Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – Friendships, Peer Pressure & Social Circles 4
Reading 1
You are going to read a magazine article about a teenager who experiences a misunderstanding over a text message.
For questions 1-6, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.
Lost in Translation: The Danger of Digital Words
I have always considered myself to be a reasonably clear communicator. However, my belief in my own communication skills was completely shattered last month, all because of a single, carelessly typed message. My best friend, Chloe, and I have shared a distinct sense of humour since primary school. We constantly exchange sarcastic remarks, and I assumed she would immediately recognise the irony in my text. She had recently submitted an entry to a local photography competition, and when she messaged me to say she was nervous about the results, I quickly typed back: “Well, with your terrible skills, I wouldn’t expect much!” I hit send without a second thought, casually tossing my phone onto the sofa and going to make a cup of tea, blissfully unaware of the storm I had just caused.
When I returned to my room twenty minutes later, my phone screen was flooded with notifications. Instead of the laughing face emoji I had anticipated, Chloe had replied with a barrage of hurt and angry messages. She accused me of being unsupportive and jealous, claiming that she had always known I secretly hated her artwork. I stared at the screen, utterly bewildered. I frantically started typing out apologies, explaining that it was an obvious joke and that I actually thought her photographs were extraordinary. But the damage had been done. Before I could even finish my second sentence, the messages stopped delivering.
The little grey icon that usually indicated she was typing disappeared. I tried calling her, but it went straight to voicemail. I logged onto social media to send her a direct message, only to find that her profile had vanished from my feed. The harsh reality suddenly hit me: I had been completely blocked across all platforms. A cold wave of shocked desperation washed over me. In our modern age, being digitally cut off from someone feels almost like they have ceased to exist. I sat on my bed for what felt like hours, staring at a blank screen, wondering how a fleeting moment of thoughtless sarcasm could have destroyed a decade-long friendship.
As panic set in, I realised that waiting for her to cool down wasn’t an option. Our entire relationship was currently hanging by a thread, and digital communication had clearly failed us both. I knew that I couldn’t resolve this through another screen. Therefore, I grabbed my coat and stepped out into the drizzly afternoon. Chloe lived approximately two miles away, and the walk gave me ample time to reflect. I trudged along the wet pavements, rehearsing what I was going to say. I felt incredibly foolish; I should have realised that sarcasm relies heavily on tone of voice and facial expressions, both of which are entirely absent in a text message. Without them, words are merely cold letters, easily misinterpreted by a nervous recipient.
When I finally arrived at her front door, my heart was pounding in my chest. I knocked tentatively, half expecting her mother to send me away. When Chloe opened the door, her eyes were red and puffy. For a moment, we just stood there in deeply awkward silence. Then, I blurted out my apology, tripping over my words as I explained my foolish attempt at humour. Hearing the genuine regret in my voice, her defensive posture softened. She admitted that her nerves about the competition had made her particularly sensitive, and my physical presence proved how much I cared. We spent the rest of the afternoon talking face-to-face, eventually laughing at the absurdity of it all. It was a tough lesson, but it taught me that when things truly matter, you cannot rely on a keyboard to fix them.
1 Why did the narrator send the initial text message to Chloe?
(A) They wanted to offer an honest opinion because Chloe was nervous about the competition.
(B) They believed their friend would understand the humorous intention behind the comment.
(C) They were secretly jealous of her entry to the local photography competition.
(D) They intended to shatter their friend’s belief in her own photography skills.
2 How did the narrator feel upon seeing Chloe’s reaction to the message?
(A) Annoyed that she hadn’t received a laughing face emoji in return.
(B) Desperate to finish typing out their second sentence before she logged off.
(C) Defensive because they had always secretly disliked Chloe’s artwork.
(D) Genuinely shocked by the unexpected extent of their friend’s anger.
3 What does the phrase ‘the harsh reality’ in the third paragraph refer to?
(A) The physical sensation of a cold wave of desperation washing over her.
(B) The fact that her friend’s social media profile had been permanently deleted.
(C) The discovery that Chloe had intentionally severed all digital contact with them.
(D) The knowledge that a decade-long friendship was officially over.
4 What does the narrator imply about their decision to walk to Chloe’s house?
(A) They recognised that text messaging was an inadequate tool for resolving serious conflicts.
(B) They wanted to use the physical exercise to calm their own rising panic.
(C) They felt that walking in the rain would prove exactly how sorry they were.
(D) They knew it was the only way to avoid being grounded by their own parents.
