Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Art, Crafts & Design 2

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a pottery or ceramics class to attend.

There are descriptions of eight pottery classes.

Decide which pottery class would be the most suitable for the people below.

1   Sarah has never tried pottery before but wants to learn the basics. She works during the day, so she needs a class from Monday to Friday after 6 p.m. She also hopes to keep the things she makes to decorate her flat.

2   Leo and Mark are looking for a weekend activity. They want to focus on creating useful things for their kitchen, like cups and bowls. They also need to know if they should bring old clothes in case the activity gets messy.

3   Maya doesn’t want to make pottery from clay but wants to learn how to paint beautiful designs on plain plates. She doesn’t drive, so the studio must be near a train station. She only has time for a short, two-day course.

4   Tom wants to learn how to use a pottery wheel to make shapes. He is looking for a class that takes place in the morning. He also wants to create a special present to give to his mother for her birthday.

5   Elena has done some pottery before and wants to improve her skills. She is very interested in learning about different types of clay. She also wants to be able to take her finished pieces home to show her family.

Pottery and Ceramics Classes

A Clay Basics

Start your pottery journey with us! We teach you the simplest techniques to shape clay. Sessions run on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7 p.m., perfect for after work. Once your beautiful objects are fired in our oven, you can collect them to display in your living room.

B Useful Art

Join our Saturday and Sunday workshops to craft your own mugs and soup dishes! It is a very practical session where you build items for daily use. Working with wet clay means you will definitely get dirty, so please remember to wear something you don’t mind ruining!

C Advanced Evening Clay

This course runs every Wednesday night and is perfect for those who already know the basics of pottery. We focus on just one specific material: standard white clay. At the end of the month, students can pack up their completed projects and bring them back to their own houses.

D Colourful Ceramics

Only have a weekend to spare? In this quick 48-hour workshop, we provide ready-made white ceramics for you to add colourful patterns and pictures to. The studio is conveniently located just a two-minute walk from the central underground station, making it completely accessible without a car.

E Kitchen Craft

Spend your weekends learning to make fantastic plates and teapots for your dining table. Our modern machines make the process completely clean, so there is no need to worry about getting your clothes dirty at all! We provide all the necessary tools and aprons for a tidy experience.

F Spinning Clay

Discover the magic of the potter’s spinning machine to form perfect circles! These early-bird sessions start at 9 a.m. sharp. We will help you design and craft a unique, handmade item that is completely ready to be wrapped up and handed to a loved one on their special day.

G Next Step Pottery

If you already know the basics and wish to get better, this is for you! We explore various materials, from red terracotta to smooth porcelain. Best of all, anything you successfully create is yours to keep and share with your relatives once it is fully dried and baked.

H Morning Presents

Start your day creatively at 10 a.m. by making a lovely handmade surprise for someone you care about. We only use traditional hand-building methods here, rolling and shaping everything entirely by hand, so we do not use any spinning machines at all. All materials are included in the fee.

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a fashion design and upcycling course.

There are descriptions of eight fashion courses.

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

1   Chloe has never used a needle before but wants to turn her old, torn jeans into something new. She is also really hoping to display her finished clothes to an audience on a stage when the classes finish.

2   Marco already makes his own garments and wants advanced lessons to improve how he updates his grandfather’s vintage jackets. Instead of a public event, he just wants to take his finished, updated garments home to wear them immediately.

3   Lily has some basic machine experience and wants to create an elegant dress using completely new, fresh silk. She wants to see her beautiful final dress worn by a model in a big public performance on the last day.

4   Sam loves sketching ideas to update second-hand clothing, but he absolutely hates actually making garments himself. He is looking for a class where he only draws, but he still expects his designs to appear on a runway eventually.

5   Maya wants to learn how to stitch so she can transform used materials into cool, modern outfits. She doesn’t want to model her work on a stage; she prefers an opportunity to offer her pieces to local shoppers afterwards.

Fashion Courses

A A Fresh Start Fashion

Perfect for absolute novices, this workshop teaches you how to give worn-out trousers and shirts a stylish second life. We guide you through every basic stitch. To celebrate your hard work, we organise a spectacular catwalk event on our campus, where a large crowd will applaud your recycled creations!

B Classic Revival

If you are a confident tailor looking to challenge yourself, join our masterclass in reworking classic coats and inherited menswear. You will learn complex techniques for modernising traditional shapes into modern trends. We skip stressful exhibitions here; instead, you simply add your freshly transformed pieces directly to your daily wardrobe.

