3,060 Reading comprehension English ESL worksheets pdf & doc - Free Printable

Let’s go step by step to solve this worksheet.

---

Part 1: Find the past simple of each verb and write them on the line.

We need to change each present tense verb into its past simple form. Here’s how we do it:

1. Find → Found
(Irregular verb — doesn’t follow -ed rule)

2. Transport → Transported
(Regular verb — add -ed)

3. Pay → Paid
(Irregular verb)

4. Take → Took
(Irregular verb)

5. Go → Went
(Irregular verb)

6. Sit → Sat
(Irregular verb)

7. Stay → Stayed
(Regular verb — add -ed)

8. Dig → Dug
(Irregular verb)

9. Give → Gave
(Irregular verb)

10. Offer → Offered
(Regular verb — add -ed)

11. Follow → Followed
(Regular verb — add -ed)

12. Have → Had
(Irregular verb)

13. Eat → Ate
(Irregular verb)

14. Like → Liked
(Regular verb — add -ed)

✔ So, here are the answers for Part 1:

1. Found
2. Transported
3. Paid
4. Took
5. Went
6. Sat
7. Stayed
8. Dug
9. Gave
10. Offered
11. Followed
12. Had
13. Ate
14. Like → Liked

*(Note: “Like” is regular, so “liked”)*

---

Part 2: Are the sentences TRUE or FALSE? Correct the false ones.

We’ll read each sentence and check if it matches the story.

> Story summary: Matthew and Fiona went on holiday to Spain. They stayed in a small cottage. One day, Matthew went for a long walk. He found a dog near his house at 3 pm. The dog was hungry. At 4:30 pm, they took him back to the cottage. For three days, he slept on the bed and ate Pedigree Chum. On day four, they transported him to England. In Foss and Holford House, Foss and Fiona called the dog Robbie. He sleeps on the bed and eats Pedigree Chum and now digs holes in the garden. Matthew and Fiona took him with them and offered him to help their rescue team.

Now let’s check each sentence:

(1) Two years ago, Matthew and Foss went on holiday to Greece.
→ FALSE. It says they went to Spain, not Greece. Also, it was last summer, not two years ago.
✔ Correction: Last summer, Matthew and Fiona went on holiday to Spain.

(2) They stayed in a big hotel.
→ FALSE. They stayed in a small cottage.
✔ Correction: They stayed in a small cottage.

(3) One day, Matthew went for a walk.
→ TRUE. Yes, he went for a long walk.

(4) On his walk, Matthew found a mountain goat.
→ FALSE. He found a dog, not a mountain goat.
✔ Correction: On his walk, Matthew found a dog.

(5) The stray dog wagged his tail.
→ TRUE. The story says: “The dog wagged his tail.”

(6) The dog spent two days in the owners.
→ This sentence is confusing. Probably means “with the owners”? But the story says he stayed three days before being taken to England.
Also, “in the owners” doesn’t make sense. Likely typo — should be “with the owners”.
But even then, he stayed three days, not two.
→ FALSE
✔ Correction: The dog spent three days with Matthew and Fiona before they took him to England.

(7) Foss liked that the dog had eaten something to eat.
→ Wait — who is “Foss”? The story mentions Matthew and Fiona. Maybe “Foss” is a typo for “Fiona”? Or maybe “Foss” is part of “Foss and Holford House”?
Looking again: “In Foss and Holford House, Foss and Fiona called the dog Robbie.” Hmm — perhaps “Foss” is a person? But earlier it says “Matthew and Fiona”.
Actually, re-reading: “Matthew and Fiona took him with them and offered him to help their rescue team. In Foss and Holford House, Foss and Fiona called the dog Robbie.”
This seems like a mistake in the text — probably meant “Matthew and Fiona” throughout.
Assuming “Foss” is a typo for “Matthew”, then: Did Matthew like that the dog ate? The story doesn’t say anyone’s feelings about the dog eating — just that he did eat.
So this sentence is unclear, but likely FALSE because it’s poorly worded and not directly supported.
Better correction: The story doesn’t say whether Matthew or Fiona liked that the dog ate — it just says he ate.

But let’s look at the exact wording: “Foss liked that the dog had eaten something to eat.”
Since “Foss” isn’t clearly defined, and the story doesn’t mention anyone liking that the dog ate, we’ll mark it FALSE.
✔ Correction: The story does not say that Foss (or anyone) liked that the dog had eaten.

Wait — actually, looking back at the original story:
“They gave him some food. The dog ate it quickly. At 4:30pm when Matthew brought him home...”
No mention of anyone’s reaction to him eating. So yes, FALSE.

