Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Camping, Hostels & Alternative Stays 3

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to rent a houseboat for a canal holiday.

There are descriptions of eight boat rental companies.

Decide which boat rental company would be the most suitable for the people below.

1   Maria and John have never driven a boat, so they need a beginner’s lesson. They want to travel at a very relaxed speed to enjoy the nature, and they specifically require an outdoor space where they can lie in the sun.

2   The Smith family wants to start their holiday on the last day of the weekend. They must have a proper cooker to prepare hot family meals. They also need a rental company that allows them to bring their pet dog.

3   Leo is traveling alone and has a small budget, so he needs a discounted price. He plans to cycle along the river, so he must take his bike. He also needs a boat with good heating for cold nights.

4   Sarah and her friends only have two free days for a quick weekend trip. They want to sail right through the middle of the city. They also love parties, so they require a boat with high-quality audio equipment.

5   David wants to spend his holiday trying to catch fish in the canal. He needs an excellent Wi-Fi signal to check work emails. He also prefers a luxury boat with a powerful washroom to get clean after a long day.

Canal Houseboat Rentals

A Urban Cruisers

Rent our fantastic party boats for a quick forty-eight-hour weekend getaway. Our special map takes you straight past the busy shops and cafes right in the heart of town. Inside, you will find fantastic digital speakers, so you can play all your favourite tunes loudly while you sail.

B River Dreamers

Experience a gentle journey along the water, perfect if you hate rushing! Before you set off, our expert instructors will teach you exactly how to steer safely. Every vessel features a wonderful flat roof area, which is the ideal spot to relax outside and get a fantastic tan.

C Speed Boats

Do you want an exciting, fast-paced holiday? Our powerful engines let you race along the widest canals! Our team will provide a full morning of steering education before you depart. Guests will love the large outdoor area for catching the sun, but unfortunately, no animals are allowed on board.

D The Water Way

Begin your wonderful holiday adventure on Sunday morning with our family-sized vessels. You won’t need to visit restaurants, as our fantastic kitchens are fully equipped with excellent baking and roasting appliances. We are also very happy to welcome your furry friends on board, so your animal companion can join the fun!

E Capital Canal Hire

Take a wonderful journey right through the capital’s central district. We have plenty of secure space if you wish to bring your mountain bike for exploring the paths. These are luxury, expensive rentals, and because they are traditional wooden boats, there are no radiators to provide extra warmth.

F Solo Sailor

Our smaller vessels are perfect for single explorers. We offer amazing price reductions for students to keep your costs down. There is plenty of space to tie up your two-wheeled transport on the back. Plus, our modern radiators keep the bedroom incredibly warm when temperatures drop after dark.

G Nature Retreat Boats

Escape the modern world with us! We begin all our peaceful journeys on Monday afternoons. The kitchen area includes a brilliant cooker for roasting family meals, and the surrounding waters are perfect for catching wild fish. However, please note that there is completely zero internet access available out here.

H Luxury Waters

Enjoy a truly premium river experience with our modern vessels. We provide all the necessary equipment if you want to pull fresh salmon or trout from the water. Stay perfectly connected with our super-fast broadband signal. Furthermore, our bathrooms feature incredible washing facilities with endless warm water for your absolute comfort.

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find eco-pods in the mountains for a minimalist stay.

There are descriptions of eight eco-pods.

Decide which eco-pod would be the most suitable for the people below.

1   Lucas is travelling alone and wants a tiny space just for one person. He hopes to take photos of the night sky from inside, and he specifically wants to stay somewhere that gets all its electricity from the sun.

2   Sara and Tom are looking for a compact romantic spot for two. They dream of waking up to views of a lake, and they want to experience cooking their meals outside on a traditional wood fire.

3   Mia wants a minimalist stay with limited room so she can focus on reading. She requires huge glass walls facing a dark forest, and insists on a place with absolutely no internet or phone signal to distract her.

4   This family of three wants a small, simple base for their walking trip. They want floor-to-ceiling glass to watch the mountain sunrise, and they want the challenge of collecting their own fresh drinking water from a nearby river.

5   David wants an extremely little cabin for a quiet weekend. He hopes to spot wild birds through large windows, and he wants to stay in a place that is powered completely by energy from the wind.

Eco-Pods in the Mountains

A Starry Night Pod

Perfect for single travellers, this extremely narrow shelter has exactly what you need. The ceiling is made completely of clear glass, allowing you to gaze at the universe above from your bed. Furthermore, all the lights and heating are run entirely by panels that collect energy directly from the daylight.

B Water’s Edge Cabin

This incredibly small home is designed especially for pairs wanting a peaceful escape together. Through the massive front windows, you can look right across the beautiful blue water below. There is no modern oven inside; instead, guests must prepare all their daily dinners outdoors using the logs and open flames provided.