C Elegant Creations

For those who already know how to thread a machine, this intermediate course focuses on constructing glamorous eveningwear from unused, high-quality textiles. You won’t be reusing anything here! On our final evening, your stunning, newly made pieces will be modelled in front of invited guests during our glamorous runway showcase.

D Visionary Style

Bring your imagination and leave the actual manufacturing to our experts! This illustration course focuses entirely on reimagining charity shop finds on paper. Professional tailors will then construct your best drawn ideas. Your transformed, pre-loved garments will finally be presented by professional models during our exciting end-of-term catwalk presentation.

E Market Makers

Take your first steps in tailoring with our beginner-friendly workshops. We concentrate on rescuing discarded fabrics and turning them into fashionable streetwear. There are no scary stage presentations here. We prefer to conclude the term by setting up a market stall, allowing the public to purchase your fantastic sustainable items!

F Runway Recycled

This intensive programme is exclusively for people with years of dressmaking experience. You will push your boundaries by turning old, unwanted clothing into high-fashion pieces. Your spectacular redesigned outfits will be the stars of our glamorous closing ceremony, complete with music, lights, and a massive audience of fashion buyers.

G Future Designers

Have you always wanted to make clothes but don’t know where to start? We welcome absolute beginners! You will learn how to cut and pin brand new, expensive cottons straight from the factory. The course finishes with a wonderful evening where your freshly produced outfits are paraded down the catwalk.

H Eco Studio

Join us to learn the basics of dressmaking! We specialize in teaching newcomers how to cut up old, unwanted garments and sew them into beautiful modern designs. We do not host catwalks or sales events. Instead, a professional photographer will capture high-quality images of your work for your personal portfolio.

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a comic book and manga drawing course.

There are descriptions of eight drawing courses.

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

1   Ben wants to learn how to write better plots for his comics. He also wants to practice using traditional liquid pens. He is looking for a class where he can collaborate with other students on projects.

2   Sarah loves reading Japanese manga and wants to improve her character design. She needs a weekend course because she is busy during the week. She prefers to study entirely alone with a private tutor.

3   Max wants to print and sell his own comic books, so he needs business advice. He also wants to learn shading techniques using black ink. He is looking for an intensive course during the summer holidays.

4   Lily is a beginner who wants to focus on drawing expressive faces. She needs an evening class after school. She wants a course that involves working in small teams so she can make new friends.

5   David wants to learn how to pace his graphic novel so the narrative is exciting. He needs the studio to provide all paper and drawing tools. He is looking for a short weekday morning workshop.

Drawing Courses

A The Creator’s Table

Discover how to craft amazing narratives and structure your comic panels effectively! In this session, you will also master old-fashioned dipping tools and dark washes to make your art stand out. Everyone works together in teams to produce a shared comic, making it perfect for those who love sharing ideas.

B Tokyo Art Studio

Do you want to create authentic-looking Japanese heroes and villains? We focus heavily on getting those specific facial details right. Sessions happen on Saturdays and Sundays. You get the undivided attention of an expert instructor, as we only offer one-to-one tuition, guaranteeing you learn at your own perfect speed.

C August Illustration Camp

Spend your long July and August break developing your artistic style. We teach you how to create deep shadows and textures with liquid brushes. Beyond art, you will receive expert tips on how to manufacture your finished magazines and get them into local shops to earn some pocket money.

D Twilight Comic Club

Join us after dinner to improve your basic drawing skills! This friendly class shows you how to communicate emotion by drawing realistic eyes and mouths on your heroes. You will partner up with different teenagers every week to complete fun, shared drawing challenges, ensuring a fantastic, highly social atmosphere.

E Morning Masterclass

Start your day creatively from Monday to Friday before lunch. This class helps you build thrilling story arcs and organize your pages so readers cannot put your book down. There is no need to bring anything from home; we supply all the specialist pens, pencils, and professional paper you need.

F The Solo Inker

Improve your liquid brush techniques and learn to outline your artwork perfectly! We also cover essential narrative structures to make your graphic novel truly exciting. However, this is an independent home-study course. You will work entirely alone using our online videos, without any interaction with other classmates or teachers.

G Night Owl Portraits

Running from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., this session is brilliant for mastering head shapes and emotional expressions in a popular Japanese style. Please note that these are large lecture classes where you listen to a teacher. There are no opportunities for shared projects or chatting with other participants.

H Holiday Sketching Fun

Enjoy your school vacation with our special July and August drawing program. We focus on traditional tools, helping you master dipping pens and black washes. Instead of selling your work, the goal is simply to have fun and upload your pictures to our website for your family to enjoy.

Exercises:   123456