(8) The dog didn't start the food.
→ FALSE. The story says: “They gave him some food. The dog ate it quickly.” So he DID start (and finish!) the food.
✔ Correction: The dog started and ate the food quickly.

(9) At 9:30, it started raining and Foss saw the dog indoors.
→ The story says: “At 9:30 am, it started raining and Matthew saw the dog outdoors.”
So: time is correct (9:30), but it was Matthew, not Foss, and the dog was outdoors, not indoors.
→ FALSE
✔ Correction: At 9:30 am, it started raining and Matthew saw the dog outdoors.

(10) When the dog came home, it sat beside Fiona on the sofa.
→ The story says: “When the dog came home, it sat beside Matthew on the sofa.”
→ FALSE
✔ Correction: When the dog came home, it sat beside Matthew on the sofa.

(11) They called the dog Robbie.
→ TRUE. Yes, in Foss and Holford House, they called him Robbie.

(12) Robbie sleeps outside in the garden.
→ FALSE. The story says: “He sleeps on the bed...”
✔ Correction: Robbie sleeps on the bed.

(13) Matthew and Fiona took him with a dog for medical care.
→ This is awkwardly worded. The story says: “Matthew and Fiona took him with them and offered him to help their rescue team.”
It doesn’t say they took him *for* medical care — they took him *to* England and later offered him to help the rescue team.
Also, “took him with a dog” doesn’t make sense — he IS the dog.
→ FALSE
✔ Correction: Matthew and Fiona took him with them to England and later offered him to help their rescue team.

(14) The rescue centre has a place for Robbie.
→ TRUE. The story implies he’s now part of the rescue team / living with them.

(15) They transported Robbie to Spain.
→ FALSE. They transported him from Spain to England.
✔ Correction: They transported Robbie from Spain to England.

(16) Matthew and Fiona paid a fee of £200.
→ The story says nothing about paying any fee.
→ FALSE
✔ Correction: The story does not mention Matthew and Fiona paying any fee.

(17) Now, Robbie lives with Matthew and Fiona.
→ TRUE. Yes, he’s with them now.

(18) They treat the dog very well.
→ TRUE. They fed him, let him sleep on the bed, took him to England, etc.

(19) They love their dog.
→ TRUE. Implied by all their actions — feeding, sheltering, taking him home, giving him a name, etc.

---

✔ Final Answers for Part 2:

(1) FALSE — Last summer, Matthew and Fiona went on holiday to Spain.
(2) FALSE — They stayed in a small cottage.
(3) TRUE
(4) FALSE — On his walk, Matthew found a dog.
(5) TRUE
(6) FALSE — The dog spent three days with Matthew and Fiona before they took him to England.
(7) FALSE — The story does not say that Foss (or anyone) liked that the dog had eaten.
(8) FALSE — The dog started and ate the food quickly.
(9) FALSE — At 9:30 am, it started raining and Matthew saw the dog outdoors.
(10) FALSE — When the dog came home, it sat beside Matthew on the sofa.
(11) TRUE
(12) FALSE — Robbie sleeps on the bed.
(13) FALSE — Matthew and Fiona took him with them to England and later offered him to help their rescue team.
(14) TRUE
(15) FALSE — They transported Robbie from Spain to England.
(16) FALSE — The story does not mention Matthew and Fiona paying any fee.
(17) TRUE
(18) TRUE
(19) TRUE

---

Final Answer:

Part 1:
1. Found
2. Transported
3. Paid
4. Took
5. Went
6. Sat
7. Stayed
8. Dug
9. Gave
10. Offered
11. Followed
12. Had
13. Ate
14. Liked

Part 2:
(1) FALSE — Last summer, Matthew and Fiona went on holiday to Spain.
(2) FALSE — They stayed in a small cottage.
(3) TRUE
(4) FALSE — On his walk, Matthew found a dog.
(5) TRUE
(6) FALSE — The dog spent three days with Matthew and Fiona before they took him to England.
(7) FALSE — The story does not say that Foss (or anyone) liked that the dog had eaten.
(8) FALSE — The dog started and ate the food quickly.
(9) FALSE — At 9:30 am, it started raining and Matthew saw the dog outdoors.
(10) FALSE — When the dog came home, it sat beside Matthew on the sofa.
(11) TRUE
(12) FALSE — Robbie sleeps on the bed.
(13) FALSE — Matthew and Fiona took him with them to England and later offered him to help their rescue team.
(14) TRUE
(15) FALSE — They transported Robbie from Spain to England.
(16) FALSE — The story does not mention Matthew and Fiona paying any fee.
(17) TRUE
(18) TRUE
(19) TRUE