Helping at the Summer Fair
About this practice test
An A2 personal recount about two siblings helping at a summer fair, completing morning tasks, observing afternoon activities, enjoying the event and making plans for next year.
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:
5 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
- Multiple choice
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.
Helping at the Summer Fair
My sister Lena and I helped at the summer fair on Saturday. We arrived at nine in the morning and put up blue signs near the school gate. Then we carried boxes of lemons, paper cups, and cakes to the drink stall. Mrs. Green showed us how to write prices and count change. At first I was slow, but Lena helped me keep the table tidy. The music was loud, but it was fun, and we soon worked faster. In the afternoon, the fair became busier. A small band played near the tree, and children lined up for face painting. I liked the fair because people smiled and said thank you. I also liked finishing early enough to buy a strawberry ice cream. Next year, we want to help again, but we hope to work at the book stall, because it was quieter than the drink stall.
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Question 1 · Multiple choice
Choose all the correct answers.
Choose TWO things the writer says happened in the morning.
Return to the passage, recording or visual- bought a strawberry ice cream
- watched children line up for face painting
- put up blue signs near the school gate
- carried boxes of lemons, paper cups, and cakes to the drink stall
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- put up blue signs near the school gate; carried boxes of lemons, paper cups, and cakes to the drink stall
The passage says they arrived at nine and put up blue signs in the morning. The other two options happened later or are not supported.
We arrived at nine in the morning and put up blue signs near the school gate. Then we carried boxes of lemons, paper cups, and cakes to the drink stall.
bought a strawberry ice cream: Incorrect. The ice cream is mentioned later, in the afternoon.
watched children line up for face painting: Incorrect. That happens in the afternoon.
put up blue signs near the school gate: Correct. This happened in the morning.
carried boxes of lemons, paper cups, and cakes to the drink stall: Correct. This is part of the morning work.
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Question 2 · Multiple choice
Choose all the correct answers.
Choose TWO things that happened after the fair became busier.
Return to the passage, recording or visual- Mrs. Green showed them how to write prices and count change
- A small band played near the tree
- They arrived at nine in the morning
- Children lined up for face painting
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- A small band played near the tree; Children lined up for face painting
After the fair became busier, the passage says a small band played and children lined up for face painting. The other options are morning events.
In the afternoon, the fair became busier. A small band played near the tree, and children lined up for face painting.
Mrs. Green showed them how to write prices and count change: Incorrect. That happened earlier, before the afternoon.
A small band played near the tree: Correct. This happens after the fair becomes busier.
They arrived at nine in the morning: Incorrect. That happened at the start of the day.
Children lined up for face painting: Correct. This also happens in the busier afternoon.
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Question 3 · Multiple choice
Choose all the correct answers.
Choose TWO reasons the writer liked the fair.
Return to the passage, recording or visual- The book stall was quieter than the drink stall
- People smiled and said thank you
- The writer could buy a strawberry ice cream after finishing early
- The writer arrived late
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- People smiled and said thank you; The writer could buy a strawberry ice cream after finishing early
The writer liked the fair because people smiled and said thank you, and because finishing early allowed the writer to buy a strawberry ice cream. The other choices are not reasons given for liking the fair.
I liked the fair because people smiled and said thank you. I also liked finishing early enough to buy a strawberry ice cream.
The book stall was quieter than the drink stall: Incorrect. This is about next year's plan, not a reason for liking the fair.
People smiled and said thank you: Correct. This is one reason the writer gives.
The writer could buy a strawberry ice cream after finishing early: Correct. This is another reason the writer liked the fair.
The writer arrived late: Incorrect. The writer arrived at nine in the morning.
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Question 4 · Multiple choice
Choose all the correct answers.
Choose TWO plans the writer and Lena have for next year.
Return to the passage, recording or visual- help again
- work at the book stall
- buy more cakes
- visit the school gate
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- help again; work at the book stall
They plan to help again and to work at the book stall. The other options are not stated as plans.
Next year, we want to help again, but we hope to work at the book stall, because it was quieter than the drink stall.
help again: Correct. They say they want to do this next year.
work at the book stall: Correct. They also hope to do this next year.
buy more cakes: Incorrect. This is not their next-year plan.
visit the school gate: Incorrect. This is not mentioned as a plan.
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Question 5 · Multiple choice
Choose all the correct answers.
Choose TWO things Mrs. Green showed them how to do.
Return to the passage, recording or visual- write prices
- put up blue signs
- count change
- keep the table tidy
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- write prices; count change
Mrs. Green taught them to write prices and count change. The other options belong to different parts of the day or to another person.
Mrs. Green showed us how to write prices and count change.
write prices: Correct. Mrs. Green showed them this.
put up blue signs: Incorrect. They did that themselves earlier.
count change: Correct. Mrs. Green showed them this too.
keep the table tidy: Incorrect. Lena helped with that.
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.