Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Music, Singing & Audio Production
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Finding My Voice
Ever since I was little, I have always loved singing. I usually sing along to pop songs in my bedroom or with the radio in the car. So, when my school announced they were starting an acapella group—a choir where people sing without any musical instruments—I immediately decided to join. Because I have a pretty good voice, I honestly thought it would be quite an easy and relaxing activity. However, I soon discovered how wrong I was.
At our first rehearsal, our music teacher divided us into four smaller groups. Instead of singing the main melody, I was asked to sing a lower harmony part. When we tried to sing together, it was a disaster for me. The people next to me were singing completely different notes, and it was incredibly confusing. I kept losing my own note and accidentally copying the melody instead. I felt so embarrassed that I almost stopped singing completely.
Our teacher noticed that I was struggling and stopped the music. She walked over and told me not to worry, explaining that singing harmony is difficult for beginners. Then, she taught me a simple but clever trick. She told me to cover one of my ears with my hand while we sang. She said this would help me hear my own voice much more clearly inside my head, while still allowing my other ear to hear the rest of the group.
When we started the song again, I raised my hand and covered my left ear. To my surprise, the trick worked perfectly! I could focus on my own notes without getting confused by the other singers. For the first time, all our different voices locked together perfectly. We created a beautiful, multi-part harmony that filled the whole room. It felt amazing to know I was a necessary part of that sound.
Now, I look forward to our acapella rehearsals every week. I still use the one-ear trick sometimes, but I am becoming much more confident in my abilities. Singing without instruments is definitely more challenging than I originally thought, but creating music using only our voices is the most rewarding experience I have ever had.
1 How did the writer feel about joining the acapella group before the first rehearsal?
(A) She was worried because there would be no instruments.
(B) She expected the experience to be simple and stress-free.
(C) She wanted to learn how to sing pop songs better.
(D) She felt nervous about singing in front of other students.
2 What problem did the writer have during the first rehearsal?
(A) She didn’t like the low notes she was given to sing.
(B) She kept forgetting the words to the main melody.
(C) She started singing the same notes as the other groups.
(D) She was asked to sing by herself in front of everyone.
3 Why did the teacher suggest the writer should cover one ear?
(A) so that she could block out the sound of the other singers completely
(B) to help her pay attention to the teacher’s instructions
(C) to make the volume of the music in the room seem quieter
(D) so that she could listen to her own singing more easily
4 How did the writer feel when the group sang the song again?
(A) proud to be contributing to such a wonderful sound
(B) surprised that the other students were so talented
(C) disappointed that the trick didn’t work immediately
(D) relieved that she was finally given the main melody
5 What would the writer say in a message to a friend about the acapella group?
(A) I’m thinking about leaving the group because learning all these different harmony parts is just too stressful.
(B) The teacher had to stop the rehearsal because I was singing so badly, so I don’t think I’ll go back.
(C) I was embarrassed at first, but with a little help, I’ve realized how incredible it feels to sing in harmony.
(D) It’s a lot of fun, but I really miss having a piano or guitar to help us keep in tune during the songs.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The text states in paragraph 1 that because she had a good voice, she “honestly thought it would be quite an easy and relaxing activity,” which matches expecting the experience to be simple and stress-free.
2 C – In paragraph 2, the writer explains that she got confused by the different notes and kept “accidentally copying the melody instead,” meaning she started singing the same notes as the others.
3 D – Paragraph 3 mentions the teacher told her the trick would “help me hear my own voice much more clearly inside my head,” which paraphrases listening to her own singing more easily.
4 A – In paragraph 4, after the voices locked together, she says, “It felt amazing to know I was a necessary part of that sound,” showing she was proud of her contribution.
5 C – This captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text. She starts out embarrassed about losing her note but, thanks to the teacher’s ear-covering trick, she finds that creating a vocal harmony is “the most rewarding experience I have ever had.”
