Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Adventure Holidays 3
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
My First Glamping Experience
I have always strongly disliked camping. To my mind, going camping usually means sleeping on the hard ground, waking up freezing cold, and dealing with thousands of annoying insects. So, when my parents cheerfully announced that we were spending the weekend ‘glamping’ in the countryside, I really wasn’t happy. I didn’t care what the word ‘glamorous’ added to the idea of camping; I was absolutely certain it would be a complete disaster. I even packed extra insect spray and three thick jumpers, preparing myself for the absolute worst.
The drive to the campsite took about two hours. As we drove further away from the city and deep into a dark, quiet forest, my anxiety only grew. When we finally parked the car, it was pouring with rain, which perfectly matched my miserable mood. We had to walk along a muddy path to reach our spot, and I kept complaining to my parents, asking why we couldn’t just stay in a normal, comfortable hotel like we usually do. However, my complaints stopped the moment we arrived.
Instead of the tiny, wet nylon tent I was expecting, there was a huge, beautiful canvas structure built on a wooden platform. When Dad opened the front door, I was completely speechless. Inside, there was a proper double bed with thick, comfortable blankets, a soft rug on the floor, and pretty fairy lights hanging from the ceiling. Best of all, there was a small wood-burning stove keeping the whole place incredibly warm! It didn’t look like a tent at all; it actually looked like a luxury hotel room.
The rest of the weekend turned out to be absolutely fantastic. While it rained heavily outside, we stayed completely dry and warm inside, playing board games and drinking hot chocolate prepared on our little stove. Furthermore, I didn’t see a single spider or mosquito the entire time! On Sunday morning, I woke up feeling surprisingly refreshed after a brilliant night’s sleep. I finally realised that sleeping outdoors isn’t so bad after all, as long as there is a real mattress involved. I’ve already asked my parents if we can go glamping again next year!
1 How did the writer feel when her parents first announced the trip?
(A) Curious to find out what glamorous camping was really like.
(B) Certain that she was going to have a terrible time.
(C) Excited to spend a relaxing weekend in the countryside.
(D) Worried that she didn’t have enough warm clothes to wear.
2 What was the writer doing as they walked to their accommodation?
(A) She was worrying about getting her clothes muddy.
(B) She was expressing her wish to be somewhere else.
(C) She was trying to hide her bad mood from her parents.
(D) She was feeling scared of the dark forest around them.
3 What did the writer think was the best thing about the inside of the tent?
(A) The fairy lights hanging from the ceiling.
(B) The fact that it had a proper double bed.
(C) The small stove that heated the space.
(D) The soft rug covering the wooden floor.
4 How has the writer’s opinion changed by the end of the trip?
(A) She believes that traditional camping can be just as fun.
(B) She now enjoys sleeping outdoors if she has comfortable facilities.
(C) She prefers playing board games in a tent to watching television.
(D) She realises that bad weather cannot ruin a traditional camping holiday.
5 What would the writer text a friend about the weekend?
(A) You know how much I hate camping! Well, this trip was even worse than I expected because it poured with rain all weekend.
(B) My parents booked a luxury tent, but honestly, I would have preferred staying in a normal hotel with a real bed.
(C) I thought glamping would be a nightmare of bugs and cold, but I actually loved it and slept amazingly well!
(D) The tent was nice and warm, but the forest was so muddy and dark that I spent the whole time wishing I was home.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In the first paragraph, the writer says, “I was absolutely certain it would be a complete disaster,” which matches the expectation of having a terrible time.
2 B – The second paragraph states that during the walk, she “kept complaining to my parents, asking why we couldn’t just stay in a normal, comfortable hotel,” showing she wanted to be somewhere else.
3 C – In the third paragraph, after listing several nice features, the writer explicitly states, “Best of all, there was a small wood-burning stove keeping the whole place incredibly warm!”
4 B – The final paragraph reveals her new perspective: “sleeping outdoors isn’t so bad after all, as long as there is a real mattress involved,” indicating she accepts it if there is comfort.
