Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Academic Projects & Field Trips 3
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
More Than Just Words
When my parents announced we were hosting an exchange student from Spain for a month, I was thrilled. I’ve always wanted a brother, so having another teenager around sounded perfect. However, as his arrival day got closer, my excitement turned into anxiety. I realised a major problem: I didn’t speak any Spanish, and I had no idea how good his English was. If we couldn’t communicate, it would be a long month.
My worries came true the moment Mateo arrived. He was polite and smiled, but it was obvious he was nervous. His English was quite basic, and whenever my parents asked him questions at dinner, he looked confused. We spent the first few days eating in awkward silence. I tried using hand gestures to explain things, or looking up phrases on my phone, but it felt unnatural. I started to worry that we would never actually become friends.
By the fourth day, I was feeling quite disappointed and decided to spend the afternoon in my bedroom playing a football video game. I left the door open, and after a while, I noticed Mateo standing in the hallway, watching the TV screen with interest. I paused the game, pointed to the second controller on my bed, and asked if he wanted to join. He smiled broadly, nodded, and immediately sat down next to me.
Within minutes, the awkward atmosphere completely disappeared. It turned out Mateo was brilliant at the game, and he beat me in our first match. We didn’t need to speak in full sentences to enjoy ourselves; shared laughs, cheers, and groans when someone missed a goal were enough. When we did speak, we used simple game vocabulary. I finally understood that building a true friendship doesn’t always depend on having perfect spoken conversations.
Since that afternoon, everything has improved. We still play every evening, but we’ve also started teaching each other our languages. He tells me the Spanish words for things around the house, and I help him with his English homework. Having Mateo here has been fantastic, and I’m already hoping to visit him in Spain next year.
1 How did the writer feel just before Mateo arrived?
(A) He was worried about the potential language barrier.
(B) He was disappointed that Mateo couldn’t speak English.
(C) He was excited to practice speaking Spanish.
(D) He was annoyed about sharing his house with a stranger.
2 What did the writer find difficult during Mateo’s first few days?
(A) Mateo refused to eat dinner with the family.
(B) Finding a natural way to communicate with Mateo.
(C) Answering the questions Mateo asked his parents.
(D) Understanding the hand gestures Mateo was making.
3 Why did Mateo enter the writer’s bedroom?
(A) He wanted to ask the writer a question about a game.
(B) He was looking for his own video game controller.
(C) He was attracted by the game the writer was playing.
(D) He felt disappointed and wanted some company.
4 What did the writer learn from playing the video game with Mateo?
(A) It is important to learn the vocabulary of video games.
(B) You don’t need to speak fluently to connect with someone.
(C) Video games are the best way to learn a foreign language.
(D) You should always let your guests win when playing games.
5 What would the writer write in his diary about hosting Mateo?
(A) I wish my parents hadn’t invited Mateo to stay. We have nothing in common and the house is always too quiet.
(B) Mateo is great at video games, but I really wish he would make more of an effort to speak to my parents at dinner.
(C) The first few days were tough, but I’m so glad Mateo is here. We’re having a great time, even without many words.
(D) I’m really enjoying teaching Mateo how to play my favourite video games. Next, I’m going to teach him Spanish!
Answer Key & Explanations
1 A – The text states in the first paragraph that the writer’s excitement turned into anxiety because he realised he didn’t speak Spanish and didn’t know how good Mateo’s English would be.
2 B – In the second paragraph, the writer explains that trying to use hand gestures and translating apps on his phone to talk to Mateo felt unnatural.
3 C – The third paragraph describes Mateo standing in the hallway “watching the TV screen with interest” before being invited in by the writer.
4 B – In the fourth paragraph, the writer reflects: “I finally understood that building a true friendship doesn’t always depend on having perfect spoken conversations.”
5 C – This option accurately captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text: acknowledging the difficult, awkward start, but concluding that they have formed a strong bond despite the language barrier.
