Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Language & Communication 4

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a Chinese language course.

There are descriptions of eight language courses.

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

1   Lucas wants a complete introduction to the language, focusing on both pronouncing the different tones and writing traditional characters. He is busy during the week, so he needs a class that meets on Saturday or Sunday mornings.

2   Sara enjoys taking on tasks that are difficult but rewarding. She wants to learn the language while also studying Chinese history and culture. She works late, so her classes must start after 8 p.m. on weekdays.

3   Miguel wants to focus entirely on speaking and getting the tones right, without worrying about writing characters yet. He prefers learning in very small groups and needs an online course so he can study from his own living room.

4   Anya is fascinated by the visual side of the language and wants a private tutor to teach her how to draw characters perfectly. She is a student with a low budget, so the lessons must not cost a lot.

5   David is visiting Beijing next month and needs a short, intensive course to learn basic conversational phrases and tones. He prefers face-to-face learning and is looking for a school located right in the middle of the city.

Beginner Mandarin Courses

A Dragon Language School

Get the perfect start with our comprehensive foundation classes! Students will learn how to pronounce those tricky sounds correctly and practice drawing the beautiful written symbols. Sessions run from 9 a.m. to midday every Saturday and Sunday, making it an ideal choice for professionals who work Monday to Friday.

B The Silk Road Institute

Mastering Mandarin is a tough challenge, but the results are incredibly satisfying. Our beginners’ course combines deep language learning with fascinating lessons on ancient traditions and society. To accommodate busy schedules, our doors open late, with all sessions running from 8:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. during the week.

C Speak Mandarin Now

Want to sound like a local? This internet-based program focuses completely on conversation and mastering pronunciation, so you won’t spend any time learning to read or write. You will log in from home and practice in tiny classes of just three students, ensuring you get plenty of personal attention.

D Hanzi Master Studio

Discover the art of the Chinese alphabet with your own personal teacher! We offer individual lessons dedicated entirely to teaching you how to paint the written symbols beautifully. Our coaching is designed for university learners, offering special discounted prices that are much lower than typical language schools. You won’t spend a fortune here!

E Global Explorer Centre

Planning a trip to Asia soon? Join our fast-paced, two-week survival camp! You will quickly pick up essential greetings and useful expressions for getting around and ordering food. We believe in traditional, face-to-face teaching, and you can find our modern classrooms conveniently located right in the heart of the downtown area.

F Weekend Characters

Focusing solely on reading and drawing Chinese symbols, this weekend course is fantastic for visual learners. We meet every Saturday morning to practice writing. However, we do not teach any speaking or pronunciation. Please note that our highly specialized weekend classes are quite expensive, so they require a large budget.

G Mandarin Heritage Hub

Learning this ancient language takes a lot of effort, but discovering its rich history is extremely satisfying. We are located right in the city centre and offer face-to-face lessons that explore both the language and the culture. Classes take place every weekday morning from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

H Digital Talk Academy

Practice your pronunciation and master those tricky sounds without leaving your house! Our web-based platform is dedicated completely to speaking and listening skills, ignoring the written language. You will join our lively virtual classrooms, which typically have around twenty to thirty students, making it an incredibly energetic way to learn online.

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a dialects and accents acting class.

There are descriptions of eight acting classes.

Decide which acting class would be the most suitable for the people below.

1   Elena studies drama and wants to improve her stage voice. She needs a class that teaches excellent vocal warm-ups before speaking. Because she is busy during the week, she must find a course on Saturdays or Sundays.

2   Marco wants to learn how to mimic various local accents perfectly. He works all day, so he requires an evening session. He also really wants to receive an official certificate when he finishes the training.

3   Lily is an enthusiastic theater student who wants to learn by mimicking the voices of famous movie stars. She does not drive, so the studio must be located very close to the main railway station.

4   Sam needs to learn proper vocal warm-ups to protect his voice. He is looking for a quick, one-day workshop. He also wants to receive downloadable audio recordings so he can continue practicing at home.

5   Chloe is a drama student preparing for a comedy play. She specifically wants to practice mimicking unusual animal sounds. She has no money right now, so she absolutely needs a course that costs nothing.

Dialects and Accents Acting Classes

A Stage Voices

Perfect for aspiring actors, this Saturday and Sunday program focuses entirely on preparing your throat and breath for performance. You will master essential physical exercises to protect your voice before going on stage. It is an ideal weekend choice for anyone serious about a professional acting career. Join our expert coaches now.

B The Regional Tongue

Copying regional speech patterns is a fantastic skill! In these night-time classes, you will practice sounding exactly like people from different geographic areas. We meet after 7 PM, making it great for busy workers. Everyone who completes the term gets a printed document proving their new pronunciation skills. Sign up today to transform your voice.

C Hollywood Impressions

Calling all performing arts pupils! Come and develop your skills by copying the exact speech patterns of well-known Hollywood celebrities. Our convenient studio is situated just a two-minute walk from the city’s central rail platforms, making your journey incredibly easy. Discover the secrets of professional voice acting today! You will love this fun class.

D The Voice Protector

Protect your throat with our intensive eight-hour masterclass! This single-date event teaches you essential breathing and stretching routines to use before speaking. You won’t leave empty-handed; we provide excellent digital sound files for everyone to download, ensuring you can keep repeating the exercises in your own bedroom. This brief session is highly practical.

E Wild Sounds Studio

Are you taking performing arts classes? Join our unique workshop where we teach you how to copy the exact noises of wild creatures and birds! Best of all, this incredible vocal training is completely complimentary, meaning you won’t have to pay a single penny to join us. Come and discover your wild side today.

F Executive Speech

Protect your voice! This weekend course focuses on essential breathing and throat preparations for public speakers and business leaders. Although we teach fantastic stretching routines, this is definitely not suitable for stage performers. We also provide printed books, but no sound files are available for home practice. Improve your business presentations with our expert help.

G Local Chatter

Learn to copy regional speech for absolutely no cost! This complimentary daytime class runs every Wednesday afternoon. You will practice sounding like locals from various towns. Unfortunately, we do not offer any official paperwork or graduation documents when the sessions finish, but it remains a highly enjoyable experience. Join our friendly group and have fun.

H Star Voices

Do you want to sound exactly like your favorite movie stars? This evening workshop focuses entirely on copying celebrity voices. We are located in a quiet suburban area, which is only accessible by car, so please note that public transport does not reach our private countryside studio. There is plenty of free parking available.

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a reading group or course for literature in foreign languages.

There are descriptions of eight reading programs.

Decide which reading program would be the most suitable for the people below.

1   Marco is an advanced language student who wants to read traditional old novels. He would love to join a group where he can share his thoughts on the stories’ complex endings and unexpected twists with other classmates.

2   Sophia is an advanced speaker who wants to read modern award-winning fiction instead of old books. She is eager to join lively group debates to analyze difficult story lines and major developments in the narrative.

3   Leo wants to move from an intermediate to an advanced level by reading famous historical masterpieces. Because of his busy university schedule during the week, he is only available to attend classes on Saturday mornings.

4   Anna is a high-level student who wants to read famous old literature from past centuries. She finds large groups distracting and strictly prefers a course that offers private, one-to-one lessons with an expert teacher.

5   David wants to study famous nineteenth-century fiction to understand complex story developments and endings. He is living on a very tight student budget and needs a course that is completely free or highly discounted.

Language Literature Programs

A Masterpiece Circles

Perfect for high-level language learners! This challenging program focuses entirely on well-known historical books and traditional fiction. You will sit down with other skilled students each week to dissect the complex story layers, character choices, and narrative endings. It is a fantastic, deeply social experience for anyone who loves old books.

B Modern Pages

Designed specifically for fluent, advanced speakers, our interactive club explores recently published books and contemporary global fiction. Instead of studying history, we focus on current writers. Our members love meeting up to talk about narrative twists, analyze complex story arcs, and debate the authors’ dramatic choices in every chapter.

C Early Bird Classics

Aimed at intermediate students who want to reach a professional, advanced stage, this club explores great historical masterpieces of world literature. We meet every Saturday from 10 a.m. to midday, making it ideal for busy workers. You will improve your reading comprehension through deep analysis of famous older texts.

D The Solo Reader

This elite program is perfect for advanced students who want to explore brilliant old books from the past. Because we completely avoid group classrooms, you will enjoy private, one-to-one sessions with a native language professor. This ensures the study of traditional literature is fully customized to your specific interests and goals.

E Affordable Stories

This wonderful community project is completely free of charge, making it perfect for anyone on a budget! We read great fiction from the 1800s and spend our time tracking how the story moves, discussing unexpected endings, and unraveling mysteries. Learn how major story developments work without spending any of your cash.

F Narrative Twists

Do you love talking about how a story develops and tracking complex plotlines with other people? Our lively evening group meets every Tuesday to analyze dramatic page-turners and mystery plots. We welcome learners of all stages, from absolute beginners to intermediates, to share opinions on what happens in popular modern novels.

G History and Culture

Immerse yourself in the finest historical writing and classic literature from ancient times! This evening course is perfect for advanced individuals who want to expand their vocabulary by analyzing old vocabulary structures. You will work entirely independently through our private online system, although there are no options for weekend slots.

H The Cheap Book Club

This highly discounted, low-cost course is excellent for students trying to save money. We focus on reading famous nineteenth-century masterpieces and older traditional poetry. The lessons focus entirely on grammar exercises and translating sentences line-by-line, so please note that we do not spend any time discussing the story lines or plots.

Exercises:   123456