5 C – This option perfectly captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text: moving from expecting a terrible, cold, bug-filled camping trip to being pleasantly surprised by the luxury and actually loving the experience.
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Cycling through France
When my parents announced that our summer holiday would be a week-long cycling tour through the Loire Valley in France, I wasn’t exactly thrilled. I enjoy riding my bike to school, but cycling for six or seven hours a day sounded more like a punishment than a relaxing break. However, my parents had already booked everything, including our flights and the rented bicycles, so I didn’t really have a choice. I packed my bags, secretly hoping that it would rain so we could travel by bus instead.
From the very first morning, the physical challenge was a massive shock. The Loire Valley is famous for being mostly flat, but spending all day on a bicycle seat is incredibly hard work. By the end of day two, my legs ached constantly, and I felt completely exhausted. The route took us past magnificent old castles and beautiful green fields, but honestly, I was too tired to pay much attention to the amazing scenery. I just kept my head down and focused on turning the pedals.
However, on the third day, our trip improved. We started a new daily routine that quickly became my main motivation. Every afternoon, instead of eating at big tourist restaurants, we began stopping at tiny, quiet villages. We would visit a local bakery to buy warm, fresh bread, and then find a market for some delicious French cheese. Sitting by the river, eating a simple but perfect picnic, made all the hard work feel completely worth it. Knowing that a tasty meal was waiting for me gave me the energy to keep riding.
By the time we reached our final destination at the end of the week, I felt like a completely different person. My legs were definitely stronger, and the constant ache had finally disappeared. Looking back at the map, I couldn’t believe how many kilometres we had successfully covered. Although it was the most tiring holiday I have ever had, I felt incredibly proud of myself. I actually think I would like to go on another cycling adventure next summer, although I might ask my parents to rent me an electric bike next time!
1 How did the writer feel about the holiday before it started?
(A) She was excited to visit France for the first time.
(B) She believed the amount of daily exercise would be too demanding.
(C) She was annoyed that she had to use a rented bicycle.
(D) She hoped the weather would be perfect for riding.
2 What was the writer’s experience during the first few days?
(A) She was surprised by the steep hills in the area.
(B) She enjoyed taking photographs of the old castles.
(C) She suffered from continuous physical pain.
(D) She wanted to cycle faster than her parents.
3 What helped the writer to continue cycling?
(A) Eating lunch at popular tourist restaurants.
(B) The prospect of having a nice local meal.
(C) Stopping to swim in the river every afternoon.
(D) Learning how to bake fresh French bread.
4 How does the writer feel about the trip now?
(A) She regrets not using an electric bike this time.
(B) She is amazed by the distance her family travelled.
(C) She is unhappy that her legs are still hurting.
(D) She thinks her family should have chosen a shorter route.
5 What would the writer write in her travel blog?
(A) We are cycling through the Loire Valley! It’s flat and easy, so I spend all day admiring the beautiful castles and fields.
(B) This holiday has been completely exhausting. If my parents try to make me go on another cycling trip next year, I will definitely refuse!
(C) My legs hurt for days, but the amazing village picnics kept me going. I finished the trip feeling so proud of what I achieved!
(D) France is beautiful, but the food in the tourist restaurants was very disappointing. Next time, we need to find some better places to eat.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The writer states that “cycling for six or seven hours a day sounded more like a punishment than a relaxing break,” which paraphrases to finding the daily exercise too demanding.
2 C – In paragraph 2, the writer explains that “my legs ached constantly, and I felt completely exhausted,” which matches suffering from continuous physical pain.
3 B – The text in paragraph 3 says that “Knowing that a tasty meal was waiting for me gave me the energy to keep riding,” matching the prospect of having a nice local meal.
4 B – In the final paragraph, the writer states, “Looking back at the map, I couldn’t believe how many kilometres we had successfully covered.”
5 C – This option accurately captures the global narrative: the initial physical struggle with aching legs, the motivation provided by the simple picnics, and the final feeling of pride upon completing the journey.
