Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Impact of Tech & Social Media
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Finding My Safe Place
My name is Leo, and I’m 15 years old. For most of my life, I’ve lived with a rare chronic illness. While my classmates worry about football matches and homework, I often have to deal with hospital visits and taking daily medicine. At my secondary school, I felt completely alone. I tried to explain my condition to my friends, but it was hard for them to truly understand why I was sometimes too tired to hang out. Eventually, I stopped talking about it, which only made me feel more isolated.
One weekend, when I was feeling particularly sad and misunderstood, I decided to search the internet. I typed the name of my illness into a search engine, hoping to find some medical advice. Instead, I discovered something much better: an online forum created specifically for teenagers living with the same condition. I was nervous about talking to strangers, but I felt so desperate for connection that I created an account. I wrote a short post introducing myself and explaining my situation at school.
When I woke up the next morning and checked my phone, I couldn’t believe my eyes. There were dozens of replies from teenagers all over the world. People from Brazil, Australia, and Japan had sent me messages of support. They told me that they experienced the exact same feelings of loneliness. Even better, they shared useful tips on how to manage the illness during a busy school day and how to talk to teachers about it. For the first time ever, I realised I wasn’t unusual.
Since that day, checking the forum has become an important part of my daily routine. We share our funny stories, celebrate small victories, and support each other on difficult days. Having this emotional safety net has completely changed my life. I am no longer afraid to be honest about my health with my real-life friends. If I am having a bad day, I simply tell them, knowing that I always have a community waiting for me online if I need advice.
People often say that teenagers spend too much time on the internet and that social media is bad for our mental health. However, my experience has been the exact opposite. Without the internet, I would still be that quiet, lonely boy at the back of the classroom. Finding my online support community gave me my confidence back.
1 Why did Leo stop talking to his friends about his illness?
(A) He didn’t want them to know he was going to the hospital.
(B) He felt they couldn’t really understand his situation.
(C) He preferred to focus on playing football and doing homework.
(D) He was told by his teachers to keep his health a secret.
2 What was Leo originally looking for when he searched online?
(A) Teenagers from different countries.
(B) A safe place to make new friends.
(C) Information from doctors about his health.
(D) An online forum for his specific illness.
3 How did Leo feel after reading the replies to his post?
(A) Amazed by the practical advice and shared experiences.
(B) Confused by the messages from people in other countries.
(C) Worried about having to reply to so many teenagers.
(D) Disappointed that no one went to the same school as him.
4 How has the online forum changed Leo’s life at school?
(A) He has stopped hanging out with his real-life friends.
(B) He no longer needs to take medicine during the school day.
(C) He feels more comfortable talking about his condition.
(D) He spends all his lessons messaging his online community.
5 What would Leo write in his blog?
(A) I wish I had never told my friends at school about my illness, but at least I have my online group now.
(B) It’s dangerous to talk to strangers online, so you should only use the internet to find medical facts.
(C) Having a chronic illness is difficult, but discovering a global community of teens like me has made me feel so much stronger.
(D) If you are feeling lonely, you should leave your school and spend all your time talking to people on the internet.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The text states in the first paragraph that “it was hard for them to truly understand why I was sometimes too tired… Eventually, I stopped talking about it”.
2 C – In the second paragraph, Leo says he typed the name of his illness into a search engine, “hoping to find some medical advice.”
3 A – The third paragraph describes how he “couldn’t believe his eyes” when he saw messages of support, shared feelings of loneliness, and “useful tips on how to manage the illness”.
4 C – In the fourth paragraph, Leo explains that because of the emotional safety net, “I am no longer afraid to be honest about my health with my real-life friends.”
5 C – This option perfectly captures the global meaning and Leo’s overall attitude. He found strength and confidence by connecting with a worldwide community of teenagers facing the same rare illness.