5 What ultimately led to the resolution of the conflict between the friends?
(A) Chloe’s mother convinced her to open the door and listen to the explanation.
(B) The narrator’s tone of voice and physical effort demonstrated their sincerity.
(C) The narrator finally stopped tripping over their words and spoke clearly.
(D) They both agreed that entering the photography competition was absurd.
6 What is the writer’s main purpose in the text?
(A) To advise teenagers against using sarcasm when texting their close friends.
(B) To complain about how sensitive people have become regarding social media.
(C) To explain why face-to-face communication is no longer used in the modern age.
(D) To illustrate how digital communication can cause misunderstandings that require personal interaction to fix.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 B: The text states that the narrator and Chloe “shared a distinct sense of humour” and that the narrator “assumed she would immediately recognise the irony in my text.” This confirms they meant it as a joke they thought she would get. Distractor A is a partial truth (Chloe was nervous), but the narrator wasn’t giving an honest opinion. Distractor D uses exact words from the text (“shatter”, “belief”) but in a completely false context.
2 D: The narrator says they stared at the screen “utterly bewildered,” which means they were completely shocked and confused by the angry response. Distractor A is incorrect because the text says they had anticipated an emoji earlier, but they weren’t annoyed about not getting it; they were shocked by the anger. Distractor C is the opposite of the text, as the narrator thought her photos were “extraordinary”.
3 C: The phrase immediately precedes the explanation: “I had been completely blocked across all platforms.” This refers to Chloe intentionally cutting off digital contact. Distractor B is a partial truth; the profile vanished from the feed, but it wasn’t deleted, just blocked. Distractor D is an over-inference; the narrator wondered if the friendship was over, but it was not an established fact.
4 A: The narrator states, “digital communication had clearly failed us both. I knew that I couldn’t resolve this through another screen,” implying that a physical, face-to-face visit was necessary for a real resolution. Distractor C is an over-inference; the rain is mentioned, but walking in it wasn’t a deliberate tactic to gain sympathy. Distractor B is plausible in the real world but is never stated in the text.
5 B: The text explains that “Hearing the genuine regret in my voice, her defensive posture softened” and that “my physical presence proved how much I cared.” Distractor A is a false match; the mother is mentioned as a fear, but she didn’t intervene. Distractor C is a partial truth in reverse; the narrator was tripping over their words, but that wasn’t what resolved the issue—it was the emotion behind them.
6 D: The entire narrative arc builds to the concluding lesson: “when things truly matter, you cannot rely on a keyboard to fix them,” showing that digital mix-ups often need real-world solutions. Distractor A is too specific; the text is about a broader lesson regarding digital vs. personal communication, not just a warning about sarcasm. Distractor B is the opposite of the writer’s empathetic tone.
Reading 2
You are going to read an extract from a short story about a university student whose friendship is tested when she wins a prestigious award.
For questions 1-6, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.
The Price of Paris
When the eagerly awaited announcement for the prestigious Rutherford Arts Scholarship was pinned to the university noticeboard, my best friend Mia and I were absolutely thrilled. We had spent the previous three years practically living in the drafty campus painting studios, sharing canvases and ambitious dreams of studying in Paris. The scholarship offered a fully-funded year abroad, which was an opportunity neither of us could afford to miss. Initially, we enthusiastically promised to support each other through the grueling application process. We spent long evenings drinking coffee, critiquing each other’s portfolios, and imagining how incredible it would be if one of us were actually selected. At that early stage, I genuinely believed that our shared history was far stronger than any potential academic rivalry.
However, as the final submission deadline rapidly approached, an uncomfortable shift in Mia’s behaviour became apparent. She stopped showing me her latest sketches, choosing instead to cover her easel whenever I walked by, and began making passive-aggressive remarks about my artistic choices. When I asked for feedback on my final submission, she merely glanced at it and coldly stated that the judges were undoubtedly looking for something more avant-garde. I was taken aback but brushed it off, assuming she must have been feeling the overwhelming pressure just as intensely as I was. Looking back, I now realise she had already started viewing me not as a trusted companion, but as a direct threat. If I hadn’t been so hyper-focused on my own application, I might have noticed the warning signs earlier.
The outcome was finally revealed on a dreary Tuesday morning via a brief email from the arts faculty. I had been chosen. My initial reaction was a massive surge of pure joy, which was swiftly followed by a terrible, sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. I immediately walked over to Mia’s flat to break the news in person, desperately hoping we could still celebrate together. When she opened the door and I gently told her, her face turned to stone. She didn’t offer a single word of congratulations; she simply stated that she was too busy to talk and shut the door in my face. From that moment on, I was completely frozen out. My messages were ignored, and whenever I walked into a room, she would promptly leave.
