Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Career Guidance & Future Planning 9
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Choosing My Own Path
All my classmates seemed to know exactly what they were doing after finishing school. Every conversation was about university choices, final exams, and moving away from home. My parents expected me to follow the same path, and for a while, I thought I would. However, sitting in a lecture hall for another three years didn’t excite me at all. I have always preferred using my hands and solving practical problems, rather than reading long textbooks. I knew I had to find a different option.
One afternoon, while searching online for career advice, I discovered the idea of apprenticeships. An apprenticeship means you work for a company and learn a specific skill, but you also study part-time at a college. Best of all, you actually earn a salary while you are learning. I saw an advertisement for a plumbing apprenticeship with a local company and decided to apply immediately. To my absolute amazement, I was offered the job after just one interview.
When I shared my exciting news with my friends, their reaction wasn’t exactly what I had hoped for. Because they were all applying to study traditional subjects like history or law at prestigious universities, they seemed quite shocked by my decision. A few of them even laughed, making jokes about dirty pipes and fixing toilets. I must admit, their comments made me feel quite insecure for a few days. I started to wonder if I had made a terrible mistake by not following the crowd.
Now, six months into my apprenticeship, I know I made the right choice. My days are busy and physically tiring, but I absolutely love the variety of the work. Plumbing actually requires a lot of logical thinking and mathematics to design water systems safely. Furthermore, while my friends are worrying about student loans and future debts, I am already earning my own money and saving for a car. Having a high-demand skill means I will never struggle to find work. I am finally confident that taking an unconventional path was the best decision for my future.
1 How did the writer feel about his future at the beginning of the text?
(A) He wanted to follow the same path as his classmates.
(B) He was looking for a way to use his practical skills.
(C) He was excited about the idea of moving away from home.
(D) He felt annoyed by his parents’ expectations.
2 What attracted the writer to the apprenticeship?
(A) He would not have to attend college anymore.
(B) He only had to pass one simple interview to get it.
(C) He would be able to learn a profession and get paid.
(D) He knew the local company was looking for a manager.
3 How did the writer react to his friends’ comments?
(A) He agreed with them that the work would be too dirty.
(B) He felt unsure about the choice he had made.
(C) He was angry because they made jokes about his company.
(D) He decided to apply to a prestigious university instead.
4 What does the writer appreciate most about his job now?
(A) He enjoys the fact that the work is not physically tiring.
(B) He likes using his brain to solve complex problems safely.
(C) He is happy that he doesn’t have to study or do mathematics.
(D) He is pleased that he can finally afford to buy a new car.
5 What would the writer write in his diary today?
(A) My friends were right. Being a plumber is exhausting, and I really wish I had applied to university with them instead of choosing this job.
(B) I am so happy I got the apprenticeship! Now I just need to figure out how to pay off all the student loans I owe for my college classes.
(C) It was tough dealing with other people’s opinions at first, but I’m proud of my choice. I’m gaining valuable skills and achieving financial independence.
(D) Plumbing is completely different from what I expected. I didn’t realise I would have to go to college part-time, but I guess I am getting used to it.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In the first paragraph, the writer states, “I have always preferred using my hands and solving practical problems, rather than reading long textbooks,” which paraphrases to looking for a way to use practical skills.
2 C – In the second paragraph, the writer explains that during an apprenticeship you “learn a specific skill” and “actually earn a salary while you are learning.”
3 B – The third paragraph describes the writer’s reaction to his friends’ laughter: “I must admit, their comments made me feel quite insecure for a few days. I started to wonder if I had made a terrible mistake…” This means he felt unsure about his choice.
4 B – The fourth paragraph states that plumbing “requires a lot of logical thinking and mathematics to design water systems safely,” which matches using his brain to solve complex problems safely.
5 C – This option accurately captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text: acknowledging the initial difficulty of facing his friends’ judgment, but ultimately feeling proud of his decision because of the practical skills and financial benefits (earning his own money) he is gaining.
