A Weekend of Learning and Exploring
About this practice test
A practical A2 reading set about a pottery course, a local history walk, and booking activities at a visitor centre. It covers opinions, times, places, reasons, sequence, and everyday instructions.
What you’ll practice
Finding detail
Locate specific information and evidence.
Interpreting ideas
Connect main points and inferences.
Evaluating arguments
Assess claims, evidence, and limitations.
What to expect:
15 questions with explanations to review after submission.
Study the questions and tasks
Work through the material below, or start the interactive practice above to complete an attempt. Try the exercises before opening any answer or transcript sections, then use them to review your work.
- Practice level
- A2. Try this level if you can follow the instructions and understand most of the language; choose an earlier level if you need more support.
- Question formats
- Yes / No / Not Given, Single choice, Cloze (text), Short answer, Fill in the blank (dropdown)
How to approach this practice
Read the passage for its main idea, then return to the relevant sentence or paragraph for each question. Base answers on the passage.
Mara's Weekend Pottery Course
Last month I joined a weekend pottery course at Green Clay Studio, and I think it is a great choice for beginners. On Saturday morning, Mara showed us how to prepare the clay, and by the afternoon we were making a small bowl and a cup. The group was small, so everyone got help. On Sunday we painted our pieces and learned how to use the kiln safely. I liked that we could keep one item and collect it the next week. The course was not too long, not too hard, and it gave me a calm break from work. If you want a practical class and a finished object, I would really recommend it.
Lena's Saturday History Walk
On Saturday, Lena and her uncle Ravi joined a local history walk in Millford. Mrs Grant, the guide, gave everyone a small map and told them to look carefully at the old street names. The route started at the old railway station and ended by the river bridge. On the way, they stopped at a red house where a printer once worked. Lena liked the walk because it was easy to follow and the guide answered her questions. After the walk, the group drank tea in a cafe and talked about their favourite places. They also noticed a clock tower and wrote a few notes in their notebook. The guide said the walk was for learning and for looking closely at the town.
River Path Visitor Centre Booking Notice
At the River Path Visitor Centre, Maya helps families book weekend activities. To save a place, visit the desk before 4 p.m. on Friday, or phone the centre after 9 a.m. on Saturday. You can also send an email, but the team will answer later. Please include your contact details and the activity name. The visitor centre opens at 9 a.m. each morning. Payment is taken when you arrive, so you do not need to pay online. Children under 10 can join the short nature walk for free, and the craft room is open only to small groups. Maya says booking early is best because the popular boat trip fills quickly. The desk also gives simple maps and times.
-
Question 1 · Yes / No / Not Given
Decide whether the statement agrees with the writer’s or speaker’s view. Choose Not Given when the view is not stated.
The writer thinks the course was too long for a weekend.
Return to the passage, recording or visual- Yes
- No
- Not Given
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- No
No. The writer says, 'The course was not too long,' so the statement is the opposite of what the passage says. It is not Not Given because the length is described clearly.
The course was not too long, not too hard
-
Question 2 · Yes / No / Not Given
Decide whether the statement agrees with the writer’s or speaker’s view. Choose Not Given when the view is not stated.
The writer thinks the small group made the class less helpful.
Return to the passage, recording or visual- Yes
- No
- Not Given
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- No
No. The passage says, 'The group was small, so everyone got help,' which shows the writer saw the small group as useful, not less helpful. Not Given is wrong because the writer's view is stated clearly.
The group was small, so everyone got help
-
Question 3 · Yes / No / Not Given
Decide whether the statement agrees with the writer’s or speaker’s view. Choose Not Given when the view is not stated.
The writer believes the pottery course is a good choice for beginners.
Return to the passage, recording or visual- Yes
- No
- Not Given
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- Yes
Yes. The writer says, 'I think it is a great choice for beginners,' which clearly shows a positive opinion. The other options fail because the writer does not say beginners should avoid it, and the idea is stated directly, not left unclear.
I think it is a great choice for beginners
-
Question 4 · Yes / No / Not Given
Decide whether the statement agrees with the writer’s or speaker’s view. Choose Not Given when the view is not stated.
The writer believes the course was cheap.
Return to the passage, recording or visual- Yes
- No
- Not Given
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- Not Given
Not Given. The passage gives many opinions about the course, but it does not mention the price at all. We can read that the writer liked the course, but we cannot know whether it was cheap.
The course was not too long, not too hard, and it gave me a calm break from work
-
Question 5 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
Why does the writer recommend the course?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- Because it teaches pottery history in a museum.
- Because it lasts many months.
- Because it is only for expert potters.
- Because it offers practical work and something to take home.
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- Because it offers practical work and something to take home.
The writer recommends the course because it offers practical work and something to take home. The other choices add details that are not in the review or contradict it.
If you want a practical class and a finished object, I would really recommend it
-
Question 6 · Cloze (text)
Complete each blank with the missing word or phrase.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage for each gap. Complete the summary. The two family members took part in a local history walk in Millford. The guide gave everyone a 1___ and asked them to notice the earlier names of roads. The route began at the old railway 2___ and finished by the river 3___. On the way, they stopped at a red house where a printer once 4___.
