Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Cinema & Movies 3

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a musical film to watch.

There are descriptions of eight musical films.

Decide which musical film would be the most suitable for the people below.

1   Sarah wants a musical about teenagers in high school. She prefers films that feature well-known modern pop songs rather than original music. She only has time for a short movie that is under ninety minutes.

2   David loves watching professional, classical dance styles like ballet. He is looking for a romantic story that takes place in the past, specifically the 1950s. He also prefers live-action movies rather than animated ones.

3   The Miller family wants an animated musical suitable for their five-year-old child. They want a film with original, catchy songs they can sing along to. The story must include talking animals as the main characters.

4   Mark is interested in learning about the true life story of a famous rock musician. He wants a serious, dramatic film rather than a light comedy. He also loves watching amazing live concert performances recreated on screen.

5   Elena is looking for a funny, cheerful musical based on a popular stage show. She loves stories that take place on holiday or near the beach. She wants to see huge group dance routines.

Musical Films

A City High Sounds

Join a group of students as they finish their final year of secondary education. Instead of brand-new tunes, the soundtrack is packed with recent chart-topping hits you already know. Running at just over an hour and a quarter, it is a quick, highly entertaining watch for anyone short on time.

B The Jungle Chorus

This colorful cartoon follows a group of wild creatures who start their own choir in the forest. It is perfectly safe for preschoolers and features a completely new soundtrack written exactly for this movie. The tunes are so incredibly memorable that your whole household will be humming them for days!

C Summer Camp Stars

Set at a summer holiday camp for teenagers, this hilarious adventure features huge groups of kids performing massive dance routines. The talented actors sing current chart hits from famous pop bands. However, at two and a half hours long, you will definitely need a whole evening to finish this epic journey.

D Electric Guitar Hero

Discover the factual history of one of the world’s greatest rock guitar players. This movie strictly avoids silly jokes, focusing deeply on the artist’s difficult personal journey. Fans will be completely thrilled by the massive stadium shows, which were carefully filmed to look exactly like his actual historical live gigs.

E Rock and Roll Dreams

Follow the hilarious adventures of a fictional rock band trying to become famous. This laugh-out-loud comedy is full of jokes and silly situations. While the band isn’t real, the actors perform their own incredible stadium shows, playing brilliant original music that will definitely make you want to jump up and dance.

F Sunshine Island Melody

Originally a massive hit in London’s theatres, this laugh-out-loud movie version takes you to a beautiful, sunny seaside resort. The characters spend their vacation singing and performing incredible, large-scale dance routines with dozens of people moving together perfectly. It is a fantastic, uplifting choice that will always make you smile.

G The Magic Slippers

This beautifully drawn cartoon takes audiences back to the middle of the twentieth century. It tells the magical story of a young girl learning traditional, graceful dances like the waltz and ballet. While it has stunning visuals, there are absolutely no real actors, making it feel like a beautiful moving painting.

H Midnight in Paris

Travel back to nineteen-fifty-four in this visually stunning tale of romance. Using strictly real actors and incredible historical clothing, the live-action film follows two lovers in France. The highlight is the breathtaking choreography, featuring professional artists performing spectacular classical ballet routines that will leave audiences of all ages completely amazed.

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a superhero film to watch.

There are descriptions of eight superhero films.

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

1   Leo enjoys superhero films that make him laugh. He is looking for a movie that explains how the main character first got their magical abilities. He prefers heroes who use supernatural powers rather than technology.

2   Maya wants to watch a movie featuring a group of heroes fighting evil together, led by a strong female character. She is a big reader and wants a film based on a classic comic book from the 1980s.

3   Sam prefers serious, dark films about the battle between good and evil. He wants a hero who has no special powers but uses clever gadgets. He has plenty of time and wants a movie lasting over two hours.

4   Chloe is looking for an animated superhero adventure. She wants a fun story about a normal teenager who has to balance high school with fighting a classic villain who wants to take over the world.

5   Max loves outer space settings and wants a sci-fi superhero movie. He is looking for a main character who can fly through the air. He expects a fast-moving story packed with amazing computer-generated special effects.

Superhero Franchises

A The Mystic

This hilarious adventure reveals the beginnings of a normal guy who suddenly discovers he can cast spells and control minds. If you want a good chuckle while watching a hero learn to use his new supernatural skills, this is perfect. You won’t see any advanced computers or robots here!

B Justice Guard

Inspired by the famous graphic novels published in the nineteen-eighties, this blockbuster follows a brave heroine directing a squad of super-powered friends. Together, they must defeat a terrible enemy. It brilliantly brings the colourful drawings of the past to life on the big screen. Fans of print will love it.

