Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Cinema & Movies 5

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a silent film with live music to attend.

There are descriptions of eight vintage film events.

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

1   Sarah wants to watch a funny silent film to make her laugh. She would love to hear a large group of musicians playing the music together. She also wants to be able to eat a full meal while watching the movie.

2   David is looking for a silent film about the future or space travel. He prefers listening to just one person playing the piano during the movie. He is busy in the evenings, so he needs to find an afternoon showing.

3   Elena and Mark want to see a romantic story about people falling in love. They would like to sit outside in the fresh air to watch it. Because they are students, they are looking for tickets at a low price.

4   James loves feeling frightened by scary ghost stories. He wants to experience the traditional sound of a large theatre organ playing the music. Before the film starts, he hopes to listen to an expert explaining its history and background.

5   Maria enjoys exciting adventures about journeys to dangerous, wild places. Instead of traditional classical music, she wants to hear a modern electronic band playing live. She also wants to buy a poster or gift to remember this special vintage experience.

Silent Film Events

A The Smile Maker

Get ready for non-stop giggles with this brilliant 1920s classic. While you enjoy the hilarious situations on screen, a fifty-piece symphony will perform the magnificent soundtrack. Guests can sit at comfortable tables and order a delicious three-course hot supper served directly to their seats throughout the amazing performance.

B Tomorrow’s World

Travel forward in time with this fascinating early vision of flying cars and robot cities. Instead of a noisy band, a talented soloist will provide a beautiful, quiet keyboard performance. This special screening begins at two o’clock, making it a perfect daytime activity before the sun goes down. Don’t miss it!

C Hearts in Paris

Bring a blanket and relax on the grass for this beautiful tale of two artists discovering true passion in France. We project the silent classic onto a huge screen under the night sky. Entry is completely free for teenagers in college, so it is an incredibly affordable evening out!

D The Dark Castle

Prepare to jump in terror as vampires hunt in this famous black-and-white nightmare! The atmosphere is made even creepier by a musician performing on a massive, antique wind instrument with pipes. Arrive early, as a famous university professor will give a short speech about how the movie was created.

E Jungle Quest

Follow brave explorers through deep forests in this thrilling survival classic. To give it a fresh feel, a local group will play upbeat, computer-generated sounds on synthesizers instead of old-fashioned instruments. After the show, visit our lobby shop to purchase wonderful artwork, T-shirts, and memories of your visit. It’s a truly unique event.

F The Baker’s Mistake

This lighthearted movie about a clumsy chef will have you crying with joy. You can enjoy a tasty slice of pizza and a drink from our cafe while watching. The live music is provided by our fantastic resident organist, playing the original 1925 pipes to match the silly action perfectly.

G Journey to Mars

See how directors a century ago imagined space flight in this silent visual masterpiece. The spectacular visuals are accompanied by a massive, sixty-person classical orchestra playing perfectly in time. Join us for this wonderful afternoon showing at 3:00 p.m. and experience a true vintage cinematic journey. Tickets sell very quickly!

H A Walk in the Rain

Experience the deeply emotional story of a couple separated by war, shown on an open-air screen in the beautiful botanical gardens. A live jazz group provides the vintage soundtrack. Please note this is a luxury charity event, and tickets are very expensive, with no reduced rates available for any guests.

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a sports drama film to watch.

There are descriptions of eight sports drama films.

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

1   Lucas wants to see a movie about an unsuccessful team achieving the impossible. He is looking for a winter sport. He is watching with his ten-year-old sister, so the film must be completely suitable for young children.

2   Nina enjoys watching gymnastics. She wants to see a film that teaches a strong lesson about working together instead of trying to be the single star. She only wants to watch movies that describe actual historical events.

3   Omar prefers individual sports like tennis. He loves stories featuring a tough teacher who secretly cares deeply about their student. He has a busy evening, so the movie must finish in less than an hour and a half.

4   Sophia loves being in the water and wants a movie about swimming or sailing. She enjoys plots where two rivals must learn to cooperate. She also wants to hear lots of classic rock songs in the background.

5   Diego is a huge football fan. He is looking for a made-up story where the main team surprisingly does not win the final championship. He also expects to see highly recognizable Hollywood stars playing the main characters.

Sports Drama Films

A Ice Dreams

This heartwarming tale follows a terrible ice-hockey group that suddenly starts winning against the best players in the local league. It takes place during a freezing Canadian December. There are absolutely no scary scenes or inappropriate words, making it an ideal, safe choice for kids and parents to enjoy together.

B Flipping High

This brilliant movie details the factual history of the 1996 national acrobatics squad. Initially, the athletes only care about winning their own personal medals. Eventually, they realise that supporting each other is the only way to succeed. It is a fantastic, highly accurate documentary-style look at real athletic history.

