Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – Physical Endurance & Sports 2
Reading 1
You are going to read a magazine article about a teenager’s experience competing in a martial arts tournament.
For questions 1-6, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.
Mind Over Matter
The atmosphere inside the municipal sports hall was suffocatingly tense, filled with the sharp scent of floor wax and the echoing shouts of competitors. I was competing in the regional karate championships, an event I had trained meticulously for over the past six months. As I tightened my belt and stretched my legs, my confidence suddenly evaporated. Across the warm-up area stood my next opponent. He was an absolute giant, a towering figure who looked as though he belonged in a heavyweight boxing ring rather than a regional martial arts tournament. Watching him effortlessly strike the practice pads, a heavy knot of intimidation formed in my stomach. If I hadn’t spent so many grueling hours preparing for this specific day, I probably would have walked out of the door right then.
When my name was finally called over the crackling loudspeaker, I made my way to the central mat. Stepping into the competition square, the sheer physical disparity between us became undeniably obvious. My opponent cast a long, imposing shadow, and his scowl suggested he was entirely convinced of his impending victory. The referee chopped his hand downward, shouting the command to begin. Instantly, the larger boy lunged forward, throwing a flurry of aggressive, sweeping punches. My initial strategy was purely defensive; I spent the first minute desperately scrambling backwards, terrified of engaging. I knew that trying to match his raw power would be a completely futile endeavour.
However, constant evasion is rarely a winning tactic. In my frantic attempts to keep my distance, I momentarily lost my footing. Seizing the opportunity, my opponent launched a devastating roundhouse kick that landed squarely on my ribs. The impact was agonizing, knocking the breath completely out of my lungs and sending me stumbling towards the edge of the mat. The referee temporarily halted the match, asking if I was fit to continue. Gasping for air, I nodded, though my mind was racing with doubt. The pain radiating through my side was a harsh reminder of my vulnerability, and overcoming this seemed like an insurmountable mountain to climb.
As I returned to my starting mark, my coach’s voice suddenly cut through the surrounding noise. He had repeatedly told me during our training sessions that size only matters if you allow it to dictate the fight. I closed my eyes for a fraction of a second, deliberately pushing the pain and panic to the back of my mind. It must have been a noticeable shift in my posture, because my opponent’s smug expression faltered slightly. I realized I needed to stop fighting his fight. I couldn’t rely on brute strength, but I possessed speed, agility, and a deep understanding of technique.
When the referee restarted the clock, I didn’t retreat. Instead, I held my ground, waiting for the inevitable charge. As the giant lunged forward with another heavy, predictable punch, I dropped my stance and pivoted sharply to the side. Using his own forward momentum against him, I executed a swift, precise sweep of his front leg while simultaneously delivering a controlled, scoring strike to his chest. The execution was flawless. He crashed heavily to the mat, eyes wide with shock, while the judges raised their flags in unison to award me the maximum points.
The buzzer sounded moments later, signaling the end of the match. Despite the lingering ache in my ribs, a profound sense of triumph washed over me. I bowed respectfully to my defeated opponent, who offered a reluctant but genuine nod of acknowledgement. Walking off the mat, I realized that true strength doesn’t always come from physical size or muscular power. Ultimately, it was resilience, mental clarity, and the flawless application of technique that had secured my victory. It was a lesson I would carry with me far beyond the confines of the tournament hall.
1 What does the writer reveal about his feelings in the first paragraph?
(A) He felt he belonged in a heavyweight boxing ring instead of a karate tournament.
(B) He was severely daunted by the other competitor’s impressive physical build.
(C) He regretted spending so many grueling hours preparing for this specific day.
(D) He was overwhelmed by the sharp scent of floor wax and the shouts of the crowd.
2 During the initial stages of the match, the writer
(A) surprised the larger boy by throwing a flurry of aggressive, sweeping punches.
(B) confidently stepped into the square to highlight the physical disparity between them.
(C) actively avoided direct confrontation because he knew he couldn’t rival his opponent’s strength.
(D) believed his defensive strategy would eventually exhaust his energetic opponent.
3 What does the word ‘this‘ refer to in paragraph 3?
(A) the sense of physical and mental weakness he was experiencing
(B) the devastating roundhouse kick from his opponent
(C) the referee’s question about his fitness to continue
(D) his sudden loss of footing on the edge of the mat
4 What does the writer suggest happened in the fourth paragraph?
(A) The opponent’s attitude changed because he heard the coach’s instructions.
