Updated 2026-09-12upper

New TOEFL Reading: Read in Daily Life Practice #018 — Car Park Works, a Stolen Bike, a Tax Refund, and a Team Dinner

Free practice for the new TOEFL Reading section's short daily-life texts: 4 everyday texts and 12 questions with an answer key.

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How to use this practice: Each text is something you could actually receive — an email, a notice, a memo, a post. Read it once at normal speed, then answer the three questions under it. Watch the options that reuse a word from the text: matching words are the most common trap in this part.
1

Text 1 — Notice

Read the text, then answer the three questions below it.

Notice: Car park resurfacing, 4 to 22 August

Meridian Business Park, estate management

The main car park is resurfaced in three phases so that it never closes entirely. Phase 1 covers rows A to C, phase 2 rows D to F, and phase 3 the visitor bays and the entrance ramp.

During each phase about a third of the spaces are lost. The overflow field on Wren Lane is open for the three weeks and adds 90 spaces, which is more than we lose in any single phase.

The field is unsurfaced. It is usable in dry weather and becomes difficult after heavy rain, so in wet weather please use the multi-storey on Alder Street, where the estate has arranged free parking on production of a staff pass. Bring the pass; the barrier staff cannot look you up.

Phase 3 is the disruptive one. With the ramp closed, entry and exit both run through the service road, which is single lane and controlled by lights. Expect five to ten minutes at either end of the day, and more if you arrive between 08:45 and 09:10.

Electric charging bays in row B are out of use for phase 1 only. The two bays behind reception remain available throughout and are not reserved during August.

Blue badge bays are relocated, never removed. Each phase has the same number as now, marked in the nearest available row to reception.

Q1 · Inference
It rains heavily during phase 2. Where does the notice steer drivers?
  1. A. To the Alder Street multi-storey, free with a staff pass
  2. B. To the visitor bays, which are resurfaced in phase 3
  3. C. To the Wren Lane field, which stays open for three weeks
  4. D. To the service road, which is controlled by lights
Answer
Correct: A
Q2 · Detail
What is true of the electric charging bays behind reception?
  1. A. They are unavailable during phase 1
  2. B. They must be reserved in advance in August
  3. C. They are relocated to the nearest row to reception
  4. D. They stay available for the whole three weeks
Answer
Correct: D
Q3 · Inference
Why does the notice give a specific time window for phase 3?
  1. A. Because the service road closes during those minutes
  2. B. Because arriving then means a longer wait than usual
  3. C. Because the lights are switched off outside those hours
  4. D. Because blue badge bays move at that time each day
Answer
Correct: B
2

Text 2 — Social Media Post

Read the text, then answer the three questions below it.

eastbound_ferris @eastboundferris - 1d

My bike was stolen on Tuesday from a rack outside the library. I got it back on Thursday, which almost never happens, so here is exactly what worked.

The thing that mattered was the frame number. I had photographed it when I bought the bike and registered it on the national database, which takes about four minutes and is free. When the police recovered a van of bikes, mine was the one they could immediately match to an owner.

What did not matter: the photos of the bike itself. Three of the recovered bikes looked like mine. A photograph proves what a bike looks like, not whose it is.

The lock was a cheap cable, and I knew it was a cheap cable. I had been telling myself the rack was busy enough that nobody would try. It was busy. Somebody tried.

If you do one thing after reading this, do the registration, not the photographs. And if you do two, replace a cable lock; the one I have now cost more than I wanted to spend and less than a replacement bike.

156 replies - 890 reposts - 5.2K likes

Q4 · Inference
Why were photographs of the bike less useful than the frame number?
  1. A. The photographs were taken in poor light
  2. B. Several recovered bikes looked the same
  3. C. The police do not accept photographs as evidence
  4. D. The photographs were stored on a stolen phone
Answer
Correct: B
Q5 · Purpose
Why does the writer describe the cheap cable lock?
  1. A. To admit that he had accepted a risk he already knew about
  2. B. To argue that expensive locks are also cut easily
  3. C. To explain why the rack outside the library is unsafe
  4. D. To recommend a specific brand of lock
Answer
Correct: A
Q6 · Inference
What does the writer say readers should prioritise?
  1. A. Photographing the bike from several angles
  2. B. Locking the bike only at busy racks
  3. C. Registering the frame number on the database
  4. D. Reporting the theft within 48 hours
Answer
Correct: C
3

Text 3 — Email

Read the text, then answer the three questions below it.

