Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Winter, Outdoor and Adventure Sports 3
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Walking on Ice
Last month, my family and I travelled to Iceland for our winter holiday. I’ve always enjoyed watching television documentaries about extreme landscapes, so when my parents announced they had booked a guided glacier hike, I was thrilled. However, as our bus approached the massive river of ice, my excitement quickly turned into anxiety. The glacier looked completely frozen, wild, and incredibly dangerous. I honestly wondered if I was brave enough to actually walk on it.
When we met our guide, Elias, he immediately handed out our equipment. We had to wear heavy helmets and attach metal spikes, called crampons, to the bottom of our boots. Elias gave us a strict safety talk, explaining that we must follow his exact path. Walking in crampons felt extremely awkward at first. I had to lift my feet much higher than usual and step down heavily to make the metal bite into the solid ice. Within the first ten minutes, my legs were already feeling tired from the unusual effort.
As we climbed higher, my complaints about my aching legs stopped. The landscape was unlike anything I had ever seen. I had expected the glacier to be bright white, but the ice was actually a stunning, deep blue. Elias pointed out several large crevices, which are deep, open cracks in the ice. Looking down into the dark, bottomless holes was absolutely terrifying, yet they were so beautiful that I couldn’t look away. I realised you had to respect the pure power of nature in a place like this.
During our lunch break on the ice, Elias told us about the history of the glacier. He explained that due to global warming, the ice is melting and shrinking at an alarming rate every single year. Hearing this made me feel surprisingly sad. Before the trip, I had only thought of the glacier as a cool place for a challenging physical adventure. Now, I saw it as a fragile environment that desperately needs protecting.
By the time we returned to the bus, I was completely exhausted, but my mind was racing. The hike didn’t just test my physical fitness; it changed how I view the world. I have already started reading more about climate change and joined an environmental club at my school. If we don’t take action soon, these incredible ice rivers might disappear forever.
1 Why did the writer feel anxious before the hike?
(A) He realised he hadn’t watched enough documentaries about it.
(B) He thought the environment looked untamed and unsafe.
(C) He was disappointed that his parents had booked a guide.
(D) He discovered that the bus journey to the ice was dangerous.
2 What did the writer find difficult about the equipment?
(A) The heavy helmet made it hard to hear the safety talk.
(B) The metal spikes kept falling off the bottom of his boots.
(C) He had to move his feet in an unnatural way to walk safely.
(D) He couldn’t keep up with Elias’s exact path on the ice.
3 How did the writer react to the crevices?
(A) He was disappointed because the ice wasn’t the colour he expected.
(B) He was too frightened to look at the deep holes in the ice.
(C) He complained that his legs hurt too much to enjoy looking at them.
(D) He felt both scared and fascinated by their appearance.
4 What did the writer learn during the lunch break?
(A) The glacier is getting smaller because of climate change.
(B) The ice has always melted quickly during the summer months.
(C) The glacier is a great place to practice for challenging adventures.
(D) The guide was sad about the lack of tourists visiting the ice.
5 What would the writer write in his blog that evening?
(A) Hiking on the ice was physically tiring, but the worst part was the heavy equipment. I don’t think I’ll ever do a winter activity again.
(B) Walking on the glacier was visually amazing, but it was just another fun challenge. I’m proud I didn’t fall into any deep cracks!
(C) I was terrified of the glacier at first, but seeing it shrinking made me realise we must protect our planet. It was a life-changing experience!
(D) The guide told us some interesting facts about the blue ice, but I already knew them from television. It was an easy walk overall.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The first paragraph states that the writer became anxious because the glacier looked “wild, and incredibly dangerous,” which maps perfectly to the environment looking “untamed and unsafe”.
2 C – In the second paragraph, the writer explains that walking in crampons “felt extremely awkward” and he had to “lift my feet much higher than usual and step down heavily,” meaning he had to move in an unnatural way.
3 D – The third paragraph describes the writer looking into the crevices and feeling that it was “absolutely terrifying, yet they were so beautiful that I couldn’t look away,” which paraphrases to being both scared and fascinated.
4 A – In the fourth paragraph, the guide explains that “due to global warming, the ice is melting and shrinking at an alarming rate,” which means the glacier is getting smaller because of climate change.
