Reading Comprehension for Beginners - My Office

Speaking about Writing
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Read the paragraph which describes my office. Pay special attention to the use of prepositions in the reading selection. You'll find useful vocabulary and quizzes below to test your understanding. 

My Office

Like most offices, my office is a place where I can concentrate on my work and feel comfortable at the same time. Of course, I have all the necessary equipment on my desk. I have the telephone next to the fax machine on the right side of my desk. My computer is in the center of my desk with the monitor directly in front of me. I have a comfortable office chair to sit on and some pictures of my family between the computer and the telephone. In order to help me read, I also have a lamp near my computer which I use in the evening if I work late. There is plenty of paper in one of the cabinet drawers. There are also staples and a stapler, paper clips, highlighters, pens and erasers in the other drawer. I like to use highlighters to remember important information. In the room, there is a comfortable armchair and a sofa to sit on. I also have a low table in front of the sofa on which there are some industry magazines.

Useful Vocabulary 

armchair - a comfortable, padded chair that has 'arms' on which to rest your arms
cabinet - a piece of furniture that holds objects
desk - a piece of furniture on which you write or use your computer, fax, etc.
drawer - a space which opens for you to store things in
equipment - items used to complete tasks
furniture - a word referring to all the places to sit, work, store things, etc.
highlighter - a bright pen with a thick tip which is usually green or bright yellow
laptop - a computer you can carry with you
paperclip - a metal clip that holds pieces of paper together
stapler - a piece of equipment used to staple papers together

Multiple-Choice Comprehension Check Questions

Choose the correct answer based on the reading. 

1. What do I need to do in my office? 

A) relax B) concentrate C) study D) read magazines

2. Which piece of equipment do I NOT have on my desk? 

A) fax B) computer C) lamp D) photocopier

3. Where are the pictures of my family located? 

A) on the wall B) next to the lamp C) between the computer and the telephone D) near the fax

4. I use the lamp to read: 

A) all day B) never C) in the morning D) in the evening

5. Where do I keep the paperclips? 

A) on the desk B) next to the lamp C) in a cabinet drawer D) next to the telephone

6. What do I keep on the table in front of the sofa? 

A) company reports B) fashion magazines C) books D) industry magazines

True or False

Decide if the statements are 'true' or 'false' based on the reading. 

  1. I work late every night. 
  2. I use highlighters to help me remember important information. 
  3. I keep reading materials that are not related to my job in the office. 
  4. I don't need a lamp to help me read.
  5. It is important to me to feel comfortable at work.

Using Prepositions

Fill each gap with a preposition used in the reading.

  1. I have the telephone _____ the fax machine on the right side of my desk.
  2. The monitor is directly _____ me.
  3. I sit _____ my comfortable office chair.
  4. I also have a lamp _____ my computer.
  5. I put the stapler, pens, and erasers ______ the drawer.
  6. I have a table _____ the sofa. 
  7. There are lots of magazines _____ the table.

Answers Multiple-Choice

  1. B - concentrate
  2. D - photocopier
  3. C - between the computer and the telephone
  4. D - in the evening
  5. C - in a cabinet drawer
  6. D - industry magazines

Answers True or False 

  1. False
  2. True
  3. False
  4. False
  5. True

Answers Using Prepositions

  1. next to
  2. in front of
  3. on
  4. near
  5. in
  6. in front of
  7. on

Continue reading with these appropriate reading comprehension selections

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Your Citation
Beare, Kenneth. "Reading Comprehension for Beginners - My Office." ThoughtCo, Apr. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/reading-comprehension-for-beginners-my-office-4093554. Beare, Kenneth. (2023, April 5). Reading Comprehension for Beginners - My Office. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/reading-comprehension-for-beginners-my-office-4093554 Beare, Kenneth. "Reading Comprehension for Beginners - My Office." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/reading-comprehension-for-beginners-my-office-4093554 (accessed March 19, 2024).