Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Academic Clubs & Exam Support 2

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a university entrance exam prep course.

There are descriptions of eight exam prep courses.

Decide which exam prep course would be the most suitable for the people below.

1   Lucas wants to take practice papers before his real exams. He gets very nervous and needs advice on staying calm under pressure. He is busy at school, so he needs a weekend course.

2   Sara wants to study very hard every single day to prepare. She needs a course that focuses entirely on improving her mathematics skills. She prefers to study online from her own bedroom.

3   Max gets incredibly stressed about tests and needs help dealing with high pressure. He wants an intensive, full-time camp lasting exactly one week. He doesn’t have any money, so the lessons must be free.

4   Chloe wants to complete trial assessments to test her knowledge. She needs to improve her essay writing skills for the university entrance paper. She wants a class that takes place late in the evening.

5   Ben wants a fast-paced, daily study program. He learns best by taking old exams repeatedly. He gets easily distracted at home, so he requires a physical study center located in the middle of town.

University Entrance Exam Prep Courses

A Weekend Winners

Conquer your fears! If you panic during important assessments, our friendly Saturday and Sunday workshops will teach you brilliant relaxation techniques to handle the pressure perfectly. You will also complete several trial papers under timed conditions, ensuring you feel completely ready and confident when the real assessment day finally arrives.

B Digital Numbers

Prepare for your university application from the comfort of your own sofa! This is a highly demanding, daily program designed to drastically improve your abilities with numbers and calculations. Our internet-based sessions run every weekday, pushing you hard to achieve the absolute best grades possible in your quantitative assessments.

C Calm Minds Camp

Are expectations making you completely terrified? Join our demanding seven-day training camp! Running all day from Monday to Sunday, we teach you incredible psychological tricks to survive highly stressful testing situations. Because this project is supported by local schools, attendees do not have to pay anything to join us!

D Night Scholars

Improve your ability to argue on paper! We focus entirely on creating brilliant paragraphs and structuring extended answers. During our after-dinner sessions, students will constantly test their skills by completing historical past papers. It is absolutely perfect for daytime workers wanting to check their level before the final assessment.

E Metro Fast-Track

Situated right next to the main city square, our modern building is the perfect place to concentrate! This tough, everyday course forces you to work quickly. We strongly believe the best preparation is repetition, so you will spend hours completing previous years’ assessment documents to master the final format.

F Relaxed Weekends

Do you feel sick with worry about your entrance exams? We specialize in teaching teenagers how to breathe and stay completely calm under heavy expectations. We meet exclusively at the end of the week. Our main goal is helping you write beautiful essays, rather than doing timed practice tests.

G Web Science Daily

Work incredibly hard every single day from your own bedroom! Our digital platform offers a demanding, fast-paced schedule to get you ready for university. However, please note that our expert teachers focus completely on biology and chemistry, so we do not offer any help with numbers or calculations here.

H Twilight Testing

Come and try out previous years’ exam papers without spending a penny! We offer completely cost-free support for students who need to test their knowledge. Our doors open late in the day, perfectly suiting busy schedules. Please be aware that we do not offer psychological support for anxious learners.

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a chess club.

There are descriptions of eight chess clubs.

Decide which chess club would be the most suitable for the people below.

1   Tom already knows how to play, but he wants to improve his strategic thinking. He is looking for a place with a quiet room to concentrate. He also hopes the club organizes local tournaments so he can compete against others.

2   Anna is a complete beginner and wants to learn the rules of the game. She works long hours during the week, so she needs a club that meets on weekend mornings. She hopes to find a friendly atmosphere to socialize.

3   Brothers Leo and Max love playing fast-paced games and want to practice speed chess. They are busy students who are only free for evening sessions. They would also like a place where they can buy food and drinks while playing.

4   Sara is an experienced player who wants to attend advanced masterclasses to reach the next level. She does not have a car, so the club must be in a central location. She also wants to borrow chess books to study.

5   Mark recently retired and is looking for afternoon sessions to pass the time. He prefers to practice by playing against computer software rather than humans. Since he drives everywhere, it is essential that the club offers free parking for members.

Chess Clubs

A The Grandmaster’s Hall

This club focuses on developing your long-term planning and tactical skills perfectly. We maintain a completely silent environment, ensuring members can concentrate deeply without any background noise interrupting them. We also regularly host regional competitions where you can test your abilities against top players from nearby towns. It’s the perfect spot for serious players.

B Knights & Pawns

If you have never moved a piece before, our welcoming instructors will teach you the basics. We meet every Saturday and Sunday before lunch, making it ideal for busy professionals. Our group is incredibly sociable, so it is a fantastic spot to chat and meet new friends while learning.

