Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Extreme and Water Sports 9
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
My first canyoning adventure
I’ve always been a fan of the outdoors. Whenever I have free time, I usually go hiking in the mountains or swimming in the local lake. But last month, my friend Sam told me about a sport called canyoning. He explained that it involves exploring a canyon by walking, jumping, and swimming through a river. It sounded like the perfect mix of my favourite hobbies, so we decided to book a guided trip for the following weekend.
When we arrived at the starting point, the guides gave us thick wetsuits, helmets, and climbing harnesses. After a safety talk, we stepped into the freezing water. The environment was completely wild and unpredictable. There were no paths, and we had to climb over huge, wet rocks while the river pushed against our legs. I kept slipping, and I must admit I found the rough terrain quite scary at first. It was physically much harder than a normal hike.
After an hour of climbing, we reached our first major obstacle: a five-metre drop into a dark pool of water. The guide smiled and told us we had to jump. Looking over the edge, my heart started beating incredibly fast. I watched Sam leap into the air and disappear under the water. Taking a deep breath, I stepped off the rock. The feeling of falling was terrifying, but coming back up to the surface was a pure rush of excitement.
However, the best part of the adventure was still to come. Further down the canyon, we discovered a smooth rock face where the river flowed quickly over the edge, creating a natural water slide. We had to lie on our backs, cross our arms, and let the water push us down. I went first, sliding at high speed before splashing wildly into the deep pool at the bottom. It was absolutely thrilling and easily the highlight of the whole trip.
By the time we climbed out of the canyon, I was completely exhausted and covered in small bruises. Despite this, I felt incredibly proud of myself. Canyoning forced me to face my fears and deal with an unpredictable environment. I’m already looking forward to my next adventure in the river!
1 Why did the writer decide to go canyoning?
(A) She wanted to do an activity that combined her interests.
(B) She was bored of her usual hikes in the mountains.
(C) She wanted to get better at swimming in deep lakes.
(D) She was invited by a guide who organised the trip.
2 How did the writer feel during the first part of the journey?
(A) She was disappointed by the freezing water.
(B) She was frightened by the difficult landscape.
(C) She was worried about wearing the heavy equipment.
(D) She was surprised that there were no footpaths.
3 When faced with the five-metre jump, the writer
(A) felt relieved after she saw Sam jump first.
(B) decided to find another way down the cliff.
(C) experienced a mix of fear and excitement.
(D) wondered if the water was deep enough.
4 What does the writer say about the natural water slide?
(A) It was too fast to be completely safe.
(B) She waited for the others to go down it first.
(C) She had to swim hard to reach the pool at the bottom.
(D) It was the most enjoyable moment of the day.
5 What would the writer write in her diary that evening?
(A) The canyoning trip was an interesting experience, but the rough terrain and bruises mean I’ll stick to hiking from now on.
(B) I was terrified of the unpredictable river today, but sliding down the natural waterfall made the exhausting trip completely worth it.
(C) I was surprised by how easy canyoning was compared to hiking. The water slides were fun, but I wish it had been more challenging.
(D) The guide made us jump off cliffs and slide down waterfalls before we were ready, which ruined an otherwise great adventure.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 A – In paragraph 1, the writer states that canyoning “sounded like the perfect mix of my favourite hobbies” (hiking and swimming). This paraphrases option A.
2 B – In paragraph 2, the writer explains that the environment was wild, she kept slipping, and she “found the rough terrain quite scary at first.” This matches option B.
3 C – In paragraph 3, the writer says her heart was beating fast and falling was “terrifying”, but coming to the surface was “a pure rush of excitement.” This directly maps to experiencing a mix of fear and excitement.
4 D – In paragraph 4, the writer describes the water slide as “absolutely thrilling and easily the highlight of the whole trip,” which means it was the most enjoyable moment.
5 B – This option successfully captures the global narrative arc: her initial fear of the wild and unpredictable environment, the physical exhaustion she felt at the end, and the fact that the waterfall slide was the highlight that made her proud and eager to return.
