Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Everyday Social Responsibility & Sustainable Living
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
My Slow Travel Adventure
Last summer, my family and I planned a holiday to the south of Spain. Usually, we would just book a cheap two-hour flight and be at our hotel by lunchtime. However, we had recently watched a programme about the environment and carbon emissions, which made me feel quite guilty about flying. I suggested we try something called ‘slow travel’ instead. This means choosing a more environmentally friendly transport method, even if it takes much longer. After a long discussion, my parents agreed, and we booked tickets for a fourteen-hour train journey across Europe.
When the day finally arrived, I felt quite excited as we boarded the train in Paris. But after about six hours, the reality of what we were doing hit me. The train was completely full, and the seats were definitely not designed for sitting in all day. My back began to ache, and my legs felt stiff because there wasn’t much room to walk around. As I looked at the time, I started to wonder if my eco-friendly idea was actually a terrible mistake. I imagined my friends who were probably already swimming in the sea on their holidays.
To distract myself from the physical discomfort, I pulled a long novel out of my backpack. Normally, I never have the time or patience to sit and read for hours without looking at my smartphone. But as the train rolled on, I completely lost myself in the story, actually finishing the entire book. Whenever I needed a break from reading, I simply stared out of the large window. It was fascinating to watch the landscape slowly change from flat green fields to tall, dramatic mountains. I saw tiny villages and beautiful rivers that I would have completely missed from a plane.
When we finally arrived at our destination late in the evening, I felt exhausted but strangely peaceful. The train ride had forced me to slow down and appreciate the present moment. I realised that holidays are not just about lying on a beach; the journey itself can be a valuable part of the experience. Although I still love the excitement of reaching a new place, I’ll definitely choose the train over flying whenever I have the chance.
1 Why did the writer choose to take the train for his holiday?
(A) He wanted to save money by avoiding a fast, expensive flight.
(B) He wanted to travel in a way that was kinder to the environment.
(C) He wanted to visit the south of Spain for the very first time.
(D) He wanted to see a television programme about transport in Europe.
2 How did the writer feel during the middle of the journey?
(A) Angry that the train was moving much too slowly.
(B) Jealous because his friends were travelling on the same train.
(C) Uncomfortable and unsure if he had made the right choice.
(D) Upset that he couldn’t find a seat on the crowded train.
3 What did the writer enjoy about looking out of the window?
(A) Taking photos of the tall mountains and beautiful rivers.
(B) Using his smartphone to record the views along the way.
(C) Spotting the tiny villages he had read about in his novel.
(D) Observing how the scenery gradually altered as they travelled.
4 How does the writer feel about ‘slow travel’ now?
(A) He thinks it is only suitable for people who enjoy reading.
(B) He understands that the journey can be just as important as the destination.
(C) He believes it is a good way to avoid feeling exhausted on holiday.
(D) He prefers the excitement of flying to reach a new destination quickly.
5 What would the writer text a friend after arriving?
(A) “Taking the train was the worst idea ever! It took fourteen hours and my back hurts so much that I just want to fly home.”
(B) “We just got off the train. It was completely empty, so I had plenty of space to walk around and read my novel in peace.”
(C) “I finally arrived! It was a very long trip, but seeing the countryside change and having time to relax actually made it a great experience.”
(D) “I’m so glad we decided to fly instead of taking the train. We saved so much time, and now I’m ready to swim in the sea!”
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The first paragraph states the writer suggested “slow travel” (the train) because a programme made him feel guilty about carbon emissions, so he wanted a “more environmentally friendly transport method”.
2 C – In the second paragraph, the writer mentions that his back ached, the seats were uncomfortable, and he “started to wonder if my eco-friendly idea was actually a terrible mistake”.
3 D – The third paragraph describes the writer finding it fascinating to “watch the landscape slowly change from flat green fields to tall, dramatic mountains”.
4 B – In the fourth paragraph, the writer concludes that “holidays are not just about lying on a beach; the journey itself can be a valuable part of the experience”.
5 C – This option captures the global meaning and attitude of the text: it acknowledges the long length of the journey (the challenge) but highlights the positive outcome of relaxing and watching the changing scenery (the reward).
