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Reading

Short graded texts with questions, strategies that work in real life and in exams, and links to every reading lesson.

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The new library · A2

Our town’s new library opened last month. It is much bigger than the old one and has a café, a children’s area and twenty computers that anyone can use for free.

The library is open from 9 am to 8 pm on weekdays and from 10 am to 4 pm on Saturdays. It is closed on Sundays. You need a library card to borrow books, but the card is free — just bring something with your address on it.

1.When is the library closed?

2.You must pay for a library card.

3.What do you need to get a card?

How to improve

  • Skim first

    Read the title, first lines and last paragraph quickly to get the main idea before you read in detail.

  • Scan for details

    When a question asks for a name, date or number, move your eyes quickly and look only for that kind of word.

  • Guess from context

    Don’t stop at every new word. Use the sentence around it, the word’s form and your own knowledge to guess the meaning.

  • Read a little every day

    Ten minutes of reading at the right level every day builds vocabulary faster than one long session a week.

  • Watch the linking words

    However, although, as a result and in contrast tell you how ideas connect — and often where the answer is.

  • Check why answers are wrong

    After each set, read the explanations. Understanding why a tempting option is wrong is how you stop making the same mistake.

IELTS and TOEFL reading practice

Lessons with reading practice