Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Joining Sports Clubs & Teams

Exercises:   12345

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a local running club.

There are descriptions of eight running clubs.

Decide which running club would be the most suitable for the people below.

1   Lucas wants to run distances between six and ten kilometres. He doesn’t want to pay a membership fee before trying the club. He is also keen to volunteer and help out at running events at the weekend.

2   Sofia has just started running and prefers very short distances, like two or three kilometres. She wants to run safely on a proper running track. She also needs a café where she can buy breakfast afterwards.

3   David is training for a race and needs an expert coach to help him run faster. He prefers running very early in the morning. He also requires a place with hot showers so he can get ready for work.

4   Emma loves nature and wants a club that organises runs through local forests. She wants to bring her dog along for the exercise. She is also looking for a club that arranges evening meals and social parties.

5   Mateo finishes work late and needs a club with indoor running machines available late at night. He wants to buy new running shoes at the club. He also hopes to find a group of people his own age.

Local Running Clubs

A City Harriers

Join us twice a week for planned routes covering distances of six or ten thousand metres. You don’t have to spend any money to begin running with us, though we welcome regular members later. We are always searching for people to assist with our weekend races by giving drinks to athletes.

B Track Stars

If you are new to fitness, our beginner sessions are perfect. We focus on very gentle runs of under three thousand metres. Instead of the streets, we use a professional athletics stadium, keeping you away from cars. Afterwards, you can buy delicious hot drinks and meals at our wonderful snack bar.

C Speed Runners

Do you want to beat your best time? Our professional trainers will teach you the best techniques to increase your speed. We meet at 6 a.m., making it perfect for busy people. We provide excellent bathrooms where you can wash and put on clean clothes before heading to the office.

D Nature Dashers

Escape the noisy city streets and enjoy our peaceful woodland trails surrounded by tall trees. Your four-legged pets are completely welcome to join you on these beautiful routes. We are a very friendly group, and we regularly organise fun dinners and dancing nights at local restaurants to make new friends.

E Night Owls Fitness

Perfect for students and people in their twenties, we are open until midnight every day. You don’t need to worry about bad weather because we use modern running machines inside our warm sports hall. We also have an excellent shop selling top-quality trainers and comfortable sports clothes at discounted prices.

F Valley Athletics

We organise weekly runs covering distances of six or ten kilometres around the beautiful local valley. To join our groups, you must pay our annual membership cost before your first run. We don’t require anyone to assist with race organisation, as our professional paid staff handle all the weekend events.

G Pine Tree Harriers

Run through beautiful forests and improve your speed with our expert trainers. We meet every evening at 7 p.m. to run together through the trees. Please note that to protect the local wildlife, animals are strictly forbidden on our routes. We have excellent washing facilities available for everyone to use.

H Community Runners

You don’t need to pay anything to try our club for the first month! We meet inside the local sports centre, so you can run indoors safely. We don’t have a store to purchase equipment, so please bring your own gear. Our runs are very short, usually around two kilometres.

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a basketball league team to join.

There are descriptions of eight basketball league teams.

Decide which basketball league team would be the most suitable for the people below.

1   Jack wants a basketball club that plays its league matches on the weekend. He needs a team that offers free travel when going to games in other cities, and he expects to learn from highly qualified, expert instructors.

2   Sarah is an absolute beginner who wants to join a team with excellent, highly trained instructors. She can only practice on weekday evenings and wants a club where the official uniform is provided at no extra cost.

3   Carlos wants a competitive team that coordinates free buses for away matches. He needs to play on weekends and wants a club that arranges regular social parties and dinners to meet new people.

4   Daniela wants a basketball league for new players that holds its games during the week. She has no car, so the sports center must be situated right next to local public transport links like buses or trains.

5   Paul is looking for a team with experienced coaches who can help improve his skills. He is only free to play matches on weekends and needs a club that offers a cheap monthly membership fee.

Basketball League Teams

A Blue Rockets

Our club features brilliant sessions led by former professional players who are highly expert managers. We compete in an exciting league with all fixtures held on Saturdays. Fees are kept incredibly low each month to ensure anyone can afford to participate. Please note that players must arrange their own travel to guest stadiums.

B Sky Knights

Join a team that takes part in competitive league tournaments every Saturday and Sunday. We provide comfortable club buses to all away matches completely free of charge. Our training programs are designed by seasoned, top-level instructors who have spent decades guiding teams to victory. Gym membership includes full use of the weight room.

C Thunder Hoops

We offer great league games every Sunday afternoon for players of all skill levels. The club organises a free coach to transport everyone to away stadiums without any cost. Our team is run entirely by parent volunteers, ensuring a friendly and relaxed environment where the main goal is simply to have fun.