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The Heart of the Band
When my friends and I decided to start a rock band last year, everyone immediately chose their instruments. My best friend, Liam, quickly grabbed the lead electric guitar, and another friend chose the drums. That left me with the bass guitar. At first, I didn’t mind at all. I had always loved the deep, heavy sounds of the bass in my favourite songs. I bought a second-hand bass and started taking online lessons, practising in my bedroom until my fingers hurt. I was so excited to be part of a real band.
However, when we started practising together, my excitement quickly disappeared. Liam was a fantastic guitarist, and he loved playing loud, flashy solos. Because of this, nobody really noticed what I was doing. When I played my bass parts, the sound just seemed to disappear under the noise of the drums and Liam’s guitar. I started to feel like my role wasn’t important at all. If I stopped playing for a minute, I wasn’t even sure if the others would notice. I felt completely overshadowed and began to wish I had chosen a different instrument.
A few months later, our school organised a music competition, and we agreed to perform. I was incredibly nervous when we walked onto the stage in front of hundreds of students. We started playing our best song, and everything was going perfectly. But then, right in the middle of a difficult guitar solo, Liam suddenly forgot the notes. He panicked and started playing much too fast, completely losing the rhythm. The drummer tried to follow him, and the whole song started to fall apart. The audience looked confused, and I knew we were in serious trouble.
I knew I had to do something, so I stepped forward and played my bassline as loudly and clearly as I could. I focused on keeping a heavy, steady rhythm, ignoring the messy sounds around me. Slowly, the drummer heard my beat and matched my tempo. A few seconds later, Liam found his place again and joined in. We finished the song to huge cheers from the crowd. Afterwards, Liam hugged me and thanked me for saving our performance. I finally understood that while the lead guitar might get the attention, the bass is the heart that keeps the band together.
1 Why did the writer end up playing the bass guitar?
(A) It was the only instrument remaining for him to choose.
(B) He wanted to play loud solos like his best friend.
(C) His friends advised him to buy a second-hand one.
(D) He thought it would be the easiest instrument to learn online.
2 How did the writer feel during the band’s practices?
(A) Angry because Liam was playing his guitar incorrectly.
(B) Frustrated because he couldn’t hear the drums over his bass.
(C) Upset because he felt his contribution was being ignored.
(D) Bored because the songs they were playing were too simple.
3 What went wrong during the school performance?
(A) The drummer started playing a completely different song.
(B) The guitarist made a mistake and lost the speed of the music.
(C) The audience started making confused noises that distracted the band.
(D) The writer was too nervous to play his bass parts correctly.
4 How did the writer solve the problem on stage?
(A) He shouted at the drummer to slow down the tempo.
(B) He played a loud, flashy solo to distract the audience.
(C) He stopped playing until Liam remembered the correct notes.
(D) He provided a strong, clear beat for the others to follow.
5 What would the writer write in his diary that night?
(A) I’m so glad I decided to switch to the electric guitar. It feels great to finally be the star of the show and play loud solos.
(B) Tonight was awful because of Liam. If he can’t remember his notes, I don’t think I want to be in this band anymore.
(C) I used to feel useless in the band, but tonight proved that my instrument is actually essential for keeping our music together.
(D) The audience cheered for us, but I still think nobody could hear me. I really need to get a louder bass guitar before our next gig.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 A – In paragraph 1, the writer explains that his friends quickly chose the electric guitar and drums, and “That left me with the bass guitar.”
2 C – In paragraph 2, the writer says “nobody really noticed what I was doing”, “I started to feel like my role wasn’t important at all”, and “I felt completely overshadowed”.
3 B – Paragraph 3 states that Liam “forgot the notes”, “started playing much too fast”, and was “completely losing the rhythm”.
4 D – In paragraph 4, the writer explains that he “played my bassline as loudly and clearly as I could” and focused on “keeping a heavy, steady rhythm,” which allowed the drummer and Liam to match his tempo and find their place again.
