Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Starting and Developing Traditional Sports 5
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
My first time on a velodrome track
by Mia Turner
I have always been a keen cyclist. Every weekend, I ride for kilometres around the quiet country lanes near my home. I love the fresh air and the feeling of freedom. However, after watching the track cycling events on television during the Olympics last year, I wanted to try something completely different. I persuaded my parents to book me a beginner’s session at the nearest indoor velodrome, which is a special stadium designed for track cycling.
When we arrived, I walked into the huge building and looked at the wooden track. I immediately felt terrified. The track was shaped like a bowl, and the corners were incredibly steep. It looked more like a wall than a road. I honestly thought it would be impossible to ride a bike on it without sliding straight down to the bottom. To make things worse, the instructor handed me a track bike, which has no gears and, terrifyingly, no brakes!
Before we got on the bikes, the coach noticed that most of the beginners looked extremely nervous. He smiled and explained the secret of the velodrome. He told us that the faster we pedalled, the safer we would be. Speed was the magic ingredient that would keep our tyres stuck to the steep wooden boards. He told us to start on the flat blue line at the bottom, and only move up the slope when we were pedalling as fast as we could.
I got on the bike and started pedalling on the flat section. As I built up speed, I took a deep breath and steered the bike higher up the track. Suddenly, I was riding at an angle that felt completely unnatural. I was practically sideways, yet I felt completely secure. The fear vanished, replaced by a massive rush of adrenaline. I felt like I was flying around the corners, and the faster I went, the easier it became.
By the end of the hour, my legs were burning and I was completely exhausted. Riding without gears or brakes takes a huge amount of energy and concentration. Despite the pain, I was incredibly proud of myself for facing my fear. I realised that track cycling is a fantastic sport, and I am already saving up my pocket money to pay for my next session. I might even join the local youth club next month!
1 Why did Mia want to try track cycling?
(A) She was bored of riding on quiet country lanes.
(B) She saw the sport on TV and felt inspired.
(C) Her parents thought she would be good at it.
(D) She wanted to train for the next Olympic games.
2 How did Mia feel when she first looked at the track?
(A) Surprised that the stadium building was so large.
(B) Worried about crashing into other cyclists.
(C) Afraid that the surface was too steep to ride on.
(D) Annoyed because the bicycle was missing some parts.
3 What did the coach tell the beginners before they started?
(A) They needed to ride quickly to avoid falling.
(B) They should stay on the flat part of the track all day.
(C) They had to use a special glue on their tyres.
(D) They shouldn’t worry if they slide down the boards.
4 How did Mia feel when she rode high up the track?
(A) She felt uncomfortable because she was leaning so far over.
(B) She enjoyed the thrilling experience of going so fast.
(C) She was anxious because she couldn’t use her brakes.
(D) She was disappointed that it required so much effort.
5 What would Mia write in her diary that evening?
(A) I was so scared of the track that I almost didn’t ride, and I think I will just stick to riding on normal roads from now on.
(B) The steep corners looked terrifying at first, but once I got enough speed, it was an amazing experience that I definitely want to repeat.
(C) The track bike was really difficult to control without brakes, which ruined what could have been a brilliant day out.
(D) I went so fast that I actually enjoyed the session, even though I slid down to the bottom of the track a few times.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In paragraph 1, Mia says, “after watching the track cycling events on television during the Olympics last year, I wanted to try something completely different.” This maps perfectly to seeing it on TV and feeling inspired.
2 C – In paragraph 2, Mia describes the track as looking like a wall and states, “I honestly thought it would be impossible to ride a bike on it without sliding straight down to the bottom.” This paraphrases being afraid the surface was too steep.
3 A – In paragraph 3, the coach explains that “the faster we pedalled, the safer we would be” and that speed would keep them stuck to the boards. This matches the idea that they needed to ride quickly to avoid falling.
4 B – In paragraph 4, Mia notes that when she moved higher up the track, “The fear vanished, replaced by a massive rush of adrenaline. I felt like I was flying…” This shows she enjoyed the thrilling experience of the speed.
5 B – This option successfully captures the global narrative arc of the text: Mia’s initial fear of the steep track, the turning point of discovering the secret of speed, her amazing experience riding sideways, and her desire to go back for another session.
