Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Extreme and Water Sports 7
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
My indoor ice climbing adventure
by Sam Davies
I’ve been indoor rock climbing for a couple of years, and I’ve always enjoyed the challenge of finding the right handholds to pull myself up a wall. So, when my local adventure centre opened a new indoor ice climbing room, I immediately wanted to try it. It’s basically a huge, freezing cold room with a wall covered entirely in thick ice. I booked a session, feeling confident that my previous rock-climbing experience would make it quite easy for me to reach the top.
However, I soon realised I was completely wrong. Before entering the giant freezer, the instructor handed me a pair of heavy boots with sharp metal spikes on the bottom, called crampons. He also gave me two sharp ice axes to hold. Once we stepped inside the room, the freezing air hit my face. The instructor explained the safety rules carefully, but I was so eager to start that I could barely wait. When it was finally my turn, I walked up to the wall, ready to climb.
I quickly discovered that ice climbing requires a completely different technique. In rock climbing, you look for shapes to hold onto. Here, I had to swing the heavy axes hard above my head to smash them into the ice. Then, I had to kick my boots into the wall so the crampons would hold my weight. I was using completely different muscles, especially in my shoulders and lower legs. By the time I was halfway up the wall, my arms were aching and my breathing was heavy.
Despite the extreme cold and the pain in my muscles, I refused to give up. Every time I swung the axe and heard it crush into the solid ice, I felt a rush of energy. It was a slow and difficult process, but eventually, I reached the top and hit the metal bell to show I had finished. My whole body was shaking as the instructor slowly lowered me back to the ground.
Taking off the heavy equipment later, I felt more exhausted than I ever had in my life, but I also felt incredibly powerful. I had conquered something completely new. Although rock climbing will always remain my favourite sport, I know I will definitely be returning to the ice wall soon.
1 How did Sam feel before his first ice climbing session?
(A) He was worried about the freezing temperatures in the room.
(B) He felt sure that his previous climbing skills would help him.
(C) He was bored of doing ordinary indoor rock climbing.
(D) He was nervous about using the new climbing equipment.
2 What happened when Sam was getting ready to climb?
(A) He struggled to put on the heavy boots with metal spikes.
(B) He found it difficult to pay attention because of the cold.
(C) He was extremely impatient to start the activity.
(D) He thought the instructor’s safety rules were unnecessary.
3 What did Sam discover about the technique for ice climbing?
(A) It requires using your body in a new way compared to rock climbing.
(B) You have to pull yourself up using only the strength of your hands.
(C) It is impossible to do if you don’t have very strong shoulders.
(D) You must be careful not to break the ice wall with the boots.
4 How did Sam feel after completing the climb?
(A) He felt physically ruined and wished he hadn’t done it.
(B) He felt relieved that he could return to normal rock climbing.
(C) He was annoyed that climbing the wall was such a slow process.
(D) He felt a sense of pride in his strength despite being very tired.
5 What would Sam write in a message to a friend?
(A) I tried the new ice wall today. It’s just like rock climbing but much colder, so I didn’t need to learn any new skills!
(B) The ice climbing was really tough and my arms are aching. I managed to reach the top, and it made me feel really strong.
(C) I didn’t manage to hit the bell at the top of the ice wall because the heavy equipment was just too difficult to use.
(D) Ice climbing is officially my new favourite sport! I’m going to stop rock climbing completely and just do this instead.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In paragraph 1, Sam says, “I booked a session, feeling confident that my previous rock-climbing experience would make it quite easy for me”. This matches option B.
2 C – In paragraph 2, Sam says “I was so eager to start that I could barely wait.” This is correctly paraphrased as being “extremely impatient to start the activity”.
3 A – In paragraph 3, Sam explains that “ice climbing requires a completely different technique” and notes that he was “using completely different muscles”. This maps to using his body in a new way compared to rock climbing.
4 D – In paragraph 5, Sam reflects on the experience: “I felt more exhausted than I ever had in my life, but I also felt incredibly powerful.” This paraphrases feeling pride in his strength despite being tired.