D Green Giants

This league is perfect for people who are completely new to basketball. All of our practices and games take place on Tuesday and Thursday nights. The team looks fantastic on court because a high-quality club kit, including shorts and shirts, is given to every member for zero additional cash. Our instructors are highly certified experts.

E Apex Stars

Are you an advanced basketball player looking for a serious challenge? We train hard every Monday and Wednesday evening to prepare for our upcoming local cup tournament. Every single jersey and pair of shoes is provided completely free of charge by our generous local sponsors. However, players must find their own way to guest arenas.

F Coastal Waves

We are an active team playing league fixtures on Saturdays. When we play at stadiums in other towns, a private bus is arranged to take the team there at no cost to you. We love building strong friendships, so we host regular weekend social gatherings, pizza parties, and group dinners for members and their families.

G Matrix United

Our basketball team focuses on fun and fitness, with matches played every Sunday morning. We enjoy plenty of social activities off the court, including end-of-season parties and weekly team lunches at local cafes. Please note that all members are expected to drive themselves or catch a train to away matches in neighboring cities.

H Silver Eagles

If you have never played basketball before, this friendly team is the ideal place to learn the basics. We hold all our league matches on Friday afternoons. Our local sports hall is situated in an excellent downtown location, just a two-minute walk from the city’s main bus terminal and railway station.

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a 5-a-side football club to play at.

There are descriptions of eight 5-a-side football clubs.

Decide which 5-a-side football club would be the most suitable for the people below.

1   Lucas wants to join arranged team matches against other groups. He prefers playing on a modern, artificial surface rather than real grass. After the game, he hopes to relax and chat with his teammates over hot drinks and snacks.

2   Mateo is looking for an indoor pitch so he can play during bad weather. He wants to pay a professional instructor to help him improve his skills, and he needs a place where he can easily hire proper football boots.

3   Alex finishes work late, so he needs a club that is open until midnight. He is a complete beginner, so he wants to join a basic level group. He also needs a venue located right next to a bus or train stop.

4   Diego prefers playing on traditional, natural grass instead of fake surfaces. He is planning a special football birthday event for his friends, and he needs a place with a large, free car park because everyone is driving there.

5   Sam can only play on Saturday or Sunday mornings. He is looking for a friendly competition that includes both boys and girls together. He also hopes to find a club that films the matches so he can watch them later.

5-a-side Football Clubs

A City Strikers

At City Strikers, we arrange regular weekly leagues so you can easily compete against different local squads. You will absolutely love our newly built 3D synthetic pitches, which guarantee perfect running conditions all year round. When the final whistle blows, head straight to our fantastic clubhouse restaurant to socialize and enjoy delicious hot meals!

B The Dome Arena

You never have to worry about rain at The Dome Arena, as all our fantastic pitches are completely enclosed inside a massive building. If you want to get better, our qualified teachers offer fantastic private lessons. Forgot your footwear? Don’t worry, you can easily borrow all the gear from our reception desk.

C Midnight Movers

Midnight Movers is perfect for busy people because our floodlights stay on until twelve o’clock at night. We run special friendly sessions specifically for people who have never played the sport before. Even better, there is a major city transport station located just a two-minute walk from our front gates.

D Green Park Club

Experience the traditional game exactly as it should be played on our perfectly maintained, real outdoor lawns. We specialize in hosting fantastic private celebrations, complete with fun games and catering for your friends. Plus, visitors never pay a penny to leave their vehicles in our massive outdoor parking area.

E Action Replay

Action Replay is a brilliant weekend-only venue, opening early every Saturday and Sunday. We believe in everyone playing together, so all our weekly tournaments proudly welcome both male and female players on the same pitch. Best of all, we have smart cameras everywhere that record your goals to download later!

F United Fields

United Fields is famous for organizing fantastic local leagues where you can test your skills against other teams. After playing hard, you can relax in our amazing wooden coffee shop with your friends. However, please note that all our games are played entirely on traditional, natural earth and grass pitches.

G Pro-Indoor Centre

Enjoy fantastic completely covered pitches that protect you from the worst winter weather. We stay open late into the evening for professionals who want a serious, high-level competition. Please remember that this is a strict venue for experienced athletes only, and absolutely no training or coaching is offered to beginners.

H The Weekend Kick

As our name suggests, we are strictly open on Saturdays and Sundays for fantastic outdoor sporting action. We run incredibly popular mixed-sex tournaments, making it a wonderful place for boys and girls to compete together. Unfortunately, our digital camera system is currently broken, so no matches can be filmed today.

Exercises:   12345