Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Starting and Developing Traditional Sports 4
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Learning to Fly
I have always been a fast runner, so when I joined the school athletics team, everyone expected me to enter the 100-metre sprint. However, I wanted to challenge myself and try a completely new event this year. During our first training session, my coach noticed I had quite long legs and suggested I try the high jump. I’d watched high jumpers on television before and thought they looked amazing, so I agreed to give it a go.
At my first practice, the coach explained that I needed to learn a special jumping style called the “Fosbury Flop”. Unlike a normal jump where you face forward, this technique requires you to jump over the bar backwards, head first. To be honest, this sounded completely crazy to me. Throwing myself backwards into the air felt incredibly unnatural, and my brain just kept telling me to stop. Even though there was a huge, soft mat to land on, I thought that if I missed it, I would get seriously injured.
Because I was so nervous, my first few weeks of training were a complete disaster. Every time I ran towards the bar, I panicked at the last second and jumped sideways instead of backwards. I knocked the heavy metal bar down onto the mat again and again. It was really frustrating, especially when I saw the other teenagers in my group clearing the bar easily. By the end of the third week, I was covered in bruises and seriously considering telling the coach that I wanted to go back to sprinting.
But my coach was very patient and told me to stop worrying about the bar. He told me to just focus on the feeling of pushing my hips up and curving my back. I took a deep breath, closed my eyes for a second, and ran as fast as I could. When I jumped, I finally threw my head and shoulders back properly. For a moment, I felt like I was flying. I landed safely on the mat and opened my eyes. The bar was still perfectly completely still!
I couldn’t stop smiling for the rest of the day. Although I am still far from being a champion, that one successful jump gave me the confidence I needed. Now, I actually look forward to high jump practice, and I am even planning to enter a local athletics competition next month.
1 Why did the writer decide to start doing the high jump?
(A) He was not fast enough to be a successful sprinter.
(B) His coach told him his body type was suitable for it.
(C) He wanted to copy the famous athletes he saw on TV.
(D) His teammates persuaded him to try a different sport.
2 How did the writer feel about the “Fosbury Flop” technique at first?
(A) He was afraid he would damage the soft landing mat.
(B) He found it very difficult to understand the coach’s instructions.
(C) He was scared because moving in that direction felt wrong.
(D) He thought the name of the jumping style sounded crazy.
3 What happened during the writer’s first few weeks of training?
(A) He hit the bar because he did not jump in the correct way.
(B) He dropped the heavy metal bar on his foot and got a bruise.
(C) He argued with the other teenagers who were jumping easily.
(D) He told his coach that he had decided to go back to sprinting.
4 What helped the writer finally jump over the bar?
(A) He opened his eyes while he was flying through the air.
(B) He paid attention to his body movements rather than the bar.
(C) He ran much slower so he could concentrate on his back.
(D) He listened to the cheering of his team members.
5 What might the writer write in his diary that evening?
(A) I am so glad I went back to the 100-metre sprint today. High jump was just too scary, but at least I gave it a good try.
(B) The Fosbury Flop is definitely the hardest thing I’ve ever learned. I finally cleared the bar today, but I still hate going to practice.
(C) I managed to do a proper high jump today without knocking the bar down! It felt amazing, and now I’m excited to compete soon.
(D) Today was terrible. I knocked the bar down so many times that I am covered in bruises. The coach told me to try a different event.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In the first paragraph, the writer explains that his coach “noticed I had quite long legs and suggested I try the high jump,” which means his body type was suitable for it.
2 C – In the second paragraph, the writer says throwing himself backwards “felt incredibly unnatural” and he thought he “would get seriously injured” if he missed the mat.
3 A – The third paragraph states that the writer “jumped sideways instead of backwards” and “knocked the heavy metal bar down,” showing his incorrect jumping style caused him to hit the bar.
4 B – In the fourth paragraph, the coach told him to “stop worrying about the bar” and “focus on the feeling of pushing my hips up and curving my back,” which means paying attention to his body movements.
5 C – This option captures the global meaning and emotional shift of the text: moving from terror and frustration to the joy of finally clearing the bar and feeling confident enough to compete.
