Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – Friendships, Peer Pressure & Social Circles 1
Reading 1
You are going to read a magazine article about a person who realises they have outgrown their childhood best friend.
For questions 1-6, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.
Fading Echoes of the Past
If anyone had told me ten years ago that having a simple lunch with Maya would feel like a daunting obligation, I would have undoubtedly laughed in their face. We had been entirely inseparable since the age of seven, bonded by a shared passion for building fragile treehouses and listening to terrible pop music. When I received a text from her earlier this week suggesting we catch up at Luigi’s, our favourite childhood Italian restaurant, I immediately agreed. My response was driven by a deep sense of nostalgic loyalty rather than genuine excitement. However, as I sat waiting at our usual corner table, nervously peeling the label off my sparkling water, I couldn’t help but wonder if we still had anything meaningful to say to one another after nearly two years apart.
When Maya finally rushed through the glass doors, she looked strikingly different from the girl I remembered. Gone were the faded denim jackets and messy ponytails of our youth; she was now dressed in a sharp, tailored business suit, clutching a sleek leather briefcase. After apologising for being late, she offered a lengthy explanation about a delayed conference call. We exchanged a warm, albeit slightly stiff, hug. Almost immediately, a suffocating silence settled over our table. I frantically searched my mind for an engaging topic of conversation, but the easy, effortless chatter we used to share seemed to have mysteriously vanished. We resorted to discussing the unpredictable spring weather, a safe but painfully dull subject that only served to highlight the vast, growing distance between us.
Desperate to revive the lively atmosphere of our teenage years, I brought up a disastrous school camping trip we had endured when we were fourteen. I had expected her to burst into fits of familiar laughter at the memory of our collapsed tent. Instead, she offered a polite, muted smile before swiftly changing the subject to her demanding new role at a corporate finance firm. I listened attentively as she spoke about her recent promotion, but her world of profit margins, networking events, and corporate ladders was completely alien to me. If I had chosen a more conventional career path, I might have been able to contribute to the discussion. However, as an aspiring freelance illustrator who spent her days covered in charcoal and paint, I found myself nodding along blankly, entirely unable to relate to her new reality.
The arrival of our food provided a much-needed temporary distraction, but this brief pause only delayed the inevitable. As we silently ate our pasta, the conversation dried up entirely. It wasn’t the comfortable, companionable quiet we used to share while doing our homework together; it was a deeply awkward, heavy silence that made the air feel extraordinarily thick. I stared intently at my plate, wrestling with a painful realisation. We were essentially two strangers trying to wear clothes that no longer fit. We had both changed drastically over the years, evolving into adults with contrasting priorities, ambitions, and values. The friendship we were desperately trying to sustain was based entirely on who we used to be, rather than who we currently were.
By the time the waiter eventually brought the bill, a quiet, mutual understanding seemed to have passed between us. Neither of us suggested making concrete plans for our next meeting, opting instead for vague, non-committal promises to ‘keep in touch’. As we stepped out of the restaurant and into the crisp afternoon air, we hugged goodbye one last time. Surprisingly, there was no awkwardness in this final gesture, just a gentle, unspoken acceptance of our new reality. I watched her hurry off down the busy street, feeling a bittersweet sense of relief wash over me. Letting go of a childhood best friend is undoubtedly painful, but I realised it is also incredibly liberating to acknowledge that some relationships are simply meant to fade away naturally.
1 Why did the narrator agree to meet Maya for lunch?
(A) They felt an obligation based on their long-standing shared history.
(B) They were genuinely excited to hear about Maya’s recent career success.
(C) They specifically wanted to visit their favourite childhood Italian restaurant.
(D) They were eager to discuss the treehouses they used to build as children.
2 How did the narrator feel about the initial conversation at the restaurant?
(A) Relieved that they could easily discuss their adult lives together.
(B) Frustrated that Maya was late because of a lengthy conference call.
(C) Disappointed that their small talk emphasized their estrangement.
(D) Impressed by Maya’s sharp, tailored business suit and briefcase.
3 What does the narrator imply about their different career paths in the third paragraph?
(A) Maya’s corporate job is objectively more successful than being an illustrator.
(B) Their contrasting professional lives have created a noticeable communication barrier.
(C) The narrator wishes they had chosen a conventional career in corporate finance.
(D) Maya deliberately changed the subject to make the narrator feel inferior.
4 What does the word ‘It’ refer to in the fourth paragraph?
(A) The arrival of their food.
(B) A painful realisation.
(C) The shared homework.
(D) The complete lack of conversation.
5 During the meal, the narrator comes to the conclusion that
(A) they need to try much harder to find shared interests and hobbies.
(B) they both secretly wished they were still teenagers on a camping trip.
(C) their current relationship is sustained solely by their shared past.
(D) Maya had purposefully changed her personality to fit in at her new workplace.
6 What is the writer’s main purpose in the final paragraph?
(A) To express deep regret over losing a valuable childhood connection.
