Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – Endurance Sports & Country Walking 7

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

You are going to read an article about four teenagers reflecting on the historical paths they walked and the fascinating local history they discovered during country walks.

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

Which person/section

1   mentions an initial lack of enthusiasm that was eventually overcome?

2   was surprised by the original purpose of the route they took?

3   experienced a deep sense of sympathy for the harsh daily lives of former inhabitants?

4   highlights how enduring physical strain made the historical experience feel more authentic?

5   mentions how the natural landscape has drastically changed since ancient times?

6   appreciates the opportunity to acquire knowledge outside a formal educational setting?

7   discovered a fascinating story about a specific local historical figure?

8   regrets not having enough time to completely explore the historical site?

9   points out the necessity of preserving ancient pathways for future generations?

10   relied on a specific piece of modern technology to uncover hidden history?

Stepping into the Past: Teenagers on the Trail

A Leo

I’ve never been a massive history enthusiast, to be honest. Staring at dates in a textbook usually sends me to sleep. However, hiking along the ancient Roman road that cuts through the hills near my town completely changed my perspective. To make the walk more engaging, I’d downloaded a brilliant augmented reality app on my smartphone. It overlaid 3D historical reconstructions onto the current landscape as I walked, which was absolutely mind-blowing! The most astonishing revelation was that this wide, remarkably straight path wasn’t primarily constructed for marching armies, as I’d always assumed. Instead, it was actually a vital commercial route used for transporting locally mined lead to the coast. Standing there, I couldn’t help but marvel at their engineering skills. It’s absolutely crucial that local authorities continue to invest in the upkeep of these heritage trails. If we allow them to become overgrown and forgotten, we risk losing a tangible link to our past that our descendants deserve to experience.

B Maya

When my parents suggested spending our Sunday trekking along a notoriously steep coastal path, I made it perfectly clear I’d rather stay home. I was incredibly reluctant to sacrifice my weekend for what sounded like a tedious hike. However, I eventually dragged myself along. We followed an infamous 18th-century smugglers’ trail, carefully carved into the treacherous chalk cliffs. As we scrambled up the rocky, uneven inclines, my legs were burning and my lungs were screaming for air. Yet, that sheer physical exhaustion actually helped me relate to the desperate individuals who used to haul heavy barrels of contraband up these exact same slopes in the dead of night. My dad had brought a traditional paper guidebook, which we used instead of looking at our phones. It was a stark reminder of how tough life was back then. I actually returned home feeling surprisingly invigorated, and I’m already looking forward to tackling another route soon.

C Sam

There’s a sprawling forest just a few miles from my house, but hidden deep within the trees are the overgrown remains of a medieval farming settlement. I spent a fascinating afternoon tracking the old drovers’ paths, which were once used to herd livestock to market. It’s hard to wrap your head around the fact that this densely wooded area used to be completely bare, consisting of open, ploughed fields and grazing land centuries ago. As I sat on a crumbling stone wall eating my lunch, I experienced a profound sense of empathy for the peasants who once scratched out a living in such severe conditions. I tried to imagine their daily struggles against freezing winters and poor harvests. Unfortunately, the winter sun began to set rapidly, meaning I had to head back much earlier than anticipated. I was utterly gutted that I had to leave without investigating the remains of the village church.

D Chloe

My local area is crisscrossed with disused Victorian railway lines that have recently been converted into walking trails. I’ve always found sitting in a stuffy classroom staring at a whiteboard incredibly uninspiring, so being able to absorb history while striding through the countryside is a breath of fresh air for me. Last weekend, I followed the route of the old mineral line. Along the way, there are fantastic informational plaques detailing the area’s industrial heritage. I was completely captivated by the biography of a 19th-century railway engineer named Thomas Higgins, who single-handedly designed the impressive viaduct that spans the valley. I’d never even heard of him before! While some sections of the path are a bit physically demanding, the flat stretches over the viaduct itself are a breeze. It’s a brilliant way to spend a Saturday, and I’m already planning my next expedition to trace the rest of Higgins’s remarkable track.