C Centre Court

Running at just eighty minutes, this quick, fast-paced drama follows a struggling tennis player aiming for the top. He is guided by an old trainer who shouts a lot but genuinely wants his student to achieve greatness. It is an intense look at what it takes to succeed alone.

D River Rivals

Two completely different boys who hate each other are forced to share a boat in a major river rowing competition. To avoid sinking, they must put their differences aside and row as one. The thrilling action scenes are perfectly matched with loud, energetic guitar tracks from legendary 1980s bands.

E The Last Whistle

Featuring an incredibly well-known cast of A-list celebrities, this creative, fictional drama focuses on a struggling soccer club. They fight hard to reach the ultimate tournament. However, in a shocking twist, they are defeated in the last second. It proves that playing with passion matters more than a trophy.

F City Strikers

This intense soccer drama is about a terrible, unknown team from the streets that somehow manages to win the biggest cup in the country. It is an inspiring tale of success, but it features very violent behaviour and harsh language throughout, meaning it is strictly for adult viewers only.

G Blue Waters

A beautifully filmed story about a group of competitive swimmers who must cooperate to win the national relay race. It perfectly highlights the value of friendship over individual skill. While it feels incredibly realistic, the script is completely invented by the writers. The gentle soundtrack features peaceful classical piano music.

H Snowy Slopes

This two-hour snowboarding adventure follows a highly talented athlete who teaches himself how to perform incredible jumps on the dangerous mountains. He proudly refuses to take advice from any professional instructors. It is a thrilling winter ride with amazing camera work, perfect for those who love cold-weather action and extreme stunts.

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a horror movie to watch.

There are descriptions of eight horror movies.

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

1   Jake is looking for a movie set in a haunted house. He plans to watch it with his younger brother, so it shouldn’t be for adults only. He prefers scary films that also have lots of funny moments.

2   Sarah and Tom want to see something full of extremely frightening scenes. They are fascinated by movies about things that actually happened in real life. They are very busy and need a movie lasting under an hour and a half.

3   Emily loves watching older, classic movies from the mid-twentieth century. She prefers psychological thrillers with a creepy atmosphere rather than monsters. She specifically wants to watch something starring very well-known, famous Hollywood actors in the main roles.

4   Mark loves science fiction and wants a scary movie set in space. He enjoys brilliant computer graphics and special effects. He is looking for a shocking film made strictly for adults, which is completely unsuitable for anyone under eighteen.

5   Lisa enjoys survival stories featuring terrifying monsters. She wants a movie where the main characters are a group of school teenagers. She prefers stories that take place outdoors, especially those set deep inside a dark forest or jungle.

Horror Movies

A The Ghostly Guest

This hilarious adventure takes place inside a spooky, abandoned building. While there are a few jumping moments, it is mostly packed with jokes that will make you laugh out loud. With no age limits, the whole family can safely enjoy this brilliant and highly entertaining spooky tale together.

B Midnight Terror

If you want absolute terror, this shocking tale delivers pure fear. The plot follows the factual, documented experiences of a local family from the 1970s. It is incredibly intense, but because the running time is only eighty minutes, it is perfect for a quick, terrifying evening of genuine historical horror.

C The Crazy Mansion

Set inside a massive, old property filled with unseen spirits, this movie is a fantastic mixture of horror and comedy. You will be crying with laughter at the silly situations. However, due to its very strong language and violence, nobody under the age of eighteen is allowed to watch it.

D Shadows of the Mind

Filmed entirely in black-and-white in nineteen-sixty, this masterpiece relies on a tense, uncomfortable mood rather than silly creatures. It stars some of the biggest cinematic names of the era. Viewers will appreciate the brilliant acting and the slow, deeply unsettling feeling that stays with you long after it finishes.

E The Final Scare

Lasting exactly an hour and fifteen minutes, this completely invented, fictional story never slows down. From the very beginning, audiences are treated to completely terrifying, heart-stopping shocks. It is an incredibly frightening ride, but remember that none of these events ever happened outside of the writer’s imagination!

F Dark Planet

Taking place on a distant, isolated spaceship, this terrifying alien adventure features some of the most spectacular, modern digital visuals ever created. Because of the extremely violent and shocking nature of the attacks, this incredibly scary film is strictly limited to older audiences and definitely not for kids.

G Cabin of the Dead

A weekend camping trip goes horribly wrong when several high school students are attacked by the walking dead. Surrounded by thick trees and nature, they must fight to survive. This terrifying creature feature uses its isolated outdoor location brilliantly to create a truly scary, action-packed fight for life.

H Whispering Woods

A group of young college friends decide to spend their holidays exploring a dark, isolated wilderness. While camping among the tall trees, they begin to hear strange, ghostly voices. It is a brilliant, quiet mystery about invisible spirits, completely avoiding any physical creatures, zombies, or typical movie monsters.

Exercises:   123456