C Pine Tree Hideaway

If you want a basic space without extra furniture to distract you, this tiny shelter is definitely ideal. The enormous front window looks directly into the ancient, dark woods outside. To help you completely disconnect from the modern world, this location is completely cut off from all cellular networks and web connections.

D Peak View Eco-Lodge

Though it has little extra space, this modest hut comfortably sleeps a group of three. The giant clear walls perfectly capture the early morning light appearing over the high rocky peaks. As a true off-grid experience, the taps are dry, so visitors must carry their daily liquid supply from the flowing stream nearby.

E The Windmill Hut

This charming mini-home provides just enough room for a simple, quiet getaway. The wide glass windows offer fantastic opportunities to watch eagles and other flying creatures in the branches outside. Staying completely true to nature, the entire property receives all its electricity 

from turbines that catch the strong mountain breezes.

F Galaxy Cabin

This spacious family-sized property features an amazing glass roof, meaning you can easily take pictures of the beautiful stars all night long. While it feels remote, it is actually connected to the main electricity grid, so you can plug in your devices without worrying about your battery power running out.

G Lakeside Mansion

Enjoy amazing views across the deep water through our beautiful, large viewing areas. Guests will love the adventure of heating their food over the outdoor log campfire every evening. However, with four huge bedrooms and a massive living area, this property is far too large for those seeking a small space.

H Timber Micro-Pod

This extremely limited space is perfect for fans of simple, basic living. The giant front glass sections let you look straight out into the deep, green pine trees all day. Even though it is isolated, we provide a super-fast wireless internet connection and strong mobile signal so you can chat online anytime.

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a converted historic rental.

There are descriptions of eight converted historic rentals.

Decide which historic rental would be the most suitable for the people below.

1   Anna wants to stay in an old building but needs a brand-new area to cook her meals. She loves the feeling of space, so very tall rooms are important. She also wants to be surrounded by peaceful, noise-free countryside.

2   David is travelling with his large family and needs plenty of bedrooms. He loves looking up at extremely high wooden roofs. He wants to stay near a busy town centre so he can walk to lively restaurants every evening.

3   The Smith family want a quiet, relaxing holiday away from traffic. They don’t want to cook at all, so they need accommodation that provides all their meals. They also require very tall, spacious rooms to feel comfortable.

4   Leo loves history but insists on having the latest, modern cooking equipment to prepare his own dinners. He wants to stay in a silent, rural settlement. However, he hates large open spaces and prefers small, low-ceilinged rooms.

5   Sarah wants a peaceful escape far from city noise. She plans to cook complex meals, so she needs a fully updated, contemporary kitchen. She loves grand architecture and specifically wants incredibly tall ceilings in the living areas.

Converted Historic Rentals

A The Old Chapel

Experience the magic of this stunning 19th-century building, located in a completely silent, tiny rural community. Inside, you will be amazed by the incredible distance between the floor and the roof, giving a massive sense of space. Despite its age, we have installed a completely twenty-first-century cooking space, perfect for preparing your own feasts.

B Village Barn Retreat

If you want to avoid cooking, this is the place for you! We serve fantastic breakfast, lunch, and dinner every single day. The building features magnificent, extremely tall wooden roofs that make every room feel enormous. It is situated deep in the countryside, ensuring a completely noise-free and relaxing holiday.

C Town Centre Abbey

This huge historical building is perfect for massive groups, offering ten separate sleeping areas. Look up and admire the spectacular, sky-high stone ceilings! While it is a beautiful ancient structure, it is located right in the middle of a bustling, noisy town, just steps away from busy cafes and loud night spots.

D The Cozy Granary

Enjoy a wonderfully peaceful stay in our completely silent, rural village location. You will love preparing food in our recently built, high-tech cooking area equipped with the newest appliances. Please note that this building was designed to keep heat in, so all the rooms have very low roofs and small, tight spaces.

E St. Jude’s Conversion

Escape to this beautiful historic property, surrounded by miles of silent fields and trees with absolutely no traffic noise. The main hall features breathtakingly tall spaces reaching up to the ancient roof. For those who love cooking, the property boasts a totally modern, brand-new food preparation area fitted with the latest technology.

F The Mill House

This fantastic ancient building offers brilliant, completely updated cooking facilities where you can easily prepare your own family dinners using new equipment. However, the original design means the ceilings are quite low, making the rooms feel dark. It is situated on the edge of a fairly busy, noisy town.

G Cathedral View Apartments

Stay in these incredible rooms built inside a former church! You will immediately notice the massive height of the ceilings, creating a wonderful, airy atmosphere. We do not provide any cooking facilities, so guests must eat at the surrounding restaurants. The area is extremely peaceful and free from any city sounds.

H The Historic Bakery

Step back in time while enjoying our completely modern, newly fitted kitchen space, ideal for making your own dinners. The ceilings are incredibly tall, giving you plenty of room to breathe. However, because we are located on the main road of a busy market town, you will constantly hear traffic and people passing by.

Exercises:   123456