Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Everyday Social Responsibility & Sustainable Living
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Fixing My Own Flat Tire
I use my bicycle to ride to school every day, so I was really annoyed when I woke up last Saturday and discovered my front tire was completely flat. Usually, I would just walk the bike to the local repair shop and pay the mechanic to fix it. However, I had recently spent most of my pocket money on a new video game, so I needed to save cash. I also thought it would be useful to learn how to do it myself. I walked to the shop, bought a cheap puncture repair kit, and decided to try fixing it at home.
Taking the wheel off the bike wasn’t too difficult, but removing the rubber tire to reach the inner tube was much harder than I expected. The kit included two small metal tools to help pull the tire off the wheel. I pushed one of the tools under the tire and pulled hard. Suddenly, I heard a loud ‘pop’. I had pushed the tool too deep and accidentally pinched the soft inner tube against the wheel. Instead of just one small hole, I had now created a second, much bigger hole!
For a moment, I just sat on the floor, feeling completely frustrated. I seriously considered throwing the repair kit in the bin and taking the wheel straight to the professional mechanic. But I took a deep breath and decided not to give up. I carefully read the paper instructions inside the repair kit again. I found both holes, cleaned the rubber, and patiently applied the glue. This time, I waited exactly five minutes for the glue to dry, just as the instructions said, before pressing the patches firmly over the holes.
Putting the tire back onto the wheel was tricky, but I was much more careful with the metal tools. Finally, I connected my pump and started filling the tire with air. I listened closely, but there was no sound of escaping air. It worked! I took the bike for a quick ride around the park, and it felt fantastic. Fixing the tire myself gave me an amazing sense of achievement. I finally feel confident enough to handle my own mechanical problems in the future.
1 Why did the writer decide to repair the tire himself?
(A) He was saving his pocket money to buy a video game.
(B) He wanted to avoid spending the money he had left.
(C) The mechanic at the local shop was too busy to help.
(D) His parents told him to learn how to fix mechanical things.
2 What mistake did the writer make while removing the tire?
(A) He broke one of the small tools from the repair kit.
(B) He pulled the rubber tire off the wheel too quickly.
(C) He used the wrong equipment to reach the inner tube.
(D) He damaged the inner tube with a metal tool.
3 How did the writer react after making the problem worse?
(A) He threw his new repair kit into the rubbish bin.
(B) He took the wheel straight to the professional mechanic.
(C) He controlled his frustration and carefully tried again.
(D) He decided to apply the glue before cleaning the rubber.
4 How does the writer feel about his experience in the end?
(A) Proud that he successfully solved a mechanical issue.
(B) Relieved that the pump worked better than the metal tools.
(C) Disappointed that the tire lost some air during his ride.
(D) Nervous about getting another flat tire in the future.
5 What would the writer text to a friend about his weekend?
(A) I took my bike to the mechanic today. I tried fixing the tire myself first, but I just made a bigger hole and gave up!
(B) I finally fixed my own flat tire! It wasn’t easy and I made a mistake at first, but I didn’t quit and now it works perfectly.
(C) Never buy a cheap puncture repair kit. The metal tools in mine broke my inner tube, so I had to buy a brand new one.
(D) I fixed my bike today without any problems at all. It was much easier than I expected, so I’ll never go to a repair shop again.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The text states in paragraph 1 that he had already spent his money on a video game, “so I needed to save cash,” which means he wanted to avoid spending the money he had left.
2 D – In paragraph 2, the writer explains that he “pushed the tool too deep and accidentally pinched the soft inner tube,” creating a second hole.
3 C – Paragraph 3 mentions that although he considered giving up, he “took a deep breath and decided not to give up,” and instead read the instructions and “patiently” tried again.
4 A – In paragraph 4, the writer states that fixing the tire gave him “an amazing sense of achievement” and made him feel “confident enough to handle my own mechanical problems.”
5 B – This option captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text: the writer successfully fixed the tire, acknowledges the initial struggle and mistake, but highlights his persistence and the successful result.