Reading 2

You are going to read an article about four people sharing their experiences of taking up orienteering, combining physical running with the intellectual challenge of navigating with a map.

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

Which person/section

1   mentions that reducing their speed was necessary to improve their performance?

2   appreciates the sport because it distracts them from physical fatigue?

3   initially felt intimidated by the navigational aspect of the sport?

4   was persuaded to try the activity as a way to avoid running on hard surfaces?

5   made an error in judgement that negatively impacted their race result?

6   highlights the supportive and helpful nature of the orienteering community?

7   points out that the sport requires very little financial investment in specialized gear?

8   experienced a sense of frustration due to misinterpreting the landscape?

9   likes the fact that no two orienteering events are ever exactly the same?

10   took up the activity as a way to bond with relatives?

Finding Your Way: The Thrill of Orienteering

A Mark

I used to be a standard marathon runner, simply pounding the pavements for hours on end. However, I often found myself hyper-focusing on my aching legs. Orienteering is an entirely different ball game. Because your brain is constantly engaged in deciphering the map and hunting for the next checkpoint, it completely masks the physical exhaustion. You are so absorbed in the puzzle that you don’t even realise how far you’ve actually run. Another fantastic aspect is its accessibility. While some sports demand a fortune in high-tech gear, all you genuinely need here is a sturdy pair of trail shoes and a basic compass; the organizers provide the maps. Of course, I occasionally end up running in the wrong direction, but for me, that’s just part of the fun. I had assumed it would take months to get the hang of it, but I picked up the basics surprisingly quickly. It’s the perfect blend of mental agility and cardiovascular endurance.

B Sarah

My transition to orienteering came about after a persistent knee injury. A physiotherapist friend strongly recommended I ditch the repetitive impact of running on concrete and take up trail running instead. Once I ventured into the woods, I stumbled upon a local orienteering event and decided to give it a go. What keeps me coming back is the sheer unpredictability. Unlike my old 10km road routes where I knew every single pothole and lamppost, every single orienteering course presents a completely unique puzzle. You never know whether you’ll be splashing through muddy bogs, climbing steep hills, or navigating dense forests. It can be physically demanding, and the weather often adds an extra layer of difficulty, but that’s what makes it thrilling. I occasionally miss the mindless rhythm of road running, but the satisfaction of successfully conquering a totally new environment is truly unbeatable.

C Leo

As a rather competitive person, I initially treated orienteering like a standard foot race. I would sprint off the starting line as fast as my legs could carry me, completely neglecting the map. This approach culminated in a disastrous regional championship last month. I was making excellent time until I mistook a dense thicket for a clearing on the map. I ended up wandering aimlessly for twenty minutes, costing me any chance of a medal. That bitter disappointment was a huge wake-up call. I finally came to terms with the fact that in this sport, the brain must lead the body. Since then, I’ve forced myself to drop my pace significantly, ensuring I have thoroughly processed the map before making a move. It felt counter-intuitive at first to walk during a race, but ironically, taking the time to interpret the terrain accurately has drastically improved my overall finishing times.

D Emma

I actually got dragged into orienteering by my uncle and cousins. They had been participating for years and were desperate for me to join their weekend excursions. I was initially terrified of the prospect; my sense of direction is notoriously poor, and the thought of being alone in the wilderness with nothing but a piece of paper was daunting. However, I couldn’t have been more wrong about the vibe of the sport. Far from being fiercely cut-throat, the seasoned competitors are incredibly welcoming. If you look lost, someone will almost always pause their own race to point you in the right direction. It’s a wonderful way to spend quality time with my family, too. We compare routes afterwards and laugh about the various mistakes we made. Overcoming my initial self-doubt has been incredibly empowering, and I’ve discovered a newfound appreciation for the great outdoors.

Exercises:   123456