Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Adventure Holidays 9
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A Wilderness Foraging Adventure
When my parents announced we were going on a “wilderness foraging” holiday in the forest, I wasn’t exactly thrilled. The idea of spending a weekend walking around the woods looking for our own food sounded like a terrible idea. I love a good burger or a pizza, so I secretly packed lots of extra snacks in my bag. I was completely sure that we would just end up eating a few bitter leaves and going to bed incredibly hungry.
On Saturday morning, we met our guide, Sarah, deep in the forest. She immediately explained that foraging wasn’t just about picking random plants. She taught us how to safely identify what we could eat and what was dangerous. To my surprise, the forest was actually full of food. Within the first two hours, we had collected sweet wild berries and some fresh green herbs. The walking was tiring, but searching for hidden food turned out to be like a massive treasure hunt.
The highlight of the weekend happened on Sunday afternoon. Sarah led us to a dark, damp area near some old trees and pointed to the ground. There, hiding under the fallen leaves, were dozens of wild mushrooms. We spent an hour carefully cutting them and filling our baskets. I felt a huge sense of pride as I looked at the pile of food I had collected with my own hands.
That evening, we built a small campfire. We cleaned the mushrooms, mixed them with the wild herbs we had found, and cooked them in a pan over the open flames. When I finally tasted them, I was amazed. They were incredibly delicious and full of flavour. Honestly, it was better than any meal I had ever eaten in an expensive restaurant.
By the time we packed up our tents to go home, I hadn’t eaten a single one of the snacks I had brought with me. The trip completely changed how I look at the natural world. The forest isn’t just a place with trees; it’s a giant, wild supermarket if you know what you are looking for. I am already begging my parents to take me on another foraging adventure next autumn.
1 What did the writer expect before the trip started?
(A) They thought they would learn a lot about cooking.
(B) They believed they would not have enough to eat.
(C) They were worried about getting lost in the woods.
(D) They expected to find plenty of delicious wild plants.
2 How did the writer feel about searching for food in the forest?
(A) Annoyed because the guide gave them too many rules.
(B) Disappointed that they only found a few green leaves.
(C) Surprised because it felt like an exciting game.
(D) Tired because the baskets were very heavy to carry.
3 What made the writer feel proud on Sunday afternoon?
(A) Finding a dark area near some very old trees.
(B) Gathering a large amount of food by themselves.
(C) Discovering a type of mushroom the guide didn’t know.
(D) Helping their parents fill their baskets with leaves.
4 What does the writer say about the mushrooms they cooked?
(A) They tasted nicer than restaurant food.
(B) They needed more herbs to be truly delicious.
(C) They took a very long time to cook over the fire.
(D) They tasted exactly like the snacks from their bag.
5 What would the writer write in their diary about the holiday?
(A) I was right to pack extra snacks! If I hadn’t brought them, I would have starved during the weekend.
(B) I thought looking for food in the woods would be awful, but cooking our own wild mushrooms was the best meal ever!
(C) The forest was beautiful, but I wish Sarah had let us try the mushrooms instead of just throwing them away.
(D) Finding food in the wild is too dangerous and exhausting. I prefer eating at expensive restaurants.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In the first paragraph, the writer states, “I was completely sure that we would just end up eating a few bitter leaves and going to bed incredibly hungry.”
2 C – The second paragraph explains that despite the tiring walk, “searching for hidden food turned out to be like a massive treasure hunt,” showing they found it exciting.
3 B – In the third paragraph, the writer notes, “I felt a huge sense of pride as I looked at the pile of food I had collected with my own hands.”
4 A – The fourth paragraph describes the mushrooms as “better than any meal I had ever eaten in an expensive restaurant.”
5 B – This option captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text: transitioning from expecting a miserable, hungry weekend to being pleasantly surprised and loving the wild-cooked meal.