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Protecting Our River
I have always enjoyed walking my dog, Max, along the small river near my house. It is usually a peaceful place, full of birds and fish. However, one afternoon last month, I noticed something unusual. As we approached the bridge, a terrible chemical smell filled the air. Then, I saw thick, unnatural yellow foam floating on the surface of the water. I followed the foam upstream and was shocked to see it pouring directly out of a large metal pipe belonging to the local shoe factory.
I immediately knew that the factory was doing something illegal, but I felt incredibly nervous about reporting them. The factory is one of the biggest businesses in our town, and it provides jobs for hundreds of local people, including some of my friends’ parents. I was worried that if I accused such a powerful company of polluting the water, I might get into serious trouble. For a few days, I kept quiet, hoping someone else would notice the pollution and complain instead.
Despite my fears, I couldn’t stop thinking about the poor fish in the river. I realised I had to do something, but I wanted to protect my identity. The following weekend, I went back to the river with my smartphone. I hid behind some trees and took several clear photos of the dirty pipe, the yellow foam, and the polluted water. When I got home, I searched online for the national environmental agency. I created a new, fake email address and sent them the pictures along with a map of the exact location.
To my surprise, the environmental agency acted very quickly. Just two weeks after I sent my anonymous message, I saw official government vehicles parked outside the factory gates. Recently, the horrible smell has completely disappeared, and the water is running clear again. I read in the local newspaper that the factory had to pay a huge fine for illegal dumping and change their waste system. I am so glad I took those photos. It proves that you don’t need to show your face to be brave and protect the environment.
1 What did the writer discover during her walk by the river?
(A) Someone had left large metal pipes in the water as rubbish.
(B) A local shoe factory was catching fire and producing a bad smell.
(C) Harmful waste was being released into the water from a building.
(D) The birds and fish were disappearing from her favourite place.
2 Why did the writer hesitate to report the factory at first?
(A) She was frightened of accusing such an important local business.
(B) She was worried that her friends’ parents would lose their jobs.
(C) She didn’t know who she was supposed to contact about the problem.
(D) She wanted to wait until she had gathered better photographic evidence.
3 How did the writer make sure her report remained a secret?
(A) She hid behind trees while she emailed the environmental agency.
(B) She sent the information using an invented online account.
(C) She asked a friend to take the photographs of the river for her.
(D) She left a map and printed pictures outside the agency’s office.
4 What was the final result of the writer’s actions?
(A) The shoe factory was forced to close down completely.
(B) She became a well-known local hero in the town’s newspaper.
(C) The environmental agency cleaned up the yellow foam themselves.
(D) The company was punished and the river became clean again.
5 What would the writer write in her diary about the experience?
(A) I feel guilty that the factory had to pay such a big fine. Next time, I should just talk to the manager directly instead of hiding in the trees.
(B) I’m so angry that the environmental agency didn’t do anything about my photos. The river is still full of terrible yellow foam today!
(C) It was scary, but I’m thrilled that my secret email stopped the pollution. You can make a real difference without anyone knowing who you are!
(D) Taking photos of the factory was fun, but I wish I had used my real name so that my friends would know how brave I was.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 C – The first paragraph states that the writer noticed a “chemical smell” and “yellow foam” that was “pouring directly out of a large metal pipe belonging to the local shoe factory”, which paraphrases harmful waste being released from a building.
2 A – In the second paragraph, the writer explains she was “nervous about reporting them” because the factory is “one of the biggest businesses” and she worried about accusing a “powerful company”.
3 B – The third paragraph describes how the writer protected her identity by creating a “new, fake email address” to send the pictures to the agency.
4 D – The fourth paragraph details that the factory “had to pay a huge fine” (punished) and that the “water is running clear again” (river became clean).
5 C – This option accurately captures the global meaning and attitude of the text: it acknowledges the writer’s initial fear, her joy at the positive outcome, and her final realization that acting anonymously can still protect the environment.
