Updated 2026-09-12easy

New TOEFL Reading: Read in Daily Life Practice #021 — The Office Kitchen, a Pool Opening, Babysitting, and a Package

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 — Workplace Memo

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

Memo: The office kitchen

To: All staff

From: Office team

Date: 5 March

Please read this short note about the kitchen.

Wash your cup after you use it. There are no clean cups by 3 PM most days.

The dishwasher runs at 6 PM. If it is full before then, press the green button and start it.

Food in the fridge must have your name and the date on it. We clean the fridge every Friday evening and throw away food with no name.

The coffee machine is new. Please do not put milk in the water tank. Milk goes in the small jug on the right.

If something is broken, write it on the board by the door. Do not send an email; we check the board every morning.

Q1 · Detail
What must be written on food in the fridge?
  1. A. Your name and the date
  2. B. The name of your team
  3. C. The day it will be eaten
  4. D. Nothing, if it is in a box
Answer
Correct: A
Q2 · Expected Action
What should staff do if the dishwasher is full at 4 PM?
  1. A. Wait until 6 PM
  2. B. Wash everything by hand
  3. C. Press the green button
  4. D. Write it on the board
Answer
Correct: C
Q3 · Purpose
Why does the memo ask staff to use the board instead of email?
  1. A. Because the board is checked every morning
  2. B. Because emails cost money
  3. C. Because the office team has no email
  4. D. Because the board is near the fridge
Answer
Correct: A
2

Text 2 — Flyer

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

The pool is open again!

Greenway Swimming Pool - from 1 June

After six months of building work, our pool is open again.

New this year: a warm small pool for children, and more space in the changing rooms.

Opening hours: 6 AM to 9 PM, every day.

Prices: adults $5, children $3, under fives free. A ten-visit card costs $40 for adults.

In June only, come before 9 AM and pay half price.

Children under eight must swim with an adult.

Please bring a lock for the lockers. We do not sell them at the desk.

Swimming lessons start on 15 June. Ask at the desk or look at our website.

Q4 · Detail
How much does an adult pay at 8 AM in June?
  1. A. Nothing
  2. B. $40
  3. C. $5
  4. D. Half of $5
Answer
Correct: D
Q5 · Detail
What must visitors bring themselves?
  1. A. A towel
  2. B. A ten-visit card
  3. C. A lock
  4. D. A swimming teacher
Answer
Correct: C
Q6 · Inference
A seven-year-old wants to swim. What does the flyer say?
  1. A. They swim free
  2. B. They need an adult with them
  3. C. They must take a lesson first
  4. D. They can only swim before 9 AM
Answer
Correct: B
3

Text 3 — Message Thread

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

Saturday evening

Ana (17:10): Are you free on Saturday evening? We need someone to look after Leo from 6 to 10.

Ben (17:22): I think so. How old is he now?

Ana (17:24): Six. He goes to bed at 8. Before that he usually watches one short show and reads a book.

Ben (17:30): Easy. Does he eat before I come?

Ana (17:33): Yes, we eat at 5:30. There is fruit in the kitchen if he is hungry later, but no sweets after 7.

Ben (17:36): Got it. What is your phone number for that night?

Ana (17:40): I will write it on the fridge with the neighbour's number too. Her name is Mrs. Kim, flat 302.

Ben (17:42): Perfect. See you at 6.

Q7 · Detail
What time does Leo go to bed?
  1. A. 5:30
  2. B. 6:00
  3. C. 10:00
  4. D. 8:00
Answer
Correct: D
Q8 · Detail
What can Leo eat if he is hungry at 8?
  1. A. Nothing at all
  2. B. Sweets from the kitchen
  3. C. Dinner with Ben
  4. D. Fruit from the kitchen
Answer
Correct: D
Q9 · Inference
Why does Ana mention Mrs. Kim?
  1. A. So Ben can leave early
  2. B. So Ben has someone nearby to call
  3. C. Because Mrs. Kim will cook dinner
  4. D. Because Leo sleeps at her flat
Answer
Correct: B
4

Text 4 — Email

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

Subject: Your package could not be delivered

From: Sable Delivery

To: L. Fontaine

We came to your address today at 11:20 AM. Nobody was home, so we could not leave the package.

Your package is now at the Sable point inside the supermarket on King Street.

You can collect it any day from 8 AM to 10 PM. Please bring this email and a photo ID.

We keep packages for seven days. After that, the package goes back to the shop.

If you cannot collect it, you can ask us to try your address again. Choose a new day on our website. We try again only once.

Someone else can collect it for you. They need the photo ID and a short note from you with your name and signature.

Q10 · Detail
Where is the package now?
  1. A. Back at the shop
  2. B. At a point inside a supermarket
  3. C. With a neighbour
  4. D. On the delivery van
Answer
Correct: B
Q11 · Detail
What must someone bring to collect the package?
  1. A. This email and a photo ID
  2. B. A signature from a neighbour
  3. C. The delivery van number
  4. D. Payment for a second delivery
Answer
Correct: A
Q12 · Inference
What does the email say about a second delivery attempt?
  1. A. It happens automatically tomorrow
  2. B. It costs extra
  3. C. It can be booked, but only one more try
  4. D. It is not possible after today
Answer
Correct: C