Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Cinema & Movies 2

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a science fiction film to watch at the cinema.

There are descriptions of eight science fiction films.

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

1   Mark wants to watch a movie about a journey through space where people discover new alien life. He is going to the cinema with his ten-year-old daughter, so he needs a film that is suitable for younger viewers.

2   Sarah loves fast-paced action and wants to see a film full of exciting battles and explosions. She is particularly interested in movies showing advanced future technology, and she expects the main character to be played by a well-known Hollywood star.

3   David and Leo are looking for a mystery movie where aliens secretly live on Earth. They prefer clever thrillers that make them think. Because they are busy tonight, the film must finish in under two hours.

4   Anna enjoys emotional stories and is looking for a romantic movie set in a science-fiction world. She is fascinated by time-travel technology. She only watches high-quality films that have recently won prizes for their brilliant acting or directing.

5   Tom prefers movies about humans exploring the solar system that look highly realistic. He studies science, so the space travel must be believable. He also wants a movie featuring an amazing soundtrack composed by top musicians.

Science Fiction Blockbusters

A The Silver Galaxy

Join a brave crew as they fly their starship across the universe to meet strange, funny creatures from other worlds. This delightful adventure avoids frightening scenes or violence, making it the perfect weekend treat for parents and children to share. Everyone will leave the cinema smiling from beginning to end!

B Yesterday’s Tomorrow

Recently taking home the gold trophy for Best Picture, this breathtaking masterpiece follows two scientists who use a special machine to jump between decades. During their timeline-hopping journey, they fall deeply in love. It is a beautiful, emotional tale that will completely capture your heart and leave you in tears.

C Hidden Among Us

Do you suspect your neighbour is from another planet? This tense detective story investigates visitors from space secretly hiding in modern cities. The clever puzzles will keep you guessing right up to the end of its epic three-hour runtime. Grab some popcorn and prepare for a very long, exciting night!

D Cyber Strike

Get ready for non-stop thrills! Starring the legendary Hollywood hero Jason Vance, this movie is packed with massive explosions and intense laser fights. You will be amazed by the incredible weapons and flying cars used in the year 2150. It is a fast, loud, and visually stunning cinematic experience.

E Mars Magic

This movie takes you on a fun, magical trip to the red planet, complete with dancing aliens and wizards! It ignores the laws of physics, focusing instead on pure comedy. The background music, played by a famous symphony orchestra, is absolutely stunning, but do not expect any educational value.

F The Silent Invasion

In just ninety minutes, this fast-paced thriller will have you on the edge of your seat. A detective discovers that extra-terrestrials have crash-landed and are disguising themselves as humans in London. It is a brilliant, suspenseful puzzle that asks you to figure out who is human and who isn’t.

G Neon Dreams

Featuring Hollywood favourite Emma Stone, this quiet drama explores a future where people use advanced computer chips to share dreams. While it showcases amazing futuristic devices, the story is very slow and peaceful, with absolutely no fighting or loud noises. It is a gentle look at human connection and society.

H Voyage to Saturn

This stunning film shows astronauts travelling to the outer planets. Every detail is based on true facts, with rockets and equipment designed by actual scientists to look completely believable. Accompanied by an unforgettable, brilliant musical score, it feels like you are really out there. A must-see for serious astronomy fans.

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a psychological thriller to watch.

There are descriptions of eight movies.

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

1   Lucas wants to watch a suspenseful thriller based on real events. He prefers stories set in a completely remote area, far away from other people. He is particularly interested in characters who have lost their memories and cannot remember their past.

2   Elena enjoys scary thrillers that involve ghosts or supernatural events. She loves trying to guess the mystery, so a completely shocking conclusion is essential. She prefers the story to happen in a high school or university setting with young students.

3   Marcus and Tom want a highly suspenseful movie that takes place entirely inside a single, locked room. They strongly dislike physical violence, preferring clever psychological mind games instead. Because they are busy, the film must be shorter than 100 minutes.

4   Sarah loves mysterious plots where a clever police detective has to solve a complicated crime. She wants to watch a movie set in the distant past, like the nineteenth century. She also insists on watching it in traditional black and white.

5   Jin is looking for a mysterious plot about the dangers of modern technology and the internet. He wants a slow-paced movie where the tension builds up gradually. He prefers watching foreign films with subtitles rather than movies in his native language.

Psychological Thrillers

A Cold Minds

This terrifying drama tells the actual events of a hiker trapped in a freezing, empty mountain cabin. After an accident, the main character wakes up with no idea who he is or how he got there. It is a fantastic, tense journey as he slowly discovers his own dangerous history.

B The Empty Desk

Set in an old college, this scary film follows teenagers dealing with strange, invisible spirits in the classrooms. As the students investigate the dark history of their teachers, the tension grows. You will never guess the final moments, as the unbelievable truth completely changes everything you thought you knew.