Return to the passage, recording or visualCheck answers and explanations
- Blank 1
- small map
- Blank 2
- station
- Blank 3
- bridge
- Blank 4
- worked
The summary matches the main details in the passage. Mrs Grant gave the group a small map, the walk started at the old railway station, it ended by the river bridge, and the printer once worked at the red house. Each answer fits the meaning and grammar of its gap. Gap 1: small map — the guide gave everyone a small map. Gap 2: station — the route started at the old railway station. Gap 3: bridge — the route ended by the river bridge. Gap 4: worked — a printer once worked at the red house.
Mrs Grant, the guide, gave everyone a small map
The route started at the old railway station and ended by the river bridge
they stopped at a red house where a printer once worked
-
Question 7 · Short answer
Write a short answer to the question.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage. Who joined Lena on the walk?
Return to the passage, recording or visualCheck answers and explanations
- Accepted answers
- her uncle Ravi / uncle Ravi / Ravi
The passage says Lena went with her uncle Ravi. Both 'her uncle Ravi' and the shorter extracted phrase 'uncle Ravi' are acceptable. 'Ravi' is also acceptable because it directly names the person. 'Lena' alone is not enough, and 'Mrs Grant' is the guide, not the person who walked with her.
Lena and her uncle Ravi joined a local history walk in Millford
-
Question 8 · Short answer
Write a short answer to the question.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage. What did Mrs Grant give everyone?
Return to the passage, recording or visualCheck answers and explanations
- Accepted answers
- a small map / small map / map
Mrs Grant gave the group a small map. Both 'a small map' and the shorter extracted phrase 'small map' are acceptable. 'map' is also acceptable as a shorter extracted answer. 'Guide' or 'street names' are not what she gave them.
Mrs Grant, the guide, gave everyone a small map
-
Question 9 · Short answer
Write a short answer to the question.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage. What was the colour of the house they stopped at?
Return to the passage, recording or visualCheck answers and explanations
- Accepted answers
- red
The house is described as red, so that is the correct answer. 'Old' or 'river' refer to other places in the passage and do not answer the colour question.
they stopped at a red house
-
Question 10 · Short answer
Write a short answer to the question.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage. What names were they told to look carefully at?
Return to the passage, recording or visualCheck answers and explanations
- Accepted answers
- old street names / street names
The passage says they were told to look carefully at the old street names. Both 'old street names' and the shorter extracted phrase 'street names' are acceptable. The answer must still refer to names, not the map or the house.
told them to look carefully at the old street names
-
Question 11 · Fill in the blank (dropdown)
Choose the correct option for each blank.
To save a place, visitors should go to the desk before 4 p.m. on ___.
Return to the passage, recording or visualChoices for blank 1
- Saturday
- Friday
- Monday
- Sunday
Check answers and explanations
- Blank 1
- Friday
Friday is correct because the notice says visitors should visit the desk 'before 4 p.m. on Friday'. Saturday is the day for phone bookings, not desk bookings, and the other days are not mentioned.
visit the desk before 4 p.m. on Friday
-
Question 12 · Fill in the blank (dropdown)
Choose the correct option for each blank.
If visitors call the centre, they should phone it after ___.
Return to the passage, recording or visualChoices for blank 1
- noon
- 4 p.m.
- 9 a.m.
- 8 a.m.
Check answers and explanations
- Blank 1
- 9 a.m.
9 a.m. is correct because the notice says people can 'phone the centre after 9 a.m. on Saturday'. The other times are not given for calling and do not match the passage.
phone the centre after 9 a.m. on Saturday
-
Question 13 · Fill in the blank (dropdown)
Choose the correct option for each blank.
You do not need to pay online because payment is taken ___.
Return to the passage, recording or visualChoices for blank 1
- when you arrive
- before you book
- on Friday
- by email
Check answers and explanations
- Blank 1
- when you arrive
When you arrive is correct because the notice says, 'Payment is taken when you arrive'. The other choices are not stated and do not fit the meaning of the sentence.
Payment is taken when you arrive, so you do not need to pay online
-
Question 14 · Fill in the blank (dropdown)
Choose the correct option for each blank.
Children under 10 can join the short nature walk ___.
Return to the passage, recording or visualChoices for blank 1
- for free
- with a ticket
- after lunch
- on Sunday
Check answers and explanations
- Blank 1
- for free
For free is correct because the notice states that children under 10 can join the walk 'for free'. The other options are not mentioned and do not match the sentence meaning.
Children under 10 can join the short nature walk for free
-
Question 15 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
Why does Maya say booking early is best?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- Because payment is taken when visitors arrive.
- Because the craft room is open only to small groups.
- Because the team answers email later.
- Because the boat trip fills quickly.
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- Because the boat trip fills quickly.
Maya recommends booking early because the popular boat trip fills quickly. The other choices are details about the centre, but they do not give the reason for booking early.
Maya says booking early is best because the popular boat trip fills quickly
What to review next
Find the words that support each answer. For a mistake, compare the question with the evidence and identify the detail or inference you missed.
A focused practice result shows how you did on these tasks. Use several activities across skills to decide what to study next; one practice score does not certify an overall CEFR level.
Before you practise: a worked example
Look for evidence in the text. Separate what the writer says from what you already know about the topic.
The library normally closes at six, but on Fridays it stays open until eight. When does it close on Friday?
The answer is eight. But introduces an exception to the normal closing time, so the first time mentioned is not the answer.
This teaching example is separate from the scored questions. After your test, compare any mistakes with the explanation and revisit the topic before trying again.