Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Physical Health, Diet & Exercise
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Cooking from Scratch
For the past year, my diet has consisted almost entirely of microwave ready-meals. As a busy fifteen-year-old with lots of homework and sports practice, I always chose the fastest option for dinner. However, during a health lesson at school, we learned about the high amounts of salt and sugar hidden in processed foods. I realised I needed to change my habits and take control of what I was eating. I decided my first challenge would be to cook a healthy meal completely from scratch.
I wanted to start with something straightforward, so I searched online and found a simple recipe for a fresh tomato pasta sauce. On Saturday afternoon, I went to the local supermarket to buy all the ingredients. Walking around the fresh produce section, I actually enjoyed choosing the brightest tomatoes and the freshest herbs. It felt much more satisfying than just picking up a plastic box from the frozen aisle. When I got home, I carefully put everything on the kitchen counter and got ready to begin.
Unfortunately, the actual cooking part didn’t go quite as smoothly as I had hoped. The recipe said the preparation would only take ten minutes, but chopping the onions and garlic took me much longer. When I finally added the chopped tomatoes to the hot frying pan, they splashed everywhere. Within minutes, there were red stains on the cooker, the walls, and even on my favourite white t-shirt. I stood in the middle of my incredibly messy kitchen, seriously wondering if this was worth the effort when a microwave meal only took four minutes.
However, my attitude completely changed when I finally sat down at the dining table. As soon as I took my first bite, I couldn’t believe how delicious it was. The pasta sauce tasted so rich and full of flavour, totally different from the boring, watery meals I was used to eating. Even my parents, who had been quite worried about the terrible state of the kitchen, agreed that it was absolutely fantastic.
Cleaning up the massive mess afterwards took a while, but it didn’t bother me. Tasting that fresh, healthy food proved that making an effort produces great results. I have already promised myself that I will cook from scratch at least twice a week from now on. I just need to remember to wear a dark apron next time!
1 Why did the writer decide to start cooking from scratch?
(A) His sports coach told him to eat more fresh food.
(B) He discovered that the quick meals he was eating were unhealthy.
(C) He had a lot of free time after finishing his school homework.
(D) He wanted to complete a project for his health lesson.
2 How did the writer feel while shopping for ingredients?
(A) Surprised by how expensive fresh vegetables were.
(B) Annoyed that he had to go to the supermarket on a Saturday.
(C) Confused about which herbs he needed to buy.
(D) Pleased to be selecting fresh items instead of frozen ones.
3 What was the writer’s main problem while making the sauce?
(A) The recipe instructions were too difficult to understand.
(B) He burnt the onions and garlic in the hot frying pan.
(C) The cooking process was much slower and dirtier than expected.
(D) He realised he had forgotten to buy some important ingredients.
4 What did the writer think about the final meal?
(A) It tasted much better than his usual microwave dinners.
(B) It was better than the food his parents usually cooked.
(C) It was delicious, but he felt it wasn’t worth the hard work.
(D) It was quite watery, but his parents still enjoyed it.
5 What would the writer write in his diary today?
(A) I made a terrible mess today and ruined my favourite t-shirt. I think I’ll just stick to microwave meals from now on because it’s so much easier.
(B) Cooking my own healthy meal was a huge success! It took some time and the kitchen got dirty, but the amazing taste made me want to do it again.
(C) My parents loved the pasta I made today, even though I just heated up a ready-meal in the microwave. They didn’t even notice the difference!
(D) I finally learned how to make pasta sauce today. It was incredibly quick and easy, and I managed to keep the whole kitchen perfectly clean!
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The first paragraph states that the writer learned about the “high amounts of salt and sugar hidden in processed foods” during a health lesson and “realised I needed to change my habits”, meaning he discovered his quick meals were unhealthy.
2 D – In the second paragraph, the writer explains that he “enjoyed choosing the brightest tomatoes” and that it “felt much more satisfying than just picking up a plastic box from the frozen aisle.”
3 C – The third paragraph describes how chopping took “much longer” than the recipe said, and the tomatoes “splashed everywhere” leaving red stains, showing the process was slow and messy (dirty).
