Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Department Stores & Malls 5

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a cosmetics and beauty floor to visit.

There are descriptions of eight beauty floors.

Decide which beauty floor would be the most suitable for the people below.

1   Maria wants to buy natural skincare products made without chemicals. She is a student with a low budget, so she needs affordable prices. She also wants to try on some colours before buying anything.

2   John is looking for a present for his mother’s birthday. He wants to buy her a luxury fragrance, but he needs to smell a few different ones first. He doesn’t mind paying a high price.

3   Chloe has a party tonight and wants an expert to do her makeup. She is in a hurry and needs fast service. She also wants to buy a new brush to apply cosmetics at home.

4   Sam works until 6 p.m., so he needs a store that stays open late. He is looking for a gentle face cream made from plants. He also wants to find a new scent by testing a few.

5   Lily wants to buy high-quality shampoo for her dry hair. She would also like to spend time smelling different perfumes. After shopping, she wants to relax with a cup of coffee inside the store.

Cosmetics and Beauty Floors

A Nature’s Glow

If you want cosmetics made entirely from plants, this is the perfect place for you. We believe looking good shouldn’t be expensive, so our face creams are incredibly cheap. Visitors can also sit down and let our friendly staff apply various lipsticks and eyeshadows on them at no cost at all.

B The Gold Room

This premium beauty floor offers the most expensive and exclusive items in the whole city. If you are searching for a wonderful gift for a family member, our expert staff will help you. You can sample dozens of beautiful scents from elegant glass bottles until you discover the perfect one.

C Glamour Express

Are you going out tonight? Our beauty experts can transform your look in just fifteen minutes, meaning you won’t have to wait around! They won’t charge you for applying these cosmetics either. Before you leave, check out our amazing selection of application tools so you can recreate the look later.

D Evening Elegance

We understand that people are busy, which is why our beauty hall welcomes customers until 9 p.m. every evening. Come and try our latest collection of natural moisturisers, created completely from organic herbs. You can also spray our wide variety of colognes on your skin to choose your favourite.

E The Beauty Lounge

Give your head the best treatment with our fantastic range of premium washing liquids and conditioners. Shoppers can also wander around our fragrance section, breathing in lots of different sweet smells. When your feet get tired, take a comfortable seat and enjoy a hot drink at our indoor snack bar.

F Pure Luxury

We offer an amazing range of natural skincare, using only the finest flowers and herbs. Our expert team will happily put cosmetics on your face for free so you can see the results. Because we only use premium ingredients, our products cost a lot of money, but they are excellent.

G Quick Beauty

Need to look great in a hurry? Our skilled workers are very quick and will happily paint your face without asking for any money. We specialise in high-quality lipsticks and eye colours. Unfortunately, we currently do not sell any sponges or application sticks for you to use at home.

H Night Scents

Our department is proud to stay open until 10 p.m. every day. It is the ideal place to discover a new smell, as we encourage everyone to spray and sample our huge fragrance collection. We currently only sell perfumes, so you will not find any lotions or face creams here.

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a sports and outdoor equipment store.

There are descriptions of eight sports and outdoor equipment stores.

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

1   Mark wants to buy a tent and sleeping bags for a weekend in the forest. He has never slept outdoors before, so he needs to speak to knowledgeable assistants. He works until 6:00 p.m., so the shop must stay open late.

2   Sarah needs strong footwear for walking in the mountains. She wants to walk around the store to see if they fit perfectly. She is a student with little money and wants a place that allows her to bring things back if necessary.

3   Leo is looking for a surfboard and a wet suit. He is leaving for the beach tomorrow, so he needs the items sent to his house immediately. He is driving a large van and requires a place to park without paying.

4   The Clark family is going skiing and needs warm jackets and gloves. They prefer buying used clothes to save money and protect the environment. After shopping, the children want to sit down and eat a hot meal inside the store.

5   Anna rides her bike to work and needs a new helmet and lights. Her bicycle is currently broken, so she is looking for a place that can fix it. She wants to visit a store located right in the middle of town.

Sports and Outdoor Equipment Stores

A The Outdoor Hub

Planning a trip under the stars? We sell everything from waterproof canvas covers to portable cookers and warm blankets. If you are a beginner, our highly trained team will happily guide you to the perfect equipment for your trip. Our doors do not close until 9:00 p.m. every weekday!

B Peak Performance

Find your perfect mountain shoes here. We encourage you to test them on our special indoor rocky path before making a decision! Present your university card at the cash desk for huge price reductions. If you change your mind later, we offer a full thirty-day money-back guarantee on all unused goods.

C Ocean Waves

Get ready for the sea with our amazing selection of diving boards and swimming clothes. We understand you might be in a hurry, so our transport team can bring purchases to your address the very same day. Customers can leave their cars in our spacious outdoor lot at no cost.

