Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Adventure Holidays 1
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
My First Flying Lesson
For my sixteenth birthday, my parents gave me an unusual present: a flying lesson in a light aircraft. I have always loved travelling by plane, but usually in a huge jet with hundreds of passengers. When I opened the envelope, I was absolutely thrilled. However, I misunderstood what a ‘flying lesson’ actually meant. I imagined I would just sit comfortably next to the pilot, take beautiful photos of the countryside, and enjoy the views while they did all the hard work.
A few weeks later, we arrived at a small local airfield. When I saw the aircraft, I felt a little nervous. It was tiny compared to commercial planes, and it looked surprisingly fragile. I met my instructor, Mark, who gave me a safety briefing and explained that the clear weather was perfect. Once inside, Mark started the noisy engine, and we moved quickly down the runway. As we took off, the plane bumped around in the wind, which made my stomach drop, but the green scenery below was incredible.
We had been in the air for about fifteen minutes when the unexpected happened. Mark pointed to the dual controls in front of me and calmly said, “Okay, it is your turn. You have control.” I stared at him in absolute shock. I thought he was making a joke, but his hands were completely off his steering wheel! My heart started beating so fast. I slowly placed my shaking hands on the controls, terrified that I would make a mistake and cause us to crash.
But then, something amazing happened. I realised that the plane was actually quite gentle and responded to the smallest movements. When I pushed the controls slightly to the left, the plane smoothly turned in that direction. My extreme fear slowly disappeared and was replaced by pure excitement. Flying didn’t feel like driving a heavy car; it felt like floating. By the time Mark took over again to land safely, I was smiling from ear to ear. It was the most exhilarating experience, and I am already saving my pocket money for my next lesson.
1 What did the writer expect to do during the flight?
(A) He expected to take photographs while the pilot flew the plane.
(B) He thought he would learn how to fly a huge commercial jet.
(C) He expected to be afraid because it was his first time on a plane.
(D) He thought he would need to help the pilot do the hard work.
2 How did the writer feel when he arrived at the airfield?
(A) Annoyed because the plane’s engine was too noisy.
(B) Worried because the weather wasn’t good for flying.
(C) A little anxious because the aircraft seemed so small and weak.
(D) Disappointed because the views of the scenery were not very clear.
3 Why was the writer shocked mid-flight?
(A) Mark told him that the dual controls were broken.
(B) The instructor suddenly expected him to fly the plane.
(C) The plane started dropping very quickly in the wind.
(D) He made a silly mistake that almost caused a crash.
4 What did the writer learn when he was steering the plane?
(A) It required a lot of strength to turn the wheel.
(B) It was very similar to driving a heavy car on the road.
(C) It was much easier to control than he had imagined.
(D) It was impossible to turn left without the instructor’s help.
5 What would the writer say to a friend about the experience?
(A) I was so excited to fly the plane from the very beginning, but in the end, it was much scarier than I thought.
(B) I only wanted to enjoy the view, but actually flying the plane myself turned out to be the best part of the day!
(C) The plane was so small and the wind was so strong that we had to land earlier than planned.
(D) I’m glad my parents got me the flying lesson, but I think I will stick to taking photographs next time.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 A – In the first paragraph, the writer states, “I imagined I would just sit comfortably next to the pilot, take beautiful photos… and enjoy the views while they did all the hard work.”
2 C – The second paragraph explains that he felt nervous because the plane was “tiny compared to commercial planes, and it looked surprisingly fragile.” “Fragile” and “tiny” paraphrase as “small and weak.”
3 B – The third paragraph describes his absolute shock when the instructor said, “You have control,” and took his hands off the wheel, expecting the writer to steer.
4 C – In the fourth paragraph, the writer realises “the plane was actually quite gentle and responded to the smallest movements,” showing that steering was simple and smooth, contrasting with his earlier terror.
5 B – This option captures the full narrative arc: the initial expectation of just being a passenger (taking photos/enjoying the view), the unexpected shift to flying it himself, and the ultimate feeling of exhilaration.