4 A – The fourth paragraph details that the sauce tasted “totally different from the boring, watery meals I was used to eating.”
5 B – This option captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text: it acknowledges the slow and messy process of cooking, but highlights the positive result (amazing taste) and the writer’s final decision to continue cooking from scratch in the future.
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Finding Focus Without Glasses
Like most teenagers, my life completely revolves around screens. Whether I’m typing up a history essay for school, chatting with my friends, or relaxing with some online video games, I spend hours staring at my laptop and phone. I didn’t think it was a problem until a few months ago. I started getting terrible headaches every evening, and my vision sometimes became so blurry that reading the text on my screen was quite difficult.
My parents were worried, so they suggested taking me to the eye doctor to get special computer glasses. I absolutely hated that idea. I don’t wear glasses normally, and I was sure that wearing large, ugly plastic frames would make me look silly in front of my classmates. I also find glasses really uncomfortable to wear. I told my parents I would try to spend less time on my devices, but I knew that wouldn’t be easy to do with all my schoolwork.
While searching for a better solution online, I read an interesting article about something called the “20-20-20 rule.” The instructions were very simple: every 20 minutes, you must look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. It sounded too easy to actually work, but I was desperate to avoid those computer glasses. I downloaded a free timer on my phone, set it up, and decided to test the method for a week.
At first, it was incredibly annoying. My alarm kept ringing right in the middle of a difficult video game level or an important paragraph. However, I forced myself to stop, look out of my bedroom window, and stare at the trees across the street. To my surprise, after just three days, the changes were amazing. My headaches completely disappeared, and the blurry vision stopped happening.
Now, practicing the 20-20-20 rule is a natural part of my daily routine. Because my eyes aren’t so tired anymore, I can actually focus much better on my homework, and I get it done much faster. I’m so pleased I found a free, natural way to solve my problem, and I’m very relieved that I don’t have to wear those terrible glasses!
1 Why did the writer start worrying about their screen time?
(A) Their teachers gave them too many history essays to type.
(B) They were spending too much time playing online video games.
(C) They began experiencing physical pain and problems seeing clearly.
(D) Their parents told them to stop looking at their phone so much.
2 How did the writer feel about getting computer glasses?
(A) Upset because they couldn’t afford to buy them.
(B) Relieved because they thought glasses would stop the headaches.
(C) Worried that their parents would make them wear them at home.
(D) Against the idea because they thought they would look foolish and feel uncomfortable.
3 What did the writer think about the 20-20-20 rule at first?
(A) They were confident it would immediately fix their eyesight.
(B) They doubted it would be successful because it seemed too simple.
(C) They thought downloading the timer app would be too difficult.
(D) They believed they wouldn’t be able to look 20 feet away.
4 What was the writer’s initial reaction to using the timer?
(A) They found it frustrating when it interrupted what they were doing.
(B) They enjoyed looking out of the window at the beautiful trees.
(C) They were surprised by how quickly the 20 seconds passed.
(D) They ignored the alarm when playing their video games.
5 What would the writer write in their diary about this experience?
(A) I really wish I hadn’t spent so much time on my computer. Now my eyes are damaged and I have to buy expensive glasses.
(B) The 20-20-20 rule is quite annoying, so I think I’ll just accept my parents’ advice and go to the eye doctor next week.
(C) My schoolwork takes much longer now because I have to take so many breaks, but at least my headaches have stopped.
(D) It’s amazing how such a simple habit has improved my focus and cured my eye pain without needing to wear glasses!
Answer Key & Explanations
1 C – In paragraph 1, the writer explains they didn’t think screen time was a problem until they “started getting terrible headaches… and my vision sometimes became so blurry,” mapping to experiencing physical pain and vision problems.
2 D – Paragraph 2 states that the writer “absolutely hated that idea” because they thought large plastic frames would make them “look silly” (foolish) and they find glasses “really uncomfortable to wear.”
3 B – In paragraph 3, the writer says, “It sounded too easy to actually work,” which means they doubted it would be successful due to its simplicity.
4 A – Paragraph 4 describes the initial use of the timer as “incredibly annoying” because the alarm “kept ringing right in the middle of a difficult video game level or an important paragraph,” causing frustration by interrupting them.
