Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Cultural & City Explorations 9
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The Finnish Sauna Experience
When my friend Mikael invited me to visit his family in Finland last winter, I was thrilled. One evening, his parents announced we were going to experience a real, traditional wood-fired sauna. Back home, I had only ever seen modern electric saunas in luxury health clubs. I imagined we would sit in a comfortably warm room for a few minutes, read a magazine, and feel completely relaxed. I didn’t realise that the authentic Finnish experience was going to be a much bigger challenge.
Mikael led me to a small wooden cabin next to a frozen lake. When we opened the heavy door, a wave of heat immediately hit my face. We sat on the top wooden bench, where the temperature was incredibly high. Every few minutes, Mikael threw water onto the hot stones in the corner, which created a thick cloud of steam and made the room feel even hotter. After just ten minutes, my skin was burning, and I found it difficult to breathe normally. I honestly wanted to escape, but I stayed quiet because I didn’t want to seem impolite.
Just as I thought I couldn’t take the unbearable heat for another second, Mikael stood up and opened the door. “Now it’s time to cool down!” he shouted cheerfully. I followed him outside into the freezing night air. Without stopping, he ran straight down the wooden path and jumped into a hole cut into the ice of the lake. Although my mind told me it was a terrible idea, I took a deep breath and jumped in after him.
The shock of the freezing water hitting my skin was unbelievable. For a moment, I couldn’t even speak. However, when I climbed out of the lake a few seconds later, something amazing happened. I suddenly didn’t feel cold at all. As we walked back to the cabin, my whole body felt warm, and my mind was incredibly clear. The extreme change in temperature made me feel more awake and alive than I ever had before. I finally understood why this intense tradition is so popular in Finland, and I actually couldn’t wait to go back inside and do it all over again.
1 What did the writer expect the sauna experience to be like?
(A) An intense physical challenge.
(B) A gentle and relaxing activity.
(C) Something only found in expensive hotels.
(D) A tradition he had tried in his home country.
2 How did the writer feel while sitting inside the wooden cabin?
(A) Annoyed that Mikael was throwing water on him.
(B) Worried because the thick steam made it hard to see.
(C) Uncomfortable but determined not to complain.
(D) Surprised that the room took so long to get hot.
3 Why did the writer jump into the icy water?
(A) He wanted to show Mikael he wasn’t afraid.
(B) He followed his friend’s example despite his doubts.
(C) He accidentally fell off the wooden path in the dark.
(D) He was told it was the best way to clean his skin.
4 How did the writer’s body react after getting out of the lake?
(A) He couldn’t stop shaking from the freezing air.
(B) He found it difficult to walk back to the cabin.
(C) He felt completely exhausted and needed to sleep.
(D) He felt surprisingly warm and full of energy.
5 What would the writer say in a message to his parents?
(A) Finland is beautiful, but the sauna was so painfully hot that I refused to stay inside for more than a minute.
(B) I really missed the modern luxury spas we have at home. This traditional wooden cabin was too uncomfortable.
(C) I thought I wouldn’t survive the extreme heat and freezing water, but it actually left me feeling absolutely amazing!
(D) Jumping into a frozen lake is very dangerous, so I just watched Mikael do it from the safety of the warm cabin.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In the first paragraph, the writer states, “I imagined we would sit in a comfortably warm room for a few minutes… and feel completely relaxed.”
2 C – The second paragraph describes how his skin was burning and he found it difficult to breathe, but he “stayed quiet because I didn’t want to seem impolite.”
3 B – In the third paragraph, the writer says, “Although my mind told me it was a terrible idea, I took a deep breath and jumped in after him,” showing he followed his friend despite thinking it was a bad idea.
4 D – The fourth paragraph explains that after getting out of the lake, “my whole body felt warm… The extreme change in temperature made me feel more awake and alive.”
5 C – This option captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text: moving from the unbearable heat and the terrifying icy jump to the surprising, exhilarating feeling of being alive and refreshed at the end.
