Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Visual Arts, Crafts & Making Things
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
From Broken Boards to Bedroom Art
I have been skateboarding since I was ten years old. Over the years, I have broken a lot of boards. Skateboards are made of wood, and when you do jumps and tricks, they eventually snap or get too damaged to ride. Usually, skaters just throw their old decks in the rubbish bin. However, I have always enjoyed art, and it felt wrong to waste so much wood. I had a large pile of them hiding under my bed, collecting dust. One weekend, I decided to upcycle my broken boards by painting colourful designs on them to hang on my bedroom wall.
I chose my favourite broken board and immediately started painting a bright picture of a wave. I spent hours getting the colours exactly right, and I was incredibly proud of the result. Unfortunately, my happiness didn’t last long. A few days later, I noticed that the paint was already beginning to crack. When I touched the board, large pieces of paint simply chipped off. I was so disappointed that my hard work was ruined, and I almost gave up on the project completely.
I went online to find out what had gone wrong. I quickly discovered my mistake: I hadn’t prepared the wood before painting. Skateboards have a special shiny coating on them, so regular paint cannot stick to the surface. I realised I had to do things properly. First, I spent a long time carefully removing the rough grip tape from the top. Then, I used sandpaper to make the wood completely smooth. It was a tiring, dusty job, but when I finally applied the new paint, it stayed on perfectly.
Now, my bedroom walls are covered in my custom artwork, and the boards look fantastic. When my skateboarding friends came over and saw what I had done with my old decks, they were amazed. Soon, they started bringing me their own broken boards and asking me to paint specific designs for them. What started as a way to clean up my room has become a small business. I love knowing that I am saving completely trashed boards from the bin and turning them into beautiful art that people actually want to keep.
1 Why did the writer decide to paint his old skateboards?
(A) He wanted to save money on buying new bedroom decorations.
(B) He didn’t want to throw away wood that he could use for art.
(C) He needed to make space under his bed for new skateboards.
(D) He was asked by his friends to create some custom wall art.
2 What happened to the writer’s first painted board?
(A) The picture he painted didn’t look like a real wave.
(B) The colours he used were too bright for his bedroom.
(C) The paint started to come off after a short time.
(D) The board broke while he was trying to paint it.
3 What did the writer learn he had to do before painting?
(A) put a special shiny coating over the new paint
(B) search for better quality paint on the internet
(C) leave the rough grip tape on the board
(D) use sandpaper to prepare the surface of the wood
4 How has the writer’s hobby changed?
(A) He now makes art for other people who request it.
(B) He earns enough money to buy new skateboards.
(C) He spends more time skateboarding with his friends.
(D) He only paints skateboards that are in perfect condition.
5 What would the writer write in his blog?
(A) I’ve got so many broken skateboards under my bed, and I have no idea what to do with them. I might just throw them all in the bin.
(B) I learned the hard way that you must sand a skateboard before you paint it. It’s a lot of effort, but people really love the results!
(C) Painting skateboards is incredibly easy and fast. You just paint straight over the old graphics, and your friends will definitely want to buy them.
(D) I’m upset because my friends keep bringing me their broken boards. I wish they would realise that I only want to paint my own decks.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The first paragraph states that “it felt wrong to waste so much wood” and that he had “always enjoyed art,” which matches the idea of not wanting to throw away wood he could use creatively.
2 C – In the second paragraph, the writer mentions that “the paint was already beginning to crack” and “large pieces of paint simply chipped off.”
3 D – The third paragraph explains that he had to “do things properly” by using “sandpaper to make the wood completely smooth” because paint couldn’t stick to the shiny coating.
4 A – In the final paragraph, the writer explains that his friends started “asking me to paint specific designs for them” and that the hobby has “become a small business.”
5 B – This option captures the global meaning and narrative arc of the text: it mentions the initial mistake (learning the hard way/sanding the board), the difficult process (a lot of effort), and the ultimate success (people loving the results).