5 C – This option captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text: the writer moves from feeling unimportant and overshadowed during practice to realising his steady bassline was what saved the performance and held the band together.
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The Party Playlist
I’ve always loved music, so when my friend Sarah asked me to be the DJ for her sixteenth birthday party, I immediately said yes. I spend hours every day discovering new bands online, and I was sure my music taste was much better than anyone else’s. I spent the whole week before the party creating the perfect playlist. I included all my favourite indie bands, focusing on slow, emotional songs. I thought everyone would be amazed by the beautiful lyrics.
When Saturday evening arrived, I set up my speakers in Sarah’s living room. As her friends started to arrive, the atmosphere was fantastic. Everyone was chatting, and I felt quite proud to be in charge of the entertainment. I pressed play on my carefully planned playlist, expecting people to admire my choices. I closed my eyes, enjoying the slow guitar music, feeling confident that this was going to be a great night.
However, when I opened my eyes a few minutes later, the dance floor was completely empty. A few people were sitting on the sofa looking at their phones, while others had moved to the kitchen. Not a single person was dancing. One boy even asked if my laptop was broken because the music was so miserable. I suddenly felt completely embarrassed. I realised that my deep, emotional indie songs were entirely wrong for a fun celebration.
I knew I had to act quickly to save the party. I took a deep breath, deleted my planned playlist, and searched for some popular, upbeat pop hits. Even though it wasn’t the kind of music I usually listened to, I played the most energetic dance track I could find. Almost immediately, people rushed back into the living room. Within minutes, everyone was jumping around and singing along.
The rest of the evening was a huge success. I spent the night watching the crowd, choosing songs that kept the energy high. It was a valuable lesson for me. I learned that providing music for an event isn’t about showing off your own personal taste. It’s about understanding the audience and making sure they have a good time. Seeing everyone so happy was actually much better than listening to my favourite bands.
1 Why did the writer choose slow, indie songs for the party?
(A) She wanted to show off her knowledge of popular dance music.
(B) She believed the guests would appreciate the beautiful lyrics.
(C) She thought they were Sarah’s favourite bands.
(D) She didn’t have enough time to find upbeat tracks.
2 How did the writer feel just after she turned the music on?
(A) She was anxious that the speakers weren’t working.
(B) She was surprised by how loud the music was.
(C) She was certain that the guests would love the playlist.
(D) She was annoyed that everyone was just chatting.
3 What made the writer realise her playlist was a mistake?
(A) Everyone went into the kitchen to get food.
(B) Sarah told her that the music was too slow.
(C) A guest asked if there was a technical problem.
(D) People started leaving the party early.
4 What does the writer think is the most important skill for a DJ?
(A) Having a wide knowledge of different indie bands.
(B) Being willing to play what the crowd wants to hear.
(C) Keeping calm when the equipment stops working.
(D) Teaching people about new types of music.
5 What would the writer text a friend after the party?
(A) I’m so disappointed. Nobody liked the indie music I spent a week finding, so I just turned the music off.
(B) I had a fantastic time! I played my favourite slow songs all night and everyone told me how much they loved the lyrics.
(C) Sarah’s party was okay, but I wish people had been more open-minded about my music instead of wanting pop songs.
(D) DJing was stressful at first, but once I played the right kind of music, I really loved watching everyone dance.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The text states, “I thought everyone would be amazed by the beautiful lyrics.”
2 C – In the second paragraph, she says she closed her eyes, “feeling confident that this was going to be a great night.”
3 C – The text mentions that a boy asked if her laptop was broken because the music was so miserable, which prompted her realization. Option A is a distractor; while people went to the kitchen, it was the boy’s comment that truly made her realize the mistake.
4 B – In the final paragraph, she reflects that DJing is “about understanding the audience and making sure they have a good time.”
5 D – This option accurately synthesizes the writer’s experience of initial stress/embarrassment turning into genuine enjoyment once she adapted her music to suit the crowd.