Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Starting and Developing Traditional Sports 6
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
My First Fencing Experience
I have always been a big fan of action movies, especially the ones where the heroes fight with swords. Because of this, when I saw a poster for a beginner’s fencing class at my local sports centre, I immediately signed up. I imagined myself moving quickly across the room and winning matches easily. I thought it would be the perfect way to get some exercise while doing something that looked incredibly cool.
However, my excitement quickly disappeared during the first lesson when we had to put on our equipment. The thick white jacket and heavy gloves were uncomfortable and made me feel extremely hot almost immediately. Putting on the metal mask was the worst part, as it made it surprisingly difficult to see clearly. Instead of feeling like a fast, elegant movie star, I felt awkward and completely unable to move naturally. I actually considered going home early.
Things did not improve much when we finally picked up our swords. In my first practice match against another beginner, my only plan was to attack as quickly and as wildly as possible. I rushed forward, swinging my sword without thinking. Not surprisingly, my opponent easily stepped out of the way and hit my jacket to score points. After I lost several times, my instructor stopped the match. He patiently explained that fencing isn’t just about attacking; it is actually a lot like playing a game of physical chess.
He told me that I needed to use my brain as well as my body. Instead of just running forward, I had to watch my opponent carefully, guess what they were going to do, and wait for the perfect moment to strike. It required strategy and patience. In my next match, I tried to follow his advice. I stayed calm, took my time, and suddenly, when the other boy made a small mistake, I stepped forward and scored my first point!
That single moment changed my whole attitude towards the sport. Even though the equipment is still annoying to wear, the thrill of outsmarting an opponent makes it all worth it. If I keep practicing hard, I hope to enter a regional teenage fencing competition next year.
1 Why did the writer decide to join the fencing class?
(A) He wanted to become a famous actor in the future.
(B) He wanted to try a sport he had seen in action films.
(C) He needed to get fit for a school sports project.
(D) His friends told him it was an easy way to exercise.
2 How did the writer feel when he put on the fencing equipment?
(A) Pleased that the heavy mask protected him so well.
(B) Annoyed because the thick clothes were too heavy to carry.
(C) Disappointed because it made him feel clumsy and hot.
(D) Surprised by how elegant he looked in the white jacket.
3 What did the writer learn about fencing from his instructor?
(A) The most successful players are the ones who attack the fastest.
(B) You need to think carefully and plan your moves to win.
(C) It is better to stand completely still and wait for an attack.
(D) Winning depends entirely on how strongly you swing your sword.
4 How does the writer feel about fencing now?
(A) He is planning to buy more comfortable equipment before his next match.
(B) He enjoys the mental challenge of the sport despite the uncomfortable clothes.
(C) He wants to quit because it is much harder than he originally thought.
(D) He is frustrated that he still hasn’t won a practice match yet.
5 What might the writer write in his diary that evening?
(A) I went to my first fencing class today. It was exactly like the movies! I moved so quickly that I won all my practice matches without trying.
(B) The equipment is terrible, and the sport is too slow. I think I’m going to find a new hobby that doesn’t require so much thinking.
(C) I finally scored a point today by using a good strategy! I still hate wearing the heavy mask, but playing ‘physical chess’ is incredibly fun.
(D) My instructor told me I have a natural talent for attacking quickly. If I keep rushing forward, I’ll definitely win the regional competition next year.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The first paragraph states he is a “big fan of action movies, especially the ones where the heroes fight with swords” and wanted to do something that “looked incredibly cool.”
2 C – In the second paragraph, the writer explains that the gear “made me feel extremely hot” and “Instead of feeling like a fast, elegant movie star, I felt awkward.” “Awkward” is a synonym for clumsy.
3 B – The third and fourth paragraphs detail the instructor’s advice that fencing is like “physical chess” and that he needed to “use my brain,” “watch my opponent carefully,” and use “strategy and patience.”
4 B – In the final paragraph, the writer states that “Even though the equipment is still annoying to wear, the thrill of outsmarting an opponent makes it all worth it.”
5 C – This option accurately captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text: being annoyed by the heavy equipment but enjoying the strategic, “physical chess” aspect of the sport after scoring a point.