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Stepping Up to the Plate
I’ve been playing baseball for two years, but I had never felt as nervous as I did last Saturday. It was the final match of the season, and the score was tied. Our coach told me I was the next batter. As I walked towards the plate, my heart was beating incredibly fast. I knew that if I hit the ball well, we could win the championship, but I also worried about letting my teammates down.
The opposing team’s pitcher, a boy named Leo, was standing on the mound. Everyone knew him because he threw the ball faster than anyone else in our league. Standing in the batter’s box, I tried to ignore the loud cheers from the crowd. I gripped my wooden bat tightly and took a deep breath. I told myself I just needed to make contact, but Leo looked extremely confident.
Suddenly, the first pitch flew past me. It was a complete blur, and the umpire shouted, “Strike one!” I hadn’t even moved. For the second pitch, I decided to swing as hard as I could, but I was much too early. “Strike two!” The pressure was enormous. When Leo threw his third pitch, I closed my eyes for a second and swung blindly. I missed completely. I had struck out, and my chance to be the hero was gone.
Walking back to the bench, I felt terrible. However, my coach put his hand on my shoulder and gave me some valuable advice. He explained that I was trying to guess where the ball would go, instead of actually watching it leave the pitcher’s hand. He told me that raw power means nothing if your eyes aren’t tracking the target. I immediately realised he was right; I had let my nerves stop me from using basic technique.
Fortunately, the next batter managed to hit a fantastic shot, and our team won the game! Although I was thrilled that we got the trophy, I knew I had personal work to do. I’ve already asked my dad to take me to the practice nets this weekend. Next time I face a fast pitcher, I won’t swing blindly; I will definitely keep my eyes on the ball.
1 How did the writer feel as he walked towards the plate?
(A) confident that he was going to win the championship
(B) anxious because he didn’t want to disappoint his team
(C) excited because he had been playing baseball for two years
(D) annoyed that the coach had chosen him as the next batter
2 What do we learn about the opposing team’s pitcher?
(A) He was bothered by the loud noises from the crowd.
(B) He usually struggled to make contact with the ball.
(C) He had a reputation for throwing at very high speeds.
(D) He was trying to take deep breaths to stay calm.
3 During the third pitch, the writer
(A) swung his bat before the ball even left the pitcher’s hand.
(B) realised that the ball was travelling much too fast to hit.
(C) decided not to move his bat at all because of the pressure.
(D) failed to hit the ball because he wasn’t looking at it.
4 What advice did the coach give the writer?
(A) He should swing the bat with a lot more physical power.
(B) He needed to concentrate on watching the ball carefully.
(C) He was supposed to guess exactly where the ball would land.
(D) He had to learn how to completely control his nervous feelings.
5 What would the writer write in his diary that evening?
(A) I’m so annoyed that our team lost the championship today. It’s all my fault because I couldn’t hit Leo’s fast pitches.
(B) Striking out was awful, but my teammates were really angry with me. I don’t think I’ll play baseball again next season.
(C) Even though I failed to hit the ball today, I learned a great lesson. I need to watch the ball better instead of just swinging hard!
(D) Today proved that I am the best batter on the team. Even though the pitcher was incredibly fast, my technique was absolutely perfect.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The first paragraph states that the writer’s “heart was beating incredibly fast” and he “worried about letting my teammates down,” which maps to feeling anxious about disappointing his team.
2 C – In the second paragraph, the writer explains that everyone knew the pitcher, Leo, “because he threw the ball faster than anyone else in our league,” meaning he had a reputation for high speeds. Options A and D apply to the writer, not the pitcher.
3 D – The third paragraph describes the third pitch, stating: “I closed my eyes for a second and swung blindly. I missed completely.” This means he failed to hit it because he wasn’t looking at it.
4 B – The fourth paragraph explains that the coach told him he should be “actually watching it leave the pitcher’s hand” and that power means nothing if his “eyes aren’t tracking the target.”
5 C – This option captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text. It acknowledges his personal failure at the plate, his realization of his technical mistake (not watching the ball), and his positive, forward-looking attitude to improve his skills.
