Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – Urban Cycling & Everyday Fitness 7

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

You are going to read an article about four individuals sharing their experiences of organizing and participating in a neighborhood street sports event.

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

Which person/section

1   highlights the extensive administrative workload involved in the preparation?

2   mentions an unexpected meteorological issue that threatened the schedule?

3   had to intervene to resolve a conflict between participants?

4   was talked into getting involved by someone close to them?

5   was surprised to uncover an aptitude for a particular activity?

6   feels the occasion successfully brought together people of different ages?

7   expresses gratitude for the donations provided by nearby shops?

8   explains how regulations were modified to ensure inclusivity?

9   was initially convinced that local authorities would refuse to permit the event?

10   describes feeling drained but content once the activities concluded?

Taking to the Streets: Our Neighborhood Sports Day

A Mark

I’ve lived on this street for years, but most of us barely knew our neighbours. That’s why I initially pitched the idea of a street sports festival. Honestly, I took it for granted that getting the council’s green light would be impossible; I was convinced they would reject our application out of hand due to strict health and safety regulations. To my relief, they were quite supportive, though the sheer volume of forms I had to fill in was mind-boggling. We had to secure road closure permits, liability insurance, and detailed risk assessments. It was a steep learning curve! Nevertheless, seeing the final result made every frustrating hour of paperwork worthwhile. The best part was watching teenagers shooting hoops alongside retirees participating in walking relays. It truly bridged the divide between young and old, fostering a real sense of community that had been sorely lacking.

B Chloe

I’m not exactly what you’d call a fitness fanatic, so when my sister started begging me to join the neighborhood sports day, my initial reaction was a firm ‘no’. I eventually caved in just to keep her quiet, though I was dreading embarrassing myself in front of everyone on the block. I purposely avoided the high-energy events like street football, opting instead for the quirky novelty games. Much to my amazement, when it came to the obstacle course, I completely breezed through it. It turns out I have incredibly good balance and coordination, which I’d never realised before! I even won a makeshift medal. A few younger kids were arguing over the rules of a race nearby, but I just kept out of it and enjoyed my minor victory. It was surprisingly uplifting, and I’m actually looking forward to defending my title next year.

C Jamal

My background is in sports coaching, so I naturally volunteered to oversee the street tournaments. We had planned a highly competitive basketball match, but it quickly became apparent that we had players of wildly varying abilities. To level the playing field, I decided to tweak the scoring system; baskets scored by younger children or older residents were counted as double. This adjustment ensured that everyone felt valued and could contribute meaningfully to their teams. However, it wasn’t entirely plain sailing. During a particularly intense match, tempers flared between two local teenagers over a perceived foul. I had to step onto the court, calm them down, and remind them that the day was about community, not winning a world championship. Once they shook hands, the tension evaporated. The weather held up beautifully too, which was a massive relief after a gloomy forecast earlier that week.

D Sophie

Organizing the logistics for the event was no small feat. My main responsibility was setting up the refreshment stalls and the central marquee. We hit a major snag early in the morning when a sudden, violent gust of wind nearly blew the entire tent away, threatening to derail the whole schedule before it even began. If some early risers hadn’t rushed over to help weigh it down, the tent would certainly have been destroyed. I was also completely blown away by the local bakery and greengrocer; they supplied an abundance of free sandwiches and fruit, which kept everyone’s energy levels up throughout the afternoon. We couldn’t possibly have managed without their generosity. By the time we had swept up the last piece of rubbish at 8 PM, I was physically shattered and could barely stand. Yet, looking down the freshly cleared street, I felt a profound sense of satisfaction.

Reading 2

You are going to read an article about four young adults describing the sense of accomplishment after successfully completing a 30-day fitness challenge they found online.

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

Which person

1   felt proud of inspiring peers with their ultimate achievement?

2   modified the routine to cope with a physical setback?

3   experienced intense soreness at the beginning of the month?

4   initially discovered the programme via a well-known internet personality?

5   points out that clear, quantifiable improvements helped them stay focused?

6   highlights the unexpected psychological benefits of the challenge?

7   struggled to fit the workouts into their daily routine?

8   derived motivation from interacting with a digital support group?

9   admits they initially doubted their ability to finish the month?

10   intends to move on to a tougher programme?

30 Days Later: The Finish Line

A Jamie

I’ve never been the athletic type, so when I stumbled across this 30-day core challenge promoted by a famous fitness vlogger, I was highly sceptical. Frankly, I didn’t think I had it in me to make it past the first week, let alone the entire month. I only committed because I wanted to prove to myself that I wasn’t entirely lazy. The first few days were tough, but what kept me hooked wasn’t the promise of a toned stomach. Instead, it was the incredible boost in my mood and concentration. I’ve always taken it for granted that exercise was purely about physical appearance, but by day fifteen, I was waking up feeling remarkably sharp and energised. Reaching day thirty gave me a massive sense of achievement. If I had known earlier how much my mental well-being would improve, I wouldn’t have hesitated to start. Now, I feel equipped to tackle other challenges in my life with the same determination.

B Elena

Squeezing a daily workout into my frantic schedule was without a doubt the most demanding aspect of the challenge. I work long hours at a law firm, and by the time I get home, I’m usually completely drained. There were countless evenings when I was tempted to just collapse on the sofa. To make matters worse, around the halfway mark, I pulled a muscle in my shoulder. At that point, throwing in the towel would have been the easy way out. However, I was determined not to break my streak, so I adapted the exercises, substituting upper-body movements with gentle leg stretches until the pain subsided. Looking back, managing to complete the programme despite those hurdles is what makes me so proud. It wasn’t about achieving the perfect body; it was about resilience. If I hadn’t pushed through that difficult period, I would have been bitterly disappointed in myself.

C Marcus

For me, the true value of the 30-day cardio blast wasn’t necessarily the sweat or the raised heart rate, but the sense of belonging it provided. The programme came with access to a dedicated online forum where participants shared their daily progress. Whenever my enthusiasm began to fade, seeing a stranger from the other side of the world post their sweaty selfie was precisely the push I needed to get off the couch. I thrived on that mutual encouragement. By the time I uploaded my final ‘Day 30 completed’ picture, the feedback was overwhelming. A few users even commented that my consistent updates had been the sole reason they hadn’t given up. Realising that my perseverance had genuinely motivated others gave me an unparalleled sense of satisfaction. It’s funny because I initially signed up to lose a few kilos, but the camaraderie turned out to be the most rewarding takeaway.

D Sophie

I chose a 30-day flexibility and strength challenge because I wanted to master a specific headstand pose. I won’t lie; the first week was absolute agony. My muscles were screaming, and I was so stiff I could barely climb the stairs. Nevertheless, I refused to let the discomfort deter me. What really kept me on track was the ability to track my advancement. Each week, the app required you to measure how far you could stretch and how long you could hold certain planks. Seeing those numbers steadily climb was incredibly addictive and validated all the hard work. When I finally nailed that headstand on day 29, the sense of triumph was indescribable. I’ve definitely caught the fitness bug now. In fact, I’ve already been looking into registering for an advanced 60-day bootcamp that kicks off next month. I’m ready to see how much further I can push my limits.

Exercises:   123456