Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – Overcoming Fears, Phobias & Mental Obstacles 7

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

You are going to read an article about four individuals talking about their bizarre specific phobias (like fear of buttons or balloons) and the exhaustion of hiding it from mocking friends.

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

Which person/section

1   avoids certain everyday items because of their specific material and design?

2   endures challenging bodily sensations to ensure their phobia remains undiscovered?

3   is unfairly judged by others as lacking enthusiasm for social events?

4   keeps their phobia hidden because they fear being perceived as immature?

5   claims to have a certain personal taste to disguise their psychological distress?

6   forces themselves to appear relaxed when someone jokingly attaches an object to them?

7   is regularly mocked by peers for an alleged aversion to the climate?

8   lives in constant apprehension of a sudden auditory trigger?

9   finds the typical experience of shopping for clothing completely overwhelming?

10   feels a deep repulsion towards things that leave a residue on surfaces?

Hidden Terrors: The Exhaustion of Secret Phobias

A Oliver

Having a phobia of buttons, known as koumpounophobia, sounds utterly ridiculous to most people. However, for me, it is a daily nightmare. Just looking at those little plastic discs with tiny holes in the middle makes my skin crawl. Naturally, this makes updating my wardrobe an incredibly draining ordeal. While my friends look forward to browsing the high street for new outfits, I find the entire experience completely overwhelming, desperately scanning racks for anything without those dreaded fasteners. If I hadn’t come up with elaborate excuses over the years, I would undoubtedly have been mocked relentlessly. I regularly tell my mates that I simply prefer minimalist fashion or that zippers are more practical, just to conceal my intense psychological aversion. It is exhausting having to monitor every piece of clothing my peers are wearing. Once, at a summer barbecue, a friend jokingly threatened to swap my plain jacket for his buttoned cardigan, and I nearly had a panic attack. I just wish I didn’t have to put on this confident facade.

B Maya

My friends genuinely believe I am just a natural-born pessimist who hates celebrating. In reality, my reluctance to attend birthday parties or weddings stems entirely from globophobia: an intense fear of balloons. It isn’t the brightly coloured rubber that terrifies me, but rather the unbearable anticipation of that sharp, unpredictable explosion. If I walk into a room and spot them tied to the chairs, my heart immediately starts racing. To avoid being relentlessly teased, I usually pretend I have a headache or a prior commitment, which sadly leads people to label me as a real killjoy. The emotional toll of maintaining this deception is vast. Last month, a colleague playfully batted a stray balloon towards my face during a leaving do. I had to force a polite smile while silently hyperventilating. It’s incredibly frustrating being entirely misunderstood by your social circle, but confessing that a harmless party decoration sends me into a spiral of dread feels far too embarrassing to risk.

C Liam

Nobody understands why I supposedly detest the warmer months. As soon as June arrives, my mates start planning beach trips and park picnics, constantly making sarcastic remarks about how I must be a vampire because I refuse to embrace the sunshine. The truth, which I guard fiercely, is that I suffer from genuphobia—an irrational terror of knees. Seeing bare joints completely repulses me and triggers profound anxiety. Consequently, I wear heavy denim jeans straight through the boiling heatwaves, enduring buckets of sweat and severe physical discomfort just to keep my phobia strictly under wraps. If my friends knew the real reason I avoid wearing shorts, they would certainly burst out laughing. It is mentally draining to sit by the sea, sweltering in inappropriate clothing, while desperately trying to avert my eyes from everyone’s legs. I frequently catch myself making up stories about having highly sensitive skin to deflect their playful banter, but living a double life is beginning to take its toll.

D Chloe

The mere thought of a sticker makes my stomach churn. It’s a condition known as pittakionophobia, and it revolves entirely around the disgusting quality of labels and tape. I can’t stand the idea of that sticky residue adhering to my skin or my belongings. Hiding this from my peers is practically a full-time job. Whenever we go to a conference or a networking event, people often slap a sticky name badge directly onto my jacket as a joke. I have to clench my fists and force a casual laugh, utterly terrified inside while they remain completely oblivious to my panic. The primary reason I keep my mouth shut is the stigma; being frightened of something so mundane sounds incredibly childish, like a toddler who is scared of the dark. I am convinced my friends would endlessly mock me if they knew the truth. Sometimes, the effort required to smoothly peel fruit labels off apples in the college canteen without drawing attention leaves me absolutely drained.