5 B – This option captures the global meaning and emotional arc: he faced a tough physical challenge (aching arms), achieved his goal (reaching the top), and felt a sense of achievement (feeling strong/powerful) while maintaining his overall appreciation for the sport.
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Taking the Leap
Last weekend, my friends and I decided to visit a large lake located in a national park near our town. The area is famous for a designated cliff-jumping spot that is perfectly safe, provided you follow the rules. When we arrived, the sun was shining, and the water looked incredibly inviting. While my friends were talking excitedly about who would jump first, I stayed quiet. I wanted to have a good time, but the thought of throwing myself off a high rock made my stomach turn. I didn’t want to disappoint anyone, though.
We spent the first hour swimming and watching other teenagers leap from the cliff. Some did complicated dives, while others just held their noses and dropped. My best friend, Leo, was the first of our group to go. He swam to the edge, climbed up, and jumped without hesitation, shouting on the way down. Then, it was my turn. Everyone started chanting my name. Although I knew it was meant to be friendly encouragement, I felt a heavy weight of peer pressure. I suddenly wished I had stayed at home.
Slowly, I climbed the path to the top of the cliff. From down below, it hadn’t looked that high, but standing on the edge was a completely different story. Looking down at the deep, dark water, my legs actually started shaking. A part of me wanted to step back and take the walking path down to the beach. However, I knew that if I gave up now, I would be disappointed with myself for weeks. I took a deep breath, closed my eyes for a second, and stepped forward into the empty air.
The fall only lasted a moment, but it felt like flying. Then, I hit the cold water with a loud crash. I swam quickly to the surface and breathed in the fresh air. As I wiped the water from my eyes, I heard my friends cheering loudly from the beach. Leo swam over and gave me a massive high-five, telling me how brave I was. Earning their respect felt fantastic, but the real reward was the immense self-pride I experienced. I had faced my biggest fear, and I couldn’t wait to jump again!
1 How did the writer feel when they first arrived at the lake?
(A) excited to see which of his friends would jump first
(B) annoyed that he had to follow strict safety rules
(C) nervous about doing the activity with his friends
(D) disappointed because the water looked uninviting
2 When the writer’s friends started chanting his name, he
(A) felt glad that they were supporting him.
(B) decided to attempt a complicated dive.
(C) shouted loudly to show them he was ready.
(D) experienced an uncomfortable amount of pressure.
3 Why did the writer finally decide to jump?
(A) He realised the cliff wasn’t actually very high.
(B) He didn’t want to feel bad about his choice later.
(C) He noticed the walking path was too dangerous to use.
(D) He wanted to impress people he didn’t know.
4 What was the best part of the experience for the writer?
(A) feeling the cold water on his face
(B) getting a high-five from his best friend Leo
(C) feeling proud of his own personal achievement
(D) hearing the loud cheering from the beach
5 What would the writer write in his diary that evening?
(A) I should have listened to my fears today. Cliff jumping is far too dangerous and I’m angry that my friends forced me to do it.
(B) Standing on the edge was terrifying, but I’m so glad I jumped. Overcoming my fear and getting my friends’ support felt absolutely amazing!
(C) I went to the lake today but decided to take the walking path down instead of jumping. Next time, I’ll definitely try to be braver.
(D) It was quite a boring day at the lake because we had to wait an hour before jumping. I don’t think I’ll bother going back there.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 C – The text states that the thought of jumping “made my stomach turn” and he “didn’t want to disappoint anyone,” which paraphrases to being nervous about doing the activity with his friends.
2 D – The writer explains that despite it being friendly encouragement, he “felt a heavy weight of peer pressure” and “wished I had stayed at home.”
3 B – In the third paragraph, the writer notes, “I knew that if I gave up now, I would be disappointed with myself for weeks.”
4 C – While he enjoyed his friends’ respect, the text explicitly states that “the real reward was the immense self-pride I experienced.”
5 B – This option accurately captures the writer’s emotional journey from feeling terrified to the ultimate sense of pride and accomplishment at the end, aligning perfectly with the global meaning of the text.