C The Chess Café

Do you enjoy lightning-fast matches with a clock? We specialize in blitz and rapid formats. Doors open after dinner and stay open late into the night. While you battle it out on the board, you can order delicious hot meals, snacks, and coffees directly to your table. It is the perfect combination of thrilling gameplay and great dining.

D City Center Checkmate

Located right in the heart of town next to the main square, we cater to highly skilled individuals. Our expert coaches offer high-level instruction to help you achieve mastery. Furthermore, members have full access to our extensive library, allowing you to take home excellent literature to study offline. Join us to refine your skills and connect with other experts.

E Digital Rooks

Open daily right after lunch until the early evening, this modern hub is perfect for daytime visitors. Instead of human opponents, members practice their moves against top-tier artificial intelligence programs on our tablets. Visitors will also appreciate the large, complimentary garage situated right behind our building for their vehicles.

F Silent Bishops

We enforce a strict no-talking rule in our playing hall, providing the perfect peaceful atmosphere. We also frequently organize neighborhood matches for our members. However, we only teach basic piece movements to absolute beginners and do not offer any lessons on complex planning or advanced game tactics. Everyone is welcome to join our friendly community.

G Downtown Kings

Situated just a two-minute walk from the central train station, our academy is very easy to reach. We provide exceptional coaching for veteran players aiming to become masters. Please note that while we offer brilliant digital analysis, we do not have any physical reading materials or a lending library available.

H Midnight Blitz

If you love playing under time pressure, our rapid and lightning formats will definitely thrill you. We open our doors at 8 p.m. every weekday, creating a vibrant late-night gaming environment. Unfortunately, our kitchen is closed permanently, and eating or bringing outside snacks into the venue is strictly prohibited.

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to join a geography and map society.

There are descriptions of eight geography societies.

Decide which society would be the most suitable for the people below.

1   Anna wants to watch educational documentaries about different countries. She is very busy with her university studies all week, so she absolutely needs a society that meets on Saturdays or Sundays.

2   Tom loves competitive geography quizzes and wants to test his knowledge of capital cities against others. He has no money to spend, so the society must be completely free. He works during the day, so he needs an evening meeting.

3   Lily wants to learn how to physically draw and design her own maps from scratch. She doesn’t own a car, so the meeting place must be located directly next to the railway station. She prefers a morning session.

4   David is interested in learning about the daily lives and cultures of people in foreign countries. He hates feeling pressured, so he wants a relaxed environment with absolutely no quizzes. He lives far away, so he requires an internet-based group.

5   Chloe wants to watch exciting documentaries specifically about dangerous landscapes like volcanoes and deserts. She also wants the opportunity to buy some geography books to take home. She is only free on Wednesday afternoons.

Geography and Map Societies

A Weekend Explorers

Spend your Saturday and Sunday traveling the world from a comfortable chair! We focus entirely on watching fascinating, full-length documentaries about the history, people, and landscapes of different countries. We do not run any competitive games, so you can just sit back, relax, and enjoy the educational films.

B The Night Quiz

Test your brain against other geography fans! Our after-work sessions start at 7 PM and are packed with fast, competitive trivia games about capital cities and international flags. Best of all, this thrilling evening activity will not cost you a single penny to attend. Come and see if you can win!

C Morning Cartography

Become a master map-maker! Our 9 AM sessions will teach you the artistic skills needed to draw, colour, and design your own beautiful maps from scratch. Our studio is incredibly easy to reach, situated exactly a two-minute walk from the main rail platforms, making it perfect for public transport users.

D Digital Citizens

Discover how people live across the globe! This internet-based society allows you to learn about international traditions, daily life, and foreign cultures straight from your own bedroom. We provide a completely relaxed, stress-free environment, so we promise there are absolutely no trivia games or tests to worry about here.

E Extreme Earth

Experience the wildest places on our planet! We meet every Wednesday at 2 PM to watch thrilling, high-quality films about exploding volcanoes, icy mountains, and deadly deserts. After the documentary finishes, do not forget to visit our excellent society shop, where you can purchase fascinating geography textbooks and magazines to take home.

F Global Cinema

Join our friendly Monday evening club! We love watching educational films about European cities and discussing international travel. Unfortunately, our private viewing theatre is located deep in the countryside, so there are no trains or buses nearby, and all members must drive a car to reach our building.

G The Map Room

Map making for beginners! This complimentary Saturday and Sunday workshop teaches you how to understand coordinates and draw your own maps. We have a fantastic library of books you can borrow for free. Please note that we do not show any films or documentaries during our highly practical meetings.

H Champion’s Trivia

Are you the ultimate geography expert? Prove it in our highly competitive Wednesday afternoon trivia tournaments! We test your knowledge of foreign countries, populations, and capital cities. Please note that this is a premium club, so membership is quite expensive and must be paid online before you can attend.

Exercises:   123456