The Shopping Spree
In PET Reading Part 2, it’s a good idea to read the bio first—the description of the person—before looking at the longer texts. This will help you look for the right details in the texts.
step one: note the person's needs
Start with the bios. In the exam, underline key details about what each person wants.
practise step one - in this exercise, you will read four bios from the PET Reading Part 2. As you read, note the key points and click Submit to check your answers.
the bios
Alice:
Mark:
Sophia:
Liam:
In the exam your notes might look something like this:
step two: scan the texts
Now that you know what each person wants, look for matching details in the texts, but not necessarily matching words. You’re not reading every word—you’re scanning for key information.
Alice
Look at the notes. Decide which shop is best for Alice. Then click on submit to check your answer.
Mark
Now try Mark. Same again. Look at the keywords you highlighted for Mark. Then scan the text. Remember, you are not reading every word.
Sophia
Now try Sarah. Match the notes to the texts.
Liam
Now do the same for Liam. Look at the notes, scan the texts and match them!
step three: eliminate the wrong options
If you’ve scanned the texts and you still can't find a good option, you can eliminate the options that don’t fit.
step four: match each person with the best text
Now that you’ve carefully considered the texts and eliminated the wrong ones, have you found the best text for Alice, Mark, Sophia and Liam?
We can immediately eliminate Shop A because it offers luxury at high prices. Alice wants something affordable. Shop C does not guarantee quality. Shop D offers secondhand clothes: if they are already used they might not last very long. The answer is Shop B. It offers high-quality affordable clothes and you can shop online.
Mark wants affordable clothes, so eliminate Shop A. Shop B is an online store but Mark is in a hurry and can not wait for deliveries so he prefers a shop. Shop D offers secondhand clothes, which might not be very stylish. Shop C is the correct answer because it offers stylish clothing at reasonable prices and is perfect for Mark's last-minute shopping needs.
Sophia wants luxury brands. Shop A. You can immediately match this shop to Sophia because it is the only one that offers luxury brands upmarket boutiques.
Liam is a student. He can't afford luxury and he is not interested in being trendy. Shop D is the best option for Liam.
why this approach works
By following these steps and reading the bios first, you don’t fall into the trap of matching based on surface-level keywords. You focus on understanding what the person truly wants and then finding the shop that fits their needs. This process will help you think critically and make you more confident in selecting the right answers.
