Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Extreme and Water Sports 4
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
My First Time Wakeboarding
My family and I always spend our summer holidays near a huge lake, and we usually just go swimming or sailing. However, this year, my older brother suggested we try wakeboarding. If you don’t know what that is, it’s a fantastic water sport where you stand on a short board and are pulled behind a fast speedboat. I’ve always loved watching videos of teenagers doing amazing jumps and tricks on the water, so I immediately agreed to take a lesson. I honestly thought it wouldn’t be too difficult because I’m quite good at skateboarding.
When it was finally my turn to get into the freezing water, I suddenly felt incredibly nervous. The friendly instructor on the boat gave me a heavy life jacket and carefully explained how to hold the rope. He told me to keep my knees bent and let the boat pull me up naturally. As the engine started with a loud roar, the rope pulled my arms hard. I tried to stand up too quickly, lost my balance, and fell straight into the water. It was slightly embarrassing, although the instructor just smiled and told me to be patient and try again.
Over the next twenty minutes, I crashed into the lake more times than I could count. What nobody tells you about wakeboarding is the huge amount of physical strength you actually need. Holding the handle of the rope tightly while a powerful boat drags you forward really hurts your arms and shoulders. I was completely exhausted, swallowing lots of water, and almost ready to tell the driver I wanted to stop. But despite the terrible ache in my muscles, I was determined not to give up so easily. I knew I could do it.
On my final attempt, I remembered the instructor’s useful advice to let the boat do the hard work. As the speedboat went faster, I stayed low, kept my arms straight, and slowly pushed myself up. Suddenly, I was actually gliding across the surface of the lake! The cool wind was blowing in my face, and the feeling of speed was absolutely amazing. I only managed to stay on the board for about ten seconds before I crashed into the waves again, but to me, it felt like a massive victory. I am definitely going to practice again next summer!
1 Why did the writer agree to try wakeboarding?
(A) He wanted to improve his skateboarding skills.
(B) He was getting bored of swimming and sailing in the lake.
(C) He had enjoyed seeing other people do it online.
(D) His older brother bought him a lesson as a gift.
2 How did the writer feel after his first attempt at wakeboarding?
(A) Annoyed that the instructor laughed at him.
(B) A little ashamed because he fell into the water.
(C) Worried that the boat was moving too fast.
(D) Shocked by how heavy his life jacket was.
3 What did the writer discover about wakeboarding in the third paragraph?
(A) It requires a lot of power in your upper body.
(B) It is impossible to do if you keep falling over.
(C) You have to hold the rope loosely to avoid pain.
(D) The driver of the boat often goes too fast for beginners.
4 What made the writer’s final attempt successful?
(A) He pulled the rope as hard as he could.
(B) He managed to stand up much faster than before.
(C) He managed to jump over some large waves.
(D) He followed the instructions he had been given.
5 What would the writer write in his diary that evening?
(A) I can’t believe I finally did it! My arms are really painful now, but staying on the board for a few seconds was completely worth it.
(B) Wakeboarding is much easier than I expected! Because I can skateboard, I managed to stand up on my very first try.
(C) I’m so disappointed with myself. I fell in the water so many times that I just told the driver to stop the boat.
(D) The instructor was great, but I don’t think this sport is for me. I’ll stick to swimming and sailing next year.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 C – The text states the writer agreed because: “I’ve always loved watching videos of teenagers doing amazing jumps and tricks on the water, so I immediately agreed…”. This matches seeing other people do it online.
2 B – In the second paragraph, after losing his balance and falling straight into the water, the writer notes, “It was slightly embarrassing,” which paraphrases to feeling a little ashamed.
3 A – The writer explains that you need a “huge amount of physical strength” and that holding the rope “really hurts your arms and shoulders,” meaning it requires upper body power.
4 D – On his final attempt, the writer says, “I remembered the instructor’s useful advice to let the boat do the hard work” and lists the steps he followed, leading to his success.
5 A – This option perfectly captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text: acknowledging the physical pain in his arms but celebrating the short, 10-second victory of finally standing up.
