Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Local & Specialty Shops 2

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a specialty tea and coffee shop to visit.

There are descriptions of eight specialty tea and coffee shops.

Decide which specialty tea and coffee shop would be the most suitable for the people below.

1   Mark wants to buy some fresh coffee beans to enjoy at home. He also needs to purchase a new coffee machine. He is an early bird and wants to go shopping before his job starts at 8:00 a.m.

2   Lisa loves tea and wants to attend a tasting session to try new flavours. She also plans to buy some high-quality green tea leaves. She is driving into town, so she needs a shop with a car park.

3   Sam and Alex want to buy a traditional teapot for their new apartment. They would also love to join a class to learn about brewing techniques. They don’t have much money, so they need student discounts.

4   Emma wants to sample different types of coffee before deciding what to buy. She is looking for some unusual, rare coffee beans to give her father. She travels by public transport, so it must be near a railway station.

5   David is looking for a beautiful box of loose black tea leaves for his mother. He also needs to buy a device to crush his own coffee. He wants to sit down and eat a hot meal while shopping.

Specialty Tea and Coffee Shops

A Morning Roast

Start your day right! Our doors open at 6:30 a.m. for early shoppers. We sell a fantastic variety of freshly roasted coffee by the bag for your home kitchen. You can also browse our excellent selection of modern espresso makers to help you prepare the perfect cup every time.

B The Tea House

Visitors travelling by car will appreciate our large, free visitor garage right outside. Come inside to explore our huge range of unbagged, natural green teas. Every afternoon, our experts host wonderful flavour-testing events, where you can sit down and sample our newest delicious hot drinks from around the world.

C The Brew Bar

We believe making great drinks shouldn’t be expensive, so university learners always receive twenty percent off everything! We sell fantastic glass jugs and ceramic cups for serving your hot drinks. Join our fun weekend workshops, where professionals will safely teach you the best methods for preparing the perfect cup.

D Bean Central

Located just a two-minute walk from the city’s main underground platforms, getting here is incredibly easy. We specialise in hard-to-find, exotic roasted coffees from tiny, independent farms. If you aren’t sure what to choose, join our daily sampling sessions to experience the different flavours before paying at the till.

E Cafe & Co

After browsing our products, take a seat in our busy restaurant to enjoy delicious, freshly cooked hot lunches. We offer beautiful metal containers filled with rich, dark teas, perfect for presents. Furthermore, we sell top-quality manual and electric machines designed for safely crushing your whole coffee ready for boiling.

F The Roastery

We offer an amazing selection of fresh, dark beans from South America to take home. We also sell excellent electric crushers to help you prepare your drink. We are open from 10:00 a.m. until late, but please note we only serve cold sandwiches and cakes, not cooked meals.

G Leaf & Bean

Come and try our exciting sampling events to discover your favourite new flavours! We have a fantastic collection of unusual, exotic roasted coffees that make wonderful gifts. Unfortunately, visitors will need to catch the bus here, as there are absolutely no spaces for vehicles and no nearby railway.

H Steaming Cups

Relax in our cozy dining area and enjoy a wonderful, freshly made hot lunch while chatting with friends. We sell beautiful wooden boxes filled with traditional black and green teas. However, our prices are quite high for students, and we currently do not stock any cups or preparation tools.

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a local tailor or dressmaker.

There are descriptions of eight tailoring and alteration shops.

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

1   George wants to order a specially made jacket and trousers for a business dinner. He has a generous budget for high-quality work and needs the outfit finished within a single week because he is traveling soon.

2   Elena has a favorite old coat that is too big and wants to change its shape so she can wear it again. She needs an affordable service to save money and prefers to arrive by car.

3   Sam needs to find a shop to adjust his wedding clothes so they look exactly right on him. He can only visit on Saturdays or Sundays and wants to view different material choices online before going.

4   Lucas wants a unique custom-designed shirt made from natural, organic cotton. He does not have a vehicle, so the shop must be very close to public transport links, and he expects to pay a premium price.

5   Mia needs to shorten some vintage trousers she recently bought. She specifically wants to work with a female dressmaker and needs a studio that stays open after 7 p.m. because of her busy job.

Local Tailors and Dressmakers

A Royal Tailoring

Our experienced team creates beautiful, handmade formal wear including trousers and jackets designed entirely for you. We use the finest materials, which means our prices are quite high. If you are in a rush, our express service guarantees your luxury items will be ready to collect in five days.

B Smart Adjustments

Do you have classic clothes in your wardrobe that do not fit anymore? Bring them to us! We specialise in modernising older garments at very low costs. Our workshop is located in a quiet area outside the town center, featuring a massive guest car park directly in front of the entrance.