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Saying No to Freebies
Last weekend, my school organised a huge careers fair in the main hall. Dozens of local businesses and universities set up tables to talk to students about our future options. Of course, the thing that excited most of us wasn’t just the information. Almost every table was covered in bright promotional gifts. There were free plastic pens, colourful keychains, and heavy cotton bags everywhere. Like my friends, my first instinct was to grab as much free stuff as I possibly could. After all, everyone loves getting things for nothing.
However, as I stood in the queue for the first table, I started to think more carefully. Recently, I have been reading a lot about living a minimalist and zero-waste lifestyle. I looked at the cheap plastic keychains and realised that they would probably break within a week. I already had plenty of pens at home, and I definitely didn’t need another bag. If I took these items, they would just sit in my drawer for a few months before finally ending up in a landfill. I knew I had to make a different choice.
When I finally reached the front of the queue, the woman behind the table smiled and handed me a shiny green pen and a plastic water bottle. It felt incredibly awkward, but I took a deep breath. “No, thank you,” I said politely. “I’m trying to reduce the amount of plastic I own.” The woman looked quite surprised because every other student had happily accepted the gifts. For a moment, I felt a bit embarrassed and worried that I had offended her, but she quickly smiled again and just handed me a paper leaflet instead.
By the end of the afternoon, my friends were carrying heavy bags full of freebies. They joked about how I was leaving completely empty-handed. But as I walked home, I didn’t feel disappointed at all. Saying no to those items was difficult, but it made my commitment to protecting the environment feel much stronger. I learned that you don’t need to collect useless objects to remember a good event. I had all the information I needed, and I knew I had done the right thing for the planet.
1 What was the writer’s initial reaction to the careers fair?
(A) She was mostly interested in getting advice about her future.
(B) She was eager to collect as many free gifts as she could.
(C) She was annoyed that her friends were taking all the bags.
(D) She felt overwhelmed by the number of businesses there.
2 Why did the writer change her mind about taking the objects?
(A) She read an article about recycling while waiting in the queue.
(B) She noticed that the cotton bags were too heavy to carry around all day.
(C) She remembered her parents had told her not to bring junk home.
(D) She realised that the items were unnecessary and bad for the environment.
3 How did the woman at the table react to the writer’s decision?
(A) She was shocked at first but then reacted positively.
(B) She was offended and refused to give her a paper leaflet.
(C) She was angry because everyone else had taken the gifts.
(D) She was embarrassed that her promotional gifts were made of plastic.
4 How did the writer feel on her way home?
(A) Upset that her friends were making fun of her empty hands.
(B) Proud that she had stayed true to her environmental goals.
(C) Worried that she wouldn’t remember the details of the event.
(D) Disappointed that she hadn’t taken at least one free pen.
5 What would the writer say in a blog post about the event?
(A) “It’s impossible to avoid plastic at school events, so there’s really no point in trying to be zero-waste.”
(B) “I wish businesses wouldn’t offer free gifts, because saying no makes everyone involved feel terrible.”
(C) “Although it can be uncomfortable to refuse free stuff, it’s a great way to stick to a minimalist lifestyle.”
(D) “Next time I go to a fair, I will definitely take the free bags because they are actually really useful.”
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The first paragraph states: “my first instinct was to grab as much free stuff as I possibly could. After all, everyone loves getting things for nothing.” This matches being eager to collect as many gifts as possible.
2 D – In the second paragraph, the writer thinks about her “minimalist and zero-waste lifestyle” and realises she doesn’t need the items and that they would just end up “in a landfill”, matching the idea that they are unnecessary and environmentally damaging.
3 A – Paragraph three explains that the woman “looked quite surprised” at first, which made the writer worry she was offended, but then she “quickly smiled again and just handed me a paper leaflet instead,” showing a positive reaction.
4 B – The final paragraph says the writer “didn’t feel disappointed at all” and that saying no made her “commitment to protecting the environment feel much stronger.” This paraphrases feeling proud of staying true to environmental goals.
5 C – This option captures the global meaning and the writer’s reflective attitude. She admits that refusing the items “felt incredibly awkward” (uncomfortable) but ultimately reinforced her commitment to protecting the environment and not collecting “useless objects” (minimalist lifestyle).
