Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Extreme and Water Sports 3
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Learning to windsurf
by Leo Davis
I’ve always loved the ocean, but until last summer, I usually just swam or played volleyball on the beach. That changed when my family decided to spend two weeks at a seaside town known for its watersports. From our apartment window, I spent hours watching windsurfers riding the waves. They moved so fast and made the sport look completely effortless. I was convinced that I could do it too, so I persuaded my parents to book some lessons for me at the local watersports centre.
However, I quickly realised that windsurfing was much harder than it looked. During my first lesson, the instructor explained the basics on the beach before we went into the water. Just standing on the board without falling off was a challenge. Then, I had to learn how to pull the heavy wet sail out of the water using a rope. Controlling both the board and the sail at the same time felt impossible. I spent most of that morning falling into the freezing water and climbing back onto the board.
By the third day, I was completely exhausted. My arms and legs ached, and I felt incredibly frustrated. Everyone else in my group seemed to be making progress, but I was still struggling to stay upright. I honestly thought about giving up. I told my instructor that maybe windsurfing just wasn’t the right sport for me and that I should stick to swimming. He just smiled, told me I was doing fine, and persuaded me to try for just ten more minutes.
I climbed back onto the board and pulled the sail up one more time. Suddenly, a gentle, steady breeze caught the material. Instead of losing my balance, I leaned back, and the board began to move smoothly over the water. For the first time, I wasn’t fighting the wind; I was using it. I glided perfectly across the bay, feeling an amazing sense of speed and freedom. It was the most thrilling experience of my life.
Now, I can’t wait for my next holiday. I know I still have a lot to learn, but I am determined to improve. If I save enough money from my weekend job, I might even buy my own board next year!
1 Why did Leo decide to take windsurfing lessons?
(A) He wanted to try a new sport with his friends.
(B) He was bored of swimming and playing beach volleyball.
(C) His parents suggested he should learn how to do it.
(D) He watched other people doing it and thought it looked easy.
2 What does Leo say about his first windsurfing lesson?
(A) He found it difficult to manage all the equipment.
(B) He disliked listening to the instructions on the beach.
(C) He was not strong enough to pull the board out of the water.
(D) He hated getting into the freezing water.
3 On the third day, Leo wanted to give up because
(A) he was annoyed with his instructor’s advice.
(B) he felt he wasn’t improving like the other students.
(C) he had injured his arms and legs during a fall.
(D) he thought the wind was too strong for him to sail.
4 What happened when Leo tried again for the final time?
(A) He discovered that the equipment was finally drying out.
(B) He lost his balance because of a sudden strong breeze.
(C) He successfully sailed across the water without falling.
(D) He had to be rescued by his instructor in the bay.
5 What would Leo write in his diary at the end of the holiday?
(A) I was hoping to learn to windsurf, but it was just too tiring. I think I’ll try a different watersport next summer.
(B) The windsurfing instructor was great and helped me stand up immediately. I can’t wait to buy my own board!
(C) Learning to windsurf was really tough at first, but once I got it right, it was incredible. I’m definitely going to keep doing it!
(D) I’m proud that I finally managed to windsurf, even though I didn’t actually enjoy it as much as swimming.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 D – The text states that Leo watched the windsurfers from his window and “made the sport look completely effortless. I was convinced that I could do it too.” This paraphrases option D.
2 A – In paragraph 2, Leo explains that “Controlling both the board and the sail at the same time felt impossible.” This matches option A (managing all the equipment).
3 B – Leo says in paragraph 3 that he was exhausted and “Everyone else in my group seemed to be making progress, but I was still struggling to stay upright,” which led to him wanting to give up.
4 C – Paragraph 4 describes how a breeze caught his sail and “the board began to move smoothly over the water… I glided perfectly across the bay.” This shows he finally managed to sail successfully.
5 C – This option perfectly captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text: he struggled greatly at the beginning (tough at first), experienced a thrilling moment of success (once I got it right, it was incredible), and plans to continue the sport in the future (determined to improve/buy his own board).
