Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Mishaps & Resilience 4
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A Room with No View
Last month, I travelled to London for a four-day holiday. Because I am a student and didn’t have much money to spend, I booked a room in a cheap hotel near the city centre. When I found the place online, the pictures looked fantastic. The bedrooms seemed large, bright, and completely modern. I was incredibly excited about my trip and felt very proud of myself for finding such a great bargain. I couldn’t wait to drop my bags off and relax in my beautiful room.
However, the moment I opened the bedroom door, my excitement completely disappeared. The room looked absolutely nothing like the beautiful pictures I had seen on the internet. It was incredibly small, and the paint on the walls was actually peeling off. When I sat down, I discovered that the bed was as hard as a rock. Hoping to at least get some natural light, I opened the curtains. Instead of a view of the famous London streets, I found myself looking directly at a dirty brick wall just a metre away. I honestly felt like crying.
After sitting on the uncomfortable bed for ten minutes, I realised that staying inside and complaining wouldn’t fix anything. So, I grabbed my coat, locked the door, and went straight back out into the busy streets. I spent the entire afternoon walking along the River Thames, visiting free museums, and taking photos of famous historical buildings. Later, I bought some delicious street food at a local market and chatted with some friendly locals. I was having such an amazing time that I completely forgot about my awful accommodation.
By the time I finally returned to my hotel late that night, my legs were aching from walking so many kilometres. I was so exhausted that when I lay down, the hard mattress didn’t bother me at all. I fell asleep almost instantly. The experience actually taught me a very useful lesson about travelling. A hotel room is really just a place to keep your bags and sleep. If you are doing your holiday correctly, you will be too busy having adventures outside to care about the view from your window!
1 Why was the writer happy about the hotel before arriving?
(A) He knew it was located right next to famous free museums.
(B) He believed he had got a high-quality room for a low price.
(C) He wanted to save money by sharing the room with a friend.
(D) He had stayed there before and loved the bright bedrooms.
2 What disappointed the writer most about the window?
(A) It would not open to let any fresh air into the room.
(B) He could only see the street instead of the river.
(C) The curtains were far too dirty for him to touch.
(D) He could only see the side of another building.
3 What did the writer do after spending a few minutes in his room?
(A) He decided to spend the rest of the day exploring the city.
(B) He went to a local market to try and buy a better mattress.
(C) He stayed inside for a few hours to calm down and relax.
(D) He complained to the friendly locals about his terrible hotel.
4 In the final paragraph, the writer realises that
(A) he needs to spend more money on hotels in the future.
(B) walking all day makes you appreciate a luxurious bed.
(C) accommodation isn’t the most important part of a trip.
(D) you should always read online reviews before booking a room.
5 What would the writer write in his diary that evening?
(A) London is a brilliant city, but my holiday was completely ruined because my hotel room was so small and uncomfortable.
(B) The hotel looked exactly like the photos online! It was so nice that I almost didn’t want to go out and explore the streets.
(C) My room was terrible, but it didn’t matter. I was so busy having fun in the city that I only used the room for sleeping anyway!
(D) Next time I travel, I will definitely make sure my room has a beautiful view of the river instead of a dirty brick wall.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In the first paragraph, the writer says the pictures looked “fantastic,” “large, bright, and completely modern,” and he felt proud of finding a “great bargain,” which matches believing he got a high-quality room for a low price.
2 D – The second paragraph states that instead of a view of the streets, he was “looking directly at a dirty brick wall just a metre away,” meaning he could only see the side of a building.
3 A – Paragraph three explains that after ten minutes, he “went straight back out into the busy streets” and “spent the entire afternoon walking,” showing he decided to spend the rest of the day exploring.
4 C – In the final paragraph, the writer concludes that “a hotel room is really just a place to keep your bags and sleep” and that you should be “too busy having adventures outside to care,” meaning accommodation is not the most important part of the trip.
5 C – This option perfectly captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text: acknowledging the disappointment of the terrible room, but realizing that the real adventure and fun happen outside, making the bad room unimportant.