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Discovering the magic of being offline
When my parents announced we were spending two weeks sailing along the coast of Canada, I wasn’t exactly thrilled. While my older brother couldn’t wait to explore, I immediately thought about what I’d be leaving behind. Being on a boat meant no Wi-Fi, no social media, and absolutely no way to chat with my friends back home. As we packed our bags, I felt quite annoyed. I was sure it was going to be the most boring holiday ever, just staring at the water.
The first couple of days were exactly as I had expected. The Canadian coastline was pretty, with tall pine trees and dark blue water, but I spent most of my time checking my phone to see if I magically had a signal. I almost completely ignored the dolphins swimming near the boat. Then, on the third morning, everything changed. I woke up early and went up to the deck. The air was freezing, and a thick, grey fog covered the sea, making it impossible to see where we were going.
My dad was at the wheel, looking carefully at his maps. Surprisingly, he called me over and asked if I wanted to steer the boat. I was incredibly nervous because I had never done anything like that before, but he promised to stay right beside me. He taught me how to read the compass and keep us moving in a straight line. As I took the wheel, I had to focus completely. For the first time since the trip began, I stopped worrying about the internet. I felt a real sense of responsibility and excitement.
After about an hour, the fog finally began to lift. Suddenly, right in front of us, a beautiful, hidden island appeared out of nowhere. It had a small white beach and huge rocks covered in green plants. We dropped the anchor and spent the whole afternoon exploring the island and having a picnic. Sitting on the sand, listening to the gentle waves, I realised I hadn’t thought about my mobile phone all day. I finally understood that being disconnected gave me the chance to truly experience the world. Now, I actually hope we do this again next year!
1 How did the writer feel about the trip before it started?
(A) She was excited to learn how to sail a boat.
(B) She felt upset about losing contact with her friends.
(C) She was worried about getting seasick on the ocean.
(D) She thought two weeks wouldn’t be a long enough holiday.
2 What does the writer say about her first few days on the boat?
(A) She was amazed by the local dolphins in the water.
(B) She spent a lot of time outside enjoying the beautiful coastline.
(C) She paid very little attention to her natural surroundings.
(D) She was frightened by the sudden change in the morning weather.
3 How did the writer react to steering the boat?
(A) She was confident she could drive the boat on her own.
(B) She found it difficult to concentrate on the compass.
(C) She felt proud that her dad let her use his digital maps.
(D) She was so focused on the task that she forgot about being online.
4 What did the writer learn by the end of the trip?
(A) She was disappointed that the island had no internet connection.
(B) She discovered that a holiday without technology could be enjoyable.
(C) She wished she had brought her phone to take photos of the beach.
(D) She decided she preferred exploring islands to sailing boats.
5 What would the writer write in her diary at the end of the holiday?
(A) I can’t believe I survived two weeks on a boat. The fog was terrifying, and I missed my friends the entire time. I’m so glad to be home.
(B) The Canadian coast is beautiful, but I was so bored. Even when we found the island, I just sat on the beach wishing I had some Wi-Fi to post a picture.
(C) Steering a boat through the thick fog to find a hidden island was amazing! It actually made me realise that I don’t need my phone to have a great time.
(D) My dad is a great sailor, but he shouldn’t have made me steer the boat in that terrible weather. I was too stressed to enjoy the picnic on the island later.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The text states in the first paragraph that the writer thought about what she’d be “leaving behind,” specifically mentioning “no way to chat with my friends back home” and feeling “quite annoyed.”
2 C – In paragraph 2, the writer admits that despite the pretty coastline, she spent her time “checking my phone” and “almost completely ignored the dolphins,” meaning she wasn’t paying attention to her surroundings.
3 D – Paragraph 3 explains that the writer “had to focus completely” while steering and, as a result, she “stopped worrying about the internet.”
