Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – First Part-Time Jobs 10
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
More Than Just a Haircut
When I saw an advertisement for a Saturday assistant at ‘Style Studio’, our town’s busiest hair salon, I applied immediately. I have always loved experimenting with different hairstyles, so I imagined that working there would be incredibly glamorous. I genuinely thought I would spend my weekends helping the senior staff mix exciting hair colours or learning how to create beautiful, complicated styles. However, the reality of the job was quite different, and I soon realised I was starting at the very bottom of the business.
During my first month, the manager only asked me to do the most basic tasks. I spent hours making cups of tea, washing hundreds of towels, and sweeping huge amounts of hair from the floor. It was incredibly repetitive, and my feet ached terribly by the end of every shift. I honestly started to feel quite bored and began to wonder if I had made a big mistake taking the job. But as I quietly swept the floors, I started paying closer attention to the fascinating conversations happening around me.
I quickly noticed that the customers didn’t just come to the salon for a new haircut; they came to talk. One rainy afternoon, a woman arrived looking completely exhausted and stressed about her daily life. She sat in the chair of our senior stylist, Clara. As Clara carefully washed and cut her hair, she listened patiently to the woman’s problems and offered some gentle, kind advice. By the time the customer left the salon, she was smiling brightly and looked like a completely different person. I was amazed that Clara’s supportive words had cheered her up just as much as the beautiful new haircut.
That specific afternoon completely changed my attitude towards my weekend job. I finally understood that being a fantastic hairdresser isn’t just about knowing how to use scissors safely or following the latest fashion trends. It is actually fifty percent technical skill and fifty percent acting like a helpful, understanding therapist. Even though I am still mainly just sweeping the floors, I no longer find the job boring. Instead, I am using the time to learn important communication skills from the experienced staff. If I decide to train as a professional stylist in the future, I know that knowing how to listen will be my most valuable tool.
1 Why did the writer apply for the job at the hair salon?
(A) She wanted to get her own hair styled for free.
(B) She thought the work would be exciting and stylish.
(C) She needed to earn money to pay for hairdressing college.
(D) She was asked by the senior staff to help them.
2 How did the writer feel during her first month at the salon?
(A) Tired of having to stand and talk to customers all day.
(B) Angry that she was not allowed to wash the towels.
(C) Unsure if she had made the right decision to work there.
(D) Fascinated by the new hairstyles she was creating.
3 What did the writer learn by watching Clara and her customer?
(A) Customers usually complain about their lives when it rains.
(B) A good haircut is the only thing needed to make someone happy.
(C) Clara was too exhausted to cut the woman’s hair properly.
(D) A stylist’s conversation can improve a customer’s mood.
4 How does the writer feel about sweeping the floors now?
(A) She believes it is teaching her how to use scissors safely.
(B) She thinks it gives her a chance to listen and learn from others.
(C) She hopes the manager will ask someone else to do it soon.
(D) She finds it more interesting than following fashion trends.
5 What would the writer write in her diary after her shift?
(A) Sweeping the floor is the worst job ever. I really hope Clara lets me cut someone’s hair next weekend instead.
(B) I used to think hairdressing was all about fashion, but today I realised that listening to people is just as important.
(C) A lady came in today and talked so much that it gave me a headache. I wish the salon was a bit quieter.
(D) I’m so glad I got a job at ‘Style Studio’. The manager is finally letting me mix hair colours for the clients!
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The text states in paragraph 1 that she “imagined that working there would be incredibly glamorous” and thought she would be “mixing exciting hair colours or learning how to create beautiful, complicated styles”, which means she expected the work to be exciting and stylish.
2 C – Paragraph 2 explains that she started to feel bored and “began to wonder if I had made a big mistake taking the job,” meaning she was unsure if she had made the right decision.
3 D – In paragraph 3, the writer notes that she was amazed that “Clara’s supportive words had cheered her up just as much as the beautiful new haircut”, showing that the conversation improved the customer’s mood.
4 B – Paragraph 4 details how she no longer finds sweeping boring because “Instead, I am using the time to learn important communication skills from the experienced staff,” meaning she uses the opportunity to listen and learn.