For several weeks, I was burdened by a deep, guilt-ridden sorrow that made it difficult to even look at my own artwork. I constantly questioned whether I should have applied at all, and I even drafted an email to the committee to turn the offer down. I irrationally felt as though I had stolen something that rightfully belonged to her. Yet, the more I reflected on our dynamic, the more I understood that Mia’s hostile reaction spoke volumes about her true character. Our friendship had evidently been conditional on her remaining the superior artist. I realised that if the situation had been reversed, she would be celebrating her victory without giving my hurt feelings a second thought.
Ultimately, I came to the firm conclusion that I was not going to apologize for my own hard-earned success. I had poured my heart and soul into that winning portfolio, dedicating countless weekends to refining my technique. I had earned the scholarship fair and square, and my achievement was not something to be ashamed of. While the abrupt loss of my closest confidante still stung deeply, it also taught me a vital, albeit painful, lesson about the nature of true friendship. I eventually packed my bags for Paris with a mixture of lingering sadness and fierce determination, ready to fully embrace the future. I finally understood that dimming my own light would never make someone else shine any brighter.
1 What does the narrator say about her initial attitude towards the scholarship application?
(A) She was confident that her bond with Mia would survive the contest.
(B) She worried that it would create a fierce academic rivalry between them.
(C) She believed that Mia was much more likely to be selected for it.
(D) She felt they needed to spend more time working in the painting studios.
2 How did the writer react to Mia’s criticism of her final portrait?
(A) She took the advice and made her painting more avant-garde.
(B) She understood immediately that Mia saw her as a direct threat.
(C) She excused it as a natural result of the tension they were under.
(D) She confronted her friend about her unhelpful behaviour.
3 What does the phrase ‘frozen out’ in the third paragraph mean?
(A) shocked and unable to move
(B) locked out of a building in the cold
(C) told to pack up and leave quickly
(D) intentionally ignored and excluded
4 What conclusion did the narrator reach about her friendship with Mia?
(A) It was ruined because the narrator stole her artwork.
(B) It relied entirely on Mia feeling she was the better artist.
(C) It would only survive if the narrator rejected the scholarship.
(D) It was based on their shared ability to overcome sorrow.
5 Why did the narrator ultimately decide against apologising to Mia?
(A) She recognized that her dedication meant she truly merited the prize.
(B) She felt angry that she had missed out on socializing at weekends.
(C) She realised that apologising would not repair their broken friendship.
(D) She was determined to dim her own light to move forward.
6 What is the writer’s main purpose in this text?
(A) to advise students on how to handle the stress of university applications
(B) to warn readers against entering competitions with their closest companions
(C) to reflect on how a personal triumph led to a painful but valuable realization
(D) to express regret for prioritizing her ambitions over her relationships
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 A: The narrator states, “I genuinely believed that our shared history was far stronger than any potential academic rivalry,” which paraphrases option A. Option B uses exact words from the text but reverses the meaning. Option D is a partial truth as they did spend time in studios, but it doesn’t answer the question about her attitude toward the application process.
2 C: The text says, “I was taken aback but brushed it off, assuming she must have been feeling the overwhelming pressure just as intensely as I was.” This matches option C. Option B uses the exact phrase “direct threat,” but the narrator says she only realized this “looking back,” not at the time.
3 D: In this context, “frozen out” is an idiom meaning to be deliberately ignored or excluded by someone, supported by the following sentence: “My messages were ignored, and whenever I walked into a room, she would promptly leave.” Option B is a literal trap, while C uses words from the next sentence (“pack up and leave”) as a distractor.
4 B: The narrator infers that “Our friendship had evidently been conditional on her remaining the superior artist,” meaning it relied on Mia feeling superior (Option B). Option A is a false match using the word “stolen” out of context. Option C is an over-inference not stated in the text.
5 A: The narrator explains she wouldn’t apologize because she had “poured my heart and soul into that winning portfolio… earned the scholarship fair and square.” Option A captures this perfectly. Option B misuses the text’s mention of socializing. Option D misuses the phrase “dim her own light,” which she explicitly states she will not do.
6 C: The entire narrative arc is about the narrator winning a scholarship (triumph) but losing her friend, and ultimately learning a “vital, albeit painful, lesson about the nature of true friendship” (valuable realization). Option B is incorrect as she doesn’t warn others against it, and Option D is wrong because she explicitly decides not to regret her success.