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A new kind of skiing adventure
I have been skiing at busy winter resorts with my family since I was eight years old. I always loved the speed, but waiting in long queues for the ski lift was something I really hated. So, when my aunt invited me to try a sport called ‘ski touring’ in the mountains last month, I quickly agreed. She explained that we wouldn’t use any lifts. Instead, we would hike up the mountain on our skis before skiing down. I thought it sounded like a fantastic new adventure, although I hadn’t realised quite how challenging it would be.
Our journey began early in the morning. We attached special material called ‘skins’ to the bottom of our skis to stop us from sliding backwards. Walking uphill through deep snow was unbelievably hard work. Even though the temperature was well below freezing, I was sweating heavily within the first twenty minutes. My legs burned with every step, and I had to stop several times to catch my breath. Honestly, I started to question if I had made a good decision and wondered why anyone would choose to do this instead of taking a comfortable lift.
However, after three hours of climbing, we finally reached the top of the mountain. The view was absolutely spectacular, but what impressed me the most was the complete lack of noise. There were no busy crowds or loud machines, just the gentle sound of the wind. We peeled the skins off our skis, drank some hot tea, and prepared for the descent. Looking down at the untouched, pure white snow, my earlier frustration completely disappeared. I felt incredibly proud that my own physical effort had brought me up here.
The journey down was the most magical experience of my life. Skiing through fresh, deep powder feels completely different from skiing on the hard, icy snow at normal resorts. It was like floating on clouds. We created our own tracks down the mountain, turning smoothly between the trees. By the time we reached the bottom, my legs were aching again, but I had a huge smile on my face. Normal resort skiing seems quite boring to me now, and I am already saving up to buy my own ski touring equipment for next winter.
1 Why did the writer agree to go ski touring with his aunt?
(A) He wanted to avoid waiting in lines at busy ski resorts.
(B) He wanted to learn how to ski faster than before.
(C) He thought it would be a relaxing winter holiday.
(D) He had always wanted to hike up a snowy mountain.
2 How did the writer feel during the climb up the mountain?
(A) He felt frustrated that his skis kept sliding backwards.
(B) He found the physical effort much harder than he expected.
(C) He wished he had worn warmer clothes for the freezing weather.
(D) He was disappointed that they had to stop so often.
3 What surprised the writer the most when they reached the top?
(A) the amazing views over the ski resort
(B) the hot tea his aunt had prepared
(C) the feeling of complete peace and quiet
(D) the fact that he was the first person there
4 What is the writer’s attitude towards skiing now?
(A) He only wants to ski if the snow is hard and icy.
(B) He thinks ski touring is too painful to do regularly.
(C) He prefers skiing on tracks that other people have made.
(D) He finds traditional ski resorts less interesting than before.
5 What would the writer text to a friend about his trip?
(A) I had a terrible time. The hike up was so exhausting that I didn’t even have the energy to enjoy the ski down!
(B) My aunt took me to a new ski resort. There were no queues for the lifts, so we spent the whole day floating on the powder!
(C) Ski touring is amazing! You have to work really hard to climb the mountain, but skiing down the untouched snow is totally worth it.
(D) I loved skiing down the mountain, but I don’t think I’ll go again. The equipment is just too expensive to buy.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 A – In paragraph 1, the writer states that “waiting in long queues for the ski lift was something I really hated. So, when my aunt invited me… I quickly agreed.”
2 B – In paragraph 2, the writer mentions that the walk was “unbelievably hard work” and he started to “question if I had made a good decision” because he hadn’t realized how challenging it would be.
3 C – In paragraph 3, the writer notes that while the view was spectacular, “what impressed me the most was the complete lack of noise,” mapping to a feeling of peace and quiet.
4 D – In paragraph 4, the writer states that “Normal resort skiing seems quite boring to me now,” indicating that traditional resorts have lost their appeal compared to ski touring.
5 C – This option accurately captures the global narrative and emotional arc of the text: the intense physical exhaustion of the climb balanced perfectly by the incredible reward of skiing down untouched powder.