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Riding the Waves
For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to learn how to surf. However, my parents were always worried about the dangers of standing up on a heavy board in the ocean. Last month, during our beach holiday in Cornwall, we finally reached an agreement. I would try bodyboarding instead. It is generally considered a safer alternative because you lie flat on a much smaller, softer board. Although I was slightly disappointed not to be doing the real thing, I was still excited to get into the water.
On my first morning, I rented a board, a wetsuit, and a pair of swim fins for my feet. I marched into the sea, feeling confident. However, my confidence disappeared quickly. I tried to catch every wave that came towards me, but I just kept sinking. At one point, a huge wall of water crashed right onto my head, pushing me deep under the surface. It actually hurt quite a bit, and I came up coughing sea water. I quickly realised that this sport wasn’t going to be as easy as it looked.
Fortunately, a local teenager named Sam noticed I was struggling and offered to help. He explained that successful bodyboarding isn’t about fighting the ocean; it’s about learning to read the waves. He showed me how to look at the horizon and wait for a wave that was just beginning to break. He also taught me that timing is everything. You have to start kicking your legs fiercely just before the water reaches you.
I spent the next hour practising what Sam had taught me. I waited patiently, spotted a perfect, rolling wave, and kicked my feet as hard as I could. Suddenly, I felt the board lift and shoot forward. The speed was absolutely thrilling! I flew across the surface of the water all the way to the sandy shore.
By the end of the afternoon, my arms and legs were completely exhausted, but I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. Bodyboarding might be a simpler version of surfing, but it provides a genuine rush. I’ve already asked my parents if we can buy my own board for our next seaside trip.
1 How did the writer feel about trying bodyboarding at first?
(A) annoyed that his parents wouldn’t let him go in the sea at all
(B) a bit unhappy about not surfing but looking forward to the activity
(C) worried because he thought lying flat on a board was dangerous
(D) relieved that he didn’t have to carry a heavy surfboard around
2 What happened during the writer’s first few attempts in the water?
(A) He found that wearing swim fins made it difficult to move.
(B) He managed to catch a huge wave that pushed him to the shore.
(C) He suffered a painful experience when a wave broke on top of him.
(D) He discovered that the rented board was too small for him to use.
3 What did Sam teach the writer to do?
(A) to choose the right moment to start moving his legs
(B) to fight the ocean when the waves become too strong
(C) to stand up on the board just before the wave breaks
(D) to look away from the horizon to avoid getting distracted
4 When the writer finally caught a good wave, he
(A) felt frightened by how fast the board was moving.
(B) found the fast journey to the beach extremely exciting.
(C) realised he preferred waiting for the waves to riding them.
(D) wished Sam had been there to see him succeed.
5 What would the writer write in his diary that evening?
(A) Today showed me why surfing is so popular. I’m going to convince my parents to let me stand up on a board tomorrow.
(B) I’m so tired and my body hurts from the crashing waves. I think I’ll just relax on the sand for the rest of this holiday.
(C) The local guy who helped me was great, but even with his advice, the board was just too soft and small to travel very fast.
(D) Learning to understand the water was hard work, but riding that wave was incredible. I definitely want to get my own equipment!
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The text states in the first paragraph, “Although I was slightly disappointed not to be doing the real thing, I was still excited to get into the water.”
2 C – In the second paragraph, the writer explains that a huge wave crashed onto his head and notes, “It actually hurt quite a bit”.
3 A – The third paragraph explains that Sam taught the writer that “timing is everything” and that he had to “start kicking your legs fiercely just before the water reaches you.”
4 B – In the fourth paragraph, the writer describes the experience as “absolutely thrilling!” and notes that he “flew across the surface of the water all the way to the sandy shore.”
5 D – This option captures the global meaning of the text. It acknowledges the physical difficulty of learning to “read the waves” and getting crashed on, the extreme thrill of finally succeeding, and matches his final thought about asking his parents to buy his own board.