5 D – This option accurately captures the global meaning and attitude of the passage: the writer successfully solved their eye strain using a simple habit (the 20-20-20 rule), improved their focus, and happily avoided getting computer glasses.
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
My Vegetarian Journey
A few months ago, I made a big decision: I chose to stop eating meat and become a vegetarian. I had watched a documentary about animal welfare and read several articles about how a plant-based diet can improve your health. I felt very positive about my new lifestyle and proudly told my family that I would only eat vegetables from then on. My parents were supportive, although they warned me that I needed to be careful about what I ate.
However, the first two weeks were incredibly difficult. I didn’t really know how to cook vegetarian meals, so my diet consisted almost entirely of plain green salads. I would have a bowl of lettuce and tomatoes for lunch, and then another salad for dinner. Unsurprisingly, I felt constantly hungry and lacked energy. During football practice, I couldn’t run as fast as usual, and my friends started telling me that giving up meat was a terrible idea. I almost believed them and thought about going back to my old eating habits.
Before giving up, I decided to ask for help. I spoke to my biology teacher, who has been a vegetarian for years. She explained that eating only plain salads is a common mistake for beginners. She told me that I needed to include plant-based proteins in my diet if I wanted to stay healthy and feel full. She gave me a list of foods to try, including different types of beans, lentils, and tofu.
That evening, I went to the supermarket and bought some new ingredients. Instead of my usual boring salad, I cooked a spicy black bean chilli and a colourful tofu stir-fry with noodles. The difference was amazing. Not only were the meals absolutely delicious, but they also kept me full for hours. Suddenly, my new diet didn’t feel like a punishment anymore.
Now, being a vegetarian is easy and deeply satisfying. My energy levels have returned to normal, and I am playing football better than ever. I have even started cooking meals for my family once a week, and they love the new recipes. I am so glad I learned how to balance my meals, because it means I can finally stick to a diet that matches my beliefs.
1 Why did the writer decide to become a vegetarian?
(A) He wanted to improve his cooking skills.
(B) He was influenced by information about health and animals.
(C) His parents suggested he should eat more vegetables.
(D) He had to follow a special diet for his football team.
2 What problem did the writer experience at the beginning?
(A) He didn’t have enough energy for his favourite sport.
(B) His parents refused to cook vegetarian meals for him.
(C) He spent too much money buying expensive salads.
(D) His friends stopped inviting him to eat out with them.
3 What did the biology teacher tell the writer?
(A) He should eat meat occasionally to stay healthy.
(B) He was making an error that many new vegetarians make.
(C) He needed to buy a book about plant-based recipes.
(D) He should stop eating salads completely.
4 How did the writer feel after cooking with new ingredients?
(A) He was surprised by how quickly he could prepare the food.
(B) He wished he had cooked the meals for his friends.
(C) He realised that vegetarian food could be tasty and filling.
(D) He felt disappointed that his tofu stir-fry was too spicy.
5 What would the writer say about his experience?
(A) “Becoming a vegetarian was harder than I thought, so I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone who plays sports.”
(B) “I’m proud of my diet now, but I still miss eating meat when I have dinner with my family.”
(C) “Learning about nutrition helped me create a diet that is both enjoyable and right for my values.”
(D) “It took a long time to get used to the taste of tofu, but it is the only thing that gives me energy.”
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The first paragraph states that he “had watched a documentary about animal welfare and read several articles about how a plant-based diet can improve your health”. This perfectly paraphrases being influenced by information about health and animals.
2 A – In the second paragraph, the writer mentions that he “lacked energy” and “couldn’t run as fast as usual” during football practice. This matches not having enough energy for his favourite sport.
3 B – Paragraph three explains that his teacher told him “eating only plain salads is a common mistake for beginners”, which means he was making an error that many new vegetarians make.
4 C – In the fourth paragraph, the writer notes that the meals were “absolutely delicious” (tasty) and “kept me full for hours” (filling).
5 C – This option captures the global meaning and the writer’s attitude in the final paragraph. He educated himself on how to “balance my meals” (nutrition) so he could enjoy his food and “stick to a diet that matches my beliefs” (values).