided to go on a mountain trip in the future. Now, he is saving his pocket money so he can travel and see these hard-working donkeys himself one day!
1 What did Sam learn from the book his teacher gave him?
(A) an unexpected fact about mountain travel
(B) how to have interesting walking holidays
(C) why his geography teacher loves different countries
2 What does the text say about the travelers in the mountains?
(A) They only walk for a few hours.
(B) They carry their own heavy bags.
(C) They have animals to help them with their things.
3 Why did Sam stop feeling sad for the donkeys?
(A) He saw some photos of them carrying heavy bags.
(B) He found out that people look after them very well.
(C) He learned that they can walk on dangerous paths.
4 What is Sam planning to do now?
(A) start taking the bus to school
(B) buy a new book with his pocket money
(C) keep his money to go on a journey
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) The student who wants to be a geography teacher
(B) How reading about animals changed a boy’s holiday plans
(C) Why travelers should carry their own heavy bags
ANSWER KEY
1 A 2 C 3 B 4 C 5 B
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The Airport’s Best Worker
Fourteen-year-old Jamie often goes to the local airport after school. His mother works there in a busy café, but Jamie doesn’t go there to drink hot chocolate. Instead, he loves watching the clever security dogs doing their job.
Last week, Jamie met a special dog named Max. Max is a small brown dog, but he has a very important job. He walks around the airport and uses his nose to check passengers’ luggage. Max is looking for dangerous items that people cannot bring onto airplanes. Many travellers think he is searching for food, but that is not true.
While Jamie was watching, Max walked around a large group of people waiting for their flight. Suddenly, the little dog stopped and sat down right next to a big blue suitcase. Jamie learned that sitting down is Max’s way of telling the security guards about a problem. A guard opened the bag and found some unusual plants. People cannot take these plants to another country.
At the end of the day, Max does not sleep at the airport. He goes home with Officer Smith, his trainer, to play and rest. Jamie thinks Max is amazing. In fact, Jamie has decided that he wants to train airport dogs when he finishes his studies.
1 Why does Jamie visit the airport?
(A) He enjoys observing the animals work.
(B) He wants to drink hot chocolate.
(C) He has a job in a busy café.
2 What is Max doing when he smells the bags?
(A) He is bringing things onto airplanes.
(B) He is searching for food.
(C) He is trying to find unsafe things.
3 How does Max show the guards that he has found a problem?
(A) He opens a big blue suitcase.
(B) He takes a seat on the floor.
(C) He walks around a large group of people.
4 What happens to Max after his job is finished?
(A) He leaves the airport with his handler.
(B) He must sleep at the airport.
(C) He continues to train with Officer Smith.
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) Jamie’s future job in an airport café
(B) How to travel with your dog on an airplane
(C) The clever dog that keeps travellers safe
ANSWER KEY
1 A 2 C 3 B 4 A 5 C
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Meeting a Four-Legged Hero
Thirteen-year-old Lily loves reading about amazing animals. Last Saturday, she visited a special animal festival in her town park. She didn’t go there to look at horses or birds. She went because she really wanted to meet a famous local dog named Buster.
Buster is a large, brown dog who did something incredible last month. Late at night, a dangerous fire started in his family’s kitchen. Everyone was sleeping quietly. Buster smelled the smoke and began barking extremely loudly. He didn’t stop until his owners woke up. Because of his noise, the whole family quickly escaped the burning house.
At the festival, Lily finally saw Buster standing with his owner, Mr. Davis. Lily felt a bit nervous at first because Buster was so big. But when she walked close to him, the brave dog just wagged his tail and licked her hand. She was surprised that a hero could be so gentle. Lily asked Mr. Davis if she could give Buster a dog biscuit, and the friendly animal happily ate it.
Meeting Buster was the best part of Lily’s weekend. On the way home, she talked to her parents about her future. Before, she wanted to be a vet. Now, she wants to become an animal trainer. She hopes to teach clever dogs how to keep people safe in the future.
1 Why did Lily go to the festival in the park?
(A) to read about amazing animals
(B) to see a well-known pet from her area
(C) to look at horses or birds
2 How did Buster save his family?
(A) He put out a dangerous fire in his family’s kitchen.
(B) He was sleeping quietly inside the burning house.
(C) He made a loud sound to wake his owners up.
3 What surprised Lily about Buster?
(A) He behaved in a very kind and quiet way.
(B) He was standing with his owner, Mr. Davis.
(C) He felt a bit nervous at first because he was so big.
4 What did Lily decide on the way home?
(A) She wanted to be a vet.
(B) She talked to her parents about the best part of her weekend.
(C) She chose a new job to do when she grows up.
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) How to escape from a house fire
(B) A young girl meets a brave dog
(C) The famous animal festival in the park
ANSWER KEY
1 B 2 C 3 A 4 C 5 B