Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Local & Specialty Shops 4

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a craft and hobby supply shop.

There are descriptions of eight craft and hobby shops.

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

1   Sarah enjoys knitting and needs to buy some soft wool. She wants to go to a regular weekly class to improve her skills. She is new to the city and hopes to meet other friendly people who enjoy crafts.

2   Mark is an art student who needs to buy some new paints for a university project. Because he has little money, he needs a shop with student discounts. He studies all week, so the shop must be open on Sundays.

3   Chloe wants to make a winter sweater and needs to buy colourful wool. She finishes work at 7 p.m., so she needs a shop that closes late. She wants to learn how to knit using online videos at home.

4   David wants to learn how to create landscapes and needs to buy colourful paints. He is looking for a shop that organises a weekly workshop. He also wants a place where he can chat with other local artists.

5   Elena enjoys many hobbies and wants to buy both paints and some thick wool. She doesn’t drive, so the shop must be located in the city centre. She prefers a quiet shopping experience without noisy group classes or events.

Craft and Hobby Shops

A The Knitting Net

Are you interested in making your own clothes? We sell a huge variety of soft yarn for all your projects. Join our popular lessons, which happen every Wednesday. It is a fantastic opportunity to sit, chat, and make new friends with others who share your passion for this relaxing hobby.

B Artistic Visions

We offer an incredible selection of watercolours and oils for your next masterpiece. If you show us your university card, you will pay less for everything in the store! We welcome customers seven days a week, making it easy to visit us on the weekend when you have free time.

C Creative Threads

Discover our amazing range of warm yarn to create your own winter clothes. We know our customers are busy, so our doors stay open until 9 p.m. every night. When you buy materials from us, you get free access to our brilliant web classes to watch on your computer anytime.

D The Painter’s Studio

Come and explore our bright store, filled with high-quality oils and brushes. Every Saturday morning, we host a regular art lesson where our expert staff will teach you new techniques. Afterwards, you can enjoy a coffee and connect with other local creators in our friendly and relaxing social area.

E Hobby Haven

Located right next to the main town square, we sell absolutely everything you need, from beautiful watercolours to thick yarn for making scarves. We do not host any noisy events or group lessons, guaranteeing a completely peaceful and relaxing atmosphere while you search for materials for your next project.

F Clay & Co

If you want to meet other friendly creators, this is the perfect place! We run fun group lessons every Thursday where you can chat and learn to make bowls. Please note that we only sell clay and ceramic tools, so you will not find any art materials or clothing supplies here.

G Discount Colours

This is the best place to find cheap prices on all your art supplies. We sell an amazing range of inexpensive watercolours, brushes, and paper, perfect for teenagers and young adults on a budget. We are open Monday to Friday only, so make sure you visit us during the week!

H The Country Crafter

We sell a wonderful mix of crafting items, including bright oils and thick yarn. Our store is known for being extremely silent and calm, as we never organise busy group events. We are located far out in the countryside, so customers will need to drive to reach our peaceful shop.

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a zero-waste grocery store to visit.

There are descriptions of eight eco-friendly shops.

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

1   Anna wants to buy healthy organic food grown without chemicals. She prefers to bring her own empty jars and boxes from home to fill up. Because of her job, she needs a shop that stays open late in the evening.

2   George is looking for a grocery store with absolutely no plastic packaging on the shelves. He wants to find a place offering student discounts to keep costs low, and he needs to buy refillable household cleaning liquids.

3   Elena wants to purchase organic food for her family’s meals. She travels across the city by bus, so the shop must be close to public transport links. She also wants to bring her own bags and containers.

4   Robert is keen to protect the environment by finding a shop that bans plastic packaging entirely. He requires a convenient home delivery service because he has no car, and he needs refillable eco-friendly soaps for his kitchen.

5   Maya needs a zero-waste shop where she can bring her own containers to fill with cereal and nuts. She is looking for very low prices to save money and can only go shopping on Sundays.

Zero-Waste Grocery Stores

A The Natural Choice

Come and browse our huge selection of fruits and grains grown naturally without any chemicals. We encourage shoppers to pack everything into empty glass pots and boxes brought from home. Our doors remain open until 10 p.m. every weeknight, making it ideal for anyone who finishes work late in the day.

B Eco Refill Market

We are proud to say everything on our shelves is completely loose or sold in simple paper, with zero plastic wraps. Young people can show their university cards at the checkout for excellent price reductions. We also have a dedicated station for refilling your kitchen detergents and bathroom soaps easily.