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Learning to Fall
I’ve always been interested in martial arts, mostly because I loved watching action movies when I was younger. Last autumn, I finally decided to stop just watching and actually try doing one. I initially considered learning karate, but a classmate told me about a very friendly local judo club. I honestly thought judo was just about lifting heavy people and throwing them around, so I assumed I wouldn’t be strong enough to succeed. However, the club offered a free beginner’s class, so I persuaded my parents to let me give it a go.
When I started the lessons, the biggest challenge wasn’t learning how to attack, but dealing with the huge fear of being thrown. During the first few weeks, my instructor, Mr Tanaka, demonstrated some basic judo throws. Watching the older, more experienced students fly through the air and hit the floor loudly was absolutely terrifying to me. Whenever someone gently tried to throw me, my body would freeze. I instinctively reached out my hands to stop myself from falling, which Mr Tanaka warned was exactly how people end up breaking their wrists.
To help me overcome this natural fear, Mr Tanaka spent several sessions teaching me ukemi, which is the art of falling safely. He carefully explained that if you bring your chin down to your chest and slap the mat loudly with your arm right before you land, you can easily absorb the shock of the fall. We practised this slowly from a sitting position, then kneeling, and finally standing up. To my surprise, once I trusted the technique and stopped fighting gravity, hitting the mat didn’t hurt at all. Taking away the fear of falling completely changed my attitude towards the whole sport.
After that breakthrough, learning the actual throws became much more enjoyable. The most fascinating lesson was discovering that judo isn’t really about your physical power. Instead of using your own strength to push an opponent over, you have to use their weight and movement against them. If someone pushes you forward, you pull them; if they pull you, you push them. It requires a lot of mental focus and physical discipline to get the timing perfectly right, but when you do, it feels like magic. I still have a long way to go, but I’m incredibly proud of my new yellow belt.
1 Why did the writer decide to join the judo club?
(A) He wanted to become as strong as the people in his favourite action movies.
(B) A friend recommended it and he could try a lesson without paying.
(C) He had already learned karate and wanted to try a completely new sport.
(D) His parents persuaded him to take up a new hobby in the autumn.
2 What was the writer’s main problem at the beginning of his training?
(A) He was accidentally hurting the older, more experienced students.
(B) He was putting himself in danger because he was scared of falling.
(C) He found the basic attacking moves too complicated to remember.
(D) He disliked how noisy the gym was when people were practising.
3 How did the writer feel after learning how to fall safely?
(A) Shocked that hitting the floor loudly still caused him some pain.
(B) Bored of having to practise falling from a sitting position so often.
(C) Amazed by how much more positive he felt about doing judo.
(D) Worried that he would forget the technique during a real competition.
4 What did the writer find most interesting about judo throws?
(A) You need to use your own physical strength to push your opponent over.
(B) You must carefully use the other person’s weight and movement to your advantage.
(C) You have to earn a yellow belt before the instructor lets you do them.
(D) You only need good timing, so physical discipline is completely unnecessary.
5 What would the writer text his friend about his judo experience?
(A) I finally got my yellow belt! Judo is great, but you definitely need to be the biggest and strongest person on the mat to win.
(B) I’m really enjoying judo now. I was terrified of hitting the mat at first, but learning the right falling technique has made it so much fun.
(C) I’ve decided to quit judo and try karate instead. I just can’t stop using my hands to break my falls, and the instructor says it’s too dangerous.
(D) My instructor is very strict and makes us fall down all the time. I’m hoping the sport will stop hurting once I learn how to attack properly.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – Paragraph 1 states that “a classmate told me about a very friendly local judo club” and “the club offered a free beginner’s class,” which matches a friend recommending it and trying it without paying.
2 B – Paragraph 2 explains that his biggest challenge was the fear of being thrown, which caused him to reach out his hands to stop himself—something his instructor warned is “exactly how people end up breaking their wrists.”
3 C – Paragraph 3 details how learning the safe falling technique surprised him because it didn’t hurt, and this “completely changed my attitude towards the whole sport,” making him feel much more positive.
4 B – Paragraph 4 highlights that judo isn’t about physical power, but rather “Instead of using your own strength to push an opponent over, you have to use their weight and movement against them.”
