Planning a Birthday Party A1 Reading Practice Tests Rules & Examples

Planning a Birthday Party

Imagine you want to surprise your best friend with a birthday party — but you only have one week to plan everything! Where do you start? Read the message below from Priya to her friend Kenji. Before you read, think about these two questions: What do you need for a good birthday party? And what problems can happen when you plan a party?

Reading Passage: Priya's Big Plan

Hi Kenji! I have an idea. Saturday is Fatima's birthday. Let's have a party for her at my house! I want it to be a surprise, so please don't tell her. We can invite eight or ten friends. Can you write the list of names? I don't have everyone's phone numbers.

I need your help with the food, too. I want to make a chocolate cake because it is Fatima's favourite. But I can't buy the cake from the shop — it is too expensive. Can you bring some juice and crisps? My mum says she can make sandwiches for everyone.

The party starts at four o'clock in the afternoon and finishes at seven. Fatima thinks we have a study group on Saturday, so she is coming to my house at four. Please arrive before her — at half past three! I am very excited. It is going to be a great party!

See you soon,
Priya

Key Vocabulary in Context

Reading Strategies & Comprehension Tips

Skimming for the Main Idea

Read the message quickly — just ten seconds — and ask yourself: What is this text about? You do not need to understand every word. Look at the opening line and the last line. You will quickly understand that Priya is planning a birthday surprise for Fatima.

Scanning for Specific Details

When a question asks about a time or number, scan the text for digits and numbers. This message has several: eight or ten friends, four o'clock, seven, and half past three. Find these quickly without re-reading the whole text.

Understanding Who Does What

This message involves three people: Priya, Kenji, and Fatima. When you answer comprehension questions, check carefully — who is doing the action? For example, Kenji brings the juice and crisps, not Priya. Priya's mum makes the sandwiches, not Priya herself.

Using Context to Guess Meaning

If you don't know a word, look at the words around it. For example: "it is too expensive" — Priya says she cannot buy it. This tells you expensive means it costs too much money.

Common Reading Pitfalls & Traps

Trap 1: Confusing Times

The party starts at four o'clock, but Kenji must arrive at half past three. Students often confuse these two times. Remember: Kenji arrives earlier than the party start time — before Fatima arrives.

Trap 2: Who Makes the Food?

Priya makes the chocolate cake. Kenji brings the juice and crisps. Priya's mum makes the sandwiches. Be careful — three different people are responsible for different food items. Do not say Priya makes everything.

Trap 3: Why is Fatima Coming?

Fatima thinks she is going to a study group, not a party. This is the trick — it is a surprise party. She does not know about it. Do not confuse what Fatima thinks with what is really happening.

Trap 4: The Cake from the Shop

Priya says the shop cake is too expensive. This means she does not buy it from the shop. She makes it herself at home. Students sometimes read quickly and think she buys the cake — read this sentence carefully.

Quick Summary

In this lesson, you read a friendly message about planning a surprise birthday party. Priya asks Kenji for help with the guest list and the food. The party is at Priya's house on Saturday afternoon. The key details — times, food responsibilities, and the surprise element — are all important for the comprehension questions.

Now read the passage carefully and complete Exercise 1 (Multiple Choice) and Exercise 2 (Fill-in-the-gap dropdown) below.