Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Department Stores & Malls 3
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The people below all want to find a late-night shopping center to visit.
There are descriptions of eight late-night shopping centers.
Decide which late-night shopping center would be the most suitable for the people below.
1 Sarah finishes her office job late and wants to buy smart clothes for her meetings. She needs a mall that stays open until midnight. She dislikes crowds and is looking for a peaceful, quiet place to shop.
2 Mark wants to purchase a fun toy for his daughter’s birthday after he finishes work. He hasn’t eaten yet, so he needs a place serving hot meals late. He drives, so a large car park is essential.
3 Jin is looking for some new trainers for his weekend running club. He also wants to relax and watch a new film afterwards. He travels by public transport, so the centre must be near a train station.
4 Emma needs to find some warm boots for her winter holiday. She is a student with a small budget and hopes to find some cheap offers. She also wants to get her hair styled while she is there.
5 Tom is searching for a new crime novel to read on his holiday. He would love to enjoy a quick cup of coffee while browsing. He prefers spending his evenings in a fresh, open-air shopping environment.
Late-Night Shopping Centers
A Moonlight Galleria
This elegant indoor center welcomes visitors until twelve o’clock at night. It features several excellent boutiques selling professional suits and business wear, perfect for upgrading your office wardrobe. The atmosphere is incredibly calm and silent in the evenings, offering a relaxing, noise-free escape from the busy city streets for late-night visitors.
B The Night Market
Drivers will appreciate our huge, free parking area located right outside the main entrance. Inside, you will discover a fantastic children’s store packed with board games, puzzles, and dolls. When you get hungry, our fantastic food hall remains open late, offering delicious, freshly cooked evening dishes to enjoy after a long day.
C Central Plaza
Located just steps away from the underground railway platforms, this modern mall is extremely easy to reach without a car. We have a massive sports department offering the latest athletic footwear. Afterwards, you can sit back and enjoy the newest popular action movies on one of our massive screens on the top floor.
D Value Retail Park
If you need to save money, our evening discount events offer incredible prices on everything! Check out our fantastic shoe stores, which have a great range of heavy footwear for the snow. Plus, our modern salon on the ground floor is open late to give you a fresh new look.
E Starlight Promenade
Take a lovely walk under the night sky at our beautiful outdoor shopping village. You can grab a delicious hot espresso or latte from our café to keep you warm while you explore. We also feature an amazing literature shop filled with fantastic stories and exciting mysteries to pack in your suitcase.
F The Sleepy Owl
This peaceful destination is completely free of loud music or large crowds, providing a wonderfully calm experience. We stay open all the way until midnight, so there’s absolutely no rush. We specialize exclusively in comfortable pyjamas and soft, relaxing clothes for wearing at home, so you won’t find business wear here.
G Westside Pavilion
Finding a space for your vehicle is incredibly simple here thanks to our large, multi-level garage. We also feature several fantastic late-night restaurants cooking up delicious hot meals until closing time. However, our stores currently only sell electronics and fashion for adults, so we have nothing available for younger visitors.
H Metro Heights
Situated right beside the main city transport hub, getting here by public transit is an absolute breeze. You can spend your entire evening watching the latest international films at our modern theater. We have several high-end shoe boutiques, but they focus entirely on elegant leather shoes for formal events rather than athletics.
ANSWER KEY
1 A 2 B 3 C 4 D 5 E
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The people below all want to find a luxury designer store to visit.
There are descriptions of eight luxury shops.
Decide which luxury shop would be the most suitable for the people below.
1 Sophia wants to buy a rare gold necklace from a famous worldwide designer. She has a large budget and doesn’t mind the high cost. She also needs a shop that provides private personal styling assistants.
2 Liam is looking for a luxury watch made by well-known foreign companies. He wants to shop somewhere expensive and exclusive, and prefers a store that has a modern café inside where he can relax with a drink.
3 Olivia wants to find unique, custom-made diamond earrings for a special gala. She is happy to pay premium prices for top quality and requires a shop that stays open late in the evening for private viewings.
4 Noah needs a high-end silk suit from an Italian or French fashion label. Money is not an issue for him, but he wants to visit a store situated inside a beautiful, historic building in the city center.
5 Ava wants to purchase an expensive leather handbag and a matching luxury ring from top global brands. She has a very high budget and needs a store that offers free valet parking for her car.
Luxury Designer Stores
A The Golden Gallery
This elegant store features stunning, unique gold necklaces and rings from the world’s most famous global labels. It is perfect for wealthy shoppers who enjoy spending heavily on top-tier luxury items. Furthermore, every visitor is automatically paired with a private fashion assistant to help guide their personal choices throughout the day.
B Chrono & Co
Specialising in costly watches from the most celebrated international brands, this luxury showroom caters to clients with a lot of money to spend. The interior is beautiful and features a modern coffee shop where guests can enjoy drinks while browsing. It is an excellent destination for an amazing shopping trip.