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Learning to climb
by Toby Mills
I have never been a big fan of winter sports, but last November, I realised I needed an activity to keep myself fit until spring. I usually play football, but the cold, wet weather made me want to stay indoors. A classmate suggested going to the local indoor climbing centre. Although I have always felt slightly nervous about heights, I decided to be brave and give it a try.
When I first walked into the centre, I was amazed by the size of the climbing walls. They were covered with brightly coloured holds and looked incredibly steep. The instructor, Sarah, gave me a safety harness and some special climbing shoes, which felt quite uncomfortable because they have to be very tight. On my first attempt, I tried to pull myself up using only my arms. After just a few minutes, I was completely exhausted and had to come back down. I felt a bit silly, especially since the experienced climbers next to me made it look so effortless.
However, Sarah explained that good climbing is actually about using your strong leg muscles to push yourself up, rather than pulling with your weaker arms. She also taught me that climbing is like a physical puzzle; if you don’t plan your route carefully before you move, you will soon run out of energy. Once I understood this, I started making real progress. Another thing that surprised me was the friendly atmosphere. In football, things can often get very competitive, but at the climbing centre, everyone encourages you, even if they have never met you before.
After two months of regular practice, I finally managed to reach the top of the highest wall in the centre. Looking down from twelve metres up, I suddenly realised that my fear of heights had completely disappeared. I feel much stronger and more confident now than I did a few months ago. Next summer, some of my new climbing friends are organising a trip to climb real rocks in the mountains. I have already bought my own equipment, and I absolutely cannot wait for the adventure to begin!
1 Why did Toby decide to try indoor climbing?
(A) He wanted an indoor activity to stay healthy during winter.
(B) He wanted to overcome his fear of being high up.
(C) He was bored of playing football with his classmates.
(D) He wanted to train for a winter sports competition.
2 How did Toby feel during his first climb?
(A) Annoyed because his climbing shoes were far too tight.
(B) Embarrassed because he couldn’t climb as easily as others.
(C) Worried that the climbing instructor was watching him closely.
(D) Shocked by how steep the climbing wall actually was.
3 What did Toby discover about climbing as he improved?
(A) It requires more arm strength than he initially thought.
(B) It is a much more competitive sport than playing football.
(C) It involves thinking ahead as well as physical effort.
(D) It is best to practise with people you have just met.
4 What does Toby say about his recent climbing achievement?
(A) He was too scared to look down from the top of the wall.
(B) It has made him want to enter indoor climbing competitions.
(C) He is looking forward to climbing outdoors with his group.
(D) He had to buy new equipment to reach the highest point.
5 What would Toby write in his blog?
(A) I’m so glad I found a new sport to do. I just wish the other climbers were a bit friendlier to beginners like me!
(B) Taking up indoor climbing was a great decision. I’ve become so much fitter, and I’m no longer afraid of heights!
(C) Climbing is quite fun, but it’s much easier if you just use your arms to pull yourself up the wall quickly.
(D) I finally reached the top of the wall today! I think I’ll stop climbing indoors now and only climb mountains from now on.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 A – Paragraph 1 states Toby “needed an activity to keep myself fit until spring” and the “cold, wet weather made me want to stay indoors.”
2 B – Paragraph 2 shows Toby “felt a bit silly, especially since the experienced climbers next to me made it look so effortless,” which paraphrases feeling embarrassed compared to others.
3 C – Paragraph 3 explains that “climbing is like a physical puzzle; if you don’t plan your route carefully… you will soon run out of energy,” which means it requires thinking ahead.
4 C – Paragraph 4 details his plans for the future: “Next summer, some of my new climbing friends are organising a trip to climb real rocks… I absolutely cannot wait for the adventure to begin!”
5 B – This option captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text: he improved his fitness, enjoyed the sport, and successfully conquered his initial fear of heights.
