Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Starting and Developing Traditional Sports 3
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
My first rugby training session
by Sam Jenkins
I’ve always been quite sporty, mostly playing non-contact sports like football and tennis. However, when my older brother started playing rugby last year, I thought it looked incredibly exciting. He convinced me to join his local club for a special beginner’s training session this weekend. I was eager to try something new, but as the day actually approached, I started feeling really nervous. Rugby is famous all over the world for being a very tough and physical sport, and my biggest worry was the idea of getting tackled to the ground by someone much bigger and stronger than me.
When I arrived at the rugby pitch on a freezing cold Saturday morning, there were about twenty other teenagers waiting there. Our coach, Mark, was very welcoming and immediately explained that safety is the absolute most important part of the game. We started with some basic running and passing exercises to get our bodies warm. I felt quite confident handling the funny-shaped ball, and the friendly atmosphere among the players helped me relax a bit. But in the back of my mind, I knew the tackling practice was coming next.
Soon, Mark called us all together in a circle and showed us how to tackle safely. He explained exactly where to put our arms, how to use our shoulders, and how to fall onto the ground without getting hurt. Then, it was time for us to try it ourselves. I was paired with a boy named Tom, who looked very strong. When it was his turn to tackle me, I tightly closed my eyes and expected the worst pain. Suddenly, I was lying on the wet grass. To my absolute surprise, it didn’t hurt at all! Tom had done it perfectly, just as the coach had taught us.
Once that terrifying first tackle was out of the way, all my fear completely vanished. For the rest of the session, I actually loved the physical challenge of taking people down and quickly getting back up again to keep playing. By the end of the morning, I was covered in thick mud and completely exhausted, but I couldn’t stop smiling. I realised that rugby isn’t just about being rough; it’s about good technique, teamwork, and trusting your teammates. I can safely say I am now a huge fan, and I definitely can’t wait for my next training session.
1 How did the writer feel about trying rugby before his first session?
(A) He was worried about playing a match against his older brother.
(B) He was terrified of the physical contact involved in the sport.
(C) He was highly confident because he was already good at football.
(D) He was annoyed that he was being forced to learn a new game.
2 What helped the writer feel better when he arrived at the pitch?
(A) Seeing that the other teenagers were exactly his size.
(B) Hearing that the coach would allow them to avoid tackling.
(C) The positive and welcoming attitude of the people at the club.
(D) Finding the initial running and passing exercises challenging.
3 What happened when Tom tackled the writer?
(A) The writer fell incorrectly and hurt his shoulder.
(B) The writer realised that the coach’s instructions worked well.
(C) Tom used far too much strength and pushed the writer over.
(D) Tom refused to follow the safety rules that Mark had explained.
4 How did the writer feel at the end of the training session?
(A) He was upset about getting his sports clothes dirty in the mud.
(B) He was far too tired to ever consider playing the sport again.
(C) He enjoyed using his physical strength to be rough with others.
(D) He appreciated the skills and relationships needed to play the game.
5 What would the writer say in his diary that evening?
(A) I really enjoyed throwing the ball around today, but I don’t think I’ll ever be brave enough to do the tackling part of the game.
(B) The coach made us tackle each other immediately, which was a terrible idea. I got hurt because my partner was much bigger than me.
(C) My brother was right about rugby. I was really scared of getting hit at first, but once I experienced a safe tackle, it was brilliant fun!
(D) Rugby is definitely just a sport for big, strong people who want to be rough. I think I’ll go back to playing tennis next weekend.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In paragraph 1, the writer states that his “biggest worry was the idea of getting tackled to the ground by someone much bigger and stronger than me.” This paraphrases being terrified of physical contact.
2 C – In paragraph 2, the writer mentions that the coach “was very welcoming” and that “the friendly atmosphere among the players helped me relax a bit.” This directly matches the positive and welcoming attitude in option C.
3 B – In paragraph 3, after being tackled, the writer notes, “To my absolute surprise, it didn’t hurt at all! Tom had done it perfectly, just as the coach had taught us.” This shows that the coach’s safety instructions were effective.
4 D – In paragraph 4, the writer reflects that rugby “isn’t just about being rough; it’s about good technique, teamwork, and trusting your teammates.” This maps perfectly to appreciating the skills and relationships needed for the sport.
