Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Winter, Outdoor and Adventure Sports 9
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
My first land yachting experience
by Liam Carter
I’ve always enjoyed riding my mountain bike along the coast, but last month I wanted to try something a bit more thrilling. My family was visiting a seaside town known for its massive, flat beaches, which are perfect for a sport called land yachting. If you don’t know what a land yacht is, it’s basically a small, three-wheeled buggy with a large sail attached to it. After spending hours watching people flying across the sand from our hotel balcony, I was completely fascinated. I begged my parents to book me a beginner’s lesson, and luckily, they agreed.
When I arrived at the beach the next morning, the instructor, Mark, introduced me to my vehicle. I had to sit very low to the ground, steering the front wheel with my feet. Meanwhile, my hands controlled a rope that pulled the sail in or let it out to catch the wind. Mark explained the safety rules carefully, but the whole process seemed quite simple. Once I was safely strapped into the seat, I pulled the rope towards me. The sail filled with air, and I instantly started rolling forward along the wet sand.
After about ten minutes of practising the basics, I became more confident and decided to pull the rope tighter. Suddenly, the land yacht shot forward. I couldn’t believe the speed; I was moving much faster than I ever could on my bicycle! The wind roared in my ears, and I felt an amazing sense of freedom. However, the excitement quickly turned to fear. A sudden, powerful gust of wind hit the sail, and the right wheel lifted completely off the ground.
I felt like I was going to tip over and panicked for a second. Then, I remembered Mark’s most important piece of advice: if you ever feel like you are going to crash, simply let go of the rope. I quickly opened my hand, allowing the sail to swing out and empty the wind. Immediately, the wheel dropped back down onto the sand with a heavy bump, and the buggy slowed to a safe stop.
Sitting there, my heart was beating incredibly fast. I had learned a valuable lesson about respecting the power of the wind. Despite the terrifying moment, I was incredibly proud of myself for handling the situation. I can safely say that land yachting is the most exciting sport I have ever tried, and I can’t wait to go back again next summer.
1 Why did Liam decide to try land yachting?
(A) He wanted to race against other mountain bikers on the sand.
(B) He was inspired after observing other people doing it.
(C) His parents suggested it would be a good holiday activity.
(D) He had read an interesting article about it at his hotel.
2 How did Liam feel about controlling the land yacht at first?
(A) He found the safety rules too complicated to remember.
(B) He disliked having to sit so close to the ground.
(C) He struggled to steer the front wheel with his feet.
(D) He thought the instructions were relatively easy to follow.
3 What happened when Liam decided to pull the rope tighter?
(A) He nearly crashed into another land yacht on the beach.
(B) One of his buggy’s wheels lost contact with the sand.
(C) He realised he was moving slower than a bicycle.
(D) The strong wind caused the sail to tear completely.
4 How did Liam stop the buggy from falling over?
(A) He steered the front wheel sharply to the left.
(B) He shouted for his instructor to come and help him.
(C) He released the rope so the sail would lose power.
(D) He used his feet to brake against the wet sand.
5 What would Liam write in a text message to his friend?
(A) Land yachting was terrifying! The buggy completely tipped over and I think I’ll stick to riding my mountain bike from now on.
(B) The instructor didn’t teach me how to stop the land yacht properly, which made the whole experience much more dangerous than it should have been.
(C) I thought land yachting would be much faster, but honestly, riding my bike along the coast is a lot more thrilling.
(D) I had an amazing time land yachting today! I had a scary moment when the wind caught the sail, but I managed to stay safe and loved the speed.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In paragraph 1, Liam states: “After spending hours watching people flying across the sand from our hotel balcony, I was completely fascinated,” which led him to beg for a lesson. This paraphrases being inspired after observing others.
2 D – In paragraph 2, Liam explains that after Mark went over the safety rules, “the whole process seemed quite simple.” This matches thinking the instructions were relatively easy to follow.
3 B – In paragraph 3, Liam mentions that after a powerful gust of wind hit the sail, “the right wheel lifted completely off the ground.” This maps directly to one of his buggy’s wheels losing contact with the sand.
4 C – In paragraph 4, Liam remembers his instructor’s advice and decides to “simply let go of the rope… allowing the sail to swing out and empty the wind.” This matches releasing the rope so the sail would lose power.
5 D – This option successfully captures the global narrative arc of the text: Liam’s enjoyment of the amazing speed, the scary complication (the gust of wind lifting the buggy), and his successful application of the safety advice to safely resolve the situation, resulting in a love for the sport.
