Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Everyday Social Responsibility & Sustainable Living
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A Different Way to Buy Books
I have always been a huge fan of reading, especially science fiction. Until a few months ago, my book-buying routine was incredibly simple. Whenever I wanted a new novel, I just went onto a massive online store, clicked a button, and the book arrived at my house the very next day. It was fast, cheap, and convenient. I never really thought about how this habit might be affecting the small businesses in my own town.
That all changed when I read an article in the local newspaper about independent shops closing down because they couldn’t compete with internet giants. I suddenly felt bad about my online shopping, so I decided to make a change. The following Saturday, instead of turning on my laptop, I walked down to the small independent bookshop on our high street. I had walked past it hundreds of times but had never actually been inside.
As soon as I walked through the door, I loved the atmosphere. It was quiet, smelled wonderfully of old paper, and the shelves were packed with interesting titles. I was looking for a specific, newly released science fiction novel, but after searching for ten minutes, I couldn’t find it. The shop owner, an older man named Mr. Evans, noticed I was looking for something and offered to help. He checked his computer and told me that he didn’t have it in stock.
He said he could order it for me, but it would take about a week to arrive. He also told me the price, which was a few pounds more than I usually paid online. For a moment, I considered just going back home and ordering it from the internet. However, I remembered the newspaper article and agreed to order it through him.
When I returned a week later to pick up my book, Mr. Evans remembered my name and even recommended another author I might like. Paying a bit more and waiting longer wasn’t as convenient, but chatting with him made the purchase feel special. Now, every time I open that book, I feel a personal connection to my local community that you simply cannot get from a massive online retailer.
1 What did the writer use to like about buying books online?
(A) She could read reviews from other science fiction fans.
(B) She could get her new books quickly and for a low price.
(C) She could order books that were not available in local shops.
(D) She liked supporting large international businesses.
2 Why did the writer decide to visit the local bookshop?
(A) She needed to buy a newspaper for a school project.
(B) Her laptop was broken and she couldn’t order online.
(C) She realised her shopping habits were harming local businesses.
(D) She wanted to see if the shop had a specific science fiction novel.
3 What happened when the writer was inside the bookshop?
(A) The owner told her that the book she wanted was not published yet.
(B) She spent ten minutes talking to the shop owner about science fiction.
(C) The owner asked her to help him organise the packed shelves.
(D) She was unable to find the particular book she was looking for.
4 How did the writer feel about returning to the shop a week later?
(A) She regretted paying extra money for the new book.
(B) She appreciated the friendly service she received from the owner.
(C) She was annoyed that the delivery took a whole week.
(D) She decided she would only read books recommended by Mr. Evans.
5 What would the writer say about her experience?
(A) “It is always better to buy books online because local shops never have the titles you want.”
(B) “I saved a lot of money by shopping locally, and I made a new friend in the process.”
(C) “Waiting for a book and paying a little extra is worth it for the personal connection you get.”
(D) “The local bookshop is a beautiful place, but the owner needs to lower his prices to get more customers.”
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In the first paragraph, the writer states that ordering from the massive online store meant the book arrived the next day and was “fast, cheap, and convenient.” This paraphrases getting books quickly and for a low price.
2 C – The second paragraph explains that she read an article about independent shops closing down, which made her feel “bad about my online shopping”. This matches the realisation that her habits were harming local businesses.
3 D – In paragraph three, the writer says she “couldn’t find it” and the owner confirmed he “didn’t have it in stock.” This perfectly matches being unable to find the particular book she was looking for.
4 B – Paragraph five describes how Mr. Evans remembered her name and recommended a book, and she notes that “chatting with him made the purchase feel special.” This shows she appreciated the friendly service.
5 C – This option synthesizes the global meaning of the text. The writer explicitly acknowledges the drawbacks (paying a bit more and waiting longer) but concludes that the “personal connection to my local community” makes it entirely worthwhile.