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A Dance to Remember
When my family travelled to Kenya for a wildlife safari, I was amazed by the animals. However, when my dad announced we were going to visit a traditional Masai village, I felt quite nervous. While I love learning about different cultures, I often worry about being a disrespectful tourist. I imagined we would just stand around staring at the local people, making them feel uncomfortable. I secretly wished I could stay back at the camp and read my book instead.
As our jeep pulled into the small village, my uncomfortable feelings only grew stronger. The village consisted of small houses made of mud and branches, arranged in a circle. The locals welcomed us wearing bright red clothes and beautiful, colourful jewellery. Despite their warm smiles, I felt incredibly awkward. Other tourists immediately started taking hundreds of photos with their large cameras, but I kept my phone in my pocket. I felt like we were interrupting their peaceful daily lives, and I couldn’t wait to leave.
Then, something unexpected happened. The young men of the village gathered in a line and began to perform their traditional jumping dance, called the adumu. They sang a rhythmic song and took turns jumping incredibly high into the air. It was fascinating to watch. Suddenly, one of the men smiled directly at me and waved his hand, inviting me to join them. At first, my face turned red and I shook my head, feeling far too embarrassed to try. But my dad gently pushed me forward, so I took a deep breath and stepped into the circle.
I tried to jump as high as the Masai men, but I barely got my feet off the ground! However, instead of laughing at me, they cheered loudly and clapped their hands. That single moment completely broke the ice. The awkwardness I had felt earlier vanished, replaced by a feeling of genuine connection. We didn’t speak the same language, but we were sharing a real experience. Looking back, that dance was the absolute highlight of our holiday. I realised that the best way to understand a new culture is not by taking photos, but by joining in.
1 Why was the writer nervous about visiting the Masai village?
(A) She thought the journey from the camp would be too long.
(B) She was concerned about making the local people feel uneasy.
(C) She preferred not to learn about completely different cultures.
(D) She was afraid of the wild animals near the village.
2 How did the writer react when she first arrived at the village?
(A) She immediately started taking pictures of the bright clothes.
(B) She felt annoyed because the locals were not welcoming.
(C) She chose not to take any photographs of the residents.
(D) She decided to go inside one of the traditional mud houses.
3 What did the writer do when she was asked to dance?
(A) She immediately stepped into the circle to show her skills.
(B) She asked her dad to join the line of men instead.
(C) She tried to sing the rhythmic song with the locals.
(D) She initially refused because she felt self-conscious.
4 What does the writer say about her attempt at jumping?
(A) It helped her overcome her negative feelings.
(B) It made her feel upset because the men laughed at her.
(C) It allowed her to learn some words in the local language.
(D) It made her realise she could jump as high as the dancers.
5 What would the writer write in her diary later that day?
(A) The wildlife in Kenya is wonderful, but I wish we hadn’t visited the local village today. It was just a group of tourists taking photos.
(B) I was so embarrassed when the locals made fun of my dancing today. Next time, I will definitely stay at the camp and read my book!
(C) Visiting the village started off feeling awkward, but joining in with their traditional dance turned it into an amazing and unforgettable experience.
(D) The dancing was quite interesting to watch, but I was so annoyed that my dad forced me to participate when I clearly didn’t want to.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In paragraph 1, the writer states she often worries about being a “disrespectful tourist” and imagined they would just stand around “making them feel uncomfortable,” which matches being concerned about making the locals uneasy.
2 C – In paragraph 2, the writer mentions that while other tourists started taking hundreds of photos, she “kept my phone in my pocket,” showing she chose not to take pictures.
3 D – In paragraph 3, the writer explains that at first, she “shook my head, feeling far too embarrassed to try,” meaning she initially refused because she felt self-conscious.
4 A – In paragraph 4, the writer states that her attempt at jumping completely “broke the ice” and the “awkwardness I had felt earlier vanished,” showing it helped her overcome her negative feelings.
5 C – This option correctly captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text: transitioning from feeling awkward and intrusive as a tourist to feeling a genuine, unforgettable connection through participation in the dance.