5 C – This option successfully captures the global narrative and emotional arc of the text: his initial fear of being tackled (scared of getting hit at first), the turning point of his first experience (a safe tackle), and his final positive attitude (it was brilliant fun).
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Finding My Pace
I had always loved playing football, mostly because I could easily run past everyone else on the pitch. One day, my physical education teacher, Mr. Harris, noticed my natural speed during a match. He suggested I join the school’s track and field team to compete in the 100-metre sprint. I wasn’t completely sure at first, as I had always preferred team sports, but he persuaded me that individual racing could be an incredibly rewarding experience. So, I decided to give it a go, hoping I wouldn’t find it too lonely without my teammates.
When I attended my first athletics training session, I felt quite confident. I already knew I was the fastest runner in my year group. However, my confidence quickly disappeared when Mr. Harris introduced us to the starting blocks. These are the metal pedals that sprinters push off from at the beginning of a race. I thought I just had to stand on the line and run, but getting into the correct crouching position felt incredibly uncomfortable. Whenever the whistle blew, I stumbled forward awkwardly. I actually started much slower than I would have done without using the blocks.
For the next few weeks, I felt very frustrated. I just wanted to rely on my raw speed to win, but Mr. Harris explained that in a short race like the 100 metres, a bad start means you have probably already lost. To help me improve, he filmed my starts on his tablet and showed me exactly what I was doing wrong. I immediately realised that my body was much too high and I wasn’t pushing hard enough with my back foot. I finally had to accept that proper technique is just as crucial as simply being able to run fast.
I spent hours practising my starting position, repeating the exact same movements until they eventually felt completely natural. Finally, the day of the regional athletics competition arrived. As I crouched down into the blocks on the track, my heart was beating heavily. I knew that if I made a mistake now, my race would be ruined. When the starting gun fired, I exploded forward perfectly. Although I finished second in the race, I managed to run my fastest time ever. I felt immensely proud of my hard work and I simply cannot wait for the next athletics season to begin.
1 Why did the writer join the track and field team?
(A) He wanted to stop playing team sports like football.
(B) His teacher convinced him it would be a positive experience.
(C) He wanted to prove that he was the fastest boy in the school.
(D) He felt lonely and wanted to make some new friends.
2 How did the writer feel about using the starting blocks at first?
(A) He was surprised by how much they improved his overall speed.
(B) He felt confident he could use them without any instructions.
(C) He found it difficult and awkward to begin a race with them.
(D) He was annoyed that he had to buy metal pedals for the race.
3 Watching the video on the teacher’s tablet helped the writer to
(A) understand why his starting technique was incorrect.
(B) run much faster than he usually did in a 100-metre race.
(C) see that he was pushing too hard with his back foot.
(D) accept that he needed to rely more on his natural speed.
4 On the day of the regional competition, the writer
(A) made a terrible mistake when the starting gun fired.
(B) won a gold medal for his school in the 100-metre sprint.
(C) was extremely disappointed with the time he achieved.
(D) felt well-prepared for the race despite being nervous.
5 What would the writer write in his diary that evening?
(A) I really miss football. Running on a track is far too lonely, and I don’t think I want to do this sport anymore.
(B) Today proved that natural speed is the only thing that matters in a sprint. The starting blocks were a complete waste of time.
(C) I didn’t win the race, but I’m thrilled with my performance. Mastering that difficult starting technique really paid off in the end!
(D) My legs are so tired! I managed to win the race, but I need to ask Mr. Harris to help me fix my start tomorrow.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The first paragraph states that the writer wasn’t sure at first, but his teacher “persuaded me that individual racing could be an incredibly rewarding experience.”
2 C – In the second paragraph, the writer explains that getting into position “felt incredibly uncomfortable” and that he “stumbled forward awkwardly,” which paraphrases to finding it difficult and awkward.
3 A – The third paragraph describes how the video showed him “exactly what I was doing wrong” and helped him realise his body was too high, meaning he understood why his technique was incorrect. (Option C is a distractor because the text says he wasn’t pushing hard enough).
