Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Special Needs & Niche Travel 4

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a religious retreat monastery for a spiritual stay.

There are descriptions of eight spiritual stays.

Decide which monastery would be the most suitable for the people below.

1   Mark is seeking a highly disciplined retreat. He requires a strict rule of silence to help him focus. He needs simple, plant-based meals prepared for him, and he specifically wants daily one-on-one spiritual guidance from a resident monk.

2   Sarah wants to learn about monastic life but enjoys socializing, so she needs a place where talking is allowed. She requires simple vegetarian meals and hopes to receive daily spiritual advice and guidance from the religious leaders.

3   Leo wants to spend a week meditating independently. He needs a completely silent environment and requires the monastery to provide simple vegetarian food. However, he does not want any spiritual guidance, preferring to be left entirely alone.

4   Mia wants to deeply reflect on her life with the help of a mentor, so she needs spiritual guidance and a strict rule of silence. However, due to a medical condition, she cannot eat a vegetarian diet and requires meals containing meat or fish.

5   David is looking for a cheap, peaceful base for walking. He wants to chat freely with other guests. He prefers to cook his own food instead of eating prepared meals, and he has no interest in receiving any spiritual guidance.

Religious Retreat Monasteries

A Mountaintop Abbey

Experience a deeply focused retreat at our historic abbey. We enforce a strict rule of absolute silence at all times. Guests are served basic, simple vegetarian meals three times a day. Furthermore, our experienced monks are always available to provide personal spiritual guidance and mentorship during your stay.

B The Open Door Priory

Join our welcoming community! Unlike stricter monasteries, we encourage guests to talk freely and share stories in our comfortable communal lounges. Our kitchen prepares wonderful, simple vegetarian meals for everyone. Every afternoon, our senior sisters offer excellent, personalized spiritual guidance for those seeking direction in life.

C Silent Pines Retreat

Immerse yourself in total peace at our isolated forest monastery. All guests must obey our strict rule of absolute silence, making it perfect for independent meditation. We serve basic, healthy vegetarian meals daily. Please note that our monks are currently on a silent retreat themselves, so no spiritual guidance is available.

D St. Jude’s Sanctuary

Find peace in our historic coastal monastery. We maintain a strict rule of silence to ensure a deeply reflective atmosphere. Every evening, our religious leaders offer excellent, one-on-one spiritual guidance. Uniquely, our kitchen serves hearty, traditional meals that include locally caught fish and roasted meats.

E The Pilgrim’s Rest

This affordable monastery guesthouse is famous for its lively, talkative atmosphere, where guests from around the world chat and make friends. We do not offer any spiritual guidance or religious classes. Additionally, our dining hall is closed, so all visitors are provided with a shared kitchen to cook their own food.

F Hermit’s Cave Monastery

Step away from the noisy world at our ancient cliffside location. We require all visitors to maintain a strict rule of silence. Because our staff is very small, we cannot offer any spiritual guidance or mentorship. Furthermore, we do not provide any food, so you must bring your own groceries to cook during your stay.

G Valley Fellowship House

Enjoy a vibrant, social holiday at our beautiful valley retreat! We have no rules about silence, so the halls are always filled with talking and laughter. Our religious leaders are happy to sit down and provide deep spiritual guidance. At dinner, enjoy our famous, heavy farm meals packed with beef and chicken.

H Green Fields Convent

Stay with our friendly sisters in this beautiful agricultural setting. Guests are welcome to chat normally throughout the day, as we have no silence rules. We serve delicious, simple vegetarian food made from our garden vegetables. However, we strictly operate as a bed-and-breakfast, offering absolutely no spiritual guidance or advice.

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a vegan-only guided tour.

There are descriptions of eight history trips.

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

1   Emma wants to eat exclusively at plant-based restaurants and hopes to visit a shelter for saved farm animals. Because she works during the week, she needs a short trip that takes place completely over the weekend.

2   Liam requires entirely meat-free and dairy-free eateries on his holiday. He wants to explore historical city centers on foot and is on a strict budget, so he needs a tour with an exceptionally cheap ticket price.

3   Sophia wants a holiday that only includes restaurants serving animal-free dishes. She strictly avoids any activities or entertainment that exploit animals and is looking for a comprehensive, long tour lasting more than ten days.

4   Oliver wants to dine at fully vegan establishments and would love to spend an afternoon volunteering at a wildlife protection sanctuary. He values comfort and requires high-end accommodation in a luxury hotel.

5   Yuki seeks a holiday with entirely plant-only menus. She is keen to take photographs of wild birds and animals in nature and prefers a small tour group to avoid large, noisy crowds of tourists.

Vegan-Only Guided Tours

A Green Pastures Tour

Enjoy a fantastic two-day break on Saturday and Sunday. We visit a beautiful farm where saved cows and sheep live peacefully. Every meal is served at certified animal-free eateries that cook delicious dairy-free and meat-free dishes. It is the perfect short getaway for eco-conscious travelers who have limited free time.

B Capital Culture Walk

Discover famous historical monuments on our affordable urban walking journeys. Our low-cost tickets are perfect for students watching their holiday budgets closely. For lunch and dinner, we dine exclusively at plant-only cafes across the city center. Please note that all accommodation is in simple youth hostels rather than expensive luxury hotels.