(B) The writer realized he secretly possessed more brute strength than expected.
(C) The opponent was annoyed that the writer had deliberately closed his eyes.
(D) The opponent likely sensed a transformation in the writer’s mental readiness.
5 How did the writer successfully score the winning point?
(A) He manipulated his opponent’s attacking energy to his own advantage.
(B) He waited for an inevitable charge and threw a heavy, predictable punch.
(C) He forced his opponent to crash to the mat by striking him in the face.
(D) He confused the judges by executing a sweeping move they had never seen before.
6 What is the writer’s main purpose in writing the article?
(A) to explain the importance of having a supportive coach during a tournament
(B) to advise martial artists on how to recover quickly from painful injuries
(C) to illustrate how mental composure and skill can triumph over physical superiority
(D) to describe the specific scoring techniques used to defeat a heavyweight fighter
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B: The writer states that his “confidence suddenly evaporated” and a “heavy knot of intimidation formed in my stomach” upon seeing his giant opponent. This perfectly matches being “severely daunted by the other competitor’s impressive physical build”. Distractor A is a false match; the text says the opponent looked like he belonged in a boxing ring. Distractor C is the opposite of the text; his grueling preparation was the only reason he didn’t leave. Distractor D is a partial truth; the atmosphere was tense, but it was the opponent, not the environment, that ruined his confidence.
2 C: The text explains that his initial strategy was “purely defensive,” “desperately scrambling backwards,” and “terrified of engaging” because matching his raw power would be a “futile endeavour.” Distractor A is a false match; the opponent threw the flurry of punches. Distractor B is the opposite; the disparity was obvious, but he did not step in confidently. Distractor D is an over-inference; the text says he was terrified, not that he had a master plan to exhaust his opponent.
3 A: The pronoun ‘this’ refers to the immediately preceding concept: “The pain radiating through my side was a harsh reminder of my vulnerability.” He feels weak and exposed, and overcoming that state is what seems insurmountable. Distractor B is a false match; the kick caused the pain, but the kick itself is already over. Distractors C and D refer to earlier events in the paragraph, not the psychological and physical hurdle he must overcome in that exact moment.
4 D: The writer notes, “It must have been a noticeable shift in my posture, because my opponent’s smug expression faltered slightly.” This implies the opponent noticed the writer had mentally and physically refocused. Distractor A is a false match; the coach spoke to the writer, but the opponent reacted to the writer’s change in posture. Distractor B is the opposite; the writer realized he couldn’t rely on brute strength. Distractor C is unstated.
5 A: The writer scored by dropping his stance and “Using his own forward momentum against him” to execute a sweep and a strike. This matches manipulating the opponent’s attacking energy. Distractor B is a false match; the opponent threw the heavy, predictable punch. Distractor C is false; he struck him in the chest, not the face. Distractor D is unstated; the judges awarded maximum points without any mention of being confused.
6 C: The final paragraph summarizes the text’s core message: “true strength doesn’t always come from physical size” and that his victory was secured by “resilience, mental clarity, and the flawless application of technique.” Distractor A is too specific; the coach is mentioned in paragraph 4, but is not the main focus of the entire article. Distractor B is a false match; he experiences pain but does not give medical advice. Distractor D is too specific; he describes one technique, but the primary purpose is the broader lesson about skill overcoming size.
Reading 2
You are going to read a magazine article about a teenager’s first experience competing in a beginner triathlon.
For questions 1-6, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.
The Ultimate Test of Endurance
Standing on the edge of the chilly lake at six o’clock in the morning, I seriously questioned my life choices. I had spent the last four months training for this local ‘sprint’ triathlon, sacrificing lazy Sunday mornings for grueling runs and endless laps in the public pool. When I originally filled out the online application, I was fuelled by a fierce desire to prove to myself that I was capable of pushing my physical boundaries. As the starting horn finally blew and I plunged into the murky water alongside a hundred other nervous beginners, that initial apprehension instantly transformed into pure, unadulterated adrenaline. I was finally doing it.
