Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Digital Detox, Gadgets & Innovation 4
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Enjoying the Silence
A few months ago, I realised I had a serious problem with my smartphone. From the moment I woke up until I went to sleep, my phone buzzed or beeped constantly. Whether it was a message from a friend, a social media update, or a news alert, I was getting over 200 notifications a day. Although I loved feeling connected to my friends, the continuous noise kept me in a state of high alert. I always felt like I had to reply immediately, which was exhausting and made me feel anxious all the time.
One weekend, while I was trying to study for a difficult science exam, I couldn’t concentrate at all. Every time I read a page, my phone lit up. I finally decided I had had enough. I went into my phone’s settings and turned off almost every single notification. I disabled alerts for games, social media, and even group chats. However, I left the ringer on for phone calls from my family, just in case there was an emergency. It felt like a brave decision, but I knew I had to do something to get my focus back.
At first, the sudden silence was actually quite frightening. For the first few days, I experienced something like panic. Because my phone wasn’t buzzing, I thought it was broken or that my friends had forgotten about me. I kept picking it up to check the screen, expecting to see dozens of missed messages. It was strange to realise how much I had relied on those little electronic sounds to make me feel important. I almost turned the notifications back on several times.
However, after about a week, something amazing happened. The background anxiety that had been following me around slowly disappeared. I suddenly had much more free time, and I could finally finish my homework without interruptions. I have never regretted my decision. Now, if I want to see what my friends are doing, I open the apps when I choose to, rather than when my device tells me to. I am so much happier. If I didn’t control my phone, it would definitely still control me!
1 Why did the writer decide to change their phone habits?
(A) They were spending too much time talking to friends.
(B) The continuous alerts were making them feel stressed.
(C) They were receiving too many phone calls every day.
(D) Their friends complained that they didn’t reply quickly.
2 When the writer changed their phone settings, they
(A) switched off the phone completely to study.
(B) made sure their parents could still contact them.
(C) asked their family to stop messaging them.
(D) deleted all their social media and game apps.
3 How did the writer feel immediately after turning off the notifications?
(A) relieved that they could finally concentrate on their work
(B) worried that their device wasn’t working properly
(C) angry because their friends were ignoring them
(D) proud that they didn’t need to check their phone
4 What is the writer’s attitude towards their phone now?
(A) They only use it for doing their schoolwork.
(B) They wish they had never downloaded social media apps.
(C) They prefer being in control of when they use it.
(D) They feel anxious when they are not looking at it.
5 What might the writer text to a friend about their experience?
(A) I’m sorry I haven’t replied for days. My phone is broken and I can’t receive any messages at the moment.
(B) You should try turning off your alerts! It was hard at first, but now I feel so much more relaxed and focused.
(C) It’s so annoying that I can’t check social media anymore, but at least I’m doing much better in my science exams.
(D) I’ve decided to stop using my phone completely. I’m tired of the noise and I just want to enjoy the silence.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The text states that the continuous noise kept the writer in a state of high alert, which was exhausting and “made me feel anxious all the time.”
2 B – The writer notes in the second paragraph that they “left the ringer on for phone calls from my family, just in case there was an emergency,” which paraphrases making sure their parents could still reach them.
3 B – The text explicitly states that immediately after the change, the sudden silence was frightening and the writer “thought it was broken.”
4 C – In the final paragraph, the writer explains that they now “open the apps when I choose to, rather than when my device tells me to,” demonstrating they like being in control of their phone usage.
5 B – This option best captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text: acknowledging the initial difficulty of the experience (“sudden silence was actually quite frightening”) but ultimately celebrating the positive results (“background anxiety… disappeared,” “so much happier”).
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The Paper Map Rescue
Last summer, my family and I went on a road trip to a remote mountain cabin. We were all excited, singing along to the radio. Dad was driving, confidently following the directions on the car’s GPS. However, two hours into the journey, the screen suddenly went blank. We had lost the signal completely. Panic immediately filled the car. My parents started arguing about which way we should have turned, and we had to pull over to the side of the road. I felt quite anxious because we were in the middle of nowhere.
While my parents were stressing out, I decided to look in the glovebox for a phone charger. Instead, I pulled out a thick, folded piece of paper. It was an old roadmap of the region. I unfolded it across my lap, feeling like an explorer. Dad sighed, saying he hadn’t used a paper map in twenty years and probably couldn’t remember how. But I told them not to worry; I was determined to figure it out.
At first, the map looked like a confusing mix of coloured lines and tiny words. However, I noticed a key in the corner that explained what the symbols meant. I asked Dad the name of the last town we had passed, and I found it on the paper. Then, I looked out the window. I spotted a large lake and a radio tower in the distance. By matching these landmarks with the symbols on the map, I suddenly knew exactly where we were. I started giving directions, telling Dad when to turn.
Navigating felt completely different from just listening to a computer voice. I had to pay close attention to the world outside the car. After forty minutes of careful map-reading, I guided us safely to the small village where our cabin was located. When Dad parked the car, he gave me a massive high-five. Mum couldn’t believe we hadn’t got lost. I felt incredibly proud of myself. I had saved our holiday and discovered a useful new skill.
Now, I always make sure we have a physical map in the car. Of course, I still use my smartphone for everyday directions because it’s much faster. However, knowing that I can survive without a digital screen makes me feel so competent. Next time technology fails, I know I definitely won’t panic.
1 Why did the family have to pull the car over?
(A) The car engine suddenly broke down.
(B) They lost their electronic navigation.
(C) They wanted to stop and look at the scenery.
(D) The parents needed to ask a local for directions.