5 B – This option captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text: transitioning from expecting a job focused entirely on glamorous hair styling to realising that communication and therapy are half of the required skills.
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Expanding the Playlist
When I landed a weekend job at ‘Vinyl Valley’, the coolest independent music store in town, I felt like I had won the lottery. I am a massive fan of loud rock and heavy metal, and I spend most of my free time playing the electric guitar. I imagined my new job would basically involve standing behind the counter, playing my favourite rock albums over the store speakers, and chatting with customers about the greatest guitar solos of all time. I fully expected to spend my weekends surrounded only by the music I already loved.
However, my narrow expectations were challenged during my very first shift. A young man walked up to the counter looking completely lost. He explained that he wanted to buy a special vinyl record for his grandmother’s eightieth birthday. He told me she absolutely loved classical music, but he had no idea what to choose. My heart sank. I knew everything about rock bands, but I knew absolutely nothing about classical composers like Mozart or Bach. I didn’t even know the difference between a symphony and a concerto.
For a moment, I considered just telling him that I couldn’t help. But instead, I decided to treat it like a challenge. I asked him a few questions about his grandmother’s personality. He mentioned that she enjoyed relaxing in her garden and loved the sound of the violin. I quickly typed some keywords into the store’s computer and spent a few minutes reading reviews on a classical music blog. Based on my quick research, I confidently recommended a beautiful recording of Antonio Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons.
The customer was absolutely thrilled with the thoughtful suggestion and bought the record immediately. After he left, I felt curious, so I put on a pair of headphones and listened to the album myself. To my absolute surprise, I didn’t find it boring at all. The fast violin sections had the same kind of intense, passionate energy as my favourite heavy metal guitar solos.
Walking home that evening, I realised that my taste in music had been far too limited. I learned that being a good music store clerk isn’t about pushing your own favourite bands onto people; it’s about helping them find the perfect soundtrack for their lives. By stepping out of my comfort zone, I discovered that every genre of music has something valuable and beautiful to offer.
1 Why did the writer think he would love his new job at ‘Vinyl Valley’?
(A) He wanted to learn how to play the electric guitar.
(B) He needed to buy a special gift for his grandmother.
(C) He expected to spend all day talking about rock music.
(D) He wanted to borrow vinyl records from the store for free.
2 What problem did the writer face during his first shift?
(A) The store’s computer completely stopped working.
(B) A customer asked for advice about a genre he knew nothing about.
(C) He couldn’t find the rock albums a young man asked for.
(D) A customer complained that the music in the store was too loud.
3 How did the writer help the confused customer?
(A) He asked the store manager to come and recommend an album.
(B) He gave the man a heavy metal record instead.
(C) He told the man to search for the information on his phone.
(D) He asked questions and used the computer to do some quick research.
4 What did the writer discover when he listened to The Four Seasons?
(A) He found it incredibly boring and much too quiet.
(B) It had an intense energy that reminded him of rock music.
(C) He realised the customer’s grandmother would probably hate it.
(D) It made him want to quit playing the electric guitar.
5 What would the writer write in his diary about his first day at work?
(A) I’m so annoyed that people buy classical music. I’m only going to talk to customers who like rock bands from now on.
(B) I was worried when I had to help someone buy classical music, but doing a bit of research actually helped me appreciate a brand new genre.
(C) The customer was really unhelpful today, but at least I got to play my favourite heavy metal albums over the store speakers all afternoon.
(D) Recommending The Four Seasons was a terrible mistake, and I realised I really need to stick to the music I already know.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 (C) – In paragraph 1, the writer explains his initial expectations: “I imagined my new job would basically involve standing behind the counter… and chatting with customers about the greatest guitar solos of all time.”
2 (B) – In paragraph 2, the writer’s heart sinks because the customer wanted classical music for his grandmother, and the writer “knew absolutely nothing about classical composers like Mozart or Bach.”
3 (D) – In paragraph 3, the writer explains his method: “I asked him a few questions about his grandmother’s personality… I quickly typed some keywords into the store’s computer and spent a few minutes reading reviews”.
4 (B) – In paragraph 4, the writer states that “To my absolute surprise, I didn’t find it boring at all. The fast violin sections had the same kind of intense, passionate energy as my favourite heavy metal guitar solos.”
