Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Starting and Developing Traditional Sports 7
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
My first boxing class
by Mark Evans
I’ve always wanted to improve my fitness, but running on a machine at a normal gym always seemed incredibly boring to me. Last month, a new boxing gym opened in my neighbourhood. A friend told me that boxing was a fantastic way to get fit, even if you never actually fight anyone in a ring. I decided to go along to a beginner’s class, hoping it would finally make exercising enjoyable.
When I arrived, the coach, David, welcomed me and gave me some hand wraps and thick gloves. I expected that we would start hitting things immediately. However, the first twenty minutes were spent just doing a warm-up. We had to skip with a rope, do push-ups, and run around the room. By the time the actual boxing started, I was already sweating heavily and wondering if I could survive the rest of the class.
Next, David showed us some basic punches and told us to practise on the heavy hanging bags. I stepped up to a bag, feeling confident because I thought I had quite strong arms. I threw a few hard punches, which felt great at first. But after just two minutes of continuously hitting the heavy bag, my arms felt like they were made of stone. I was completely out of breath and had to stop to rest.
That was when I realised I had misunderstood the sport completely. David explained that boxing is not just about having powerful arms to hit hard. Instead, it requires incredible cardiovascular endurance. You have to constantly move your feet, twist your body, and control your breathing. If you are not fit enough to keep moving, your strong punches are completely useless.
Despite the intense pain in my muscles the next day, I felt extremely proud of myself for finishing the session. I have now been going to the boxing gym twice a week. I am still exhausted after every class, but my general fitness has improved so much. I might never step into a boxing ring to fight, but I am definitely winning the battle to get fit!
1 Why did Mark decide to go to the boxing gym?
(A) He wanted to learn how to fight in a competition.
(B) He was looking for a more interesting way to get fit.
(C) He was invited by a friend who trained there regularly.
(D) He wanted to use the running machines there.
2 What surprised Mark at the beginning of the class?
(A) The coach asked him to buy his own gloves.
(B) The warm-up exercises were too easy for him.
(C) They didn’t start practising punches straight away.
(D) He was the only beginner in the sports hall.
3 How did Mark feel while hitting the heavy bag?
(A) Disappointed that the bag wasn’t heavy enough.
(B) Worried that his arms weren’t strong enough to punch.
(C) Annoyed that the coach told him to stop and rest.
(D) Shocked by how quickly he became tired.
4 What did Mark learn about boxing from the coach?
(A) Having strong arms is the only thing that matters.
(B) You must learn how to take a hard punch from an opponent.
(C) General fitness and breathing are essential for the sport.
(D) Foot movement is less important than punching power.
5 What would Mark write in his blog?
(A) I’ve started boxing to get fit, but it’s just too exhausting. I think I’ll go back to running on machines.
(B) Boxing is a great sport, but you need to fight people in the ring if you really want to improve your fitness.
(C) The boxing coach made us do too much skipping instead of punching, which ruined my first experience.
(D) Hitting a heavy bag is much harder than it looks! It requires full-body fitness, but it’s a brilliant way to exercise.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In paragraph 1, Mark says that running at a normal gym seemed “incredibly boring” and he went to the boxing class “hoping it would finally make exercising enjoyable.” This matches looking for a more interesting way to get fit.
2 C – In paragraph 2, Mark explains, “I expected that we would start hitting things immediately. However, the first twenty minutes were spent just doing a warm-up.” This directly matches option C.
3 D – In paragraph 3, Mark notes that “after just two minutes of continuously hitting the heavy bag, my arms felt like they were made of stone. I was completely out of breath”. This paraphrases being shocked by how quickly he became tired.
4 C – In paragraph 4, the coach explains that boxing “requires incredible cardiovascular endurance” and that you have to “constantly move your feet… and control your breathing.” This maps perfectly to general fitness and breathing being essential.
