Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Cafés, Bakeries & Quick Bites 1

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a café near their college campus.

There are descriptions of eight cafés.

Decide which café would be the most suitable for the people below.

1   Lucas wants to buy an inexpensive sandwich for lunch. He is meeting a large group of classmates to chat and relax, so he needs a lively place. He also wants to sit outside in the fresh air to enjoy the sun.

2   Emma needs a silent place to prepare for her exams alone. She prefers eating plant-based meals and is looking for a café that serves vegan food. Because she studies until the evening, the place must stay open very late.

3   David has a short break and needs incredibly fast service so he isn’t late for his next class. He wants a place located right next to the university library. He is also looking for top-quality hot coffee to wake him up.

4   Sarah loves listening to live guitar bands while she eats. She is looking for a café that offers fun board games to play with her roommate. She also wants to try some delicious baked cakes and sweet treats.

5   Mark drives to college and needs a café with a free car park. He is bringing his laptop to finish an online project, so a strong internet connection is essential. He also wants soft armchairs to sit in comfortably.

College Campus Cafés

A The Student Yard

We are the most popular spot for hanging out with your friends after lectures! Grab one of our budget-friendly chicken or cheese rolls, perfect for saving your pocket money. You can enjoy your meal on our spacious open-air balcony, which has huge tables to fit all your mates comfortably.

B The Green Room

Need to concentrate? Our peaceful, silent study zone is perfect for individuals working hard on their university assignments without any distractions. We are incredibly proud of our meat-free and dairy-free menu, offering delicious plant-based bowls. We don’t close our doors until midnight, giving you plenty of time for late evening revision.

C Campus Beans

Situated just ten seconds away from the main university book borrowing building, we are the ultimate stop for busy learners. Our expert staff pour the most amazing, rich hot beverages in town. Best of all, our rapid takeaway system means your order will be in your hands almost immediately so you are never delayed.

D The Melody Café

Come and enjoy amazing local singers performing on our small stage every afternoon! While you listen to the tunes, you can challenge your companions to one of the many tabletop puzzles and card activities we provide. Don’t forget to taste our famous chocolate desserts, sugar pastries, and freshly baked sweet biscuits.

E The Comfort Corner

If you need to get online for your college homework, our lightning-fast wireless web connection will never let you down. Sink into our incredibly thick, relaxing sofas while you type on your screen. Commuting students will also be thrilled to know we offer a large, complimentary vehicle space right behind the building.

F Bite & Chat

This lively basement café is fantastic for meeting large groups of classmates after seminars. We serve incredibly inexpensive rolls filled with meats and salads that won’t empty your wallet. However, because we are located entirely underground, we have no exterior seating areas or windows to enjoy the fresh air.

G Midnight Owl Café

We keep our doors open until 1 a.m. every night, making us the top choice for late learners. The atmosphere is totally silent, so you can easily focus on reading your textbooks alone. Please note that our menu only features heavy meat dishes, with no plant-based options available at all.

H The Quick Stop

Located directly opposite the campus reading and research center, we are incredibly easy to find. Our staff are famous for handing over your food in under two minutes, perfect if you are rushing! We specialise in ice-cold fruit juices and frozen smoothies, but we do not serve any hot drinks.

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a quiet cafe for reading.

There are descriptions of eight cafes.

Decide which cafe would be the most suitable for the people below.

1   Sarah loves reading while having sweet baked desserts. She needs a cafe close to the railway lines because she catches a train home. She also wants to listen to peaceful traditional symphonies while reading.

2   Mark needs a cheap place to read his university textbooks. He likes modern pop music playing in the background. Since he usually studies with his classmates, the cafe must have large tables for groups.

3   Emma wants an absolutely silent environment to focus on her novels. She follows a strict plant-based diet and wants to eat a light lunch. Because the weather is warm, she prefers sitting outside in the fresh air.

4   David finishes work late and needs a place that stays open until midnight to read his book. He enjoys relaxing in very comfortable armchairs. He also wants to drink an excellent cup of hot chocolate.

5   Lily likes reading in buildings that have historical architecture. She wants to look at beautiful views of the river when she takes a break from her book. She always brings her small dog with her.

Quiet Cafes for Reading

A The Melody Bakery

Just a two-minute walk from the main transport hub, this peaceful spot is perfect for book lovers to escape the crowds. We serve the most incredible homemade chocolate slices and fruit tarts in town. Relax with your novel while relaxing instrumental piano and violin tunes play softly in the background.

B Campus Coffee

Looking for a highly affordable place to open your books? We offer fantastic student discounts on all our drinks and snacks! The cafe features a lively atmosphere with the latest chart-topping hits playing continuously. Our spacious wooden desks are designed to easily fit up to six people working or reading together.

C Green Garden Cafe

Experience complete peace in our reading cafe, where loud talking is actually not permitted! Enjoy the bright sunshine on our beautiful garden patio surrounded by nature. If you get hungry, we offer a wonderful daytime menu of delicious meat-free and dairy-free salads and soups to keep you healthy while you read.

