Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Music, Singing & Audio Production
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
My indoor climbing journey
by Leo Davis
I’ve never been much of a team sports player. While most of my classmates spent their weekends playing football or basketball, I usually preferred doing things on my own, like cycling. But last winter, the weather was so awful that I couldn’t go out on my bike. I was getting quite bored, so when my friend Sam suggested trying indoor rock climbing, I thought it sounded like a good idea. I was a bit nervous because I didn’t have much upper body strength, but I really wanted to find a fun way to stay fit while I couldn’t cycle.
Walking into the climbing centre for the first time was quite a shock. The walls were covered in brightly coloured shapes, and they looked much higher than I had imagined. An instructor helped us put on our safety harnesses and gave us special climbing shoes, which felt incredibly tight. On my very first attempt, I only managed to climb about two metres before my arms started shaking and I had to come down. I felt rather embarrassed, especially since other people around me were moving up the tall walls so easily.
However, my instructor, Sarah, quickly explained that I was doing it wrong. She told me that climbing isn’t just about pulling yourself up with your arms. If you want to be a good climber, you have to use your leg muscles to push yourself upwards. She also showed me how to look ahead and plan my route, almost like solving a physical puzzle. Once I understood this, I started making progress. I also stopped worrying about falling, because I realised the ropes would always catch me safely.
Six months later, I am at the climbing centre at least three times a week. I’m amazed at how much stronger and more confident I’ve become. The best part is the climbing community; everyone is so friendly and always shouts encouraging words when you are trying a difficult route. I’m even thinking about taking part in a beginner’s climbing competition next month. If you had told me that on my first day, I would never have believed you!
1 Why did Leo decide to try indoor climbing?
(A) He wanted to start playing a sport with his friends.
(B) He needed an indoor activity to keep himself healthy.
(C) He was tired of playing team sports like football.
(D) He wanted to improve his upper body strength.
2 How did Leo feel during his first climb?
(A) shocked by how high the climbing walls actually were
(B) uncomfortable because his shoes didn’t fit properly
(C) silly because he couldn’t get very far up the wall
(D) surprised that the safety equipment was so heavy
3 What important advice did Sarah give Leo?
(A) He should focus on building his arm muscles.
(B) He must learn to trust the ropes when he falls.
(C) He needs to rely more on his legs to move up.
(D) He should watch other climbers to learn the routes.
4 What does Leo like most about climbing now?
(A) entering friendly local competitions
(B) the support he gets from other climbers
(C) noticing the changes in his physical strength
(D) going to the climbing centre multiple times a week
5 What would Leo write in his blog?
(A) I’m so glad I gave up cycling for climbing. It’s much more fun and the people are so much nicer!
(B) Climbing seemed scary and impossible at first, but with the right technique, it’s become a sport I really love.
(C) I finally won my first climbing competition! It just shows what happens when you practice three times a week.
(D) If you want to try climbing, you need to be really strong before you start, otherwise you’ll just be embarrassed.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – Leo states the winter weather was awful preventing him from cycling, and he “wanted to find a fun way to stay fit”.
2 C – In paragraph 2, Leo says he only climbed “about two metres” and felt “rather embarrassed”, which maps to feeling silly because he couldn’t get very far.
3 C – Sarah explains that climbing isn’t just pulling with arms, but that “you have to use your leg muscles to push yourself upwards.”
4 B – In paragraph 4, Leo explicitly states, “The best part is the climbing community; everyone is so friendly and always shouts encouraging words”.
5 B – This option captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text: he started out nervous and struggling (scary/impossible) but learned to use his legs and plan routes (right technique), and now goes three times a week and feels confident (a sport he really loves).
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Mixing with Vinyl
I’ve always been passionate about electronic music. While most of my friends use computer software to mix songs, I wanted to try something more traditional. A few months ago, I watched an older DJ performing with vinyl records. I was amazed by how he controlled the music with his hands. I decided I wanted to learn this skill too, so I managed to buy two old turntables and a mixer from a local second-hand shop.
I quickly realised that DJing with vinyl is much harder than it looks. The biggest challenge is a technique called ‘beatmatching’. This means playing two different records at exactly the same speed so they sound good together. Because I wasn’t using a modern computer to tell me the speed of the songs, I had to use only my ears. The first few times I tried to mix two tracks, the results were terrible. The beats clashed horribly, making a noisy, confusing sound that gave me a headache.
I spent weeks practising in my bedroom. I had to learn how to gently touch the edge of the spinning record to slow it down or push it slightly to speed it up. It required so much concentration! There were many afternoons when I just wanted to give up. Every time I thought I had matched the speeds perfectly, the songs would slowly drift apart again, ruining the mix. It was an incredibly frustrating experience.
However, I refused to stop trying. Then, one rainy evening, something amazing happened. I put a house music track on the first turntable and a slightly faster song on the second. I listened carefully through my headphones and adjusted the speed. Slowly, I brought the volume up on the second record. For the first time, the two tracks blended together seamlessly. They didn’t clash at all; instead, they created one beautiful, new piece of music.
In that moment, I could feel the rhythm travelling through my entire body. It was the most rewarding feeling I have ever experienced. I still make mistakes sometimes, but that successful mix showed me what is possible. Now, I am practising every day, and if I keep improving, I hope to play my vinyl records at my best friend’s birthday party next month!
1 Why did the writer start learning to DJ with vinyl records?
(A) He wanted to copy the software his friends were using.
(B) He was inspired after seeing someone else do it.
(C) He found some cheap turntables in a shop.
(D) He wanted to invent a new style of electronic music.
2 What was the writer’s main problem when he first started?
(A) He didn’t have a modern computer to play his music.
(B) He couldn’t get the two songs to play at the same speed.