(B) To demonstrate that accepting the end of a friendship can bring a positive sense of closure.
(C) To advise readers on how to politely end an awkward lunch date with an old friend.
(D) To complain about former friends who make non-committal promises to keep in touch.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 A: The text states that the narrator’s response “was driven by a deep sense of nostalgic loyalty rather than genuine excitement.” This matches the idea of feeling obligated by their shared history. Distractor C is a partial truth (the restaurant was their favourite), but it was not the reason they agreed to go. Distractor B is the opposite of the text.
2 C: The narrator mentions that discussing the unpredictable weather was a “safe but painfully dull subject that only served to highlight the vast, growing distance between us,” indicating disappointment over their estrangement. Distractor B is a partial truth (Maya was late), but the narrator’s negative feelings are directed at the “suffocating silence,” not her tardiness. Distractor D uses text words but does not answer how they felt about the conversation.
3 B: The narrator states that Maya’s world was “completely alien,” and because the narrator was a freelance illustrator, they were “entirely unable to relate to her new reality” or “contribute to the discussion.” This shows a communication barrier. Distractor C uses text words (“conventional career”) but completely reverses the meaning; the narrator does not wish to change careers. Distractor A is unstated and an over-inference.
4 D: In the sentence, “As we silently ate our pasta, the conversation dried up entirely. It wasn’t the comfortable, companionable quiet…”, the pronoun ‘It’ refers to the silence / the conversation drying up entirely. Distractors A, B, and C are all other nouns or events mentioned in the same paragraph but do not fit the grammatical or logical reference of the sentence.
5 C: The narrator concludes that “The friendship we were desperately trying to sustain was based entirely on who we used to be, rather than who we currently were.” This proves the relationship relies on their past. Distractor A is the opposite of the text’s conclusion, as the narrator accepts they have simply evolved into different people. Distractor D is an over-inference; the text says Maya changed, but never claims she did so “purposefully to fit in.”
6 B: The final paragraph focuses on a “gentle, unspoken acceptance,” a “bittersweet sense of relief,” and concludes that it is “incredibly liberating to acknowledge that some relationships are simply meant to fade away naturally.” Distractor A is a partial truth (it is “undoubtedly painful”), but the main purpose is the positive relief and liberation (closure). Distractor D uses exact text words (“non-committal promises”) but assigns a complaining tone that is entirely absent from the text.
Reading 2
You are going to read a magazine article about a teenager whose two best friends started dating each other.
For questions 1-6, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.
The “Third Wheel” Syndrome
For as long as I could remember, it had been the three of us: Maya, Leo, and me. We were an inseparable trio, navigating secondary school as a united front. Whether we were struggling through complex maths assignments or spending lazy Saturday afternoons at the local park, we did absolutely everything together. Therefore, when they cautiously announced that they had started dating, my initial reaction was one of genuine delight. I had always suspected an unspoken attraction between them, and seeing my two favourite people find happiness together felt perfect. I naively assumed our dynamic would simply continue as before, just with a little more hand-holding.
However, the reality of the situation soon proved to be vastly different. Initially, they were careful to include me, constantly inviting me to hang out at our usual spots. Yet, within a matter of weeks, a subtle shift occurred. During our conversations, they would exchange knowing glances or burst into laughter over inside jokes that I simply couldn’t comprehend. If I tried to contribute to the discussion, my comments were often met with polite nods before they refocused on each other. Despite being physically present, I began to feel completely invisible. It was as if a transparent glass wall had been erected between us.
The turning point came during a weekend trip to the cinema. We had been looking forward to a highly anticipated film for months. As we took our seats, they naturally sat next to each other, leaving me on the outside. Throughout the screening, they whispered and shared popcorn, completely oblivious to my existence. That afternoon, a wave of acute, stinging loneliness washed over me. It is a profoundly strange experience to feel isolated while sitting inches away from your closest friends. I realised that I had become the classic ‘third wheel’, an unnecessary addition to a relationship that no longer required my presence.
I spent the following week reflecting on our friendship. I knew they weren’t intentionally trying to make me feel miserable. They were simply caught up in the overwhelming excitement of a new romance. It must have been difficult for them to balance their new feelings with our established friendship. Nevertheless, understanding their perspective didn’t make my sense of isolation any less painful. I had to acknowledge that our trio had fundamentally changed, and clinging to the past was only going to breed resentment. It was time for me to take control of my own social life.
The following Friday, Maya texted, asking if I wanted to join them for pizza. My heart ached slightly, but I gathered my courage and typed out a polite excuse, claiming I had a mountain of homework to catch up on. Hitting the ‘send’ button felt terrifying, yet it was immediately followed by a surprising sense of relief. By stepping back, I was no longer putting myself in a position where I felt inadequate. I spent the evening reading a novel I had been putting off for months, enjoying my own company rather than feeling lonely in theirs.
