Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Winter, Outdoor and Adventure Sports 6
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Off the Beaten Track
For the past two years, I have been a keen road runner. I usually jog around the streets of my neighbourhood or along the smooth, flat paths of the local park. I felt extremely confident in my fitness and speed. However, last month, I decided I needed a change from the noisy traffic and hard pavements. A friend suggested I try trail running in the large forest near our town. I assumed it would be exactly the same as road running, just with more attractive views, so I eagerly agreed to go the following weekend.
When I arrived at the forest and started my run, I quickly realised my assumption was completely wrong. The scenery was indeed beautiful, but the ground beneath my feet was entirely different. Instead of a flat surface, the path was covered in thick mud, loose stones, and wet leaves. I immediately had to reduce my speed to avoid slipping. Initially, I felt quite annoyed because I couldn’t run at my usual fast pace, and my legs had to work much harder to keep me balanced.
About halfway through my route, I made a silly mistake. I was admiring a large bird flying above the trees, completely forgetting to look where I was going. Suddenly, my foot caught on a thick tree root hidden under some leaves. I lost my balance and crashed heavily into the mud. Fortunately, I wasn’t badly hurt, but my clothes were absolutely covered in dirt. Sitting on the ground, I understood that I could no longer just switch my brain off and run on autopilot like I did on the roads.
When I got back on my feet, I completely changed my technique. I started taking shorter steps and made sure to lift my feet much higher. Most importantly, I kept my eyes focused firmly on the path a few metres ahead of me. Running suddenly became a fascinating mental puzzle. Every step required intense concentration to choose the safest place to land my foot.
By the time I finished the five-kilometre route, I was more exhausted than I had ever been from a normal run. Despite my aching muscles and muddy clothes, I felt fantastic. Trail running requires you to be completely mindful of your environment, which makes it incredibly rewarding. I doubt I will ever go back to running on the roads again!
1 Why did the writer decide to try trail running?
(A) He wanted to run in a quieter environment away from cars.
(B) He wanted to improve his running speed on flat paths.
(C) His friend told him it was much easier than road running.
(D) He was training for an important race in the local forest.
2 How did the writer feel during the first part of the run?
(A) frightened by the loose stones and wet leaves on the path
(B) frustrated because he had to run much more slowly than usual
(C) disappointed that the scenery wasn’t as beautiful as he expected
(D) exhausted because his fitness wasn’t as good as he thought
3 Why did the writer fall over in the mud?
(A) He was trying to run too fast over a large tree root.
(B) He slipped on some wet leaves while looking at the path.
(C) He wasn’t paying attention to the ground in front of him.
(D) He jumped to try and catch a bird that was flying above him.
4 After the fall, the writer learned that he needed to
(A) take much longer steps to get over the tree roots.
(B) relax his brain and run on autopilot to save energy.
(C) look constantly at his shoes while he was moving.
(D) concentrate carefully on exactly where he was stepping.
5 What would the writer write in his diary that evening?
(A) The forest was beautiful, but falling in the mud was so embarrassing. I think I will just stick to the city pavements from now on.
(B) Trail running is physically demanding, but it forces you to focus entirely on your surroundings. It was an amazing experience!
(C) I managed to run my usual five kilometres today, but the tree roots made it completely impossible to enjoy the scenery.
(D) I was right to think trail running is just like road running. It’s just a shame I had to completely ruin my clothes today.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 A – In the first paragraph, the writer states he “needed a change from the noisy traffic and hard pavements,” which means he wanted a quieter environment away from cars.
2 B – The second paragraph explains that he had to reduce his speed and felt “quite annoyed because I couldn’t run at my usual fast pace”, mapping directly to feeling frustrated about running slowly.
3 C – The third paragraph describes how the writer was “admiring a large bird flying above the trees, completely forgetting to look where I was going”, meaning he wasn’t paying attention to the ground.
4 D – In the fourth paragraph, the writer notes that “Every step required intense concentration to choose the safest place to land my foot”, which means he needed to concentrate carefully on where he was stepping.
5 B – This option captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text. It acknowledges the physical difficulty and the need to be mindful of the environment, while concluding that the switch to trail running was highly rewarding and enjoyable.
