Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Animations & Family Entertainment 2

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find an educational family film to watch.

There are descriptions of eight educational films and series.

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

1   Sarah and her children want to learn about ocean life. They are looking for a funny comedy that will make them laugh. They also want a film where the characters are voiced by very famous actors.

2   The Martinez family wants to learn about space and the planets. They only have a little time, so the film must be under an hour. They also want something that includes a fun quiz at the end.

3   Leo wants to learn about ancient history, specifically the Romans. He prefers true stories about real historical people. He is watching with his young five-year-old sister, so the film must be completely safe for small kids.

4   The Clark family wants an educational film explaining how modern machines are built. They love exciting action movies. They also strongly prefer watching real people on screen rather than cartoons or animated drawings.

5   Mia wants to improve her geography by learning about different countries. She hopes to find something with lots of catchy songs to sing along to. She prefers a television series with lots of short episodes rather than a long movie.

Educational Family Films

A Deep Blue Smiles

Discover the secrets of the sea in this hilarious animated adventure. Your whole house will giggle as they explore the underwater world. The fish and whales are brought to life by Hollywood’s biggest international stars, making it a brilliant, entertaining way to discover marine biology and have fun together.

B Journey to Mars

This fantastic documentary teaches audiences everything about our solar system. You will travel to distant stars and answer interactive questions on your screen to test your memory. However, with a running time of over two hours, you will definitely need a long, free evening to finish this amazing educational trip.

C Engine Heroes

Fast cars and incredible stunts make this thrilling film impossible to turn off. Using strictly human actors and no computer cartoons, it tells the exciting story of how everyday technology is constructed. It moves quickly, combining high-speed chases with fascinating engineering facts for the whole household to enjoy.

D The Emperor’s Sword

Follow the factual life of Julius Caesar in this historically accurate masterpiece. Based completely on genuine events, it is an amazing way to experience ancient times. However, because it contains several frightening battle scenes and realistic sword fights, it is strictly recommended for adults and older teenagers only.

E Singing Around the Globe

Pack your bags for a musical journey across the world! This fantastic television program teaches viewers about foreign cultures and maps through incredibly catchy tunes. Instead of a single long movie, it is split into twenty quick, ten-minute parts, making it perfect for fun, educational daily viewing.

F Star Explorers

Jump into a rocket and learn all about the galaxy! This fantastic space adventure is exactly forty-five minutes long, making it absolutely perfect for busy evenings. Best of all, it finishes with a fantastic interactive game where viewers must remember the facts they just watched to win points.

G A Boy in Rome

Discover what life was really like centuries ago in this gentle, educational tale. It follows the documented, factual childhood of a famous historical leader. With absolutely no scary moments or fighting, it provides a perfectly safe and highly informative ancient experience for even the youngest preschool children.

H Planet Earth Mysteries

This incredible documentary series takes you to different continents to understand global environments. Across twelve amazing, short episodes, knowledgeable presenters share serious, detailed information about our world. There are no silly jokes or pop songs here, just beautiful, quiet photography and brilliant geographical facts about nature.

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a fairy tale film to watch.

There are descriptions of eight fairy tale adaptations.

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

1   Clara is looking for an animated film with plenty of magic. She wants a movie that takes a classic fairy tale and tells it from the bad character’s point of view instead of the hero’s.

2   Tom wants to watch a funny movie about brave knights and sword fights. He is watching it with his little sister, so the film must be a comedy that avoids any dark or frightening scenes.

3   Yusuf enjoys stories about royal princesses but prefers them to be set in the modern world rather than the past. He also loves musicals and wants a film where the characters sing lots of songs.

4   Mia wants to see a live-action film with real actors, not a cartoon. She hopes to watch a traditional fairy tale that doesn’t change the original story too much, and it must focus heavily on a beautiful romance.

5   Omar loves fast-paced action and wants a movie where a princess fights her own battles instead of waiting to be rescued. He prefers films with a very dark, mysterious atmosphere rather than bright and cheerful ones.

Fairy Tale Adaptations

A The Witch’s Secret

This beautifully drawn cartoon changes everything you know about the famous Sleeping Beauty legend. Instead of the royal family, the main character is the wicked witch! Discover her side of the events in a fantastic, colourful world completely filled with powerful spells and incredible flying creatures. You will love it!

B The Glass Slipper

Starring some of Hollywood’s best human performers, this gorgeous movie brings Cinderella to life without altering the beloved old book. The directors kept the plot exactly the same, creating a deeply emotional tale about true love. Fans of classic, heart-warming relationships will definitely adore this stunning, traditional cinematic experience.

