Reading Comprehension

Free online Reading Comprehension Exercises and Quizzes. We love reading comprehension. We think you do too. After all, it's the most popular subject on English Maven, and a staple educational tool used throughout schools and the internet. However, it is important to note that while they may be popular, not all reading comprehension exercises are created equal. Some do a good job of quizzing students on vocabulary or the information they have just read, but leave out what is arguably the most important ingredient: critical thinking. Critical thinking questions teach students to manipulate bits of information which can be used to formulate their own answer - one that may not be clearly outlined in the text. We believe in the power of critical thinking. And, we think it can be taught not only at the intermediate and advanced level , but at the beginning level as well. The following reading comprehension exercises represent some of the best content English Maven has to offer. So, be ready to think critically, and enjoy!

Short Stories

In these reading comprehension exercises, students read a short story and then answer questions about details in the story. These exercises are interactive, colorful, unique, and are sure to improve your reading comprehension and vocabulary. Each exercise contains reading comprehension questions and vocabulary questions.

Exercises by ReadTheory

• "Time to..." - Low Beginning. 10 questions. 77 words.
• "What Number?" - Low Beginning. 11 questions. 81 words.
• "The Submarine" - Mid Beginning. 10 questions. 124 words.
• "One Hundred Dollars" - Mid Beginning. 10 questions. 224 words.
• "Family Vacation" - Mid Beginning. 10 questions. 170 words.
• "Running" - High Beginning. 5 questions. 148 words.
• "A Cold Day" - High Beginning. 10 questions. 180 words.
• "Akira Takes a Test" - High Beginning. 10 questions. 185 words.
• "What Do You Want to Do?" - High Beginning. 10 questions. 110 words.
• "Waiting" - Low Intermediate. 10 questions. 128 words.
• "A Mystery" - Low Intermediate. 10 questions. 120 words.
• "Tyler's First Game" - Low Intermediate. 10 questions. 170 words.
• "Eduardo Buys New Shoes" - Mid Intermediate. 10 questions. 245 words.
• "Ben's First Pet" - Mid Intermediate. 10 questions. 350 words.
• "Pizza for Dinner" - Mid Intermediate. 10 questions. 190 words.
• "Juanita Does the Laundry" - Mid Intermediate. 10 questions. 300 words.
• "Amber Prepares for School" - Mid Intermediate. 10 questions. 280 words.
• "Ramon Makes Stew" - Mid Intermediate. 10 questions. 290 words.
• "Ana Finds an Apartment" - Low Advanced. 10 questions. 330 words.
• "The Storm" - High Advanced. 10 questions. 280 words.

Informational Passages

These exercises are interactive, colorful, unique, and provide interesting information about a range of subjects. This enables students to improve their reading comprehension skills and expand their vocabulary while simultaneously learning about an intriguing subject.

• "Bees" - Mid Beginning. 10 questions. 200 words.
• "Frogs" - Mid Beginning. 10 questions. 190 words.
• "Beds" - High Beginning. 10 questions. 195 words.
• "Humans" - High Beginning. 10 questions. 193 words.
• "Soda Pop" - Low Intermediate. 10 questions. 200 words.
• "Tea" - Low Intermediate. 10 questions. 164 words.
• "Ice Fishing" - Mid Intermediate. 10 questions. 263 words.
• "Bears" - Mid Intermediate. 10 questions. 251 words.
• "Flags" - Mid Intermediate. 10 questions. 259 words.
• "Leonardo da Vinci" - Mid Intermediate. 10 questions. 249 words.
• "Tennis" - Mid Intermediate. 10 questions. 150 words.
• "Dogs" - Mid Intermediate. 10 questions. 211 words.
• "Money" - Mid Intermediate. 10 questions. 201 words.
• "Abraham Lincoln" - Mid Intermediate. 10 questions. 218 words.
• "Corn" - Mid Intermediate. 10 questions. 222 words.
• "Umbrellas" - Mid Intermediate. 10 questions. 215 words.
• "Marco Polo" - Mid Intermediate. 10 questions. 231 words.
• "Birdsongs" - Mid Intermediate. 10 questions. 211 words.
• "Cars" - High Intermediate. 10 questions. 220 words.
• "Yellowstone National Park" - High Intermediate. 10 questions. 250 words.
• "Empress of the Blues" - High Intermediate. 10 questions. 225 words.
• "Helicopters" - High Intermediate. 10 questions. 181 words.
• "Space Exploration" - High Intermediate. 10 questions. 235 words.
• "Television" - High Intermediate. 10 questions. 217 words.
• "Hibernation and Estivation" - High Intermediate. 10 questions. 195 words.
• "Benjamin Franklin" - High Intermediate. 10 questions. 221 words.
• "Cacti" - High Intermediate. 10 questions. 248 words.
• "Easter Island" - High Intermediate. 10 questions. 178 words.
• "Movie Ratings" - Low Advanced. 10 questions. 265 words.
• "Counting" -  Low Advanced. 10 questions. 185 words.