2 How did the writer’s dad react when he saw the paper map?
(A) He was excited to use it again.
(B) He doubted his ability to read it.
(C) He told the writer to put it away.
(D) He thought it was too old to be useful.
3 How did the writer manage to find their location on the map?
(A) By comparing things outside to the map’s symbols.
(B) By asking people in the last town they passed.
(C) By following the coloured lines to the cabin.
(D) By using a compass found in the glovebox.
4 What did the writer enjoy about navigating?
(A) It was much faster than using a computer voice.
(B) It made the car journey last a lot longer.
(C) It forced them to notice their surroundings.
(D) It stopped their parents from arguing.
5 What would the writer text to a friend about the trip?
(A) We got completely lost today when our GPS broke. Luckily, some locals helped us find our cabin using an old map!
(B) I used an old paper map to guide us to our holiday cabin today. It felt great to solve the problem without using any technology!
(C) Paper maps are so much better than smartphones! I’ve decided I’m never going to use a digital map or GPS ever again.
(D) My dad taught me how to read a paper map today after our car’s GPS broke. It was confusing, but we finally made it.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The text states in the first paragraph that the GPS “screen suddenly went blank” and they “had lost the signal completely,” causing them to pull over.
2 B – In the second paragraph, the dad says he “hadn’t used a paper map in twenty years and probably couldn’t remember how,” showing his doubt in his own skills.
3 A – The third paragraph explains that the writer “spotted a large lake and a radio tower” and matched “these landmarks with the symbols on the map.”
4 C – In the fourth paragraph, the writer states that navigating was different from listening to a computer because “I had to pay close attention to the world outside the car.”
5 B – This option captures the global meaning and the writer’s sense of pride. They successfully guided the family using a paper map when technology failed, making them feel incredibly competent. Option C is incorrect because the text says they still use their smartphone everyday. Option D is incorrect because the writer figured it out themselves, not the dad. Option A is incorrect because no locals helped them.
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Building my perfect keyboard
I spend hours every day at my desk doing homework and playing video games, so my laptop is very important to me. However, I’ve always hated its flat, plastic keyboard. Typing on it was quite uncomfortable, and the keys often got stuck when I was trying to work. After watching some videos online about custom mechanical keyboards, I realised I didn’t have to suffer anymore. I decided to build one myself, exactly how I wanted it, so I went online and ordered all the necessary parts.
When the boxes finally arrived two weeks later, I felt incredibly excited. However, when I opened them, I was shocked by how many tiny pieces there were. There was the empty case, the circuit board, and over a hundred individual switches. I quickly understood that putting it together wasn’t going to be as simple as building a toy. I needed to use a tool to melt metal and attach each switch to the board, a process called soldering. I borrowed the equipment from my uncle, who gave me a few safety tips before leaving me to work alone.
The actual building process was much harder than the videos made it look. Soldering is extremely precise work, and you need a very steady hand. After successfully attaching the first row of switches, I became a bit too confident and made a silly mistake. I put a switch in upside down and had to spend twenty frustrating minutes fixing it. My eyes ached, and my fingers were covered in dirt. By the time I had attached the final piece, four hours had passed, and I was exhausted.
Despite the difficulties, pushing the plastic keycaps onto the switches at the end was really enjoyable. Finally, I connected the keyboard to my laptop for the typing test. As my fingers danced across the keys, I heard the loud, satisfying ‘click’ of every letter. It was the most comfortable typing experience I’d ever had. The fact that I had chosen the parts and built it with my own hands made it feel even more special. Now, I actually look forward to typing my school essays!
1 Why did the writer decide to build his own keyboard?
(A) He wanted a keyboard that was better for playing video games.
(B) He found his laptop keyboard annoying to use.
(C) He wanted to learn how to make videos about technology.
(D) His old keyboard was completely broken and couldn’t be repaired.
2 How did the writer feel when he first looked at the keyboard parts?
(A) worried that he wouldn’t be able to find the right tools
(B) confident that he could put them together quickly
(C) surprised that there were so many small components
(D) disappointed that some of the pieces were missing
3 During the building process, the writer
(A) burnt his fingers on the hot equipment.
(B) found it easier as he got more practice.
(C) decided to ask his uncle to help him finish it.
(D) had to spend time correcting an error he made.
4 What is the writer’s opinion of the finished keyboard?
(A) It makes him want to do more of his schoolwork.
(B) It is much quieter than his previous laptop keyboard.
(C) It looks exactly like the ones he saw in the online videos.
(D) It was worth building even though it was very expensive.
5 What would the writer say to a friend about his experience?
(A) The videos online didn’t show the real difficulties of making a keyboard, so I wouldn’t recommend doing it yourself.
(B) I’m so proud of what I made. It took a lot of careful work, but typing on something I created is a fantastic feeling.
(C) Soldering was the easiest part of the project. Next time, I think I’ll try building a whole laptop from scratch!
(D) Although the new keyboard is great, I wish I hadn’t spent so much time on it. I prefer my old laptop anyway.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The writer states in paragraph 1 that he “hated its flat, plastic keyboard” because it was “uncomfortable, and the keys often got stuck.”
2 C – In paragraph 2, the writer mentions that when he opened the boxes, he was “shocked by how many tiny pieces there were.”
3 D – Paragraph 3 explains that he “made a silly mistake” by putting a switch in upside down and “had to spend twenty frustrating minutes fixing it.”
4 A – The writer explicitly states at the end of paragraph 4: “Now, I actually look forward to typing my school essays!”
5 B – This option captures the global meaning and attitude of the text: the writer found the process difficult and precise (frustrating/careful work), but the result of building it himself was deeply satisfying and rewarding.