Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – Physical Endurance & Sports 5
Reading 1
You are going to read a magazine article about a teenager’s experience competing in an archery tournament.
For questions 1-6, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.
Aiming Through the Storm
I had spent the last six months dedicating every spare hour to perfecting my archery technique. Standing at the edge of the competition field on a crisp Saturday morning, I felt an overwhelming sense of focus. The regional qualifiers were a major milestone, and I was determined to prove that my countless hours of practice hadn’t been in vain. I had visualised this exact moment so many times: the calm precision, the smooth draw of the bowstring, and the satisfying thud of the arrow hitting the gold centre. However, I had based all my mental preparations on the tranquil, sheltered environment of my local indoor shooting range. Out here in the open countryside, nature had entirely different plans.
As I waited for my category to be called, a sudden, fierce gust of wind swept across the field, violently rustling the leaves of the nearby oak trees and threatening to knock over the target stands. My heart sank slightly. Archery is a sport that demands absolute stillness, and this unpredictable weather was the worst-case scenario. When the whistle finally blew, signaling my turn to step up to the shooting line, I tried to push my growing anxiety aside. I planted my feet firmly, raised my recurve bow, and carefully knocked my first arrow. The wind whipped against my face, tearing my concentration to shreds.
I pulled the bowstring back to my anchor point, holding my breath as I aimed directly for the bright yellow bullseye. It felt like a solid, textbook shot. I released the string, fully expecting the arrow to fly straight and true. Instead, a violent crosswind caught the lightweight shaft mid-flight, carrying it drastically off course. I watched in absolute horror as the arrow sailed past the target entirely, burying itself uselessly into the grassy bank behind. A collective gasp rippled through the spectators, and a burning flush of embarrassment crept up my neck. Missing the gold is common, but missing the entire target on your first competitive shot is every archer’s ultimate nightmare. I wanted the ground to swallow me whole.
Retreating behind the waiting line, I stared at my boots, intensely aware of the sympathetic glances from my fellow competitors. I was seriously contemplating withdrawing from the rest of the tournament when my coach, Sarah, approached me. She didn’t offer empty reassurances; rather, she pointed out that almost everyone was struggling with the conditions. “You can’t fight the wind, but you can use it,” she stated calmly. She explained that this invisible force wasn’t a reason to panic, but rather a variable I needed to calculate. I had to stop aiming where I wanted the arrow to land, and start aiming where the wind would inevitably push it.
Her logical advice helped to clear the fog of my humiliation. When it was time for my second round, I stepped back onto the line with a modified mindset. I observed the flags fluttering at the edges of the field to judge the wind’s speed and direction. Raising my bow again, I deliberately aimed my sight at the outer blue ring on the left, an action that felt incredibly unnatural and counter-intuitive. I trusted my coach’s wisdom, compensated for the strong breeze, and let the arrow fly. It curved dramatically in the air before slamming firmly into the red ring, just inches from the center.
It wasn’t a perfect bullseye, but in those challenging conditions, it felt like a magnificent victory. By the end of the day, I hadn’t won a medal, yet I walked away feeling immensely proud. The initial humiliation of my spectacular miss had forced me to adapt and become a more intelligent, observant athlete. I realised that true skill in archery isn’t just about flawless repetition in perfect conditions; it’s about reading your environment and adjusting your aim when the wind tries to push you off course.
1 What do we learn about the writer’s preparation for the tournament?
(A) They spent countless hours visualising the poor weather conditions.
(B) They practiced primarily in an environment that did not match the competition.
(C) They dedicated six months to practicing outdoors in the open countryside.
(D) They felt overwhelmed by the high expectations of the regional qualifiers.
2 How did the writer feel as they stepped up to the shooting line?
(A) frustrated because the wind had blown their bow off course
(B) confident that they could easily overcome the terrible weather
(C) annoyed that the target stands were about to be knocked over
(D) struggling to maintain the mental focus required for the sport
3 What caused the writer’s deep embarrassment in the third paragraph?
(A) hearing the spectators laugh loudly at their terrible shot
(B) releasing the bowstring before they had taken a breath
(C) failing to hit any part of the target on their opening shot
(D) using a lightweight arrow that was unsuitable for the competition
4 What does the phrase ‘this invisible force’ refer to in paragraph 4?
(A) the writer’s embarrassment
(B) the unpredictable wind
(C) the coach’s calm advice
(D) the arrow’s flight path
5 What is implied about the writer’s second shot?
(A) It required them to do something that felt completely unnatural.
