Read the passage carefully before attempting Exercise 1 (Multiple Choice) and Exercise 2 (Fill in the blanks dropdown) below.
Most days, Priya walks to her university library in the morning. It is only ten minutes from her flat, so she never takes the bus. She studies there for a few hours and drinks a lot of tea. The library is quiet and warm, and she likes it very much.
On Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, Priya goes to a dance class near the city centre. She learns Bollywood dance with a small group of friends. It is hard work, but it is also a lot of fun. After the class, they often go to a small Indian restaurant on Park Street. Priya always orders the same thing — mango lassi and vegetable curry. “It tastes like home,” she says.
At weekends, Priya does not study. On Saturdays, she visits the market at Corn Street. She buys fresh fruit, bread, and sometimes flowers for her flat. On Sunday mornings, she stays in bed late and reads a book. In the afternoon, she calls her family in Mumbai. “Sundays are my favourite day,” Priya writes. “I feel relaxed and happy.”
Exercise 1
Read the passage about a person's daily routine and free time carefully. Then choose the correct answer for each question based on the text.
Example: What time does the person wake up in the morning?
Answer: The person wakes up at seven o'clock in the morning.
My Daily Routine & Free Time
Have you ever wondered what life looks like for a young person in a busy city? In this lesson, you will read a short blog post from Priya, a university student in Bristol, England. She writes about her week and what she loves doing when she is not studying. Before you read, think about these two questions: What do you do after school or work to relax? Do you prefer staying at home or going out with friends?
Reading Passage: Priya's Week in Bristol
Most days, Priya walks to her university library in the morning. It is only ten minutes from her flat, so she never takes the bus. She studies there for a few hours and drinks a lot of tea. The library is quiet and warm, and she likes it very much.
On Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, Priya goes to a dance class near the city centre. She learns Bollywood dance with a small group of friends. It is hard work, but it is also a lot of fun. After the class, they often go to a small Indian restaurant on Park Street. Priya always orders the same thing — mango lassi and vegetable curry. "It tastes like home," she says.
At weekends, Priya does not study. On Saturdays, she visits the market at Corn Street. She buys fresh fruit, bread, and sometimes flowers for her flat. On Sunday mornings, she stays in bed late and reads a book. In the afternoon, she calls her family in Mumbai. "Sundays are my favourite day," Priya writes. "I feel relaxed and happy."
Key Vocabulary in Context
| Word / Phrase | Part of Speech | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| flat | noun | an apartment; a place where you live, usually in a building with other homes | She lives in a small flat near the park. |
| library | noun | a building with many books that you can read or borrow | I study at the library every afternoon. |
| city centre | noun phrase | the middle part of a city, usually with shops and restaurants | There are many cafés in the city centre. |
| orders | verb | asks for food or drink in a restaurant | He always orders a coffee after lunch. |
| market | noun | an outdoor place where people sell food and other things | We buy vegetables at the market every Saturday. |
| relaxed | adjective | calm and comfortable; not stressed or busy | She feels relaxed after a long walk. |
| fresh | adjective | recently made or picked; not old or frozen | I love fresh bread from the bakery. |
| favourite | adjective | the one you like most | Summer is my favourite season. |
Reading Strategies & Comprehension Tips
Skimming for the Main Idea
Read the passage quickly the first time. Do not stop at every word. Try to answer: Who is this text about, and what does she do? You can find the main idea in the first sentence of each paragraph.
Scanning for Specific Information
If a question asks when something happens, scan the text for time words like Tuesday, Saturday, Sunday, morning, and afternoon. These words help you find the right part of the text quickly.
Understanding Inference
Sometimes the text does not say everything directly. For example, Priya says the curry "tastes like home." This means she is probably from India — the text does not say this directly, but we can understand it from the word home and the mention of Mumbai later.
Using Context for Unknown Words
If you do not know a word, look at the words around it. For example, if you do not know lassi, you can see it is something Priya orders in a restaurant. This tells you it is a food or drink.
Common Reading Pitfalls & Traps
Pitfall 1: Confusing Days and Activities
The text mentions several different days. Be careful not to mix them up. Priya goes to dance class on Tuesday and Thursday, not at the weekend. She visits the market on Saturday, not Sunday. Read the day words carefully before answering questions.
Pitfall 2: The Word "flat"
In British English, flat means an apartment. Some students think it means something is not tall or not interesting. In this text, "her flat" means the place where Priya lives. This is a common British English word you will see often.
Pitfall 3: "Stays in bed late"
This phrase means Priya wakes up but does not get up — she relaxes in bed. It does not mean she is ill or sleeping all day. It is a normal, positive thing many people do on their day off.
Pitfall 4: Reading Too Fast
Short texts like this have a lot of information in very few words. Every sentence is important. Do not skip sentences because you think they are unimportant — a question might ask about a small detail, like what Priya buys at the market or what time she calls her family.
Quick Summary
In this passage, you read about Priya, a student living in Bristol. She has a busy but enjoyable week — she studies, dances, eats out with friends, and relaxes at weekends. The text is a personal blog post with simple, real language. You practised skimming for the main idea, scanning for time words, and understanding small but important details. Now read the passage carefully and complete Exercise 1 (Multiple Choice) and Exercise 2 (Fill-in-the-gap dropdown) below.
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