C Diamond Dreams
If you are looking for one-of-a-kind diamond pieces created especially for you, this store is ideal. Although the items are incredibly high-priced, the quality is unmatched. To accommodate busy lifestyles, the shop remains open until 11 p.m. every day, welcoming guests late at night for exclusive, private evening appointments.
D The Heritage House
Located inside a magnificent old palace, this store offers an incredible atmosphere. They sell formal clothes and tailored suits from the most famous international fashion houses. Prices are extremely high, making it suitable only for wealthy, high-budget shoppers who appreciate fine traditional buildings and excellent elite global style.
E Vogue Elite
This exclusive store offers premium bags and elite jewelry from famous international names. While the collection is very costly, the exceptional design justifies the high prices. For total comfort, staff will park your car for you at the entrance, ensuring a smooth arrival for every luxury shopper.
F Palace Footwear
Situated in a beautiful historic castle, this expensive shop features elite footwear from top global designers. Perfect for individuals with large budgets, you will find rare shoes and boots here. Although they offer personal styling advice, please note they do not sell any formal suits or jewelry items.
G Global Timepieces
This high-end shop features a massive collection of luxury watches from famous foreign companies. The prices are incredibly high, attracting serious collectors with big budgets. The store offers a brilliant valet parking service for all visitors, but there are no cafés, food options, or leather accessories available here.
H Sparkle Corner
This lovely neighborhood shop specializes in beautiful diamond earrings and custom jewelry. They are proud of keeping all their prices low and affordable, making it perfect for people on a tight budget. They also stay open late until 10 p.m. every evening for convenient night shopping.
ANSWER KEY
1 A 2 B 3 C 4 D 5 E
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The people below all want to find a store with a famous food hall.
There are descriptions of eight stores.
Decide which store would be the most suitable for the people below.
1 Sarah wants to buy a birthday present for her best friend. She is looking for a store that sells handmade candies. She also wants a quiet place where she can sit down and enjoy a cup of tea.
2 David loves cooking and needs some fresh exotic food to prepare a special meal. He prefers shopping very early in the morning before work. He also wants to find a good selection of recipe books to get new ideas.
3 Elena needs to buy a nice gift for her grandparents. She wants to watch the staff making the food in the store. As she doesn’t drive, the shop must be located very close to a train station.
4 Mark wants to buy some fresh seafood for his dinner tonight. He would like to eat a hot cooked lunch while he is shopping. He also enjoys listening to live music while he walks around the food hall.
5 The Smith family want to buy a gift box of local cheese for their neighbours. They also want to get some traditional handmade candies for their children. They are driving, so they need a store with a large car park.
Famous Food Halls
A Sugar & Spice
Looking for the perfect present? Our beautiful boxes of traditional sweets are completely produced by hand by our expert staff. After you finish shopping, you can relax in our peaceful cafe upstairs, which serves delicious hot drinks and slices of cake. We are open every day from 10 a.m.
B The Global Market
We open our doors at 7 a.m., perfect for busy people. Here, you will discover unusual vegetables and spices imported from all over the world to help you create amazing dishes. We also have a fantastic section selling guides on how to cook dishes from different countries to inspire you.
C Cocoa Dreams
This famous chocolate shop is situated right next to the city’s main railway platforms. It is the ideal place to pick up a delicious present for your family. Visitors love looking through the large glass windows to see our talented chefs preparing and shaping the chocolate right in front of them!
D Ocean Bounty Food Hall
Come and explore our amazing selection of ocean products, caught just hours ago! While you choose your ingredients, you can enjoy the sounds of a local band playing guitars on our small stage. Don’t forget to visit our restaurant area to enjoy a warm, freshly cooked meal before you leave.
E Farmer’s Pride
We sell amazing dairy products, including special presentation boxes of cheddar that make fantastic presents. Kids will absolutely love our colourful sugar sweets, which are carefully produced without using any machines. Customers travelling by vehicle will be happy to know we have a huge parking area right outside the building.
F The Spice Route
This beautiful historic food hall offers incredible spices and unusual fruits from Asia and South America. If you need inspiration, browse our large collection of cooking magazines and chef guides. We are open from midday until late at night, making us the best place for evening shoppers looking for ingredients.
G Sweet Treats Cafe
Enjoy a relaxing afternoon at our popular cafe, where we serve the best hot beverages in town. Try our famous sugar sweets, which are all mixed and cut by hand every single morning. Please note that we only sell food to eat inside, so we do not offer takeaway boxes.
H Harbour Market
Located by the water, this historic hall is filled with the freshest fish and seafood available in the city. On weekends, shoppers can enjoy performances by local musicians while they browse. We only sell raw ingredients to take home and cook yourself, so be sure to bring your shopping bags!
ANSWER KEY
1 A 2 B 3 C 4 D 5 E