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
An Unexpected Airport Adventure
Last summer, my family and I were at the airport, waiting to fly back to London after a fantastic holiday in Greece. I was feeling tired but excited to finally sleep in my own bed. However, as we were queuing to drop off our bags, we looked at the departure boards. Next to our flight number, a red message flashed: Cancelled. Bad weather meant we were going to be stuck at the airport for the next twelve hours. I was incredibly annoyed. All I wanted was to go home, and the idea of spending a whole day waiting around sounded like a nightmare.
For the first few hours, time passed incredibly slowly. My parents tried to stay positive by going to a café to read their books, but I just couldn’t relax. I walked around the terminal, but the shops were much too expensive, and I quickly got bored of looking at the same magazines. To make matters worse, my mobile phone battery was almost dead, so I couldn’t even watch videos or message my friends. Feeling completely miserable, I found a quiet seat near our departure gate and stared at the empty runway outside.
Then, something unexpected happened. A boy around my age sat down in the seat next to me. He noticed my dead phone and kindly offered to let me use his charger. I thanked him, and we started chatting. His name was Marco, and he was travelling back to Italy after visiting relatives. Despite coming from different countries, we quickly discovered that we had a lot in common. We both loved the same rock bands and played the same online video games.
The rest of the day flew by. Marco and I spent hours talking, laughing, and walking around the airport together. He even taught me a few basic phrases in Italian, while we shared some snacks his grandmother had baked. I completely forgot about my earlier frustration. The twelve-hour delay didn’t feel like a punishment anymore; it felt like a fun part of the holiday.
When my flight was finally called, I was actually a little sad to say goodbye. We exchanged social media details and promised to play video games together online. That long, annoying delay taught me a valuable lesson. Sometimes, the most annoying situations can lead to the best unexpected adventures.
1 Why was the writer annoyed at the beginning of the text?
(A) Because their holiday in Greece had been disappointing.
(B) Because they had to wait a very long time to fly home.
(C) Because their parents forgot to check the departure board.
(D) Because they wanted to spend more time sleeping at the hotel.
2 What did the writer do during the first few hours of the delay?
(A) They bought some expensive magazines to read.
(B) They sat in a comfortable café with their parents.
(C) They struggled to find a way to stay entertained.
(D) They watched videos on their mobile phone.
3 How did the writer start talking to Marco?
(A) Marco asked the writer for information about a flight.
(B) They realised they were playing the same video game.
(C) They were introduced by their relatives at the gate.
(D) Marco lent the writer something they needed.
4 How did the writer’s attitude change during the afternoon?
(A) They started to enjoy the time they spent waiting.
(B) They wished they had more snacks to eat.
(C) They felt angry that Marco was leaving for Italy.
(D) They were annoyed that the Italian phrases were hard to learn.
5 What would the writer text to a friend about the delay?
(A) The weather ruined our flight home, and I spent twelve hours sitting alone in a café. I’m so bored!
(B) I was so angry about our flight being cancelled, but I actually ended up having a great time and making a new friend!
(C) Marco and I are flying to Italy together because our London flight was cancelled. It’s the best adventure ever!
(D) I finally managed to charge my phone at the gate, so I just watched videos to pass the 12-hour delay.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In paragraph 1, the writer states they were “incredibly annoyed” because a cancelled flight meant they were going to be “stuck at the airport for the next twelve hours.”
2 C – In paragraph 2, the writer explains that their phone was dead, the shops were expensive, and they were “feeling completely miserable” with nothing to do (struggled to find a way to stay entertained).
3 D – In paragraph 3, the text says Marco “noticed my dead phone and kindly offered to let me use his charger” (lent the writer something they needed), which started their conversation.
4 A – In paragraph 4, the writer reflects that they “completely forgot about my earlier frustration” and that the delay “felt like a fun part of the holiday” (started to enjoy the time).
5 B – This option successfully captures the global meaning and the writer’s emotional arc: beginning with intense anger over the cancelled flight, but ultimately turning into a positive experience thanks to a new friendship.
