Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Entrepreneurship & Hustle
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The Science of Soap
I have always cared deeply about the environment, so last year I decided to start making my own eco-friendly, organic soap at home. I thought it would be an enjoyable hobby and perhaps even a way to earn a little extra pocket money. I watched a few short online videos and bought some basic, natural ingredients like olive oil, coconut oil, and fresh lavender. I was incredibly excited to create something beautiful and useful completely from scratch.
Last weekend, I finally attempted to make my very first batch of soap. I quickly mixed all the sweet-smelling oils together in a large bowl and added the special soap-making chemicals, mostly just guessing the right amounts as I went. I poured the colourful mixture into a wooden mould and confidently waited for it to harden. However, the next morning, I was extremely disappointed. Instead of beautiful solid bars of soap, the mixture had turned into a horrible, liquid mush that simply wouldn’t set.
After cleaning up the terrible mess, I realised that making soap wasn’t just about mixing pleasant ingredients together; it was actually a serious science. I spent the next few days carefully researching the process on the internet and reading books about chemistry. I discovered that you must use exact measurements and calculate the perfect ratio of oils to chemicals. If you get the recipe even slightly wrong, the necessary chemical reaction simply won’t happen, and the soap will fail.
Armed with my new knowledge, I bought an accurate digital scale and decided to try again. This time, I measured every single ingredient incredibly carefully, following the scientific rules perfectly. I was quite nervous, but a few days later, I was thrilled to discover perfectly solid, fantastic-smelling bars of organic soap. I beautifully wrapped them in brown recycled paper and managed to sell every single one at a busy local craft market.
That messy first attempt taught me a very valuable lesson about running a small business. I learned that creating a successful eco-friendly product requires much more than just having good intentions and a fun idea. You really have to combine your creative entrepreneurship with careful scientific research to make something that actually works.
1 Why did the writer decide to start making soap?
(A) She wanted to learn more about chemistry at home.
(B) She hoped to make an environmentally friendly product and earn some cash.
(C) She needed a practical project for a science class at school.
(D) She wanted to copy the colorful soap she saw in some online videos.
2 What caused the problem with the writer’s first batch of soap?
(A) The wooden mould was far too small for the mixture.
(B) She used cheap ingredients that were not completely natural.
(C) She did not measure the ingredients accurately enough.
(D) The mixture was left in the mould to harden for too long.
3 What did the writer discover during her research?
(A) Making soap relies on following exact scientific rules.
(B) The chemistry of soap is simply too complicated to do at home.
(C) There are many different ways to mix the chemicals successfully.
(D) Books are much better than the internet for learning about chemistry.
4 How did the writer feel after her second attempt?
(A) Annoyed because the soap took several days to become solid.
(B) Worried that nobody would buy her soap at the craft market.
(C) Surprised by how much the new digital scale helped her.
(D) Delighted that she had managed to produce successful bars of soap.
5 What would the writer write in her diary?
(A) “Selling soap at the market was fun, but I think I prefer just watching online videos about it.”
(B) “My business is successful, but I wish I didn’t have to spend so much money on natural ingredients.”
(C) “I’ve learned that making a great product means mixing my creative ideas with exact scientific rules.”
(D) “I have decided to stop making soap because the chemistry is just too difficult and messy to do at home.”
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The text states in the first paragraph, “I decided to start making my own eco-friendly, organic soap… I thought it would be an enjoyable hobby and perhaps even a way to earn a little extra pocket money.” This maps perfectly to making an environmentally friendly product and earning some cash.
2 C – In the second paragraph, the writer explains that she added the chemicals, “mostly just guessing the right amounts as I went.” This is a factually correct paraphrase for not measuring the ingredients accurately enough.
3 A – Paragraph three explains that she discovered “you must use exact measurements and calculate the perfect ratio… If you get the recipe even slightly wrong, the necessary chemical reaction simply won’t happen.” This matches the idea that making soap relies on following exact scientific rules.
4 D – The fourth paragraph states that the writer was “thrilled to discover perfectly solid, fantastic-smelling bars of organic soap.” This directly paraphrases to being delighted that she had managed to produce successful bars of soap.