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Conquering the River
Last summer, my parents suggested we go white-water rafting on our family holiday in Scotland. I’ve always been a good swimmer, but the idea of going down a wild river in a small rubber boat made me feel incredibly anxious. I had seen videos online, and the water always looked dangerously fast. However, my older brother really wanted to do it, so I finally agreed to join the group, hoping I wouldn’t regret my decision.
When we arrived at the river, we met our guide, a friendly guy named Mark. He gave us a long safety talk and handed out helmets and life jackets. He explained that rafting is not about just sitting and enjoying the view. It requires intense teamwork, and every person in the boat must paddle together to keep the boat moving safely. Looking at the other teenagers in our group, I realised they looked just as nervous as I was, which actually made me feel a bit better.
As soon as we pushed the boat into the water, the speed of the river surprised me. Mark shouted instructions from the back of the boat, and we all had to paddle hard to avoid hitting large rocks. It was exhausting, but I quickly realised that if we didn’t work as a team, we would definitely end up in the freezing water. Surprisingly, I was too busy listening to Mark and paddling to worry about my fears. We were working like a machine, and it was actually becoming quite exciting.
Then, we heard a loud noise ahead. Mark warned us we were approaching the biggest drop on the river. My heart started beating fast. As we went over the edge, the boat dropped suddenly, and a huge wave of cold water crashed over us. For a few seconds, I couldn’t see anything, but I kept paddling. When we reached the calm water at the bottom, everyone cheered. We had survived it together, and I felt a massive sense of achievement.
Looking back, I am so glad I didn’t stay at the hotel that day. Overcoming my fear of the fast water has given me immense confidence. If I can survive that drop, I feel like I can handle any challenge. We are already planning our next rafting adventure for next year.
1 Why did the writer decide to go white-water rafting?
(A) He was confident because of his excellent swimming skills.
(B) He agreed to go because his brother was very keen to try it.
(C) He watched some videos and thought the river looked exciting.
(D) He wanted to prove to his parents that he was brave.
2 How did the writer feel after meeting the guide and the rest of the group?
(A) less worried after seeing how the other teenagers felt
(B) bored by the long safety talk the guide gave them
(C) disappointed that he couldn’t just sit and enjoy the views
(D) angry about having to wear an uncomfortable life jacket
3 What did the writer discover once they were travelling down the river?
(A) The rocks in the water made it completely impossible to paddle.
(B) Following the guide’s instructions was much harder than expected.
(C) The temperature of the water was actually warmer than he thought.
(D) Concentrating on the teamwork stopped him from feeling afraid.
4 When the boat went over the biggest drop, the writer
(A) fell out of the boat into the freezing water.
(B) continued to do what he was supposed to do.
(C) was unable to hear the other people cheering.
(D) closed his eyes because he was so frightened.
5 What would the writer write in his diary that evening?
(A) I really wish I hadn’t let my brother talk me into going rafting. It was terrifying and I’m never doing it again.
(B) The rafting trip was okay, but I think I would have preferred a quiet day relaxing by the hotel pool.
(C) I was so scared before the rafting trip, but working together to get through the rough water made me feel like I can do anything!
(D) Rafting was surprisingly easy! We didn’t really have to paddle much, and the water was very calm all the way down.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The text states that the writer agreed to join the group because his “older brother really wanted to do it.” The other options incorrectly use details from the text (swimming, videos) as his motivation.
2 A – The writer mentions that looking at the other nervous teenagers in the group “actually made me feel a bit better.”
3 D – In the third paragraph, the writer notes, “Surprisingly, I was too busy listening to Mark and paddling to worry about my fears.”
4 B – The text explains that despite the huge wave and not being able to see, the writer “kept paddling,” showing he continued his task.
5 C – This option accurately captures the writer’s emotional journey from feeling incredibly anxious to gaining immense confidence through intense teamwork, aligning perfectly with the global meaning and conclusion of the passage.