The 750-metre swim, which I had dreaded most during my preparation, surprisingly turned out to be the most enjoyable part of the morning. I quickly found a steady rhythm, gliding through the water while deliberately ignoring the splashing chaos of arms and legs around me. Emerging from the lake, I jogged towards the transition area with a massive grin plastered across my face. Stripping off my wetsuit and throwing on my cycling helmet, I felt an overwhelming sense of optimism. I was making excellent time, and as I mounted my road bike, I genuinely believed the hardest part of the race was firmly behind me.
The cycling route wound through picturesque countryside lanes, bathed in the soft, golden light of the early sun. For the first ten kilometres, I was flying, effortlessly overtaking a few fellow competitors. I was so caught up in the thrill of the ride that I barely noticed the rough patch of gravel scattered across the asphalt ahead. Suddenly, a loud hiss, followed by a violent judder beneath my seat, shattered the peaceful atmosphere. I squeezed the brakes and pulled over to the grassy verge, staring in absolute disbelief at a completely deflated rear tyre. This was the absolute worst-case scenario I had desperately hoped to avoid.
As I stood alone on the side of the road, a wave of profound anger and hopelessness washed over me. Cyclist after cyclist whizzed past, their colourful jerseys blurring into the distance, and with each one, my spirits sank lower. I had a small puncture repair kit tucked under my saddle, but the prospect of wrestling with tyre levers and a tiny hand pump while my race slipped away seemed incredibly daunting. I seriously considered throwing my bike into the nearest hedge and waiting for the designated recovery vehicle to pick me up. It felt completely unfair that months of dedicated training could be ruined by a single, sharp stone.
Just as I was about to reach for my phone to admit defeat, I remembered a piece of advice my cycling coach had repeatedly drilled into me: ‘You can’t control the road, but you can control your reaction to it.’ Taking a slow, deep breath, I forced myself to focus on the immediate mechanical task rather than my overall race time. My hands were shaking with frustration, but I methodically removed the wheel, prized off the tyre, and swapped out the punctured inner tube. Pumping it back up with the miniature tool required a tremendous amount of physical effort, but hearing the tyre firmly pop back into place provided a much-needed boost of confidence.
By the time I finally transitioned to the five-kilometre run, the course was practically deserted. My legs felt like lead, and my original goal of finishing in under two hours was entirely out of the question. However, as I crossed the finish line—dead last, with the organisers already beginning to dismantle the banners—I didn’t feel a shred of disappointment. Overcoming the urge to quit on the roadside had required far more mental strength than the physical endurance needed to run. I realised that crossing the line wasn’t about the time on the clock; it was about having the resilience to keep moving forward when everything goes wrong.
1 Why did the writer originally sign up for the triathlon?
(A) To see if they could overcome their physical limitations.
(B) To justify waking up early on Sunday mornings.
(C) To compete against a large group of fellow beginners.
(D) To experience the thrill of swimming in an open lake.
2 How did the writer view the rest of the race as they got on their bike?
(A) They were concerned their wet clothing would slow them down.
(B) They were convinced the most difficult section was over.
(C) They felt anxious about maintaining their excellent time.
(D) They were surprised by how exhausting the transition area was.
3 What does ‘This‘ refer to in paragraph 3?
(A) noticing a rough patch of gravel on the road
(B) losing control of the bicycle’s brakes
(C) overtaking other competitors too quickly
(D) suffering a flat tyre while cycling
4 What can be inferred about the writer’s reaction to the other cyclists passing by?
(A) It encouraged them to quickly use their repair kit.
(B) It made them angry that others hadn’t stopped to offer help.
(C) It increased their desire to completely abandon the race.
(D) It made them realise they had brought the wrong equipment.
5 What helped the writer to finally fix the bicycle?
(A) Phoning someone to ask for technical assistance.
(B) Focusing entirely on improving their overall race time.
(C) Finding a better tool to replace the miniature hand pump.
(D) Recalling some words of wisdom from a mentor.
6 What is the writer’s main conclusion about their triathlon experience?
(A) Physical endurance is ultimately more important than mental strength.
(B) True success lies in the ability to overcome unexpected setbacks.
(C) Event organisers shouldn’t pack up before everyone finishes.
(D) Beginners shouldn’t worry about setting specific time goals.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 A: The text states the writer was “fuelled by a fierce desire to prove to myself that I was capable of pushing my physical boundaries.” This perfectly matches option A. Option B is a partial truth; they sacrificed lazy mornings, but that wasn’t the core motivation. Option C is a false match; they competed alongside beginners, but beating them wasn’t the reason for signing up. Option D contradicts the text, as they originally “dreaded” the swim.
