Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Everyday Social Responsibility & Sustainable Living
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Driving Together
I’ve been playing for my local basketball team for three years, and I absolutely love it. However, a few months ago, I noticed something that really bothered me. Five of my teammates live in my neighbourhood, but every Tuesday and Thursday evening, we were all arriving at the sports hall in five separate cars. It seemed like a terrible waste of petrol and really bad for the environment. I decided it was time to change this, so I suggested organising a carpool where we would all travel together in one car.
At first, everyone thought it was a brilliant idea. I spent a whole weekend creating a fair schedule so that each family only had to drive once every few weeks. We started the carpool the following Tuesday, but we quickly ran into a major problem. A couple of the parents were consistently late picking us up. We ended up sitting outside in the cold, worrying about getting into trouble with our coach. When we finally arrived, we were often stressed and completely missed our warm-up exercises.
I knew I had to fix the situation before everyone decided to give up on the carpool entirely. I sent a polite but firm message to all the parents, introducing a strict departure rule. I explained that the car would leave at exactly 5:15 PM, and anyone who wasn’t ready would have to find their own way to practice. I was quite nervous about how the adults would react, but they actually apologised. After that, nobody was ever late again, and our journeys became much smoother.
Now, the carpool system works perfectly. We are keeping four extra cars off the road twice a week, which drastically cuts our carbon emissions. But the best part is something I hadn’t expected at all. Travelling together has actually helped us build better relationships as a team. We spend the journeys discussing tactics, listening to music, and laughing together before practice even begins. Organising the schedule was definitely stressful at times, but seeing us all arrive happy and ready to play makes it completely worth the effort.
1 Why did the writer decide to organise the carpool?
(A) To save his parents money on petrol during the week.
(B) He wanted to spend more free time with his teammates.
(C) He was concerned about the environmental impact of their journeys.
(D) His basketball coach asked the team to travel together.
2 What was the main issue when the carpool first started?
(A) The coach was angry that the parents were driving.
(B) The schedule was too difficult for the families to understand.
(C) Some players decided they didn’t want to wait in the cold.
(D) Delays meant the players were anxious and late for practice.
3 How did the writer feel about sending the message to the parents?
(A) Anxious about what they might think or say.
(B) Angry because they were going to give up on the carpool.
(C) Confident that they would apologise immediately.
(D) Worried that he was being too polite to them.
4 What does the writer say is the greatest benefit of the carpool?
(A) It has reduced traffic around the local sports hall.
(B) The players have become much closer as a group.
(C) It has encouraged other teams to cut their emissions.
(D) The parents enjoy discussing tactics in the car.
5 What would the writer say in his blog about the experience?
(A) I’m glad I started the carpool, but honestly, if I had known how stressful the parents would be, I wouldn’t have done it.
(B) I highly recommend starting a carpool, but you should only do it if you have parents who are always on time from the very beginning.
(C) Our team is playing so much better now because our coach is happy that we are helping the environment by driving together.
(D) Although we had some problems with timing at the beginning, setting a strict rule saved the carpool and brought our team closer together.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 C – The first paragraph states that the writer thought taking five separate cars was “a terrible waste of petrol and really bad for the environment,” which motivated him to change it.
2 D – The second paragraph explains that because parents were late, the players were “worrying about getting into trouble”, “often stressed”, and “missed our warm-up exercises.”
3 A – In the third paragraph, the writer states, “I was quite nervous about how the adults would react” when sending the strict departure rule.
4 B – In the final paragraph, the writer mentions that cutting emissions is great, “But the best part is something I hadn’t expected at all. Travelling together has actually helped us build better relationships as a team.”
5 D – This option perfectly captures the global meaning of the text: it acknowledges the initial difficulties with late parents, the successful solution of a strict rule, and the unexpected positive result of team bonding.
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
My Minimalist Journey
For as long as I can remember, my bedroom was filled with things. Every shelf was covered with books, games, and souvenirs, and clothes were piled on my chair. I used to think having lots of stuff made me happy. However, a few months ago, I realised it was actually having the opposite effect. I noticed that whenever I walked into my room, I felt stressed and anxious. I couldn’t find my schoolbooks, and studying was impossible. I knew I needed to change my habits and adopt a simpler lifestyle.
One Saturday morning, I woke up feeling very determined. I got three huge black bags and decided to throw away half of my possessions before dinner. I started pulling things out of my cupboard and throwing them onto my bed. But within an hour, I hit a problem. I found a box of my childhood toys and spent the next two hours just looking at them. I felt such a strong emotional connection to these old items that I couldn’t put them in the rubbish bag. By the afternoon, my room was messier than before, and I felt completely exhausted.
After that disaster, I realised I was trying to do too much at once. I read an article online about minimalism, which suggested making small changes instead of huge ones. I decided to try a new method: I would organise just one drawer or shelf each day. I started with my desk. If I hadn’t used an item in the last year, I put it in a box to give to charity. This slower approach was much easier to handle.
Over the next month, my room slowly transformed. As the piles of stuff disappeared, I noticed a huge difference in how I felt. Waking up in a clean, tidy space gave me a profound sense of calm, and my mind felt so much clearer. I finally had room to think and breathe. I still kept a few special childhood toys, but they are now neatly displayed. I have learned that having fewer possessions actually gives you much more freedom.
1 Why did the writer decide to change his bedroom?
(A) He had no space left to put his new clothes.
(B) He wanted to find some old schoolbooks he had lost.
(C) He realised that the mess was making him feel nervous.
(D) He thought a simpler lifestyle would save him money.