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
My unexpected trip to the town hall
When our civics teacher announced that our class was going on a trip to the local town hall, I wasn’t exactly thrilled. To be honest, I thought it was going to be the most boring morning of the school year. I imagined we would just sit in a cold room listening to middle-aged politicians in grey suits talking endlessly about rules and taxes. I even considered pretending to be ill so I could stay at home, but I knew I needed to complete the project to get a good grade.
When we arrived, the building itself was quite impressive, with its huge wooden doors and high ceilings. We were led upstairs to the public balcony so we could look down at the council members. For the first thirty minutes, my prediction was completely right. They were discussing the budget for repairing the street lights on the other side of town. I didn’t care about that at all, and I could see my friends were struggling to keep their eyes open too.
However, the atmosphere in the room suddenly changed when they moved on to the next topic on their list. The mayor announced they were going to vote on a proposal to build a new skatepark right in the middle of our local park. I love skateboarding, so I immediately sat up and paid attention. Two politicians started arguing strongly about the idea. One woman complained that a skatepark would bring too much noise and mess to the area. But then, a younger man argued back, saying that teenagers in our town desperately needed a safe, modern space to exercise and meet friends.
I couldn’t believe it. These politicians were actually arguing about my free time and my hobbies. In the end, the council voted to build the skatepark, and I actually cheered quietly from the balcony. As we travelled back to school, I realized how wrong I had been. Local government isn’t just about boring adult problems; it’s about making decisions that directly change our daily lives. I’ve even decided to check the town hall’s website regularly to see what they are discussing next.
1 Why wasn’t Leo looking forward to the school trip?
(A) He thought the topic they were studying was too difficult.
(B) He believed the politicians would only discuss uninteresting topics.
(C) He didn’t want to wear a grey suit to the town hall.
(D) He was feeling too ill to attend school that day.
2 How did Leo feel during the first part of the meeting?
(A) amazed by the beautiful architecture of the public balcony
(B) worried about the lack of street lights in his area
(C) completely uninterested in what was being discussed
(D) annoyed that his friends were falling asleep
3 What surprised Leo during the discussion about the skatepark?
(A) that the mayor knew he was a skateboarder
(B) that one politician wanted to build it in a noisy area
(C) how strongly the politicians expressed their opinions
(D) how quickly they agreed to build the new space
4 What effect has the trip had on Leo?
(A) He wants to start a career in local politics.
(B) He plans to spend less time skateboarding.
(C) He hopes to meet the mayor to discuss his hobbies.
(D) He wants to keep informed about local issues.
5 What would Leo text his friend after the trip?
(A) The town hall trip was just as dull as I expected, but at least I got a good grade on my civics project.
(B) You should have come today! They approved the new skatepark, and it made me see that local politics actually matters.
(C) I can’t believe they voted against the skatepark! I’m going to write a letter to the mayor to complain.
(D) The politicians spent the whole morning talking about street lights, so we didn’t get to hear about the skatepark.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 (B) – The text states Leo thought it would be the “most boring morning” and imagined politicians “talking endlessly about rules and taxes,” which matches the idea that they would only discuss uninteresting topics.
2 (C) – In paragraph 2, Leo says “I didn’t care about that at all” when discussing the street lights, and notes his friends were “struggling to keep their eyes open,” indicating a complete lack of interest.
3 (C) – Paragraph 3 mentions that the two politicians started “arguing strongly about the idea,” with one complaining and the other arguing back desperately, which paraphrases how strongly they expressed their opinions.
4 (D) – In the final paragraph, Leo says, “I’ve even decided to check the town hall’s website regularly to see what they are discussing next,” showing his desire to keep informed about local issues.
5 (B) – This text message perfectly captures Leo’s change in attitude (realizing local politics matters) and accurately reflects the main event of the text (the approval of the new skatepark). Option A is factually incorrect as his opinion changed. Option C is wrong because the skatepark was approved. Option D is incorrect because they did eventually discuss the skatepark.