(C) His turntables were broken and made a terrible noise.
(D) His headphones gave him a terrible headache.
3 How did the writer feel during his practice sessions in his bedroom?
(A) Angry because his records kept getting ruined.
(B) Bored because he was playing the same songs every day.
(C) Annoyed because the music would often stop spinning.
(D) Frustrated because he kept making mistakes.
4 When the writer finally mixed two tracks successfully, he
(A) decided to start writing his own house music.
(B) experienced a deep physical connection to the music.
(C) realised he didn’t need to use headphones anymore.
(D) played the new piece of music at a friend’s party.
5 What would the writer say about his experience of learning to DJ?
(A) It’s much easier to use a computer, so I wouldn’t recommend buying old vinyl records.
(B) The hardest part is finding good music; once you have that, the mixing is simple.
(C) I’m glad I didn’t give up, because getting the mix right is an incredible feeling.
(D) I enjoy DJing in my bedroom, but I would never want to perform for other people.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The text states the writer “watched an older DJ performing with vinyl records” and was “amazed,” which led to him deciding he “wanted to learn this skill too.”
2 B – The text explains that the biggest challenge was ‘beatmatching’, which involves “playing two different records at exactly the same speed,” and notes that his early attempts resulted in beats that “clashed horribly.”
3 D – The writer mentions that the songs would “slowly drift apart again, ruining the mix,” and directly calls the practice sessions “an incredibly frustrating experience” where he often “wanted to give up.”
4 B – The text says that during the successful mix, he “could feel the rhythm travelling through my entire body,” indicating a strong physical reaction to the music.
5 C – This option accurately reflects the global meaning of the text: the writer went through an incredibly difficult and frustrating learning process (“glad I didn’t give up”) but ultimately found the successful result to be deeply rewarding (“an incredible feeling”).
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Finding My Voice
I have always loved singing. Ever since I was in primary school, I was part of the choir, and I usually sang the highest parts without any effort. Because of this, I was really looking forward to joining the senior school choir when the new term started in September. I imagined standing in the front row, confidently singing all the high notes just like I had always done. However, over the summer holidays, I had noticed my voice was sounding a bit strange.
During our first rehearsal, the music teacher, Mr Roberts, asked us to sing a familiar song. When the music reached the highest section, I took a deep breath and opened my mouth. Instead of a clear, high sound, a strange squeak came out! My voice was changing, and suddenly, hitting those top notes was impossible. My face turned bright red as a few students turned to look at me. I felt so foolish that I spent the rest of the practice just moving my lips without making a sound. I even thought about quitting the choir completely.
At the end of the lesson, Mr Roberts asked me to wait behind. I was worried he was going to tell me to leave. Instead, he smiled and explained that boys’ voices naturally get deeper as they grow up. “You are just trying to sing the wrong part, Sam,” he said gently. He suggested that I move to the back row and join the bass section, which is for singers with the lowest voices. I wasn’t very keen on the idea because I didn’t know the bass melodies, but I agreed to give it a try.
At the next rehearsal, I stood with the older boys in the bass section. When we started to sing, I felt a huge difference. Singing the low notes felt incredibly easy and comfortable. As I listened to the whole group, I realised that our deep voices were like the foundation of a building. We didn’t have the main melody, but without us, the music sounded thin and weak. Now, I am really proud of my new voice, and I love the rich harmony we create together.
1 Why was Sam excited about joining the senior school choir?
(A) He wanted to learn how to sing high notes.
(B) He expected to continue doing something he was good at.
(C) He was looking forward to making new friends.
(D) He wanted to stand in the front row for the first time.
2 What happened to Sam during the first rehearsal?
(A) He sang the high notes louder than everyone else.
(B) He was asked to perform a song he didn’t know.
(C) He felt embarrassed when he couldn’t produce the right sound.
(D) He decided to leave the choir immediately.
3 How did Sam feel about his teacher’s suggestion?
(A) Unsure because he was unfamiliar with the new music.
(B) Worried that the older boys wouldn’t welcome him.
(C) Relieved that he wouldn’t have to sing the highest parts.
(D) Angry that he was being moved to the back row.
4 What did Sam discover about singing in the bass section?
(A) It is much harder than singing the main melody.
(B) Their deep voices make the overall song sound better.
(C) It takes a lot of effort to sing the lowest notes.
(D) They have to sing louder than the rest of the choir.
5 What would Sam write in his diary about his choir experience?
(A) “I miss my old voice. Singing the low notes is boring, and I wish I could go back to singing the main melody.”
(B) “Joining the bass section was quite easy, mostly because I already knew all the melodies from my time in the front row.”
(C) “Mr Roberts was very angry when I couldn’t sing the high notes, but thankfully he gave me a second chance in the bass section.”
(D) “I almost gave up singing when my voice changed, but finding a new role in the group has made me enjoy it more than ever.”
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In the first paragraph, Sam states he was looking forward to joining because he “imagined standing in the front row, confidently singing all the high notes just like I had always done,” which means he expected to keep doing what he was already good at.
2 C – In the second paragraph, Sam mentions that a “strange squeak came out,” his face “turned bright red,” and he felt “foolish” (embarrassed).
3 A – In the third paragraph, when the teacher suggests moving to the bass section, Sam says he “wasn’t very keen on the idea because I didn’t know the bass melodies.”
4 B – In the fourth paragraph, Sam realizes that the bass voices act like the “foundation of a building” and that without them, “the music sounded thin and weak,” showing they improve the overall sound.
5 D – This option accurately synthesizes Sam’s global journey across the text: he felt foolish and wanted to quit (paragraph 2), but after moving to the bass section, he feels proud and loves the harmony they create (paragraph 4).