Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – Overcoming Fears, Phobias & Mental Obstacles 1

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

You are going to read an article about four young adults describing the intense psychological therapy and gradual exposure techniques they used to conquer a crippling fear of public speaking.

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 having actively avoided pursuing a specific profession due to their phobia?

2   discovered that their dread was primarily driven by an unrealistic demand for flawlessness?

3   initially felt utterly ridiculous while performing their prescribed therapeutic exercises?

4   states that their phobia originated from a highly humiliating incident during their youth?

5   mentions utilising artificial scenarios to practice before eventually facing actual human beings?

6   gradually built up their confidence by presenting to individuals they already felt comfortable with?

7   was taught to reinterpret their bodily panic responses as a form of positive energy?

8   successfully put their newfound abilities to the test during a celebratory social gathering?

9   had previously resigned themselves to the belief that they would never be able to conquer their fear?

10   notes that their apprehension tends to vanish almost immediately once they actually begin talking?

Finding Our Voices: Conquering the Fear of the Crowd

A Tom

For as long as I can remember, the mere thought of addressing a crowd left me utterly paralyzed. I had actually always dreamed of becoming a barrister, but I deliberately steered clear of the legal profession simply because the prospect of speaking in a courtroom terrified me. It dictated my entire life until I discovered Virtual Reality exposure therapy. Putting on the headset, I was placed in a simulated auditorium with a digital audience. At first, my heart would pound just looking at the computer-generated avatars. However, the program allowed me to face my fears in a controlled environment, gradually increasing the crowd size over time. The most profound realisation came when I finally transitioned to real-life public speaking. I found that while the anticipation is still agonizing, the second I open my mouth and deliver the first sentence, my nerves completely evaporate. If I hadn’t tried this tech-based therapy, I would never have bounced back and pursued my current career.

B Sara

I always took it for granted that everyone else found public speaking effortless. My anxiety was so severe that I would regularly take time off work to avoid giving presentations. Eventually, I sought help through Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). My therapist helped me understand that my phobia wasn’t actually about the audience; it was deeply rooted in a toxic form of perfectionism. I catastrophised every tiny stumble, convinced that one mispronounced word would inevitably lead to complete professional ruin. To break the cycle, we used a technique called systematic desensitisation. I was tasked with giving short, two-minute talks to a handful of my closest mates in my living room. Because I trusted them completely, it provided a secure safety net to make mistakes without judgment. Slowly, I expanded my audience to include acquaintances and then colleagues. I have finally come to terms with the fact that making a minor error during a speech is a natural part of being human.

C David

For years, I was absolutely convinced that my intense stage fright was an incurable character flaw, and I had completely resigned myself to the idea of living in the shadows forever. Whenever all eyes were on me, I would experience severe physiological symptoms: sweating, a racing pulse, and shallow breathing. I enrolled in a somatic therapy programme, which focuses entirely on the mind-body connection. My counsellor instructed me to perform exaggerated power poses and deep diaphragmatic breathing exercises in front of a mirror. To be completely honest, I felt absolutely absurd standing in my bedroom with my hands on my hips, pretending to be a superhero! Nevertheless, these physical interventions worked wonders. Furthermore, I was trained to reframe my physical symptoms. Instead of telling myself I was terrified, I learned to interpret that massive rush of adrenaline as enthusiasm and readiness. By changing how I labelled my bodily sensations, I managed to take the sting out of the panic.

D Emma

My crippling fear of the limelight can be traced directly back to a single, disastrous afternoon when I was twelve. During the annual school play, I completely forgot my lines and ran off the stage crying while the entire hall laughed. I had tried to brush the humiliation under the carpet, but the psychological scar remained. To tackle this deeply ingrained trauma, I underwent EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) therapy. It sounds complex, but it essentially helped my brain reprocess that painful childhood memory so it no longer triggered a present-day flight response. After months of intense sessions, my therapist suggested a real-world challenge to test my progress. When my sister asked me to be her maid of honour, instead of declining out of fear, I boldly agreed to deliver a speech. Standing up at her wedding reception and delivering a heartfelt tribute without stumbling was a monumental victory. It proved that I had finally rewritten the narrative of my past.