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
My Eco-Friendly Spa Day
I have always enjoyed looking after my skin, and buying a new face scrub used to be my favourite weekend treat. I loved products that promised to leave my face feeling fresh and clean. However, a few weeks ago, I watched a documentary about ocean pollution. It explained how many popular cosmetic products contain microplastics – tiny plastic beads that wash down the sink and eventually end up in the sea. I immediately checked the label on my favourite face scrub. To my absolute horror, I discovered that the colourful little beads inside it were actually plastic. I felt terrible knowing that my daily routine was harming the environment.
I decided right then that I needed to change my habits, so I went to the local shopping centre to look for a natural alternative. I thought finding a face scrub made with natural ingredients, like sugar or sea salt, would be quite easy. Unfortunately, I was wrong. The ordinary supermarkets didn’t sell them at all. When I eventually found an eco-friendly cosmetics shop, I was shocked by the prices. A tiny jar of natural sugar scrub cost more than I usually receive for a whole month’s pocket money! I left the shop feeling quite disappointed, knowing I simply couldn’t afford to buy it.
Since buying a natural product was too expensive, I searched the internet for other solutions. I quickly discovered that making your own cosmetics at home is surprisingly popular. I found a simple recipe for a homemade scrub that only required used coffee grounds, a little olive oil, and some honey. Because my parents drink several cups of coffee every morning, we always throw away plenty of used coffee grounds. I collected some from the kitchen bin, mixed everything together in a bowl, and hoped for the best. Although it looked like thick, brown mud, the mixture smelled absolutely delicious.
I decided to test my homemade creation the following Sunday. I was amazed by the results. The coffee scrub felt fantastic on my skin and worked just as well as the expensive plastic ones I used to buy. Now, instead of spending my money in cosmetic shops, I enjoy a cheap, sustainable spa day at home every weekend. It feels wonderful to know I am saving money while also doing my part to protect the ocean.
1 Why did the writer stop using her favourite face scrub?
(A) She watched a documentary that said it was bad for her skin.
(B) She realised the ingredients in it were causing pollution.
(C) She wanted to save her money for different weekend treats.
(D) She noticed that the colourful beads were washing down the sink too quickly.
2 How did the writer feel after her shopping trip?
(A) Surprised by how many supermarkets sold natural products.
(B) Annoyed that the specialist shop was closed for the day.
(C) Upset because the eco-friendly products cost too much.
(D) Confused about which natural ingredients were best to use.
3 What does the writer say about her homemade cosmetic recipe?
(A) It required ingredients that her family usually threw away.
(B) It was quite difficult to mix the ingredients together in the bowl.
(C) It looked and smelled exactly like the products from the shop.
(D) It was specially designed for people who drink a lot of coffee.
4 What is the writer’s attitude towards her new skincare routine?
(A) She wishes she could afford to buy the natural scrubs occasionally.
(B) She is delighted that she can take care of herself and the planet cheaply.
(C) She prefers to spend her pocket money on different cosmetic items now.
(D) She thinks her homemade scrub is much better than anything she has ever used.
5 What would the writer write in her blog about her experience?
(A) It’s terrible that shops don’t sell any natural scrubs. I guess I’ll have to stop using cosmetics completely if I want to protect the sea.
(B) Finding out my cosmetics contained plastic was awful, but learning to make my own coffee scrub has been a great, eco-friendly solution!
(C) I tried making a natural scrub out of coffee and honey, but it looked so much like mud that I decided to just buy the expensive ones.
(D) Everyone should stop buying shop-bought cosmetics. If you search online, companies will send you cheap sugar scrubs directly to your home.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The text states in the first paragraph that the writer checked her scrub after watching a documentary and felt terrible “knowing that my daily routine was harming the environment” because of the plastic beads.
2 C – In the second paragraph, the writer explains she was “shocked by the prices” of the natural sugar scrub and left “feeling quite disappointed, knowing I simply couldn’t afford to buy it.”
3 A – The third paragraph describes how her parents drink a lot of coffee, so they “always throw away plenty of used coffee grounds,” which she then used for her recipe.
4 B – In the final paragraph, the writer expresses that she enjoys her “cheap, sustainable spa day” and feels wonderful knowing she is “saving money while also doing my part to protect the ocean.”
5 B – This option captures the global narrative arc of the text: the initial shock and guilt of discovering the microplastics, followed by the positive, sustainable, and cost-effective DIY solution she found.