5 D – This option successfully captures the global narrative arc of the text: Mark’s discovery that the sport is harder than just throwing punches, his realization about cardiovascular fitness, and his positive attitude towards continuing the classes to get fit.
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Aiming for the Target
For my fifteenth birthday, my parents paid for a beginner’s course at our local archery club. I had recently watched several action movies where the main characters fired arrows with incredible speed and perfect accuracy. They always hit the centre of the target, known as the bullseye, without even seeming to try. Because it looked so effortless on screen, I was completely convinced that I would be a natural at the sport. I walked into the club on my first day expecting to impress everyone immediately.
When I arrived, the instructor, a friendly woman named Sarah, handed me a wooden bow and a few arrows. She quickly explained the safety rules and showed us the basic stance. When it was finally my turn, I stepped up to the line, quickly pulled back the string, and let go. Instead of hitting the bright yellow bullseye, my arrow flew completely over the top of the board and disappeared into the long grass behind it. A few people smiled kindly, but I felt my face turn bright red with embarrassment.
Seeing my frustration, Sarah came over to offer some advice. She explained that archery in real life is nothing like it is in the cinema. She told me that raw strength wasn’t enough; the secret was actually patience and breath control. She instructed me to slow down, relax my shoulders, and take a deep breath in before pulling the string. “Don’t just look at the target,” she said. “You have to focus your mind and only release the arrow as you slowly breathe out.”
I spent the next twenty minutes just practising how to stand and breathe without actually shooting. When Sarah finally let me use an arrow again, I remembered everything she had taught me. I took a slow, deep breath, cleared my mind, and released the string gently. The arrow flew straight and landed with a loud thud on the outer blue ring of the target. It was nowhere near the bullseye, but my feeling of achievement was immense. I now understand that archery takes a lot of time and practice, and I absolutely love it.
1 Why did the writer expect to be good at archery?
(A) He had already taken a beginner’s course before his birthday.
(B) He thought it looked extremely easy in the films he had seen.
(C) His parents told him he would easily impress the instructors.
(D) He was naturally skilled at most other sports he had tried.
2 What happened when the writer shot his first arrow?
(A) He hit the yellow part of the target by mistake.
(B) He forgot to listen to the instructor’s safety rules.
(C) He failed to hit the target board completely.
(D) He accidentally dropped his wooden bow in the grass.
3 What did Sarah tell the writer about archery?
(A) You need to use as much physical strength as possible.
(B) It is important to hold your breath while pulling the string.
(C) Controlling your breathing is an essential part of the sport.
(D) You should try to copy the techniques you see in movies.
4 How did the writer feel after his final shot?
(A) disappointed that the arrow didn’t reach the bullseye
(B) annoyed that he had spent so much time just standing still
(C) proud of himself despite hitting the edge of the board
(D) surprised by the loud noise the arrow made on the target
5 What would the writer write in his diary that evening?
(A) Archery is exactly like the movies! I managed to hit the centre of the target on my very first day at the club.
(B) I had a terrible time today. The instructor made me stand still for ages, and I’m definitely not going back next week.
(C) I felt so silly when I missed the target earlier, but after learning to stay calm and focused, I can’t wait for my next lesson!
(D) I finally bought my own bow and arrows for my birthday. I just need to build up my arm strength to be a champion.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The text states in the first paragraph that the writer thought it “looked so effortless on screen” and therefore was “completely convinced that I would be a natural at the sport.”
2 C – In the second paragraph, the writer explains that his arrow “flew completely over the top of the board,” meaning he missed the target entirely.
3 C – The third paragraph describes Sarah explaining that “the secret was actually patience and breath control,” which paraphrases to controlling your breathing being essential.
4 C – In the fourth paragraph, the writer notes that although his arrow was “nowhere near the bullseye,” his “feeling of achievement was immense,” showing he was very proud.
5 C – This option captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text. It acknowledges his initial embarrassment at missing the target entirely, his realisation that mental focus and breathing are key, and his newfound love and excitement for the sport.