5 C – This option accurately captures the global meaning and narrative arc of the text. It highlights his initial fear, the realization about the shrinking ice, and the ultimate result of the trip sparking a deep passion for environmentalism.
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
My ice fishing survival trip
by Liam Davis
My name is Liam, and I’ve always loved watching survival shows on television. The people on screen always make surviving in the wild look like a thrilling adventure. So, when my outdoor club announced a weekend winter survival trip that included ice fishing, I immediately signed up. I imagined myself as a brave explorer, conquering the wild and easily catching my own dinner in the snowy landscape.
However, the reality of the trip hit me as soon as we stepped out onto the frozen lake on Saturday morning. The temperature was well below freezing, and the wind blew right through my thick winter coat. Before we could even start fishing, we had to break through the thick ice. Our guide handed me a heavy metal tool to drill a small hole. It was exhausting physical work, but at least the effort temporarily stopped me from shivering.
Once the hole was ready, we dropped our fishing lines into the dark water and sat down on our small plastic chairs. Then, the waiting began. An hour passed, then two. Sitting completely still on a frozen lake is not only freezing, but it is also incredibly boring. My fingers and toes were completely numb, and we hadn’t seen a single sign of a fish. I began to seriously regret coming on the trip, wishing I was back at home in my warm living room playing video games.
Just as I was about to give up and head back to the camp, I felt a sharp pull on my line. Suddenly, all my boredom disappeared. I stood up and quickly pulled the line out of the freezing water. At the end of it was a fish. It was quite small, definitely not the giant catch I had imagined, but in that moment, I felt a huge sense of achievement.
Later that evening, we cooked our catches over a warm campfire. Even though my fish only provided a few bites of food, it tasted better than any meal I’ve ever had. Sitting by the fire, I finally understood the real lesson of the trip. Nature isn’t just an exciting playground from a TV show; it is a difficult environment that requires patience and respect. I now know just how hard true survival really is.
1 Why did Liam sign up for the winter survival trip?
(A) He wanted to be chosen for a survival television show.
(B) He thought it would be an exciting adventure like he’d seen on TV.
(C) His outdoor club told him he needed to learn how to fish.
(D) He wanted to prove to his friends that he was a brave explorer.
2 How did Liam feel about drilling the hole in the ice?
(A) He found the heavy tool too complicated to use.
(B) He was annoyed that the guide didn’t offer to help him.
(C) He was glad that the hard work helped him stay warm.
(D) He was surprised by how difficult it was to break the thin ice.
3 While waiting for a fish to bite, Liam
(A) wished he had brought his video games to play on the ice.
(B) decided to walk back to the camp to get some warmer clothes.
(C) felt frustrated because his plastic chair was uncomfortable.
(D) started to feel sorry that he had decided to join the trip.
4 What does Liam say about the fish he caught?
(A) It was much heavier than he originally expected.
(B) It made him feel very proud despite its size.
(C) It was unfortunately too small to cook over the campfire.
(D) It managed to escape back into the dark water.
5 What would Liam write in his blog after the trip?
(A) Ice fishing is a great way to relax, but next time I’ll make sure to bring more food so I don’t have to catch small fish.
(B) Catching a fish on the frozen lake was so easy! I think survival shows make things look much harder than they actually are.
(C) Sitting on the ice was freezing and boring, but catching my own food taught me how challenging surviving in nature truly is.
(D) The trip was a complete disaster from start to finish. I didn’t learn anything new about nature and I wish I had stayed at home.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In paragraph 1, Liam says that survival shows “make surviving in the wild look like a thrilling adventure” and that he signed up because he “imagined myself as a brave explorer”. This matches thinking it would be an exciting adventure like on TV.
2 C – In paragraph 2, Liam explains that drilling the hole was “exhausting physical work, but at least the effort temporarily stopped me from shivering.” This paraphrases being glad that the hard work kept him warm.
3 D – In paragraph 3, Liam states, “I began to seriously regret coming on the trip,” which means he started to feel sorry he had decided to join it.
4 B – In paragraph 4, Liam notes that the fish “was quite small… but in that moment, I felt a huge sense of achievement.” This matches feeling very proud despite its size.
