Updated 2026-09-12easy

New TOEFL Reading: Read in Daily Life Practice #022 — A Haircut, a Closed Path, a Guitar, and a Charity Run

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 — Email

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

Subject: Your appointment on Friday at 2 PM

From: Cut & Co

To: Sofia Reyes

Hello Sofia, this is a reminder. Your haircut is on Friday at 2 PM with Marco.

Please come five minutes early. If you are more than ten minutes late, we may have to move your appointment to another day.

You asked about colour last time. Colour takes two hours, so it does not fit in this appointment. Tell us when you arrive and we can book a longer time for next month.

Our prices went up this month. A cut is now $32.

To change or cancel, call us on 555 0198. Please do this one day before. We do not take changes by email.

Parking behind the shop is only for two cars. There is free street parking after 1 PM on Fridays.

Q1 · Detail
What happens if Sofia arrives at 2:15?
  1. A. She pays more
  2. B. Her appointment may be moved to another day
  3. C. She waits five minutes
  4. D. She sees a different stylist
Answer
Correct: B
Q2 · Detail
Why can Sofia not have her hair coloured on Friday?
  1. A. Marco does not do colour
  2. B. Colour costs more than $32
  3. C. Colour needs two hours
  4. D. The shop is busy on Fridays
Answer
Correct: C
Q3 · Expected Action
How should Sofia cancel the appointment?
  1. A. Reply to this email
  2. B. Tell Marco when she arrives
  3. C. Cancel on the website
  4. D. Call the day before
Answer
Correct: D
2

Text 2 — Notice

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

Notice: Riverside path closed

Ashford Parks

The riverside path between the bridge and the boat house is closed from 3 to 17 October.

Workers are cutting down three dead trees. The trees are near the path and could fall.

Please use the upper path through the field. It is about five minutes longer.

The playground and the cafe are open as usual. You can reach both from the car park.

Dogs must be on a lead in the field, because there are sheep there this month.

The path will open again on 18 October. If the weather is bad, the work may take longer, and we will put a new sign at both ends of the path.

Q4 · Detail
Why is the path closed?
  1. A. Sheep are in the field
  2. B. Dead trees are being cut down
  3. C. The bridge is being painted
  4. D. The cafe is being rebuilt
Answer
Correct: B
Q5 · Detail
What should walkers do during the closure?
  1. A. Take the upper path through the field
  2. B. Walk along the river bank
  3. C. Use the boat house entrance
  4. D. Wait until 18 October
Answer
Correct: A
Q6 · Inference
What will happen if the weather is bad?
  1. A. The work will stop for the year
  2. B. The upper path will close too
  3. C. The path may stay closed longer
  4. D. The playground will close
Answer
Correct: C
3

Text 3 — Social Media Post

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

six_strings_ade @sixstringsade - 8h

One year of guitar today. I can play about ten songs, badly but all the way through.

The best thing I did was practise for fifteen minutes every day instead of two hours on Sunday. Short and often works better for me.

The worst thing I did was buy a cheap guitar first. It was hard to press the strings and my fingers hurt, so I almost stopped. A friend let me try hers and the difference was big.

My hands still hurt a little, but only for the first two weeks. After that it was fine.

I do not take lessons. I use free videos and one book. A teacher would probably be faster.

If you are thinking about starting: start with a guitar you can actually press.

64 replies - 21 reposts - 980 likes

Q7 · Detail
How does the writer practise?
  1. A. Two hours every Sunday
  2. B. Only when his hands feel fine
  3. C. One hour with a teacher
  4. D. Fifteen minutes every day
Answer
Correct: D
Q8 · Detail
What was the problem with his first guitar?
  1. A. The strings were hard to press
  2. B. It was too expensive
  3. C. It was too big for him
  4. D. It had only six songs in the book
Answer
Correct: A
Q9 · Purpose
What advice does he give at the end?
  1. A. Take lessons from the start
  2. B. Practise for two hours a week
  3. C. Learn ten songs in the first year
  4. D. Choose a guitar that is easy to press
Answer
Correct: D
4

Text 4 — Flyer

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

Autumn charity run - Sunday 12 October

Bramley Park, start 9:30 AM

Run 5 km or 10 km. Walking is fine too. Money goes to the town hospital.

Entry: $15 for adults, $8 for under 16s, free for under 6s.

Sign up on the website before 9 October, or at the park on the day from 8:00 AM. Signing up on the day costs $5 more.

Everyone gets a number to wear. Please put it on your front, not your back.

There is water at the halfway point and at the finish. Bring your own bottle if you can; we are trying to use fewer cups.

Dogs can join the 5 km walk but not the run.

Parking at the park is small. The school car park two streets away is open and free that day.

Q10 · Detail
How much does an adult pay if they sign up on the day?
  1. A. $8
  2. B. $15
  3. C. $20
  4. D. Free
Answer
Correct: C
Q11 · Detail
Where should runners wear their number?
  1. A. On the front
  2. B. On the back
  3. C. On the arm
  4. D. On the bottle
Answer
Correct: A
Q12 · Inference
Someone wants to bring a dog. What can they do?
  1. A. Run the 10 km with the dog
  2. B. Join the 5 km walk with the dog
  3. C. Leave the dog at the finish line
  4. D. Nothing; dogs are not allowed
Answer
Correct: B