Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Camping, Hostels & Alternative Stays 4

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a volunteer working farm holiday.

There are descriptions of eight working farms.

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

1   Mia wants to learn how to grow organic vegetables. She loves animals and hopes to help care for horses. Because she is arriving late at night, she needs a farm that is very close to the airport.

2   Carlos wants to do heavy physical work like building fences. He hopes to stay inside the main farmhouse to practice speaking English with the host family. He also strictly requires meals without any meat.

3   Brothers Sam and Leo want to learn how to make cheese from cow’s milk. They are travelling with no money, so accommodation and food must be completely free. They also want a farm near the coast.

4   David wants to spend his days picking fresh fruit from trees. He studies online, so a strong internet connection is essential. He also wants to be able to borrow a bicycle to explore the local village.

5   Aisha is looking for a farm where she can learn how to keep bees and make honey. She needs to bring her pet dog with her, and she prefers to sleep in a private cabin outside.

Working Farm Holidays

A Green Acres

Join our friendly team and discover the secrets of planting and harvesting chemical-free carrots and potatoes. Your daily duties will also include brushing and feeding our beautiful ponies in the stables. We are conveniently located just a ten-minute drive from the arrivals terminal, which is absolutely perfect if your plane lands after dark.

B Oak Wood Farm

We need strong volunteers to help us construct wooden walls and repair old farm buildings. You will have your own bedroom inside our family home, which is a great way to chat and improve your language skills. We serve delicious plant-based dishes from our garden, so no animal products are used.

C Sea Breeze Dairy

Located right next to a beautiful sandy beach, our farm is perfect for ocean lovers. Volunteers will receive a comfortable bed and three meals a day at zero cost in exchange for their help. Your main job will be turning our fresh milk into delicious local dairy products in our kitchen.

D Sunny Orchards

Spend your mornings outdoors collecting ripe apples and pears from our large gardens. When you finish, you can use one of our free mountain bikes to ride around the beautiful local area. In the evenings, relax in the lounge where we provide an excellent high-speed broadband network for your laptop.

E Sweet Nectar Retreat

We are looking for enthusiastic helpers to manage our insects and collect sweet, golden syrup from their boxes. We welcome volunteers who travel with their four-legged friends! During your stay, you will not share the main house; instead, you will sleep in your own peaceful wooden hut in the forest.

F Highland Pastures

Come and help us collect fresh strawberries and look after our friendly sheep. In return for your hard physical effort, we provide a comfortable room and all your meals without any charge. However, please note that we are located deep in the mountains, very far from any towns or transport hubs.

G River Farm

We need fit volunteers to carry rocks and build new animal shelters before winter. Our kitchen strictly cooks healthy, meat-free meals using our own crops. Helpers will need to bring warm sleeping bags, as everyone camps outside in tents under the stars rather than sleeping inside the main house.

H Valley Beekeepers

Learn all about producing pure honey and taking care of our flying insects on this working holiday. Volunteers are provided with their own individual guest houses away from the main building. Unfortunately, to protect our local wildlife, we cannot accept any animals on the property, so leave your pets behind.

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a winter yurt holiday.

There are descriptions of eight Mongolian-style tents.

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

1   Anna and Tom want a romantic holiday just for the two of them. They need a traditional wood fire to keep warm. They also want to stay right next to the hills so they can go skiing in the deep snow.

2   David is travelling alone and needs a cheap price because he is a student. He wants to stay in a tent with thick, warm walls. He also needs a place that serves hot evening meals so he doesn’t have to cook.

3   The Smith family are travelling with young children, so they need a very large tent. They want to play in the white snowy landscape outside. They also require a kitchen area to prepare their own family food.

4   Lucas wants to learn about traditional Mongolian culture and history during his stay. He needs a real wood fire to sit next to at night. He also requires a fast Wi-Fi connection to finish some university work.

5   Emma gets cold easily, so she needs heavy layers on the tent walls to keep the wind out. She wants to bring her pet dog on holiday. She also needs a transport service from the airport.

Winter Yurts

A Mountain Peaks

Perfect for romantic holidays for two. Step outside into the white powder and enjoy immediate access to the best winter sports hills. Inside, you can relax together next to the traditional burning logs in the centre of your home, ensuring a magical and cozy evening. We provide all the equipment you need.

B Student Valley

Are you travelling with little money? We offer fantastic low prices for solo explorers. Our traditional Mongolian homes feature extra heavy layers of wool on the walls, keeping the freezing weather out. Furthermore, a delicious hot supper is cooked and served by our friendly staff every night. You won’t need to cook at all.

