Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Targeted Fitness, Health and Dance 8
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Taking It Slow
For the past few months, I had been looking for a way to spend more time outdoors. My doctor suggested I should exercise more, and since I hate going to the gym, I decided to join a local weekend hiking club. They meet every Sunday morning to explore different trails in the hills near my town. I occasionally play football with my friends, so I felt fairly confident that I would be able to keep up with the rest of the group without any problems.
However, during my first few hikes, I quickly realised I was completely wrong. Walking up steep paths for several hours was much more tiring than running around a football pitch. I was constantly out of breath and always found myself at the very back of the group. I felt terribly embarrassed because everyone else had to stop and wait for me to catch up. I was convinced that I was ruining their weekend and seriously considered leaving the club.
Everything changed on our fourth hike. Our group leader, an experienced walker named Sarah, noticed I was feeling miserable. She dropped back to walk beside me and gently explained that hiking is definitely not a race. To my surprise, the other members of the group weren’t annoyed with me at all. In fact, they used the extra time waiting for me to take beautiful photographs of the scenery and watch the local wildlife. They assured me that they actually preferred the relaxed pace.
After that conversation, my whole attitude towards the Sunday hikes shifted completely. Instead of staring down at my boots and stressing about my speed, I finally started to look around. I noticed the amazing colours of the leaves and listened to the sounds of the birds. The fresh air and peaceful environment made me feel incredibly calm. I realised that being in nature is meant to be enjoyed slowly, not rushed.
I am still the slowest walker in the hiking club, but it no longer bothers me. I have made some wonderful friends, and my fitness has gradually improved. Sunday has easily become my favourite day of the week, and I am already looking forward to our next adventure.
1 Why did the writer decide to join the hiking club?
(A) He wanted to practise for his weekend football matches.
(B) He needed to find an outdoor activity to help him get fitter.
(C) He was looking for new hill trails to explore by himself.
(D) He wanted to prove to his doctor that he was confident.
2 How did the writer feel during his first few hikes?
(A) angry that the hills were so incredibly steep
(B) surprised that hiking was easier than playing football
(C) guilty because he was making the other walkers wait
(D) exhausted because he carried the group’s heavy bags
3 What did the writer learn about the other group members?
(A) They were secretly annoyed by his slow walking speed.
(B) They wanted Sarah to walk at the back of the group.
(C) They liked having breaks to appreciate their surroundings.
(D) They were also thinking about leaving the hiking club.
4 How has the writer’s attitude changed now?
(A) He is determined to become the fastest walker in the club.
(B) He no longer worries about arriving last on the trails.
(C) He prefers taking photographs instead of doing exercise.
(D) He thinks looking at his boots helps him walk faster.
5 What would the writer write in his diary on Sunday evening?
(A) I am so frustrated that I am still the slowest in the group. I really need to quit before the others ask me to leave.
(B) Today I realised that walking slowly isn’t a bad thing. The group is so patient, and taking my time allows me to truly enjoy nature.
(C) I had a great time today, but I wish the others would walk faster. I hate stopping to take photos when I just want to exercise.
(D) Sarah told me I need to improve my speed. I will play more football this week so I can keep up with everyone next Sunday.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In the first paragraph, the writer states he had been “looking for a way to spend more time outdoors” and his “doctor suggested I should exercise more,” which maps to needing an outdoor activity to get fitter.
2 C – The second paragraph explains that the writer “felt terribly embarrassed because everyone else had to stop and wait” and was “convinced that I was ruining their weekend,” which paraphrases to feeling guilty for making the others wait.
3 C – In the third paragraph, the writer discovers that the group used the extra time to “take beautiful photographs of the scenery and watch the local wildlife” and “preferred the relaxed pace,” meaning they liked having breaks to appreciate their surroundings.
4 B – The fifth paragraph notes that the writer is “still the slowest walker in the hiking club, but it no longer bothers me,” meaning he no longer worries about arriving last on the trails.
5 B – This option accurately captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text. It acknowledges his slow pace, the patience of the group, and his ultimate realization that moving slowly helps him appreciate the natural environment.
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Making Music with My Feet
I have always loved playing the drums, but I recently decided to try a new hobby. After watching an old musical on television, I was completely amazed by the tap dancers. They moved their feet so quickly and happily. It looked like the perfect way to combine my love for rhythm with physical exercise. Therefore, I bought some special shoes with metal plates on the bottom and signed up for a beginner’s class at a local studio.
