Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Beaches & Waterfront Activities

Exercises:   12345

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a beach with a sailing club.

There are descriptions of eight beaches with sailing clubs.

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

1   Jack wants to hire a small sailing vessel for the day. He is a beginner, so he needs a beach with very gentle breezes. He is only visiting once, so he doesn’t want to pay to join any club.

2   Maria is an expert sailor who owns her own equipment, so she doesn’t need to borrow a boat. She loves fast sailing in powerful winds. Maria lives locally and wants to pay for a whole year to join a club.

3   The Smith family want to learn how to sail together. They need a location with medium, safe breezes for lessons and require the club to supply small boats for them to use. They want a special club joining rate for parents and children.

4   Diego loves racing and requires a beach famous for its strong, challenging winds. Diego needs to hire a compact boat for the afternoon. He prefers to pay just for the day without signing up to become a permanent member.

5   Nina prefers a relaxing afternoon on the water with extremely calm weather. She owns a lovely little sailboat, so she brings that with her. She wants to become an official club member so she can use the facilities every weekend.

Recommended Beaches with Sailing Clubs

A Sandy Cove

Perfect for newcomers, this bay is beautifully protected from heavy weather, offering totally flat, peaceful air currents. Visitors can easily borrow one of our tiny yachts by the hour or afternoon. Anyone is welcome to sail here instantly; there is absolutely no need to sign up for an annual subscription to enjoy the water.

B Gale Point

Experienced sailors will appreciate the intense, heavy gales that hit this exposed coastline, ensuring a thrilling ride. We do not offer any vessels for hire, so everyone must bring their own equipment. Regular visitors can purchase a twelve-month pass, giving them full access to our private clubhouse and launch areas.

C Harbour Reach

With steady, manageable gusts, this location offers a perfectly balanced environment for group lessons. We provide a large fleet of compact dinghies for guests to take out on the water. We also offer fantastic twelve-month subscription packages specifically designed to cover adults and their kids at a brilliant discount.

D Whitecap Bay

If you crave intense, high-speed weather conditions, this is the ultimate destination for an exciting afternoon. We have several lightweight vessels available for visitors to borrow. You can simply turn up, pay a one-off daily fee, and hit the waves without having to commit to any long-term club contracts.

E Blue Water Haven

Known for its incredibly still, peaceful atmosphere, this beach guarantees a smooth, relaxing voyage without unexpected gusts. We have excellent storage for sailors arriving with their own personal vessels. Sailors who register for our yearly subscription get exclusive parking and continuous use of our fantastic private beach club facilities.

F Storm Beach

This location is famous for having the most powerful air currents in the region, making it an exciting spot for advanced sailors. You don’t have to register as an official user to sail here. However, we do not provide any equipment, so you must transport your own vessel to the beach.

G Pelican Bay

Enjoy our exclusive, members-only location by purchasing a year-long pass. The surrounding cliffs block the weather, providing incredibly peaceful, flat sailing conditions all year. Please note that private equipment is banned from the water; all users must borrow our professionally maintained lightweight dinghies for their afternoon on the sea.

H Sailor’s Run

We have wonderful subscription packages for households, allowing parents and children to enjoy our private facilities all year. We also supply plenty of tiny yachts for our visitors to borrow. However, be prepared for highly unpredictable, intense gales, which makes this spot entirely unsuitable for anyone looking to learn.

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a beach with cliff walks.

There are descriptions of eight coastal locations.

Decide which coastal location would be the most suitable for the people below.

1   Tomas wants to take dramatic photos of the sea from high up. He needs a café for a hot drink afterwards. He prefers walks that are mostly flat and not steep.

2   Clara loves steep, challenging paths that go up the cliffs. She wants to see interesting birds while she walks. She needs to travel there by public transport.

3   The Silva family want a safe cliff walk with barriers so the children can look down at the sea. They want a sandy beach to play on below, and free parking.

4   Marco is a geology student interested in studying the rocks on the cliffs. He wants a guided walking tour to learn more, and a place to buy a guidebook.

5   Emma wants to walk along the cliff early in the morning to watch the sunrise. She needs to rent walking boots and wants a restaurant that serves breakfast.

Coastal Locations

A Silver Edge

Get your camera ready for amazing ocean views from the top of the cliffs! The trails here are perfectly flat, making it a very easy journey without any difficult hills. After getting your perfect pictures, warm up with a delicious cup of tea or coffee at the comfortable visitor centre.

B Eagle Point

This location offers a tough climb up the rocks, perfect for those wanting a difficult hike. As you climb, look out for rare flying creatures nesting in the walls. You can leave your car at home, as local coaches stop directly at the start of the trail every hour.