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
High Above the Jungle
I have always been fascinated by nature, especially tropical rainforests. So, when my parents announced we were spending our summer holiday in Costa Rica, I was absolutely thrilled. While researching activities online, I found a guided canopy walk. It involved crossing a series of suspension bridges built high up in the tops of the trees. It sounded like the perfect way to explore the jungle and see animals in their natural home. I begged my parents to book tickets, completely ignoring the fact that I am not usually a very brave person.
When we arrived at the national park, the guide handed us safety harnesses and explained the rules. We climbed a tall wooden tower to reach the first bridge. As soon as I stepped onto the narrow wooden boards, the bridge began to shake and swing from side to side. Foolishly, I made the mistake of looking straight down at the ground, which was forty metres below. My head began to spin, and I felt incredibly dizzy. I froze completely, gripping the handrails so tightly that my fingers hurt. I honestly thought I couldn’t go any further.
Seeing my panic, our guide, Tomas, walked back towards me. He told me that feeling scared was completely normal, but looking down would only make it worse. Instead, he pointed to the branches ahead of us and told me to look for wildlife. Suddenly, a bright red and yellow parrot flew past and landed on a nearby tree. I concentrated entirely on the beautiful bird, trying to spot its colourful feathers among the green leaves. Surprisingly, this simple distraction worked perfectly. Because I was focusing on the wildlife, I stopped thinking about the terrible drop below.
By the time we reached the final and longest bridge of the tour, my fear had almost completely disappeared. Walking across it actually felt exciting rather than terrifying. Without the panic, I could finally appreciate the amazing views over the endless green jungle. Hearing the sounds of the monkeys and birds all around me was magical. When I stepped back onto solid ground at the end, I felt an enormous sense of achievement. Not only did I see the rainforest from a completely new angle, but I also learned how to control my fear.
1 Why did the writer want to do the canopy walk?
(A) To conquer his lifelong fear of extreme heights.
(B) To observe jungle wildlife in its normal environment.
(C) His parents surprised him by booking the tickets.
(D) He wanted to take photographs of the local landscape.
2 How did the writer react when he got on the first bridge?
(A) He was annoyed that the wooden boards were so narrow.
(B) He complained that the safety harness was uncomfortable.
(C) He decided to turn around and climb back down the tower.
(D) He felt sick and terrified after looking at the ground.
3 What helped the writer to cross the bridge?
(A) Holding onto the handrails as tightly as possible.
(B) Closing his eyes while stepping across the wooden boards.
(C) Paying attention to an exotic bird instead of the height.
(D) Following closely behind the guide named Tomas.
4 How did the writer feel during the final part of the tour?
(A) Glad that he could relax and enjoy the incredible scenery.
(B) Relieved that the long, shaky bridges were finally over.
(C) Surprised that he could hear monkeys in the distance.
(D) Proud that he had learned a new skill for climbing trees.
5 What would the writer text to his best friend?
(A) The canopy walk was quite boring, to be honest. The bridges were very safe and didn’t move at all, so it wasn’t the adventure I hoped for.
(B) I just went on a jungle bridge tour! I was so scared that the guide actually had to carry me across the longest bridge at the end.
(C) Costa Rica is amazing! I just walked across some terrifying bridges in the jungle. I panicked a bit, but seeing the birds really helped me get through it!
(D) Today I faced my fear of heights! I spent the whole time looking down at the ground just to prove how brave I really am.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – Paragraph 1 states that the canopy walk “sounded like the perfect way to explore the jungle and see animals in their natural home,” which matches observing wildlife in its normal environment.
2 D – Paragraph 2 explains that after looking at the ground forty metres below, his head “began to spin, and I felt incredibly dizzy. I froze completely,” which paraphrases feeling sick and terrified.
3 C – Paragraph 3 details how the guide told him to look for wildlife, and when he “concentrated entirely on the beautiful bird,” this distraction worked perfectly to help him cross.
4 A – Paragraph 4 highlights that without panic, he “could finally appreciate the amazing views over the endless green jungle,” showing he was glad to relax and enjoy the scenery.
5 C – This option successfully captures the global narrative and emotional arc of the text: the writer went on a scary canopy walk, initially panicked due to the height, but used the wildlife (birds) as a distraction to successfully finish the tour.
