Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – University Life & Transitions 5

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

You are going to read an article about four university students describing their experiences of sharing a rented house with difficult roommates for the first time.

For questions 1-10, choose from the people (A-D). The people may be chosen more than once.

Which person

1   felt reluctant to confront their housemate about their behaviour?

2   resorted to leaving written hints rather than speaking face-to-face initially?

3   was shocked by the financial irresponsibility of their peer?

4   felt compelled to seek out a different study space to concentrate?

5   noticed their groceries and personal items were frequently disappearing?

6   laments the fact that the living arrangement damaged an existing bond?

7   managed to reach a minor compromise after finally speaking their mind?

8   felt exhausted because they were denied adequate rest?

9   felt suffocated by a housemate who constantly sought their company?

10   ended up paying more than their fair share to keep the household running smoothly?

Housemate Horrors: Surviving the First Year of Renting

A Leo

When I signed the lease for a charming terraced house, I took it for granted that my new roommate would share my basic hygiene standards. How wrong I was! Within a fortnight, the kitchen resembled a disaster zone, with towering piles of unwashed plates, saucepans, and sticky mugs. I absolutely detest confrontation, so I initially resorted to sticking sarcastic post-it notes on the fridge, desperately hoping he’d get the message. Unfortunately, my subtle hints were completely ignored. I’d often be trying to write my essays at the kitchen table, surrounded by his endless clutter. Eventually, I reached breaking point and insisted we sit down for a serious chat about our living conditions. To my surprise, he genuinely hadn’t realised how much it bothered me. We drew up a strict cleaning rota, and while the house isn’t exactly spotless, his habits have marginally improved. Looking back, I should have just communicated clearly from day one instead of beating around the bush.

B Chloe

I was absolutely thrilled to move out of university halls and into a private flat. However, my excitement quickly evaporated when I realised my new flatmate was an extreme night owl with a passion for loud electronic music. The thumping bass would frequently vibrate through my bedroom walls until the early hours of the morning. Consequently, I was stumbling into my morning lectures utterly sleep-deprived and physically drained. Despite feeling furious about the situation, I’m incredibly timid by nature and simply didn’t have the nerve to knock on her door and demand quiet. Instead, I started packing my bag early every morning and heading straight to the campus library, which became my daily sanctuary for getting any coursework done. We had a brilliant system for splitting bills, which was great, but the constant noise was unbearable. If I had been more assertive, I might not have spent the entire semester walking around like a zombie.

C Sam

Moving in with a close mate from my first-year course seemed like a foolproof plan. We had always got on brilliantly, so I naturally assumed sharing a rental property would be an absolute breeze. The reality, however, was a harsh lesson in financial compatibility. While he was perfectly tidy, his attitude towards money was utterly chaotic. When the broadband and electricity accounts were due, he would consistently claim he was waiting for his student loan to clear. In order to prevent our essential services from being cut off, I was left with no choice but to dip into my own savings to cover his half. I was frankly shocked by his lack of reliability and responsibility. Although I eventually managed to get the funds back months later, the constant nagging completely ruined our dynamic. It’s a real pity, but the experience taught me a valuable lesson: you should never mix a good friendship with financial obligations.

D Maya

Living away from home for the first time, I was eager to establish my independence and enjoy some peace. My roommate, however, seemed to view our joint tenancy as an invitation to be my constant shadow. She had absolutely no concept of personal boundaries and would frequently wander into my bedroom uninvited just to chat, completely oblivious to the fact that I needed some downtime alone. It felt incredibly suffocating. Furthermore, I soon noticed that my expensive shampoo, milk, and favourite snacks were mysteriously vanishing from the shared cupboards. She would casually help herself to my provisions without ever offering to replace them or chip in. It was immensely frustrating, especially since I was already struggling to manage a tight budget. We rarely argued about household chores, which was a minor relief, but her inability to respect my privacy and personal possessions made the house feel like a trap. I’ll definitely be looking for a studio apartment next year!

Reading 2

You are going to read an article about four final-year students sharing their stress and strategies while writing their undergraduate dissertation.

For questions 1-10, choose from the students (A-D). The students may be chosen more than once.

Which person

1   mentions overcoming the desire for their work to be flawless from the start?

2   found that a conversation with a university staff member was a turning point?

3   experienced a major setback related to their technology?

4   felt anxious after comparing their progress with that of their peers?

5   relied on a partnership with someone else to ensure they met their deadlines?

6   states that moving away from a traditional academic environment boosted their productivity?

7   highlights the importance of dividing the final project into smaller, manageable tasks?

8   incorporates small rewards into their routine to maintain motivation?

9   admits to using background reading as an excuse to delay writing?

10   acknowledges that initially avoiding their responsibilities only increased their stress?

Tackling the Dissertation: Survival Strategies

A Tom

When I first received my dissertation brief, the sheer scale of the project was terrifying. Consequently, I fell into a cycle of putting things off, which only caused my stress levels to skyrocket. I even started dodging emails from my supervisor because I felt I had nothing substantial to show him. Eventually, I realised this avoidance was completely counterproductive. The breakthrough came when I finally scheduled a face-to-face meeting with him; he helped me see that a ten-thousand-word paper isn’t written overnight. Since then, my main coping mechanism has been setting micro-goals. If I tell myself I only need to write three hundred words a day, rather than focusing on the terrifying final deadline, it feels entirely achievable. Taking it step by step has prevented me from feeling swamped. To any second-year students dreading their final year, my advice is simple: confront your fears early and chop the mountain down into small stones.

B Sarah

For the first few months of my final year, I practically lived in the university library. I thought being surrounded by books would guarantee high grades, but the atmosphere was incredibly tense. I’d frequently overhear classmates boasting about their massive word counts, and it would immediately trigger a wave of panic, making me question my own progress. I was suffering from terrible insomnia and knew something had to change. I decided to abandon the campus completely and started working from a noisy, vibrant café downtown. The change of scenery worked wonders. The background chatter somehow helped me focus, and I was no longer caught up in the toxic environment of competitive students. Now, I try to treat the dissertation like a standard nine-to-five job, ensuring I take regular breaks. Once the evening comes, I close my laptop and stubbornly refuse to think about academic theories.

C Mark

My biggest hurdle wasn’t the actual writing, but rather my lack of organisation. I learnt this the hard way when my laptop crashed a week before a major chapter deadline. I hadn’t backed anything up, and I lost days of hard work. If I had simply used a memory stick, I wouldn’t have experienced such a panic. However, that catastrophic event completely altered my approach. I now save my documents in three different cloud storage systems! Furthermore, I’ve developed a rigorous timetable. I allocate specific blocks of time for reading, drafting, and editing, and I stick to them rigidly. To keep my motivation up, I build incentives into my schedule. For instance, if I manage to finish a complex methodology section, I allow myself an evening off to watch a film or hang out with friends. It’s crucial to acknowledge your minor victories along the way.

D Elena

I’ve always been someone who wants to get things right the first time, but I quickly discovered that mindset is disastrous for a dissertation. During the first semester, I gathered a ridiculous amount of literature, constantly convincing myself I needed to read just one more academic article before I could start typing. In reality, I was using research as a delay tactic. When I finally began drafting, I agonised over every single sentence, which meant my progress was painfully slow. To get over this hurdle, I teamed up with a course mate. We meet twice a week and hold each other accountable for reaching our targets. She encouraged me to just get my ideas down on screen, however messy they were. Accepting that a first draft is supposed to be flawed was a massive relief. It’s much easier to polish a bad paragraph than to write a perfect one from scratch.

Exercises:   123456