Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – Solo Travel & Independence 4

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

You are going to read an article about four individuals talking about the liberation of not having to compromise on their daily itinerary with any travel companions.

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

Which person

1   appreciates not having to explain why they ignored a highly recommended tourist attraction?

2   views their solo trips as a necessary escape from the collaborative nature of their everyday job?

3   feels relieved that they are no longer responsible for ensuring their travel companions have a good time?

4   enjoys the liberty to follow sudden impulses and change their route unexpectedly?

5   points out that they no longer have to participate in dull activities simply to satisfy a friend?

6   values the ability to study items of interest for extended periods without testing someone’s patience?

7   highlights the sheer joy of not having to coordinate a schedule first thing in the morning?

8   is thankful they do not have to debate dining options or feeding times with anyone?

9   opted to spend a portion of their holiday engaged in an entirely unremarkable pastime?

10   notes that being unaccompanied eliminates the stressful feeling of having to hurry?

The Joy of the Selfish Itinerary

A Mark

Looking back, I realise I used to take it for granted that travelling meant compromising. On previous group holidays, I somehow always ended up playing the unofficial tour guide. I’d be constantly on edge, desperately trying to gauge whether my friends were actually enjoying themselves, which completely ruined my own experience. These days, I exclusively backpack alone. The sheer bliss of waking up without having to negotiate an acceptable time to leave the hotel is indescribable. There are no alarms, no debates over who takes the longest to get ready, and absolutely no compromises. If I want to skip breakfast and head straight to the mountains, I just do it. While I still make a point of visiting all the major landmarks, I do so entirely on my own terms. I’ve finally come to terms with the fact that I am not responsible for anyone else’s happiness but my own.

B Sophie

For me, the ultimate luxury of going solo is the eradication of that nagging feeling that I need to hurry up. I happen to be an absolute fanatic when it comes to history and art, meaning I can happily linger in a dusty museum for hours on end. In the past, I’d be acutely aware of my travel buddy sighing heavily or checking their watch, and I’d end up rushing through exhibitions. Now, I can scrutinise a single artefact for as long as I please without testing anyone’s patience. Moreover, my itinerary is completely fluid. If I spot an intriguing cobblestone alleyway or a bizarre little boutique, I’ll just wander down there on a whim. While some people might find my lack of structure frustrating, I thrive on it. I don’t have to stick to a rigid map, and the absence of that constant pressure to move on to the next scheduled stop is incredibly liberating.

C Liam

There’s a strange societal expectation that when you visit a new country, you must tick off every renowned monument. On my last trip to Rome, I made the controversial decision to completely bypass the Colosseum. When you’re with a companion, you inevitably have to justify your choices, but alone, there is absolutely no guilt involved. I am no longer obliged to sit through tedious guided tours or visit crowded plazas merely to keep a friend satisfied. Instead, I grant myself the permission to do whatever I fancy. During that particular Italian getaway, I literally spent an entire Tuesday afternoon sitting on a park bench, engrossed in a fictional paperback while chewing on a basic sandwich. It was an exceptionally ordinary pastime, yet it remains one of my fondest holiday memories. I woke up early that day, not to sightsee, but simply to secure the best bench. Having the autonomy to be unapologetically lazy is what makes solo travel so appealing.

D Maya

As a project manager, my daily professional life revolves around endless negotiations, reaching a consensus, and managing other people’s expectations. Therefore, treating my holidays as a solitary venture is an absolute necessity; it’s the only time I can genuinely switch off from that collaborative mindset. The most remarkable aspect of not travelling with a partner is the culinary freedom. I used to dread the inevitable evening debate over where to dine, which usually ended in a mediocre compromise. Now, if I desire spicy street food at four in the afternoon or a three-course meal at midnight, I just go for it without having to consult a committee. I never have to consider someone else’s dietary restrictions or varying hunger levels. While my colleagues think I’m slightly mad for preferring to wander the globe unaccompanied, they don’t understand that for me, a successful trip is one where the only person I have to agree with is myself.

Reading 2

You are going to read an article about four travelers reflecting on the hilarious cultural misunderstandings they experienced because they didn’t speak the local language.