4 B – In the final paragraph, the writer sits on the beach and realises “being disconnected gave me the chance to truly experience the world,” showing she enjoyed being offline.
5 C – This option accurately captures the global meaning and the writer’s emotional arc: from missing her phone to discovering the joy of the real world after the exciting challenge of steering through the fog.
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The Trail to the Ancient City
Last year, I went on the trip of a lifetime to Peru with my parents. Our goal was to hike the famous Inca Trail to the ancient city of Machu Picchu. I have always loved history, and I thought that walking along the exact same paths as the Incas would be an amazing adventure. However, although I had done some walking training at home before we left, I was definitely not prepared for how difficult a four-day trek in the mountains would actually be.
On the second day of our trip, we had to climb up to the highest point of the trail. The path was incredibly steep and covered with huge stones. Because we were so high up in the mountains, the air was thin, which made breathing really hard work. My backpack felt heavier with every single step I took. By the afternoon, my legs were aching terribly and my feet were covered in painful blisters. At one point, I actually sat down on a rock and wanted to cry. I seriously doubted if I could finish the journey.
Despite my physical exhaustion, our friendly guides encouraged me to keep going, and somehow I made it through the third day. We had to wake up at three o’clock in the morning on our final day because we needed to reach a special place called the Sun Gate before the sun came up. Walking through the forest in the dark with only small torches was a bit frightening, but the excitement in our group kept me moving forward. When we finally arrived, we sat quietly in the freezing cold, waiting for the dark sky to brighten.
Suddenly, the thick clouds moved away and the morning sun lit up the green mountains. Down below us was Machu Picchu. The ancient stone city looked absolutely magical in the golden light. Seeing it with my own eyes was completely different from looking at photos on the internet. All the pain in my feet and the tiredness in my body suddenly disappeared. I felt incredibly proud of myself. The trek was the hardest thing I had ever done, but that unforgettable view made every single blister totally worth the effort.
1 How did the writer feel about the trip before starting the hike?
(A) He was worried that his training was not good enough.
(B) He was excited to explore a historical route.
(C) He was disappointed that the trek would last four days.
(D) He was anxious about carrying a heavy backpack.
2 What made the second day of the trek particularly difficult?
(A) The guide walked much too fast for the group.
(B) The weather was too hot for walking.
(C) The high altitude made it difficult to breathe.
(D) The writer forgot to bring the correct walking boots.
3 On the final morning, the writer
(A) felt terrified of getting lost in the forest.
(B) complained about getting up so early.
(C) relied on the other hikers’ energy to stay motivated.
(D) wished he could stay in his warm tent.
4 How did the writer react when he finally saw Machu Picchu?
(A) He forgot all about the physical pain he had suffered.
(B) He thought the city looked smaller than in photos.
(C) He decided he wanted to hike the trail again.
(D) He was surprised by the green colour of the mountains.
5 What would the writer text to a friend after finishing the trek?
(A) Machu Picchu is beautiful, but I wouldn’t recommend the Inca Trail. It’s much too dangerous in the dark.
(B) I’m so glad we took the train to Machu Picchu. The people who chose to hike looked absolutely exhausted!
(C) The hike was physically exhausting and I almost gave up, but seeing the ancient city at sunrise was an incredible reward.
(D) I trained really hard for this trek, so I found the climbing quite easy. The views were nice, but I expected more.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The text states in the first paragraph that the writer “always loved history” and thought “walking along the exact same paths as the Incas would be an amazing adventure.”
2 C – In paragraph 2, the writer explains that “Because we were so high up in the mountains, the air was thin, which made breathing really hard work.”
3 C – In paragraph 3, the writer mentions that “the excitement in our group kept me moving forward” while walking in the dark.
4 A – In paragraph 4, the writer states that upon seeing the city, “All the pain in my feet and the tiredness in my body suddenly disappeared.”
5 C – This option perfectly captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text: acknowledging the severe physical exhaustion and desire to cry, but concluding that the sunrise view of the city made the effort completely worthwhile.