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Back on the Beam
I have been doing gymnastics since I was seven, and the balance beam was always my favourite piece of equipment. However, six weeks ago, I had a nasty fall during a training session. Luckily, I only twisted my ankle and didn’t break any bones. While my ankle healed quite quickly, the mental impact of the accident was huge. Whenever I went to the gym, I constantly made excuses to practise my exercises on the floor instead of the beam because I was too afraid to try again.
Yesterday, my coach, Sarah, finally told me that it was time to get back on the beam. As I walked towards it, I felt absolutely terrified. The equipment is only ten centimetres wide and over a metre high, but it suddenly seemed much higher than that. Sarah noticed my nerves and promised that I wouldn’t have to do any difficult jumps or backward flips today. She explained that we were only going to focus on basic walking and simple balancing.
Even with her kind support, climbing onto the beam was a massive mental challenge. My hands were shaking, and my heart was beating incredibly fast. I kept remembering the awful feeling of losing my balance and falling through the air. However, Sarah stood close beside me the entire time. She gently reminded me to take slow, deep breaths and told me to look straight ahead at the wall, rather than down at my feet.
Following her advice, I completed a very simple routine of basic turns and small leaps. Because the routine was so easy, I didn’t have to stress about making complex movements. This allowed me to just get used to the feeling of the solid beam under my feet again. When I finally jumped down safely onto the soft mat at the end, a huge wave of relief washed over me. I hadn’t done anything spectacular, but I hadn’t fallen off either.
I know it will take a few more weeks before I am ready to perform my difficult competition routines again. However, the heavy mental block that stopped me from trying is finally gone. I no longer feel scared when I look at the beam. I feel incredibly proud of my small achievement today, and I am actually looking forward to adding a few challenging moves in my next session.
1 Why did the writer avoid the balance beam recently?
(A) She had broken several bones during a recent competition.
(B) She preferred doing floor exercises over beam routines.
(C) She was too frightened to use it after a bad accident.
(D) She had to wait for a twisted ankle to heal completely.
2 How did the writer feel when her coach asked her to use the beam again?
(A) Relieved that she wouldn’t have to do any complicated jumps.
(B) Extremely scared because the beam looked taller than usual.
(C) Annoyed that she had to do basic walking instead of flips.
(D) Confused about how wide the equipment actually was.
3 What helped the writer while she was standing on the beam?
(A) Remembering a time when she performed her routine perfectly.
(B) Keeping her eyes focused on her feet to avoid slipping.
(C) Taking fast breaths to calm her racing heart down.
(D) Having her coach nearby giving her helpful instructions.
4 Why did the writer feel a sense of relief after her routine?
(A) She had finally managed to learn a complex new jump.
(B) She was glad she had simply managed to stay on the equipment.
(C) She realised the soft mat was much safer than the gym floor.
(D) She enjoyed the feeling of the solid beam under her feet.
5 What would the writer write in her diary that evening?
(A) I had a terrible time at the gym today. I couldn’t do any of my usual jumps, and now I think I should give up gymnastics completely.
(B) Today was a great day! I faced my fears and got back on the beam. I’m excited to try some harder skills next time.
(C) I’m so annoyed with my coach for forcing me onto the beam. My ankle still hurts too much to do basic walking.
(D) Performing my full competition routine perfectly today felt amazing. I am definitely ready to win a medal next week!
Answer Key & Explanations
1 C – Paragraph 1 states that the “mental impact of the accident was huge” and she made excuses to avoid the beam because she was “too afraid to try again,” matching the idea of being frightened after a bad accident.
2 B – Paragraph 2 explains that as she walked towards the beam, she felt “absolutely terrified” and that it “suddenly seemed much higher than that.”
3 D – Paragraph 3 details how her coach “stood close beside me the entire time” and “gently reminded me to take slow, deep breaths and told me to look straight ahead,” showing that her coach’s instructions helped her.
4 B – Paragraph 4 highlights that the wave of relief came when she jumped down safely, realising that she “hadn’t done anything spectacular, but I hadn’t fallen off either.”
5 B – This option captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text: she successfully faced a huge mental block (getting back on the beam) and is now looking forward to adding more challenging moves in her next session.
