Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Train, Bus & Road Travel 1

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a scenic train journey.

There are descriptions of eight railway trips.

Decide which railway trip would be the most suitable for the people below.

1   Anna wants to take photos of high rocky peaks. She loves seeing the sky, so she needs a carriage with a clear ceiling. She also wants to enjoy a hot cooked lunch while she travels.

2   David is planning a long cycling holiday and absolutely must take his bicycle on board. He wants to travel past spectacular high mountain peaks, and he needs a journey that lasts exactly two full days.

3   Maria uses a wheelchair, so she requires flat access onto the carriage. She wants to learn about the passing scenery in French, and she hopes to eat a delicious hot dinner during her trip.

4   Lukas has very little money, so he requires a cheap discounted ticket for young people. He wants to fall asleep under the stars, so he needs an overnight trip in a carriage with a see-through ceiling.

5   Sophie loves history and wants to ride on a traditional old steam train. She hopes to travel through beautiful high mountain areas. She also wants to enjoy a lovely warm breakfast in the restaurant carriage.

Scenic Railway Journeys

A The Starlight Sleeper

Experience the magic of travelling through the night! Our special observation cars feature see-through roofs, so you can watch the stars as you drift off to sleep in your comfortable bed. Best of all, we offer amazing price reductions for anyone in full-time education, making this magical journey very affordable.

B The Sky Peak Journey

Climb high into the rocky hills on this exciting afternoon trip. You won’t miss a single cloud thanks to our completely transparent roof panels. Please note that we do not have cooking facilities on board, so passengers must pack their own cold sandwiches and drinks for the journey.

C The Highland Express

Explore the highest snowy peaks on this fantastic forty-eight-hour railway adventure. We provide special secure storage areas specifically designed for your two-wheeled transport, making it perfect for active explorers. Passengers sleep in comfortable cabins, allowing you to wake up to spectacular valley views on both mornings of your journey.

D The Coastal Coal Train

Experience the romance of a traditional historical engine powered by coal. We travel slowly along the beautiful flat beaches, right next to the ocean waves. Throughout the journey, you can relax in our fantastic eating carriage and enjoy an amazing cooked meal prepared by our wonderful onboard chefs.

E The Valley Cruiser

Enjoy a smooth journey through beautiful green valleys on our fully accessible train. Every door has a ramp, making boarding easy for passengers who cannot walk. You can listen to recorded historical information available in several languages, including French. In the evening, enjoy a wonderful roasted supper prepared in our kitchen.

F The Alpine Star

Travel through the highest rocky ranges in absolute comfort. Our incredible observation carriages feature completely transparent ceilings, giving you beautiful unblocked views of the bright sky above. When you get hungry, simply walk down to our fantastic onboard restaurant area where our expert chefs will serve you a freshly cooked midday feast.

G The Midnight Rider

Perfect for active holidays, this overnight service allows you to sleep peacefully in a comfortable cabin while travelling. We also offer huge storage spaces for your pedals and wheels. Unfortunately, our traditional train carriages only have very small side windows, so upward views of the stars are absolutely impossible.

H The Heritage Climber

Step back in time on our authentic coal-powered locomotive! We will slowly pull you up through the spectacular snowy peaks for an unforgettable morning adventure. As you admire the dramatic rocky scenery, our friendly staff will bring you a wonderful hot morning meal straight to your comfortable vintage seat.

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a sleeper train journey across Europe.

There are descriptions of eight night trains.

Decide which night train would be the most suitable for the people below.

1   Anna is a student looking for a cheap ticket. She wants to sleep comfortably on a seat that turns into a bed. She also needs the train to reach her destination very early in the morning.

2   The Smith family needs a cabin with beds that fold out of the wall so everyone can sleep. They want to wake up to a provided morning meal. They also require their own private toilet and shower.

3   David is travelling for work and must arrive before 8:00 a.m. He doesn’t want to worry about food, so a provided morning meal is essential. He also needs a strong Wi-Fi connection to finish a report.

4   Maria and Leo want to socialise with other young people during their journey. They need a cabin with seats that change into flat beds. They also require a special storage area to keep their bicycles safe.

5   Sarah wants a luxurious, romantic journey across Europe. She hopes to arrive at her destination just as the sun rises. She also wants a delicious morning meal brought directly to her cabin so she can eat in bed.

European Sleeper Trains

A The Night Owl Express

This highly affordable service is absolutely perfect for careful spenders watching their wallets. Your comfortable seating cleverly transforms into a flat mattress for a great night’s rest. You will pull into the station shortly after dawn, giving you the entire day to sightsee. Note that no food is sold.

B The Alpine Sleeper

Ideal for groups, our spacious cabins feature clever sleeping bunks that pull down from the walls at night. When you wake up, our staff will serve a complimentary selection of warm pastries and coffee. Best of all, your room includes an exclusive washroom and shower, ensuring complete family privacy.