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
My First Cave Dive
I’ve been scuba diving in the sea a few times, but I recently decided I wanted a different kind of challenge. My diving instructor told me about a simulated cave diving course at a special training pool in the city. The idea of swimming through underwater tunnels sounded like an exciting adventure. Although my parents were slightly worried, the instructor promised them it was completely safe because the tunnels were man-made and had plenty of emergency exits.
When we arrived at the centre, I was surprised by how normal it looked from the outside. However, the pool area was huge, with complex plastic structures built under the water. Before we got in, our guide, Mark, warned us that it would be extremely dark inside the tunnels to make it feel like a real cave. As I put on my wetsuit, I started to feel a bit anxious. I suddenly realised that being in small, dark spaces wasn’t something I usually enjoyed.
As soon as we swam into the first tunnel, the bright lights of the pool disappeared. The water was warm, but the darkness made the space feel incredibly tiny and closed-in. For a brief moment, my heart started beating faster, and I felt a strong wave of panic. I wanted to swim back out immediately. However, I had to force myself to take deep, slow breaths and remember that I was in a completely controlled environment.
What really helped me stay calm was the communication training we had received earlier. In an underwater cave, you obviously can’t speak, and you can’t even see facial expressions clearly. Mark had taught us specific hand signals using our torches. When I signaled to Mark that I was feeling a bit nervous, he immediately signaled back, asking if I was okay and reminding me to breathe. Knowing I could easily ‘talk’ to him made me feel connected and safe.
By the time we finished the hour-long session, I was actually enjoying the unique experience of exploring the hidden pathways. I felt incredibly proud that I hadn’t let my fear control me. While I don’t think I’m quite ready to dive into a real underground cave in the wild, I’m definitely going to book another simulated session next month to improve my skills.
1 Why did the writer decide to do the simulated cave dive?
(A) To prove to his parents that cave diving is safe.
(B) He wanted to try a new type of diving experience.
(C) His instructor suggested he practice using emergency exits.
(D) He wanted to prepare for a real cave dive in the ocean.
2 How did the writer feel just before getting into the pool?
(A) Disappointed by the plain appearance of the building.
(B) Confused by the complex plastic structures in the water.
(C) Worried about being in a small, unlit space.
(D) Annoyed that the guide warned him about the darkness.
3 What happened when the writer entered the first tunnel?
(A) He got lost because the pool lights disappeared.
(B) He had to control a sudden feeling of fear.
(C) He immediately swam back out of the cave.
(D) He felt uncomfortable because the water was too warm.
4 What made the writer feel better inside the dark tunnel?
(A) Seeing his instructor’s calm facial expressions.
(B) Hearing his instructor tell him to breathe slowly.
(C) Holding his instructor’s hand to feel connected.
(D) Being able to communicate using special torch signals.
5 What would the writer text to a friend about his diving experience?
(A) “The simulated cave was fun, but I think I’m ready to try exploring a real underwater cave tomorrow!”
(B) “I hated the darkness and couldn’t wait to get out. It’s definitely the last time I try any kind of cave diving.”
(C) “Even though I felt quite scared at first, using hand signals to communicate helped me relax and enjoy the dive.”
(D) “My instructor didn’t prepare us well for the dark, so I panicked and had to use the emergency exit to escape.”
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In paragraph 1, the writer states “I wanted a different kind of challenge” and thought it sounded like “an exciting adventure”, which paraphrases wanting a new type of experience.
2 C – In paragraph 2, the writer says “As I put on my wetsuit, I started to feel a bit anxious” because he realized “being in small, dark spaces wasn’t something I usually enjoyed.”
3 B – In paragraph 3, the writer describes his heart beating faster and feeling a “strong wave of panic,” which he then had to “force myself to take deep, slow breaths” to control.
4 D – In paragraph 4, the writer explains that what helped him stay calm was using “specific hand signals using our torches” to ‘talk’ to his instructor.
5 C – This option perfectly captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text: moving from initial fear/claustrophobia to finding comfort through non-verbal communication, leading to an overall positive and proud experience.