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Painting with Fire
My name is Ethan, and I have always loved sketching animals. Recently, I discovered a unique craft called pyrography, which involves drawing on wood using a hot metal pen. I loved the idea of creating beautiful, rustic art, so I bought a beginner’s kit and a smooth piece of pine wood. Because I am already quite good at drawing, I assumed that using the hot tool would be just as easy as using a normal pencil. I eagerly plugged the pen in and waited for the metal tip to heat up, ready to create a masterpiece.
However, my first attempt quickly turned into a disaster. When I draw with a normal pencil, I usually press down quite firmly to make thick, dark lines. I did exactly the same thing with the pyrography pen. Instead of creating a smooth line, the extremely hot metal burned deeply into the pine. A small cloud of smoke appeared, and I was left with a dark, ugly hole in the middle of my wooden board. I felt incredibly frustrated and thought I had completely ruined my new material.
Instead of giving up, I turned the piece of wood over to practice on the back. I realised that I was fighting against the tool instead of letting it do the work. I decided to completely change my technique. This time, I didn’t push down at all. I held the pen gently and let the hot metal glide lightly across the surface. I discovered that by moving slowly and using a very gentle touch, I could control the heat perfectly.
The difference was amazing. The light heat created beautiful, sepia-toned shading that looked like a classic old photograph. I spent the next two hours carefully burning a detailed picture of a bear into the wood. Looking at my finished artwork, I felt an enormous sense of pride. That afternoon taught me that trying a new medium often requires changing your old habits. Learning to be gentle and patient allowed me to create a piece of rustic art that I will keep forever.
1 Why was Ethan excited to start pyrography?
(A) He wanted to build his own rustic wooden furniture.
(B) He thought it would be an easy way to create rustic art.
(C) He needed to make a special gift for his art teacher.
(D) He was bored of sketching animals with normal pencils.
2 What mistake did Ethan make on his first attempt?
(A) He used a piece of pine wood that was too dark.
(B) He held the hot metal pen too close to his fingers.
(C) He pressed the tool too hard and damaged the wood.
(D) He forgot to wait for the metal pen to heat up properly.
3 What did Ethan learn about using the pyrography tool?
(A) It requires a much lighter touch than a normal pencil.
(B) It works best if you draw the picture with a pencil first.
(C) It should only be used to draw very thick, dark lines.
(D) It is impossible to use on completely smooth pieces of pine.
4 How did Ethan feel at the end of the project?
(A) Annoyed because his bedroom smelled like smoke.
(B) Proud that he had produced beautiful, shaded artwork.
(C) Worried that the dark holes would eventually destroy the wood.
(D) Disappointed that he had to work on the back of the wood.
5 What would Ethan write in a text message to a friend?
(A) Wood burning is far too difficult. I ruined my first piece of wood and I’m never trying it again.
(B) I bought a new pen today, but it doesn’t work like a pencil at all, so I’m returning it to the shop.
(C) I burned a huge hole in my desk today! Luckily, my parents didn’t notice the ugly mark.
(D) I ruined my first try by pressing too hard, but using a lighter touch helped me create an amazing rustic picture!
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In paragraph 1, Ethan states, “I loved the idea of creating beautiful, rustic art… I assumed that using the hot tool would be just as easy as using a normal pencil,” mapping directly to thinking it would be an easy way to create rustic art.
2 C – In paragraph 2, Ethan explains that he pressed down firmly and “the extremely hot metal burned deeply into the pine… I was left with a dark, ugly hole,” meaning he pressed too hard and damaged the wood.
3 A – In paragraph 3, Ethan changes his technique and states, “I didn’t push down at all. I held the pen gently… using a very gentle touch,” which means it requires a much lighter touch than the normal pencil he was used to.
4 B – In paragraph 4, Ethan looks at his detailed picture with “beautiful, sepia-toned shading” and says, “I felt an enormous sense of pride,” showing he was proud of producing the artwork.
