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 motor racing event to attend.

There are descriptions of eight motor racing events.

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

1   Max loves watching extremely fast vehicles on the track. Because of the volume, he needs to borrow equipment to protect his hearing. He also wants to sit in a covered area so he doesn’t get sunburned during the event.

2   Julia wants to learn exactly how engineers repair these high-speed vehicles so quickly. She needs a venue that is situated right next to a railway station, and she prefers to eat her own homemade sandwiches for lunch.

3   Tomas wants to try driving a racing car himself. He is looking for a venue that provides free quiet headphones for guests, and he hopes to purchase some official team clothing to take home as a souvenir.

4   Sarah enjoys the massive noise of modern engines and wants to stand as close to the action as possible. She hopes to get a signature from a famous racer, and needs a place with excellent wheelchair facilities.

5   Leo is looking forward to seeing classic, older racing cars competing. He needs to buy his own pair of ear defenders at the track, and he wants to sleep in a comfortable trackside hotel overnight.

Motor Racing Events

A The Rookie Experience

Get behind the wheel and steer a powerful sports vehicle around our professional circuit! The engines make a massive noise, so we hand out sound-blocking earwear to all our guests at absolutely no charge. After your thrilling ride, visit our massive store to pick up branded jackets and caps.

B Silver Arrows Circuit

Watch the quickest modern vehicles zooming past at incredible speeds from the comfort of our fully shaded grandstands. The engines make a huge amount of noise, so protecting your ears is essential. However, please note we do not hire out any safety equipment, so visitors must pack their own headsets.

C Thunder Park

Experience the thrill of top-level motorsport as the quickest machines zoom past. The engine roars are incredibly loud, so guests can easily rent sound-blocking headsets from our main office. You won’t need to worry about the hot weather, as all our spectator sections feature a large, permanent roof.

D Velocity Arena

Feel the ground shake from the roaring motors by standing right against the track boundary! Our modern stadium features wide elevators and smooth ramps everywhere, making it completely accessible for disabled visitors. After the podium ceremony, champions regularly approach the barriers to write their names in fans’ autograph notebooks.

E The Pit Lane Tour

Discover exactly how professional mechanics change tires and fix engines in just two seconds! It is a fascinating day out, and visitors are always welcome to bring their own homemade snacks to eat on the grass. Unfortunately, there are no public transport links nearby, so driving a car here is essential.

F Retro Racing Festival

Step back in time to watch beautiful historic vehicles race against each other. The old engines produce incredible volume, but you can easily purchase high-quality safety plugs from our entrance gates. When the action finishes, guests can relax in our luxury guestrooms located directly overlooking the starting grid.

G Central City Grand Prix

Find out the secrets behind how pit-stop crews maintain these incredible high-speed machines during competitions. You will save money because guests can easily carry in their own packed meals. Best of all, the main passenger train platforms are located directly opposite our main entrance gates for a simple journey.

H Champions Track

Get incredibly close to the roaring action on our accessible viewing platforms, which are completely flat for easy moving. You can pay to take a passenger ride in a race car with a champion driver. We sell plenty of team merchandise, but we cannot arrange any meetings with the athletes.

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a gymnastics championship to watch.

There are descriptions of eight gymnastics events.

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

1   Elena wants to see gymnasts demonstrate amazing physical bending during their routines. She prefers watching matches inside a stadium to stay comfortable, and she absolutely needs a location that offers free parking for her family’s car.

2   Liam wants to watch a championship that features a panel of international experts scoring the athletes. He requires a covered hall for the event and is very keen to purchase an official T-shirt as a souvenir.

3   Maya loves watching gymnastics routines with extraordinary stretching movements. She wants to observe how the team of judges awards marks from the sidelines, and she needs a sports center she can reach easily by train.

4   The Taylor family want to attend a competition held in a fully covered venue. They are excited to see superb bending skills on the floor, and they prefer a place where they can bring their own food.

5   Chen wants to secure a seat directly opposite the scoring judges at work. He loves seeing displays of incredible flexibility and balance, and he is only free to attend on a Saturday evening.

Gymnastics Championships

A The National Cup

Hosted in our fantastic climate-controlled indoor arena, this elite tournament highlights athletes famous for their unique, pretzel-like body bending. Spectators will love the action-packed atmosphere. Best of all, there is a massive parking lot right outside that costs absolutely nothing for ticket holders, making your family journey completely stress-free.

B International Challenge

Come to this spectacular event held inside the city’s newest covered sports hall. You can watch world-class gymnasts perform under the careful eyes of a global committee of scoring experts. Don’t forget to visit our excellent merchandise stall right near the main entrance to buy exclusive tournament T-shirts and printed hoodies.