(B) It hit the yellow bullseye perfectly because of the coach’s advice.
(C) It was successful because the strong breeze had suddenly dropped.
(D) It felt easy to execute once they watched the flags fluttering.
6 What is the writer’s main message in the final paragraph?
(A) You can only win medals if you practice in flawless conditions.
(B) Experiencing a humiliating failure can help you become a better athlete.
(C) Archery is a sport that relies heavily on luck and physical strength.
(D) It is impossible to predict how the weather will affect your performance.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B: The text states that the writer “had based all my mental preparations on the tranquil, sheltered environment of my local indoor shooting range,” contrasting it with the “open countryside” of the competition. This paraphrases option B. Option A is the opposite; they visualised “calm precision,” not bad weather. Option C is a false match; they practiced for six months, but indoors, not in the countryside. Option D is a partial truth; it was a major milestone, but they felt an “overwhelming sense of focus,” not overwhelmed by expectations.
2 D: The writer says, “I tried to push my growing anxiety aside” and that the wind was “tearing my concentration to shreds.” This matches struggling to maintain mental focus. Option A is a false match; the wind hit their face, it hadn’t blown the bow off course yet. Option B is the opposite; their heart sank and they were anxious. Option C is a partial truth; the wind threatened to knock over the stands, but the writer’s primary feeling stepping to the line was lost concentration.
3 C: The text explains that the writer watched in horror “as the arrow sailed past the target entirely… missing the entire target on your first competitive shot is every archer’s ultimate nightmare.” Option A is incorrect because the spectators gave a “collective gasp,” they didn’t laugh. Option B is the opposite; they were “holding my breath.” Option D is a partial truth; the arrow had a “lightweight shaft,” but this is standard equipment, not a mistake.
4 B: The phrase “this invisible force” refers back to the wind, which the coach mentions in the previous sentence (“You can’t fight the wind”). Options A, C, and D are nouns present in the paragraph but do not fit the grammatical or contextual reference.
5 A: The writer notes that they deliberately aimed at the outer blue ring, calling it “an action that felt incredibly unnatural and counter-intuitive.” Option B is the opposite; the arrow hit the red ring, not the yellow bullseye. Option C is the opposite; they successfully “compensated for the strong breeze.” Option D is a false match; watching the flags helped them judge the wind, but the shot itself did not feel easy.
6 B: In the final paragraph, the writer concludes that “the initial humiliation of my spectacular miss had forced me to adapt and become a more intelligent, observant athlete.” This aligns perfectly with option B. Option A is the opposite of the text’s message. Option C is contradicted by the text, which emphasizes “reading your environment,” not luck. Option D is a partial truth; the weather is unpredictable, but the main message is about adapting to it, not just its unpredictability.
Reading 2
You are going to read a magazine article about a person’s first experience of bungee jumping.
For questions 1-6, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.
Taking the Leap
I had always considered myself a thrill-seeker. Whenever my friends proposed an adventurous weekend, I would inevitably be the first to sign up. So, when the idea of bungee jumping off the Kawarau Bridge was brought up during a casual dinner, I eagerly volunteered. My friends, accustomed to my enthusiastic declarations, simply rolled their eyes and playfully bet that I would hesitate. I spent the entire week leading up to the trip boasting about my bravery, casually dismissing any suggestions that I might back out. I was entirely convinced that jumping off a platform attached to a giant elastic band would be an absolute breeze. If I had bothered to research the actual height of the bridge beforehand, I might not have been so quick to brag.
The reality of the situation only began to sink in when we arrived at the gorge. The bridge, a historic suspension structure, spanned a deep, rocky canyon, with a fast-flowing river roaring far below. As the staff strapped me into the heavy safety harness, meticulously checking every buckle and carabiner, my earlier bravado started to rapidly evaporate. The instructor, an overly cheerful man named Toby, chatted amiably about the mechanics of the cord, but his reassuring words were largely lost on me. I was far too distracted by the sheer drop. I quickly realised that observing someone else plummet towards the water on a video was a completely different experience from preparing to do it yourself.