C Night Shadow

At exactly a hundred and forty minutes, this gripping drama takes a very serious look at fighting crime. The main character relies entirely on his own brilliant inventions and high-tech tools rather than supernatural gifts. Expect a moody, tense atmosphere with absolutely no silly jokes to interrupt the action.

D Spider-Boy

This fantastic cartoon follows a young hero trying to manage his homework while keeping his city safe. It perfectly balances the daily struggles of a student with epic battles against an evil genius aiming for global control. The colourful drawing style makes it a joy for the whole family!

E Star Defender

Set in a distant galaxy, this thrilling ride never slows down. You will be amazed by the incredible digital visuals as the main champion soars freely among the planets. It is a high-energy battle among the stars that relies heavily on breathtaking computer graphics and non-stop action to tell its spectacular story.

F Iron Hero

Find out exactly how this billionaire inventor first created his incredible metal suit. This incredibly funny movie is packed with clever jokes and laughter from start to finish. However, all of his abilities come from advanced engineering and highly developed technology rather than any kind of mystical forces. It is a brilliant comedy.

G The Protectors

A powerful woman leads an incredible group of gifted fighters to protect humanity from dark forces. They must work together in this action-packed film. Based on the best-selling digital comic series created just last year, it offers a totally modern take on what it means to be a hero today.

H The Bat’s Return

This incredibly dark and serious film explores the mind of a human detective who fights criminals using cool vehicles and clever gadgets instead of superpowers. It is a brilliant, moody tale of justice, packing an impressive amount of thrilling drama into a very short ninety-minute runtime. Fans will definitely enjoy it.

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a classic black-and-white movie to watch.

There are descriptions of eight movies.

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

1   Anna wants to watch a funny comedy to make her laugh. She would love to see a famous male actor from the past. The story should be about a family and their everyday problems.

2   David likes slow-paced movies that help him relax. He wants to see a classic film that happens in a beautiful European city. He also expects to hear lots of great singing and music throughout the story.

3   Maria and John are looking for a black-and-white crime story about the police. They are very busy, so the movie must be under 70 minutes. They want to see how ordinary people lived in the 1920s.

4   Samuel enjoys watching romantic love stories. He wants to watch a classic movie where the action takes place on a train or a ship. He is looking for a foreign film that has English text to read.

5   Linda loves watching scary black-and-white horror films. She wants to watch something that was directed by a woman, which was unusual in the past. She prefers stories that happen inside a large, old country house.

Classic Black-and-White Movies

A The Breakfast Table

This humorous classic is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face. It stars the most well-known gentleman of early cinema, who gives a brilliant performance. The plot follows parents and their children as they deal with silly, normal situations at home. It is a wonderful look at relationships.

B Midnight in Paris

Take your time and enjoy this gentle, unhurried tale set entirely in the capital of France. Instead of fast action, the film focuses on calm moments and beautiful streets. Fans of musicals will be delighted, as the characters frequently break into wonderful songs with a traditional jazz band playing along.

C Shadows of 1924

If you enjoy watching detectives catch thieves, this old cinema classic is perfect for you. The film lasts exactly one hour, making it an excellent choice for a quick watch. Viewers also get a fantastic window into the past, seeing exactly what regular citizens wore and did during that fascinating decade.

D Ocean Hearts

This beautiful tale of two passengers falling for each other takes place completely during a journey across the sea on a huge boat. It was produced in Italy, so audiences will need to follow the translation at the bottom of the screen. It is a sweet, emotional journey for everyone.

E The Dark Gates

Prepare to feel terrified with this classic ghost tale! It was successfully made by one of the few female film-makers of the early cinema period. The frightening action is entirely located inside a massive, historical building in the countryside with many empty rooms. It will definitely keep you awake all night!

F A Crazy Weekend

This amusing movie is full of jokes about relatives trying to live together in a tiny apartment. While it will definitely make you chuckle, the studio used completely unknown performers who never appeared on screen again. It remains a great piece of light-hearted entertainment for a relaxing Sunday afternoon.

G Dancing in Rome

Set in the beautiful streets of Italy’s capital, this classic brings the city to life with amazing singing and fantastic dancing. However, prepare for an incredibly fast-paced experience! The camera moves rapidly, and the energetic story never stops to take a breath from the beginning to the very end.

H Midnight Express

This terrifying mystery happens on a dark railway journey through the mountains. A brave detective must find the criminal before the sun comes up. It was created by the famous male filmmaker John Ford and is spoken entirely in English, so no reading is required to understand the dialogue.

Exercises:   123456