Exercise 2
Read a story and complete the sentences — practice for the Cambridge A2 Flyers Reading Part 5 exam.
Before You Start
Read the whole story first. Then read the sentences — they are in the same order as the story, so answer them from top to bottom. The answer words are usually in the story, so find the right part and copy them carefully. Always check your spelling.
holidays — the time when you do not go to school.
worried / worried about — feeling that something bad might happen.
afraid — feeling scared.
suddenly — very quickly, when you do not expect it.
surprised — how you feel when something happens that you did not expect.
a snack shop — a small shop that sells food to eat.
Read the Story
Maria starts school
My name is Pedro and my sister’s name is Maria. Monday was the first day of school after the holidays, so we got up at seven o’clock. We put our new books into our school bags and I had breakfast. Maria couldn’t eat any food because she was worried about starting school.
I said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Maria, you will like going to school.’ Maria smiled and held my hand.
The bus came early so we had to run to catch it. On the bus, we sat down and put our school bags on the floor. The bus started suddenly, and everything fell out of our school bags!
There was a woman behind us, and she picked up one of our books. She read Maria’s name on the front of it and then she smiled. She said, ‘Hello, Maria, I’m your new teacher. My name’s Mrs Lester.’ We were very surprised.
Mrs Lester asked some more questions, and then in a few minutes, we arrived at school. Mrs Lester said, ‘I’ll see you in class, Maria,’ and Maria smiled a big smile.
I asked Maria, ‘Are you feeling worried now?’ and she laughed and said, ‘No! But there’s just one problem — I’m hungry! Where’s the school snack shop?’ I think that Maria will be happy at our school.
Practice
💡 Need a hint? Tap to open
These help you find the answer — they don’t give it to you.
1. What did the children put into their school bags? Look at the start of the story.
2. How did Maria feel about school? That is why she could not eat breakfast.
3. Why did they have to run for the bus — was it late or early?
4. What did the bus do that made everything fall out of the bags?
5. What did the woman do with Maria’s book before she read it?
6. What is the name of Maria’s new teacher? Look at what the woman says.
7. Maria was hungry — what was she looking for at school?
Extra Practice
Reading & Writing
You have to write the correct word next to each definition.
- A2 Flyers Reading Practice: Exercise 11 Guide
- Exercise 1 (A2 Flyers Reading Part 1)
- Exercise 10 (A2 Flyers Reading Part 1)
- Exercise 2 (A2 Flyers Reading Part 1)
- Exercise 3 (A2 Flyers Reading Part 1)
- Exercise 4 (A2 Flyers Reading Part 1)
- Exercise 5 (A2 Flyers Reading Part 1)
- Exercise 6 (A2 Flyers Reading Part 1)
- Exercise 7 (A2 Flyers Reading Part 1)
- Exercise 8 (A2 Flyers Reading Part 1)
- Exercise 9 (A2 Flyers Reading Part 1)
A short conversation between two people.
A text with some missing words (gaps) in it (a noun, adjective or verb).
A text with some missing words (gaps).
A complete story, and seven sentences about the story.
A text from a letter or diary with five gaps.
Children write a story based on three pictures.
Listening & Speaking
A big picture which shows people doing things.
A short conversation between two people.
Two sets of pictures.
Five short conversations.
You will hear a conversation about a picture between two people.
Links to Young Learners Exams
We have many free exercises and activities to help you practice so you can focus on your English skills needed to communicate in English through listening, speaking, reading and writing.