Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – City Breaks & Historic Towns 3

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a foodie city break.

There are descriptions of eight culinary trips.

Decide which culinary trip would be the most suitable for the people below.

1   Mark wants to taste local snacks from outdoor stalls. He doesn’t have much money, so he needs cheap accommodation. He also wants a central location where he can explore the city easily on foot without taking public transport.

2   Sara and Tom are celebrating their anniversary. They want a romantic trip with dinners at award-winning, top-class restaurants. They also want to spend an afternoon learning how to prepare traditional local dishes with a professional chef.

3   Elena is travelling alone and hopes to make new friends. She loves baking and wants a lesson on making sweet treats. She is also fascinated by old buildings and wants to stay in a historic neighbourhood.

4   The Jones family loves trying different meals from busy outdoor food stalls. They are travelling with young kids, so they need a flat to prepare their own breakfast. They also want a playground nearby.

5   David is flying in for a quick weekend and wants a very short journey from the airport. He plans to eat at famous, highly-rated restaurants. During the day, he wants to visit exhibitions of contemporary paintings.

City Food Tours

A The Backpacker’s Bite

This affordable youth hostel is perfect for tourists watching their money. Step outside and you are surrounded by a lively area filled with vendors cooking delicious, fresh local dishes. You will never need buses or trains, as all the fantastic city sights are just a short walk away. It is highly recommended!

B The Elegant Fork

Treat your partner to an unforgettable weekend at our luxury hotel. It is the perfect escape for couples in love. Enjoy incredible tasting menus at our world-famous dining rooms, recognized by top food guides. Guests can also join our expert kitchen team for a fantastic afternoon session, discovering the secrets of preparing delicious regional meals together.

C Heritage Baker’s Inn

Located in the heart of the city’s oldest district, this friendly guest house is surrounded by beautiful ancient architecture. It is brilliant for solo tourists looking to meet others. Join our fun group activities, including special kitchen sessions where you will practice making delicious local cakes and desserts. You will love the atmosphere here!

D City Park Suites

These comfortable, spacious apartments come with excellent cooking facilities, ideal for families who prefer making their own morning meals. Right across the street is a fantastic green space with swings and slides. You are also just steps away from fantastic open-air markets selling amazing hot snacks. Kids will absolutely love staying here!

E The Modernist Hotel

Situated just ten minutes from the arrival gates, you can start your holiday immediately. It is perfect for a quick luxury break. We are located exactly next door to the city’s best gallery of twenty-first-century artwork. In the evening, book a table at one of the internationally recognized, five-star dining venues located on our street.

F Market Square Hotel

Experience the vibrant energy of the city’s largest open-air food market right outside our luxury doors. You will find incredible hot dishes prepared by local vendors. Unfortunately, we do not have self-catering facilities, and our high-end prices make us unsuitable for anyone travelling on a strict budget. You will need buses to reach other areas.

G Airport Grand

This huge, modern hotel is incredibly close to the runway, saving you valuable travel time. It is strictly for business travellers wanting quiet. We are proud to host three award-winning restaurants serving incredible dishes created by famous chefs. However, there are no art galleries nearby, and we do not offer any lessons or kitchen activities.

H The Old Bakery Flat

Stay in a stunning historical building full of character and ancient charm. It is perfect for a completely silent holiday. We offer fantastic private lessons for couples wanting to learn how to bake traditional breads and pastries. Please note that this is a very quiet, private apartment, so there are no opportunities to socialise with other guests.

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a city apartment to rent.

There are descriptions of eight apartments.

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

1   Sarah loves cooking, so she needs an apartment with a newly updated, modern kitchen. She wants to be able to see the city skyline from her windows. She also hopes to be within walking distance of the main tourist attractions.

2   David works from home, so a fast, reliable internet connection is essential for him. He is traveling with his dog, so the apartment must accept pets. Finally, he prefers a quiet neighbourhood where he can sleep peacefully at night.

3   University students Emma and Lily have a very tight budget and need cheap accommodation. Because they don’t drive, they require an apartment right next to a subway station. They also want a building with a gym to keep fit.

4   The Patel family needs a large apartment with at least two bedrooms for their children. They are driving to the city and require a safe parking space. They would also love to be located right next to a green park.

5   Marcus is planning to stay in the city for three months and wants a discount for long bookings. He enjoys sitting outside, so he requires a private balcony. He also needs a washing machine inside the flat for his clothes.

City Apartments

A Skyline Heights

Stay right in the centre! You won’t need a bus to reach the famous museums and historical sites, as they are just minutes away on foot. This high-level flat offers spectacular sights of the tall city buildings. Food lovers will adore the fully renovated cooking area with the latest equipment.