C Grand Gymnastics Gala

This competition showcases athletes with unbelievable stretching abilities and physical control. Seats are arranged so you can clearly see the official referees assigning points after every routine. The complex is situated just a short walk from Central Station, allowing visitors to arrive quickly by rail without dealing with city traffic.

D Elite Championship

This event takes place inside a magnificent roofed stadium, ensuring excellent viewing whatever the weather. Audiences will be amazed by the gymnasts’ supreme twisting and bending movements on the mats. Guests are welcome to save money by bringing their own snacks and packed lunches to enjoy in the seating area.

E Champions Night

Witness spectacular displays of extreme body flexibility and precise balance. This special tournament is scheduled for Saturday night, with gates opening at 7 p.m. Spectators get a wonderful view of the referee desk, allowing you to watch the official grading panel analyze every single movement before showing the final marks.

F The Vault Arena

Located inside a modern covered complex, this exciting contest highlights powerful jumping, high vaulting, and spectacular fast leaps through the air. There is no fee to use the building’s open vehicle park. However, outside food is strictly forbidden, and all visitors must buy drinks from the expensive fast-food stalls inside.

G Open Air Finals

This thrilling tournament takes place under the stars on Saturday evening, starting at 8 p.m. You will sit close to the technical grading table to see how the international judging group scores each performance. Please note there are no souvenir shops or merchandise stands on site, so bring your own cameras.

H Olympic Dreams Showcase

This popular exhibition features young gymnasts demonstrating extraordinary stretching routines and extreme muscle flexibility. The venue is perfectly placed directly next to the local railway stop. Please note this is a non-competitive display event for families, meaning there are no official scorecards, referees, or formal marking boards at all.

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a swimming and diving meet.

There are descriptions of eight aquatic events.

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

1   Martin loves watching athletes jumping from very high diving boards. Because indoor pools usually have very hot and wet air, he needs a well-cooled building. He also wants to buy cold drinks while he watches the competition.

2   Sarah is an advanced swimmer looking for a fast-paced event where she can race against the clock. She requires a pool that is extremely deep. She forgot her bag, so she must be able to borrow eye protection there.

3   Leo wants to enter a swimming and diving event strictly for teenagers. He hopes to receive a prize or medal for taking part. He also wants some expert advice on how to enter the water safely from the boards.

4   The Chen family want to watch a competition where athletes swim completely underwater. They need a location with plenty of spectator chairs. It is also important that there are large digital screens showing the exact race times clearly.

5   Anna enjoys the warm, wet air of indoor pools. She wants to join a group of swimmers and compete together in a team race against the clock. She is driving and needs a place to leave her car for free.

Swimming and Diving Events

A Sky High Aquatics

See brave competitors leap from our ten-metre platforms! Our modern building has fantastic air-conditioning, completely removing that sticky, uncomfortable feeling you normally get at indoor pools. You can also visit our brilliant snack bar, which serves refreshing iced juices and water all afternoon to keep you completely chilled.

B Blue Water Sprints

Test your speed and beat your fastest times at our special swimming tournament! This competition takes place in water that goes down five metres, so it is perfect for confident people. If you left your gear at home, we have plenty of underwater glasses you can use during the event.

C Youth Splash Tournament

This exciting event is specially designed for young people aged thirteen to nineteen. Before it begins, professional coaches will give you useful instructions on jumping into the pool without hurting yourself. Furthermore, absolutely everyone who competes will go home with a beautiful gold cup to celebrate their amazing effort today!

D Submarine Races

Watch incredible athletes travel from one end of the pool to the other without coming up for air! Our huge stadium has hundreds of comfortable places to sit. You won’t miss a second, as giant electronic monitors hang from the ceiling to display every single finishing speed for the crowd.

E Group Challenge Meet

Gather your friends and work together in our exciting group speed events, where you pass the turn to your partner! The building holds onto its heat, providing a lovely tropical, steamy atmosphere. Drivers will be delighted to know that there is no charge to use our large vehicle area outside.

F The Deep End

Watch the incredible bravery of competitors falling from our highest roof-level platforms into the five-metre depths below. The heating is turned up to maximum, creating a very wet and sticky atmosphere inside. Please remember to bring your own refreshments, as our machines are currently broken and nothing is available.

G Victory Team Swim

Join a group of four and race to the finish line together! The winning groups will receive fantastic shiny medals for their excellent performance. This event welcomes adults of all ages to compete. Please remember to bring some coins, as leaving your vehicle outside will cost five pounds per hour.

H Flash Aquatics

We have space for over a thousand spectators to sit and enjoy the action comfortably. Huge electronic boards display the exact milliseconds as swimmers complete their races. However, all competitors must stay on the surface using traditional swimming styles, as swimming beneath the water is strictly banned for safety reasons.

Exercises:   12345