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Mastering the Butterfly
I have been a member of my local swimming club for over five years. I am completely confident when swimming the front crawl or breaststroke, and I often win races in these styles. However, while watching the Olympics on television last summer, I saw the professionals doing the butterfly stroke. They looked incredibly powerful as they lifted their whole bodies out of the water. Right then, I decided I wanted to learn how to do it myself, even though everyone told me it was the hardest style to master.
During my first few practice sessions, I quickly realised that my friends were right. Unlike other swimming styles, the butterfly requires you to move both of your arms at exactly the same time. On my very first attempt, I pushed my arms forward but completely forgot to kick my legs. Instead of gliding smoothly across the surface, I sank beneath the waves and swallowed a huge mouthful of pool water. I coughed for several minutes and felt quite embarrassed, especially because the younger swimmers were watching me.
My coach, Sarah, noticed I was struggling and came over to help. She explained that swimming the butterfly isn’t just about having enormous muscles. It actually requires immense rhythm and precise timing. She made me practise the special dolphin-style leg kick using a float before I was allowed to use my arms again. For the next two weeks, I left the pool every evening feeling absolutely exhausted. My shoulders ached constantly, and I started to doubt if I would ever manage to put the whole stroke together.
Then, during a practice session last Tuesday, something amazing happened. Without thinking about it, I kicked my legs and pulled my arms back at exactly the right moment. Suddenly, I was lifting smoothly out of the water. I managed to complete a whole length of the pool using the correct technique. It felt like I was actually flying over the water.
Learning the butterfly was incredibly frustrating at times, but the feeling of finally getting it right made all the hard work worthwhile. I know I still need to build up my physical strength, but I am already planning to enter my first butterfly race in the regional championships next month.
1 Why did the writer want to learn the butterfly stroke?
(A) He wanted to win more races at his local swimming club.
(B) He was inspired by athletes he saw on television.
(C) His friends told him it was the most difficult swimming style.
(D) He was bored of doing the front crawl and breaststroke.
2 What happened during the writer’s first attempt at the butterfly?
(A) He moved his arms and legs at completely the wrong time.
(B) He was distracted by the younger swimmers watching him.
(C) He went under the water because he didn’t use his legs.
(D) He hit the water too hard and injured his shoulders.
3 What did Sarah tell the writer about the butterfly stroke?
(A) You need to build bigger muscles to do it correctly.
(B) Moving in time is more important than physical strength.
(C) You should always use a float when learning the arm movements.
(D) It takes at least two weeks of daily practice to learn the kick.
4 How did the writer feel when he finally did the stroke correctly?
(A) Surprised that he could swim the whole length so quickly.
(B) Relieved that he didn’t have to think about his technique anymore.
(C) Proud that he looked like one of the professional athletes.
(D) As though he was travelling through the air above the pool.
5 What would the writer write in his diary about his experience?
(A) I’m really annoyed that Sarah made me use a float. I would have learned much faster if I had just practised the arm movements.
(B) I’ve finally mastered the hardest stroke! It was exhausting and I drank a lot of pool water, but the feeling of flying was totally worth it.
(C) I’m going to stop swimming the butterfly now because it hurts my shoulders too much. I’ll stick to front crawl for the championships.
(D) I wish I hadn’t tried to learn this stroke. It was so embarrassing sinking in front of everyone, and I still don’t understand the rhythm.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The text states in the first paragraph that while watching the Olympics on television, he “saw the professionals doing the butterfly stroke” and “Right then, I decided I wanted to learn how to do it myself.” This means he was inspired by athletes on TV.
2 C – In paragraph two, the writer mentions that on his first attempt he “completely forgot to kick my legs” and consequently “sank beneath the waves and swallowed a huge mouthful of pool water.”
3 B – Paragraph three explains that his coach told him the stroke “isn’t just about having enormous muscles. It actually requires immense rhythm and precise timing.” This paraphrases to moving in time being more important than physical strength.
4 D – In the fourth paragraph, when he finally gets the timing right, he says: “It felt like I was actually flying over the water.” This matches the feeling of travelling through the air.
5 B – This option successfully synthesizes the writer’s overall journey. It mentions his struggles (exhaustion, drinking pool water in paragraph 2 and 3), his achievement (“mastered the hardest stroke”), and his final positive attitude (“feeling of flying was totally worth it”).