Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Buying Books, Non-Fiction & Gifts 2

Exercises:   12345

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a popular science book about space and physics.

There are descriptions of eight science books.

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

1   Leo loves history and wants a book about the history of space exploration. He prefers simple explanations without complex math or equations. He has a busy schedule, so he needs a book with short, quick chapters.

2   Elena wants to learn more about the planets in our solar system. She prefers an engaging and funny writing style rather than a serious textbook. She also looks for a book that includes colorful pictures and diagrams.

3   Sam is fascinated by the secrets of the universe and quantum physics but needs it explained simply. He likes books that use everyday examples to explain ideas. He is on a tight budget and wants something cheap.

4   Mia wants a book that focuses on the lives of famous scientists who studied space. She is interested in black holes but doesn’t want any difficult math. She travels a lot and needs a book with an audio version.

5   Oliver wants to read about future human life on other planets. He prefers an interactive book that includes fun science quizzes to test his knowledge. He also wants a book written by a popular television scientist.

Popular Science Books

A Beyond the Clouds

This exciting book tracks the timeline of human rocket travel from the 1950s to today. The author explains rocket science using clear, basic English, completely avoiding difficult calculations. Best of all, it is divided into two-page sections, making it perfect for readers who only have a few minutes to spare each day.

B Our Cosmic Neighbors

Discover the wonders of the worlds moving around our sun. The author uses brilliant comedy and entertaining stories to make physics fun, ensuring you will laugh while learning. The book is filled with beautiful, bright photographs and helpful visual charts that bring the amazing landscapes of distant planets to life.

C The Simple Cosmos

Understanding the deepest rules of reality has never been easier. This brilliant guide explains the universe and quantum ideas by comparing them to ordinary household objects and daily routines. It contains no difficult mathematics and is currently on sale online for a very low price, making it an excellent bargain.

D Masters of the Dark

Read the fascinating life stories of the brilliant minds who changed how we view deep space. The book explores the mysteries of black holes through clear descriptions instead of complex equations. It is perfect for people on the move, as you can also download the full spoken word recording to listen anywhere.

E Tomorrow’s Stars

Written by the nation’s favorite documentary presenter, this book looks at how humans might build cities on Mars. It keeps readers involved by including fantastic science puzzles and short tests at the end of each part. It is an engaging look at what lies ahead for our species in the stars.

F The Space Age

This detailed book covers the full history of the global race to the moon. It features very short chapters that are easy to read quickly. However, the author includes many complex mathematical formulas and advanced physics equations, which might be difficult for readers who prefer simple, basic text descriptions.

G The Planet Guide

Join a famous television science host on a journey through our solar system. The writing is incredibly amusing and full of jokes, making advanced physics easy to understand. While the text is highly entertaining, note that this book contains no pictures, illustrations, or interactive games, focusing purely on the written word.

H Quantum Secrets

This book offers an amazing introduction to the rules of the universe. It uses simple language and creative analogies from everyday life, so you do not need a background in science. While it is highly recommended by teachers, the high price tag means it may not suit readers looking for a cheap option.

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a self-help or psychology book.

There are descriptions of eight books.

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

1   Anna wants to feel braver when speaking in office meetings. She spends a lot of time driving, so she prefers listening to an audio recording. She is looking for a guide that includes quick tasks she can practice every day.

2   Tom is a sixteen-year-old student who wants to learn how to relax and stop worrying about his exams. He hopes to find a book that shares true stories from the writer’s own life, specifically aimed at people his age.

3   Maria and John want to help their young kids believe in themselves more. They are looking for a physical paper book to read at bedtime. It is very important that the pages contain beautiful, colourful drawings to keep the children interested.

4   David is fascinated by the detailed science explaining exactly how the human brain creates thoughts. He wants a very long, detailed textbook written by an experienced medical professional. He has a whole month off work to read it.

5   Elena often gets frustrated at home and wants to learn how to stay calm. She enjoys writers who use comedy and make her laugh. She needs a digital file she can instantly download to read on her electronic tablet.

Self-Help and Psychology Books

A Speak Up, Stand Tall

If you feel extremely nervous during business presentations, this brilliant spoken recording is absolutely perfect for you. Simply play it through your car speakers and learn how to be bold. Every chapter finishes with a brief, five-minute activity to complete before tomorrow, helping you steadily build your professional self-belief.

B Smiling Through the Mess

Learn to control your temper around the house with this hilarious guide. The author shares brilliant jokes while teaching you exactly how to stay peaceful. Best of all, there is no need to wait for delivery; simply save the text directly to your screen right now and start smiling today.

