Reading: A2

A message to a new friend

Read a direct message on social media to practise and improve your reading skills.

Before reading
Do the preparation task first. Then read the text and do the exercises.

Preparation task
Choose the sentence (a or b) that is correct.

1. a. It was so nice to know you last week. b. It was so nice to meet you last week.
2. a. I hope you got home OK. b. I wait you got home OK.
3. a. Here’s a photo of me. b. Here a photo of me.
4. a. Good memories. b. Good remembers.
5. a. Please send me your email address. b. Please send your email address me.
6. a. Bye until soon. b. Bye for now.

Reading text: A message to a new friend

Hi Lucia
How are you? It was so nice to meet you last week in Sydney at the sales meeting. How was
the rest of your trip? Did you see any kangaroos? I hope you got home to Mexico City OK.
Anyway, I have the documents about the new Berlin offices. We’re going to be open in three
months. I moved here from London just last week. They are very nice offices, and the location
is perfect. There are lots of restaurants, cafés and banks in the area. There’s also public
transport; we are next to an U-Bahn (that is the name for the metro here). Maybe you can
come and see them one day? I would love to show you Berlin, especially in the winter. You
said you have never seen snow – you will see lots here!
Here’s a photo of you and me at the restaurant in Sydney. That was a very fun night!
Remember the singing Englishman? Crazy! Please send me any other photos you have of that
night. Good memories.
Please give me your email address and I will send you the documents.
Bye for now
Mikel

© 2019 British Council www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish

Tasks

Task 1
Match the sentences (a–d) with the places (1–4).

Places Sentences
1. …… Berlin a. Mikel and Lucia met here.
2. …… London b. Mikel’s new offices are here.
3. …… Mexico City c. Mikel used to live here.
4. …… Sydney d. Lucia lives here.

Task 2
Are the sentences true or false?

Answer
1. Mikel and Lucia were friends from school. True False
2. They work for a company that sells things. True False
3. The new offices are in a very good location. True False
4. There is a metro next to the offices. True False
5. Mikel has never seen snow before. True False
6. Mikel and Lucia had dinner together. True False
7. Mikel doesn’t have Lucia’s email address. True False
8. Lucia wants to send Mikel some documents. True False

Discussion
How do you make plans with friends?

© 2019 British Council www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish

Answers

Preparation task
1. b
2. a
3. a
4. a
5. a
6. b

Task 1
1. b
2. c
3. d
4. a

Task 2
1. False
2. True
3. True
4. True
5. False
6. True
7. True
8. False

© 2019 British Council www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish

 Reading: A2
An email from a friend
Read an email about plans for the weekend to practise and improve your reading skills.

Before reading
Do the preparation task first. Then read the text and do the exercises.

Preparation task
Match the definitions (a–f) with the words in bold type in the sentences (1–6).

Sentences Definitions
1. …… That sounds like a good idea. a. came to live here
2. …… We moved in yesterday. b. I’m excited about
3. …… Keep going past the cinema. c. tell each other news about our lives
4. …… We should catch up soon. d. tell me
5. …… Let me know if you like fish. e. is
6. …… Looking forward to it! f. don’t stop moving

Reading text: An email from a friend

Hi Samia,
Quick email to say that sounds like a great idea. Saturday is better for me because I’m
meeting my parents on Sunday. So if that’s still good for you, why don’t you come here? Then
you can see the new flat and all the work we’ve done on the kitchen since we moved in. We
can eat at home and then go for a walk in the afternoon. It’s going to be so good to catch up
finally. I want to hear all about your new job!
Our address is 52 Charles Road, but it’s a bit difficult to find because the house numbers are
really strange here. If you turn left at the post office and keep going past the big white house
on Charles Road, there’s a small side street behind it with the houses 50–56 in. Don’t ask me
why the side street doesn’t have a different name! But call me if you get lost and I’ll come and
get you.
Let me know if there’s anything you do/don’t like to eat. Really looking forward to seeing you!
See you soon!
Gregor

© 2019 British Council www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish

Tasks

Task 1
Are the sentences true or false?

