Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Extreme and Water Sports 10
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
My First Time BMX Dirt Jumping
I have always enjoyed riding my bike around my neighbourhood, but until recently, I had never tried anything extreme. That changed when my best friend, Leo, invited me to the local BMX dirt track. He has been doing BMX dirt jumping for a year and is always talking about how exciting it is. I had watched some videos of professionals doing it, and although it looked quite dangerous, I was curious. So, I borrowed my older brother’s BMX bike, which was just sitting in the garage, and agreed to join Leo for an afternoon.
When we arrived at the track, my excitement quickly turned into pure panic. The dirt jumps looked much bigger in real life than they did on a screen. Watching other teenagers fly through the air on their bikes made me realise exactly what I was about to do. The fear of losing control and flying over the handlebars was suddenly very real. Leo noticed I was shaking and calmly explained that we would start on the beginners’ track, where the hills were much smaller and safer.
After putting on my helmet, knee pads, and elbow guards, it was time for my first attempt. Leo told me to stand up on the pedals and pull the handlebars up as I reached the top of the hill. On my first try, I didn’t go fast enough and ended up sliding down the side of the dirt pile. I fell over and got a few minor scrapes on my arms. It hurt a little, and I felt quite embarrassed, but Leo just laughed gently and told me that crashing is simply part of learning.
I took a deep breath, got back on the bike, and decided to pedal much faster. This time, as I hit the jump, I pulled the handlebars exactly like Leo had shown me. For one incredible moment, the bike left the ground and I was actually flying! I landed smoothly on the other side of the dirt hill. It was only a tiny jump, but the feeling of clearing it successfully was absolutely amazing. Now, I can’t wait to go back and try some slightly bigger jumps next weekend.
1 Why did the writer go to the BMX dirt track?
(A) He wanted to make action videos of his best friend.
(B) He was interested in trying a sport his friend talked about.
(C) He needed to test out his older brother’s new bicycle.
(D) He was already an expert at riding his bike in extreme ways.
2 How did the writer feel when he first saw the track?
(A) Relieved because the jumps were smaller than in the videos.
(B) Annoyed that Leo hadn’t warned him about the danger.
(C) Confident because he was starting on the beginners’ track.
(D) Terrified by the thought of falling off his bicycle in the air.
3 What happened during the writer’s first jump?
(A) He rode too quickly and flew over the handlebars.
(B) He injured his arms slightly because of a lack of speed.
(C) He got angry with Leo for laughing at his mistake.
(D) He forgot to put on all of his protective equipment.
4 What made the writer’s final attempt a success?
(A) He followed the riding instructions he had received earlier.
(B) He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before jumping.
(C) He chose a much smaller dirt hill to jump over this time.
(D) He let his friend ride the bicycle over the jump first.
5 What might the writer write in his diary that evening?
(A) I tried BMX dirt jumping today. I managed to do some huge jumps, but my friend Leo is still much better than me.
(B) The dirt track was terrifying. I got some nasty injuries on my arms, so I’ve decided to stick to riding on normal roads from now on.
(C) I can’t believe I finally did it! Falling off hurt a bit, but landing that jump was the best feeling ever. I’m definitely going back.
(D) I’m so glad I watched those online videos, because they taught me exactly how to fly through the air. Leo was amazed by my skills!
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In the first paragraph, the writer states that his friend Leo “is always talking about how exciting it is” and that he was “curious” to try it after watching videos.
2 D – In the second paragraph, the writer mentions that his excitement “turned into pure panic” and that “the fear of losing control and flying over the handlebars was suddenly very real.”
3 B – In the third paragraph, the writer explains that he “didn’t go fast enough” on his first try, which caused him to fall over and get “a few minor scrapes on my arms.”
4 A – In the fourth paragraph, the writer says he “pulled the handlebars exactly like Leo had shown me,” meaning he successfully followed the advice given in the previous paragraph.
5 C – This option accurately reflects the global meaning and emotional arc of the text: being afraid, getting minor scrapes, feeling the thrill of successfully landing a jump, and wanting to return next weekend.