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The Chemistry Lab Accident
My name is Leo, and I’ve always enjoyed science classes, especially chemistry. I love doing experiments and seeing how different things react when you put them together. Last Tuesday, we had a double chemistry lesson at the end of the school day. Our teacher, Mr. Harris, gave us a list of instructions for a complicated experiment. However, I wasn’t really paying attention. My friends and I had planned to go to the cinema right after school, and I was worried that if the experiment took too long, I would miss the beginning of the film.
Mr. Harris told us to be careful and add the liquids together very slowly. He explained that if we rushed, the results wouldn’t be accurate. My lab partner, Sarah, wanted to follow the rules exactly, but I convinced her to let me do the mixing. I thought that if I added the liquids just a little bit faster, we could finish our work before everyone else, pack our bags, and leave early. I was completely sure it wouldn’t make a big difference to the experiment.
Of course, I was wrong. As soon as I poured the second liquid into the glass bowl, I realized I had made a terrible mistake. The mixture suddenly changed from a light blue colour to dark purple, and then it started to grow. Thick foam rose to the top of the bowl and poured over the sides onto the desk. I tried to stop it with my hands, but it was too late. The purple foam spread everywhere, completely covering my open notebook. All the notes I had written during the term were ruined in seconds.
Mr. Harris hurried over to our desk. He wasn’t angry, but he looked disappointed. He gave us some towels to clean up the mess and told me that science is not a race. Because of my mistake, Sarah and I had to stay after school to clean the equipment and repeat the whole experiment. I missed the cinema trip completely, and I also had to spend my weekend copying Sarah’s chemistry notes. I finally understand that science requires patience, and that trying to save a few minutes can actually cost you hours.
1 Why wasn’t Leo paying attention to the teacher’s instructions?
(A) He didn’t enjoy his chemistry lessons very much.
(B) He found the experiment too complicated to understand.
(C) He was anxious about being late for a social event.
(D) He wanted to talk to his friends instead of listening.
2 Why did Leo decide to mix the liquids quickly?
(A) He wanted to complete the task before his classmates.
(B) His partner Sarah suggested it was a good idea.
(C) He thought Mr. Harris had told him to do it that way.
(D) He wanted to see if he could change the experiment’s colour.
3 When the accident happened, what was the worst result for Leo?
(A) He burned his hands on the purple foam.
(B) He broke the glass bowl on the desk.
(C) He made a mess on his lab partner’s uniform.
(D) His schoolwork was badly damaged by the mixture.
4 What did Leo learn from his experience?
(A) Teachers get very angry when you make a mess.
(B) Following instructions carefully is essential in science.
(C) Copying other people’s notes is a good way to learn.
(D) Science experiments should always be done after school.
5 What would Leo write in a text message to his friends that evening?
(A) I’m so sorry I couldn’t come to the cinema. I had to stay late because I messed up our chemistry project.
(B) The film was great, wasn’t it? I’m glad we finished the chemistry experiment so fast today!
(C) Mr. Harris was so unfair today! He made me stay after school just because Sarah spilled some chemicals.
(D) I’ve decided to stop studying chemistry. It’s too dangerous and I’m tired of ruining my clothes.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 C – The text states Leo was “worried that if the experiment took too long, I would miss the beginning of the film” he had planned to see with his friends. This paraphrases being anxious about being late for a social event.
2 A – Leo says, “I thought that if I added the liquids just a little bit faster, we could finish our work before everyone else”. This matches wanting to complete the task before his classmates.
3 D – The text explicitly mentions that the foam covered his open notebook and “All the notes I had written during the term were ruined in seconds.”
4 B – In the final paragraph, Leo reflects: “I finally understand that science requires patience, and that trying to save a few minutes can actually cost you hours,” which demonstrates he learned the importance of following instructions carefully.
5 A – This option captures the global truth of the story: Leo missed the cinema trip because he made a mistake during the experiment and was forced to stay late to fix it. He takes responsibility for the mess, which matches his reflective tone in the text.