C Forgotten Island

A police officer travels to a lonely island to investigate a crime, only to realise she is forgetting her own name. While it feels incredibly realistic, this modern-day mystery is completely invented. It is full of suspense, though it lacks the old-fashioned, colourless style that many traditional mystery fans prefer.

D The Elevator

Two strangers are trapped together in a broken lift. For just 85 minutes, you will watch them try to trick each other using only their words and intelligence. There is absolutely no fighting or blood, but the incredible tension between the characters will keep you completely glued to the screen.

E Shadows of 1890

Travel back to the late nineteenth century in this classic thriller. An intelligent inspector searches for answers in the dark streets of London. Filmed without any colour, the lack of modern visuals makes the shadows seem even scarier as the complicated puzzle is slowly put together by the clever hero.

F System Failure

This American thriller shows what happens when your smart home turns against you. The computer controls lock the doors and start playing terrifying games. The action is extremely fast from the very first second, and you won’t need to read any translations to understand the horror of this digital nightmare.

G The Screen

In this brilliant Japanese production, a young woman downloads a strange app that starts predicting her future. You must read the English text at the bottom of the screen to follow the story. The fear increases very patiently step-by-step, taking its time before delivering a truly 

frightening digital experience.

H Final Exam

Students at a famous university wake up to find themselves locked in a library. They must solve a series of real-world puzzles to escape. The conclusion is absolutely shocking and impossible to predict. However, everything that happens is created by humans, with no magical or scary spirits involved at all.

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a detective or crime movie to watch.

There are descriptions of eight films.

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

1   Mark is fascinated by real-life police investigations. He is looking for a movie that actually happened. He plans to watch it with his younger teenage brother, so it must not contain any extremely frightening or violent scenes.

2   Sarah loves movies where she can try solving puzzles and cracking codes before the characters do. She prefers stories that take place over a hundred years ago. She only has time for a short film, under an hour and a half.

3   Leo wants a suspenseful movie that keeps him guessing with an unpredictable ending. He prefers stories where the main characters are ordinary citizens, not professional police officers. He also loves films set in beautiful, natural environments like forests or mountains.

4   David enjoys crime movies that are full of comedy and make him laugh. He is looking for a fast-paced story with plenty of car chases and action. He wants a film that is set in a modern, busy city.

5   Elena is looking for a classic mystery where a highly experienced detective interviews suspects in a single location, like a large hotel. She wants a serious drama with lots of interesting conversations, rather than physical action or silly jokes.

Detective and Crime Movies

A The London Case

Follow a team of hardworking officers as they track down a thief in this brilliant drama. Based entirely on real events from the past, it gives a detailed look at daily police work. It is rated safe for all ages, making it a great choice for family viewing.

B The Midnight Code

A brilliant professor finds a secret message and must crack complex symbols to stop a bank robbery. You will enjoy working out the answers alongside the hero! This nineteenth-century mystery is wonderfully designed, but at two hours and twenty minutes, it requires a very long evening to sit and finish.

C Shadows of 1890

Set in the late nineteenth century, this clever tale follows a journalist hunting for a stolen diamond. Viewers are given hidden messages on the screen to figure out for themselves! Running at just eighty minutes, it perfectly fits into a busy schedule while still delivering a highly satisfying and complete mystery.

D The Silent Lake

When a group of friends goes camping in the wild woods, they discover a strange bag. These average workers must survive a stressful situation. The extreme tension builds up to a final scene that will completely shock you, and there isn’t a single cop in sight anywhere. It’s a great thriller.

E City Heist

This exciting adventure features spectacular driving stunts and big crashes on the busy streets of present-day New York. A group of thieves tries to steal a famous painting. It is incredibly thrilling, but the atmosphere is very dark and serious from beginning to end, without any humorous jokes. It’s a gritty ride.

F Downtown Detectives

Two extremely funny, but clumsy, private eyes try to stop a crime ring in present-day Tokyo. It is packed with high-speed driving scenes and thrilling physical stunts through crowded streets. The hilarious dialogue and silly situations will keep you smiling from start to finish throughout this fantastic urban adventure.

G Dinner with Danger

An older, brilliant investigator must find a criminal during a terrible snowstorm. Because nobody can leave the wealthy family’s huge mansion, he spends the entire movie questioning the guests. It is an intelligent, completely serious film that relies entirely on brilliant acting and clever words instead of fighting or running.

H True Crime Stories

This documentary-style film explores a famous real bank robbery that happened in Texas. You will see exactly how the local officers solved the case using modern technology. However, parents should be warned that it contains several frightening and highly violent moments that are absolutely not suitable for younger viewers.

Exercises:   123456