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The Spell Check Trap
I have always loved writing stories and essays, and I usually get excellent grades for my homework. Because I do almost all of my work on a laptop or a smartphone, I have become incredibly fast at typing. However, I completely relied on the autocorrect software. Whenever I typed a word incorrectly, the computer instantly fixed it for me. I rarely paid attention to those tiny red lines on the screen. Over time, I truly believed I was a fantastic speller, simply because my final documents always looked absolutely perfect.
Everything changed last month when our history teacher announced that our final exam would be handwritten in the school hall. I wasn’t worried at all because I knew the historical facts perfectly. But when I sat at the desk with just a pen and some blank paper, I suddenly felt a terrible sense of panic. As I tried to write my essay, I realised I had no idea whether certain common words needed double letters or how they ended. I guessed the spellings and hoped the teacher wouldn’t notice my mistakes.
Unfortunately, my clever plan didn’t work. When Mr Roberts handed the exam papers back a week later, I was absolutely horrified. Although my historical knowledge was accurate, my final grade was extremely low. My teacher had circled dozens of basic spelling mistakes in bright red ink. He even wrote a note saying that my errors made the essay incredibly difficult to understand. I felt deeply embarrassed that a teenager like me couldn’t spell simple words without the help of modern technology.
That painful experience forced me to take immediate action. As soon as I got home, I opened the settings on all my digital devices and completely disabled the autocorrect features. The first few days were incredibly frustrating because I had to constantly search for words in a traditional dictionary. However, I slowly started to remember the correct spellings. I also started reading more physical books to help my brain memorise how words look. Relearning this skill takes time, but I am proud to rely on my own mind instead of a computer.
1 Why did the writer believe they were good at spelling?
(A) Their teachers always gave them excellent marks for their stories.
(B) They always used a dictionary to check the red lines on their screen.
(C) Their devices automatically fixed their mistakes without them realising.
(D) They practised typing very fast on their laptop and smartphone.
2 How did the writer feel during the history exam?
(A) Confident because they had memorised all the correct spellings.
(B) Anxious because they couldn’t remember how to write everyday words.
(C) Annoyed because the teacher made them write on blank paper.
(D) Relieved because they knew the historical facts so well.
3 Why did the writer receive a bad mark on the exam?
(A) They forgot to include important historical facts in their essay.
(B) The teacher could not read their messy handwriting.
(C) They used a modern device to cheat during the test.
(D) Their frequent spelling errors made the text hard to read.
4 What has the writer done to solve their problem?
(A) They have turned off the spelling assistance on their technology.
(B) They have stopped using computers to do their school homework.
(C) They have decided to read books instead of using digital devices.
(D) They have bought a new dictionary software for their laptop.
5 What would the writer write in their diary today?
(A) I am so angry with Mr Roberts for giving me a low grade. History is about facts, not about knowing how to spell perfectly!
(B) It is annoying to check a dictionary, but I’m glad I’m finally learning to spell properly instead of letting my phone do it for me.
(C) Turning off autocorrect was a big mistake. My homework takes too long now, so I am going to turn it back on tomorrow.
(D) I did really well on my handwritten exam today! I am so proud that I never let technology do my writing for me.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 C – The text states in the first paragraph that the computer instantly fixed typed words and the final documents looked perfect, making the writer mistakenly believe they were a fantastic speller.
2 B – In the second paragraph, the writer explains that when they sat at the desk with just a pen, they felt a “terrible sense of panic” because they “realised I had no idea whether certain common words needed double letters or how they ended”.
3 D – The third paragraph describes how the teacher circled dozens of mistakes and left a note saying the errors “made the essay incredibly difficult to understand”.
4 A – In the fourth paragraph, the writer mentions taking action by opening their device settings and “completely disabled the autocorrect features”, which means turning off the spelling assistance.
5 B – This option captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text: acknowledging the current frustration of looking up words manually, but feeling proud and glad to be reviving an intellectual skill instead of relying on technology.