Then came the moment of truth. I was instructed to shuffle forward until my toes were hanging over the edge of the metal platform. I made the fatal error of looking directly down. Suddenly, the rushing river seemed both light-years away and menacingly close. A wave of paralyzing terror washed over me, effectively pinning my feet to the spot. My throat went dry, and a cold sweat broke out across my forehead. This was a physiological reaction I simply couldn’t control, regardless of how much I tried to rationalise the situation. I stood frozen, gripping the handrails so tightly that my knuckles turned white, entirely convinced that stepping off would be the biggest mistake of my life.
From behind me, Toby gently but firmly reminded me that I needed to make a decision. “I can’t push you,” he said, his voice cutting clearly through the howling wind. “You have to take the step yourself.” I realised that giving in to the anxiety would mean admitting defeat in front of all my friends who were watching expectantly from the viewing deck. I knew that if I stepped back now, the regret would linger far longer than the temporary fear I was experiencing. Closing my eyes, I forced myself to let go of the railing. I counted down from three in my head, took a deep breath, and leant forward into the empty space. For a split second, my brain panicked, screaming that there was nothing solid to break my fall.
The descent itself was a chaotic blur of rushing wind and pure adrenaline. However, the terrifying sensation of falling rapidly transformed into a feeling of absolute euphoria as I plummeted towards the turquoise water. Just as it felt like I was going to crash into the river, the bungee cord pulled tight, stretching to its limit before sending me soaring back up into the air. Bouncing suspended between the bright sky and the river, uncontrollable laughter bubbled up inside me. The intense fear had completely vanished, replaced by an overwhelming sense of triumph. I had conquered my own psychological barriers, and as the rescue boat eventually lowered me down, I knew I would never look at a challenge the same way again.
1 What does the writer reveal about their attitude before the trip?
(A) They were overly confident because they hadn’t looked into the details of the jump.
(B) They were primarily motivated by a desire to prove their friends wrong.
(C) They were used to organising adventurous weekend trips for their social circle.
(D) They secretly worried that they might end up backing out of the challenge.
2 How did the writer feel while being prepared for the jump?
(A) They were annoyed by the instructor’s overly cheerful attitude.
(B) They were unable to focus on the information being given to them.
(C) They felt reassured by the meticulous nature of the safety checks.
(D) They were surprised by how heavy the safety equipment was.
3 What does ‘This‘ refer to in the third paragraph?
(A) the fatal error of looking directly down at the river
(B) the realization of the vast distance to the water
(C) an overwhelming feeling of physical fear and panic
(D) the attempt to rationalise a dangerous situation
4 What ultimately motivated the writer to step off the platform?
(A) The instructor firmly pushing them to move forward.
(B) The pressure of their friends shouting from the viewing deck.
(C) The realization that the jump was perfectly safe after all.
(D) The desire to avoid feeling disappointed in themselves later.
5 How did the writer’s emotions change during the descent?
(A) Their initial terror quickly gave way to a sense of extreme joy.
(B) They felt a sense of relief as soon as they hit the water.
(C) They were confused by the sensation of soaring back up into the air.
(D) They panicked when the cord finally stretched to its absolute limit.
6 What is the writer’s main purpose in the article?
(A) to encourage readers to participate in extreme sports
(B) to explain the safety procedures involved in bungee jumping
(C) to describe how facing a deep fear led to a sense of personal victory
(D) to warn others about the unexpected dangers of bungee jumping
Answer Key & Explanations
1 (A): The writer states, “If I had bothered to research the actual height of the bridge beforehand, I might not have been so quick to brag,” indicating their confidence stemmed from ignorance of the details. Distractor B is a partial truth; their friends bet they would hesitate, but proving them wrong isn’t cited as the initial motivation for signing up. Distractor C is incorrect because the friends proposed the weekends, not the writer. Distractor D contradicts the text, which says they casually dismissed any suggestion of backing out.
2 (B): The text says that as the instructor chatted about the mechanics, “his reassuring words were largely lost on me. I was far too distracted by the sheer drop.” Distractor A is incorrect; the instructor is described as cheerful, but the writer doesn’t express annoyance. Distractor C is the opposite of the text, as their bravado “evaporated” during the checks. Distractor D is a false match; the harness is described as heavy, but the writer expresses no surprise at this fact.