When I arrived for my first lesson, I confidently assumed making a good sound would be quite easy. However, I quickly realised how wrong I was. Whenever our teacher, Mr. Jones, demonstrated a step, his shoes produced sharp, clean sounds. But when I tried to copy him, my feet just created a confusing, muddy noise. The metal plates seemed to slide everywhere, and I couldn’t control the timing. I felt quite embarrassed as I stared at my feet, wondering if I had made a terrible mistake.
The biggest challenge came when Mr. Jones introduced us to the ‘time step’. This is a classic combination of movements that every tap dancer has to learn. It requires you to balance on one leg while striking the floor in a very specific pattern. For days, I couldn’t get my brain and my feet to work together. I even practised on the wooden floor in my kitchen, which definitely annoyed my parents! No matter how hard I tried, the rhythm was always slightly wrong.
Instead of giving up, I asked Mr. Jones for some extra help. He told me to stop rushing and to listen carefully to the spaces between the sounds. Suddenly, everything clicked into place. I relaxed my ankles, slowed down, and tried the time step again. This time, my shoes hit the floor with perfectly clear, distinct rhythms. It didn’t sound like a confusing mess anymore; it sounded like a proper drum beat.
Mastering that step was incredibly satisfying. I finally understood that tap dancing is not just about exercising or looking graceful. When you get the technique right, you are actually creating music with your own body. I still have a lot to learn, but I am absolutely thrilled with my progress.
1 Why did the writer start tap dancing?
(A) He wanted to improve his drum playing skills.
(B) He saw a performance on TV and thought it would be a fun way to keep fit.
(C) He needed to find an activity that he could do with his friends.
(D) His local dance studio offered cheap beginner classes.
2 How did the writer feel during his first lesson?
(A) Disappointed because the metal plates on his shoes were broken.
(B) Annoyed that the teacher moved his feet too fast to follow.
(C) Ashamed because he couldn’t make a clear sound like the teacher.
(D) Confident that he would master all the steps by the end of the class.
3 What was the writer’s problem with the ‘time step’?
(A) He didn’t have enough space to practice it in his kitchen.
(B) He refused to balance on one leg because it was too dangerous.
(C) His parents asked him to stop making so much noise at home.
(D) He found it difficult to coordinate his body to produce the correct beat.
4 What advice helped the writer to improve his technique?
(A) To practice hitting the floor much harder.
(B) To pay attention to the silent moments between the beats.
(C) To buy a better pair of shoes for the class.
(D) To watch the other students more carefully.
5 What would the writer text to a friend about his tap dancing class?
(A) I really enjoy the exercise, but it’s annoying that the metal shoes make such a terrible, muddy noise all the time.
(B) I finally got the time step right! It’s amazing because doing it properly actually feels like playing a musical instrument.
(C) The teacher is very strict, so I don’t think I’m going to continue learning the difficult steps next term.
(D) I’m glad my parents forced me to practice in the kitchen because I’m now the best dancer in the whole studio.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In the first paragraph, the writer states that after “watching an old musical on television,” he thought tap dancing “looked like the perfect way to combine my love for rhythm with physical exercise.”
2 C – Paragraph two explains that while his teacher produced clean sounds, his own feet “created a confusing, muddy noise” and he “felt quite embarrassed,” which matches feeling ashamed because he couldn’t make a clear sound.
3 D – In the third paragraph, the text states, “For days, I couldn’t get my brain and my feet to work together… the rhythm was always slightly wrong.” This paraphrases to finding it difficult to coordinate his body to produce the correct beat.
4 B – Paragraph four mentions that his teacher told him “to listen carefully to the spaces between the sounds.” The spaces between the sounds are the silent moments between the beats.
5 B – This option successfully synthesizes the global meaning of the text. It captures his eventual success with the difficult step (“got the time step right” from paragraph 4) and reflects his ultimate realization in the final paragraph that “you are actually creating music with your own body” (feels like playing a musical instrument).