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The Power of Teamwork
I have always been a confident runner, often taking part in 5-kilometre races in my local park. However, last month, I decided I wanted a completely new challenge. When I saw an advertisement for a local ‘Mud Run’, an obstacle course designed to test your strength, I immediately signed up. I persuaded my older brother to join me, although he was a bit worried about getting dirty. I felt incredibly excited as we stood at the starting line, surrounded by hundreds of other enthusiastic runners.
The first few kilometres were much harder than I had expected. We didn’t just run on grass; we had to wade through freezing cold rivers and crawl under heavy nets. Within twenty minutes, my clothes and shoes were completely covered in thick, heavy mud. It felt like I was carrying extra weights on my feet. Every time I tried to run faster, my boots slipped on the wet ground. It was definitely the most exhausting race I had ever experienced.
About halfway through the course, we faced the most terrifying obstacle yet: a huge wooden wall that was over three metres tall. Because hundreds of people had already climbed over it, the wood was completely covered in wet mud, making it extremely slippery. I ran forward and jumped as high as I could, but my hands couldn’t find anything to hold onto. I slid straight back down to the ground. After three failed attempts, my arms ached terribly, and I seriously considered giving up and walking around the wall.
Just as I was about to walk away, I heard a voice above me. I looked up and saw two large men sitting on top of the wall, reaching their muddy hands down towards me. They didn’t know me at all, but they shouted encouraging words and told me to try one more time. I jumped up, and they grabbed my arms, pulling me safely over the top. I thanked them endlessly. I quickly realised that in this race, competitors don’t care about their finishing times; they only care about making sure everyone gets through the course.
When my brother and I finally crossed the finish line together, we were exhausted and covered in dirt from head to toe. However, earning my Mud Run medal was the proudest moment of my life. The event taught me an unforgettable lesson about teamwork and human kindness. I can’t wait to do it again next year, so I can help pull someone else over that wall.
1 Why did the writer enter the race?
(A) To improve his 5-kilometre running time.
(B) To try a difficult new physical challenge.
(C) His older brother suggested it would be fun.
(D) He wanted to run in the local park with other runners.
2 What was the writer’s problem during the first part of the race?
(A) The heavy nets hurt his arms while he crawled.
(B) The water in the river was moving too fast.
(C) He wore the wrong type of shoes for running.
(D) The mud on his clothes made it difficult to move.
3 Why did the writer fail to climb the wall at first?
(A) He didn’t run fast enough before jumping.
(B) The wood was too wet to grab onto properly.
(C) He was too short to reach the top of the wood.
(D) His arms were already aching from the previous obstacles.
4 What did the writer learn from the men who helped him?
(A) The race is about supporting others, not winning.
(B) You must be very tall to complete the course.
(C) You should always ask for help before jumping.
(D) People who finish the race quickly are usually the strongest.
5 What would the writer write in his diary about the Mud Run?
(A) The race was a disaster. I was covered in dirt and couldn’t even climb the wall without help, so I’ll stick to normal running next year.
(B) It was exhausting and filthy, but the support from total strangers made it an amazing experience. I’m definitely doing it again.
(C) I’m annoyed that my brother and I didn’t get a faster finishing time. Next time, we won’t waste time helping other people.
(D) I loved completing the course, but I think the organisers need to clean the obstacles properly to make it fairer for everyone.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In the first paragraph, the writer states he had been doing 5-kilometre races but “decided I wanted a completely new challenge” and signed up for an obstacle course designed to test his strength.
2 D – Paragraph two explains that his clothes and shoes were covered in thick mud, and “It felt like I was carrying extra weights on my feet,” making it difficult to move faster.
3 B – In the third paragraph, the text mentions that the wood was “completely covered in wet mud, making it extremely slippery” and his hands “couldn’t find anything to hold onto.”
4 A – After the strangers pull him up in paragraph four, the writer realises that “competitors don’t care about their finishing times; they only care about making sure everyone gets through the course.” This means the race is about supporting others, not winning.
5 B – This option successfully synthesizes the global meaning of the text. It acknowledges the extreme physical difficulty (“exhausting and filthy” from paragraphs 2 and 5), captures the crucial turning point of the strangers’ help (“support from total strangers” in paragraph 4), and ends with his highly positive future outlook (“definitely doing it again” from paragraph 5).