D The Midnight Mug

We welcome night owls who want to get lost in a story! Our doors don’t close until twelve o’clock at night. Sink into our incredibly soft, deep sofas and let the hours pass smoothly. We are also famous for our wonderful roasted espresso and rich, warm cocoa topped with thick cream.

E Old Mill Roasters

Located in a stunning seventeenth-century stone building, this cafe is full of unique character. Look out our large glass windows to watch the water flowing past and boats sailing by. It is an inspiring place to enjoy literature, and we happily welcome your furry friends inside with a complimentary bowl of fresh water.

F The Commuter’s Cup

Conveniently located right next to the railway platforms, this is a truly great spot to grab a bite before your journey. We bake wonderful sweet treats, including famous carrot cakes. It is quite a lively environment, filled with loud modern rock and pop songs to keep you awake while reading.

G The Quiet Courtyard

Enjoy total silence in our dedicated reading zone. There are absolutely no distracting noises here! Our guests love to sit outside on our sunny terrace with their favourite novels. Our busy kitchen specializes in traditional beef dishes and roasted chicken, providing a heavy, satisfying meal for hungry book fans every day.

H Nightfall Cafe

Need to finish a chapter after hours? We stay open until well past midnight every single day. Try our fantastic selection of dark coffees and heated milk drinks. Please note that our seating consists entirely of traditional hard wooden benches, which helps guests stay awake and concentrate on their reading materials.

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a loud cafe to visit with friends after school.

There are descriptions of eight cafes.

Decide which cafe would be the most suitable for the people below.

1   Sam and his classmates want a place to hang out straight after their lessons finish. They love listening to loud rock bands and need a menu with inexpensive burgers and chips because they don’t have much pocket money.

2   Chloe and her best friend want a lively cafe to visit in the late afternoon. They are looking for a spot with bright, multi-colored neon decorations and want to enjoy popular charts music while chatting about their day.

3   Alex wants to find an exciting cafe to relax after a long school day. He loves spaces filled with different colored lighting and wants to eat low-cost fast food like pizzas while playing board games with friends.

4   Jessica is looking for a loud cafe to go to with her school friends at 4 p.m. She loves singing along to modern pop songs and wants a place that serves affordable fast food so they can eat cheaply.

5   Ben and Ryan want an energetic spot to visit once their classes are over. They love loud rock music and want a venue decorated with flashing colorful lights where they can play video games together.

Loud Cafes for Teenagers

A The Sound Shack

Opening daily at 3 p.m., this energetic cafe is perfect for students right after school. We play excellent heavy rock tunes at high volume, creating an awesome environment. Teens will love our menu of low-priced burgers, hot dogs, and fries, which are ideal for anyone on a tight budget. Come hang out with your classmates!

B Neon Dreams

Welcoming teenagers from 4 p.m. onwards, this stylish cafe is a brilliant place to unwind. The entire room is lit up by bright purple, green, and blue neon lamps. Our speakers play the latest top 40 pop hits every afternoon, making it a very fashionable and fun spot to chat with friends.

C The Game Box

Drop by right when the school bell rings! This lively venue features amazing flashing multi-colored lamps that create an exciting party atmosphere. We offer a huge selection of board games to play, alongside our famous, budget-friendly pizzas and warm wraps. It is the ultimate low-cost afternoon spot to relax after hard lessons.

D Chart Tops Cafe

A favorite spot for local students around 4 p.m. This loud and cheerful cafe always has the most famous pop anthems playing so you can sing along with your friends. Our kitchen serves delicious, low-cost fried chicken, onion rings, and burgers, ensuring you get a filling meal without spending too much pocket money.

E Pixel & Rock

Head here straight after your last lesson finishes! We play high-volume tracks from classic rock bands, and the entire room is decorated with bright flashing disco lights of every color. Teenagers can also challenge each other on our fun arcade video games. It is a wonderfully noisy and exciting afternoon destination.

F Midnight Blast

Looking for an awesome night out? We serve the cheapest fast food in the city, from low-cost burgers to budget pizzas. Our speakers blast loud rock and pop music until the early hours of the morning. Please note that we only open from 9 p.m. onwards, making us strictly a late-night weekend venue.

G The Retro Corner

This cozy afternoon cafe is filled with beautiful, colorful lamps and vintage neon decorations that look fantastic. We offer a wonderful selection of affordable fast food, including cheap hot dogs and fries. However, we maintain a completely silent and peaceful environment so students can read or complete their school homework without any noise.

H The Glitter Lounge

Open from 3:30 p.m., this energetic room is filled with flashing colored spotlights and loud popular chart music. It is a fantastic place for teenagers to dance after school. However, we do not serve any fast food or snacks, as our menu is strictly limited to premium, expensive fruit teas and organic juices.

Exercises:   123456