5 B – This option successfully captures the global narrative of the text: the writer was initially terrified of the falls, overcame this fear through learning proper technique, and now finds the discipline and mechanics of the sport highly enjoyable.
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Breaking Through Fear
I have been practising taekwondo for almost three years, and it has completely changed my life. I love the fitness, the discipline, and the friends I have made at my local club. However, last month, I faced my biggest challenge yet. I was preparing for my blue belt grading, an important exam to move up to the next level. To pass, I had to do something that terrified me: break a solid wooden board with my bare hand.
During the weeks leading up to the exam, I felt extremely anxious. Whenever my instructor held the wooden board in front of me during practice, my mind panicked. I was absolutely convinced that I was going to break my fingers instead of the wood. Because I was so afraid of the pain, I would naturally slow my hand down just before hitting the target. Of course, this meant I didn’t have enough power. My hand bounced off the hard surface, leaving my skin red and painful.
My instructor, Master Lee, noticed my frustration and pulled me aside. He explained that breaking the board was not really about having huge muscles or physical strength. “Your fear is acting like a wall,” he told me. He explained that I was aiming directly at the surface of the wood. Instead, he said I needed to imagine my hand travelling through the board and finishing on the other side. The secret was to focus all my energy into a single, confident movement without hesitating.
When the day of the grading finally arrived, the hall was packed with people. When my name was called, my heart pounded wildly as I stepped onto the mat. Master Lee held the board up. I took a deep breath and remembered his advice. I stopped worrying about my hand, focused my eyes on a spot behind the wood, and shouted loudly as I struck forward. There was a loud crack, and the board split perfectly into two pieces. Amazingly, it didn’t hurt at all!
Receiving my new blue belt that afternoon was a proud moment. I realised that the wooden board wasn’t actually my real enemy; my own fear was. Taekwondo has taught me that if you focus your mind and believe in your abilities, you can break through any barrier. I am already looking forward to my next grading.
1 Why was the writer worried about his upcoming exam?
(A) He thought he wasn’t physically fit enough to pass.
(B) He was required to do a physical task that frightened him.
(C) He had never taken a taekwondo grading before.
(D) He was nervous about performing in front of his friends.
2 What was the writer’s problem during the practice sessions?
(A) He injured his fingers and had to stop hitting the wood.
(B) He was holding his hand in the wrong position.
(C) He used too much power and hurt his skin on the hard surface.
(D) He couldn’t break the board because he slowed down his movements.
3 What advice did Master Lee give to the writer?
(A) To spend more time building up his physical strength.
(B) To picture his hand going completely through the target.
(C) To hit the board several times without hesitating.
(D) To look closely at the surface of the wood while striking.
4 What surprised the writer when he finally broke the board?
(A) It made a much louder noise than he expected.
(B) The crowd cheered loudly when the wood split.
(C) He didn’t feel any pain in his hand at all.
(D) Master Lee dropped the pieces of the broken board.
5 What would the writer write in his blog about his taekwondo grading?
(A) I finally got my blue belt! It turns out that having the right mental focus was much more important than the wood itself.
(B) I passed my grading today! I’m glad it’s over, but I think I’ll stop doing taekwondo now because it’s too dangerous for my hands.
(C) Breaking the board was tough because I lack physical strength. I need to lift weights before I try to get my next belt!
(D) The exam was terrifying because there were so many people watching me. Next time, I hope the sports hall is completely empty.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In the first paragraph, the writer states that he was preparing for an exam and “had to do something that terrified me: break a solid wooden board with my bare hand.” This matches being required to do a frightening physical task.
2 D – Paragraph two explains that because he was afraid of the pain, he “would naturally slow my hand down just before hitting the target” and “didn’t have enough power,” resulting in failure.
3 B – In the third paragraph, Master Lee tells the writer that he “needed to imagine my hand travelling through the board and finishing on the other side.” This paraphrases perfectly to picturing his hand going completely through the target.
4 C – In paragraph four, right after the board splits into two pieces, the writer exclaims, “Amazingly, it didn’t hurt at all!” which shows his surprise at the complete lack of pain.
5 A – This option successfully synthesizes the writer’s overall experience and final realization. It celebrates his achievement (getting the blue belt) and captures the main lesson learned in the final paragraph: that overcoming his own fear and focusing his mind was the true challenge.