Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Targeted Fitness, Health and Dance 4
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Finding the Rhythm
I have always loved listening to hip-hop music, but I only ever danced alone in my bedroom. That changed last term when I saw my school’s hip-hop dance crew perform at a talent show. They looked so confident and moved together perfectly. Even though I had never taken a formal dance class before, I decided to go to their auditions the following week. I was incredibly nervous, but to my amazement, the teacher invited me to join the team.
My excitement quickly disappeared during our very first practice. The routines were much more complicated than I had expected. Our teacher played the music at a very fast speed, and my brain simply couldn’t memorise the quick choreography. I was constantly turning left when everyone else was turning right, and I accidentally stepped on another dancer’s foot. I felt extremely embarrassed and seriously wondered if making me a member of the crew had been a huge mistake.
Fortunately, the other dancers were incredibly supportive. A girl named Sarah noticed I was struggling and offered to help me after school. We spent hours in the dance studio, breaking the long routine down into smaller, easier sections. I also spent my evenings practising in front of my bedroom mirror until my legs ached. Slowly, my muscle memory improved, and I stopped having to think about every single movement.
Two months later, it was time for our first public performance at the town festival. As I stood backstage waiting for our music to start, my hands were shaking terribly. I knew that if I panicked, I would ruin the performance for my team. However, the moment we ran out onto the bright stage, something magical happened. Hearing the loud cheers and feeling the amazing energy from the crowd made all my nervousness vanish completely.
We finished our routine without making any mistakes, and the audience clapped loudly. Walking off the stage, I felt exhausted but incredibly proud. Joining the dance crew was the hardest thing I have ever done, but it has taught me so much about hard work. If I continue to practise every day, I will definitely be ready for the regional competition next spring.
1 Why did the writer decide to audition for the dance crew?
(A) She had taken many formal dance classes in the past.
(B) She was inspired after watching the team perform at school.
(C) She wanted to listen to more hip-hop music in her bedroom.
(D) She was invited by the dance teacher to perform at a talent show.
2 How did the writer feel during her first practice?
(A) annoyed because the teacher played the music too quietly
(B) angry that another dancer stepped on her foot during the routine
(C) confident because she memorised the fast choreography easily
(D) embarrassed because she struggled to do the right movements
3 What helped the writer to improve her dancing?
(A) practising the whole routine without stopping for hours
(B) learning the dance in shorter, simpler parts with a teammate
(C) asking her teacher to play the music at a slower speed
(D) buying a new mirror for the school’s dance studio
4 What happened when the writer went onto the stage?
(A) She suddenly forgot the dance routine and ruined the show.
(B) She noticed her hands were shaking more than they did backstage.
(C) The positive reaction of the audience made her stop feeling scared.
(D) She realised the stage was too bright to see the crowd properly.
5 What would the writer write in her diary that evening?
(A) I am so angry that I messed up the routine today. The fast choreography is just a nightmare, and I don’t think I’ll ever get it right.
(B) The crowd was amazing today, but I was so nervous on stage that I couldn’t enjoy it. Next time, I will just stay backstage.
(C) Today proved that you need formal dance training to be on a crew. I only practised alone in my bedroom, which is why I couldn’t keep up with Sarah.
(D) I finally performed with the crew! It was difficult to learn the fast steps at first, but hearing the audience cheer made all the hard work worth it.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In the first paragraph, the writer states she decided to audition after she “saw my school’s hip-hop dance crew perform at a talent show” and thought they looked “so confident”.
2 D – The second paragraph describes how she “felt extremely embarrassed” because she “couldn’t memorise the quick choreography” and kept turning the wrong way.
3 B – The third paragraph explains that a teammate (Sarah) helped her by “breaking the long routine down into smaller, easier sections,” mapping to learning the dance in shorter, simpler parts.
4 C – In the fourth paragraph, the writer notes that “Hearing the loud cheers and feeling the amazing energy from the crowd made all my nervousness vanish completely,” meaning the audience’s reaction stopped her from feeling scared.
5 D – This option accurately captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text. It acknowledges the initial difficulty of the fast choreography, the successful performance, and the ultimate feeling that the hard work was rewarding due to the crowd’s energy.