C The Green Corner

Our eco-friendly store offers wonderful chemical-free produce and fresh vegetables directly from local farms. Our building is located right next to the central bus station and train lines, making it easy to visit. Don’t forget to pack your empty jars, fabric bags, and metal tins from home to fill up inside.

D Pure Planet

We protect the environment by offering items with completely zero plastic boxes or bags on our shelves. Customers can order our eco-friendly dish soaps and washing liquids directly through our website, and our eco-vans will bring everything straight to your address. Please note we are closed on weekends.

E Earth Friendly Foods

Save money with our incredibly low prices on every single shelf! Customers are invited to bring empty plastic tubs or glass bowls from home to fill with loose rice, nuts, and baking ingredients. We are proud to serve our local community seven days a week, including a full day every Sunday.

F The Zero Shop

This lovely store is perfect for anyone wanting to pack loose foods into their own glass jars and fabric bags brought from home. We stay open until 9 p.m. from Monday to Saturday, offering a wide range of affordable items. However, we are always closed on Sundays, and we do not sell organic food.

G The Soap Station

Come here to buy wonderful household soaps, laundry liquids, and eco-friendly shampoos at great prices. We offer wonderful student discounts to anyone with a valid university card, and our staff can deliver orders directly to your address. Please note that all our products are pre-packed in standard plastic bottles.

H Organic Express

We sell the finest chemical-free ingredients and healthy organic food in the city. Our shop is located right next to the main bus station, making it incredibly simple to reach by public transport. Please note that we provide all paper packaging for free, so customers are not allowed to bring their own containers or bags inside.

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a fancy dress and costume shop to visit.

There are descriptions of eight fancy dress and costume shops.

Decide which fancy dress and costume shop would be the most suitable for the people below.

1   Sam is going to a scary party and wants to hire an outfit rather than buying it. He needs some special face paint to look like a zombie. He also prefers to put the clothes on in the shop to check the size.

2   Maria is looking for a historical costume for her young daughter’s school performance. She also wants to purchase a low-cost mask to go with it. She plans to drive to the shop, so she needs somewhere to leave her car.

3   Leo wants to buy a superhero suit for his weekend comic convention. He needs some professional advice from the staff on choosing the right accessories. He finishes work very late, so the shop must be open in the evening.

4   Anna and her friends are attending a festival and want to buy matching animal suits. They are at university and hope to find a place offering cheaper prices. They travel by public transport, so it must be near a railway station.

5   David wants a beautifully made, custom dress for his wife’s historical dance event. He also needs to buy a traditional curly wig for himself. He would like to sit down and enjoy a hot coffee while the clothes are prepared.

Fancy Dress and Costume Shops

A The Magic Wardrobe

Planning for October 31st? You can borrow our amazing scary suits for the weekend instead of purchasing them. We also sell a massive range of fake blood and professional cosmetics. We have plenty of large changing rooms so you can make sure everything fits perfectly.

B Party Stars

Drivers will appreciate our large free visitor garage outside. Inside, you will discover a fantastic section dedicated to kids’ clothing, perfect for educational events and theatre. We also offer boxes full of fantastic, budget-friendly face covers to complete your little one’s amazing new look.

C Heroic Styles

We welcome visitors until 10:00 p.m. every weekday, making us the perfect destination after a busy office day. We specialise in comic book character fashion. If you aren’t sure what to choose, our brilliant fashion team is always available to help you put together the perfect look.

D Wild Things

Situated right next to the main underground platforms, reaching us without a vehicle is incredibly easy. We stock an amazing selection of furry creature outfits like lions and bears. Best of all, anyone studying for a degree always receives twenty percent off their total bill!

E The Royal Tailor

We specialise in beautifully designed, hand-sewn garments from past centuries, created perfectly to your exact body shape. We also sell fantastic false hairpieces for both men and women. While our experts work on your garments, relax in our comfortable indoor restaurant with a delicious warm espresso.

F Spooky Supplies

We offer an amazing borrowing service for all our terrifying October garments, saving you cash. We also stock fantastic professional paints for your face. Please note that our shop is very crowded, so we do not have any private spaces for putting on garments before paying.

G The Comic Cave

Explore our massive warehouse filled with thousands of fantastic comic book character suits. We stay open until midnight, so there is no rush to finish your shopping! However, this is a self-service warehouse, so there are no assistants available to offer opinions on your choices.

H Jungle Fashion

We sell premium, luxury monkey and tiger suits that look incredibly realistic. Located directly opposite the central transport hub, getting here by train is an absolute breeze. Because our items are top-quality, prices are extremely high, and we never offer any kind of price reductions or special deals.

Exercises:   123456