C The Continental Business Line

Designed specifically for professionals, this fast train guarantees you will reach the city centre well before 8:00 a.m. You can easily send emails using our excellent, high-speed wireless internet connection throughout the night. A delicious hot morning meal is also covered in your ticket price, saving you valuable time.

D The Backpacker’s Route

Join our lively lounge car to chat and play board games with tourists from around the world! At bedtime, your carriage seating easily drops down to create a comfortable sleeping space. We also feature a secure luggage wagon with dedicated racks, perfect for transporting your two-wheeled transport safely across Europe.

E The Star-Lit Express

Treat yourself to an unforgettable, premium journey through the mountains. Our elegant service ensures you step onto the platform just as the daylight breaks. To make your trip perfect, our friendly waiters will deliver a wonderful, freshly prepared morning feast directly to your beautiful cabin to start your day.

F Dawn Rider Trains

We guarantee to get you to your destination just as the sun comes up! Passengers will love our comfortable folding mattresses that tuck away during the day. However, this is an incredibly expensive, premium service, and unfortunately, our onboard internet system is currently broken and cannot be used by guests.

G The Sunrise Voyager

Wake up to the smell of fresh coffee, as our chef provides a fantastic complimentary morning feast for everyone. Our spacious family cabins feature fantastic chairs that quickly convert into comfortable flat beds. However, all passengers must share the communal washing facilities located at the far end of the carriage.

H Euro-Connect Nightliners

Make new friends in our fantastic communal bar carriage, which is always full of energetic young travellers! When you are tired, simply pull down the hidden mattress from the wall and go to sleep. Please note that for safety reasons, we strictly ban all cycles from being brought on board.

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a long-distance coach tour for their holiday.

There are descriptions of eight coach tours.

Decide which coach tour would be the most suitable for the people below.

1   Anna has very little money, so she needs the cheapest tickets possible. She gets sick on buses, so she needs frequent rest stops to walk outside. She also must have air conditioning because she hates feeling hot.

2   Mark is travelling to a cycling competition and needs to bring his bicycle. He prefers to travel overnight so he can sleep. He also needs free Wi-Fi on the bus to do some work on his laptop.

3   The Smith family wants a tour that provides all their meals so they do not have to buy food. They want extra space for their legs and hope to get guided tours of historic towns along the way.

4   Diego is a student who wants to make new friends during his trip. He wants to travel directly to his destination without stopping. He also needs to charge his mobile phone while sitting in his seat.

5   Yuki wants to travel during the day to take photographs of beautiful mountain scenery from the window. She needs a bus that has a toilet on board, and she wants to buy hot drinks during the journey.

Long-Distance Coach Tours

A Heritage Lines

Enjoy a relaxing holiday with our premium service! Passengers enjoy incredibly large seats where they can stretch out comfortably. When we pause in ancient cities, our experts lead you around the famous sights. Best of all, your ticket price covers delicious breakfasts, lunches, and dinners, so your wallet stays closed.

B City Sprinter

This is an incredibly affordable choice for careful spenders! We guarantee a wonderfully chilled environment with our modern climate control systems. To ensure you arrive as quickly as possible, this service goes straight to the end of the line, so passengers cannot get off the bus until the journey finishes.

C Budget Cruiser

If you want to save your cash, our low-cost coaches are perfect. We keep the temperature perfectly cool inside, even in the middle of summer. Your journey will take a bit longer, as we pause every hour so passengers can get off, stretch their legs, and get some fresh air.

D Sunny Vistas

We depart every morning at 8 a.m. for a beautiful daytime journey across the country. Passengers can browse the web for free while looking at the views. If you are bringing large items like skis or cycles, our huge luggage compartments have plenty of room for all your heavy bags.

E Youth Rider

This service is incredibly popular with young adults looking to chat and socialise with other travellers! You will reach your destination very quickly because we drive straight to the final city without taking any breaks. Additionally, every single seat features electrical points, so your electronic devices will never lose power.

F Midnight Express

Sleep through your journey on our comfortable night coaches and wake up refreshed at your destination! Passengers can stay connected online at zero cost during the whole trip. We also have massive storage areas underneath, making it incredibly easy to transport large sports equipment, including your own two-wheeled transport.

G Cultural Coach

Travel in pure comfort with our extra-large seating that gives you plenty of space. We stop frequently at famous ancient towns where our knowledgeable staff will show you around the monuments. Please remember that we do not serve any snacks, so you must pack your own sandwiches and drinks.

H Alpine Explorer

Watch spectacular snowy peaks and deep valleys pass by your window on this unforgettable daytime trip! Passengers can easily purchase delicious tea and coffee from the driver while travelling. For your comfort, there is a convenient washroom at the back of the coach, so we rarely need to pull over.

Exercises:   123456