D Snow & Sun Gear

Getting ready for the snowy mountains? We offer a brilliant range of previously owned winter coats and hand protection, which is fantastic for your wallet and the planet. Once you finish looking around, relax at our fantastic restaurant upstairs, serving delicious warm dishes and hot drinks all day.

E City Wheels

Situated exactly in the heart of the shopping district, we are your primary destination for bicycle safety gear and bright lamps. Has your transport stopped working? Our skilled mechanics can mend it in our workshop within a few hours, getting you back on the road safely and quickly.

F Mountain Base

We specialize in high-quality items for sleeping in nature and exploring the forests. Our experienced professionals have spent years in the wild and will give you excellent recommendations. We offer fantastic prices for everyone. However, please remember that we close at 5:00 p.m. sharp, and all sales are completely final.

G The Cycle Stop

If you love riding on two wheels, come visit our massive warehouse located just outside the city borders. We sell the best safety hats and replacement tires. Our amazing staff can also repair any broken chain or brake. Unfortunately, there are no food or drink facilities available on the premises.

H Action Sports

We carry everything you need for riding the ocean waves, as well as excellent climbing shoes that you can test out inside the building. Shoppers can park their vehicles for free right outside the main entrance. Please note that our factory shipping service takes at least one week to arrive.

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a vintage and antique market to visit.

There are descriptions of eight vintage and antique markets.

Decide which vintage and antique market would be the most suitable for the people below.

1   Anna wants to buy some pre-owned dresses and jackets. She really enjoys negotiating the prices with sellers. She is planning to spend the whole day out, so she needs a market that serves hot meals.

2   Leo is searching for unusual, old stamps to add to his collection. He doesn’t drive, so the market must be near a railway station. He only has free time to go shopping on Sunday mornings.

3   Mia is looking for unique antique toys from the past. She also wants to buy some cool retro coats. She is driving to the market, so it must have a large area to leave her vehicle.

4   Carlos loves collecting hard-to-find, historic coins and medals. He enjoys chatting with sellers to get a cheaper price for his items. He dislikes the cold weather, so he wants to visit a completely indoor market.

5   Julia wants to update her wardrobe with some cheap, used fashion items. Because it might rain, she is looking for a market that is inside a building. She also wants to buy a coffee there.

Vintage and Antique Markets

A The Old Square Market

Discover an amazing selection of worn-once dresses, retro shirts, and vintage boots. The friendly stall owners are always happy to discuss the cost, so don’t be afraid to make them an offer! When you get hungry, visit our fantastic food area offering freshly cooked burgers and delicious warm noodles.

B Station Road Antiques

Located right next to the main train platforms, travelling here is incredibly easy without a vehicle. We specialize in tiny pieces of history, including unusual postcards, historic letters, and rare delivery marks. We welcome visitors every weekend, opening at 8:00 a.m. on the final day of the week for early shoppers.

C Memory Lane Fairs

Drivers will greatly appreciate our massive free visitor garage. Inside, you can browse through racks of fantastic pre-owned jackets, trousers, and skirts. Don’t miss our special childhood section, packed with hard-to-find wooden dolls and metal cars from a hundred years ago. It’s an amazing place to explore all day!

D The Grand Hall Finds

Step inside our beautiful covered building and escape the bad weather. We specialize in tiny treasures, offering thousands of historic metal money pieces and silver medals. Our dealers love negotiating, so you can easily agree on a lower amount if you chat with them. We are open every Saturday.

E Retro Roof Fashions

Keep completely dry in our huge enclosed warehouse, whatever the weather outside. We offer hundreds of rails filled with fantastic, budget-friendly worn garments from the past fifty years. Take a break from browsing by relaxing in our warm seating area with a lovely hot espresso or tea and a slice of cake.

F The Vintage Vault

Located inside a beautiful historic cinema, you will stay warm and dry while exploring our fantastic collection of previously owned trousers, shirts, and hats. Please note that all tags show the final cost, as our sellers do not accept lower offers. Unfortunately, we don’t sell any food or drinks.

G Sunday Antiques Market

Open from 9:00 a.m. at the end of the weekend, this is the perfect spot for collectors. We have an amazing range of historic wooden games, metal cars, and beautiful old dolls. Visitors must catch the bus here, as there are absolutely no spaces for vehicles nearby and no nearby railway.

H Open Air Treasures

Set up every weekend in the town square, this completely outdoor market is wonderful on sunny days. You will discover boxes full of historic metal cash, military medals, and silver jewellery. Stall holders enjoy a friendly chat and will gladly agree to a cheaper deal if you ask them.

Exercises:   123456