Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Watching Sports Events

Exercises:   12345

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a beach volleyball competition to watch.

There are descriptions of eight beach volleyball events.

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

1   Leo wants to watch a tournament during his August holiday. He has no money to spend on entry fees, so it must cost nothing. He also plans to bring his own homemade sandwiches to enjoy on the sand.

2   Maya is looking for a competition to watch in December. She prefers locations that do not charge for entry. She loves a strong, cooling breeze and has no plans to sit and eat outside during the matches.

3   The Chen family want to see a match this July. They are happy to purchase tickets for a special viewing area. They also want a completely still, peaceful spot to set out their large family picnic.

4   Sam wants to see athletes play during the hot summer months. He needs a public spot where anyone can watch without paying. He dislikes eating outdoors and specifically wants a beach with a heavy, continuous breeze.

5   Chloe wants to attend an event in the cool spring season. She doesn’t mind buying an expensive pass to get in. She also wants to relax and eat the lunch she packed from home on the beach.

Beach Volleyball Competitions

A Sunny Bay Sands

This beautiful coastal area hosts fantastic volleyball games exclusively during the warmest months of the year. There is absolutely no charge for anyone to stand and cheer for the players. The air is always wonderfully still and flat here, making it the perfect environment to unpack your own snacks and relax.

B Ocean Breeze Point

You can watch amazing volleyball matches here throughout the entire year, even during the coldest seasons! It is a completely open city location, so visitors never need a ticket. Be prepared for very heavy air currents, though; the blowing sand means trying to unpack your own meals is a terrible idea.

C Royal Palm Beach

Available only from June to August, this private coastal club hosts spectacular volleyball tournaments. Visitors must purchase a daily pass to enter the premium viewing zones. Protected by high walls, the weather is incredibly peaceful with no moving air, so it is highly recommended to bring your own outdoor lunch.

D Silver Wave Coast

This destination is famous for hosting thrilling volleyball competitions, but they only take place during the main summer holidays. Anyone can walk onto the sand and enjoy the action completely free of charge. However, the constant, powerful gusts make it totally impossible to sit down and enjoy a meal outside.

E Golden Sands Club

We host professional volleyball tournaments twelve months a year! Because this is a private luxury resort, spectators must buy an entry band at the gate. The beach is wonderfully protected from the weather, providing a completely flat, quiet atmosphere where you can comfortably eat the snacks you brought from home.

F Diamond Beach Arena

Come and see the best volleyball players during our special mid-year summer festival! To access the beach stadium, all guests are required to pay an entrance fee online. Because the seaside area is famous for its strong, wild storms, leaving your own food at home is definitely a very smart choice.

G High Cliff Shores

Professional athletes play volleyball on this beautiful sand in every single season. It is an exclusive, enclosed area, meaning spectators must always pay for admission. The coast faces the open ocean, creating incredibly strong gusts of air that will easily blow away any outdoor meals you try to unpack.

H Whispering Cove

Volleyball fans can enjoy local competitions here from January all the way through to December. The local council keeps this beach open to everyone without any cost. Thanks to the surrounding trees, the air is perfectly calm, creating an excellent spot to sit and eat your own prepared dishes.

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a rugby match to attend.

There are descriptions of eight rugby stadiums.

Decide which rugby stadium would be the most suitable for the people below.

1   Liam is taking his young son to a game in January. He wants a polite, respectful crowd so his son feels safe. He also wants a ticket that includes a hot meal.

2   Sara has a bad leg, so she needs to remain in her chair for the whole game. She wants to buy a souvenir top, and needs the stadium to be very close to a train station.

3   Julian wants to see teams from different countries play. He hates bad behaviour, so he needs a friendly, calm atmosphere. He prefers a stadium where everyone remains in their chairs instead of blocking the view.

4   Emma loves the freezing cold weather and wants to watch a snowy match. She is driving and needs to leave her car without paying. After the game, she hopes to get an autograph from her heroes.

5   Toby is at university and has very little money, so he needs a discounted price. He prefers watching matches in the freezing cold, but he must have a comfortable chair to sit on throughout the event.

Rugby Stadiums

A Frost Park Stadium

Experience the excitement of rugby in the freezing snow! Our supporters are famous for being incredibly friendly and respectful, making it a perfectly safe environment for families. Better yet, your entrance pass covers a delicious, warm lunch served in our dining room before the exciting sports action finally kicks off!

B The Metro Arena

You can easily leave the car at home, as the railway platforms are just outside our main gates. Fans must rest in their comfortable chairs during the action, ensuring everyone gets a relaxing view. Don’t forget to visit our massive shop to purchase your official club clothing before leaving!