C The Perfect Stitch

We make sure your outfits are adjusted to match your exact body measurements perfectly. Our website displays our entire collection of colorful cloths and designs so you can select your favorites from home. We are open all day long on both Saturdays and Sundays to accommodate your busy schedule.

D Green Threads Studio

We create individual, custom clothing pieces from scratch using only 100% sustainable and ethical fabrics. Our high prices reflect our luxury standards. We are situated in the center of the city, just a two-minute walk from the central bus and underground station, making visits incredibly easy without a car.

E Sarah’s Fashion Care

Sarah is an expert dressmaker who loves altering and fixing older clothing items like trousers and skirts. She understands that working professionals are busy during the day, so her cozy studio remains open until 9 p.m. Monday to Friday. Her excellent repair and alteration services are highly recommended.

F Classic Designs

We design unique, custom outfits and tailored trousers from scratch. Our studio is located next to the main train station, making it perfect for commuters. However, please note that we only use traditional wool fabrics, and due to high demand, all creations require a minimum of four weeks to complete.

G Express Alterations

Need your old clothes fixed? Our professional team can modernise any vintage coat or skirt easily. We offer convenient evening appointments until 10 p.m. every weekday. However, our central location has no space for vehicles, and because of our premium city-center rates, our modification prices are extremely expensive.

H Style & Fit Studio

We ensure your celebration dresses and formal suits are altered for a flawless fit that feels wonderful. We welcome clients for fittings every Saturday afternoon. Please check our website to book an appointment, but note that fabric selections must be chosen in person at our shop during your actual visit.

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a florist or plant shop.

There are descriptions of eight florists and plant shops.

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

1   Sarah is looking for a florist to arrange the flowers for her marriage ceremony. She specifically wants to include beautiful red roses. She needs a shop that offers cheap prices because she is on a tight budget.

2   David wants to buy some large green plants to decorate his living room. He doesn’t know much about gardening, so he needs expert advice on caring for them. He also requires home delivery for heavy items.

3   Maria needs to send a birthday present to her sister today. She is looking for a florist that can deliver the arrangement immediately. She also wants to include a box of sweet treats with the flowers.

4   Tom is looking for colourful flowers to put on his apartment balcony. He needs to buy some decorative containers to plant them in. He works all week, so the shop must be open on Sundays.

5 Lisa wants to learn how to arrange flowers herself as a hobby. She is particularly interested in unusual, exotic species from other countries. She doesn’t drive, so the shop must be in the city centre.

Florists and Plant Shops

A Rose & Romance

We specialise in decorations for your special day without asking for too much money. Our fantastic bridal packages are very affordable. We are famous for using stunning traditional crimson flowers, guaranteeing your celebration looks incredibly romantic. Visit us today for a free consultation to discuss your perfect design.

B The Green House

Transform your indoor space with our incredible selection of leafy species that thrive perfectly inside your home. Our knowledgeable staff will provide detailed instructions on how to keep your new purchases healthy. Don’t worry about carrying large items yourself; we will gladly transport everything directly to your front door!

C Daisy’s Delights

Want to surprise a family member? We offer an amazing selection of beautiful bouquets to send to your loved ones. If you order before noon, we guarantee your gift will arrive this afternoon. You can even add delicious handmade chocolates to your order to make the celebration extra special.

D City Gardens

Give your outside areas a fresh look! We stock a wonderful variety of bright plants that love growing outdoors. Customers can also choose from our huge collection of painted ceramic bowls and boxes to display them. We welcome shoppers seven days a week, including all weekend, until 5 p.m.

E Urban Jungle

Located right in the middle of town next to the main square, we sell rare and unusual blooms imported from tropical rainforests. We also host fun weekly classes where our professional florists will teach you the skills to easily create your own beautiful displays to take home and admire.

F Luxury Petals

If you are getting married, our expert designers can create the most incredible luxury bouquets for your celebration. We only use the finest white lilies and orchids, and our prices reflect this premium quality. We also sell luxury candies, though customers must collect all orders from our countryside store.

G Nature’s Corner

We are open every day of the week, so you can always drop by to browse our huge collection of small trees and ferns suited for your living room. We don’t sell containers, so please bring your own. This is a self-service shop, so our staff cannot answer gardening questions.

H Tropical Paradise

Discover strange and beautiful flowers from South America and Asia in our large store, located quietly in the northern suburbs. Whether you want a single bright flower or a large display, we can transport it to your house. Unfortunately, our popular arrangement lessons are currently cancelled until next year.

Exercises:   123456