Answer
1. Samia and Gregor are going to meet on Saturday. True False
2. They’re going to have lunch at Gregor’s flat. True False
3. They haven’t seen each other for a long time. True False
4. Samia’s life hasn’t changed since they last met. True False
5. The house is easy to find. True False
6. Gregor doesn’t know the name of the side street his flat is on. True False

Task 2
Put the words in order to make sentences.

1. idea. like a great That sounds

2. me. for better is Saturday

3. you Why here? don’t come

4. all about your I want new job. to hear

5. you Call if lost. me get

6. forward to looking you! Really seeing

Discussion
How do you make plans with friends? By email?

© 2019 British Council www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish

Answers

Preparation task
1. e
2. a
3. f
4. c
5. d
6. b

Task 1
1. True
2. True
3. True
4. False
5. False
6. False

Task 2
1. That sounds like a great idea.
2. Saturday is better for me.
3. Why don’t you come here?
4. I want to hear all about your new job.
5. Call me if you get lost.
6. Really looking forward to seeing you!

© 2019 British Council www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish

 Reading: A2
An invitation to a job interview
Read an email invitation to a job interview to practise and improve your reading skills.

Before reading
Do the preparation task first. Then read the text and do the exercises.

Preparation task
Match the definitions (a–f) with the vocabulary (1–6).

Vocabulary Definitions
1. …… ID a. a job in a company, for example a marketing manager or sales
2. …… a position assistant
3. …… references b. a short document that shows your experience and
qualifications
4. …… to reschedule
c. letters from people who know you that describe your abilities
5. …… a CV
d. identification; a document with your name, photo and other
6. …… reception
personal information
e. the place in an office where visitors arrive
f. to change the date or time of something

Reading text: An invitation to a job interview

To: Grace Yang
Date: 6 September
Subject: Invitation to job interview
Dear Grace,
Thank you for your application for the position of sales manager.
We would like to invite you for an interview at 10 a.m. on Monday 21 September at our offices
at The Shard, 32 London Bridge Street, London.
You will meet with our head of sales, Susan Park, and the interview will last for about 45
minutes. During this time, you will have the opportunity to find out more about the position
and learn more about our company.
Please bring your CV and references to the interview. You will also need to show a form of ID
at reception to receive a visitor’s pass. Please ask for me as soon as you arrive.
If you have any questions or if you wish to reschedule, please call me on 555-1234 or email
me by 12 September.
I look forward to meeting you.

© 2019 British Council www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish

Best regards,
Anna Green
Human Resources Assistant

Tasks

Task 1
Circle the best answer.

1. What job did Grace apply for?

a. Head of sales
b. Sales manager
c. Sales assistant
d. Human resource assistant
2. When is the job interview?
a. 6 September
b. 12 September
c. 21 September
d. 22 September
3. How long will the interview take?
a. Under an hour
b. Just over an hour
c. Over two hours
d. A day
4. What does Grace need to bring to the interview?
a. Her CV
b. Her references
c. Her ID
d. All of the above
5. Who should Grace ask for at reception?
a. The reception manager
b. Susan Park
c. Anna Green
d. Grace Yang

© 2019 British Council www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish

6. What can Grace do if she wants to change the interview date?
a. Go to the reception on 12 September
b. Call Anna Green on 10 September
c. Email Anna Green on 15 September
d. Meet Susan Park for a coffee on 21 September

Task 2
Complete the sentences with words from the box.

sales last pass

resources invite Shard

1. The main purpose of the email is to ……………………………… Grace for a job interview.
2. The interview will be at their offices at The ……………………………… .
3. Susan Park is their head of ……………………………… .
4. Anna Green is their human ……………………………… assistant.
5. The job interview will ……………………………… for about 45 minutes.
6. Grace needs to show her ID to receive a visitor’s ……………………………… .

Discussion
How can you prepare for a job interview?

© 2019 British Council www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish

Answers

Preparation task
1. d
2. a
3. c
4. f
5. b
6. e

Task 1
1. b
2. c
3. a
4. d
5. c
6. b

Task 2
1. invite
2. Shard
3. sales
4. resources
5. last
6. pass

© 2019 British Council www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish