Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Cinema & Movies 1

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find an action and adventure movie to watch.

There are descriptions of eight movies.

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

1   Leo loves fast-paced films with exciting driving scenes. He is looking for a story that happens in the future or in space. He plans to watch it with his ten-year-old brother, so it shouldn’t have any frightening violence.

2   Maya is amazed by incredible computer graphics and visuals. She prefers stories where the main hero is a woman. She is also very interested in history, so she wants a film that actually happened in real life.

3   Sam and Alex want to watch an adventure that will make them laugh out loud. They both practice judo and want to see hand-to-hand fighting. They only have a short time, so the film must finish in under an hour and a half.

4   Chloe enjoys adventures about people trying to stay alive in jungles or mountains. She loves trying to guess the story, so a shocking conclusion is essential. She also prefers watching big Hollywood stars that she already knows well.

5   David is looking for a thrilling story about secret agents completing dangerous missions. He gets really excited by scenes filmed in the sky with planes or helicopters. Hearing great background music while he watches is also very important to him.

Action and Adventure Movies

A Galaxy Racers

Set in the year 3050, this thrilling adventure follows a group of pilots competing across the universe. The vehicle pursuits are incredibly fast and exciting from start to finish. Best of all, everyone in the house can enjoy the fun together, as there is absolutely nothing too scary for younger viewers to see.

B The Queen’s Shield

This unbelievable but true tale follows a brave female commander protecting her country during the 17th century. The director used the latest technology to create stunning battle visuals that look completely real on screen. It perfectly combines a powerful leading lady with an important and educational moment from our global past.

C Kicks and Tricks

You will not stop smiling during this hilarious story of two clumsy friends who must save their town. Expect plenty of impressive karate and boxing scenes, rather than gun battles. Running at just 85 minutes, it is the perfect choice for a quick, entertaining evening of non-stop action and jokes.

D Lost in the Green

Top celebrity names star in this tense journey about a group of hikers lost deep in the Amazon rainforest. You will be on the edge of your seat as they battle wild animals and bad weather. Just when you think you understand what is happening, the final scene changes everything!

E Operation Skyfall

Follow the world’s most famous undercover detective as he tries to stop a global disaster. The best moments happen high in the clouds, featuring breathtaking stunts on passenger jets. The film is made even better by an award-winning score from top musicians that will stay in your head for days.

F Midnight Planet

This dark, futuristic mystery takes place on a distant world where dangerous criminals rule the streets. The underground street racing is beautifully filmed, keeping your heart beating fast throughout. However, due to its frightening situations and intense violence, this is definitely an adventure intended only for older teenagers and mature adults.

G Iron Heart

Based on real events from the 1800s, this drama tells the inspiring story of a woman who led an army to victory. The leading actress gives an incredible performance. To keep things realistic, the director decided to use traditional filming methods, avoiding any computer-generated images or modern visual tricks entirely.

H The Laughing Ninja

This is one of the funniest movies of the year. It follows a terrible secret agent who uses his martial arts skills to fight bad guys without weapons. It is packed with amazing physical stunts and jokes. However, you will need a long evening, as it lasts for almost two and a half hours!

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a romantic comedy to watch.

There are descriptions of eight romantic comedy films.

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

1   Anna enjoys romantic comedies that take place in the past. She is looking for a movie with a brave, independent female main character. She also hopes the film features a soundtrack full of songs from well-known pop stars.

2   Tom and Mark want a funny love story about a wedding. They really enjoy physical comedy where people fall over or have silly accidents. They only have a short time, so the film must be under an hour and a half.

3   Elena wants a romantic comedy set in a beautiful, exotic holiday destination. She loves it when the two main characters hate each other at the beginning. She prefers films that are completely happy, without any sad scenes at all.

4   David is looking for a funny love story that happens in an office or workplace. He prefers movies that actually happened in real life. It is also important to him that the film stars highly respected, famous actors.

5   Sarah wants to watch a romantic comedy about teenagers at high school. She enjoys stories that include some magic or fantasy. Finally, she wants the film to finish in a way that she definitely will not expect.

Romantic Comedy Films

A Tropical Hearts

Take a trip to a stunning Caribbean island in this joyful movie. Two travelers are forced to share a tour bus, and they argue constantly before finally falling in love. It is a completely cheerful watch from start to finish, guaranteed to leave a smile on your face without a single tear.

B The Duke’s Secret

Travel back to the nineteenth century in this gorgeous historical romance. The heroine is a powerful, confident woman who absolutely refuses to follow the strict rules of society. While the costumes look traditional, you will be dancing along to modern chart-topping hits by today’s biggest music artists throughout the entire movie.

C Spellbound

This charming teen comedy follows two students navigating daily life and exams at their local college. However, the boy secretly possesses special powers that cause hilarious accidents in the classroom! It is a sweet, magical tale, though the final conclusion is very predictable and exactly what everyone imagines will happen.

D Coffee and Contracts

This brilliant comedy explores the developing romance between two highly competitive business managers. Unbelievably, this tale is completely based on actual events that occurred in a London bank. The cast is outstanding, featuring some of Hollywood’s most celebrated and recognizable stars delivering fantastic, award-winning performances in a hilarious professional environment.

E The Big Day

This quick, fast-paced romantic comedy runs for just eighty minutes, making it a perfect short watch. The plot centers around a stressful marriage ceremony where everything goes wrong. It relies heavily on clever, witty conversations and smart jokes between the guests, rather than any silly, physical action or clumsy behavior.

F The Love Charm

Set in an American secondary school, this film focuses on a lonely teenager who finds an ancient, mystical book. She uses spells to make the most popular boy notice her, leading to extremely amusing situations. You will never guess how this supernatural teenage romance concludes in the final amazing scene!

G Rings and Things

Lasting just one hour and twenty minutes, this movie follows a best man trying to organize the perfect marriage celebration. Unfortunately, he is incredibly clumsy, resulting in hilarious scenes of him slipping on cake and crashing into tables. It is a brilliant, action-packed comedy full of constant visual laughs.

H Office Secrets

Starring top-level Hollywood celebrities, this movie is a fantastic look at two ambitious colleagues who fall in love while designing a new software program. The actors deliver top-class performances. Although the company setting feels very realistic, this corporate romance is an entirely fictional tale created by the talented writers.

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a historical drama to watch.

There are descriptions of eight historical films and television series.

Decide which film or series would be the most suitable for the people below.

1   Sara wants to watch a series about a real king or queen. She loves seeing beautiful old clothes from the past. She wants a show with many episodes so she can watch it over several weeks.

2   Tom is looking for a fast-paced action film set in the nineteenth century. He prefers exciting fictional stories rather than documentaries or real events. He wants a movie that lasts under two hours.

3   Maria and John want an educational documentary showing how ordinary families lived their daily lives. The program must take place in the Middle Ages. They are watching with their ten-year-old daughter, so it must be suitable for young children.

4   David loves trying to solve mysteries and is looking for a historical detective movie. He wants a story that actually happened, focusing on a real crime from the past. He also enjoys films that have a very dark and frightening atmosphere.

5   Elena wants to watch a romantic story that takes place during a major historical war. She prefers beautiful-looking movies that feature well-known, famous actors in the main roles. It is very important to her that the film has a happy ending.

Historical Dramas

A The Golden Crown

Follow the fascinating life of Queen Elizabeth I in this brilliant ten-part television production. Viewers will absolutely love the incredibly detailed, handmade dresses and suits worn by the talented actors. It perfectly tells the factual history of the British royal family, making it an ideal weekly watch for anyone who loves history.

B Love in the Ruins

Set during the Second World War, this visually spectacular movie tells the tale of two young people falling in love. Starring Hollywood’s biggest names, the performances are brilliant. Despite the difficult setting of battles and danger, audiences will leave with a smile as the characters finally marry at the conclusion.

C The Great Train Robbery

This exciting, fictional adventure takes place in the 1880s. It is full of fast chases and gun fights on trains. While it is not based on facts, the action never stops. However, at three and a half hours long, you will need to dedicate your entire evening to finish it.

D Shadows of London

This terrifying film explores the foggy, dangerous streets of 1888. It follows a clever police inspector trying to catch a killer. The plot follows the actual police reports of a genuine historical murder. The scary, tense mood will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

E The Final Duel

If you want excitement, this made-up adventure set in 1840s France is perfect. Filled with sword fights and horse chases, the story moves incredibly fast. Because the running time is just ninety minutes, it is a great choice for a quick, entertaining evening of high-speed thrills and historical action.

F The King’s Choice

This amazing film shows the real events of King Henry’s court. The historical clothing is absolutely beautiful, with every piece looking exactly as it did centuries ago. Although it tells a wonderful true story about the royal family, it is a single two-hour movie, not a continuous television program.

G Life in the Castle Village

Travel back to the year 1250 in this informative factual program. Instead of kings, it explores how farmers and workers spent their days. There is no violence or scary scenes, so kids of all ages can safely learn about history. It is a fantastic educational experience for the whole house.

H The Dark Ages

This fascinating documentary takes a hard look at the reality of living in the thirteenth century. It shows the daily struggles of poor workers and local villagers. However, because it includes very realistic scenes of terrible diseases and brutal wars, it is strictly recommended for adults and older teenagers only.

Exercises:   123456