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Turning my unusual hobby into a career
For the last two years, I have had a rather unusual hobby. While my friends spend their evenings playing video games or watching films, I love browsing real estate websites. I look at the advertisements for houses for sale in our city. I don’t have any money to buy a property, of course, but I am fascinated by the different shapes of the rooms. I love looking at empty spaces and imagining how I would decorate them, or how I could change the walls to make the rooms brighter. I have always been good at drawing, so I often sketch new ideas for these houses in my notebooks.
However, as I reached my final year of school, this hobby didn’t seem very useful. Everyone was talking about their future careers and choosing university courses. I was feeling incredibly anxious. My best grades were always in art and design, but I knew I didn’t want to become a traditional painter or work in an art gallery. I felt like I had to choose between doing something creative that wouldn’t lead to a steady job, or doing a boring office job that I would hate.
Last month, I had a meeting with our school career advisor, Mr Andrews. He asked me what I enjoyed doing in my free time. At first, I was embarrassed to mention my strange habit of looking at house listings. But when I finally told him, he didn’t laugh at all. Instead, he smiled and asked to see some of my sketches. He explained that my interest in buildings and my artistic skills were the perfect combination for a career in interior architecture.
I had never even heard of interior architecture before. When I got home, I immediately researched it online. I discovered that it is very different from just choosing cushions or painting walls. It involves redesigning the inside of a building completely, drawing accurate floor plans, and using computer software to make spaces both beautiful and practical. It was exactly what I had been doing in my notebooks for fun!
Now, my future feels much clearer. I am currently preparing a portfolio of my drawings to apply for university degrees in interior architecture. I am so glad I spoke to Mr Andrews, because he helped me turn my weekend hobby into an exciting professional path.
1 Why does the writer look at real estate websites?
(A) Because she wants to buy a property in her city soon.
(B) Because she enjoys imagining how to improve the empty spaces.
(C) Because her friends recommended the websites to her.
(D) Because she needs to find a new house for her family.
2 How did the writer feel about her career choices before meeting the advisor?
(A) Confident that she would become a successful traditional painter.
(B) Worried because she couldn’t see a clear path for her artistic skills.
(C) Excited to apply for a traditional office job after finishing school.
(D) Annoyed that her friends were getting better grades than her.
3 What was Mr Andrews’ reaction to the writer’s hobby?
(A) He thought it was a very strange way to spend free time.
(B) He laughed at the drawings she had done in her notebook.
(C) He realised it matched perfectly with her ability in art.
(D) He suggested she should stop looking at houses and focus on studying.
4 What did the writer learn about interior architecture?
(A) It is mainly about choosing the right furniture and paint.
(B) It requires changing the outside appearance of a building.
(C) It involves practical design and using computer software.
(D) It is exactly the same as traditional painting and drawing.
5 What would the writer text to a friend after her meeting with Mr Andrews?
(A) Mr Andrews told me I should be a real estate agent, so I guess I’ll stop drawing and start selling houses instead.
(B) I was so worried about my future, but I’ve finally found a career that perfectly combines my love for art and building layouts!
(C) I’m quite disappointed that interior architecture involves so much computer work. I just want to draw in my notebooks.
(D) Everyone thinks my hobby is weird, but I don’t care because I’m going to buy my own house very soon.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 (B) – In paragraph 1, the writer states: “I love looking at empty spaces and imagining how I would decorate them, or how I could change the walls to make the rooms brighter.”
2 (B) – Paragraph 2 mentions the writer was “feeling incredibly anxious” because her best grades were in art, but she didn’t want to be a painter, making her feel stuck between a creative path with no steady job and a boring office job.
3 (C) – In paragraph 3, Mr Andrews did not laugh; instead, he explained that her interest in buildings and her “artistic skills were the perfect combination for a career in interior architecture.”
4 (C) – Paragraph 4 explains that interior architecture is different from just choosing furniture or painting walls. It actually involves drawing accurate floor plans and “using computer software to make spaces both beautiful and practical.”
5 (B) – This option captures the global meaning and the writer’s emotional shift perfectly. She went from being anxious about having to abandon her artistic talents to discovering a professional degree (interior architecture) that merges her unique hobby with her creative skills.