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The Truth Behind the Screen
I’ve always wanted to be strong and healthy, so about a year ago, I decided to join a local gym. To get some useful advice and motivation, I started following famous fitness influencers on social media. Every day, I watched videos of them lifting incredibly heavy weights and showing off their perfect bodies. They made it look so easy, and they promised that anyone could achieve the exact same results if they bought their expensive training programs. I was completely amazed and desperately wanted to look just like them.
Determined to succeed, I went to the gym five times a week and tried to copy their advanced workouts exactly. I pushed myself as hard as I could, lifting weights that were definitely too heavy for a beginner. I totally ignored the fact that my lifting technique was terrible. Unfortunately, this was a huge mistake. One evening, while trying to lift a massive weight, I felt a terrible, sharp pain in my lower back. The doctor told me I had badly injured myself and couldn’t do any sports for at least two months.
While I was resting at home and waiting to heal, I had plenty of time to read more about the fitness industry online. I was absolutely shocked to discover that many of these influencers do not tell the truth. I read several articles explaining that some of them use dangerous chemicals to build muscle so quickly. Even worse, some actually use fake, plastic weights in their videos just to look stronger and get more followers! I felt completely cheated and quite silly for believing everything I saw on my screen.
As soon as my back was better, I immediately unfollowed all those fitness accounts. Instead, I went to talk to Mr. Harris, my school’s sports coach. I explained what had happened, and he was incredibly understanding and helpful. He designed a safe, realistic training plan for me, focusing on correct technique and slow progress rather than lifting heavy weights straight away. He explained that a teenager’s body is still growing and needs to be treated with care.
My back is completely healed now, and I am actually getting stronger safely. This painful experience taught me to be much more careful about who I trust on the internet. Real fitness takes time, patience, and hard work, and there are definitely no magic shortcuts.
1 Why did the writer start following fitness influencers?
(A) He wanted to buy their expensive training programs.
(B) He wanted to get some tips and motivation for his gym training.
(C) He was asked to watch their videos by the staff at his local gym.
(D) He wanted to find out how they lifted such heavy weights.
2 What caused the writer’s back injury?
(A) He went to the gym more than five times a week.
(B) He used gym equipment that was broken.
(C) He attempted to lift weights that were too heavy for him.
(D) He did not listen to the doctor’s advice about his technique.
3 What did the writer learn while he was resting at home?
(A) Many influencers use trickery to appear stronger than they are.
(B) Most fitness articles on the internet contain false information.
(C) Plastic weights are actually better for beginners to use.
(D) It is impossible to build muscle without using dangerous chemicals.
4 How did the school sports coach help the writer?
(A) He told the writer to stop using social media completely.
(B) He explained how to lift the heaviest weights in the gym safely.
(C) He created a suitable and safe exercise routine for him.
(D) He warned him that his body would stop growing if he lifted weights.
5 What would the writer write in his blog now?
(A) I still watch my favourite influencers, but I only copy the workouts that look safe for teenagers to do.
(B) Hurting my back was terrible, but it helped me realise that online fitness videos are often fake and unrealistic.
(C) I’m so glad my doctor told me to speak to my school coach, because now I can lift heavier weights than ever.
(D) Getting fit is actually much faster than people think, as long as you have the right coach to show you the shortcuts.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In paragraph 1, the writer says, “To get some useful advice and motivation, I started following famous fitness influencers.” Option B directly paraphrases this.
2 C – Paragraph 2 explains that he was “lifting weights that were definitely too heavy for a beginner” and felt a sharp pain “while trying to lift a massive weight.” This matches attempting to lift weights that were too heavy.
3 A – In paragraph 3, the writer discovers that some influencers “use fake, plastic weights in their videos just to look stronger.” This means they use trickery to appear stronger.
4 C – Paragraph 4 states that the coach “designed a safe, realistic training plan for me, focusing on correct technique and slow progress.” Option C correctly describes this action.
5 B – This option captures the global meaning and the main lesson the writer learned. He experienced a painful injury but eventually understood that the fitness influencers he admired were using fake weights and chemicals, making their videos unrealistic.