Reading 2

You are going to read an article about four teenagers sharing their embarrassing but liberating stories of finally admitting they suffer from severe math anxiety and asking for special tutoring.

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 a physical manifestation of their intense apprehension?

2   felt their inadequacy was magnified by the professional backgrounds of their family?

3   points out that their tutor utilised a highly visual approach to clarify concepts?

4   was forced to reveal their secret after failing to handle a common social calculation?

5   admits to adopting a dismissive attitude to mask their severe difficulties?

6   felt a deep sense of shame because their struggles contrasted sharply with their general academic success?

7   credits their instructor with demonstrating the practical relevance of the subject?

8   actively opted out of certain recreational pursuits to keep their secret hidden?

9   reached a turning point after suffering an emotional breakdown over a specific task?

10   changed their outlook after a tutor presented the subject as an engaging challenge?

Facing the Numbers: Overcoming Math Anxiety

A Liam

For years, I put up a front. Whenever the teacher brought out the textbooks, I would roll my eyes and act as though the subject was entirely beneath me. In reality, my dismissive attitude was just a desperate coping mechanism to hide the fact that I was completely lost. The mere thought of long division would bring out a cold sweat, and my stomach would tie itself in knots. I’d have done anything to avoid being called upon in class. The turning point came when my mind blanked entirely during a mock exam. I finally confessed my terrifying phobia to my head of year, who arranged for a specialist mentor. Instead of bombarding me with boring formulas, my new tutor gamified the lessons. She turned complex equations into logic puzzles, which instantly made the numbers feel less intimidating. Dropping the rebellious act and admitting I needed a hand was incredibly liberating.

B Chloe

I had always taken it for granted that I was a high achiever. Being top of the class in languages and history meant that my abysmal performance in geometry felt like a dirty little secret I had to keep tightly under wraps. It was profoundly humiliating to be a straight-A student who couldn’t grasp basic algebra. I kept my head down until one evening, while tackling a seemingly impossible trigonometry assignment, I completely broke down in tears at the kitchen table. My mother gently suggested we look into private tuition. I was initially hesitant, expecting more frustrating lectures, but the tutor we hired was an absolute revelation. Having quickly realised that I process information differently, he began drawing colourful diagrams and mind maps to illustrate the problems. Seeing the concepts laid out visually finally made everything click into place. I only wish I hadn’t let my pride delay getting the help I so desperately needed.

C Noah

Coming from a household where both parents are successful accountants, being competent with numbers was basically expected of me. While my older brother could crunch figures effortlessly, I would stare at my homework as if it were written in an alien language. My lack of ability was magnified by their financial expertise, making me feel like the odd one out. For ages, I blamed my poor test results on careless errors, terrified of letting them down. However, the deception eventually took its toll, and I blurted out the truth during a heated family dinner. Surprisingly, my parents were incredibly supportive and immediately found me a brilliant tutor. Rather than relying on abstract textbooks, he explained fractions and percentages by looking at banking, interest rates, and running a small business. Seeing how the subject applies to the real world completely demystified it for me. It’s a huge relief to no longer be living a lie.

D Maya

My strategy for dealing with my severe numerical anxiety was straightforward: absolute avoidance. If my mates suggested playing a board game that required keeping score, I would immediately make up an excuse and sit out, terrified of exposing my weakness. I managed to keep up this charade for years until a friend’s birthday meal at a busy restaurant. When the waiter brought the cheque, everyone turned to me to calculate our individual shares. My mind went completely blank, and my cheeks burned with embarrassment as I stumbled over the basic addition. The humiliation was so profound that I confessed my phobia to my friends right there and then. They were incredibly sympathetic and actually helped me track down a specialised coach. We had to go right back to the absolute basics, building my confidence from the ground up. Overcoming my fear hasn’t been easy, but not having to panic every time someone mentions a digit is priceless.

Exercises:   123456