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The Importance of Languages
For the first three years of secondary school, French was my least favourite subject. I found the grammar rules incredibly confusing, and trying to remember all the new vocabulary felt like a huge waste of time. While my friends seemed to enjoy the lessons, I usually sat at the back of the classroom staring at the clock. When my parents asked me about my study plans for next year, I confidently told them I was going to drop French completely and choose business studies instead. I simply couldn’t see how speaking another language would ever be useful to me in the real world.
My attitude finally changed last month when our school organised a career fair. I wasn’t particularly looking forward to it, but we were all required to go. I spent an hour walking around the large hall, picking up free pens and reading boring leaflets. I was just about to leave when a bright poster showing famous cities around the world caught my eye. A friendly man named Mr. Evans was standing behind the desk. He worked as an international buyer for a large clothing company, and out of curiosity, I decided to ask him a few questions about his job.
Mr. Evans explained that his career involved travelling to different countries to choose the best materials for his company to sell. He told me fantastic stories about visiting markets in Paris, meeting designers in Milan, and doing business in Tokyo. Then, he said something that completely surprised me. He explained that although he was good at business, his most valuable skill was his ability to speak three languages. He said that speaking directly to people in their own language helped him build trust and get the best deals.
As I listened to him, my opinion about my French lessons began to shift. I suddenly realised that learning a language wasn’t just about passing difficult exams or memorising lists of verbs. It was actually a passport to an exciting international career. If I wanted to travel the world and do business like Mr. Evans, I needed to communicate effectively. The very next day, I told my teachers that I had changed my mind. I am now studying French harder than ever, and I’m even thinking about starting Spanish next term!
1 How did the writer feel about her French lessons at first?
(A) She was disappointed that her friends didn’t enjoy them.
(B) She believed the subject would be useless for her future.
(C) She thought the teacher gave her too much vocabulary to learn.
(D) She preferred taking business studies classes instead.
2 Why did the writer speak to Mr. Evans at the career fair?
(A) She was told to interview him by her teachers.
(B) She wanted to collect a free pen and a leaflet from his desk.
(C) She was attracted by the pictures displayed on his stand.
(D) She had always wanted to work for a clothing company.
3 What did Mr. Evans say was the most important part of his job?
(A) Being able to travel to famous markets in Paris and Milan.
(B) Understanding how to sell clothing materials to other countries.
(C) Using foreign languages to connect with international clients.
(D) Having a good understanding of general business skills.
4 What is the writer’s attitude towards learning languages now?
(A) She thinks it is mainly about passing difficult school exams.
(B) She wishes she had started learning Spanish much earlier.
(C) She understands it can provide great professional opportunities.
(D) She is worried that she won’t be able to communicate effectively.
5 What would the writer write in her diary that evening?
(A) “The career fair was so boring! I only talked to one person, and he told me that business studies is the only way to get a good job.”
(B) “I almost gave up on French, but talking to an international buyer made me realise how important languages are for travelling and working.”
(C) “Mr. Evans offered me a job at his clothing company, so I’ve decided to drop French and study Spanish instead next year.”
(D) “I finally dropped French today! I’m so glad I don’t have to memorise any more confusing grammar rules or long verb lists.”
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The text states in paragraph 1 that she planned to drop French because she “simply couldn’t see how speaking another language would ever be useful to me in the real world.”
2 C – In paragraph 2, the writer mentions that she went over to the desk because “a bright poster showing famous cities around the world caught my eye.”
3 C – Paragraph 3 explains that Mr. Evans told her his “most valuable skill was his ability to speak three languages” because speaking to people in their own language helped him “build trust and get the best deals.”
4 C – In paragraph 4, the writer states she realized learning a language “was actually a passport to an exciting international career,” showing she sees its professional value.
5 B – This option captures the global meaning and the writer’s personal shift: starting from a desire to drop French, to discovering its real-world value through a conversation at the career fair, and deciding to keep studying it.