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
My Kitesurfing Adventure
My family lives near the coast, so I’ve always spent my summers at the beach. For years, I’d sit on the sand and watch the kitesurfers jumping over the waves. They made it look so effortless, like they were flying. When I turned sixteen recently, my parents asked me what I wanted for my birthday. I didn’t hesitate at all; I asked for a kitesurfing course. I was so excited to finally try it, although I felt slightly nervous when I saw how much complicated equipment was involved.
On the first day of my course, the wind was blowing strongly. My instructor, Dave, started by explaining the safety rules. Before we even went near the water, I had to learn how to control the kite on the beach. At first, I thought it would be easy. However, a sudden strong wind caught the kite and violently pulled it forward. Because I was holding on too tightly, I was dragged right across the soft sand! I wasn’t hurt, but I felt extremely embarrassed as people walking past turned to look at me.
The next day, we finally moved into the ocean. The challenge was trying to balance on the board while correctly steering the kite at the same time. Every time I tried to stand up, I lost my balance and crashed into the waves. After an hour of falling over and swallowing a lot of salty sea water, I was exhausted. I quickly realised that kitesurfing isn’t just about having strong muscles; it actually requires a lot of careful technique and balance.
By the end of the third day, everything finally came together. I managed to stand up on the board and let the kite pull me across the top of the water for several seconds. It was an incredible feeling of complete freedom. More importantly, I learnt a valuable lesson. I realised that you can never control nature. The secret to kitesurfing is learning to respect the amazing power of the wind and working with it, rather than trying to fight against it.
I am completely hooked on this thrilling sport now. Although lessons are quite expensive, I’m planning to get a weekend job in a local café to save up for my own kite and board. I definitely want to spend all my free time on the water next summer.
1 Why did the writer decide to learn kitesurfing?
(A) He thought the complicated equipment looked interesting.
(B) He wanted to try a sport he had admired for a long time.
(C) His parents suggested it would be a good birthday present.
(D) He wanted to spend more time at the beach with his family.
2 What happened during the writer’s first lesson on the beach?
(A) He injured himself while falling onto the soft sand.
(B) He forgot the safety rules his instructor had given him.
(C) He was pulled along the ground by his kite.
(D) He found it difficult to lift the heavy kite into the air.
3 While practising in the water, the writer realised that
(A) the sport was more about skill than physical strength.
(B) steering the kite was harder than standing on the board.
(C) he needed to build bigger muscles to be successful.
(D) the waves were much too big for a beginner to handle.
4 What does the writer say is the most important thing to understand about kitesurfing?
(A) You need to wait for the perfect weather conditions to ride.
(B) You must accept and use the natural force of the weather.
(C) You should try to use the kite to control the wind’s direction.
(D) You need to experience the feeling of freedom to do it well.
5 What would the writer text to a friend about his kitesurfing experience?
(A) I finally stood up on the board today! It’s an amazing sport, but you really have to understand how strong the wind is.
(B) I had my first lesson today. It was quite boring because we just stayed on the beach and didn’t even use the kite.
(C) I’m going to stop my lessons. It’s too exhausting and I’m tired of falling into the water and looking silly in front of everyone.
(D) It’s a great sport, but I’m upset that my parents won’t pay for my equipment. I’ll have to find a job instead of doing it next summer.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The text states that for years he watched the kitesurfers and when his parents asked what he wanted for his birthday, he didn’t hesitate to ask for a course, showing he wanted to try a sport he had admired.
2 C – The text mentions that a strong wind caught the kite and because he was holding on tightly, he was “dragged right across the soft sand.”
3 A – In the third paragraph, he states: “I quickly realised that kitesurfing isn’t just about having strong muscles; it actually requires a lot of careful technique and balance.” This paraphrases to the sport being more about skill than physical strength.
4 B – He learns that “you can never control nature” and the secret is “learning to respect the amazing power of the wind and working with it, rather than trying to fight against it.”
5 A – This option successfully synthesizes the writer’s overall positive attitude (“an amazing sport”), his achievement (“finally stood up on the board”), and his main realization about the environment (“you really have to understand how strong the wind is”).