5 D – This option best captures the global meaning and Ethan’s emotional arc. It summarizes his initial failure (ruining the first try by pressing too hard) and his successful adjustment (using a lighter touch to create an amazing rustic picture).
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
My First Comic Book
I have always been a huge fan of reading manga and comic books. I spend most of my free time sketching superheroes in my notebooks. Last summer, I finally decided to create my own complete comic issue. My goal was to write and illustrate a short, ten-page story to share with my friends. I already had a great idea for a brave main character named Leo, and I felt incredibly excited as I sat down at my desk to draw the very first page.
However, I quickly discovered that making a comic book is much more difficult than drawing a single picture. Sketching Leo once was easy, but drawing him repeatedly in different panels was incredibly frustrating. I had to show him running, jumping, and showing different emotions. Every time I drew him from a new angle, he looked like a completely different person. After a few days of erasing and redrawing the same scenes, my paper was messy, and I felt like giving up on the entire project.
I realised I needed some help, so I looked for advice on the internet. I found some videos made by professional comic artists explaining how they work. They suggested creating a ‘character reference sheet’ before starting the actual comic. This meant drawing Leo from the front, side, and back, so I always had a guide to look at. They also advised using a pencil grid to keep the character’s height and facial features exactly the same size in every single panel.
Although it took several extra days of planning, these new techniques completely changed my artwork. I started drawing my comic again, and this time, Leo looked consistent from the first page to the last. When I finally finished the story and showed it to my friends, they were amazed by how professional it looked. Holding my own readable, satisfying comic in my hands was a fantastic experience. It taught me that creating a good story requires patience and careful planning, not just a lively imagination. I am already writing the plot for my next issue!
1 Why did the writer start making a comic book?
(A) He wanted to share a complete story with his friends.
(B) He needed to finish a sketching project for his summer art class.
(C) He was asked to invent a brave new superhero for a manga.
(D) He wanted to practice reading more comics during his free time.
2 What problem did the writer have when drawing his character, Leo?
(A) He found it difficult to think of enough exciting actions for him to do.
(B) He made the character look completely different in various pictures.
(C) He ruined the paper by spilling ink on his messy drawings.
(D) He was unable to draw the character’s face from the front.
3 How did the writer solve his drawing problem?
(A) He asked a professional artist to draw a reference sheet for him.
(B) He used special tools to copy the same picture into every panel.
(C) He followed online advice to create a guide and measure his drawings.
(D) He watched videos about how to write a better comic book story.
4 What did the writer learn from his experience?
(A) A lively imagination is the only thing you need to make great comics.
(B) Drawing a comic book is much faster if you use a pencil grid.
(C) Good artwork depends on taking your time and preparing properly.
(D) His friends prefer reading stories about brave superheroes.
5 What would the writer write in his diary today?
(A) Making a comic was so frustrating! I spent days erasing my work, and in the end, my friends didn’t even like the story.
(B) I finally completed my comic book! Learning to use reference sheets took extra time, but seeing my character look perfect made it all worth it.
(C) Drawing the same character again and again was surprisingly easy. I think I’ll become a professional comic artist when I grow up.
(D) The online videos were quite helpful, but using a pencil grid just made my paper too messy. Next time, I will only use my imagination.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 A – In the first paragraph, the writer states his goal was to “write and illustrate a short, ten-page story to share with my friends.”
2 B – The second paragraph explains that “Every time I drew him from a new angle, he looked like a completely different person,” which made drawing the panels incredibly frustrating.
3 C – The third paragraph describes how the writer solved the problem by looking for “advice on the internet,” drawing a “reference sheet” (a guide), and using a “pencil grid” to keep the sizes the same (measuring).
4 C – In the fourth paragraph, the writer concludes that “creating a good story requires patience and careful planning,” matching the idea that good artwork depends on taking your time and preparing.
5 B – This option successfully captures the global narrative: it mentions the satisfaction of completing the project, the effort of learning new, time-consuming techniques, and the ultimate pride in the consistent, professional result.