Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – Modern Domesticity, Lifestyle & Household Challenges 5
Reading 1
You are going to read a magazine article about a teenager adjusting to life with a new step-parent.
For questions 1-6, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.
Breaking Down the Walls
When my mother first announced that Mark would be moving in with us, I was far from thrilled. It had been just the two of us for five years, and our small, chaotic apartment was our sanctuary. Mark was a perfectly pleasant man, a graphic designer with a penchant for terrible puns, but his arrival felt like an unwarranted invasion of my territory. I had grown accustomed to the quiet rhythm of our lives, and suddenly having a tall, overly cheerful stranger occupying the living room armchair was a difficult adjustment to make. I decided early on that polite indifference would be my primary coping mechanism.
For the first few months, we operated in a state of tense co-existence. Mark tried his utmost to win me over, offering to help with my maths homework or attempting to engage me in conversations about my favourite bands. I suppose I must have seemed incredibly ungrateful, but his efforts only made me withdraw further. If he had just given me a bit more space, I might have warmed up to him sooner. Instead, I interpreted his eagerness as a desperate attempt to replace my biological father, a role I was absolutely determined to keep vacant.
The fragile peace we had maintained finally shattered one humid Thursday evening over a seemingly trivial matter. My mother was working a late shift, leaving Mark and me to navigate dinner together. As I reached for my jacket, casually mentioning that I was heading out to meet friends, Mark cleared his throat. He informed me, in a tone that was attempting to be casual but sounded undeniably authoritative, that my mother and he had agreed on a new rule: no going out on weeknights unless all homework was finished and checked. It was a perfectly reasonable expectation, but coming from him, it felt like an outrageous demand.
A sudden wave of defiant anger washed over me. How could this man, who had only been a part of my life for a fraction of a year, suddenly dictate my schedule? The resentment I had been bottling up bubbled over, and before I could filter my thoughts, I lashed out. “You can’t tell me what to do!” I screamed, the volume of my own voice surprising me. “You’re not my dad, and you never will be!” The words hung in the air, heavy and sharp. I fully expected him to shout back, to assert his dominance or threaten to ground me.
Instead, an unsettling silence filled the kitchen. Mark didn’t raise his voice or puff out his chest. He simply looked at me, a profound sadness softening his features. “I know that,” he said quietly, his voice remarkably steady. “I’m not trying to take his place. I’m just trying to make sure you’re safe and doing your best, because I care about you.” He then turned around and started washing the dishes, leaving me standing frozen by the front door. There was no punishment, no further argument—just a quiet, unwavering demonstration of support.
That moment marked a significant turning point in our relationship. Trudging upstairs to my bedroom, a slow, heavy sense of remorse replaced my initial fury. I realised that Mark had never once demanded my affection; he had simply offered his support unconditionally. He wasn’t the enemy I had constructed in my mind, but rather a patient ally who was trying to navigate a complex family dynamic just as much as I was. It would take time for us to become truly close, but letting go of my stubborn defensiveness was the first crucial step towards accepting him as a permanent fixture in my life.
1 What do we learn about the narrator’s reaction to Mark moving in?
(A) They felt their comfortable, established life was being severely disrupted.
(B) They were deeply annoyed by his terrible puns and cheerful personality.
(C) They preferred living in a small, chaotic apartment entirely on their own.
(D) They decided to use polite indifference as a way to force him to leave.
2 In the second paragraph, the narrator admits that they
(A) wrongly assumed Mark was attempting to take over their biological father’s role.
(B) secretly wished Mark had offered more help with their schoolwork and hobbies.
(C) were determined to ensure the physical space in the living room remained vacant.
(D) felt somewhat grateful that Mark eventually decided to give them more space.
3 What was the narrator’s attitude towards the new rule mentioned in the third paragraph?
(A) They thought it was a trivial matter that didn’t warrant a serious argument.
(B) They accepted it was fair in principle, but deeply resented who was enforcing it.
(C) They were angry because it ruined their plans to navigate dinner with friends.
(D) They believed it was an outrageous demand that their mother would never support.
4 What does the word ‘that‘ refer to in the fifth paragraph?
(A) the heavy and sharp atmosphere hanging in the kitchen
(B) the unexpected volume of the narrator’s screaming voice
(C) the requirement to finish homework before going out
(D) the fact that he could never be the narrator’s actual father
5 After retreating to their bedroom, the narrator realised that
(A) they would need to formally apologise to maintain the fragile peace in the house.
(B) Mark had been secretly demanding their affection and respect all along.
(C) their mother had deliberately left them alone to resolve the underlying tension.
(D) Mark was actually a supportive ally rather than a hostile, controlling invader.
6 What is the writer’s main purpose in the text?
(A) To illustrate how a moment of confrontation led to acceptance within a blended family.