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
An Hour in the Dark
Last week, my school environmental club discussed ‘Earth Hour’. This is an annual event where millions of people around the world switch off their lights for sixty minutes to show they care about our planet. I thought it sounded like a fantastic idea, so I decided to persuade my parents and my younger sister to take part. At first, they weren’t very keen on the idea of spending a whole hour without electricity, but they eventually agreed to support me.
When Saturday evening arrived, we went around the house and turned off all the lights, the television, and the Wi-Fi router. Suddenly, the house was completely dark and unusually quiet. For the first few minutes, it was actually quite relaxing. However, that feeling didn’t last long. After about ten minutes, my sister started complaining that she couldn’t message her friends, and my dad kept checking his watch. To be honest, I was also beginning to feel incredibly bored. We were just sitting in the living room doing absolutely nothing.
I realised I needed to find a way to entertain everyone before they gave up and turned the lights back on. I carefully made my way to the kitchen cupboard and found some large candles. After lighting them and placing them safely on the coffee table, the room felt much warmer and more comfortable. Then, I remembered an old board game we had at the back of a closet. I brought it out, wiped off the dust, and suggested we play.
As soon as we started playing, the atmosphere completely changed. Because there were no mobile phones or television shows to distract us, we actually focused on each other. We spent the next forty-five minutes laughing, arguing playfully over the rules of the game, and telling funny stories. I couldn’t remember the last time we had interacted so much as a family. It was surprisingly enjoyable.
When the hour was finally over and we switched the lights back on, nobody rushed to check their screens. My dad even suggested that we leave the TV off for a bit longer. Earth Hour had helped us save a little bit of energy, but more importantly, it gave us the best family night we’d had in months. We’ve already decided to have a screen-free board game night once a month from now on!
1 Why did the writer want her family to participate in Earth Hour?
(A) To complete an important assignment for her environmental club.
(B) To join a global event that supports the protection of the planet.
(C) To save her parents money on their monthly electricity bill.
(D) To stop her younger sister from spending too much time online.
2 How did the family feel shortly after Earth Hour started?
(A) They were frightened by how dark and quiet the house became.
(B) They were angry that the Wi-Fi router was broken.
(C) They struggled to find things to do without their electronic devices.
(D) They enjoyed the relaxing silence for the entire sixty minutes.
3 What did the writer do to improve the situation in the living room?
(A) She turned the lights back on because everyone was complaining.
(B) She went to the kitchen to prepare some snacks for her family.
(C) She bought a brand-new board game for them to play together.
(D) She created a comfortable atmosphere and found an activity.
4 Why was playing the board game so enjoyable for the family?
(A) It allowed the family to interact without any digital distractions.
(B) The family realised they were very good at playing it in the dark.
(C) The writer’s sister finally won a game against her parents.
(D) The family enjoyed arguing angrily about the rules of the game.
5 What would the writer write in her diary that night?
(A) Earth Hour was a disaster. Next year, I’ll just turn off the lights in my own bedroom so I don’t have to listen to everyone complain.
(B) My sister couldn’t survive an hour without her phone, so she turned the Wi-Fi back on. At least I tried to help the planet!
(C) What started as a boring sixty minutes in the dark turned into an amazing evening. I’m so glad we found a way to connect without our devices!
(D) We saved so much electricity tonight by playing a board game. I hope my parents buy more candles so we never have to use the lights again.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In the first paragraph, the writer says Earth Hour is an event where people “show they care about our planet” and she “thought it sounded like a fantastic idea”, making her want to participate.
2 C – The second paragraph explains that after ten minutes, the sister couldn’t message friends, the dad kept checking his watch, and the writer was bored because they were “doing absolutely nothing.”
3 D – The third paragraph describes the writer getting candles to make the room “warmer and more comfortable” and bringing out an old board game for them to play.
4 A – The fourth paragraph states that the atmosphere changed “Because there were no mobile phones or television shows to distract us, we actually focused on each other.”
5 C – This option accurately captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text: the family initially experienced boredom and complaints, but the situation transformed into a highly interactive and positive family bonding experience away from screens.