Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – Friendships, Peer Pressure & Social Circles 2
Reading 1
You are going to read an extract from a short story about a teenager who confronts a friend about her behaviour.
For questions 1-6, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.
Breaking the Silence
Having bonded over a shared love of vintage fashion in our first year of secondary school, Chloe and I appeared to casual observers to be the best of friends. However, beneath the surface of our close relationship lay a dynamic that had increasingly begun to wear me down. Chloe possessed a sharp wit, which she frequently weaponised in the form of subtle, stinging remarks. If I wore a new outfit, she would smile brightly and say it was incredibly brave of me to wear something so unconventional. Whenever I felt hurt, she would quickly dismiss my reaction, insisting that she was ‘just teasing’ and that I desperately needed to develop a thicker skin. For months, I had internalised this, genuinely wondering if my sensitivity was the actual problem.
This lingering self-doubt meant that I often brushed her comments aside, choosing to keep the peace rather than trigger an awkward argument. I had been taught that true friends accepted each other’s flaws, so I convinced myself that Chloe’s harsh sense of humour was simply a quirk I had to endure. Yet, the emotional toll of constantly bracing myself for her next thinly veiled insult was becoming exhausting. I was permanently walking on eggshells around her. If I hadn’t been so terrified of losing my only close companion at school, I might have spoken up much sooner.
The inevitable breaking point occurred during a Saturday afternoon study session at our local café. We were sitting with two other classmates, working on a challenging history project. I had just proudly presented a summary of my research when Chloe let out a theatrical sigh. Leaning across the table, she announced loudly that it was a miracle I had managed to string a coherent argument together, given how much I usually struggled to grasp basic concepts. The other girls shifted uncomfortably in their seats, exchanging nervous glances. This wasn’t just a private dig; it was a deliberate attempt to humiliate me in public.
A heavy silence descended upon our table, and in that agonizing pause, a profound shift happened within me. The familiar wave of self-doubt, which would normally have prompted me to laugh nervously and agree with her, was suddenly engulfed by a surge of hot, trembling anger. My hands began to shake slightly, not out of fear, but from the overwhelming realisation of how much I had put up with. Looking directly into her amused eyes, I finally recognised that her behaviour had absolutely nothing to do with playful teasing. It was entirely about exerting control and making herself feel superior at my expense.
“That wasn’t a joke, Chloe,” I said, my voice surprisingly steady despite the adrenaline coursing through my veins. “That was just cruel.” Her smile immediately vanished, replaced by a look of genuine shock. She opened her mouth to deliver her usual defence, but I held up a hand to stop her. “I’m not being too sensitive, and I’m not going to let you disguise your insults as humour anymore,” I continued, gathering my books with deliberate precision. “If this is how you treat your friends, I no longer want to be part of it.”
Walking out of the café into the crisp afternoon air, my heart was pounding relentlessly against my ribs. I had just severed a tie with someone who had been a major part of my teenage years, and the prospect of facing school on Monday without her was undeniably daunting. Nevertheless, as the initial adrenaline faded, a profound sense of relief washed over me. I had finally drawn a firm boundary, and in doing so, I had reclaimed my self-respect. The toxic dynamic was completely over, and for the first time in years, I felt genuinely free.
1 How did the narrator initially interpret Chloe’s subtle insults in the first paragraph?
(A) She suspected Chloe was deliberately trying to ruin her confidence.
(B) She believed she might be reacting too emotionally to them.
(C) She thought Chloe was incredibly brave for being so honest.
(D) She felt relieved that her friend was only harmlessly teasing her.
2 Why did the narrator hesitate to confront Chloe earlier?
(A) She wanted to avoid a conflict and feared being left isolated at school.
(B) She was exhausted from constantly arguing with her in the corridors.
(C) She believed that true friends should always point out each other’s flaws.
(D) She thought she was much too fragile to handle an awkward argument.
3 What does ‘This’ refer to in the third paragraph?
(A) the uncomfortable reaction of her two classmates
(B) Chloe’s public criticism of her academic abilities
(C) the challenging history project they were trying to finish
(D) the narrator’s proudly presented summary of her research
4 What did the narrator realise when the heavy silence descended?
(A) Her classmates were too intimidated by Chloe to defend her.
(B) Her own self-doubt was the main reason for Chloe’s behaviour.
(C) Chloe’s primary motivation was to boost her own ego.
(D) Chloe was attempting to hide her own lack of understanding.
5 How did Chloe react when the narrator finally stood up for herself?
(A) She delivered her usual defence perfectly to the rest of the group.
(B) She was completely taken aback by the sudden confrontation.
(C) She smiled and admitted that she had indeed been rather cruel.