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Mastering the Art of Bowling
I have always been a huge fan of team sports, but until last summer, I had never played cricket. Several of my close friends were already in the local club, and they suggested I join them. I wanted to spend more time outdoors, so I agreed. When I first started, the coach asked what position I wanted to play. Watching professional matches on television, I had always admired the fast bowlers. They ran in quickly and released the ball with incredible energy. I immediately told the coach that I wanted to learn how to bowl.
However, I soon discovered that bowling is completely different from just throwing a ball. The coach explained a very strict rule in cricket: when you bowl, you must keep your arm perfectly straight. If you bend your elbow, the umpire calls it a ‘no-ball’, and it doesn’t count. At first, this felt unnatural. Every time I tried to bowl fast, my elbow naturally bent. The coach had to stop me repeatedly. It was extremely frustrating, and I started to think I had made a terrible choice. I even considered giving up bowling to become a batter instead.
Despite my initial disappointment, I decided to keep trying. For the next three weeks, I spent hours practicing in the park. My coach gave me a special exercise to do. I had to stand still and just swing my arm in a large circle without holding a ball. Slowly, my muscles got used to the unusual movement. Once I could keep my arm straight, I started running and using a real cricket ball again. My speed wasn’t great, and my direction was often wrong, but at least my bowling was finally legal. I felt a huge sense of relief.
My hard work finally paid off during our first friendly match of the season. I was quite nervous when the captain asked me to bowl. My first few balls went too wide, but I remembered to keep my arm completely straight. Then, on my final attempt of the over, everything went perfectly. The ball bounced on the grass, went straight past the batter, and hit the wooden stumps. I had taken my first wicket! My teammates ran over to celebrate with me. I now realise that mastering a difficult skill takes patience, and I cannot wait for our next game.
1 Why did the writer choose to become a bowler?
(A) His friends told him he would be good at that position.
(B) He was impressed by the energy of the professional bowlers.
(C) The coach asked him to try running in quickly.
(D) He wanted to spend more time outdoors with his teammates.
2 What did the writer find most difficult at the beginning?
(A) Remembering all the different rules of the sport.
(B) Delivering the ball without bending his elbow.
(C) Bowling fast enough to impress his new coach.
(D) Accepting the umpire’s decisions during matches.
3 How did the writer improve his bowling technique?
(A) He spent hours running with a real cricket ball.
(B) He stopped trying to bowl fast and focused on accuracy.
(C) He performed a special arm movement without using a ball.
(D) He watched his coach swing his arm in large circles.
4 During his first match, the writer
(A) felt completely relaxed when the captain asked him to bowl.
(B) hit the wooden stumps with his very first delivery.
(C) successfully hit the stumps despite bending his arm.
(D) struggled to bowl accurately with his initial attempts.
5 What would the writer text a friend after his first match?
(A) “I finally got a player out today! Learning to bowl legally was really frustrating at first, but all that extra practice was completely worth it.”
(B) “I managed to take a wicket today, but unfortunately the umpire said it was a no-ball. I guess I really need to work on keeping my arm straight!”
(C) “I’ve realised that bowling is too difficult for me. Even after three weeks of practice, I still bend my arm. I think I’ll try batting instead next week.”
(D) “My bowling speed and direction were absolutely perfect in today’s match! I can’t believe how easy it was to learn this sport.”
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In paragraph 1, the writer explains that he had “admired the fast bowlers” on television because they released the ball with “incredible energy,” which motivated his choice. Option D is why he joined the club, not why he chose to bowl.
2 B – In paragraph 2, the writer states that the strict rule is that “you must keep your arm perfectly straight,” and that every time he tried to bowl fast, his “elbow naturally bent.”
3 C – In paragraph 3, the writer describes improving by standing still and swinging his arm “in a large circle without holding a ball.”
4 D – In paragraph 4, the writer states, “My first few balls went too wide,” which means he struggled with his accuracy on his first few attempts.
5 A – This option accurately captures the global narrative of the text: overcoming the initial frustration of learning the strict straight-arm rule, putting in weeks of practice, and eventually feeling the reward of taking a wicket in a real match.