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A Leap of Faith
I have been taking horseback riding lessons for over three years, and I absolutely love it. Until recently, I only practiced riding on flat ground. However, last month, I decided I was finally ready for a new challenge: show jumping. Watching older riders fly over tall wooden fences looked so thrilling, although I knew it required a lot of skill. My instructor, David, agreed that I was ready and assigned me a gentle, experienced horse named Barnaby for my first jumping lesson.
When the day of the lesson arrived, David set up a very small jump in the middle of the riding arena. As I guided Barnaby towards the wooden fence, my heart started beating incredibly fast. I suddenly felt terrified of falling off. Without realizing it, I pulled tightly on the reins and held my breath. Just as we reached the fence, Barnaby stopped completely and refused to jump. I slid forward and nearly fell over his neck. I felt extremely embarrassed and frustrated, wondering if I had made a mistake by trying this.
David walked over and explained exactly what had gone wrong. He told me that horses are highly sensitive animals and can easily feel their rider’s emotions. Because I had become so nervous and tense, Barnaby thought there was genuine danger ahead. He stopped to protect both of us! I suddenly understood that the refusal wasn’t Barnaby being a bad or lazy horse. To make him jump, I had to be a confident leader. The realization completely changed how I thought about riding; it wasn’t just about giving physical commands, but about sharing trust.
I took a moment to relax my shoulders and took a long, deep breath. I patted Barnaby’s neck to reassure him, and we rode towards the fence a second time. This time, I kept my eyes looking forward and focused on staying calm and positive. To my delight, Barnaby lifted his front legs and hopped smoothly over the wood. The sensation of flying through the air, even for just a second, was absolutely magical. I know I still have a lot of practicing to do, but I’ve learned that a successful jump depends entirely on teamwork.
1 Why did the writer want to try show jumping?
(A) She was bored of riding on flat ground for three years.
(B) She was inspired by seeing other people doing it.
(C) She thought it would be an easy new skill to learn.
(D) Her instructor David told her she had to do it.
2 What happened during the writer’s first attempt to jump?
(A) Barnaby jumped too high and caused her to fall off.
(B) She asked her instructor to make the fence lower.
(C) She reacted to her fear by making her body tense.
(D) Barnaby ran away because he was afraid of the fence.
3 What important fact did David teach the writer about horses?
(A) They will refuse to move if they are feeling lazy.
(B) They understand physical commands better than emotions.
(C) They only trust riders who have years of experience.
(D) They will stop if they sense their rider is afraid.
4 How does the writer feel about her successful jump?
(A) She is proud that she forced Barnaby to jump over it.
(B) She is excited because it felt like a magical experience.
(C) She is confident she is now ready to enter a competition.
(D) She is worried because she still needs so much practice.
5 What would the writer write in her diary that evening?
(A) “I had my first jumping lesson today. Barnaby was in a terrible mood and wouldn’t listen to my commands, but I finally made him jump.”
(B) “Show jumping is much scarier than I thought. I think I will just go back to riding on flat ground where I feel safe.”
(C) “I learned today that riding is a real partnership. Once I managed to calm my own nerves, Barnaby and I did a perfect jump!”
(D) “David is a great instructor, but I wish he hadn’t made the fences so high on my first day. I’m lucky I didn’t get hurt.”
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In paragraph 1, the writer states “Watching older riders fly over tall wooden fences looked so thrilling,” showing she was inspired by observing others.
2 C – In paragraph 2, the writer explains her nervous reaction: “Without realizing it, I pulled tightly on the reins and held my breath.”
3 D – In paragraph 3, David explains that horses are sensitive and because she became nervous, “Barnaby thought there was genuine danger ahead” and stopped to protect them.
4 B – In paragraph 4, the writer describes her successful jump by saying, “The sensation of flying through the air, even for just a second, was absolutely magical.”
5 C – This option accurately captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text: realizing that horses feel their rider’s emotions, calming down to build trust, and successfully completing the jump as a team.