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Reaching New Heights
I have never been very keen on winter sports. When the weather gets cold and wet, I usually prefer to stay indoors and play video games or read. However, last November, my best friend Leo suggested we try indoor rock climbing. I was looking for a way to get fit, and although I was quite nervous about heights, I finally agreed to go with him. I thought it would be a good opportunity to try something completely new, even if I wasn’t naturally sporty.
When we arrived at the climbing centre, I was completely amazed by the size of the place. The walls were incredibly high and covered in bright, colourful plastic shapes for you to hold onto. An instructor named Sarah gave us our safety equipment and clearly explained the basic rules. At first, I felt terrified when I looked up at the ceiling. On my first attempt, I only managed to climb about two metres before my arms started shaking. I asked to come down immediately, feeling a bit disappointed with myself because Leo went much higher.
Despite that bad start, I decided I wouldn’t give up. Over the next few weeks, Sarah taught us several important techniques. I had always thought that climbing was all about having strong arms, but I soon discovered that your legs are actually much more important. Once I started using my legs to push myself up, everything changed and the climbs felt easier. I clearly remember the first time I reached the top of a twelve-metre wall. I was exhausted, but the feeling of success was absolutely fantastic. I finally understood why people love this sport so much.
Now, after six months of regular practice, I feel like a completely different person. I am much stronger and fitter than I was before, and my confidence has grown too. More importantly, I have successfully overcome my fear of heights. If I have a stressful day at school, I just go to the climbing centre, focus on the wall, and all my worries disappear. Next month, Leo and I are going on a weekend trip to try climbing on real rocks outdoors. I know it will be much harder than the indoor centre, but I simply cannot wait for the challenge.
1 Why did the writer decide to try indoor rock climbing?
(A) He wanted to spend less time playing video games.
(B) He was looking for an activity to help him get in shape.
(C) He wanted to get over his fear of being in high places.
(D) He hoped to become better at outdoor winter sports.
2 What happened on the writer’s first climb?
(A) He reached the top faster than his friend Leo did.
(B) He felt upset because he couldn’t climb very far.
(C) He refused to wear the safety equipment provided.
(D) He hurt his arms while holding onto the plastic shapes.
3 What important lesson did the writer learn about climbing?
(A) It is necessary to climb a little bit every day to improve.
(B) Having strong arms is the only way to reach the top.
(C) The lower body is more useful than he originally thought.
(D) Reaching the top of a twelve-metre wall is impossible.
4 How does the writer feel about his new hobby now?
(A) He thinks it is a great way to forget about his daily problems.
(B) He believes he is finally ready to teach other beginners.
(C) He is worried about his upcoming outdoor climbing trip.
(D) He is disappointed that his physical strength hasn’t improved.
5 What would the writer write in his diary about his rock climbing experience?
(A) I only started climbing because I wanted to beat my friend Leo, but now I realise it’s actually a very dangerous sport.
(B) I’m so glad I tried climbing. It was frightening at first, but it has made me much fitter and more confident in myself.
(C) Climbing indoors is quite easy once you know the rules. I’m sure climbing real rocks outdoors will be exactly the same.
(D) I still prefer playing video games in the winter, so I will probably stop climbing when the weather gets cold again.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The writer states in paragraph 1, “I was looking for a way to get fit,” which paraphrases “an activity to help him get in shape.”
2 B – In paragraph 2, the writer says, “I only managed to climb about two metres… feeling a bit disappointed with myself because Leo went much higher.”
3 C – In paragraph 3, the writer explains, “I soon discovered that your legs are actually much more important,” which shows his lower body is more useful than his arms (what he originally thought).
4 A – In paragraph 4, the writer mentions, “If I have a stressful day at school, I just go to the climbing centre… and all my worries disappear,” which means it helps him forget his daily problems.
5 B – This option captures the overall global meaning and emotional arc of the text: moving from fear (“quite nervous about heights,” “terrified”) to a positive outcome (“stronger and fitter,” “confidence has grown”).