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A Higher Perspective
I have always enjoyed walking in the low hills near my home, but last summer, I decided I wanted a much bigger challenge. My uncle, who is an experienced climber, invited me to climb a high mountain peak with him. He promised to teach me the basics of mountaineering. I immediately agreed, feeling incredibly excited but also slightly nervous about whether I was physically fit enough for such a difficult journey.
We started climbing very early in the morning. At first, the path was quite wide and easy to follow. I was wearing thick, heavy boots and carrying a large backpack filled with water, food, and essential survival equipment. As the path slowly became steeper and covered in loose stones, my legs started to ache. However, I didn’t mind the physical discomfort at all because I was so busy enjoying the beautiful views of the green valleys below us.
By midday, the environment around us completely changed. There were no more trees or grass, only huge grey rocks and patches of white snow. But the biggest shock was the altitude. Because we were so high up, the air became very thin, which made breathing incredibly difficult. Every step felt like I was running a fast race. I had to stop constantly to catch my breath. I felt dizzy and completely exhausted, and I honestly considered telling my uncle that I wanted to go back down.
Fortunately, my uncle patiently encouraged me to take it one slow step at a time. After another hour of pushing my body to the limit, we finally reached the summit. Standing at the very top, I looked down at the tiny roads and rivers spreading out for miles. The sense of scale was absolutely breathtaking. Suddenly, the exhausting climb didn’t matter at all. Seeing how massive the world really is made all my everyday school problems seem very small and unimportant.
I am incredibly proud that I didn’t give up when things got tough. Mountaineering is definitely the hardest physical activity I have ever tried, but it is also the most rewarding. I am already planning to join a local climbing club so I can learn more skills for my next mountain adventure!
1 Why did the writer agree to go on the trip?
(A) He wanted to spend more time with his experienced uncle.
(B) He wanted to push himself to do something harder.
(C) He needed to improve his overall physical fitness.
(D) He was bored of walking in the same hills near his home.
2 During the first part of the climb, the writer
(A) complained to his uncle about the heavy backpack.
(B) struggled to walk properly in his thick winter boots.
(C) ignored his aching legs because of the amazing scenery.
(D) was surprised by how quickly the path became steep.
3 What did the writer find most difficult about the higher part of the mountain?
(A) Slipping on the loose grey rocks and white snow.
(B) Struggling to get enough oxygen into his lungs.
(C) Trying to keep up with his uncle’s walking speed.
(D) Walking quickly while wearing his heavy equipment.
4 How did reaching the top change the writer’s feelings?
(A) It made him realise his normal daily worries weren’t very significant.
(B) It made him wish he could stay there and look at the rivers forever.
(C) It made him proud that he had climbed to the summit faster than his uncle.
(D) It made him understand why people prefer to live in the tiny villages below.
5 What would the writer text to a friend after the climb?
(A) I finally climbed a mountain today! It was really easy at first, but I got too dizzy and had to ask my uncle to take me down early.
(B) Mountaineering is great, but you need to buy lots of expensive equipment. I’m going to start saving my money so I can join a club soon.
(C) It was incredibly tough to breathe near the top and I almost quit, but the amazing view made me realise how small my ordinary worries are.
(D) My uncle forced me to climb a mountain today. It was beautiful, but the thin air was terrifying and I definitely don’t want to do it again.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In the first paragraph, the writer states that he enjoyed walking in low hills but “wanted a much bigger challenge,” which paraphrases to wanting to push himself to do something harder.
2 C – Paragraph two explains that his legs started to ache, but “I didn’t mind the physical discomfort at all because I was so busy enjoying the beautiful views.” This matches ignoring his aching legs because of the scenery.
3 B – In the third paragraph, the text states, “the air became very thin, which made breathing incredibly difficult” and “Every step felt like I was running a fast race.” This means he was struggling to get enough oxygen into his lungs.
4 A – Paragraph four mentions that seeing the scale of the world “made all my everyday school problems seem very small and unimportant.” This perfectly paraphrases to his normal daily worries not being very significant.
5 C – This option successfully synthesizes the global meaning of the text. It acknowledges his severe struggle with the altitude and desire to give up (paragraph 3), while capturing his overwhelming sense of achievement and final reflection on his everyday problems (paragraph 4).
