Read the passage carefully before attempting Exercise 1 (Multiple Choice) and Exercise 2 (Fill in the blanks dropdown) below.
Priya walks through the school gate and stops. The playground is very loud. Students are laughing and running everywhere. Priya does not know anyone. She holds her bag tightly and looks for the main office.
A girl with red trainers runs up to her. “Are you new? I’m Fatima!” she says. Priya smiles. “Yes. I can’t find Room 7,” she says. Fatima laughs. “I know! This school is very big. Come with me.” They walk together down a long corridor. Priya feels a little better now.
In class, the teacher, Mr. Osei, gives Priya a seat near the window. She can see the green football pitch outside. The lesson is about maps, and Priya loves geography. She answers one question, and Mr. Osei says, “Excellent!” After class, Fatima asks, “Do you want to eat lunch together?” Priya says yes. It is not a perfect day, but it is a good start.
Exercise 1
Read the passage about a child's first day at a new school carefully. Then choose the correct answer for each question based on the text.
Example: Where did the child go on their first day?
Answer: The child went to a new school.
My First Day at a New School
Starting at a new school can feel exciting and scary at the same time. A new building, new teachers, new faces — everything is different! Before you read, think about these two questions: What things make a first day at school difficult? And what can help you feel better in a new place? Keep your ideas in mind as you read Priya's story.
Reading Passage: A Nervous Morning
Priya walks through the school gate and stops. The playground is very loud. Students are laughing and running everywhere. Priya does not know anyone. She holds her bag tightly and looks for the main office.
A girl with red trainers runs up to her. "Are you new? I'm Fatima!" she says. Priya smiles. "Yes. I can't find Room 7," she says. Fatima laughs. "I know! This school is very big. Come with me." They walk together down a long corridor. Priya feels a little better now.
In class, the teacher, Mr. Osei, gives Priya a seat near the window. She can see the green football pitch outside. The lesson is about maps, and Priya loves geography. She answers one question, and Mr. Osei says, "Excellent!" After class, Fatima asks, "Do you want to eat lunch together?" Priya says yes. It is not a perfect day, but it is a good start.
Key Vocabulary in Context
| Word / Phrase | Part of Speech | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| gate | noun | a door in a wall or fence that leads into a place | We wait for our parents at the school gate. |
| playground | noun | an outdoor area at school where students play | The children run and laugh on the playground. |
| tightly | adverb | in a firm, strong way; not loosely | She holds her brother's hand tightly in the crowd. |
| corridor | noun | a long passage inside a building with rooms on each side | The students walk quietly down the corridor. |
| pitch | noun | an outdoor area of ground used for playing sport | The boys play football on the pitch after school. |
| geography | noun | a school subject about countries, places, maps, and nature | We learn about rivers and mountains in geography class. |
| excellent | adjective | very good; better than expected | The teacher says "Excellent!" when I get the answer right. |
| perfect | adjective | completely right or without any problems | The weather is not perfect, but we still go to the park. |
Reading Strategies & Comprehension Tips
Scanning for Key Details
When a question asks where something happens or who says something, do not read the whole passage again. Scan quickly — look for names (like Priya, Fatima, Mr. Osei) or places (like Room 7, playground, corridor). These words will guide you straight to the answer.
Skimming for the Main Idea
Read the first and last sentences of each paragraph quickly. You will see that paragraph one is about Priya arriving, paragraph two is about meeting Fatima, and paragraph three is about the classroom. This tells you the text is about a girl's first day — from arriving to making a friend.
Using Context to Understand New Words
You may not know the word corridor. Look at the sentence around it: "They walk together down a long corridor." It connects two places in the school, so it must be a passageway or hallway. Use the sentences before and after to make a good guess.
Noticing Feelings
At A1 level, questions often ask about how a character feels. Watch for small clues: "holds her bag tightly" shows Priya is nervous. "Priya feels a little better now" shows she is less worried. These details are important for comprehension questions.
Common Reading Pitfalls & Traps
Trap 1: Confusing Characters' Actions
Both Priya and Fatima speak in the passage. Read carefully to check who says each thing. For example, it is Fatima who says "Come with me," not Priya. If a question asks who speaks first, do not confuse them.
Trap 2: The Word "perfect"
The last sentence says: "It is not a perfect day, but it is a good start." Some students read this quickly and think Priya has a bad day. Be careful — she says it is a good start. The day is positive, just not completely without problems. The word but changes the meaning.
Trap 3: Assuming the Lesson Subject
The lesson is about maps, which is part of geography class. A question might offer "history" or "art" as wrong answers. The text clearly says the lesson is about maps and that Priya loves geography — these are two connected facts, not two separate subjects.
Trap 4: The Football Pitch
Priya can see the football pitch from her seat — she is not playing on it. Do not choose an answer that says Priya plays football. She is inside the classroom, looking through the window.
Quick Summary
In this passage, a girl called Priya arrives at a new school feeling nervous. She quickly meets a friendly student named Fatima, who helps her find her classroom. In class, Priya enjoys the geography lesson and answers a question well. By lunchtime, she already has a new friend. The story shows that a first day can be scary, but small moments — a friendly face, a subject you enjoy — can make a big difference.
Now read the passage carefully and complete Exercise 1 (Multiple Choice) and Exercise 2 (Fill-in-the-gap dropdown) below.
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