C Sandy Cove

Families love this spot because the high routes have strong wooden fences, letting everyone gaze safely into the ocean. Once you finish your walk, head down to the soft sand to build castles. Drivers will be happy to know there is no charge for leaving their vehicles all day.

D Fossil Cliff

Discover the fascinating history of the stones here. An expert leader will take you along the high paths and explain how the landscape was formed over millions of years. Don’t forget to visit the small store before you leave to purchase an information manual about the local area.

E Dawn Heights

Experience the magic of the sun coming up over the ocean early in the day on our coastal paths. If you don’t have the right footwear, you can easily borrow strong shoes from the hiking centre. Afterwards, enjoy a delicious morning meal at the fantastic dining room overlooking the waves.

F Gull Rock

For a serious climbing challenge, try our high routes. You will see plenty of wildlife, including seagulls, as you hike up the side. Unfortunately, there is no public transport to this area, so visitors must arrive by car. There is also a small café at the bottom for hot drinks.

G Blackstone Edge

We offer daily walks with a local expert to help you understand the landscape. The high paths have excellent safety walls so you can gaze at the water. However, the beach below is covered in sharp stones, and the parking area requires a rather expensive ticket for the day.

H Ocean View Peak

Photographers love coming here when the sun first appears in the sky. The paths are very flat and gentle, offering clear views down to the crashing waves. Please bring your own food and drinks with you, as the nearest place to buy a meal is ten kilometres away.

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a beach for snorkeling.

There are descriptions of eight beaches.

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

1   Tomas and his young daughter want a beach with transparent water where they can look at colorful fish easily. They don’t have their own equipment and need to rent masks and tubes. It must be safe for small kids.

2   Clara loves diving around large underwater stones to find unusual sea creatures. She is traveling on a very tight budget and needs a free beach that also has cheap, local seafood restaurants within walking distance.

3   Liam is a beginner who wants snorkeling lessons in calm, wave-free waters. He wants to explore rocky areas under the sea and also hopes to buy high-quality photos of his experience from a professional photographer on-site.

4   Sophia wants to escape the crowds and find a peaceful bay. She hopes to see large marine life clearly through the bright water and needs a place where snorkeling gear is provided without an extra fee.

5   Oliver wants to explore deep underwater caves and rock formations. Because he doesn’t drive, the beach must be easy to reach by bus. He also wants to play beach volleyball with his friends afterwards.

Beaches for Snorkeling

A Blue Lagoon

This beautiful spot is perfect for families. The ocean is completely flat and shallow, making it excellent for children to paddle safely. The water is so bright that you can easily spot hundreds of bright sea creatures. A local shop right on the sand offers excellent masks and breathing tubes for daily hire.

B Stone Cove

If you enjoy swimming among huge rocks under the water, this is the place for you. There is no entry fee for this coast, making it ideal for budget travelers. Just behind the beach, there is a row of traditional cafes serving excellent, low-cost fish dishes caught fresh that morning.

C Clear Marine Park

This protected bay has no waves, which is fantastic for newcomers joining our daily snorkeling classes. Instructors will guide you around the deep stony seabed. Best of all, our on-site media team uses top-quality cameras to take amazing underwater pictures of you, which are available to purchase before you leave.

D Whisper Bay

Looking to avoid the typical tourist crowds? This quiet, silent stretch of coast is known for its incredibly clean water, allowing you to see massive fish swimming below. Visitors who book an afternoon pass receive a complete set of snorkeling gear to use for the day at absolutely no additional cost.

E Adventure Reef

Famous for its spectacular underwater stone arches and deep caves, this destination is a dream for adventurous swimmers. The local city bus stops directly outside the main entrance every twenty minutes. On the sand, you will find net facilities ready for an exciting game of volleyball with your friends.

F Sandy Shallows

The water here is completely transparent, allowing visitors to see beautiful golden fish moving across the sand. It is a very safe environment for young children because there are no deep areas. Please note that there are no shops here, so you must bring your own masks and snorkels.

G Rocky Point

Entry tickets to this private beach are quite expensive, but you can explore amazing dark stones under the waves. Visitors can also find low-cost dinners at the traditional seafood restaurants nearby. However, there are no bus routes near this area, so you will definitely need a car to get here.

H Wave Crest

We offer excellent masks for rent and fantastic training sessions with professional instructors. It is a very popular place to learn the basics of swimming with a snorkel. However, because the wind creates huge waves here, the water can become cloudy, making it difficult to see any fish clearly.

Exercises:   12345