(D) She gathered her books and left the café in an absolute panic.
6 What is the main message the writer conveys in the final paragraph?
(A) Facing school without your closest friend is an impossible challenge.
(B) Standing up for yourself can bring a powerful sense of liberation.
(C) It is always regretful to sever ties over a sudden misunderstanding.
(D) Drawing firm boundaries will automatically make people treat you better.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 B: The text states the narrator “internalised this, genuinely wondering if my sensitivity was the actual problem.” Option A is the opposite; she doubted herself, not Chloe’s intentions initially. Option C is a false match using exact words (“incredibly brave”) completely out of context. Option D uses words from the text (“just teasing”) but presents a false conclusion, as she wasn’t relieved.
2 A: The writer says she chose to “keep the peace rather than trigger an awkward argument” and was “terrified of losing my only close companion at school.” Option B is a false match; they weren’t arguing constantly, she was staying quiet to avoid arguing. Option C misinterprets the text; she thought friends should accept flaws, not point them out harshly. Option D is an over-inference not supported by the text.
3 B: The pronoun ‘This’ directly refers to the preceding action: Chloe leaning across the table and announcing loudly that the narrator struggled to grasp basic concepts. Option A is what happens right before the word ‘This’, but it does not fit the reference of being a “private dig” or a “deliberate attempt to humiliate”. Options C and D refer to details earlier in the paragraph that do not fit the context.
4 C: The narrator explicitly notes that she recognised Chloe’s behaviour was “entirely about exerting control and making herself feel superior at my expense.” Option A is unstated; the text mentions the classmates shifted uncomfortably, but doesn’t explicitly state why they stayed quiet. Option B is a false cause-and-effect trap. Option D is a plausible real-world theory but is not mentioned in the text.
5 B: The text describes Chloe’s reaction: “Her smile immediately vanished, replaced by a look of genuine shock.” Option A is incorrect because although she opened her mouth to deliver her defence, the narrator “held up a hand to stop her.” Option C is the direct opposite; her smile vanished. Option D contains misplaced information; it was the narrator who gathered her books, not Chloe.
6 B: In the final paragraph, despite finding the future “daunting,” the narrator notes that a “profound sense of relief washed over me” and that by drawing a boundary she “reclaimed my self-respect” and “felt genuinely free.” Option A uses extreme language (“impossible”), while the text merely says it was “daunting”. Option C contradicts the text as it wasn’t a misunderstanding and she didn’t regret it. Option D is an over-inference; she ended the friendship rather than staying to see if she was treated better.
Reading 2
You are going to read an extract from a short story about a teenager dealing with a false rumour at school.
For questions 1-6, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.
The Rumour Mill
By the time the school bus pulled up to the imposing iron gates of Oakland High, my stomach was tied in uncomfortable knots. I had only checked my phone ten minutes earlier, but that brief glance at the sudden flood of text messages had been enough to turn a perfectly ordinary Tuesday into a living nightmare. Friends and acquaintances alike were asking if the ridiculous story circulating like wildfire was actually true. The rumour claimed that I had tripped over a waiter, dropped a tray of milkshakes over myself, and burst into hysterical tears while trying to talk to the captain of the football team at a local café. It was entirely fabricated—I hadn’t even visited that café in weeks—but the sheer embarrassment of the lie had left me in a state of humiliating panic.
Standing just outside the main entrance, the urge to spin around and march right back to the safety of the bus stop was almost overpowering. If I had simply stayed in bed and feigned a severe illness, I wouldn’t be facing this dreadful ordeal now. I leaned against the cold brick wall, desperately trying to catch my breath as groups of students pushed past me, their innocent laughter sounding unusually threatening to my highly sensitive ears. I could vividly picture my bedroom, a safe haven where I could hide under the thick duvet until the school eventually moved on to its next piece of gossip. The temptation to run away and completely avoid the judgmental glares of my peers was immense.
However, I knew I couldn’t hide forever, so I forced myself to make my way to my first lesson. As I stepped into the crowded main corridor, the atmosphere seemed to shift immediately. Conversations abruptly ceased as I walked past the rows of blue lockers, and I could feel the intense weight of dozens of eyes boring into my back. People were whispering behind their hands, casting sly, sidelong glances that they mistakenly thought I couldn’t see. It was a psychological torment that made the seemingly short walk to my history class feel like an exhausting marathon. Every single step required a conscious physical effort, as my legs felt as though they were made of lead and my cheeks burned with a deep, furious blush.