2 What was the writer’s problem on the Saturday morning?
(A) He couldn’t find enough bags for his rubbish.
(B) He discovered it was too hard to let go of his old toys.
(C) He didn’t have enough time to finish before dinner.
(D) He threw away some items that he actually needed.
3 What did the writer learn from the online article?
(A) It is better to organise your things little by little.
(B) You should give all your unused items to charity.
(C) Starting with your desk is the best way to clean.
(D) Minimalism means throwing away everything you own.
4 How does the writer feel about his room now?
(A) He wishes he had kept more of his childhood toys.
(B) He thinks it is still a bit too small for his needs.
(C) He is proud that he finished the cleaning so quickly.
(D) He enjoys the positive effect the tidy space has on his mind.
5 What might the writer write in his diary?
(A) I tried to clean my room today, but it was just too difficult. I guess I will always be someone who loves having lots of stuff.
(B) I’m glad I threw away all my old childhood toys in one day. My room is empty now, but I feel much better!
(C) It took time to clear out my room drawer by drawer, but the mental peace I have now is completely worth it.
(D) The online article about minimalism was interesting, but I don’t think it’s a lifestyle I could ever follow successfully.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 C – The writer states in the first paragraph, “I noticed that whenever I walked into my room, I felt stressed and anxious,” which paraphrases feeling nervous due to the mess.
2 B – In the second paragraph, the writer explains that he felt “such a strong emotional connection to these old items that I couldn’t put them in the rubbish bag.”
3 A – The third paragraph mentions that the article “suggested making small changes instead of huge ones,” leading the writer to organise just one drawer a day.
4 D – In the final paragraph, the writer describes how waking up in the tidy space gave him “a profound sense of calm” and made his mind feel “so much clearer.”
5 C – This option captures the global meaning of the text: the failure of the fast approach, the success of the slow, step-by-step method (drawer by drawer), and the final result of mental clarity and peace.
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
My Public Transport Challenge
For a long time, I relied on my parents to drive me everywhere. Whether I was going to school, football practice, or the shopping centre, I always asked them for a lift. However, after learning about air pollution in my science class, I decided I had to change my habits. I made a promise to myself: for one whole month, I would stop asking for car rides and use only public transport. I wanted to see if I could survive using just buses and trains.
For the first week, my new routine actually went really well. I downloaded a transport app on my phone and quickly learned how to check the timetables. I even enjoyed looking out the window and listening to music on my way to school. But then, on Saturday afternoon, I experienced my first major problem. I was travelling into the city centre to watch a new action film with my friends. We had planned this trip for weeks. Suddenly, the bus made a terrible noise and stopped completely in the middle of the road.
The driver told us the bus had broken down and we had to wait for another one. I stood by the side of the road in the cold wind, feeling incredibly frustrated. By the time the next bus arrived and finally got me to the cinema, I was thirty minutes late. My friends were already inside, and I had missed the whole beginning of the film. Afterwards, they were a bit annoyed with me, and I honestly felt like giving up on my challenge right there.
However, on the train ride home, I had some time to think. I realised that while public transport definitely requires extra planning and patience, it is absolutely essential for a sustainable city. I thought about all the people on that broken bus. If they all drove their own cars instead, the traffic and pollution would be terrible! Even though my journey wasn’t perfect, I felt proud that I was doing something positive for the environment. I know there will be more delays in the future, but I am determined to finish my month without the car.
1 Why did the writer decide to stop using cars?
(A) He wanted to save money on petrol.
(B) He wanted to do something to help the environment.
(C) His parents were too busy to drive him.
(D) He needed to travel to a new shopping centre.
2 What happened when the writer was going to the cinema?
(A) He got on the wrong bus by mistake.
(B) He forgot to check the timetable on his app.
(C) His vehicle stopped working during the journey.
(D) His friends decided to watch a different film.
3 How did the writer feel after the incident on Saturday?
(A) He was angry that his friends went inside without him.
(B) He was relieved that he managed to see the end of the film.
(C) He was glad he didn’t have to wait long in the cold.
(D) He was so disappointed that he wanted to stop his challenge.
4 What did the writer realise on his way home?
(A) Public transport is completely useless in his city.
(B) He needs to buy his own car as soon as possible.
(C) Buses and trains are important for reducing pollution.
(D) He should only use trains because they are faster than buses.
5 What would the writer say about his public transport challenge?
(A) “It is much easier than I expected, and I haven’t had any problems getting around the city.”
(B) “It takes more patience than driving, but it is definitely the right thing to do for the planet.”
(C) “I regret making this promise because my friends are angry with me for always being late.”
(D) “Public transport is just too unreliable, so I am going back to asking my parents for lifts tomorrow.”
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The first paragraph states that after learning about air pollution in his science class, he decided to change his habits and stop asking for car rides. This paraphrases wanting to do something to help the environment.
2 C – In the second paragraph, the text says “the bus made a terrible noise and stopped completely in the middle of the road”, which means his vehicle stopped working.
3 D – Paragraph three mentions that after missing the beginning of the film and dealing with annoyed friends, he “honestly felt like giving up on my challenge right there”, matching the feeling of wanting to stop because of disappointment.
4 C – In the final paragraph, the writer notes that public transport is “absolutely essential for a sustainable city” and points out that if everyone drove, “pollution would be terrible”. This matches the idea that buses and trains are important for reducing pollution.
5 B – This option captures the overall meaning of the text. The writer acknowledges the difficulties and delays (“requires extra planning and patience”) but remains proud and committed to the challenge because it is “positive for the environment.”