Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Cinema & Movies 4

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a teenage coming-of-age film to watch.

There are descriptions of eight films.

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

1   Lucas loves sports and wants to watch a movie about a high school basketball or football team. He’s looking for a true story because he prefers real events. He also wants a plot that includes a serious argument between two best friends.

2   Maya has just moved to a different city and wants to see a funny comedy about someone starting at a new school. She hopes the film will make her laugh a lot and feature a soundtrack full of modern pop songs.

3   Sam enjoys movies that include a bit of magic or science fiction. He is looking for a short film, definitely under an hour and a half, that focuses on the relationship and problems between a brother and a sister.

4   Chloe wants to watch a film about teenagers travelling across the country during their summer holidays. She is not interested in high school classes. She specifically wants a story about young people experiencing their first romance and falling in love.

5   Ben plays the guitar and wants a movie about a teenage school band. He is looking for a relatable main character who overcomes shyness to become confident. He actually prefers emotional dramas with a sad ending that might make him cry.

Teenage Coming-of-Age Films

A Champions on the Court

This inspiring movie is completely based on actual events at an American college. It follows the captain of the basketball squad who has a terrible, shouting fight with his closest mate. Viewers will enjoy seeing how they fix their broken relationship while trying to win the big national tournament.

B The New Girl

Starting classes in a strange town is never easy, but this hilarious film will have you smiling from beginning to end. A teenager tries to fit in by joining the school orchestra. The jokes are brilliant, but be prepared for a soundtrack filled entirely with traditional, relaxing classical music.

C Beyond the Mirror

Running at just eighty minutes, this quick watch is perfect for a busy weekend. It is an amazing fantasy about a teenage boy and his older sister who discover a supernatural world inside their bedroom. You will be amazed by the special effects as the two relatives go on a wild adventure together.

D Finding the Rhythm

A quiet, nervous boy decides to join the college music group as their new guitar player. You will love watching him slowly find his voice and become brave on stage. However, you should keep some tissues nearby, as the final emotional scene of this powerful drama is definitely not a happy one.

E Summer Days

When the long school term finally ends, two local teenagers get jobs at the town swimming pool. They spend the whole August break together, and a beautiful, gentle romance slowly develops between them. It is a sweet love story, though the characters never actually leave their small, quiet neighborhood for an adventure.

F Fresh Start

When her family relocates to California, an awkward teenager must survive her first week at a massive college. This movie is absolutely packed with fantastic jokes and embarrassing, laugh-out-loud accidents. Even better, you will be singing along to all the latest chart-topping hits from today’s most famous pop singers.

G Winning the Race

This brilliant sports drama tells the amazing true tale of a teenage runner training for the Olympics. It clearly shows the real-life struggles he faced on the track. There is also a sweet romance with a classmate, but everyone gets along perfectly with no shouting or bad feelings at all.

H The Open Road

Instead of studying in busy classrooms, a group of friends celebrates the long August break by driving a rented van from New York to Miami. Along the exciting journey, the two main characters share their secrets and discover deep romantic feelings for each other in this beautiful, moving teenage tale.

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a fantasy book to read.

There are descriptions of eight fantasy books.

Decide which fantasy book would be the most suitable for the people below.

1   Leo wants to read a fantasy book about dragons. He prefers stories where the hero is a normal school boy who suddenly gets magical abilities. He only wants a single book, not part of a long series.

2   Maya is looking for a fantasy story taking place in a completely invented universe with its own map. She wants the main hero to be a strong female fighter. She also loves books that contain beautiful, detailed drawings.

3   Sam and Alex want a funny fantasy story that will make them laugh. They enjoy plots where characters travel back in time to the past. They need something they can listen to on their headphones during a long journey.

4   Chloe loves dark, frightening atmospheres and is looking for a scary fantasy tale. She wants the plot to focus on an academy where students learn spells. She only reads novels written by very famous, well-known authors.

5   Ben wants a fantasy novel inspired by traditional fairy tales like Snow White. He hopes to find a story with a strong romantic relationship. He is quite busy, so he needs a short book under two hundred pages.

Fantasy Adventure Books

A Queen of Blades

Set in a spectacularly detailed, completely fake universe with its own unique geography and maps, this epic tale follows a fearless female soldier leading her army into dangerous battles. The text is incredibly descriptive. However, there are absolutely no pictures included, allowing your brain to vividly imagine everything instead.

B Shadow Academy

Penned by an international bestselling writer with millions of fans, this creepy thriller will definitely keep you awake at night. The terrifying plot centres on a hidden college where teenagers go to study ancient curses and potions. It is a wonderfully frightening experience for anyone brave enough to turn the pages.

