What kind of text is this A1 reading?

It is a short, informal email — one of the most common everyday text types. A friend invites another friend to a birthday party, so beginners practise reading a real message with a clear purpose, simple present tense, and friendly everyday language.

What can I learn from reading emails in English?

Reading short emails teaches you to find key information fast: who wrote it, why, and what they want you to do. You also meet polite, everyday phrases like 'Can you come?' and 'Please bring', which are useful for writing your own messages.

Is this email reading good for absolute beginners?

Yes. The email is under 100 words, uses very short sentences and the present simple tense, and repeats common words like 'party', 'come', and 'message'. Each comprehension answer points to the line that proves it, so beginners read with confidence.

What is this A1 email about?

A girl named Mia emails her friend Sofia to invite her to a birthday party on Saturday evening at 12 Green Street. The email gives the time, place, and food, and asks Sofia to reply and bring her sister.

Which reading skills do these questions practise?

They practise scanning a short message for specific facts — the day, time, place, and the action the reader must take — plus simple understanding of purpose. Each explanation shows the line in the email that proves the answer.

An Email to a Friend (A1 English Reading)

Read the email and choose the best answer for each question.

An Email to a Friend: A1 Reading — with Answers

0:000:00

Hi Sofia,

Guess what? I have great news! It is my birthday on Saturday, and I want a party. Can you come?

The party is at my house at six o'clock in the evening. My address is 12 Green Street. There is food, music, and a big cake. My brother makes pizza, so please come hungry!

Please bring your sister too. Do not bring a present — your smile is enough. Send me a message and tell me if you can come.

See you soon,

Mia

Why is Mia writing to Sofia?

Reading Comprehension Questions & Answers

All A1 reading questions for “An Email to a Friend: A1 Reading — with Answers”, each with the correct answer and a short explanation. Read the passage above, try the interactive exercises, then check your answers here.

Exercise 1: Reading Comprehension

1. Why is Mia writing to Sofia?
- A. To say goodbye
- B. To invite her to a party ✓
- C. To ask for money
- D. To cancel a party
Answer: To invite her to a party
Correct. Mia writes 'It is my birthday on Saturday, and I want a party. Can you come?' The email is an invitation. She never says goodbye, asks for money, or cancels anything.
2. When is the party?
- A. On Saturday evening ✓
- B. On Sunday morning
- C. On Friday night
- D. On Saturday morning
Answer: On Saturday evening
Correct. Mia says her birthday is 'on Saturday' and the party is 'at six o'clock in the evening'. So it is on Saturday evening, not in the morning or on another day.
3. Where is the party?
- A. At a restaurant
- B. At school
- C. At Mia's house ✓
- D. In a park
Answer: At Mia's house
Correct. Mia writes 'The party is at my house ... My address is 12 Green Street.' A restaurant, school, and park are never mentioned in the email.
4. What food is at the party?
- A. Only cake
- B. Soup and bread
- C. Sandwiches
- D. Pizza and cake ✓
Answer: Pizza and cake
Correct. Mia says there is 'a big cake' and 'My brother makes pizza'. So there is pizza and cake. The email never mentions soup, bread, or sandwiches.
5. What does Mia ask Sofia to bring?
- A. Her sister ✓
- B. A present
- C. Some music
- D. A cake
Answer: Her sister
Correct. Mia writes 'Please bring your sister too.' She also writes 'Do not bring a present', so a present is wrong, and the music and cake are already at the party.
6. What should Sofia do next?
- A. Buy a birthday present
- B. Send Mia a message ✓
- C. Call Mia's brother
- D. Go to Green Street now
Answer: Send Mia a message
Correct. Mia writes 'Send me a message and tell me if you can come.' She asks Sofia to reply, not to buy a present, call her brother, or go to the house immediately.

An Email to a Friend: A1 Reading — with Answers

Why is Mia writing to Sofia?

Keep practising

A Day in the Life of an Airline Pilot (A1 Reading)

A Day in the Life of an Airline Pilot: A1 Reading Practice

New Year Around the World (A1 Reading)

A / An and Plurals - A1 Grammar

About this reading

More A1 English Practice

A, An, The, No Article: Using Articles in English - A1 Grammar

A, Some, Any: Countable and Uncountable Nouns - A1 Grammar

Reading Comprehension Questions & Answers

Exercise 1: Reading Comprehension

Adjectives: old, interesting, expensive, etc. - A1 Grammar

Adverbs of Frequency - A1 Grammar

Adverbs of Manner - A1 Grammar

Can / Can't: Ability, Possibility, Permission - A1 Grammar