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A Weekend in the Lighthouse
When my parents told me we were going to spend the weekend in a converted lighthouse on the coast, I wasn’t sure what to think. I love the beach in the summer, but going there in the middle of November seemed like a strange idea. I imagined a cold, uncomfortable tower with absolutely nothing to do. However, Dad promised me it had been modernised and would be a great chance for us to relax together.
We arrived late on Friday evening. The inside of the lighthouse was actually very warm and comfortable, with circular rooms and a narrow staircase. My bedroom was right near the top. But when I went to bed, I couldn’t fall asleep. The continuous sound of the wind blowing against the thick glass and the waves crashing onto the rocks below was incredibly loud. It felt as if the whole building was shaking. For hours, I just lay there wishing I had brought earplugs.
The following afternoon, the weather got even worse. The sky turned a dark purple colour, and my parents called me up to the main viewing room at the very top of the tower. We stood together looking out through the huge windows. A massive storm was rolling in from the ocean. The waves were as high as houses, throwing white water everywhere. It was completely terrifying to look at, but because we were behind such thick glass, we knew we were perfectly safe.
Watching that powerful storm was one of the most awe-inspiring things I have ever experienced. I completely forgot about how tired I was from the night before. Usually, when there is bad weather at home, I just turn on the television and ignore it. But being right in the middle of nature’s wild energy made me realise how small we are compared to the ocean. It was a million times better than any film I could have watched.
By the time we packed our bags to leave on Sunday, I was actually sad to go. The noisy wind that had annoyed me on the first night had become a sound I enjoyed. Staying in the lighthouse wasn’t the relaxing beach holiday I was used to, but it was definitely an unforgettable adventure.
1 What did the writer think about the trip before arriving?
(A) He believed visiting the coast in November was an odd choice.
(B) He was worried about climbing the tall, narrow stairs.
(C) He felt excited to see the modernised lighthouse.
(D) He expected the weekend to be completely relaxing.
2 Why did the writer have trouble sleeping on Friday night?
(A) The bedroom was too cold and uncomfortable.
(B) He was kept awake by the continuous noise outside.
(C) He was scared that the old building might fall down.
(D) The light from the lighthouse shone into his bedroom.
3 What does the writer say about watching the storm?
(A) He went outside to get a better view of the high waves.
(B) He felt perfectly protected while watching the scary weather.
(C) He felt anxious that the thick windows might suddenly break.
(D) He thought the dark purple sky looked exactly like a film.
4 How did the storm affect the writer?
(A) It made him wish he had stayed at home to watch television.
(B) It made him feel powerful compared to the natural world.
(C) It made him realise that he wanted to live near the ocean.
(D) It made him forget his lack of sleep from the previous night.
5 What would the writer write in his diary about the weekend?
(A) I can’t believe how much I hated the lighthouse. The noise of the wind was terrible and the storm ruined the whole trip.
(B) My dad promised me a relaxing holiday, and it was great to sit on the beach and watch the gentle waves all weekend.
(C) Although I didn’t get much sleep at first, experiencing the wild power of the sea from inside the tower was absolutely amazing.
(D) The lighthouse was really warm, but I missed watching television and the massive storm was just too scary for me.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 A – The text states in the first paragraph that “going there in the middle of November seemed like a strange idea.”
2 B – In paragraph 2, the writer explains that “The continuous sound of the wind… and the waves crashing… was incredibly loud” and kept him awake.
3 B – Paragraph 3 mentions that “It was completely terrifying to look at, but because we were behind such thick glass, we knew we were perfectly safe.”
4 D – In paragraph 4, the writer states, “I completely forgot about how tired I was from the night before.”
5 C – This option perfectly captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text: acknowledging the difficulty sleeping on the first night, but concluding that watching the storm was awe-inspiring and the trip was an unforgettable adventure.