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Reading Comprehension – Test 1

A1 Beginner ReadingEnglish

This A1 reading test has two short original texts: a holiday email and a notice from a library. Learners answer 16 multiple-choice questions about the main idea, details, simple inference and word meaning. It suits beginners in their first year of English.

Questions
16
Time
25 min
PDF
4 pages
Answer key
Included
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Read each text carefully and choose the correct answer for each question. Choose your answers, then press “Check my answers”.

Part 1: An email

Read Lina's email to her friend Tom. Then choose the correct answer.

Hi Tom,

How are you? I am in Lisbon with my family. We are here for one week. Our hotel is small but very nice. It is near the sea, and my room has a big window.

Every morning we have breakfast at eight o'clock. I eat bread, cheese and fruit. My brother Sam drinks orange juice, but I like tea.

The weather is hot and sunny. In the afternoon we go to the beach. Sam likes swimming, but I don't. I read my book under a tree.

Tomorrow we want to visit a museum. On Saturday we go home by train.

See you soon!

Lina

  1. Why does Lina write to Tom?

  2. How long is Lina's family in Lisbon?

  3. Which sentence about the hotel is true?

  4. What does Lina drink at breakfast?

  5. The hotel is "near the sea". This means the hotel is _____.

  6. What does Lina do at the beach?

  7. Which sentence is true?

  8. When and how does the family go home?

Part 2: A notice

Read the notice from a library. Then choose the correct answer.

GREENFIELD LIBRARY

Welcome to our new library!

Opening times:

Monday to Friday: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm

Saturday: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Sunday: closed

You can borrow five books for two weeks. It is free! You need a library card. Please bring a photo and your address to the front desk.

Children's Corner: Story time is every Wednesday at 4:00 pm. It is for children from 3 to 7 years old.

Computer Room: There are ten computers on the first floor. You can use a computer for one hour.

Please be quiet in the library. No food or drinks, please. Water is OK.

Questions? Call us: 555 0172

  1. What is this notice about?

  2. When is the library closed?

  3. Ali wants to go to the library on Saturday at 3:00 pm. What is true?

  4. "You can borrow five books." Here, borrow means _____.

  5. What do you need to bring for a library card?

  6. Who is story time for?

  7. Where are the computers?

  8. Maya is in the library. What can she do?

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About this test

This A1 reading test has two short original texts: a holiday email and a notice from a library. Learners answer 16 multiple-choice questions about the main idea, details, simple inference and word meaning. It suits beginners in their first year of English.

Topics covered

Reading comprehensionEmailsNoticesHolidaysDaily routinesOpening timesVocabulary in context

How to use this test

  1. Download the PDF and print it, or take the test online below.
  2. Answer every question without a dictionary or time pressure.
  3. Check your answers and note the topics you need to review.

Notes for teachers

Ask learners to read each text once for the general idea, then again to answer the questions. Several items target common A1 problems: mixing up details about two people (Lina and Sam), reading times on a timetable, and guessing words like 'near' and 'borrow' from context. As follow-up, learners can write a short holiday email or design a notice for their school.