C Global Sports Ground

Watch the world’s best athletes compete as top nations visit our fantastic stadium. We pride ourselves on our calm, polite fans, so you will never hear rude words or experience trouble. Furthermore, all spectators are required to rest in their assigned chairs, guaranteeing an uninterrupted view for absolutely everybody.

D Ice Field Park

Wrap up warm for our freezing December fixtures! Drivers will love our massive, complimentary parking area located right beside the grass pitch. The best part of the day comes after the final whistle, when fans are invited down to chat with the athletes and collect their signatures in person.

E University Rovers Ground

Support the local talent during the darkest, coldest months of the year. If you are studying for a degree, simply show your card at the gates to pay half the normal entry rate. Everyone gets their own comfortable spot, and standing is completely forbidden during the eighty minutes of play.

F Winter Valley

Enjoy professional rugby during the icy winter season. Our stadium is known for having the most polite and welcoming supporters in the league, ensuring a peaceful afternoon. Please note that all cafes are currently closed for repairs, so visitors must bring their own packed lunches to eat in the stands.

G Southside Arena

Located a quick two-minute walk from the central train station, this ground is incredibly easy to reach. Everyone has a fantastic view because spectators are asked to remain in their chairs. Unfortunately, our merchandise store is closed this weekend, so no team clothing or gifts are available to buy today.

H Champions Stadium

Come and see famous players from countries all over the globe! The stadium provides excellent chairs for everyone, and standing is strictly banned. However, be prepared for a wild atmosphere, as our passionate fans are extremely noisy, often shouting aggressively at the referee throughout the entire, thrilling sporting event.

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find an athletics competition to attend.

There are descriptions of eight sports events.

Decide which athletics event would be the most suitable for the people below.

1   Tom loves track sports, especially jumping competitions. He needs a tournament that takes place early in the morning because he has plans later in the day. He doesn’t have much money to spend on his entry ticket.

2   Sandra wants to watch the world’s fastest sprinters compete. She prefers the exciting atmosphere of a massive stadium with thousands of fans. She also hopes to buy an official sports shirt at the venue to support her team.

3   Mark and his dad want a day out watching both running and jumping events. They are driving to the competition and require free parking, and they want to enjoy a hot dinner at the sports venue.

4   Amy is taking the bus to see some world-famous international athletes this weekend. She is busy in the afternoon, so she can only watch morning track races. She needs a venue on a regular coach route.

5   David wants to see challenging long-distance races in an enormous, classic stadium. Because his grandmother is joining him, they require comfortable, soft chairs to sit in rather than hard plastic or concrete steps.

Athletics and Track Events

A Olympic Dreams

Come see athletes leaping over high bars and hurdles at our beautiful sports ground! The entire program starts early at 8:30 a.m., making it perfect for early risers. Best of all, student tickets are half-price this weekend, so you won’t need to spend much cash to enjoy the action.

B The Grand Arena

This historic venue is famous for its speed races. Our massive stadium holds over 60,000 shouting spectators, creating an unforgettable environment. Don’t forget to visit our large souvenir store near the main gates before you leave, where you can buy official team kits and running shirts to remember your day out.

C National Challenge

We offer a brilliant mix of sprinting and high leap events all day long. Spectators driving to the event can leave their vehicles in our large car park at no cost. When you get hungry, our modern cafeteria serves excellent warm dishes and hot soup right behind the main grandstand.

D International Stars

Watch world-class stars from abroad battle for gold in our exciting morning running tournament, which completely finishes before midday. Reaching the venue is incredibly simple without a car, as the regular city coach stops directly outside the front doors every ten minutes. It is a fantastic opportunity for track fans!

E Victory Stadium

This enormous, ancient arena is hosting the legendary 10,000-metre endurance races this weekend. We know how tiring long events can be, so we have replaced our old concrete benches with luxury armchairs featuring soft cushions for your comfort. Sit back and watch these amazing athletes break records in style!

F High Fly Championships

Join us for exciting long jump and pole vault contests beginning at 9:00 a.m. sharp. This massive stadium features incredible views of the athletes. However, entrance fees are very high this year, and because we are located far out in the countryside, there are no public transport options available to get here.

G Riverside Track

Our small, local field is proud to host a full day of sprinting and long-distance running events. There is a fantastic little shop on site selling official team shirts and hats. It is a peaceful neighborhood spot, perfect for people who want to avoid massive crowds and giant arenas.

H The Jubilee Games

Come to the fields for an amazing day of running and jumping activities. Visitors can leave their cars inside our secure car park for zero cost. Please note we only sell cold sandwiches and bottled water at our small snack bar, so do not expect to find any hot meals here.

Exercises:   12345