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Learning to Sail
I’ve always been a fan of team sports like basketball and football, where you can rely on your teammates if things go wrong. So, when my parents suggested I spend a week of my summer holidays learning to sail a small boat, called a dinghy, I wasn’t completely convinced. They thought it would be a great way for me to develop independence. I agreed to go to the sailing centre on the local lake, but I was definitely feeling anxious about being out on the water all by myself.
On the first few days, the weather was perfect. The sun was shining, and the wind was very gentle. My instructor, Laura, explained the basics of steering and controlling the sail. At first, I found it quite confusing because you have to pull the rope for the sail in while pushing the steering stick in the exact opposite direction. There seemed to be too many things to think about at once! However, because the water was so calm, I had plenty of time to practise, and I slowly began to feel more confident in my abilities.
Then, on the fourth afternoon, everything changed. I was sailing near the middle of the lake when the wind suddenly became much stronger. Before I could remember what Laura had taught me, a sudden, powerful gust of wind caught the sail. I leaned my body the wrong way, and the next thing I knew, the boat had tipped completely over, throwing me straight into the freezing water. For a few seconds, I panicked. I was wet, cold, and my boat was lying flat on its side.
Thankfully, I remembered our safety lessons. I swam around to the bottom of the boat and climbed up onto the centreboard, just as Laura had shown us. By putting all my weight on it, the boat slowly turned back upright. Getting back inside was physically exhausting, but I finally managed it. Instead of feeling terrified, I felt an incredible sense of achievement. I had faced my biggest fear and solved the problem completely on my own.
That experience completely changed my attitude towards sailing. Now, I realise that making mistakes and capsizing is just a normal part of the learning process. I have discovered that staying calm under pressure is the most important skill you can have. I am actually looking forward to returning to the lake next summer, hoping for some stronger winds!
1 Why did the writer agree to go to the sailing centre?
(A) He wanted to improve his skills for his favourite team sports.
(B) His parents believed it would help him learn to do things on his own.
(C) He was looking for an exciting new activity to share with his friends.
(D) He had always been eager to learn how to steer his own boat.
2 What did the writer find difficult during his first few days on the lake?
(A) The gentle winds made it impossible for the boat to travel quickly.
(B) His instructor did not explain the rules of sailing clearly enough.
(C) He had to remember to perform several different actions at the same time.
(D) The steering stick was much too heavy for him to push by himself.
3 What caused the writer to fall into the water?
(A) He forgot to put on his safety equipment before leaving.
(B) He was surprised by a sudden and unexpected change in the weather.
(C) He tried to stand up to help another sailor who was in trouble.
(D) He leaned the correct way but the boat was too small for the waves.
4 How did the writer feel immediately after he got back into his boat?
(A) Exhausted and terrified of going back into the deep water.
(B) Disappointed that he hadn’t asked his instructor Laura for help.
(C) Proud that he had managed to fix the situation entirely by himself.
(D) Worried about having to do the exact same thing again the next day.
5 What would the writer text to a friend about his sailing course?
(A) “I definitely prefer team sports because sailing is just too stressful when things go wrong on the water and you are completely alone.”
(B) “The lake is beautiful, but the instructor made us do too many dangerous things today, like tipping our boats over on purpose!”
(C) “I’m a fantastic sailor now and I never make mistakes with the steering or the sail anymore, even when the weather is bad.”
(D) “I fell into the water today, but getting the boat upright again taught me that it’s important not to panic when things go wrong.”
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In paragraph 1, the writer states that his parents “thought it would be a great way for me to develop independence,” which means learning to do things on his own.
2 C – In paragraph 2, the writer mentions, “There seemed to be too many things to think about at once!” after explaining how he had to move the sail rope and steering stick in opposite directions simultaneously.
3 B – In paragraph 3, the writer explains that “the wind suddenly became much stronger” and a “sudden, powerful gust of wind caught the sail,” showing he was caught off guard by the weather change.
4 C – In paragraph 4, the writer states, “Instead of feeling terrified, I felt an incredible sense of achievement. I had… solved the problem completely on my own.”
5 D – This option accurately reflects the global meaning of the text: the writer experienced capsizing (falling into the water) but learned resilience and the importance of staying calm under pressure, rather than being discouraged or claiming perfection.