4 D – In the fourth paragraph, the writer notes that his “heart was beating heavily” (nervous), but his “body knew exactly what to do” and he “exploded forward perfectly” (well-prepared).
5 C – This option accurately captures the global meaning of the text. It acknowledges that he finished second (didn’t win) but ran his fastest time and feels immensely proud because he successfully learned the crucial technique of using the starting blocks.
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Pushing Through the Pain
I have always enjoyed playing sports, but I usually preferred short, fast activities like playing basketball. Running for a long time seemed completely impossible to me. However, my older sister, Mia, is a keen runner, and she finally convinced me to sign up for a local 10km charity race with her. We spent two months training together. Getting up early on cold mornings to run in the park wasn’t easy, but I slowly noticed that I was getting fitter and my breathing was improving.
On the morning of the race, I was full of different emotions. Standing at the starting line surrounded by thousands of other nervous runners, the atmosphere was absolutely amazing. When the race began, the first few kilometers felt surprisingly easy. I managed to keep a steady speed, and I even had enough breath to chat and joke with Mia as we ran through the quiet streets. I started to think that completing a 10km run wouldn’t be as difficult as I had feared.
Unfortunately, my opinion changed completely when we reached kilometer seven. My legs suddenly started to feel like heavy stones, and every step was extremely painful. I was experiencing what experienced runners call “hitting the wall”. I seriously considered stopping and walking to the side of the road because my body just wanted to rest. Mia noticed I was struggling and tried to encourage me to keep moving, but my mind was repeatedly telling me to give up.
Just as I was about to stop running, we turned a corner and entered the busy city centre. There were hundreds of people standing on both sides of the street, clapping and playing music. Suddenly, complete strangers started shouting my name, which was printed on my race t-shirt. Hearing their loud cheers gave me an unexpected burst of energy and completely changed my mindset. I finally managed to push through the mental barrier, and Mia and I crossed the finish line together. Receiving my medal was one of the proudest moments of my life, and I am already planning my next race!
1 Why did the writer enter the 10km race?
(A) She wanted to get fitter for her basketball team.
(B) Her older sister persuaded her to take part in it.
(C) She wanted to raise money for her own charity.
(D) She enjoyed getting up early to run in the park.
2 How did the writer feel at the beginning of the race?
(A) She was annoyed because the streets were too quiet.
(B) She found the running much harder than she had expected.
(C) She was confident because she was running faster than Mia.
(D) She was surprised that she found the running quite simple.
3 What happened at kilometer seven?
(A) The writer felt so exhausted that she wanted to quit the race.
(B) Mia decided to run ahead because the writer was too slow.
(C) The writer accidentally hurt her legs on some heavy stones.
(D) The sisters had to walk because the road was blocked.
4 What helped the writer finish the race?
(A) Seeing her family waiting for her in the city centre.
(B) Listening to some relaxing music on her headphones.
(C) The positive support from the people watching the race.
(D) Remembering all the hard training she had done with Mia.
5 What would the writer post on her blog after the race?
(A) “I am so glad I finished the race, but I have decided to stick to basketball from now on because long-distance running is too painful.”
(B) “Training for the race was the hardest part, but the actual run was a terrible experience because nobody came to support us.”
(C) “My sister and I won the charity race today! It was incredibly easy from start to finish, and my legs didn’t feel tired at all.”
(D) “I almost gave up when things got tough today, but the amazing crowd helped me find the strength to cross the finish line!”
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In paragraph 1, the writer states that her older sister Mia “finally convinced me to sign up for a local 10km charity race,” which is a paraphrase of being persuaded to take part.
2 D – In paragraph 2, the writer explains that “the first few kilometers felt surprisingly easy” and that she thought completing the run “wouldn’t be as difficult as I had feared.”
3 A – In paragraph 3, the writer describes “hitting the wall” and says, “I seriously considered stopping and walking to the side of the road… my mind was repeatedly telling me to give up.”
4 C – In paragraph 4, the writer mentions that complete strangers were shouting her name and that “Hearing their loud cheers gave me an unexpected burst of energy.”
5 D – This option accurately captures the global narrative of the text: facing a severe mental and physical barrier (“hitting the wall”) but ultimately overcoming it thanks to the encouragement from the crowd in the final stages of the race.