Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – Overcoming Fears, Phobias & Mental Obstacles 2

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

You are going to read an article about four individuals discussing the suffocating panic attacks they experience due to claustrophobia and the mental exercises they use when stuck in elevators.

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 feeling embarrassed about displaying their anxiety in front of other people?

2   relies on their knowledge of how the machinery operates to prevent panic?

3   uses a technique that involves identifying items in their immediate surroundings?

4   struggles with the irrational belief that they are going to suffocate?

5   consciously tries to treat the delay as a welcome moment of downtime?

6   finds relief by mentally projecting themselves into a vast, natural landscape?

7   acknowledges that their phobia originated from an early life experience?

8   describes intense physiological symptoms that strike as soon as the doors close?

9   has significantly altered their daily routine to avoid their trigger entirely?

10   confesses that logical thinking vanishes once the fear takes hold?

Trapped in the Box: Coping with Claustrophobia in Elevators

A Liam

For as long as I can remember, I have gone out of my way to steer clear of lifts. If my destination is below the tenth floor, I will invariably take the stairs, completely ruling out the alternative. However, there are times when avoiding them is physically impossible. The moment the heavy metal doors slide shut, my body goes into overdrive. A wave of dizziness washes over me, my palms become incredibly sweaty, and my heart pounds as though I’ve just run a marathon. To combat this overwhelming urge to scream, I’ve adopted a grounding method suggested by a therapist. It involves forcing myself to clearly name five things I can see, four things I can physically feel, and three things I can hear. By meticulously cataloguing the floor buttons, the texture of my coat, and the hum of the lighting, I divert my brain’s attention from the restrictive enclosure. It doesn’t cure the phobia, but it certainly takes the edge off the panic.

B Chloe

I know perfectly well that lifts are well-ventilated spaces, but the instant a breakdown occurs, my common sense completely evaporates. That rational part of my brain is immediately hijacked by a primal terror. The walls genuinely seem to close in on me, and I am struck by the terrifying, baseless conviction that the oxygen is slowly running out and I am going to choke. It is a textbook panic attack. To survive the ordeal without completely breaking down, I rely heavily on guided visualisation. I close my eyes tight and vividly picture myself standing on a vast, deserted beach. I concentrate on the imaginary sensation of the breeze and the rhythmic sound of the crashing waves. Transporting my mind into a boundless, wide-open environment counteracts the intense confinement of the lift shaft. It requires an immense amount of concentration to maintain this illusion, but it is the only effective way I can keep my breathing steady until help arrives.

C Marcus

My claustrophobia tends to strike at the worst possible moments, typically when I’m heading to a crucial meeting. If the lift suddenly jolts to a halt, a profound sense of dread washes over me. The absolute worst aspect, however, is the fear of losing my composure in front of colleagues or clients. The thought of hyperventilating or bursting into tears while surrounded by professional acquaintances is mortifying, which ironically only intensifies the anxiety. To prevent a public meltdown, I lean heavily on logic and facts. I’ve read up extensively on elevator engineering, so I silently recite the mechanics of the automatic braking systems and the multiple reinforced cables that hold the cabin securely in place. Reminding myself that these contraptions are statistically one of the safest modes of transport provides a fragile lifeline. By focusing my mind purely on the structural safety measures rather than the enclosed dimensions of the box, I can usually keep the rising panic under control.

D Priya

My dread of small spaces stems from a traumatic event when I was just eight years old; my older brother accidentally locked me inside a dark wardrobe for hours, and I have never truly recovered. Consequently, getting stuck in a lift is my absolute worst nightmare. The psychological walls immediately close in, making me feel entirely powerless. Over the years, however, I’ve had to develop a coping strategy to stop my mind from spiralling. Instead of viewing the breakdown as a terrifying trap, I make a conscious effort to reframe it as an unexpected pause in my hectic schedule. I sit on the floor, close my eyes, and tell myself that this is simply a rare opportunity to do absolutely nothing for twenty minutes. If I have my headphones, I put on an audiobook to completely immerse myself in another world. Convincing myself that I am taking a well-deserved break, rather than being held hostage, works wonders for my state of mind.