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Becoming a Label Detective
I have always cared about animals, but my shopping habits completely changed last month after I watched a documentary about orangutans in my biology class. The film showed how large areas of rainforest in Asia are being cut down to create palm oil farms. Because these beautiful monkeys are losing their natural homes, their numbers are dropping fast. I felt so upset that I immediately decided to stop buying anything containing palm oil. I thought making this small change would be a simple way to help the environment.
The next day, I went to the local supermarket to buy some snacks, feeling quite confident. I assumed that avoiding palm oil just meant not buying actual bottles of cooking oil or perhaps certain types of fried food. However, as I started picking up my favourite biscuits and chocolate bars, I was in for a huge shock. Almost everything I looked at had palm oil listed in the ingredients. What I thought would be a quick ten-minute shopping trip slowly turned into a frustrating puzzle.
As I continued exploring the aisles, the problem only seemed to get worse. I was amazed to discover that palm oil isn’t just used in sweet treats. It is hidden in about half of all packaged products in the supermarket! I found it in daily items like sliced bread, peanut butter, and breakfast cereal. It wasn’t even limited to food; I checked the health and beauty section and saw it in my regular soap and shampoo. I realised that completely avoiding it was going to be a massive challenge.
Despite feeling overwhelmed, I refused to give up. I spent the weekend researching online and learned that companies often hide palm oil by using complicated scientific names on their packaging. I wrote these names down on my phone and started reading every single label carefully before putting an item in my basket. These days, shopping certainly takes much longer, but I have developed fantastic label-reading skills. Although it is annoying when I have to put a favourite snack back on the shelf, I feel incredibly proud of my new lifestyle. I know that I am finally an educated consumer who is making a real difference to the planet.
1 Why did the writer decide to stop buying palm oil?
(A) To help protect the natural environment of orangutans.
(B) Because her biology teacher told her it was unhealthy.
(C) To save money on her daily supermarket shopping.
(D) Because she wanted to support farmers in Asia.
2 How did the writer feel during her first trip to the supermarket?
(A) Confused because she couldn’t find the cooking oil aisle.
(B) Surprised by how many of her favourite snacks contained palm oil.
(C) Angry that the chocolate bars were more expensive than usual.
(D) Pleased that she finished her shopping in just ten minutes.
3 What did the writer discover about palm oil in the third paragraph?
(A) It is mainly used by supermarkets to make sweet treats.
(B) It is only found in packaged foods like bread and peanut butter.
(C) It is included in a huge variety of everyday supermarket goods.
(D) It is easily visible on the packaging of health and beauty items.
4 What is the writer’s attitude towards shopping now?
(A) She wishes it didn’t take so much time to read the labels.
(B) She relies on her phone to find the cheapest products available.
(C) She refuses to buy anything that has a complicated scientific name.
(D) She feels satisfied that she is making environmentally friendly choices.
5 What would the writer write in her diary?
(A) I’m giving up! It’s impossible to avoid palm oil because it’s in every single product, and reading labels takes way too much time.
(B) Boycotting palm oil was harder than I expected because it’s hidden everywhere, but learning to read labels has made me a much better shopper.
(C) I watched a great film about orangutans today. I’m going to travel to Asia to help them instead of worrying about what I buy at the supermarket.
(D) I was shocked to find palm oil in my soap today. I’ll just buy peanut butter and bread from now on since they are usually safe to eat.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 A – The first paragraph states the writer decided to stop buying palm oil because orangutans “are losing their natural homes” (protecting their environment).
2 B – In the second paragraph, the writer mentions she was in for a “huge shock” because “almost everything” she looked at, including her “favourite biscuits and chocolate bars,” had palm oil in the ingredients.
3 C – The third paragraph explains that palm oil is hidden in “about half of all packaged products,” including daily food items and health/beauty products like soap and shampoo.
4 D – In the final paragraph, the writer states she feels “incredibly proud of my new lifestyle” and knows she is “making a real difference to the planet.”
5 B – This option captures the global meaning of the text: the writer’s initial shock at how widespread palm oil is, followed by her determination to learn how to read labels and become an educated, responsible consumer.