Joy English · Level A1 · General exam skillsjoy-english.com
Reading signs and notices
Name:Date:
Independent practice in the style of entry-level exam reading tasks, not an official test: read short signs and notices and choose what they mean.
Signs around town
Sign A (swimming pool): Children under 8 must swim with an adult.
Sign B (train station): Buy your ticket from the machine or the ticket office. You cannot buy tickets on the train.
Sign C (dentist): Please arrive 10 minutes before your appointment.
Sign D (park): Please keep dogs out of the children's play area.
Sign E (supermarket): Fresh bread every morning from 7 am.
Sign F (school office): Lost something? Ask here. Open 8 am to 4 pm.
Sign G (cinema): All tickets are half price on Tuesdays.
Sign H (hotel): Breakfast is in the Garden Room from 7 to 10 am.
What does the sign mean?
Read each sign. Choose the sentence that means the same.
- “Lift not working today. Please use the stairs.”
- “Museum: Free entry for students. Please show your student card.”
- “Restaurant: Closed for holidays. We open again on 3 August.”
- “Bus stop: Buses every 15 minutes, 6 am to midnight.”
- “Art gallery: Please don't touch the paintings.”
- “Shoe shop: Sale! All shoes half price this week.”
- “Class 4B: Today's English lesson is in Room 12, not Room 8.”
- “Shop door: Back in 20 minutes.”
Which sign helps you?
Look at signs A to H in the text. Choose the sign that helps in each situation.
- You want to see a film, but you don't have much money.
- Your little brother is six. He wants to go swimming.
- You left your bag at school yesterday.
- You are staying at a hotel. You want to eat in the morning.
- You are at the station. You want to take a train, but you have no ticket.
- You have an appointment for your teeth at 3 pm. When do you need to be there?
- You are in the park with your dog.
- You want to buy fresh bread at 7:30 in the morning.
Answer key
What does the sign mean?
- a) You can't use the lift today.Not working means you can't use the lift. The sign tells you to walk up the stairs.
- b) Students can come in for free with a card.Free entry means students don't pay. They only need to show their card.
- c) The restaurant is closed now, but it will open again.The restaurant is closed now. It opens again on 3 August, so it is not closed all of August.
- c) There are four buses every hour.One hour has 60 minutes. A bus every 15 minutes means four buses every hour.
- a) You must not put your hands on the paintings.Touch means put your hands on something. The sign says nothing about buying or photos.
- c) Shoes cost less this week.Half price means you pay 50% of the usual price, so shoes are cheaper this week.
- b) Class 4B has English in Room 12 today.The lesson is in Room 12 today. The word not tells you it is not in Room 8.
- a) The shop worker will come back soon.Back in 20 minutes means the person will return after 20 minutes.
Which sign helps you?
- b) Sign GSign G says cinema tickets are half price on Tuesdays.
- a) Sign ASign A says children under 8 must swim with an adult. Your brother is six.
- c) Sign FSign F is at the school office. You can ask there about lost things.
- a) Sign HSign H tells hotel guests where and when breakfast is.
- b) Sign BSign B says you must buy your ticket from the machine or the office, not on the train.
- c) Sign CSign C is at the dentist. It says to arrive 10 minutes early, so at 2:50 pm.
- a) Sign DSign D is in the park. It says dogs must stay out of the children's play area.
- b) Sign ESign E says the supermarket has fresh bread every morning from 7 am.