5 (B) – This option perfectly captures the global meaning and the narrative arc of the text. It summarizes the writer’s initial panic about not knowing classical music and his ultimate realization that researching the topic helped him discover and appreciate a completely new genre.
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
More Than Just Medicine Boxes
When I first got a Saturday job at the local pharmacy, I honestly wasn’t very excited. I had hoped to find a glamorous position in a clothes shop or a busy café. Instead, the pharmacy manager gave me the repetitive task of unpacking deliveries and organizing hundreds of small medicine boxes on the shelves. For the first few weeks, I felt like my job was incredibly dull and completely unimportant to anyone.
My opinion completely changed during a quiet afternoon last month. An elderly gentleman walked into the shop looking extremely confused and anxious. He told me he needed to collect some important heart medicine, but he had left his paper prescription at home and couldn’t remember the exact name of the pills. Because the main pharmacist was busy helping other people, I decided to step in and see what I could do.
I led the man to a quiet corner and asked him to sit down. He was clearly upset about his bad memory, so I spent a few minutes speaking gently to calm him down. Then, I asked for his doctor’s name and used the shop’s telephone to call the medical clinic. After explaining our difficult situation to the receptionist, she checked the man’s records and gave me the correct information.
When I handed the details to the pharmacist, she quickly prepared the medication. As I gave the man his bag, his face lit up with a massive smile. He held my hand and thanked me warmly, explaining that without those pills, he might have ended up in the hospital. I was quite surprised by his strong reaction, but I felt an amazing sense of pride.
That single experience taught me a highly valuable lesson about my weekend job. I suddenly realised that a pharmacy is much more than just a place that sells boxes of chemicals. Even though I am just an assistant who organises the shelves, I am actually playing a part in keeping people healthy. Whenever I feel tired of sorting out deliveries now, I just remember that old man’s smile.
1 Why was the writer unhappy when he first started his job?
(A) He thought his daily duties were boring and didn’t matter.
(B) He was angry that he had to work every Saturday.
(C) He wanted to work as the main manager of the pharmacy.
(D) He found the delivery boxes too heavy to carry around.
2 What problem did the elderly customer have?
(A) He was worried that his medicine would cost too much.
(B) He had brought the wrong paper prescription with him.
(C) He could not recall the specific medication he needed.
(D) He couldn’t find the pharmacist to ask for medical advice.
3 How did the writer solve the customer’s problem?
(A) He searched through the pharmacy’s computer records.
(B) He got in touch with the medical clinic for the information.
(C) He asked the busy pharmacist to come and speak to the man.
(D) He went to the man’s home to find the paper prescription.
4 What does the writer realise about his job now?
(A) He hopes to become a fully qualified pharmacist one day.
(B) He knows his basic work helps to keep the community healthy.
(C) He thinks he should only help customers instead of sorting boxes.
(D) He prefers unpacking deliveries to dealing with anxious people.
5 What would the writer write in his diary today?
(A) Today was exhausting. I spent hours calling doctors because a man forgot his prescription, and I still have to sort the delivery boxes!
(B) I’m going to look for a job in a café soon. Sorting medicine is just too boring, and the customers are always so anxious and confused.
(C) The pharmacist was so busy today that I had to prepare the medicine myself. It was a stressful experience, but the customer was happy.
(D) Helping that elderly man today completely changed my mind about my job. It feels great to know my simple work makes a real difference!
Answer Key & Explanations
1 A – In the first paragraph, the writer states he felt his job was “incredibly dull and completely unimportant to anyone,” which matches thinking his duties were boring and didn’t matter.
2 C – The second paragraph explains that the customer “had left his paper prescription at home and couldn’t remember the exact name of the pills,” meaning he could not recall the medication he needed.
3 B – In the third paragraph, the writer says he “used the shop’s telephone to call the medical clinic” and got the correct information from the receptionist.
4 B – The final paragraph reveals the writer’s realization that “Even though I am just an assistant who organises the shelves, I am actually playing a part in keeping people healthy.”
5 D – This option perfectly captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text: moving from finding the job unglamorous and boring to feeling proud and realizing that his small role positively impacts people’s health.