C The Clockwork Crown

If you want to laugh out loud, this hilarious comedy is absolutely perfect. The extremely funny characters find a magical watch that sends them back to the nineteenth century. Unfortunately, there is no spoken audio version produced yet, so you will definitely need to buy the heavy printed paper copy.

D The Fire Mountain

Follow a regular teenager who unexpectedly develops incredible spell-casting talents. He must use his new skills to train huge, fire-breathing flying reptiles. Unlike many modern publications that stretch across multiple volumes, this thrilling adventure finishes completely in just one single edition, making it a brilliant, satisfying escape for readers.

E Glass Shoes

Based heavily on classic bedtime stories you knew as a kid, this beautiful narrative focuses on two enemies slowly falling in love. It is wonderfully written and, because it is extremely brief at just a hundred and fifty pages, you can easily finish it in a single afternoon on the sofa.

F The Crystal Sword

Step into an entirely original realm! The opening pages feature a brilliant geographic guide showing these imaginary lands. The plot follows a brave young woman fighting her enemies with incredible sword skills. Throughout the chapters, readers will discover gorgeous black-and-white artwork bringing her spectacular, action-packed journey to life perfectly.

G The Dragon’s Cave

This fantastic standalone novel finishes all its thrilling action in just one single book. It features terrifying flying beasts breathing fire across the land. However, the main character is an adult, highly experienced military commander who has spent twenty years preparing for this exact dangerous mission to save his kingdom.

H Yesterday’s Wizard

This hilarious adventure is packed with brilliant jokes from start to finish. The heroes accidentally transport themselves hundreds of years into history, meeting bizarre kings and queens. It is currently only available as a downloaded voice recording, performed by brilliant actors, which is perfect for enjoying on the bus.

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a biographical movie (biopic) to watch.

There are descriptions of eight biographical films.

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

1   George wants to watch a film about a famous musician. He prefers inspiring stories where characters overcome difficult times, and it is important to him that the movie is completely factually accurate.

2   Elena wants to find a biopic about a well-known scientist. She prefers a funny, light-hearted movie rather than a serious drama. Because she has plans later, the film must be under ninety minutes long.

3   Tariq is looking for a movie about a legendary athlete to watch with his twelve-year-old son, so it must be family-friendly. He wants a true story that includes real video clips of the person at the end.

4   Sophie wants to watch a drama about a powerful historical king or queen. She enjoys stories centered on a deep romance and prefers highly praised films that have won prizes for their beautiful historical clothes.

5   Kenji wants a film describing the life of a famous painter. He loves movies that feature a brilliant musical soundtrack and wants to see the beautiful countryside locations that inspired the artist’s work.

Biographical Films

A The Piano’s Voice

This moving film follows a popular songwriter’s rise to global success. It is a highly motivating tale showing how he managed to beat tough challenges and personal hardships. Based strictly on his actual childhood diaries, the directors avoided adding any fiction, ensuring every single scene is completely true to real historical events.

B Chasing Stars

This cheerful film tells the story of a brilliant woman who changed modern chemistry. Instead of a heavy drama, it is a humorous story full of jokes and amusing situations that will make you laugh. Best of all, it keeps you entertained without being long, lasting just eighty minutes from start to finish.

C The Golden Goal

This exciting picture tells the true life story of a legendary football champion. It contains no bad language or violence, making it perfect for parents and kids to watch together. Audiences will especially love the original recordings of the actual sports star that play right before the final credits.

D The Royal Heart

Set in the eighteenth century, this beautiful drama focuses on a young queen who falls deeply in love with her guard. The powerful relationship is the center of the film. It recently took home several international trophies, specifically praising the actors’ performances and the magnificent dresses worn on screen.

E Colors of the Valley

Discover the life of a brilliant French illustrator in this peaceful movie. It wonderfully showcases the gorgeous natural scenery and green valleys where he created his masterpieces. The entire story is accompanied by a memorable background music score composed by a famous orchestra, making it a treat for both eyes and ears.

F Master of Light

This film focuses on a famous Spanish painter who moved to a dark, crowded city to find fame. It is an inspiring story of a man working hard to achieve his dreams. While the film features a wonderful musical soundtrack, the entire plot takes place inside small rooms, with no outdoor scenes.

G The Final Equation

This short film looks at the life of a famous mathematics expert. Lasting just over an hour, it fits easily into a busy schedule. However, be prepared for a very serious and sad drama about the difficulties of his later years. There are absolutely no funny moments or jokes in this tragic story.

H Running Fast

This delightful film brings the life of a top tennis star to the screen. It is an excellent choice for families with young children because the story is happy and clean. The movie ends with written text explaining what happened next, though sadly no real footage of the player was ever found.

Exercises:   123456