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A River Adventure
When my dad first suggested a four-day white-water canoeing trip for just the two of us, I had mixed feelings. I loved spending time outdoors, but my previous canoeing experience was limited to calm, flat lakes. The idea of navigating fast-flowing rivers seemed a bit frightening. However, Dad promised it would be an exciting adventure, and he had hired an experienced guide to lead our small group. So, I packed my waterproof bags and decided to accept the challenge.
For the first two days, everything was perfect. The weather was bright and sunny, and the river was relatively gentle. We spent our time enjoying the spectacular forest scenery, spotting wildlife, and camping under the stars at night. Our guide taught us basic paddle strokes, and I quickly became confident in the boat. I began to wonder why I had ever been anxious about the trip in the first place.
But on the third afternoon, the river changed completely. The water moved much faster, and the noise of the crashing waves was incredibly loud. As we entered a difficult section of rapids, we failed to notice a large, flat rock hidden just beneath the surface. With a sudden crash, our canoe hit the rock and stopped dead. We were completely stuck, and freezing water immediately started pouring over the side. For a moment, I completely panicked, sure that the canoe would turn over.
Fortunately, my dad stayed completely calm. He shouted over the roar of the river, telling me exactly what to do. We needed to work together to change the balance of the boat. Following his instructions, I carefully moved my weight to the left side while we both used our paddles to push hard against the rock. It took a few attempts, and we were both soaking wet, but finally, the canoe slid free and back into the main current.
That evening, as we dried our clothes by the campfire, I realised how much the experience had taught me. When things go wrong in the wild, you can’t just give up. You have to communicate, stay calm, and solve the problem practically. The trip wasn’t just a fun holiday anymore; it showed me what I was capable of achieving when I worked as a team.
1 Why did the writer agree to go on the canoeing trip?
(A) He wanted to improve the skills he had learned on lakes.
(B) He was persuaded by his dad’s plans for a guided trip.
(C) He had always wanted to try white-water canoeing.
(D) He wanted to spend time alone with the experienced guide.
2 How did the writer feel during the first two days of the journey?
(A) Surprised by how difficult the basic paddle strokes were.
(B) Worried about the changing weather conditions.
(C) Annoyed that the river was too gentle and boring.
(D) Confident enough to stop worrying about the trip.
3 What happened on the third afternoon?
(A) They crashed into another canoe in the rapids.
(B) They got trapped on an unseen object in the water.
(C) The writer fell out of the boat into the freezing water.
(D) The canoe turned over completely in the fast river.
4 How did the writer and his dad manage to free the canoe?
(A) The guide came over and pulled them off the rock.
(B) They both jumped out and pushed the boat into the current.
(C) They successfully shifted their position and pushed with their paddles.
(D) The dad moved to the front of the boat to change the balance.
5 What would the writer say about the trip?
(A) I’m proud that we managed to rescue ourselves, but I don’t think I’ll ever go in a canoe again.
(B) The trip was much easier than I expected, and we didn’t really need a guide after all.
(C) Getting stuck was terrifying, but dealing with the situation taught me the value of teamwork and staying calm.
(D) My dad is a great canoeist, but I wish he had noticed the rock before we crashed into it.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The text states in the first paragraph that “Dad promised it would be an exciting adventure, and he had hired an experienced guide… So, I packed my waterproof bags and decided to accept the challenge.”
2 D – In paragraph 2, the writer explains that he “quickly became confident in the boat” and “began to wonder why I had ever been anxious about the trip in the first place.”
3 B – In paragraph 3, the text describes how they “failed to notice a large, flat rock hidden just beneath the surface” and hit it, leaving them “completely stuck.”
4 C – In paragraph 4, the writer explains that they changed the balance of the boat (“I carefully moved my weight”) and “used our paddles to push hard against the rock” to break free.
5 C – This option perfectly captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text: moving from panic during the crash to realizing that communication, calmness, and practical problem-solving are essential skills.