5 C – This option successfully captures the global meaning and the specific lesson in the final paragraph: “You really have to combine your creative entrepreneurship with careful scientific research to make something that actually works.”
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The Mobile Mechanic
My name is Jamie, and I have always loved cycling. Last spring, I noticed that many people in my town had broken bicycles but didn’t have the time to transport them to a repair shop. Since I already knew how to fix basic mechanical problems, I decided to start a mobile bicycle repair service. I packed my tools into a heavy backpack, hopped on my own bike, and started advertising online. I was thrilled to get my first few customers and start earning my own money.
For the first few weeks, everything went perfectly. I rode around town fixing flat tyres and adjusting brakes. I felt very confident in my abilities until I received a call from a customer named Mr. Henderson. When I arrived at his house, he showed me his expensive mountain bike. The gears were completely stuck, and the system was a modern, complicated design that I had never seen before. I stared at the metal parts, feeling my heart beat faster. I had absolutely no idea how to fix it.
I felt incredibly embarrassed. Mr. Henderson was watching me closely, waiting for me to start repairing his bike. For a moment, I thought about apologising and telling him to take it to a professional shop. However, I didn’t want to give up easily. I asked him to give me a few minutes, took out my smartphone, and searched for a video tutorial on YouTube. I quickly found a video of an expert mechanic explaining exactly how to repair that specific gear system.
I sat on the grass and watched the five-minute clip twice, paying close attention to every single detail. Then, I picked up my tools and carefully followed the instructions step by step. It took me much longer than a normal repair, but finally, I heard a satisfying click. I turned the pedals and tested the gears. They moved smoothly and perfectly. Mr. Henderson was delighted with the result and gave me a generous tip for my hard work.
Riding back home that afternoon, I felt a huge sense of achievement. I realised that running a successful business isn’t just about already knowing all the answers. Sometimes, the most important skill you can have is resourcefulness—the ability to stay calm and find a solution when you face an unexpected problem. I am now much more confident, knowing that whatever mechanical challenges come my way, I can figure them out.
1 Why did Jamie decide to start his mobile repair service?
(A) He wanted to save up enough money to buy a new mountain bike.
(B) He saw that people needed a more convenient way to fix their bikes.
(C) He wanted to learn how to repair different and complicated bicycles.
(D) He was asked to deliver tools for a local bicycle repair shop.
2 How did Jamie feel when he first saw Mr. Henderson’s bicycle?
(A) Surprised that the customer owned such an expensive item.
(B) Confident because the bicycle looked like a very basic repair job.
(C) Annoyed that the customer was standing so close to him.
(D) Anxious because he didn’t know how the gear system worked.
3 What did Jamie do to solve the problem with the gears?
(A) He used his phone to find out how an expert fixed it.
(B) He called a professional mechanic to come and help him.
(C) He asked Mr. Henderson to read the instructions to him.
(D) He suggested that the customer take it to a real shop.
4 What did Jamie learn from this experience?
(A) Fixing modern gears is much easier than repairing flat tyres.
(B) A good business person needs to be able to find answers independently.
(C) He should only accept repair jobs that he already knows how to do.
(D) Watching videos is the only way to learn about bicycle mechanics.
5 What would Jamie write in a blog post about his business?
(A) Starting a mobile business was a mistake. Customers expect you to know everything, and it’s too stressful to learn on the job.
(B) I earn lots of money fixing flat tyres, but I have decided to stop accepting mountain bikes because their gears are too complicated.
(C) Today I fixed a bike by watching a video! It taught me that being able to solve unexpected problems is a crucial business skill.
(D) Mr. Henderson was a very difficult customer, but he taught me that if you apologise for your mistakes, people will still pay you.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In paragraph 1, Jamie says he noticed people had broken bicycles but “didn’t have the time to transport them to a repair shop,” which means they needed a more convenient way to get them fixed.
2 D – In paragraph 2, Jamie sees the complicated gear design he has never seen before, and states “feeling my heart beat faster. I had absolutely no idea how to fix it,” which maps to feeling anxious because he didn’t know how it worked.
