EN

PDFTests Originals

Reading Comprehension – Test 1

A2 Elementary ReadingEnglish

This A2 reading comprehension test has three original texts: a personal email, a public notice and a short story. The 20 multiple-choice questions check the main idea, specific details, simple inference and vocabulary in context. It is suitable for teenage and adult learners at elementary level, in class or for self-study.

Questions
20
Time
30 min
PDF
4 pages
Answer key
Included
Download PDFPDF · 4 pages · 152 KB Take the test online
  • 100% free
  • No sign-up or email
  • Print-ready A4 PDF
Preview of page 1 of Reading Comprehension – Test 1 Open PDF

Take the test online

Read each text carefully and choose the best answer for each question. Choose your answers, then press “Check my answers”.

Part 1: An email

Read Lucia's email to her friend Tom. Then answer questions 1-7.

Hi Tom,

How are you? I'm sorry I didn't write last week, but we were very busy. We moved to our new flat in Brookfield on Saturday! It's on the third floor, and from the kitchen window I can see the river. It's smaller than our old house, but it's bright and warm.

My new school is only ten minutes away on foot, so I don't need to take the bus any more. That's great because I can sleep a little longer in the morning. The students in my class are friendly. A girl called Amira sits next to me, and she showed me the library and the sports hall on my first day.

The only problem is that I miss my old friends, especially you! Can you come and visit during the summer holidays? My mum says you can stay with us for a weekend. There's a big park near here with a lake where we can go swimming.

Write soon!

Lucia

  1. Why is Lucia writing to Tom?

  2. When did Lucia move to her new flat?

  3. What can Lucia see from the kitchen window?

  4. How does Lucia get to school now?

  5. Why is Lucia happy that her school is near her home?

  6. Who is Amira?

  7. In the email, "I miss my old friends" means:

Part 2: A notice

Read the notice from a public library. Then answer questions 8-14.

GREENHILL PUBLIC LIBRARY

Summer Activities for Children and Teens

This summer, the library has lots of free activities for young people aged 8 to 16. You don't need to pay, but you must book a place at the front desk or by phone (0123 456 789) before the activity. Places are limited!

Story Club (ages 8-11)

Every Monday and Wednesday, 10:00-11:30. Listen to stories, talk about books and make your own short comic.

Computer Coding (ages 12-16)

Every Tuesday, 14:00-16:00. Learn to make a simple computer game. Please bring a USB stick.

Photography Walk (all ages)

Saturday 15 July, 9:00-12:00. Walk around the old town with a photographer and learn how to take better photos. Bring a phone or camera and comfortable shoes. If it rains, the walk will happen on the next Saturday.

Please note: The library is closed on Sundays. Children under 10 must come with an adult.

  1. What is the notice mainly about?

  2. How can you book a place?

  3. Leo is 13 and loves computers. When should he go to the library?

  4. What should you bring to the Computer Coding class?

  5. What happens if it rains on 15 July?

  6. Maya is 9 and wants to join Story Club. What must she do?

  7. "Places are limited!" means:

Part 3: A short story

Read the story. Then answer questions 15-20.

The Wrong Bag

Kenji works in a small café in the city centre. Every morning he takes the train to work, and he always carries the same black backpack.

One Friday, the train was very crowded. When Kenji arrived at his station, he picked up his backpack and got off quickly. At the café, he opened it to get his lunch, but there was no lunch inside. There were three books, a pencil case and a notebook with the name "Rosa Silva" on it. It was the wrong bag!

Kenji felt terrible. He thought about Rosa, maybe a student, without her books. He looked in the notebook and found an email address. He wrote to her at once.

An hour later, a young woman came into the café with a black backpack. "I think this is yours," she said with a smile. "Your sandwich looks delicious, but I didn't eat it!"

Kenji laughed and made her a free hot chocolate. Now Rosa comes to the café every Friday.

  1. What is the story mainly about?

  2. Why did Kenji take the wrong bag?

  3. What was in the bag Kenji took?

  4. How did Kenji contact Rosa?

  5. "Kenji felt terrible." Here, "terrible" means:

  6. What can we guess about Rosa at the end of the story?

Preview

Preview of page 1 of Reading Comprehension – Test 1 Preview of page 2 of Reading Comprehension – Test 1

About this test

This A2 reading comprehension test has three original texts: a personal email, a public notice and a short story. The 20 multiple-choice questions check the main idea, specific details, simple inference and vocabulary in context. It is suitable for teenage and adult learners at elementary level, in class or for self-study.

Topics covered

Reading comprehensionPersonal emailPublic noticeShort storyVocabulary in contextInference

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

Give students about 30 minutes, or 10 minutes per section if you use the parts separately. The questions target common A2 problems: choosing an option because it repeats words from the text, confusing similar details (days, times, places), and missing simple inference. For follow-up, ask students to write a short reply to Lucia's email or a notice for a club at their school.