C Sir Laugh-a-Lot

If you want a hilarious adventure, join this silly soldier in heavy armour as he tries to save the kingdom. Packed with highly amusing sword battles, this movie guarantees non-stop giggles. It is completely safe for all ages, with zero monsters or terrifying moments, making it perfect for your youngest family members.

D Shadows of the Queen

See the Snow White legend through the eyes of the evil stepmother in this brilliant live-action drama. Human actors deliver amazing performances as they use dark sorcery and hidden powers. It is a fascinating look at a famous bad guy, but it is definitely too frightening for younger viewers.

E Crown in the City

What happens when a future queen is magically transported to the busy streets of present-day New York? This delightful movie answers that question! There are no castles here, just skyscrapers. Audiences will especially enjoy the incredible pop tracks, as the royal heroine performs catchy tunes throughout her urban journey.

F Royal Agent

This thrilling film follows a tough royal girl who leaves her palace to fight crime in the modern streets of London. She uses advanced technology and her own fists to defeat enemies. It is a bright, fast-paced action movie, though it doesn’t feature any music or traditional magical spells.

G The Warrior Heir

In this gloomy, shadow-filled movie, the heir to the throne doesn’t need a knight to protect her. She picks up a weapon and faces dangerous enemies herself! It is a thrilling, fast-moving adventure set in a deeply moody and creepy environment. Expect intense battles rather than happily-ever-after moments.

H The Dragon’s Cave

This terrifying horror film follows a group of heavily armed horsemen fighting their way through a monster’s lair. While the sword combat is absolutely brilliant, the frightening creatures and gloomy, scary atmosphere make it suitable only for older teens. There is absolutely nothing funny about this intense survival story!

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find an interactive movie experience.

There are descriptions of eight interactive movies.

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

1   Jack loves scary horror films. He wants an interactive experience where he can use a mobile app to vote on what the characters do next. He also prefers watching the film with a large crowd in a real cinema.

2   Emily enjoys romantic love stories. She wants an interactive movie she can watch comfortably at home on her own television. She also likes to re-watch stories multiple times so she can discover every possible different ending.

3   The Harris family wants an educational documentary about nature. They are looking for a short film lasting less than forty-five minutes. They want an interactive screen where they can click on animals to read extra facts.

4   Sofia is looking for a fast-paced police action movie. She wants to use a Virtual Reality headset to feel fully immersed. She also wants to switch cameras to experience the story from different characters’ points of view.

5   Marcus wants to watch a funny comedy on his video game console. He wants to play online with his friends so they can talk and make decisions together about what the characters will do next.

Interactive Movies

A Nightmare Manor

Experience a terrifying ghost story on the big screen! At our city theatre, you and hundreds of other viewers decide who survives. Just download our special software to your smartphone before the show begins and select the victims. It is a shared, frightening adventure you will definitely never forget!

B The Clumsy Chef

Have a great laugh with this hilarious interactive story! Designed specifically for your home gaming system, you and your mates can connect over the internet. You will need to work as a team to choose the right ingredients and help the chef avoid disaster. It is packed with silly jokes!

C Escape the Dark

This terrifying digital experience puts you inside a haunted house. Using your personal 3D goggles, you can look around every dark room as if you are really there. You must make decisions using a controller to survive. It is a fantastic solo adventure to enjoy quietly in your own bedroom.

D City Chase

Put on your 3D goggles and step into the middle of a thrilling bank robbery! You can jump between different cameras to see the crime through the eyes of the criminals or the officers. This high-speed adventure makes you feel like you are actually driving the fast police cars.

E Summer Hearts

This beautiful love story changes every night! Shown exclusively at our downtown movie theatre, the crowd presses buttons on their seats to guide the couple’s relationship. With over twenty possible conclusions, many fans buy tickets to see it again and again. It is a wonderful group experience for romantic couples.

F A Paris Promise

Enjoy a beautiful, interactive love story without leaving your comfortable sofa! Available to stream directly to your living room screen, this emotional journey lets you guide the main characters’ relationship. With over thirty different possible conclusions, you will want to play it again and again to discover every single path.

G Wild Oceans

Dive under the sea with this fantastic educational program. Running for just half an hour, it is perfect for viewers who do not have much time. Using your remote, you can select different fish and dolphins on the screen to open informative pop-ups containing fascinating details about marine wildlife.

H The Amazon Explorer

This incredible documentary about the rainforest lets you change your camera angle at any time. Watch the birds from above or follow the monkeys through the trees! It is a brilliant way to learn about the environment, though you will need a whole afternoon for this massive two-hour journey.

Exercises:   123456