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Finding the Rhythm
I have always wanted to get fit, but I really dislike going to the gym. Running on a treadmill feels boring, and I wanted to find an exercise I could do in my own bedroom. One evening, I was watching fitness videos online and saw some people using a weighted hula hoop. They were spinning it around their waists while listening to music, and it looked like a lot of fun. Because I loved hula hooping when I was a young child, I immediately ordered a heavy fitness hoop for myself.
When the package arrived, I excitedly put the hoop together. However, I quickly realised that a weighted hoop is very different from a child’s plastic toy. It was quite heavy and thick. I stood in the middle of my room, gave it a strong push, and tried to swing my hips in a wide circle. Unfortunately, the hoop crashed to the floor after just two spins. I tried again and again, but the exact same thing happened every time. I felt incredibly frustrated and started to think that I was completely uncoordinated.
Instead of giving up, I decided to search for some advice on the internet. I found a tutorial by an expert who explained exactly what I was doing wrong. She said that making large circles with your body makes the heavy hoop fall. The secret is actually to keep your body straight and just push your hips gently backwards and forwards in a steady rhythm. I stood up and tried following her instructions, focusing completely on the beat of my favourite song rather than the hoop itself.
Suddenly, everything changed. I managed to keep the heavy hoop spinning around my waist for a whole minute, and then for five minutes! It was exhausting, and my stomach muscles ached the next day, but it was also incredibly satisfying.
I now hula hoop for twenty minutes every single day. What started as a frustrating challenge has become my favourite daily habit. I have finally learned that with the right technique and a little bit of patience, you can turn any difficult exercise into a fun activity.
1 Why did the writer buy a weighted hula hoop?
(A) She wanted to remember her favourite childhood toy.
(B) She needed a cheap piece of gym equipment.
(C) She was looking for an entertaining way to exercise at home.
(D) She wanted to make her own fitness videos online.
2 What happened when the writer first tried to use the hoop?
(A) She broke it because it was made of thick plastic.
(B) She couldn’t keep it moving around her waist.
(C) She accidentally hit something in the middle of her room.
(D) She realised it was too heavy for her to lift.
3 What did the online tutorial teach the writer?
(A) To make wide circles with her hips to match the music.
(B) To use a lighter hoop when first learning the activity.
(C) To move her hips in a simple, regular pattern.
(D) To look closely at the hoop while it is spinning.
4 How did the writer feel after successfully using the hoop?
(A) Annoyed that she had wasted so much time doing it wrong.
(B) Pleased with herself although it made her body tired.
(C) Worried that she had exercised for much too long.
(D) Surprised that she didn’t feel any pain the next day.
5 What would the writer text to a friend about her new hobby?
(A) I finally figured out how to use my new hoop! It was annoying at first, but now I’m doing it every day and loving it.
(B) Hula hooping is a great exercise, but I think I’ll go back to the gym because it takes too much patience to learn.
(C) I bought a fitness hoop but it keeps falling down. I don’t think I have the right rhythm to do it properly.
(D) You should buy a weighted hoop! It’s exactly the same as the toys we used as kids, so you’ll be able to do it immediately.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 C – In the first paragraph, the writer states that she wanted to “find an exercise I could do in my own bedroom” and that using the weighted hula hoop “looked like a lot of fun,” which paraphrases to looking for an entertaining way to exercise at home.
2 B – Paragraph two explains that “the hoop crashed to the floor after just two spins” and “the exact same thing happened every time,” which matches the idea that she couldn’t keep it moving around her waist.
3 C – In the third paragraph, the expert explained that the secret is to “push your hips gently backwards and forwards in a steady rhythm.” This paraphrases to moving her hips in a simple, regular pattern.
4 B – Paragraph four mentions that the exercise was “exhausting, and my stomach muscles ached the next day” (made her body tired), but it was also “incredibly satisfying” (pleased with herself).
5 A – This option successfully synthesizes the writer’s overall experience. It acknowledges her initial frustration (covered in paragraph two), her eventual success in figuring out the rhythm (paragraph three), and her final positive attitude about it becoming a daily habit (paragraph five).