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

Which person

1   accidentally tried to purchase a completely different item than intended?

2   relied on a digital tool that caused an awkwardly inappropriate situation?

3   mentions how a physical action conveyed the exact opposite of what they meant?

4   received far more of something than they could possibly consume?

5   was grateful that a local resident found their embarrassing blunder amusing?

6   was initially unaware that their vocal delivery was the root cause of the confusion?

7   found themselves taking part in an exhausting physical activity due to a misunderstanding?

8   mistakenly believed an apology was actually a phrase used to ask for more?

9   highlights that depending entirely on modern gadgets can sometimes backfire?

10   assumed that wordless gestures would be interpreted identically everywhere?

Lost in Translation: Hilarious Holiday Misunderstandings

A Oliver

I’ve always considered myself an adventurous eater, but my first night in Tokyo truly tested my limits. I had wandered into a tiny, authentic neighbourhood restaurant, intending merely to order a light snack before bed. Having carelessly left my trusty phrasebook at the hotel, I resorted to pointing blindly at the menu. Whenever the waiter brought a small dish, I’d grin enthusiastically and say “Sumimasen.” I genuinely believed this word meant “delicious” or “bring more of this,” completely oblivious to the fact that it actually translates to “excuse me” or “I’m sorry.” Assuming I was profusely apologising for being so ravenously hungry, the sympathetic chef eventually sent out a colossal banquet designed to feed a family of four! I couldn’t possibly manage to finish it all, but I felt obliged to try. If I had bothered to learn a few basic phrases beforehand, I wouldn’t have spent the rest of the evening uncomfortably stuffed.

B Chloe

While backpacking through rural France, the weather suddenly turned freezing, so I decided to visit a bustling village market to buy a warm jumper. In French, the word for jumper is “pull,” but because of my truly atrocious accent, I ended up repeatedly asking the stallholder for a “poule”—which means a chicken! I couldn’t understand why the elderly man looked so utterly bewildered when I enthusiastically mimed putting it on to keep the cold out. It wasn’t until he tentatively handed me a clucking, feathered bird that the penny finally dropped. I had been completely unaware that my sloppy pronunciation was entirely to blame for the chaotic mix-up. We both burst into fits of laughter, and I had to resort to using wildly exaggerated hand gestures to clarify my actual needs. I did walk away with a lovely woollen sweater in the end, but I’ve never lived down the embarrassment of almost purchasing poultry instead of winter clothing.

C Mateo

Before my trip to rural Bulgaria, I had naturally assumed that non-verbal communication was identical worldwide. I simply took it for granted that nodding your head meant “yes” and shaking it meant “no.” As it turns out, the exact opposite is true in that particular region! During a lively village festival, a group of friendly locals invited me to participate in a remarkably energetic traditional dance. Exhausted from a long day of hiking in the mountains, I politely nodded my head, fully intending to decline the kind offer. Instead of leaving me be, they cheered and enthusiastically dragged me right into the centre of the square. I ended up leaping around for over an hour, completely out of breath. It was a spectacular misunderstanding, but participating in that exhausting routine became a hilarious memory. Even though I had a pocket dictionary in my bag, it couldn’t have saved me from my own ignorance regarding basic body language.

D Sam

I usually rely heavily on my smartphone when navigating foreign countries, assuming it will effortlessly solve any linguistic hurdles I might encounter. However, during a business trip to Brazil, I discovered that depending exclusively on translation apps can sometimes lead to highly embarrassing situations. I was running late for a flight and wanted to tell my taxi driver, “Please drive faster, I am in a desperate hurry.” My app, however, inexplicably mistranslated my frantic English into a deeply poetic, romantic Portuguese phrase along the lines of, “My heart races passionately for you.” When the automated robotic voice read it out loud, the driver slammed on the brakes in shock, before erupting into roaring laughter. Fortunately, he possessed a fantastic sense of humour and saw the funny side of my awkward mistake. He found my technological disaster highly amusing and actually managed to get me to the airport on time. Needless to say, I deleted the application immediately!

Exercises:   123456