C The Relaxed Student

This fantastic physical paper guide is written exactly for young adults taking their final school tests. It teaches excellent methods to stop panicking and stay calm. However, it only contains scientific facts and medical advice, completely avoiding any personal experiences or details about the writer’s own historical background and childhood.

D Mapping the Mind

Penned by a highly qualified hospital psychiatrist, this fascinating masterpiece deeply explores the biology of why we feel and behave the way we do. With over seven hundred pages of heavy information, it will definitely take you several weeks to successfully finish studying this incredibly detailed and thick printed volume.

E The Brave Little Bear

Help your little ones discover their inner courage with this gorgeous bedtime story. Tucked inside the thick paper covers are dozens of spectacular, brightly painted images that will completely capture their imagination. It is a truly wonderful physical object to hold and share together before they finally go to sleep.

F Laughing at Life

If you frequently lose your temper with your family, this amusing paperback is exactly what you need. Packed with brilliant comedy and jokes, it proves that staying calm can be highly entertaining. Because it is a heavy printed edition, you must order it online and wait patiently for the postman.

G The Thinking Machine

This massive, eight-hundred-page digital file is a fantastic deep dive into human psychology and memory. It carefully explains the complex biology of the brain. Interestingly, the writer is actually a famous television actor rather than a trained medical professional or scientist, making the difficult information surprisingly easy to grasp.

H Surviving the School Years

Aimed directly at high school pupils dealing with the extreme pressure of getting good grades, this brilliant paperback offers excellent relaxation techniques. The best parts are the completely honest, fascinating chapters where the author bravely describes his own terrible mistakes and experiences growing up, proving that nobody is absolutely perfect.

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a history reference book.

There are descriptions of eight history books.

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

1   Lucas needs a book focusing on Ancient Egypt to prepare for his upcoming class presentation. He wants something that provides a clear step-by-step layout of historical dates and events to make structuring his slides easier.

2   Sophia wants to study the major events of the 20th century for her history homework. She has a very limited budget, so she needs an inexpensive guide that also provides creative ideas for school assignments.

3   Noah is looking for a digital e-book about knights and the Middle Ages. He prefers books that display history as a visual calendar of events, helping him track how different kingdoms rose and fell over time.

4   Mia needs a history reference book about the 15th-century Renaissance to help with her end-of-year essay. She wants a high-quality hardback copy that she can keep on her bedroom shelf after finishing her studies.

5   Oliver is fascinated by prehistoric times and early humans. He wants a guide containing a chronological list of key discoveries, and it must include a special password to access extra learning games on a website.

History Reference Books

A Pharaohs and Pyramids

This guide explores the wonders of the Nile and the age of the pyramids. It is an excellent resource for students organizing talks or classroom displays. Readers will value the long time track that carefully records every major king’s rule in order of year, making it simple to follow.

B The Modern World

This volume covers the global conflicts and changing societies of the nineteen-hundreds. It is packed with expert guidance for achieving high grades in school projects. Best of all, the paperback is currently selling at a special low price, making it highly affordable for students on a budget.

C Age of Castles

Journey back to medieval times to discover the daily lives of warriors and kings. This electronic version can be downloaded directly to your tablet or reading screen. The book layouts use a brilliant visual time chart, allowing readers to track important events year by year through history.

D A New Birth of Art

This beautifully written book covers the cultural changes of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. It is an essential tool for creating detailed end-of-term essays and reports. The publishers only produce this work as a solid hardback book, ensuring it remains in perfect condition on your bookshelf.

E Before History

This reference book describes the world of dinosaurs and the earliest human tribes. All major developments are arranged in a chronological list to help you see what happened first. Every copy contains a special digital link to access fun educational games on our study website.

F Secrets of the Nile

Discover how old monuments were built in Ancient Egypt. This textbook is incredibly helpful for kids preparing individual classroom talks. However, the chapters are arranged by topic rather than by date, so there are no time charts or lists of years included in this deep study.

G Knights and Shields

This brilliant electronic text can be read easily on any laptop or smartphone screen. It features exciting stories about medieval kingdoms and armor. Although it is perfect for casual reading, it does not contain any chronological calendars, lists of dates, or school assignment support.

H Recent Decades

This interesting guide outlines the major political shifts and international events of the twentieth century. It is currently being sold at a very cheap, reduced price. However, it is written strictly for adult researchers and doesn’t offer any homework help or ideas for class assignments.

Exercises:   12345