Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – Musical Journeys & Creative Hobbies 6

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

You are going to read an article about four content creators discussing the high financial costs of purchasing professional equipment for their hobbies.

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

Which person

1   was taken aback by ongoing charges that they had failed to foresee?

2   had to cut back on other personal expenses to fund their creative pursuit?

3   accepted that buying more expensive gear did not instantly make them more talented?

4   found that their existing technology was inadequate for handling their new gear?

5   chose to conceal the actual amount they had spent from a family member?

6   suggests that companies charge unreasonable prices for minor accessories?

7   felt compelled by an online community to purchase a particular label?

8   expresses frustration at how rapidly their top-tier equipment was superseded?

9   initially thought a single item of equipment would be enough to get started?

10   managed to offset some of the financial burden by trading in pre-owned items?

The Price of Creativity

A Alex

When I first got into music production, I foolishly assumed that a decent keyboard would be a one-off investment to get my home studio up and running. I had no idea about the hidden financial trap I was walking into. Soon, I discovered that without specialized audio interfaces and studio monitors, my tracks sounded awful. I felt immense pressure from online forums to buy a highly recommended, premium brand of speakers, which cost an absolute fortune. I even took out a small loan because everyone insisted it was the industry standard. However, once the gear arrived, it was quite a sobering experience. I quickly realized that owning top-tier equipment didn’t instantly make my music sound any better or improve my natural abilities; I still lacked the technical skills. It took months of hard work to actually produce anything decent, proving that expensive hardware can’t replace practice.

B Blake

My passion for digital photography started as a casual pastime, but it rapidly transformed into an incredibly expensive obsession. To buy a professional camera body and a couple of high-quality lenses, I had to completely restructure my personal finances. For nearly a year, I cut back on eating out and canceled my summer holiday plans just to afford the gear, which would have been unthinkable before. Furthermore, when the final bill arrived, I was so embarrassed by the sheer scale of the extravagance that I decided to conceal the actual figures from my parents, knowing they would find it completely irresponsible. My friends often look at my stunning landscape shots and assume that a high-end camera does all the hard work automatically. They don’t see the financial sacrifices behind the scenes, or the hours spent carrying a heavy tripod through the rain, hoping to catch the perfect light.

C Charlie

If you want to produce professional video content nowadays, the baseline cost of entry is staggering. I upgraded to a cinematic 4K camera last autumn, which was already a massive strain on my bank account. Unfortunately, that was only the tip of the iceberg. When I tried to edit my first video project, my faithful old laptop completely locked up and crashed under the weight of the massive files. Consequently, I was forced to invest in a high-spec desktop computer with advanced processing power just to run the software, which doubled my initial budget. To offset this unexpected financial burden, I managed to trade in some pre-owned lenses and an old drone at a local shop, which gave me some welcome relief. What infuriates me most, however, is that within less than a year, a newer version of my camera was released, making my expensive setup feel completely outdated overnight.

D Drew

As a digital illustrator and graphic designer, I knew that a professional drawing tablet would be pricey, but the secondary costs are what truly shocked me. While the main device was a major investment, I quickly discovered that the tech companies make a ridiculous profit by charging completely unreasonable prices for minor accessories. For instance, replacement stylus tips and basic connection cables cost ten times what they should, simply because alternatives aren’t compatible. If you don’t buy their specific labels, you risk damaging your device. On top of that, I was taken aback by the ongoing monthly charges for the editing applications that I had completely failed to foresee. I assumed a single payment would secure the software forever, but everything has shifted to a subscription model now. Unless you keep paying these regular fees, you lose access to all your work, which feels deeply unfair to independent creators struggling to get by.

Reading 2

You are going to read an article about four individuals reflecting on the phenomenon of finding a ‘flow state’ where hours pass like minutes while engaged in a creative hobby.

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

Which person/section

1   admits to neglecting their physical requirements when fully absorbed?

2   points out that their preferred creative state cannot be forced?

3   experiences a sudden sense of bodily fatigue once they stop their activity?

4   keeps the results of their creative sessions entirely private?

5   occasionally feels irritated when drawn back into reality?

6   notes that their perception of everyday environments changes after a session?

7   initially doubted the existence of the psychological state being described?

8   values the way their hobby provides a temporary escape from work-related pressure?

9   relies on a specific sequence of actions to help trigger their concentration?

10   acknowledges that their best work emerges only after a period of trial and error?

Losing Track of Time: The Magic of the ‘Flow State’

A Mark

Working as a corporate lawyer is incredibly demanding, so I desperately need a reliable way to decompress at weekends. That’s why I took up painting miniature figures. It’s absolutely fascinating how quickly you can slip into a ‘flow state’. I’ll sit down at my desk, pick up a tiny brush, and suddenly, the relentless stress of the office completely evaporates. I become so profoundly immersed in blending colours and highlighting microscopic details that I completely lose track of time. In fact, it’s quite common for me to look up and realise six hours have flown by, and I haven’t even had a glass of water or a bite to eat. The spell is incredibly delicate, however. If my phone happens to ring or someone knocks on the door to ask a question, I actually feel a sharp wave of annoyance. It takes considerable effort to snap out of that intense bubble of concentration and politely rejoin the real world.

B Chloe

For me, writing short stories is the ultimate form of escapism. I certainly don’t write to get published; in fact, I stubbornly refuse to let anyone else read my drafts, no matter how much they beg. It’s a purely personal outlet. When I really get into the zone, the characters simply take over, and my fingers fly across the keyboard on their own. The hours melt away effortlessly, and I feel utterly disconnected from my immediate surroundings. What I find most remarkable about this state of deep focus is the psychological after-effect. Once I finally close my laptop and head out for a walk, I often find that the way I look at my local neighbourhood has shifted entirely. Ordinary things—like the way streetlights reflect on puddles or the sound of distant traffic—suddenly seem incredibly poetic and full of hidden meaning. Some people need a strict schedule to write, but I just sit down and let my imagination wander.

C Julian

Before I started woodturning, I used to hear experienced artists talking about ‘being in the zone’ and honestly thought they were exaggerating. It sounded like absolute nonsense to me. But the very first time I successfully shaped a wooden bowl on the lathe, I finally understood what they meant. The rhythm of the spinning wood requires such absolute attention that your mind simply goes quiet. That said, I’ve learned the hard way that you cannot simply command this state to happen. On days when my mind is cluttered with mundane worries, no amount of willpower can make it click. To increase my chances of achieving flow, I’ve developed a precise pre-workshop routine: I always brew a strong pot of black coffee, organise my chisels by size, and put on the exact same classical music album. Even with this strict ritual, it’s a hit-or-miss phenomenon, but when that magical absorption does arrive, it is incredibly rewarding.

D Maya

Composing music on the piano is a deeply consuming process for me. Whenever I sit down to write a new piece, it’s rarely a smooth journey right from the start. I typically spend the first hour playing wrong notes, furiously crossing out chords on my sheet music, and feeling incredibly frustrated with my lack of progress. But eventually, something always clicks. The awkwardness vanishes, and the melody just flows out of me effortlessly. During those intense periods of creativity, my brain is operating at such a high frequency that I don’t notice any bodily discomfort. However, the moment I strike the final chord and the trance is broken, it hits me all at once. My shoulders ache terribly, my fingers are stiff, and I feel utterly drained, as if I’ve just run a marathon. Despite the sheer physical exhaustion, the immense pride I get from having created something out of thin air makes it worthwhile.

Exercises:   123456