Subject: Your tax refund - why the amount differs from your estimate

From: Revenue Office

To: Taxpayer 77-2214

Your refund of 312 has been approved and will reach your account within five working days. You estimated 540, and the difference is explained below rather than left for you to work out.

Two of your claimed expenses were allowed in full: professional membership and the tools allowance. One was allowed in part: you claimed 780 for travel, and 420 of that related to journeys between home and a single permanent workplace, which is not claimable. The remaining 360 was allowed.

One claim was disallowed entirely. The course you took is a qualification that leads to new work rather than maintaining current skills, and only the latter is deductible. This distinction is the most common reason for a reduced refund and it does not depend on how useful the course was to your employer.

You may appeal within 60 days. An appeal does not delay the payment already approved; the 312 is paid now regardless, and any further amount would be paid separately.

If you appeal, send the course syllabus rather than the invoice. The invoice shows what you paid; the syllabus shows what the course was for, which is the point at issue.

Nothing in this decision affects next year's claim. A course disallowed this year may be allowed next year if your role has changed by then.

Q7 · Detail
Why was part of the travel claim refused?
  1. A. The receipts were missing for those journeys
  2. B. They exceeded the tools allowance
  3. C. They were made outside the tax year
  4. D. They were journeys to a single permanent workplace
Answer
Correct: D
Q8 · Inference
Why does the office ask for the syllabus rather than the invoice?
  1. A. Because the invoice does not show what the course was for
  2. B. Because invoices are not accepted after 60 days
  3. C. Because the syllabus shows how much was paid
  4. D. Because the employer must countersign the invoice
Answer
Correct: A
Q9 · Inference
What can be inferred about appealing?
  1. A. The approved refund is held until the appeal is decided
  2. B. An appeal must be filed before the refund is paid
  3. C. The approved amount arrives regardless of the appeal
  4. D. A successful appeal replaces next year's claim
Answer
Correct: C
4

Text 4 — Message Thread

Read the text, then answer the three questions below it.

Team dinner - Friday

Rina (14:02): Booking Friday 7pm for the team. Twelve of us. The place needs numbers by Wednesday and they charge for no-shows after that, 15 a head, which comes out of the team budget.

Oskar (14:09): Count me in. Is it the same place as last time? Two people could not eat anything on that menu.

Rina (14:15): No, that is why I changed it. This one has three vegetarian mains and does gluten free on request, but the request has to go in with the booking, not on the night.

Mei (14:22): I am a maybe. Depends whether my train is on time.

Rina (14:26): A maybe is fine today but not on Wednesday. If you are unsure by then I will book you in and you tell me by Thursday evening if it is off, because Thursday cancellations are free and Friday ones are not.

Oskar (14:31): What about partners? Last year some people brought someone.

Rina (14:35): Partners are welcome but the budget covers the team only. I need their meal choices too, same deadline.

Mei (14:41): Understood. I will confirm gluten free with you tomorrow either way, so the kitchen has it even if I cancel.

Q10 · Inference
Why does Rina say she will book Mei in even though Mei is unsure?
  1. A. Because the restaurant charges for late additions
  2. B. Because cancelling on Thursday costs nothing while Friday does not
  3. C. Because the team budget covers twelve places whoever attends
  4. D. Because gluten free requests cannot be added after Wednesday
Answer
Correct: B
Q11 · Detail
What is true of partners at the dinner?
  1. A. They are not allowed this year
  2. B. They must confirm by Thursday evening instead
  3. C. They may come, but the budget does not cover them
  4. D. They may only attend if a team member cancels
Answer
Correct: C
Q12 · Purpose
Why does Mei plan to confirm her dietary requirement tomorrow?
  1. A. To avoid the no-show charge if her train is late
  2. B. To let Rina cancel the booking earlier
  3. C. To check whether the restaurant has changed its menu
  4. D. So the kitchen has it in time even if she later cancels
Answer
Correct: D