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Learning to dance
by Jamie Harris
I’ve always loved listening to music, but I was never very good at sports. So, when my local community centre advertised beginner salsa dancing classes for teenagers, I decided to sign up. I thought it would be a fun way to keep fit and meet new people. However, when I realised we actually had to dance with a partner, I immediately felt quite nervous. I had no idea how to move around the dance floor with someone else without causing an accident.
During my first few lessons, my worst fears came true. I was paired with a friendly girl named Clara, but I was so worried about getting the steps right that I kept looking down at my feet. Because I wasn’t looking at her, I accidentally stepped on her toes again and again. I spent the entire hour constantly apologising, feeling incredibly clumsy and embarrassed. Clara was very patient and smiled, but I honestly considered leaving the class and never coming back.
The following week, our teacher noticed my struggle and gave me some brilliant advice. He explained that dancing with a partner isn’t about memorising steps or talking to each other. Instead, it’s all about non-verbal communication. One person has to ‘lead’ by making small physical movements, and the other person has to ‘follow’ those signals. He told me to stop looking at the floor, relax my shoulders, and just pay attention to my partner’s body language and the rhythm of the music.
It took a lot of practice, but slowly, things started to improve. I learned how to gently guide Clara through the turns without saying a single word. Once I stopped worrying and started trusting the physical connection, we moved together smoothly. I finally stopped stepping on her toes, and the constant apologies were replaced by laughter. The feeling of spinning around the room perfectly in time with the music was absolutely amazing.
Surprisingly, learning to lead and follow has actually helped me in my daily life, too. I have become much better at reading people’s body language and communicating without words. I’m no longer the nervous beginner who stared at his feet. In fact, Clara and I are now preparing for a local dance competition next month, and I am incredibly excited to show everyone what we can do!
1 Why did Jamie decide to start salsa dancing?
(A) He was looking for an enjoyable way to exercise and make friends.
(B) He wanted to improve his athletic skills for a school sport.
(C) He was invited by a girl who needed a partner for a dance competition.
(D) He wanted to overcome his fear of dancing in front of large crowds.
2 What was Jamie’s main problem during his first few lessons?
(A) He was annoyed because his partner did not know the basic steps.
(B) He found the salsa music too fast to dance to comfortably.
(C) He caused pain to his partner because he was staring at the floor.
(D) He was too embarrassed to apologise for his terrible mistakes.
3 What did the teacher tell Jamie about partner dancing?
(A) It requires dancers to speak very clearly to one another.
(B) It is easier for the person who is following the movements.
(C) It is impossible to do if you don’t memorise the steps perfectly.
(D) It involves learning to read and respond to physical signals.
4 How does Jamie feel about his dancing experience now?
(A) He wishes he had chosen a more relaxing hobby to do alone.
(B) He believes it has improved his general communication skills.
(C) He is proud that he is the most talented dancer in his community centre.
(D) He prefers dancing by himself rather than with a partner.
5 What would Jamie write in his diary at the end of the course?
(A) I’m glad I stopped stepping on Clara’s toes, but I don’t think I’ll ever be brave enough to enter a dance competition.
(B) Salsa dancing is a lot harder than I expected. My partner was terrible, and the constant apologies made me want to quit.
(C) The teacher’s advice was confusing, but I eventually memorised all the steps perfectly by looking at my feet.
(D) I was terrified of dancing with a partner at first, but learning to communicate without words has been a wonderful experience.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 A – In paragraph 1, Jamie says, “I thought it would be a fun way to keep fit and meet new people.” This directly paraphrases looking for an enjoyable way to exercise and make friends.
2 C – In paragraph 2, Jamie explains that because he was worried, he “kept looking down at my feet” and “accidentally stepped on her toes again and again.” This matches causing pain to his partner by staring at the floor.
3 D – In paragraph 3, the teacher explains that dancing “isn’t about memorising steps or talking” but is about “non-verbal communication” and paying attention to “body language.” This maps perfectly to learning to read and respond to physical signals.
4 B – In paragraph 5, Jamie reflects that “learning to lead and follow has actually helped me in my daily life, too. I have become much better at reading people’s body language and communicating without words.” This shows it improved his general communication skills.
5 D – This option successfully captures the global narrative arc of the text: Jamie’s initial fear (being nervous about having a partner), the turning point of learning the skill (communicating without words), and his final positive emotional response to the hobby.