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The Heavy Logs of Scotland
When my family decided to visit Scotland last August, my parents planned a day trip to the local Highland Games. I wasn’t exactly thrilled. I am a huge fan of modern sports like football and basketball, so the idea of watching a traditional festival in a muddy field didn’t sound very exciting. When my dad explained that the main event involved men throwing heavy logs of wood, I honestly thought it sounded like a crazy, primitive activity from hundreds of years ago.
However, my opinion started to change as soon as we arrived. The field was incredibly busy and the first event I watched was the famous ‘caber toss’. I stood near the fence in absolute amazement as I watched extremely strong men, all wearing traditional Scottish skirts called kilts, try to lift massive, heavy tree trunks. The goal wasn’t just to throw the log as far as possible, but to flip it over completely so it landed in a perfectly straight line. It looked incredibly difficult and slightly dangerous, but the crowd went wild every time someone succeeded.
What surprised me most wasn’t just the amazing physical strength of the athletes, but the wonderful atmosphere. Unlike professional football matches where the fans are sometimes angry, the rivalry here was completely friendly. The competitors were laughing and encouraging each other during the events. All around the field, the loud, traditional music of Scottish bagpipes was playing constantly. The sound was a bit strange at first, but it really added to the energetic community spirit of the whole day.
By the afternoon, I was completely involved in the games. I found myself shouting and cheering for athletes I had only just met. I even tried some of the traditional Scottish food that was being sold from small tents, which was surprisingly delicious. I realised that the games were much more than just a sports competition; they were a proud celebration of local history and culture.
Looking back, that afternoon was the absolute highlight of our Scottish holiday. The Highland Games completely changed my mind about traditional sports. With the loud music, the friendly people, and the unusual events, it was easily the most fun sporting event I have ever attended. I just hope I can go back next year!
1 What did the writer think about the Highland Games before going?
(A) He was excited to watch traditional Scottish sports.
(B) He thought the events sounded strange and old-fashioned.
(C) He wanted to play football or basketball there instead.
(D) He was worried about the muddy conditions on the field.
2 What did the writer learn about the ‘caber toss’ event?
(A) The men wear normal sports clothes to compete.
(B) The athletes try to throw the tree trunk as far as they can.
(C) The main aim is to make the heavy log land in a specific way.
(D) The crowd stays completely quiet to help the athletes concentrate.
3 How is the event different from a professional football match, according to the writer?
(A) The athletes are much stronger than football players.
(B) The fans are allowed to play musical instruments.
(C) The atmosphere is much quieter and more relaxed.
(D) The competitors are kind and support one another.
4 By the afternoon, the writer realised that
(A) he wanted to learn how to play the bagpipes.
(B) traditional Scottish food is better than modern food.
(C) the festival was an important celebration of local culture.
(D) he preferred shouting at athletes he didn’t know.
5 What would the writer text to a friend about the Highland Games?
(A) The games were okay, but the traditional music was too loud and the athletes were quite aggressive to each other.
(B) I thought watching people throw logs would be terrible, but the friendly atmosphere made it the best sports event ever!
(C) I loved the sports, but I wish they had modern events like basketball instead of just throwing heavy tree trunks.
(D) It was a boring day in a muddy field. I didn’t understand the rules and the food was too strange for me to eat.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In the first paragraph, the writer states that throwing logs “sounded like a crazy, primitive activity from hundreds of years ago,” which paraphrases “strange and old-fashioned.”
2 C – In paragraph 2, the writer explains that the goal wasn’t just distance, but “to flip it over completely so it landed in a perfectly straight line.”
3 D – In paragraph 3, the writer contrasts the games with football matches, noting that “the rivalry here was completely friendly” and the competitors were “encouraging each other.”
4 C – In paragraph 4, the writer states, “I realised that the games were much more than just a sports competition; they were a proud celebration of local history and culture.”
5 B – This option perfectly captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text: starting out thinking the traditional sport sounded crazy and primitive, but ending up loving the community spirit and friendly rivalry.