C Family Frost

Our giant Mongolian homes easily sleep up to six people, making them ideal for parents and children. Surrounded by beautiful white hills, younger guests will love making ice shapes outside. Inside, you will find a fully equipped preparation area with pans and a stove to make your own family dinners.

D Nomad Network

Discover the fascinating history of Asian nomads with our daily educational talks. Stay connected with friends using our incredible, high-speed broadband signal available in every tent. As the sun goes down, you can keep warm by sitting around the real burning logs in the middle of your traditional space.

E The Welcome Yurt

Don’t worry about the freezing wind! Our tents are built with multiple heavy wool layers to guarantee you stay completely warm. We run a convenient shuttle bus directly to the flight departure gates. Best of all, we happily welcome your furry friends to join you on your exciting winter holiday.

F City Flames

Enjoy a romantic break for two in our unique urban tents. We provide a beautiful, real burning log stove in the centre to keep you perfectly warm. However, because we are located in the dry southern valley, you will not see any white winter weather or outdoor mountain sports here.

G The White Escape

Experience the magic of the frozen landscape right outside your door! Our amazing structures use double-thick felt covers, so the freezing temperatures never get inside. Please note that our tents are completely empty of cooking equipment, and the nearest cafe for evening meals is a long drive away. Make sure you bring cold snacks.

H Electric Heritage

We offer incredible daily workshops about ancient Asian tent designs. For your convenience, our private driver can collect you straight from the arrival halls. We also welcome small pets. To protect the environment, we have removed all traditional burning logs, so you will be kept warm entirely by modern, silent electric radiators.

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find hammock camping sites.

There are descriptions of eight minimalist camping sites.

Decide which camping site would be the most suitable for the people below.

1   Leo is travelling with his own hammock and needs thick woods where he can easily hang it up. He wants an outdoor fire pit to make dinner, and he requires a place that costs very little money.

2   Mia and Sam want to try hammock camping near a large body of water for early swims. They don’t own any gear, so they must borrow suspended beds and warm sleeping covers directly from the campsite.

3   The Garcia family don’t drive, so the campsite must be accessible by bus or train. They want large suspended beds grouped together for everyone, and they prefer a place with excellent modern showers to stay clean.

4   David is carrying his own warm blanket but needs to hire a hanging bed. He is looking for a peaceful mountain setting, and he wants to find a local café right next door for his morning meals.

5   Anna wants a hanging bed with a roof to protect her from wet weather. She hopes to take lessons in outdoor survival skills, and she needs a cold storage space to keep the meals she brings fresh.

Minimalist Camping Sites

A Whispering Pines

This highly affordable forest location is perfect for guests travelling with empty wallets. The heavy, old tree trunks stand close together, making it incredibly simple to tie up your own suspended bed. In the evening, guests can gather around our open wood-burning zone to prepare hot meals under the stars.

B Blue Water Camp

Set right on the edge of a stunning freshwater pool, you can dive straight in when you wake up. There is no need to pack heavy equipment, as our reception desk hires out comfortable swinging beds and thick, cozy blankets for the night. Just bring yourselves and enjoy nature!

C Green Valley Hub

Forget about bringing a vehicle, as the local station is only a short walk away. We offer fantastic oversized hanging nets that fit multiple people, perfect for keeping groups close. Furthermore, our newly built washrooms offer powerful, hot water to keep you feeling fresh after a day outside.

D High Peak Retreat

Located high up in the silent, rocky hills, this is the ultimate relaxing getaway. We rent out strong swinging beds, but visitors must pack their own thick sleeping gear to stay warm. When you wake up, enjoy fresh pastries at the wonderful little coffee shop located just outside our main entrance.

E Wilderness Base

Sleep comfortably in our special suspended beds, which feature waterproof tops to keep you completely dry during storms. During the day, our expert instructors offer great classes on useful outdoor techniques for living in the wild. Guests can also securely store their personal groceries in our large communal cooling cabinets.

F Oak Tree Haven

This budget-friendly destination will not cost much, offering fantastic value for money. The thick, sturdy branches are perfectly spaced for you to attach your own hanging beds safely. However, due to safety rules, open flames are strictly forbidden, so visitors must only bring cold snacks that don’t require cooking.

G River Bend Park

Enjoy a fantastic morning dip in the beautiful natural waters located just meters from your sleeping spot. We offer a great selection of suspended beds to hire for your holiday. However, our camp store does not supply any night covers or blankets, so carrying your own is absolutely essential.

H Nature’s Canopy

Stay completely dry in our excellent swinging beds, equipped with special rain covers. You can save money by bringing your own food and keeping it fresh in the shared refrigerators. Instead of outdoor survival lessons, we focus on creativity, offering daily guided tours to help you photograph the local wildlife.

Exercises:   123456