2 B: In the second paragraph, the writer states, “I genuinely believed the hardest part of the race was firmly behind me,” matching option B. Option C is the opposite of their emotion; they felt “an overwhelming sense of optimism,” not anxiety. Option A and D are unstated false matches; they stripped off the wetsuit with a “massive grin.”
3 D: The word ‘This’ refers to the disastrous situation that just occurred: staring in absolute disbelief at a “completely deflated rear tyre.” Option A is the cause of the flat tyre, but not the worst-case scenario itself. Option B is a false match; they squeezed the brakes successfully. Option C happened earlier in the paragraph and is unrelated to the disaster.
4 C: The text says that as cyclists whizzed past, “my spirits sank lower” and the writer “seriously considered throwing my bike into the nearest hedge and waiting for the designated recovery vehicle”. This implies an increased desire to quit. Option A is the opposite of the text. Option B is unstated; they felt it was unfair that a stone ruined their race, not that others didn’t stop. Option D is a false match; they had the correct repair kit but found the prospect of using it “daunting.”
5 D: The writer was able to focus and fix the bike because they “remembered a piece of advice my cycling coach had repeatedly drilled into me”. This is a paraphrase of recalling words of wisdom from a mentor. Option A is the opposite; they were about to use the phone to admit defeat, not ask for help. Option B is the opposite; they forced themselves to focus on the task “rather than my overall race time.” Option C is false; they successfully used the “miniature tool.”
6 B: The final paragraph summarizes the writer’s takeaway: “crossing the line wasn’t about the time on the clock; it was about having the resilience to keep moving forward when everything goes wrong.” This matches option B. Option A is the direct opposite of the text (“required far more mental strength than the physical endurance”). Options C and D contain details mentioned in the text (organizers packing up, abandoning the time goal), but they are not the primary, overarching lesson learned.
Reading 3
You are going to read a magazine article about a person’s frightening experience while white-water rafting.
For questions 1-6, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.
At the Mercy of the River
For weeks, my friends and I had anticipated our weekend trip to the White Salmon River. Having only ever experienced gentle, meandering canoe rides, the prospect of tackling Class-4 rapids was exhilarating but slightly terrifying. We spent the morning listening to safety briefings and strapping ourselves into thick life jackets. Our guide, an experienced rafter named Leo, assured us that if we followed his commands to the letter, we would have the time of our lives. Sitting at the front of the inflatable raft, I felt an undeniable surge of adrenaline as we drifted from the launch site.
The river’s character changed dramatically within the first thirty minutes. The gentle ripples gave way to churning waves that crashed against the rubber sides of our vessel. Leo’s voice boomed over the deafening roar of the water, barking out orders to paddle or hold on. The physical effort required to keep the raft on course was immense, and my arms soon began to ache. Yet, the thrill of navigating treacherous boulders and plunging down drops overshadowed any fatigue. We were conquering the wild river, and I couldn’t help but feel invincible. It must have been the icy spray and our rhythmic teamwork that made me feel so remarkably alive.
That illusion of control, however, was violently shattered as we approached a notorious section of the river known locally as ‘The Washing Machine’. Leo had warned us that this would be the most demanding part of our journey. As we slid into the rapid, the raft was violently jolted by an unseen underwater current. Before I could even register what was happening, the front of the boat dipped sharply into a deep trough. I desperately reached for the safety line, which ran along the side, but my wet hands slipped. In a fraction of a second, I was propelled forward and tumbled headfirst over the side. The freezing shock of the water was instantaneous, driving the breath from my lungs.
Being submerged in a Class-4 rapid was a terrifying display of nature’s raw fury. The world transformed into a chaotic swirl of bubbles and dark green water. The survival instructions I had calmly listened to earlier suddenly vanished from my panicked mind. I was spun around mercilessly, entirely at the mercy of the current. My instinct was to thrash my arms and kick my legs in a desperate attempt to reach the surface, but the river’s force was overwhelmingly superior. It felt as though I had been swallowed by a giant, angry machine, exactly as the rapid’s nickname suggested.