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Stillness and speed
by Chloe Sanders
I’ve always loved to dance. From hip-hop to contemporary, I’ve tried almost every style available at my local studio. I am used to using my whole body to express the music, swinging my arms and bending my back. So, when a new Irish dancing class opened up, I signed up immediately. Having seen famous Irish dance shows on television, I thought the rapid footwork looked incredibly fun and assumed my previous dance experience would make it easy to learn.
However, my first lesson was a massive shock. The teacher, Mrs. Gallagher, explained the most important rule of traditional Irish dancing: the upper body must remain completely stiff. We had to pin our arms straight down by our sides, keep our shoulders back, and stare straight ahead. As soon as the fast music started, I instinctively wanted to move my arms to help me balance, but Mrs. Gallagher strictly reminded us to stay perfectly still from the waist up.
Trying to execute the rapid, complicated footwork while keeping my upper body frozen felt like a massive contradiction to natural movement. Every time I tried to hop or kick quickly, my arms naturally flew up into the air. I spent the first few classes feeling incredibly awkward and frustrated. It seemed impossible to separate the top half of my body from the bottom half, and I constantly felt like I was going to fall over.
Eventually, I realised that Irish dancing isn’t just about having fast feet; it is a serious test of mental discipline. I decided to stop relying on my natural dancing instincts. Instead, I focused all my concentration on locking my shoulders and tightening my core muscles before I even moved my toes. During our fourth week, we had to perform a short, fast sequence across the floor. By concentrating purely on my posture, I managed to complete the entire sequence without moving my arms once.
When I finished, I felt a huge sense of accomplishment. Mastering that unnatural stiffness while my feet flew across the floor was exhausting, but it looked incredibly sharp and elegant in the studio mirror. I still love the total freedom of hip-hop, but Irish dancing has taught me a completely new level of physical control and discipline. I can’t wait to learn the next routine!
1 Why did Chloe assume Irish dancing would be easy for her?
(A) She had Irish relatives who had taught her the basics.
(B) She thought the teacher would be very relaxed about the rules.
(C) She had a lot of experience in other types of dance.
(D) She had watched several instructional videos online.
2 What shocked Chloe during her first lesson?
(A) The music was much faster than she had expected.
(B) She was required to keep her upper body entirely still.
(C) She had to wear very heavy and uncomfortable shoes.
(D) The teacher asked her to perform in front of the class.
3 Why did Chloe find the basic movements so difficult?
(A) Her arms naturally wanted to move to help her keep her balance.
(B) She lacked the physical energy to hop and kick quickly enough.
(C) She couldn’t remember the complicated sequences of steps.
(D) Her core muscles were too weak to keep her standing upright.
4 How did Chloe manage to succeed in her fourth week?
(A) She asked the teacher to give her a much simpler routine.
(B) She relied entirely on her natural dancing instincts.
(C) She used her arms slightly to prevent herself from falling.
(D) She concentrated intensely on controlling her posture.
5 What would Chloe write in her blog about the experience?
(A) The strict rules of Irish dancing completely ruined my love for dance. I’m going back to hip-hop where I can actually move.
(B) I thought my dance background would help, but keeping my upper body stiff while moving my feet fast was an amazing test of discipline!
(C) Irish dancing is incredibly elegant, but it is just too dangerous. I almost fell over several times because the footwork is so unnatural.
(D) I successfully completed the sequence because the footwork was surprisingly slow, but I still found the stiff posture quite boring.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 C – In paragraph 1, Chloe states that she “assumed my previous dance experience would make it easy to learn.” This directly matches having a lot of experience in other types of dance.
2 B – In paragraph 2, the teacher explains the core rule that “the upper body must remain completely stiff,” which Chloe describes as a “massive shock.” This matches being required to keep her upper body entirely still.
3 A – In paragraph 3, Chloe notes that “Every time I tried to hop or kick quickly, my arms naturally flew up into the air” to help with what she describes as natural movement. This paraphrases her arms naturally wanting to move to help her keep her balance.
4 D – In paragraph 4, Chloe explains that she “focused all my concentration on locking my shoulders and tightening my core muscles” to complete the sequence. This maps perfectly to concentrating intensely on controlling her posture.
5 B – This option successfully captures the global narrative arc of the text: Chloe’s initial expectation (thinking her dance background would make it easy), the core physical struggle of the activity (a massive contradiction to natural movement), and her final appreciation for the mental discipline and physical control it requires.