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A Step Up the Mountain
When my parents announced our summer holiday to the Scottish mountains, I was really looking forward to it. However, my excitement quickly disappeared when I found out the hotel arrangements. Because the hotel was quite full, I had to share a small bedroom with my ten-year-old brother, Leo. Leo is usually okay, but he hates travelling. From the moment we arrived, he started complaining about absolutely everything. The bed was too hard, the room was too cold, and the internet was too slow. I just wanted a peaceful holiday, so his negative attitude immediately made me feel frustrated.
By the third morning, things got even worse. I woke up early to go exploring, but Leo was annoyed because the noise I made woke him up. He spent the next hour moaning about how boring the trip was. I finally lost my temper and shouted at him, telling him he was ruining my holiday. My parents heard the argument and told us both to calm down. For the rest of the morning, we didn’t speak a single word to each other, and the atmosphere in the family was incredibly tense.
Later that afternoon, my dad suggested walking up a nearby mountain. The path was extremely steep and covered in loose rocks. While I usually enjoy a good physical challenge, I could see that Leo was really struggling. After an hour of climbing in the hot sun, his face was bright red, and he was breathing heavily. He kept dropping further behind the rest of us. I completely expected him to start complaining again, but instead, he just looked exhausted and ready to cry.
Suddenly, instead of feeling annoyed with him, I felt a strong sense of responsibility. I walked back down the path to where he was standing and gently offered to carry his heavy backpack for him. He looked surprised but gratefully handed it over. We walked the rest of the way to the top together, at his slower pace. Standing at the peak, I realised that helping my little brother gave me a much better feeling than just reaching the top first. The trip actually taught me how to be more patient and mature.
1 Why was the writer unhappy at the beginning of the trip?
(A) He wanted to travel to the Scottish mountains alone.
(B) He had to share his sleeping space with his younger brother.
(C) He discovered that the hotel did not have an internet connection.
(D) He felt that the family hotel room was too small and cold.
2 What happened on the third morning of the holiday?
(A) The writer became extremely angry and yelled at his brother.
(B) Leo woke up early and started shouting at the writer.
(C) The writer’s parents decided to leave the hotel early.
(D) The writer apologised to Leo for ruining his morning.
3 During the mountain hike, the writer noticed that Leo…
(A) was loudly complaining about the hot sun.
(B) wanted to run ahead of the rest of the family.
(C) was finding the physical activity very difficult.
(D) refused to carry his own bag up the hill.
4 How did the writer’s attitude change by the end of the hike?
(A) He felt annoyed that he had to walk at a much slower pace.
(B) He was proud of himself for reaching the mountain peak first.
(C) He wished his brother had stayed behind at the hotel room.
(D) He discovered that taking care of his sibling was a rewarding experience.
5 What would the writer write in his diary on the last night of the holiday?
(A) I can’t believe I had to share a room with Leo. He ruined the whole trip with his constant complaints and crying.
(B) The hike was incredibly hard because I had to carry two bags. I’m never going climbing with my little brother again!
(C) Sharing a room with Leo started terribly, but helping him on the mountain showed me I can be a supportive older brother.
(D) I lost my temper with my family a lot on this trip. Next time, I hope my parents let me stay at home.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In paragraph 1, the writer states that his “excitement quickly disappeared” when he found out he “had to share a small bedroom with my ten-year-old brother, Leo.”
2 A – In paragraph 2, the writer explains that he “finally lost my temper and shouted at him,” which means he became extremely angry and yelled at his brother.
3 C – In paragraph 3, the writer observes that Leo’s face was bright red, he was breathing heavily, and he looked exhausted, matching the idea that he was finding the physical activity very difficult.
4 D – In paragraph 4, the writer reflects that “helping my little brother gave me a much better feeling than just reaching the top first,” showing he found caring for his sibling rewarding.
5 C – This option perfectly captures the global narrative and emotional arc of the text: moving from the frustration of rooming with a complaining sibling to discovering a mature, protective side of himself during the challenging hike.