C The Ethical Odyssey

Our extensive two-week journey is ideal for people seeking a deep travel experience. We strictly ban any entertainment that harms or exploits creatures, focusing instead on ethical sightseeing. Guests will dine entirely at 100% plant-based dining rooms. It is an amazing, comprehensive holiday designed for individuals who care deeply about global animal welfare.

D Luxury Eco-Escape

Stay in five-star suites with premium spa facilities during this unique trip. Volunteers will spend an afternoon helping staff clean and protect habitats at a local wildlife reserve. Our kitchen partners strictly prepare 100% animal-free meals every day. It is an exceptional choice for anyone wanting comfort while giving back to nature.

E Silent Nature Trails

Escape the crowds on an intimate journey limited to just four passengers. Bring your camera along to capture magnificent images of eagles and deer in their natural habitats. Our tour package guarantees that we only visit fully vegan dining rooms for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It is a peaceful, creative holiday for photography enthusiasts.

F Weekend Wildlife Safari

Spend a fun Saturday and Sunday exploring the region. We visit a famous local zoo where you can see lions and tigers up close in cages, followed by an evening movie. Every meal is fully plant-based and dairy-free. This short trip is excellent for anyone with limited time who loves animal-themed holidays.

G Historical City Bargain

Explore ancient urban centers on foot on this budget-friendly walking tour. Our low prices keep your holiday incredibly cheap. We take a break at popular vegetarian cafes that serve fantastic cheese pizzas and fresh salads with cream dressings. It is a wonderful option for money-saving tourists who love history and city culture.

H Premium Jungle Adventure

Relax in beautiful luxury resorts with private swimming pools on this high-end tour. Guests can choose entirely plant-based menus at our premium restaurants. The highlights of the schedule include a thrilling ride on an elephant through the forest. It is a comfortable trip for travelers wanting to get close to large exotic animals.

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a photography tour for the hearing impaired.

There are descriptions of eight travel packages.

Decide which travel package would be the most suitable for the people below.

1   Sophie loves architecture and wants to take photos of colorful historic houses. She requires an instructor who communicates fluently using sign language and wants a printed daily schedule on paper to check the route and times easily.

2   Alex is a student looking for a low-cost tour to save money. He wants to capture wild birds in nature and needs a leader who can sign perfectly so he can understand the lessons.

3   Emma wants to practice night photography in the city center. She requires a complete digital itinerary sent to her smartphone and needs an expert teacher who is fully fluent in international sign language.

4   Thomas loves the outdoors and wants an active trip with long walks to shoot beautiful mountain landscapes. He requires a detailed timetable written on paper and needs a supporting team that uses hand signing.

5   Lily wants a weekend trip because she is busy during the week. She hopes to take close-up portraits of local people and requires text-based guide notes on her screen alongside a master who communicates with signs.

Photography Tours

A Urban Colors

Discover the city’s brightest historic neighborhoods on our specialized walks. Our female guides are all native signers, allowing trouble-free communication during the classes. Every guest receives a physical booklet containing the full time plan for each location, making it easy to track our progress without using technology. Perfect for fans of beautiful structures!

B Nature Focus

This affordable experience offers the lowest prices in the region, ideal for travellers on a budget. We travel deep into the woods to capture incredible images of rare flying creatures and forest animals. Our skilled team members interact completely through beautiful hand-signing, ensuring you learn advanced camera settings easily in a silent environment.

C Capital Lights

Learn how to capture the glowing monuments of the town after dark. Before setting off, we email a comprehensive electronic timetable directly to your smartphone. Your teacher is a certified sign language professional who uses expressive gestures and hand signals through a video monitor or face-to-face, making the technical evening lessons fully interactive.

D Mountain Trails

Grab your hiking boots for this energetic holiday involving long walks through high peaks and gorgeous green valleys. We provide everyone with a paper layout of the exact hourly route before we start walking. Our helpful crew members are expert hand-signers, providing clear photographic advice in complete silence throughout the outdoor journey.

E Face to Face

Available exclusively on Saturdays and Sundays, this short break focuses on capturing the expressions of fascinating local residents. Nomad photographers can easily follow the route using our detailed text messages and on-screen notes. The entire workshop is led by an advanced signing coach, making it fully accessible and highly personal for participants.

F Eco Wildlife Walks

Join our low-cost excursions to photograph amazing forest birds and rivers. We offer unbeatable student discounts to save you money. To help you plan your day, we hand out a printed brochure with the complete schedule. Please note that our friendly guides communicate entirely using spoken English and loud microphones.

G Night Shutter

Explore the capital’s streets after dark to photograph glowing buildings and neon signs. Our talented instructors are fully fluent in hand-signing and explain everything with their hands. To keep our journeys exciting and spontaneous, we do not follow any strict routes, and we never provide any written plans, digital timetables, or schedules.

H Creative History Studio

Learn the theory of historical imagery inside our quiet town academy. Our professors communicate entirely via sign language, and students receive a printed daily itinerary on paper. However, this is a classroom-based lecture series with no outdoor walks, and we do not visit any historic houses, colorful buildings, or landscapes.

Exercises:   123456