(B) To warn teenagers about the inevitable emotional challenges of living with a step-parent.
(C) To advise step-parents on how to strictly enforce discipline without causing arguments.
(D) To demonstrate that biological parents are ultimately irreplaceable in a child’s life.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 A: The text states that the arrival felt like an “unwarranted invasion of my territory” and that the narrator had “grown accustomed to the quiet rhythm of our lives,” showing their established life was disrupted. Distractor B is a partial truth; these traits are mentioned, but the reason for the reaction is the invasion of their sanctuary. Distractor C is a false match; they lived with their mother, not “entirely on their own.” Distractor D is incorrect; indifference was a “coping mechanism,” not a tactic to force him out.
2 A: The narrator states, “I interpreted his eagerness as a desperate attempt to replace my biological father, a role I was absolutely determined to keep vacant.” Distractor B is the opposite of the text, as his efforts made the narrator “withdraw further.” Distractor C uses text words (“vacant”) but misapplies them to physical space rather than the parental role. Distractor D contradicts the text, which says, “If he had just given me a bit more space, I might have warmed up…” (meaning he didn’t).
3 B: The narrator says the rule “was a perfectly reasonable expectation, but coming from him, it felt like an outrageous demand.” Distractor A is a false match; the “trivial matter” refers to how the argument started, not their view of the rule itself. Distractor C mixes up text details; they were navigating dinner with Mark, not friends. Distractor D is false because the text says “my mother and he had agreed on a new rule.”
4 D: In the sentence “‘I know that,’ he said quietly… ‘I’m not trying to take his place'”, the pronoun refers directly to the narrator’s screamed statement in the previous paragraph: “You’re not my dad, and you never will be!” The other options refer to surrounding events or actions that do not fit the grammatical or emotional context of Mark’s response.
5 D: The narrator reflects that Mark “wasn’t the enemy” but rather a “patient ally” who had “simply offered his support unconditionally.” Distractor A is unstated; while they felt remorse, they don’t mention a plan to formally apologise. Distractor B is the exact opposite of the text (“Mark had never once demanded my affection”). Distractor C is an over-inference; the mother was simply working a late shift, not setting a deliberate trap.
6 A: The narrative follows a specific emotional arc from tension to conflict, culminating in a “turning point” where the narrator takes the “first crucial step towards accepting him.” Distractor B is too general and negative for a text that ends on a positive, hopeful note. Distractor C is written from the wrong perspective (it’s a story by a teen, not an advice column for parents). Distractor D is a partial truth (he isn’t replacing the dad), but it misses the main narrative purpose, which is about the narrator’s personal growth and acceptance.
Reading 2
You are going to read an extract from a short story about a teenager whose family experiences a change in circumstances before the holidays.
For questions 1-6, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.
The Budget Christmas
When my parents called a family meeting in late November, I immediately suspected bad news. My father had recently been made redundant, and the financial strain was beginning to show. Sitting us down, my mother gently explained that Christmas was going to look a little different this year. We were implementing a strict rule: absolutely no store-bought presents. Instead, we were only allowed to exchange handmade gifts. Outwardly, I nodded and smiled, promising to embrace the challenge. Inwardly, my heart sank. I had spent the past three months dropping heavy hints about a new, top-of-the-range gaming tablet I desperately wanted. Now, that dream was undeniably shattered.
Over the following weeks, the house became a hive of secretive activity, though I struggled to find any genuine enthusiasm. I spent my evenings knitting a rather lopsided scarf for my brother and baking batches of cinnamon biscuits for my parents. While I worked, I battled a wave of materialistic sadness. It felt horribly selfish to grieve over a piece of technology when my father was endlessly applying for jobs, but I couldn’t help feeling short-changed. I tried my hardest to suppress my disappointment, terrified that my parents would notice and feel even worse about our situation. If I had complained, it would have undoubtedly ruined the festive spirit they were trying so hard to maintain.
Christmas morning arrived, bringing with it a uniquely awkward atmosphere. Normally, the living room would be buried under a mountain of glossy wrapping paper and brightly coloured ribbons. This year, there were just a few modestly wrapped parcels resting beneath the tree. The initial gift exchange was accompanied by exaggerated expressions of delight. My brother enthusiastically praised my unevenly knitted scarf, while I pretended to be overjoyed with the wobbly wooden birdhouse he had carved. We were all trying a bit too hard to compensate for the lack of expensive items, making the whole situation feel somewhat forced.
Eventually, my mother handed me a rectangular package wrapped in plain brown paper. It was surprisingly heavy. Judging by the weight and shape, I deduced that it must be a book of some sort, perhaps an old photo album they had found in the attic. I untied the string and peeled back the paper, pasting a grateful smile on my face to hide my lack of excitement. Inside lay a thick, leather-bound scrapbook. The cover had been carefully embossed with my name, using a technique my father had learned years ago. As I turned the first page, the forced smile instantly vanished, replaced by a look of absolute astonishment.