When I finally reached the heavy wooden door of Room 4B, I paused, my sweaty hand hovering nervously over the brass handle. I could clearly hear the muffled chatter coming from inside, knowing full well that I was the primary subject of their excited conversations. My heart hammered violently against my ribs, and my primal instinct was still screaming at me to flee down the nearest staircase. But then, a sudden, rational thought pierced through the thick fog of my anxiety. If I turned around and ran away, everyone would naturally assume the embarrassing story was completely true. Fleeing would be seen as the ultimate admission of a guilt I didn’t actually possess.
Taking a slow, deep breath to steady my shaking hands, I pushed the door open. The loud chatter inside the classroom died down instantly, and heads snapped in my direction. Instead of staring at my shoes, which was what I desperately wanted to do, I lifted my chin and pulled my shoulders back. I caught the eye of Chloe, a girl notorious for spreading exaggerated tales, who was smirking from the back row. I held her gaze with unwavering, silent confidence until her smirk faltered and she awkwardly looked away. Walking to my usual desk with a straight, proud posture, I calmly unpacked my textbooks. I refused to let their fabricated stories break my spirit. I might not be able to control what people whispered behind my back, but I could certainly control how I responded to them.
1 What caused the writer’s panic in the first paragraph?
(A) She had accidentally ruined a date with the football team captain.
(B) She received numerous messages about a fictional incident involving her.
(C) She realised she had left her mobile phone at a local café weeks ago.
(D) She was worried about being late for her ordinary Tuesday classes.
2 When standing by the main entrance, the writer
(A) felt genuinely furious with the students who were laughing at her.
(B) developed a sudden physical illness due to her extreme anxiety.
(C) deeply regretted not staying at home to escape the humiliation.
(D) decided to hide in her bedroom instead of going to her lessons.
3 What does ‘It‘ refer to in the third paragraph?
(A) The sudden silence of the students in the corridor.
(B) The uncomfortable feeling of being secretly judged by others.
(C) The physical effort required to walk to her history class.
(D) The deep blush that appeared on the writer’s face.
4 What made the writer change her mind about running away in the fourth paragraph?
(A) She understood that fleeing would be interpreted as a confession of guilt.
(B) She desperately wanted to find out who was talking about her in the classroom.
(C) She realised that her anxiety about the rumour was completely irrational.
(D) She knew that her teacher would punish her if she missed the history lesson.
5 How did the writer deal with Chloe in the final paragraph?
(A) She loudly demanded that Chloe stop spreading exaggerated tales.
(B) She intimidated Chloe by maintaining strong and steady eye contact.
(C) She smirked back at Chloe to prove that the rumours didn’t bother her.
(D) She chose to completely ignore Chloe and focused on unpacking her textbooks.
6 What is the main theme of the story?
(A) True friends will always defend you when false rumours spread.
(B) The best way to stop school gossip is to publicly confront the liars.
(C) Maintaining your dignity is the most effective defence against malicious lies.
(D) Teenagers should avoid using social media during the school day.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 B: The text explicitly states that a “glance at the sudden flood of text messages” about a “ridiculous story” that was “entirely fabricated” turned her day into a nightmare. Distractor A is a false match; the story about the football captain was a lie, not a real date.
2 C: The writer states, “If I had simply stayed in bed and feigned a severe illness, I wouldn’t be facing this dreadful ordeal now,” showing her strong regret and wish that she had stayed home. Distractor B is incorrect because she only wished she had feigned (faked) an illness; she didn’t actually develop one.
3 B: In the sentences before, the writer describes conversations ceasing, eyes boring into her back, and people whispering and casting glances. “It” refers collectively to this psychological torment of being observed and judged. Distractor C is a false match; “It” is what caused the walk to feel like a marathon, not the walk itself.
4 A: The text says, “If I turned around and ran away, everyone would naturally assume the embarrassing story was completely true. Fleeing would be seen as the ultimate admission of a guilt…” This perfectly paraphrases option A. Distractor C is a partial truth; she has a “rational thought,” but she doesn’t decide her anxiety is completely irrational, she just realises the strategic mistake of running.
5 B: The text describes the writer holding Chloe’s gaze “with unwavering, silent confidence until her smirk faltered and she awkwardly looked away.” This matches intimidating her through steady eye contact. Distractor A is incorrect because her confidence was “silent”—she did not speak to Chloe. Distractor D is wrong because she specifically sought out and held Chloe’s eye contact before unpacking her books.
6 C: The narrative arc resolves with the writer walking with a “straight, proud posture” and deciding she “refused to let their fabricated stories break my spirit,” illustrating that composure and dignity are her defence. Distractor B is a partial truth trap; she confronts Chloe silently with her posture, but she doesn’t publicly or verbally confront anyone. Distractor A is unstated; her friends’ actions are not mentioned in her defence.