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Finding my Balance
I’ve always enjoyed spending my weekends at the local park, usually just playing football or relaxing with friends. However, a few weeks ago, I noticed a group of people doing something unusual. They had tied a flat piece of rope between two large trees and were trying to walk across it. A friend told me it was called slacklining. It looked a bit like tightrope walking, but the line moved and bounced with every step. It seemed like a fun and unusual challenge, so I went online that evening and bought a beginner’s slackline kit.
When my kit arrived, I immediately took it to the park with my sister. Setting it up was quite simple, but actually standing on it was completely different. As soon as I placed my foot on the line, my leg started to shake violently. I couldn’t even keep my balance for two seconds before falling onto the soft grass. I was quite frustrated because the people I had watched the previous week made it look incredibly easy. I quickly realised that keeping the line still was going to take a lot of physical effort and patience.
After several failed attempts, a more experienced slackliner named Tom came over to give me some advice. He explained that my main mistake was looking down at my feet. He told me that slacklining requires intense mental focus, and I needed to pick a single spot on the tree opposite me and keep my eyes fixed on it. He also suggested that I should try to relax my breathing and use my arms to balance. I took a deep breath, stepped up again, and concentrated entirely on the tree in front of me.
To my surprise, Tom’s advice worked perfectly. My leg still shook slightly, but I managed to control the movement. Slowly, I lifted my back foot and placed it in front of the other. I actually managed to take five steps before I eventually lost my balance and dropped to the ground. Even though it was a very short distance, I felt incredibly proud of myself. Slacklining is definitely exhausting, but it is also a fantastic way to clear your mind. I am going to practice every weekend until I can walk the entire length of the line without falling.
1 Why did the writer decide to buy a slackline?
(A) He wanted to try an activity that seemed entertaining and different.
(B) He was tired of playing football with his friends in the park.
(C) He wanted to learn how to walk on a tightrope at the circus.
(D) His friend suggested it would be a good way to get fit.
2 How did the writer feel during his first attempt?
(A) Confused because he didn’t know how to set the equipment up.
(B) Surprised because he managed to balance for a few seconds.
(C) Worried that he might injure himself by falling on the grass.
(D) Annoyed because the activity was much harder than he had expected.
3 What advice did Tom give the writer?
(A) To watch his feet carefully to avoid falling off the line.
(B) To concentrate on a specific point in front of him.
(C) To hold onto his arms tightly to keep his balance.
(D) To stop and take deep breaths whenever he felt nervous.
4 What does the writer say about his progress at the end?
(A) He is disappointed he only managed to take five steps.
(B) He plans to stop practicing because it is too exhausting.
(C) He is pleased with his achievement despite the short distance.
(D) He successfully walked the whole length of the slackline.
5 What would the writer text his friend after his first day of slacklining?
(A) I bought a slackline today, but it’s too hard to set up. I think I’ll just stick to playing football in the park from now on.
(B) I’ve just tried slacklining! It was frustrating at first, but once I learned how to focus, I actually made some progress.
(C) Slacklining is exactly like tightrope walking! You should come and watch me walk from one tree to the other without falling.
(D) An expert gave me some tips today, but my leg shook so much that I couldn’t even take a single step.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 A – Paragraph 1 states that the writer thought it “seemed like a fun and unusual challenge,” which paraphrases an activity that is “entertaining and different.”
2 D – Paragraph 2 explains that the writer “was quite frustrated because the people I had watched the previous week made it look incredibly easy.” Frustrated matches with “annoyed,” and this reaction occurred because it was harder than expected.
3 B – Paragraph 3 details Tom’s advice that the writer needed to “pick a single spot on the tree opposite me and keep my eyes fixed on it.” This means he had to concentrate on a specific point in front of him.
4 C – Paragraph 4 highlights that “Even though it was a very short distance, I felt incredibly proud of myself,” showing he is pleased with his achievement despite not walking far.