B The Central Hub

This apartment is perfectly placed for tourists, as you can easily walk to all the famous city monuments. The cooking area is quite old and basic, but there are many great restaurants nearby. We happily welcome cats and dogs, and the flat includes a lovely little balcony to sit on.

C Peaceful Pines

Located in a silent residential district, you won’t hear any traffic noise here. This flat welcomes animals, so your furry friends can join your holiday. For remote workers, we provide an excellent high-speed broadband connection. It is the perfect peaceful escape, though it is quite far from the busy centre.

D Active City Base

This highly affordable apartment won’t empty your bank account, making it ideal for young travelers. It is situated directly opposite the main bus and underground terminal for easy travel. Guests also get free access to the health and fitness room on the ground floor to exercise during their stay.

E Green Park Suites

These luxury suites overlook a beautiful area of grass and trees, perfect for relaxing. Families will love having three spacious sleeping areas. While we offer a fantastic indoor swimming pool and exercise room, this is one of the most expensive choices in the city. Finding street parking is quite difficult.

F The Family Retreat

Ideal for larger groups, this spacious flat offers three separate sleeping areas so everyone has space. Drivers will appreciate the secure, private garage located under the building. Best of all, it is situated right across the street from beautiful public gardens where your kids can run and play safely.

G Sunny Long-Stays

We offer excellent reduced prices for guests booking for several months. Enjoy your morning coffee outside on your own private terrace, enjoying the fresh air. Please note that while the apartment is very comfortable, guests will need to use the public laundromat down the street to clean their clothes.

H The Extended Stay

If you need accommodation for many weeks, we provide significant price reductions for long-term renters. The flat includes a convenient washer and dryer in the bathroom so you can do laundry easily. You can also relax outdoors on the attached wooden deck, enjoying wonderful 

views of the quiet street.

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find hop-on hop-off bus tours in the city.

There are descriptions of eight bus tours.

Decide which bus tour would be the most suitable for the people below.

1   Carlos is staying for the weekend and needs a pass for two full days. He wants to take photos from the roof with no windows, and needs to listen to the history in Spanish.

2   Emma wants a pass for tomorrow and the next day. She prefers a tour led by a local expert who she can chat with, and she specifically wants to visit the city’s beautiful beaches.

3   Luigi only has one free day to explore the city before his flight. He needs a bus that is easy to use with his wheelchair, and he requires recorded information about the sights in Italian.

4   Mia wants to travel on the upper deck to enjoy the bright sunshine. She loves painting and wants the bus to stop at the famous modern art museums. She also prefers an entertaining real-life guide.

5   Chen is visiting just for today and needs a quick way around. Because the weather is terrible, he must have a bus with a closed roof. He also needs translations in his native Chinese.

City Bus Tours

A City Sights

Experience the city from our fantastic open-air upper deck, perfect for clear views! Every passenger gets headphones with recorded commentary available in ten different languages, including Spanish and French. Our standard passes are valid for a whole weekend, giving you plenty of time to hop off and explore everywhere.

B Coastal Cruisers

Enjoy the lovely seaside by taking our special route along the coast, stopping right by the sand. Your journey will be led by a friendly local worker who shares amazing facts and answers your questions. Best of all, your ticket gives you unlimited travel for an entire forty-eight hours!

C Quick City Loop

Perfect for short trips, this service provides a convenient daily pass. All our vehicles have ramps, making them completely accessible for passengers who cannot walk. You will learn about the monuments through our personal headphone system, which provides fascinating historical details translated into eight languages, such as Italian and German.

D Culture Ride

Feel the wind in your hair by choosing the outside seats on our upper level. This route takes you directly to the best creative galleries and sculpture exhibitions in town. Instead of a recording, an enthusiastic local history expert travels with you to share wonderful stories along the way.

E Weatherproof Tours

Don’t let bad weather ruin your sightseeing! Our vehicles feature a solid glass ceiling to keep you warm and dry while you look around. We offer a simple pass that lasts until midnight. At every seat, you can choose digital translations of the tour, with options like Chinese and Arabic.

F Weekend Wonders

Buy our weekend pass and enjoy two whole days of unlimited sightseeing! You can climb to our roofless top level to get the very best holiday photographs. Please note that all our tours are conducted only by English-speaking experts, so we unfortunately do not provide any translated headphone equipment.

G Sunny Shores Bus

Join us for a wonderful journey down to the beautiful ocean and relax by the water. An expert local host travels on board to tell you everything about the area’s history. We only offer single-day tickets, which are perfect for a quick afternoon trip away from the busy centre.

H Heritage Route

Discover the ancient streets with our very convenient daily travel card. Every bus has flat entry points designed especially for those using mobility equipment. A professional local resident will speak to the group in English during the drive. We currently do not have the technology to offer any translated recordings.

Exercises:   123456