The scrapbook was a masterpiece of memories. My parents had spent countless hours compiling photographs, ticket stubs from concerts we had attended, and handwritten notes. There were even hilarious captions recalling family inside jokes that I thought everyone else had forgotten. They had documented my entire life, capturing moments of triumph and minor disasters with equal affection. I realised that they must have stayed up late into the night, meticulously cutting and pasting, just to ensure I had something to open on Christmas morning. The sheer amount of thought and dedication poured into those pages was overwhelming.
Tears pricked my eyes as I looked up at my parents, who were watching me with a mixture of hope and anxiety. I didn’t just thank them; I pulled them into a tight embrace. In that moment, the expensive gaming tablet I had coveted for months completely faded from my mind. I had been foolishly equating the value of a gift with its price tag. That budget Christmas taught me a profound lesson: the most precious things we can receive aren’t manufactured in a factory, but are crafted with time, attention, and unconditional love.
1 What was the narrator’s initial reaction to the new Christmas rule?
(A) She was worried about her father finding a new job before the holidays.
(B) She pretended to be fine with it while feeling privately upset.
(C) She eagerly accepted the challenge of making homemade gifts.
(D) She complained because she had been dropping hints about a tablet.
2 How did the narrator feel about her own emotions during the preparation period?
(A) She felt guilty for caring so much about a material object.
(B) She was angry that her father was spending all his time applying for jobs.
(C) She was terrified her parents would deliberately ruin the festive spirit.
(D) She felt enthusiastic about baking biscuits for her parents.
3 What contributed to the ‘somewhat forced’ atmosphere on Christmas morning?
(A) The mountain of glossy wrapping paper scattered across the living room.
(B) The fact that the narrator’s brother was disappointed by his scarf.
(C) The parents’ constant apologies for the lack of expensive gifts.
(D) The family’s unnatural attempts to act thrilled with their presents.
4 When the narrator was handed the brown package, she
(A) immediately realized her father had embossed her name on it.
(B) was amazed to find an old photo album from the attic.
(C) anticipated that the contents would be quite uninspiring.
(D) couldn’t hide her disappointment as she untied the string.
5 What made the scrapbook particularly meaningful to the narrator?
(A) It proved that her parents had stopped looking for work to make it.
(B) It contained highly personal details that demonstrated immense effort.
(C) It was full of expensive concert tickets from her childhood.
(D) It focused exclusively on her moments of triumph and success.
6 What is the writer’s main purpose in this text?
(A) to show how a disappointing situation led to a valuable realization
(B) to explain how families can save money during difficult times
(C) to express regret for forcing her parents to buy her an expensive gadget
(D) to describe the challenging process of making homemade Christmas gifts
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B): The text says she “Outwardly… nodded and smiled” but “Inwardly, my heart sank” because her dream of a tablet was shattered. Option A is true in reality, but does not answer how she reacted to the rule. Option C is incorrect because her eagerness was a pretense. Option D is incorrect because she did not complain.
2 (A): The narrator states, “It felt horribly selfish to grieve over a piece of technology when my father was endlessly applying for jobs.” This matches Option A. Option B is incorrect as she wasn’t angry at her father. Option C uses exact words (“ruin the festive spirit”) but reverses the meaning; she was terrified she would ruin it. Option D contradicts the text, which says she “struggled to find any genuine enthusiasm.”
3 (D): The text describes the family giving “exaggerated expressions of delight” and “trying a bit too hard to compensate,” which means their reactions were unnatural (Option D). Option A refers to what normally happens, not what happened this year. Option B is incorrect; the brother enthusiastically praised the scarf. Option C is unstated; the parents did not apologize.
4 (C): Before opening the gift, she thought it was “a book of some sort” and was “pasting a grateful smile on my face to hide my lack of excitement,” meaning she expected it to be uninspiring. Option A happened after she unwrapped it. Option B is wrong because she didn’t find an album; she merely guessed it might be one. Option D is incorrect because she successfully hid her disappointment with a fake smile.
5 (B): The scrapbook included “hilarious captions recalling family inside jokes” and the narrator realized they had spent “countless hours” meticulously cutting and pasting. Option A is an over-inference; they stayed up late at night, they didn’t stop looking for work. Option C is a partial truth; it contained ticket stubs, but they weren’t necessarily “expensive.” Option D is contradicted by the text, which says it captured both “triumph and minor disasters.”
6 (A): The text tells a narrative about overcoming materialistic disappointment and learning that the best gifts are made with love and attention, leading to a profound lesson. Option B is too general and not the core message. Option C is incorrect because her parents did not buy the gadget. Option D is too narrow and misses the emotional takeaway of the story.