5 B – This option captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text: he was initially frustrated by how much he shook, learned mental focus from an expert, and proudly managed to take five steps.
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Flying Above the Waves
I’ve always been a fan of water sports. Whenever my family goes to the beach, I am the first one in the sea, usually surfing or paddleboarding. However, during our recent holiday in Spain, I noticed people doing something completely different. They were standing on a board that shot jets of water downwards, lifting them high into the air. It was called water hoverboarding. It looked like something from a science fiction movie, and I immediately begged my parents to let me try it.
The next morning, I met my instructor, Tomas. He strapped my feet tightly into the boots attached to the board, which was connected to a jet ski by a long, thick hose. Tomas explained that the jet ski engine pumped water through the hose to create the power. I had to swim out into deep water, lie on my stomach, and wait for him to turn on the engine. As the water started rushing through the board, I felt a sudden, terrifying push from beneath me.
Trying to stand up was the hardest thing I have ever done. Tomas told me to keep my legs completely straight, but my natural reaction was to bend my knees. The board shot out of the water, shaking violently. Honestly, it felt exactly like trying to ride a wild horse! Before I even knew what was happening, I lost my balance and fell flat on my face into the salty sea. This happened five or six times, and I started to wonder if I would ever manage it.
Finally, Tomas shouted at me to stop looking down at my feet and focus on the horizon instead. I took a deep breath, locked my legs, and let the water pressure lift me. Suddenly, everything became smooth. I was actually doing it! I rose about a meter above the surface of the sea and stayed there for almost a minute. The sensation of flying above the waves was absolutely incredible.
Although my whole body ached the next day, the experience was totally worth it. Water hoverboarding taught me that you need patience and a clear mind to succeed. I am already looking forward to my next holiday, as I definitely want to fly over the ocean again!
1 Why did the writer want to try water hoverboarding?
(A) He was getting bored of surfing and paddleboarding.
(B) He saw people doing it and thought it looked futuristic.
(C) His parents suggested it as a new holiday activity.
(D) He wanted to improve his balance for other water sports.
2 How did the writer feel when the equipment was first turned on?
(A) Confused about how the jet ski worked.
(B) Annoyed that he had to swim into deep water.
(C) Worried that the long hose would break.
(D) Frightened by the unexpected force of the water.
3 What was the writer’s main problem when trying to stand up?
(A) He bent his legs instead of keeping them straight.
(B) He was trying to ride the board like a horse.
(C) He wasn’t strong enough to hold onto the heavy board.
(D) The instructor was driving the jet ski much too fast.
4 What helped the writer to finally succeed in hovering?
(A) Taking a short break to catch his breath.
(B) Looking straight ahead at the scenery.
(C) Asking Tomas to reduce the water pressure.
(D) Letting his legs relax and bend slightly.
5 What would the writer write in his blog about the experience?
(A) It was the most painful water sport I’ve ever tried, and I don’t think I’ll ever do it again because it’s too difficult.
(B) I mastered the board on my first attempt! It’s much easier than surfing, as long as you remember to look at your feet.
(C) It was a huge challenge at first and I had some bad crashes, but hovering above the water was an unforgettable feeling.
(D) The equipment looks like something from a movie, but unfortunately, the instructor didn’t explain how to use it properly.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In the first paragraph, the writer states that “It looked like something from a science fiction movie”, which means he thought it looked futuristic.
2 D – The text mentions in paragraph two that as the water started rushing through the board, he felt “a sudden, terrifying push from beneath me,” matching the description of being frightened by the unexpected force.
3 A – The third paragraph explains that his instructor told him to keep his legs completely straight, but his “natural reaction was to bend my knees,” causing him to lose balance.
4 B – Paragraph four explains that Tomas shouted at him to “focus on the horizon instead” of looking at his feet. The horizon is the scenery straight ahead.
5 C – This option accurately summarizes the global meaning of the text. It includes his initial struggles (“a huge challenge”, falling “flat on my face”), as well as his eventual success and positive reaction (“absolutely incredible”, “totally worth it”).