Practice English Reading Tests for B1

– matching
– multiple choice
– multiple-choice gapped text

TEST 2
I. Matching
Jobs Available – B1 English Reading Test
For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below are all looking for a job.

There are descriptions of eight jobs.
Decide which jobs would be the most suitable for the people below.

1   Sandra is doing a four-year degree in hair and beauty and wants to work as a volunteer for
her third-year work experience. She likes to be part of a team and would enjoy dealing with
customers.

2   Manuela is from Spain and is looking for work to support herself financially while she
studies English at a local college. She can only work on Saturdays and Sundays and some
evenings.

3   Stella is looking for work during the holidays. She’s studying business at college and
would love somewhere she can gain experience in a business environment and put her IT
skills into practice.

4   John is looking for a job where he can work with customers. He recently completed a
course in this area of work and is keen to find a job that would offer support in developing
skills in managing staff.

5   Simon has a job but wants to work with teenagers during the weekend. He is planning a
career change and is happy to work without pay in order to gain experience.

Jobs Available
A   ABC Computer Specialists

Do you have customer service skills? ABC Computer Specialists are looking for sales
advisers to join our growing customer service team. This is a full-time post, 37 hours a
week, with great opportunities for the right person.

B   Mansion House Hotel

An exciting opportunity for students wanting work experience in the Mansion House
Hotel on a part-time basis. You will be dealing with international customers and a
second language would be an advantage. Hours of work can be agreed to suit your
needs though you would be required to work some weekends.

C   Susie’s Hairdressing

We are a new hairdresser’s and we want a young, hard-working volunteer to manage

our reception desk. You will take calls, make bookings and help build a relationship
with our customers. Suitable candidates will be offered a one-year contract.

D   The Daily News

Our business is growing and we need an assistant for our customer service team. The
successful person will assist in managing our sales staff and be responsible for
reporting on sales. The successful person will receive training.

E   Amega

Would you like to work in a modern office environment, building relationships with
customers, and working with our excellent team? If you’ve recently completed your studies
at university and are looking for a career in the beauty industry, then please get in contact.

F   Peterfield Forum

We are looking for keen volunteers to help run our summer school. You will have
experience in working with young people and be prepared to accompany them on trips. The
school is open from Monday to Friday and we need volunteers for at least two of these days.

G   Hall Green Community Centre

This is a great opportunity to gain experience in youth work. We are looking for a volunteer
with work experience to support our young people as they begin to enter employment. You
would be expected to work on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with occasional Sunday
sessions.

H   Lucas Media

Are you a student looking for work from Monday to Friday over the vacation period? We are
offering a short-term contract to a keen young person to work with our sales team. You will
get an idea of how a modern company operates, deal with customer enquiries and have the
chance to help develop our website.

II. Multiple choice

Robert Taylor talks about his new art show
Like all children, I was always getting myself and the kitchen table in a mess when I first
took an interest in painting. Unlike many kids, who give up activities like art for other
subjects when they go through school, I continued painting throughout my childhood. Now,
after years of enjoyment, I’ve finally taken the scary decision to show off some of my
favourite pieces of work by holding an exhibition at Glebe Street library. Inviting people to
see my work is a new idea and one which I’m looking forward to.
I’ve never had any formal art training. When I was trying to decide what I should study at
university, art as a subject never entered my head. I always thought my parents wanted me to
follow a subject that would be useful when I was looking for a job, so I ended up taking a
business course. Looking back, my parents would probably have supported me whatever my
decision, but I decided to do what I thought was best for everyone.
And during my time at university, I rarely did much in the way of painting. It wouldn’t have
been easy to paint anyway as I lived in university accommodation and had very little space. I
kept an interest in art though and visited local exhibitions whenever I could, but that was
about it. It was later in my thirties while I was working that I discovered my love of the
activity again. Since then I’ve made a point of spending at least one evening a week painting.
However, my works have only ever been seen by trusted friends and relatives. They’ve
always given me plenty of support and encouraged me to continue with my art. But I’ve
always wondered what people who I didn’t know would think, people who could give me an
honest opinion of my ability. The library have been very helpful and offered me a room for
the show. They’ve asked me to supply questionnaires about the event and I’ve included a
section for visitors· comments about the works. I’m very much looking forward to reading
these opinions.
1   What does Robert say about art?
      A   Children usually continue doing it at school.
      B   He had to give it up to do other subjects.
      C   The thought of showing off his work is a little frightening.
      D   He has often thought about letting people see his work.
2   When deciding what to study at university
      A   Robert didn’t consider doing art.
      B   his parents didn’t want him to study art.
      C   he thought he would need a job while he was studying.
      D   Robert understood correctly what his parents wanted him to do.
3   What happened while Robert was at university?
      A   He didn’t do any painting.
      B   He discovered his love of painting again.
      C   He was still keen on art.
      D   He painted at least one evening a week.
4   Robert is holding the exhibition because
      A   his friends and relatives encouraged him to do this.
      B   the library asked him to.
      C   he is interested in getting opinions from friends and relatives.
      D   he wants to know what strangers think of his work.
5   What would be a good introduction to this article?
      A   Robert Taylor tells us how a love of art can lead to a change of career.
      B   If your child shows an interest in art, Robert Taylor will explain how to support this
activity.
      C   After years in the shadows, Robert Taylor is about to face the public with his works.
      D   If you’re keen on developing your artistic skills, Robert Taylor explains how to get
support from friends and relatives.

III. Multiple choice gapped text

The story of the carrot and the ring

Have you ever lost something that was precious to you, and thought you’d never see it
again? That’s what happened to Mary Grams from Canada.
Mary had worn her engagement ring for more than half a century when she suddenly lost it.
She was working in her garden on the family farm one day, pulling out a plant. (1)………..
When she discovered it was missing, she searched everywhere for it for days, before finally
giving up.
Mary realised she probably wasn’t going to find the ring again. So she decided not to tell
anyone about what had happened, apart from her son. Instead, she thought she would replace
it with a much cheaper ring from a jeweller’s. (2)……….. In fact, it was so similar that no-
one else in her family even knew her original ring was missing.
But the story has a happy ending. Mary eventually got her engagement ring back – 13 years
after it was lost! One day Mary’s daughter-in-law Colleen was working in the same garden
where Mary had been all those years ago.
(3)……….. But this time it looked a bit different – because there was a carrot growing right
through the middle of it!
As soon as Colleen saw the ring, she knew immediately who the owner was. The farm had
been in the family for over 100 years. (4)……….. So when Colleen discovered the story of
the lost ring, it became clear there was only one person it could possibly have belonged to,
and the ring was returned to Mary.
Mary decided to remove her ring from the carrot and wear it again. (5)……….. Then the ring
was washed, and Mary put it back on her finger – and it still fitted perfectly!
A   She was digging up vegetables there when she discovered the ring.
B   That gave her a very good idea about what to do with the carrot.
C   And that was probably when the ring came off her finger.
D   So she carefully cut the carrot in half.
E   She had never seen anything like it before.
F   And only two women had lived there in all that time.
G   It was tiring work, as some of them were very big.
H   Luckily, she managed to find another one that looked just like it.