Read the passage carefully before attempting Exercise 1 (Multiple Choice) and Exercise 2 (Fill in the blanks dropdown) below.
Last Saturday, Priya went to the Riverside Shopping Centre to buy a winter jacket. She saw a red jacket in the window display the week before, and she really wanted to buy it. The price tag said £45, which was cheaper than the jackets in other shops nearby. She was feeling excited when she walked through the front doors.
However, when Priya found the jacket on the rail, she saw a problem immediately. The shop assistant, a friendly young man named Callum, told her that only two jackets were left — one in a very small size and one in an extra-large size. Neither of them was Priya’s size. She felt disappointed. Callum checked the store’s computer and said, “We have your size in the dark blue version. Would you like to try it?” Priya agreed, mostly because she did not want to leave the shopping centre without a jacket. It was already getting very cold outside.
When Priya put on the blue jacket, she was surprised. It felt warmer and more comfortable than the red one looked. The colour was also quite nice. She looked at herself in the mirror for a long time. Finally, she decided to buy it. On the way home, she was thinking about how the best things sometimes happen by accident. She is now planning to wear the jacket on her next hiking trip.
Exercise 1
Read the passage about an unexpected shopping experience carefully, then choose the correct answer for each question based on the text.
Example: Where did the person go shopping?
Answer: The person went shopping at a local supermarket.
An Unexpected Shopping Experience
Have you ever gone shopping and found something completely different from what you expected? Sometimes a simple trip to a shop can turn into a surprising adventure. Before you read, think about these two questions: Have you ever had a problem while shopping? And what do you do when a shop does not have the item you want?
Reading Passage: The Wrong Jacket
Last Saturday, Priya went to the Riverside Shopping Centre to buy a winter jacket. She saw a red jacket in the window display the week before, and she really wanted to buy it. The price tag said £45, which was cheaper than the jackets in other shops nearby. She was feeling excited when she walked through the front doors.
However, when Priya found the jacket on the rail, she saw a problem immediately. The shop assistant, a friendly young man named Callum, told her that only two jackets were left — one in a very small size and one in an extra-large size. Neither of them was Priya's size. She felt disappointed. Callum checked the store's computer and said, "We have your size in the dark blue version. Would you like to try it?" Priya agreed, mostly because she did not want to leave the shopping centre without a jacket. It was already getting very cold outside.
When Priya put on the blue jacket, she was surprised. It felt warmer and more comfortable than the red one looked. The colour was also quite nice. She looked at herself in the mirror for a long time. Finally, she decided to buy it. On the way home, she was thinking about how the best things sometimes happen by accident. She is now planning to wear the jacket on her next hiking trip.
Key Vocabulary in Context
| Word / Phrase | Part of Speech | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| window display | noun phrase | an arrangement of products shown in the front window of a shop to attract customers | The beautiful shoes in the window display made me want to go inside. |
| price tag | noun | a small label on an item in a shop that shows how much it costs | I looked at the price tag and decided the bag was too expensive. |
| rail | noun | a long horizontal bar in a shop where clothes hang on hangers | She found several dresses on the rail near the back of the shop. |
| shop assistant | noun | a person who works in a shop and helps customers | The shop assistant helped me find the right size quickly. |
| disappointed | adjective | feeling sad because something was not as good or successful as you hoped | He was disappointed because the shop was closed on Sunday. |
| version | noun | a form of something that is slightly different from others of the same type | This phone comes in a newer version with a bigger screen. |
| by accident | adverb phrase | without planning or intending to; by chance | She found a great café by accident when she took a wrong turn. |
| hiking trip | noun phrase | a journey or excursion that involves walking in nature, often in the mountains or countryside | They packed warm clothes for their hiking trip in the hills. |
Reading Strategies & Comprehension Tips
Skimming for the Main Idea
Read the passage quickly — just the first and last sentence of each paragraph. This will help you understand the general topic: a woman goes shopping for a specific jacket but ends up buying a different one. You do not need to understand every word to get this main idea.
Scanning for Specific Details
If a question asks for a specific fact, such as the price of the jacket or the colour Priya finally bought, move your eyes quickly over the text to find numbers, names, or colour words. Do not re-read the whole passage. For example, scan for £45 to find pricing information, or look for colour adjectives like red and blue to answer questions about the jacket.
Understanding Sequence of Events
This passage tells a story in order. Look for time words and connectors such as last Saturday, the week before, however, when, and finally. These words show you the order in which things happened and help you follow the story correctly.
Making Simple Inferences
The text says Priya "agreed, mostly because she did not want to leave without a jacket." This tells you she was not completely excited about the blue jacket at first — she needed a reason to try it. You can use small details like this to understand how a character is feeling, even when the text does not say it directly.
Common Reading Pitfalls & Traps
Confusing the Two Jackets
The passage mentions a red jacket and a dark blue jacket. Students sometimes confuse which jacket Priya wanted originally and which one she actually bought. Remember: she saw the red jacket in the window and wanted that one, but she bought the blue one in the end.
Misreading "Neither of them"
The sentence "Neither of them was Priya's size" means both jackets were the wrong size — not just one of them. Some students think one jacket fitted her. Be careful with the word neither, which always refers to two things and means not one and not the other.
Assuming She Was Unhappy at the End
Because Priya felt disappointed in the middle of the story, some students think she was unhappy at the end too. However, the final paragraph clearly shows she was happy with her purchase and is planning to use the jacket. Always read to the end of the passage before answering questions about feelings or opinions.
The Word "version"
When Callum offers Priya "the dark blue version," some students think this means it is a completely different jacket from a different brand. In this context, version simply means the same jacket style in a different colour. Use the surrounding sentences to help you understand the meaning.
Quick Summary
In this passage, Priya goes to a shopping centre hoping to buy a red jacket she saw in the window. When it is not available in her size, a helpful shop assistant suggests a blue version. Although she is not sure at first, she tries it on and loves it. The story shows that surprises can sometimes lead to better results than we expected. Now read the passage carefully and complete Exercise 1 (Multiple Choice) and Exercise 2 (Fill-in-the-gap dropdown) below.
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