Emboldened by this small step, I decided to broaden my horizons. I signed up for the school’s photography club, something I had always been curious about but had never pursued because my friends weren’t interested. Almost immediately, I met a group of welcoming people who shared my enthusiasm. I still see Maya and Leo, of course, and we catch up warmly in the school corridors. However, I no longer rely on them to dictate my social calendar. I have learned that while friendships inevitably evolve, stepping out of someone else’s shadow is the only way to truly find your own light.
1 What was the writer’s initial reaction to Maya and Leo’s relationship in the first paragraph?
(A) She was truly happy for them and expected their group dynamic to remain largely unchanged.
(B) She suspected an unspoken attraction and thought it would ruin their united front.
(C) She was surprised because they had previously only bonded over complex maths assignments.
(D) She was upset because she knew they would immediately stop doing everything together.
2 How did the writer feel about the conversations she had with her friends after they started dating?
(A) She felt they were constantly inviting her to hang out just to be polite.
(B) She felt alienated because she was unable to understand their private amusement.
(C) She felt that a transparent glass wall had literally been erected in their usual spots.
(D) She felt her comments were highly valued during their regular discussions.
3 What does the writer mean by the phrase ‘third wheel’ in the third paragraph?
(A) a person who deliberately tries to isolate their closest friends
(B) a friend who tries to ruin a highly anticipated weekend trip
(C) someone who is physically present but superfluous to a romantic couple
(D) an unnecessary addition who is forced to sit on the outside at the cinema
4 In the fourth paragraph, what does the writer realise about her friends’ behaviour?
(A) They were intentionally trying to breed resentment by clinging to the past.
(B) They wanted the writer to take control of her own social life moving forward.
(C) They found it incredibly difficult to deliberately make the writer feel miserable.
(D) Their actions were a natural consequence of their new romance rather than deliberate cruelty.
5 Why did the writer experience a ‘surprising sense of relief’ after declining the pizza invitation?
(A) She finally had the time to catch up on a mountain of homework.
(B) She had successfully avoided a situation that would have made her feel excluded.
(C) She was able to spend the entire evening reading a novel she had bought.
(D) She realised that hitting the ‘send’ button made her feel terrifyingly lonely.
6 What is the main message the writer wants to convey in the text?
(A) Best friends who start dating will always try to push you out of their lives.
(B) It is sometimes necessary to distance yourself from changing friendships to grow personally.
(C) Joining a photography club is the most effective way to meet welcoming people.
(D) You should never rely on your closest friends to dictate your social calendar.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 A: The text states that the writer’s initial reaction was “one of genuine delight” and that she “naively assumed our dynamic would simply continue as before.” This directly paraphrases option A. Distractor B uses words from the text (“suspected an unspoken attraction”, “united front”) but applies them incorrectly. Distractor C is a partial truth (they did maths together), but not the reason for her reaction. Distractor D is the opposite of how she actually felt.
2 B: The text mentions that Maya and Leo would “burst into laughter over inside jokes that I simply couldn’t comprehend,” leading the writer to feel “completely invisible.” This matches feeling alienated by private amusement. Distractor A confuses their early invitations with the nature of the conversations. Distractor C takes the metaphorical “transparent glass wall” entirely literally. Distractor D is the opposite of the text, which says her comments were met with “polite nods” before being ignored.
3 C: The context of the paragraph shows the writer feeling “completely oblivious to my existence” and isolated despite being “inches away” from her friends who are dating. A ‘third wheel’ is therefore someone who is present but not needed by the couple. Distractor A points the blame at the writer. Distractor B is unstated. Distractor D is too literal and specific to the cinema event, rather than defining the phrase itself.
4 D: The writer states, “I knew they weren’t intentionally trying to make me feel miserable. They were simply caught up in the overwhelming excitement of a new romance.” This confirms their behaviour wasn’t deliberate cruelty but a consequence of the romance. Distractor A uses words from the text but reverses the meaning. Distractor B is the writer’s own conclusion for herself, not what her friends wanted. Distractor C twists the text; they weren’t finding it difficult to be mean, they just weren’t trying to be.
5 B: The relief came because “By stepping back, I was no longer putting myself in a position where I felt inadequate.” Distractor A is a false match; the homework was a made-up excuse (“claiming I had a mountain…”). Distractor C is a partial truth; she did read a novel, but the relief was specifically tied to avoiding feelings of inadequacy. Distractor D incorrectly links the feeling of terror/loneliness to the relief.
6 B: The final paragraph, and the text as a whole, concludes that “while friendships inevitably evolve, stepping out of someone else’s shadow is the only way to truly find your own light.” This demonstrates the need for distance to achieve personal growth. Distractor A is extreme and contradicts the writer’s realization that they didn’t do it on purpose. Distractor C is too specific (only an example of her growth). Distractor D is a partial truth mentioned in the text, but it is not the overarching main message of the entire narrative arc.