Reading 2

You are going to read an article about four people sharing the emotional breakthrough they achieved when they stopped suppressing their anger and learned how to express it in a healthy, constructive way.

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 symptom caused by unexpressed frustration?

2   realised that their upbringing had shaped their negative view of the emotion?

3   attended a formal course to improve their communication skills?

4   states that keeping quiet ultimately led to sudden outbursts?

5   discovered that the emotion serves as a useful warning sign?

6   felt their tendency to agree to everything was the root of the problem?

7   found a written outlet helpful for processing their feelings?

8   notes that their newfound approach positively impacted their career?

9   admits they previously used indirect methods to show their annoyance?

10   experienced improved familial relationships after addressing the issue?

Harnessing the Heat: Finding Freedom in Anger

A Liam

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been someone who brushes things under the carpet. Whenever I felt irritated, I would bite my tongue, convinced that kicking up a fuss wasn’t worth the hassle. However, this habit of bottling things up took a severe toll on my body. I began suffering from blinding headaches and a constant tightness in my shoulders. A doctor eventually pointed out that unvoiced frustration was manifesting physically. My breakthrough came when I started keeping a ‘frustration diary’. Instead of lashing out or staying silent, I committed to writing down exactly what was bothering me. Seeing the words on paper allowed me to process the irritation logically rather than emotionally. Consequently, whenever I need to confront someone, I have a clear, calm script to follow in my mind. Not only have the physical ailments completely vanished, but I also feel much more in control of my daily interactions.

B Maya

I used to be a chronic people-pleaser, terrified of letting anyone down. If a friend asked for a favour, I’d instantly say yes, even if I was completely exhausted. I wrongly assumed that suppressing my own needs made me a supportive, easy-going person. The reality, though, was that resentment was quietly brewing beneath the surface. Eventually, the pressure cooker would inevitably burst, and I’d lose my temper over something incredibly trivial, leaving my mates utterly bewildered. I knew I had to break this toxic cycle. The turning point arrived when I realised that saying no is not an act of aggression, but rather a healthy boundary. The first time I politely declined a request, my heart was racing, but it felt remarkably liberating. By learning to voice my limits calmly in the moment, I’ve completely eradicated those unpredictable explosions. Honestly, my friendships have become significantly more authentic now that I’m not 

hiding behind a fake smile.

C Tom

In the corporate world, I was always taught that showing anger was highly unprofessional. Whenever a colleague took credit for my ideas or a client made unreasonable demands, I just swallowed my pride. However, I didn’t actually let things go; instead, I resorted to making sarcastic remarks or giving people the silent treatment. This passive-aggressive behaviour didn’t resolve anything and only succeeded in alienating my co-workers. Desperate to change, I signed up for a weekend seminar on assertiveness and conflict resolution. It was a massive eye-opener. The instructor demonstrated how to address grievances directly and respectfully, without coming across as hostile. It took a while to put the theory into practice, but the results have been astonishing. Once I started advocating for myself constructively, my boss noticed the shift in my attitude. Within six months, I was offered a managerial position, which proved that handling friction professionally is a highly valued skill.

D Chloe

Growing up, raising your voice was strictly forbidden in our house. My parents believed that any display of anger was a sign of a bad character, so I was heavily conditioned to smile and suppress any feelings of injustice. For decades, I viewed anger as a dangerous flaw that had to be eliminated. It wasn’t until I started attending therapy in my late twenties that this deep-seated belief was challenged. My counsellor helped me understand that anger isn’t inherently evil; rather, it acts like a smoke alarm, alerting you when your personal boundaries are being crossed. Changing my perspective was difficult, but I gradually started having honest conversations with my relatives about things that had historically upset me. To my absolute amazement, rather than pushing my family away, these candid discussions actually cleared the air. We now share a profound, mutual respect, proving that hiding your true feelings only creates unnecessary distance between loved ones.

Exercises:   123456