Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – Social Connections & Reconnecting 2

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

You are going to read an article about four individuals reflecting on the bittersweet realization that they have completely outgrown their childhood friends intellectually and emotionally.

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

Which person/section

1   deliberately simplifies their own ideas to avoid uncomfortable moments?

2   regrets that their companion uses humour to deflect from difficult circumstances?

3   states that their friend was critical of their decision to pursue an adventurous path?

4   has concluded that their relationship is maintained exclusively by their shared past?

5   feels that their friend’s discouraging remarks are driven by a lack of personal self-belief?

6   experiences a profound sense of isolation despite being in their friend’s company?

7   is frustrated by their friend’s insistence on only discussing old memories and other people’s lives?

8   accepts that their friend will never be capable of offering the reassurance they need during hard times?

9   believes that continuing the friendship is preventing them from achieving their true capabilities?

10   points out that their friend visibly demonstrates irritation when educational topics are brought up?

Growing Apart: When Friendships Fade

A Tom

Growing up, Liam and I were inseparable. We used to spend hours discussing our dreams, convinced we would eventually take the world by storm. However, over the past few years, it’s become painfully obvious that we are no longer on the same wavelength. Whenever we meet up nowadays, he only ever wants to reminisce about our school days or gossip about people we haven’t seen in a decade. I’ve tried introducing new topics, like politics or my recent career change, but he simply tunes out or changes the subject. It breaks my heart because I still care for him deeply, but I constantly leave our interactions feeling entirely unfulfilled. It’s as though he is perfectly content being stuck in a rut, whereas I’m desperately trying to move forward. I’ve finally come to terms with the harsh fact that our bond is sustained purely by history, rather than any genuine, modern connection.

B Sara

My best friend Chloe has always been the cautious type, which I used to find quite grounding. Lately, however, her reluctance to step outside her comfort zone has started to drive a wedge between us. After I graduated, I decided to take a leap of faith and move abroad to start my own business. Instead of being supportive, Chloe was incredibly dismissive, constantly questioning why I couldn’t just settle down locally like she had. Whenever I share my ambitions or the challenges I’m facing, she tends to belittle my efforts or pass passive-aggressive comments. It took me a while to figure out that her negativity stems from her own insecurities about her life choices, but that doesn’t make it any easier to deal with. I’ll always cherish the memories we made as kids, but I’ve recently accepted that keeping her close is actually holding me back from fulfilling my potential.

C Mark

You generally expect your friendships to mature as you get older, but that certainly hasn’t been the case with Jake. We used to laugh at the exact same silly things, and as teenagers, his carefree attitude was brilliant. However, life inevitably gets more complicated, and I’ve realised he is completely incapable of handling anything serious. When I went through a rough patch last year and really needed a shoulder to cry on, he just made inappropriate jokes and tried to brush the situation off. He actively avoids any conversation that requires a shred of emotional depth, preferring to keep everything strictly superficial. It is a tough pill to swallow, but I’ve had to acknowledge that I can’t rely on him when the going gets tough. We still catch up occasionally, but the realisation that he will never be the supportive confidant I require has fundamentally altered our relationship.

D Elena

I’ve always had a fierce thirst for knowledge, constantly reading and seeking out experiences that broaden my horizons. My childhood friend, Maya, on the other hand, proudly adopts an ‘ignorance is bliss’ mentality. Initially, our differing perspectives didn’t matter much, but recently, the intellectual gap has become an insurmountable barrier. She shows absolutely no interest in global events, the arts, or even basic self-improvement, and actively rolls her eyes if I attempt to discuss a book I’ve just read. I increasingly find myself dumbing down my thoughts just to avoid awkward silences or judgmental sighs. Sitting across a table from someone you’ve known for fifteen years and realising you have absolutely nothing meaningful to say to them is an incredibly lonely experience. I love her for the girl she used to be, but the woman she has become feels like a complete stranger to me.

Reading 2

You are going to read an article about four young people talking about the extreme anxiety of attending a 10-year high school reunion and comparing their success to others.

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

Which person

1   initially intended to avoid the gathering but subsequently altered their plans?

2   feels they have failed to achieve the brilliant future others had anticipated for them?

3   was looking forward to flaunting their current status to those who had previously belittled them?

4   expresses remorse over prioritising professional success over their personal life?

5   was relieved to find out that other attendees were struggling with identical insecurities?

6   experienced intense anxiety right on the threshold of the event venue?

7   admits to coveting the domestic lives that their former peers have built?

8   confesses to giving a misleading impression of their career to avoid embarrassment?

9   realised that their newly acquired wealth could not erase the social hierarchy of their youth?

10   almost let concerns about their altered physique prevent them from attending?

Facing the Past: The 10-Year Reunion

A Liam

Back in the day, I was voted ‘Most Likely to Succeed’. Everyone simply assumed I’d end up as a CEO or a brilliant surgeon. The reality? I’m a freelance graphic designer barely scraping by. As the reunion approached, the thought of facing my former peers filled me with absolute dread. I was terrified of their pitying looks when they discovered I hadn’t exactly set the world on fire. To cope with the pressure, I actually found myself exaggerating my professional status during conversations, vaguely implying I ran a highly successful creative agency. It was utterly exhausting. Strangely enough, a few classmates mentioned they were jealous of my freedom, being unmarried and travelling light. But I couldn’t shake the feeling of being an imposter. Although I don’t envy their heavy mortgages or stressful corporate jobs, I certainly felt the heavy burden of my own unfulfilled potential that evening.

B Sofia

I’ve spent the last decade tirelessly climbing the corporate ladder, and I now hold a senior director position at a major tech firm. Financially, I’m doing exceptionally well, which is why I originally thought the reunion would be a breeze. However, as I scrolled through the event’s social media page beforehand, panic quickly set in. Almost everyone was posting pictures of their toddlers and wedding anniversaries. I suddenly realised I had completely neglected my personal life to achieve my ambitions. Walking into the hall, I felt incredibly self-conscious. While my peers praised my professional triumphs, I found myself gazing longingly at their family photos, wishing I had made the time to settle down. I had intended to impress everyone with my salary, but instead, I left the party wishing I could trade my corner office for a fraction of their domestic happiness.

C Marcus

Throughout high school, I was the invisible kid who was constantly bullied for being awkward. Since then, I’ve built a lucrative software company, hit the gym, and completely transformed my life. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t eager to rub my success in the faces of those who used to mock me. I wore a tailored suit and pulled up in an obscenely expensive sports car. Yet, the precise moment I reached for the door handle of the hall, my heart started pounding uncontrollably, and I almost backed out. Once inside, my wealth didn’t seem to matter one bit. The popular kids still formed their exclusive cliques, and interacting with them instantly made me feel like that insecure teenager all over again. Despite my impressive bank balance, I came to terms with the fact that in their eyes, I would always remain the awkward boy from the back of the classroom.

D Emma

A week prior to the event, I RSVP’d with a firm ‘no’. I had recently put on some weight, and the prospect of being judged for not looking as fit as I did at eighteen was genuinely terrifying. I only reversed my decision at the last minute because my best friend refused to go alone. I spent hours agonising over what to wear to hide my figure. But within ten minutes of arriving, my anxiety completely evaporated. As we caught up, I discovered that practically everyone was grappling with similar self-doubts. The former head cheerleader confessed she was terrified we’d judge her recent career downgrade, and others were equally worried about their wrinkles or receding hairlines. Realising that we were all in the same boat, hiding behind brave faces, was incredibly liberating. It turned out to be a fantastic night once we finally let our guards down.

Exercises:   123456