Reading 2

You are going to read an article about four people reflecting on their deep-rooted fear of heights (acrophobia) and the transformative, terrifying day they forced themselves to go bungee jumping.

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 raising money for a good cause as their primary motivation?

2   points out that the anticipation was far worse than the actual experience?

3   believes their achievement helped them overcome an entirely different type of fear?

4   employed a specific cognitive strategy to ensure they took the leap?

5   acknowledges that they only went through with it to avoid social embarrassment?

6   confirms that they have absolutely no desire to repeat the activity?

7   kept their eyes tightly shut for the duration of the descent?

8   was motivated to face their phobia by a desire to act as a good role model?

9   highlights that their decision to participate was entirely unplanned?

10   initially attempted to back out at the very last second?

Taking the Plunge: Conquering the Ultimate Fear

A Mark

I’ve suffered from extreme acrophobia since childhood, so standing on a swaying platform fifty metres in the air was my absolute worst nightmare. I was only there because my colleagues had sponsored me to raise funds for a local children’s hospital; otherwise, I would never have agreed. When I peered over the edge, my legs turned to jelly. In fact, I genuinely tried to signal to the instructor that I’d changed my mind and wanted to step back. However, before I could articulate my panic, I was gently nudged forward. The descent was a blur of wind and sheer terror. Strangely, once I was bouncing gently at the bottom, an overwhelming wave of relief washed over me. I’m incredibly proud that I didn’t let my sponsors down, but let’s be absolutely clear: wild horses couldn’t drag me back up that tower. Once in a lifetime is more than enough for me.

B Sarah

I’ve always avoided high places—even standing on a balcony makes me feel dizzy. So, when my university friends decided we should all go bungee jumping to celebrate our graduation, I was inwardly terrified. Honestly, I wouldn’t have taken the plunge if I hadn’t been so worried about losing face in front of my peers. The wait in the queue was absolute torture; my heart was pounding out of my chest. Yet, stepping off the ledge led to a fascinating revelation. I realised that the psychological build-up was infinitely more agonizing than the freefall itself. The instant gravity took over, my mind simply went blank. I firmly refused to open my eyelids until I was safely unharnessed at the bottom, so I completely missed the breathtaking scenery everyone else raved about! Nevertheless, confronting that immense dread head-on was a remarkably empowering experience, even if I spent the whole drop in darkness.

C David

Becoming a father fundamentally shifted my perspective on my own limitations. I desperately wanted to prove to my young son that fear shouldn’t dictate your choices, which is exactly why I booked the highest jump in the region. Despite my noble intentions, walking to the edge of the bridge was absolutely petrifying. To stop myself from retreating, I relied on a simple numerical distraction: I counted loudly backwards from five and threw myself off before reaching one. Staring straight ahead rather than looking down at the river also helped immensely. Surviving that terrifying drop has had a profound impact on my daily life. Obstacles that used to cause me immense stress now seem utterly trivial by comparison. If I can willingly throw myself off a suspension bridge, I can certainly handle a difficult meeting at work or a challenging project. It was a brutal, yet incredibly effective, psychological reset.

D Elena

My acrophobia used to dictate my life, severely restricting me from doing anything as simple as climbing a tall ladder to change a lightbulb. Signing up for the canyon jump while backpacking in New Zealand was a completely spontaneous choice; if I had overthought it, I would have certainly backed out. The instructor securely strapped me in, and before my brain could fully process the dizzying height, I plummeted towards the river below. I shrieked at the top of my lungs for the entire duration of the fall! While the physical sensation of the drop was exhilarating, the most significant benefit emerged months later. The immense confidence I gained from surviving that terrifying plunge equipped me to tackle my crippling dread of addressing large audiences. Whenever I feel anxious on stage, I simply remind myself of the canyon. It taught me that our perceived limits are often just mental barriers waiting to be broken.

Exercises:   123456