3 (C): The pronoun ‘This’ points back to the physiological symptoms described in the preceding sentences: “paralyzing terror,” “throat went dry,” and “cold sweat broke out.” These represent a feeling of physical fear. Distractors A, B, and D refer to other surrounding concepts in the paragraph, but ‘This’ specifically encapsulates the uncontrollable physical and emotional reaction they were experiencing.
4 (D): The writer forced themselves to jump because they “knew that if I stepped back now, the regret would linger far longer than the temporary fear.” Distractor A is directly contradicted by the text (“I can’t push you”). Distractor B is incorrect because while their friends were watching expectantly, there is no mention of them shouting. Distractor C is wrong; the writer’s brain was still panicking that there was “nothing solid to break my fall.”
5 (A): The text explicitly states that “the terrifying sensation of falling rapidly transformed into a feeling of absolute euphoria.” Distractor B is incorrect because the writer never actually hits the water. Distractor C is incorrect; they felt “uncontrollable laughter” rather than confusion when bouncing back up. Distractor D is wrong because the panic occurred earlier (when stepping off), whereas reaching the cord’s limit led to soaring and triumph.
6 (C): The entire narrative is structured around the emotional arc of the writer overcoming their paralyzing fear to experience an “overwhelming sense of triumph” and conquering their “psychological barriers.” Distractor A is too broad; the article is a personal narrative, not a persuasive piece for extreme sports. Distractor B is too specific and only covers a minor detail in paragraph 2. Distractor D is incorrect as no actual dangers or accidents occurred.
Reading 3
You are going to read a magazine article about a young man who attends his first parkour workshop and faces a mental block.
For questions 1-6, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.
Leaping into the Unknown
For months, I had been captivated by the seemingly gravity-defying videos of parkour athletes leaping effortlessly across urban landscapes. The way they transformed ordinary concrete environments into their own personal playgrounds fascinated me. Eager to experience this exhilarating freedom myself, I signed up for a beginner’s workshop at a local community centre. Arriving on a crisp Saturday morning, I was brimming with enthusiasm. I pictured myself swiftly springing over park benches and bounding up staircases. I was absolutely certain I was ready to conquer the urban jungle. The reality, however, was about to prove significantly more demanding than sitting on my sofa watching online tutorials.
Our instructor, a seasoned traceur named Marcus, started us off with the fundamentals. After a rigorous warm-up, he led our small group to a sturdy, waist-high concrete wall. The objective for the morning was to master the speed vault, a foundational parkour move designed to get you over an obstacle quickly without losing momentum. Marcus demonstrated the technique, placing one hand on the wall and effortlessly kicking his legs sideways into the air, landing lightly on the other side. He made the entire sequence look as natural as walking. I mentally rehearsed the steps, convinced that my athletic background would make this a breeze.
Yet, when it was my turn to step up, my previous confidence vanished instantly. As I jogged towards the barrier, my eyes locked onto the rough, unforgiving texture of the concrete. A sudden, vivid image of my trainers clipping the edge and my shins scraping painfully against the hard surface flashed through my mind. This terrifying thought acted like a handbrake. Mere inches from the wall, I came to a stuttering halt. I retreated and tried again, but the exact same thing happened. My brain had simply refused to allow my body to execute the jump, and I was intensely embarrassed by it.
Marcus, having undoubtedly witnessed this exact scenario countless times, pulled me aside. He explained that parkour is rarely about physical limitations; rather, it is a continuous battle against your own self-preservation instincts. “Your hesitation is actually what causes injuries,” he warned gently. “If you don’t commit completely to the movement, you won’t generate enough momentum to clear the obstacle safely.” Looking at the wall, I realised that the true barrier wasn’t the concrete itself, but my own anxiety. I needed to trust the technique I had been taught and silence the doubting voice in my head.
Taking a deep, steadying breath, I walked back to my starting position. I forced myself to focus entirely on the space beyond the wall, rather than staring at the wall itself. I sprinted forward, entirely banishing the thought of failure. As my hand planted firmly on the cold stone, I pushed off with all my might and swung my legs sideways. For a fraction of a second, I experienced a thrilling sense of weightlessness. Then, my feet hit the soft grass on the opposite side with a satisfying thud. I hadn’t scraped my shins, and I hadn’t fallen.