Just as my lungs began to burn, the buoyancy of my life jacket forced me upward. I broke the surface, gasping frantically for air, and blinked the water from my eyes. Less than two metres away, the bright yellow raft was bouncing over the waves. “Grab the paddle!” Leo shouted, his face tight with concentration. He extended the T-grip of his paddle towards me. Summoning my remaining strength, I lunged and wrapped my fingers around it. Within seconds, Leo and my friend Sarah had grabbed the shoulder straps of my vest, hauling me unceremoniously back over the rubber tube and into the boat.
Lying there shivering on the wet floor and coughing up river water, my perspective shifted completely. The exhilarating thrill I had felt earlier had been entirely replaced by a humbling respect for the formidable power of nature. We are often tempted to believe that our equipment and expertise allow us to conquer the wild, but the river had quickly reminded me who was truly in charge. If I hadn’t been thrown into that icy current, I wouldn’t have understood how fragile our control really is. The rest of the journey was completed in respectful silence, as I marveled at the beautiful, yet dangerous, water.
1 Why was the writer so excited at the beginning of the trip?
(A) They were looking forward to an activity that was much more intense than their usual trips.
(B) They were confident because they had already followed the guide’s commands to the letter.
(C) They felt completely protected by the thick life jackets they had been strapped into.
(D) They were eager to finally overcome their lifelong terror of fast-moving water.
2 How did the writer feel as they navigated the first part of the river?
(A) Frustrated that their arms were aching too much to follow the guide’s orders.
(B) Highly anxious because of the deafening roar of the churning waves.
(C) Confident that they no longer needed the guide’s constant instructions.
(D) A powerful sense of triumph that made them ignore their physical exhaustion.
3 What does the writer suggest about their fall into the water?
(A) It happened because they foolishly ignored the guide’s warning about the rapid.
(B) It occurred far too rapidly for them to take effective action to prevent it.
(C) It was caused by someone accidentally letting go of the boat’s safety line.
(D) It was a dangerous scenario that they had mentally prepared for beforehand.
4 What happened to the writer while they were submerged in the rapid?
(A) They found themselves physically trapped underneath a giant, angry machine.
(B) They successfully exhausted the current by thrashing their way to the surface.
(C) They completely forgot the emergency procedures they had been taught earlier.
(D) They quickly managed to calm themselves down after the initial freezing shock.
5 What does the word ‘it‘ refer to in paragraph 5?
(A) the guide’s paddle
(B) the shoulder strap
(C) the bright yellow raft
(D) the writer’s life jacket
6 What is the writer’s main purpose in the final paragraph?
(A) To emphasize how the ordeal taught them not to underestimate the superiority of the natural world.
(B) To prove that modern safety equipment is completely useless when facing extreme situations.
(C) To advise readers that white-water rafting should always be completed in complete silence.
(D) To persuade people never to participate in extreme water sports because they are too dangerous.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 A: The text states, “Having only ever experienced gentle, meandering canoe rides, the prospect of tackling Class-4 rapids was exhilarating,” which perfectly matches looking forward to a more intense activity. Distractor B is a false match; the guide assured them they would have fun if they followed commands, not that they were confident because they had already done so. Distractor D is an over-inference; the writer found it “slightly terrifying” but it is not stated as a “lifelong terror.”
2 D: The writer notes that “the thrill of navigating… overshadowed any fatigue” and that they felt “invincible” while conquering the river. Distractor A is a false match; their arms ached, but they did not fail to follow orders. Distractor B is a partial truth; the waves had a “deafening roar,” but the writer felt triumphant, not anxious.
3 B: The text describes the suddenness of the event: “Before I could even register what was happening… In a fraction of a second, I was propelled forward.” Distractor A is a false cause; they did not ignore the warning; an unseen current caused the jolt. Distractor C is a false match; the writer reached for the safety line, but their own hands slipped.
4 C: The text explicitly states that “The survival instructions I had calmly listened to earlier suddenly vanished from my panicked mind.” Distractor A is a false match based on a metaphor (the rapid felt like an angry washing machine). Distractor B is partially true in that they thrashed, but they did not reach the surface successfully through thrashing; the river’s force was “overwhelmingly superior.”
5 A: The pronoun refers back to “the T-grip of his paddle,” which the guide had extended towards the writer in the water.
6 A: The writer concludes that the thrill was replaced by “a humbling respect for the formidable power of nature” and that the river reminded them “who was truly in charge.” Distractor B is the opposite of reality; the life jacket (safety equipment) actually saved them. Distractor D is a false match; the writer gained respect for the river but does not tell readers to stop participating in extreme sports entirely.