Training Plans for New Café Volunteers
About this practice test
A café manager describes a three-week volunteer training plan involving welcome sessions, shadowing, practice, buddy support, feedback, and closing duties.
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:
10 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
- B1. 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
- Fill in the blank (text)
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.
Training Plans for New Café Volunteers
Mina runs the River Street Café, a small community café that depends on volunteers. Every month she invites a new group to a three-week training plan. On the first day, each person gets a folder with simple notes, a name badge, and a map of the counter. Mina says the aim is not to test people quickly, but to help them feel calm enough to learn. She has noticed that when the room is quiet, new volunteers ask more questions and remember more. Because of that, she keeps the first meeting friendly and unhurried. New volunteers often arrive nervous, so she also makes time for a short welcome chat before the first shift begins. The plan begins with shadowing. For the first two shifts, the volunteer stands beside an experienced helper and watches how the till, the coffee machine, and the food shelf are used. After that, the volunteer practises easy tasks, such as washing cups, checking fruit, and writing today’s prices on the board. Only after tea and coffee orders feel familiar does the trainee learn how to use the till. Mina separates the lessons this way because busy times can confuse people. She also pairs every new volunteer with a shift buddy who can answer questions without making them feel slow. If someone forgets a step, the buddy shows it again rather than taking over. The final week focuses on closing up. Volunteers check the milk, wipe the tables, count the sugar jars, and lock the side door. At the end, Mina asks each person to name one thing they found hard and one thing they want to improve. She believes this short talk matters more than a long form, because it shows what support is still needed. Most volunteers leave the café with more confidence and, sometimes, with a plan to return with a friend. Mina thinks that the best training does not rush people; it gives them time to practise, ask, and try again.
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Question 1 · Fill in the blank (text)
Complete each blank with the missing word or phrase.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage. The café invites each new group to a ___ training plan.
Return to the passage, recording or visualCheck answers and explanations
- Blank 1
- three-week
The passage states 'a three-week training plan', so 'three-week' completes the sentence correctly. 'Short' or other durations would not match the text.
a three-week training plan
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Question 2 · Fill in the blank (text)
Complete each blank with the missing word or phrase.
Write NO MORE THAN ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage. On the first day, each person gets a folder with simple notes, a name badge, and a ___ of the counter.
Return to the passage, recording or visualCheck answers and explanations
- Blank 1
- map
The missing word is 'map', because the passage says each person gets 'a map of the counter'. Other words such as 'plan' or 'picture' are not used.
a map of the counter
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Question 3 · Fill in the blank (text)
Complete each blank with the missing word or phrase.
Write NO MORE THAN ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage. Mina says the aim is not to test people quickly, but to help them feel ___ enough to learn.
Return to the passage, recording or visualCheck answers and explanations
- Blank 1
- calm
'Calm' fits because Mina wants learners to feel 'calm enough to learn'. This shows her attitude; 'ready' or 'safe' are not the words used in the passage.
help them feel calm enough to learn
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Question 4 · Fill in the blank (text)
Complete each blank with the missing word or phrase.
Write NO MORE THAN ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage. When the room is quiet, new volunteers ask more questions and remember ___.
Return to the passage, recording or visualCheck answers and explanations
- Blank 1
- more
The word is 'more', because the passage says they 'ask more questions and remember more'. With this prompt, only the final word after 'remember' is needed.
ask more questions and remember more
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Question 5 · Fill in the blank (text)
Complete each blank with the missing word or phrase.
Write NO MORE THAN ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage. For the first two shifts, the volunteer ___ beside an experienced helper.
Return to the passage, recording or visualCheck answers and explanations
- Blank 1
- stands
'Stands' is correct because the passage says the volunteer 'stands beside an experienced helper'. 'Works' is too general and does not match the text exactly.
the volunteer stands beside an experienced helper
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Question 6 · Fill in the blank (text)
Complete each blank with the missing word or phrase.
Write NO MORE THAN ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage. After that, the volunteer practises easy tasks, such as washing cups, checking fruit, and writing today’s ___ on the board.
Return to the passage, recording or visualCheck answers and explanations
- Blank 1
- prices
The missing word is 'prices', taken directly from 'writing today’s prices on the board'. This is one of the simple tasks in the training plan.
writing today’s prices on the board
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Question 7 · Fill in the blank (text)
Complete each blank with the missing word or phrase.
Write NO MORE THAN ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage. Only after tea and coffee orders feel familiar does the trainee learn how to use the ___.
Return to the passage, recording or visualCheck answers and explanations
- Blank 1
- till
'Till' is the correct word because the passage says the trainee learns how to use 'the till' only after practice with drinks orders. 'Machine' is mentioned elsewhere, but it is not the missing word here.
learn how to use the till
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Question 8 · Fill in the blank (text)
Complete each blank with the missing word or phrase.
Write NO MORE THAN ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage. Mina separates the lessons this way because busy times can ___ people.
Return to the passage, recording or visualCheck answers and explanations
- Blank 1
- confuse
The word is 'confuse', which explains the result of busy times. 'Worry' or 'rush' may sound possible, but they are not the word used in the passage.
busy times can confuse people
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Question 9 · Fill in the blank (text)
Complete each blank with the missing word or phrase.
Write NO MORE THAN ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage. She also pairs every new volunteer with a 'shift buddy' who can answer questions without making them feel ___.
Return to the passage, recording or visualCheck answers and explanations
- Blank 1
- slow
'Slow' fits because the passage says the shift buddy answers questions 'without making them feel slow'. This shows support that avoids embarrassment.
without making them feel slow
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Question 10 · Fill in the blank (text)
Complete each blank with the missing word or phrase.
Write NO MORE THAN ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage. At the end, Mina asks each person to name one thing they found hard and one thing they want to ___.
Return to the passage, recording or visualCheck answers and explanations
- Blank 1
- improve
The missing word is 'improve', which matches Mina's final feedback question. 'Change' or 'fix' may sound similar, but the passage uses 'improve'.
one thing they want to improve
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.