3 A – In paragraph 3, Jamie takes out his smartphone and searches for a video tutorial, finding “a video of an expert mechanic explaining exactly how to repair” the gears.
4 B – In paragraph 5, Jamie reflects that running a business isn’t about knowing all the answers, but about having “resourcefulness—the ability to stay calm and find a solution,” which means finding answers independently.
5 C – This option captures the global meaning and the overall narrative of the text. It highlights his creative solution (watching a video) and the broader lesson he learned about resourcefulness and solving unexpected problems as a business owner.
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
My Greeting Card Business
For as long as I can remember, I have loved making personalised greeting cards. I used to spend hours designing special birthday and thank-you cards for my family and friends. When I started sharing photos of my creations on social media, people left lovely comments, and strangers began asking if they could buy them. I thought it would be a fantastic way to earn some extra pocket money, so I set up a small online shop. I was thrilled when I received ten orders in my very first week.
However, my excitement quickly turned into stress. Because I was doing everything completely by hand, from drawing the designs to cutting out the tiny paper shapes, a single card took me almost an hour to finish. When I calculated the price I charged compared to the time I spent, I realised I was earning very little money. It was exhausting, and I often had to stay up late after finishing my schoolwork just to complete my customers’ orders. I knew that if I continued like this, I would soon have to close my shop.
I realised I needed to find a way to work faster, so I started looking for advice online. That’s when I discovered electronic cutting machines. You can connect them to a computer, and they automatically cut out complex paper shapes in seconds. The only problem was that the machine was quite expensive. After thinking about it carefully, I decided to use all the money I had saved from my early sales to buy one. It felt like a massive risk, but I hoped it would save my little business.
When the machine finally arrived, it took me a few days to understand how to use the design software. But once I learned the basics, the difference was incredible. Instead of spending an hour on one card, I could produce five beautiful cards in the same amount of time. Investing in the machine taught me a valuable lesson about business. I learned that to grow and become successful, you sometimes have to spend money to save time. My shop is now doing brilliantly, and I’m so proud of what I’ve achieved.
1 Why did the writer open an online shop?
(A) Her family encouraged her to start selling her cards.
(B) She wanted to make a bit of money from her hobby.
(C) She needed to buy better materials for her designs.
(D) She wanted a place to share photos of her creations.
2 How did the writer feel about her business after a few weeks?
(A) Disappointed because she received so few orders.
(B) Worried that her card designs were too simple.
(C) Tired because the work took too long for very little profit.
(D) Bored of having to do her schoolwork at the same time.
3 What does the writer say about the electronic cutting machine?
(A) It was difficult to find one available online.
(B) It required a special, expensive computer to work.
(C) It was something she couldn’t afford to buy.
(D) It cost a lot, but she used her savings to get it.
4 What did the writer learn from buying the machine?
(A) Making things by hand is the only way to get good quality.
(B) Spending money on equipment can help a business grow.
(C) Design software is generally too difficult for beginners to use.
(D) Taking risks with your savings is usually a bad idea.
5 What would the writer write in her diary today?
(A) Making cards by hand is incredibly relaxing. I’m glad I didn’t change how I work, even if it means I don’t earn much money.
(B) I wish I hadn’t spent all my savings on that cutting machine. It’s so hard to use that I’ve decided to close my online shop.
(C) Getting those first orders was great, but the stress was too much. I think I’ll just make cards for my family from now on.
(D) I took a big risk buying that machine, but it changed everything. Now I can manage my orders easily and make a real profit!
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In the first paragraph, the writer states she “thought it would be a fantastic way to earn some extra pocket money,” which paraphrases as wanting to make a bit of money from her hobby.
2 C – In the second paragraph, the writer explains that finishing a card took almost an hour and she was “earning very little money.” She also says it was “exhausting” and caused her stress.
3 D – In the third paragraph, the writer notes that “the machine was quite expensive” but she “decided to use all the money I had saved… to buy one.”
4 B – In the fourth paragraph, the writer concludes, “I learned that to grow and become successful, you sometimes have to spend money to save time.”
5 D – This option perfectly captures the global meaning and the writer’s current attitude: she acknowledges the risk she took, the positive change the machine brought to her production, and her overall business success.