The sheer joy of that successful landing is something I will never forget. I hadn’t just overcome a physical hurdle; I had conquered a profound mental block. While my technique was far from perfect and I was dripping with sweat, a massive grin stretched across my face. That single jump taught me that true progress only happens when we are willing to push past our perceived boundaries. I am still a beginner, but I now know that whenever I face a daunting obstacle, the most crucial step is simply deciding to leap.
1 Why did the writer decide to sign up for the parkour workshop?
(A) He hoped to design his own personal playground in a local park.
(B) He wished to experience the unrestricted movement he had witnessed online.
(C) He was looking for a much more demanding workout than his usual routine.
(D) He wanted to learn how to produce his own gravity-defying video tutorials.
2 What was the writer’s initial attitude towards the speed vault?
(A) He assumed his prior fitness levels would make the move relatively easy.
(B) He thought it looked as natural as walking down the street.
(C) He was worried about losing his momentum during the approach.
(D) He believed it would require an extremely rigorous warm-up beforehand.
3 What does the word ‘it‘ refer to in paragraph 3?
(A) the rough texture of the concrete
(B) the terrifying thought in his mind
(C) his stuttering halt near the wall
(D) his inability to perform the jump
4 According to Marcus, what is the primary cause of injuries in parkour?
(A) possessing an overly strong sense of self-preservation
(B) ignoring the natural physical limitations of the human body
(C) failing to commit entirely to a physical movement
(D) generating too much momentum when approaching an obstacle
5 How did the writer manage to complete the jump successfully?
(A) by taking a deep breath and sprinting much faster than before
(B) by shifting his visual focus to the landing area beyond the barrier
(C) by planting both of his hands firmly onto the cold stone wall
(D) by allowing his natural self-preservation instincts to take over
6 What is the writer’s main message in the final paragraph?
(A) Physical technique is the most important aspect of mastering parkour.
(B) Beginners should avoid attempting dangerous urban jumps until they are ready.
(C) Overcoming our psychological barriers is essential for personal growth.
(D) Working with a professional coach is the best way to prevent serious injuries.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B: The writer states he was “Eager to experience this exhilarating freedom myself” after watching videos of athletes “leaping effortlessly across urban landscapes.” Distractor A is incorrect because the athletes treated the environments like personal playgrounds; he didn’t want to build one. Distractor C is a partial truth trap; the reality was more demanding than he thought, but he didn’t sign up seeking a demanding workout. Distractor D is a false match; he watched tutorials but didn’t want to make them.
2 A: The writer mentally rehearsed the steps and was “convinced that my athletic background would make this a breeze.” Distractor B is a false match; Marcus made it look natural, not the writer. Distractor C is the opposite of his initial feeling, which was confident. Distractor D is a sequencing error; they did a warm-up before the vault, but he didn’t believe the vault itself required it.
3 D: Grammatically and contextually, “it” refers to the entire preceding clause describing his failure: “My brain had simply refused to allow my body to execute the jump, and I was intensely embarrassed by it.” He was embarrassed by his failure to jump.
4 C: Marcus explicitly states, “Your hesitation is actually what causes injuries… If you don’t commit completely to the movement, you won’t generate enough momentum.” Distractor A is a partial truth; parkour is a battle against self-preservation, but hesitation specifically causes the injury. Distractor B contradicts the text, which says parkour is “rarely about physical limitations.” Distractor D is the opposite; hesitation means you “won’t generate enough momentum.”
5 B: The text states, “I forced myself to focus entirely on the space beyond the wall, rather than staring at the wall itself.” Distractor A is a false match; he took a breath and sprinted, but the text doesn’t say he ran “much faster than before.” Distractor C is incorrect because he used “one hand” (as stated in paragraph 2) and “my hand” (singular) in paragraph 5. Distractor D is the opposite; he had to fight those instincts.
6 C: The overall conclusion is that “true progress only happens when we are willing to push past our perceived boundaries” and that he “conquered a profound mental block.” Distractor A contradicts the text; he admits his technique was “far from perfect.” Distractor B is unstated and too negative for the uplifting conclusion. Distractor D is a partial truth (he had a coach), but it is not the main philosophical takeaway of the text.