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
My canyoneering adventure
by Leo Banks
I’ve always loved spending my summer holidays hiking in the mountains and exploring nature. However, last year, I decided I wanted to try something much more extreme. While looking online, I found a guided canyoneering trip that involved climbing, swimming, and rappelling down waterfalls on a rope. It sounded like the perfect challenge for me. I booked a place immediately, feeling completely confident that my hiking experience would make it relatively easy.
When we finally reached the top of the canyon’s biggest waterfall, my confidence quickly disappeared. Looking down at the rushing water plunging into a deep pool far below was terrifying. The guide securely attached my harness to the thick climbing rope and carefully explained how to slowly lower myself down the slippery rock face. I had to lean backward over the edge, trusting the equipment completely. My legs were shaking so much that I could barely take my first step down.
As I began my descent, things got even more difficult. I was right in the middle of the waterfall, and the freezing water was crashing heavily against my plastic helmet. The noise was deafening, making it impossible to hear anything else, and the heavy spray meant I could hardly keep my eyes open. Suddenly, my boots slipped on the wet, green rocks, and I swung away from the wall. For a terrifying second, I panicked, but I tightly held the rope and managed to regain my balance.
Reaching the bottom was the most amazing feeling. As soon as my feet touched the water in the deep pool, I unclipped my harness and swam to the rocky shore. Looking back up at the enormous waterfall I had just conquered, my heart was racing. I experienced a massive spike of adrenaline and felt incredibly proud of myself. The descent had been exhausting and scary, but the sense of achievement was completely worth it.
I realised that canyoneering is far more demanding than normal hiking, but it is also much more rewarding. I was completely freezing and covered in small bruises, but I couldn’t stop smiling. I am already planning to return to the canyon next summer for an even bigger adventure!
1 Why did Leo decide to book the canyoneering trip?
(A) He wanted to practice swimming in deep mountain pools.
(B) He was looking for a more intense outdoor challenge.
(C) His friends persuaded him to try a dangerous sport.
(D) He wanted to improve his basic rock-climbing skills.
2 How did Leo feel when he was getting ready to go down the waterfall?
(A) Annoyed because the guide’s instructions were quite confusing.
(B) Confident that his previous hiking experience would keep him safe.
(C) Terrified at the thought of stepping backward off the high cliff.
(D) Worried that the climbing equipment wasn’t strong enough to hold him.
3 During the descent, what problem did Leo face?
(A) The climbing rope was too slippery for him to hold onto.
(B) He was completely unable to hear the guide shouting at him.
(C) The heavy force of the water made it very hard to see.
(D) His plastic helmet fell off when he hit the wet rocks.
4 What does Leo say about arriving at the bottom of the waterfall?
(A) He felt a huge rush of excitement and pride in his achievement.
(B) He was relieved that he didn’t have to swim far to reach the shore.
(C) He wished the challenging descent had lasted a little bit longer.
(D) He was far too exhausted to celebrate crossing the deep pool.
5 What would Leo write in a text message to his friends?
(A) I thought canyoneering would be easy, but going down the waterfall was terrifying. I think I’ll just stick to normal hiking next summer.
(B) Canyoneering is a great way to cool down! The water was freezing, but climbing up the waterfall was actually quite simple.
(C) Going down the waterfall was scary and the water made it so hard to see, but finishing it gave me an amazing adrenaline rush!
(D) The guide’s instructions were terrible, which is why I slipped on the rocks. It was a really dangerous experience that I regret doing.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In paragraph 1, Leo explains that he “wanted to try something much more extreme,” and the trip “sounded like the perfect challenge.” This paraphrases looking for a more intense outdoor challenge.
2 C – In paragraph 2, Leo says that looking down “was terrifying” and he “had to lean backward over the edge,” resulting in his legs shaking. This maps directly to being terrified at the thought of stepping backward off the cliff.
3 C – In paragraph 3, Leo states that “the heavy spray meant I could hardly keep my eyes open.” This matches the force of the water making it hard to see.
4 A – In paragraph 4, after reaching the bottom, Leo notes his heart was racing and he “experienced a massive spike of adrenaline and felt incredibly proud of myself.” This directly matches feeling a huge rush of excitement and pride.
5 C – This option successfully captures the global narrative arc of the text: Leo’s fear during the descent, the specific struggle with the crashing water blocking his vision, and his ultimate feeling of pride, excitement, and a massive adrenaline rush upon successfully conquering it.