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
My Reusable Cutlery Journey
I’ve always loved buying takeaway food from the small cafés near my school. Every time I bought a meal, I would take a plastic fork or spoon. One day, I looked at the rubbish bin in my bedroom and realised it was full of single-use plastic. I felt terrible about the damage I was causing to the environment. I knew I had to change my habits, so I ordered a set of reusable bamboo travel cutlery online. It came in a small cloth bag and looked fantastic.
For the first week, using my new bamboo cutlery was a brilliant experience. I carried the little bag in my school backpack everywhere I went. Whenever I bought my favourite noodle soup or salad, I proudly said no to the plastic forks. A few of my classmates even noticed and said they wanted to buy their own sets. I felt like a true environmentalist, and it seemed like such an easy way to reduce my daily waste.
However, a rather disgusting accident soon showed me that being eco-friendly requires some effort. On a Friday afternoon, I ate a very messy tomato pasta dish in the park. Because there was no sink nearby, I put the dirty bamboo fork back into its cloth bag, planning to wash it at home. Unfortunately, I completely forgot about it. When I opened my backpack the following Monday morning, a horrible smell came out. My beautiful bamboo fork was covered in green mould!
I was so disgusted that my first thought was to throw the whole set away. But that would just create more waste, which was exactly what I wanted to avoid. Instead, I took it home, washed it in hot, soapy water, and left it to dry completely. Since that unpleasant day, I have made a strict rule for myself. I always carry a paper tissue to wipe the cutlery after eating, and I wash it immediately as soon as I get home.
It took a little while to get used to this extra work, but now it is a normal part of my daily routine. I no longer have to think about it. I haven’t used a plastic fork in over six months, and my bag never smells bad anymore. I’ve realised that making a difference for the planet isn’t just about buying eco-friendly products; it’s also about taking proper care of them.
1 Why did the writer buy the bamboo cutlery?
(A) They wanted to save money instead of paying for plastic forks.
(B) They were shocked by how much plastic waste they were creating.
(C) Their favourite café stopped providing single-use spoons.
(D) They wanted a fantastic new item to show to their friends.
2 How did the writer feel during the first week of using the set?
(A) Annoyed that their classmates were trying to copy their idea.
(B) Surprised by how heavy it was to carry in their school backpack.
(C) Pleased that they were making a positive environmental choice.
(D) Disappointed that the café staff didn’t notice their bamboo fork.
3 What caused the problem with the bamboo fork?
(A) The writer dropped it in the park while eating a messy pasta dish.
(B) The writer used the wrong kind of soap to clean it on a Friday.
(C) The cloth bag was already dirty before the writer put the fork inside.
(D) The writer left it unwashed in their bag for the whole weekend.
4 When the writer found the mouldy fork, they decided to
(A) put the ruined cutlery set into the rubbish bin.
(B) clean the fork properly so they could continue using it.
(C) buy a new bamboo set to replace the disgusting one.
(D) stop eating messy foods like tomato pasta in the park.
5 What would the writer text to a friend about their experience?
(A) I’m never buying bamboo cutlery again! It gets mouldy so quickly, and washing it is just too much hard work for me.
(B) You should buy this bamboo set! It cleans itself in its special cloth bag, so you never have to wash it after eating.
(C) Buying eco-friendly things is a good start, but you really have to remember to look after them if you want to make a difference.
(D) I feel so guilty because I started using plastic forks again. Keeping the bamboo set clean during the week was just impossible.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In paragraph 1, the writer states that they looked at their bin, “realised it was full of single-use plastic,” and “felt terrible about the damage I was causing,” which matches being shocked by their plastic waste.
2 C – In paragraph 2, the writer says they “proudly said no to the plastic forks” and “felt like a true environmentalist,” demonstrating pleasure at their positive environmental choice.
3 D – Paragraph 3 explains that the writer put the dirty fork in the bag on Friday, “completely forgot about it,” and opened it “the following Monday morning” to find it covered in mould.
4 B – In paragraph 4, although the writer’s first thought was to throw it away, they instead “washed it in hot, soapy water, and left it to dry completely” to avoid creating more waste.
5 C – This option accurately captures the global meaning and the primary lesson stated in the final paragraph: “making a difference for the planet isn’t just about buying eco-friendly products; it’s also about taking proper care of them.”