5 C – This option successfully captures the global narrative arc: Liam’s uncomfortable experience on the ice (freezing and boring), the climax of catching his own fish, and the important lesson he learned about the true difficulty of survival in nature.
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The Ice Track
Last winter, my family and I went on a holiday to the mountains. While my parents were perfectly happy just skiing every single day, I was looking for something a bit more thrilling. When I saw an advertisement for a tourist bobsled track nearby, I immediately asked if I could try it. Although I had watched professionals do it on television during the winter sports, actually standing at the top of the icy track made me feel incredibly nervous. The track looked like a giant, frozen slide, and the sleds seemed to be moving dangerously fast.
Before we could get into the bobsled, the staff made everyone attend a short safety lesson. The instructor explained that a professional driver would sit at the front to steer, which made me feel slightly better. However, he also warned us about the intense physical pressure we would feel during the ride. He handed me a heavy safety helmet and told me to keep my shoulders back. Getting into the narrow bobsled behind the driver was quite difficult because there was very little space to move my legs.
Suddenly, a green light flashed, and we started sliding down the ice. At first, it just felt like being on a fast roller coaster. But as we entered the first sharp corner, the speed increased dramatically. I suddenly felt a massive invisible weight pushing against me. This is called G-force, and it was so strong that it forced my head down heavily towards my knees. I couldn’t even lift my chin to look ahead! Even though the entire journey down the mountain only took about a minute, the intense experience made it feel like I had been sliding for an hour.
When the bobsled finally slowed down and stopped at the bottom, my whole body was shaking. As I climbed out, the world seemed to spin around me, and I felt completely dizzy for a few moments. My mum rushed over, looking worried, and asked if I was alright. Instead of complaining about how I felt, I just gave her a massive smile. Despite the uncomfortable pressure and the dizziness, the ride was absolutely incredible. I felt an amazing sense of excitement and achievement. If we come back to this resort next year, I will definitely buy another ticket for the bobsled track!
1 Why did the writer want to go on the bobsled ride?
(A) He wanted to try an activity that was more exciting than regular skiing.
(B) He wanted to become a professional bobsledder in the future.
(C) His parents persuaded him to try the track instead of skiing.
(D) He had always enjoyed going on giant frozen slides.
2 What made the writer feel a bit more relaxed before the ride began?
(A) Wearing a heavy safety helmet to protect his head.
(B) Knowing that an expert was going to drive the bobsled.
(C) Having plenty of space to stretch his legs inside the sled.
(D) Listening to the instructor’s warning about physical pressure.
3 What does the writer say about the G-force during the ride?
(A) It made him feel like he was riding on a normal roller coaster.
(B) It caused the bobsled to slow down safely in the sharp corners.
(C) It pushed his head down so hard he couldn’t see in front of him.
(D) It made the one-minute journey go by much faster than expected.
4 When the ride finally finished, the writer
(A) complained to his mum about how dizzy he felt.
(B) regretted going on the ride because his body was shaking.
(C) felt proud that he managed to stand up without feeling dizzy.
(D) was thrilled by the experience despite feeling a bit unwell.
5 What would the writer text to his best friend?
(A) I went on a bobsled today! It was terrifying and made me so dizzy that I’m never doing anything like that again.
(B) You should try the bobsled track here! It felt like it lasted for hours, but it was the most thrilling thing I’ve ever done!
(C) I finally drove a bobsled down an icy mountain today! I even managed to keep my head up during the sharpest corners.
(D) The bobsled was quite boring, to be honest. It only lasted a minute and just felt like a very slow roller coaster.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 A – Paragraph 1 states that “While my parents were perfectly happy just skiing every single day, I was looking for something a bit more thrilling [exciting].”
2 B – Paragraph 2 explains that “The instructor explained that a professional driver would sit at the front to steer, which made me feel slightly better [more relaxed].”
3 C – Paragraph 3 details how the G-force “was so strong that it forced my head down heavily towards my knees. I couldn’t even lift my chin to look ahead!”
4 D – Paragraph 4 shows that “Despite the uncomfortable pressure and the dizziness, the ride was absolutely incredible,” matching the idea of being thrilled despite feeling unwell.
5 B – This option captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text: the writer went on a thrilling ride where time seemed to stretch, felt dizzy but ecstatic at the end, and highly recommends the experience.