Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Library Books & Fiction 1

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a classic literature novel to read.

There are descriptions of eight classic books.

Decide which classic book would be the most suitable for the people below.

1   Anna wants to read a book by a celebrated nineteenth-century writer. She needs a short novel because she is busy with her studies, and she prefers a story that finishes with a happy ending for the characters.

2   Tom wants a classic book with difficult vocabulary to improve his language skills. He enjoys historical stories about famous battles and wants a copy that comes with a helpful word guide to explain old phrases.

3   Laura is looking for a very old story written hundreds of years ago. She particularly enjoys exciting murder mysteries and wants a version in an audiobook format so she can listen on her long train journeys.

4   Ben wants to read a classic novel by a famous author but prefers a modernized version with simple words. He doesn’t have much money to spend, so the book must be completely free to download.

5   Elena loves romantic books from the early twentieth century. She wants a long, detailed story to read during her two-week vacation, and she prefers an attractive hardback edition with a beautiful cover design for her shelf.

Classic Literature Novels

A The Summer Garden

This piece by a celebrated 1800s writer is a brief masterpiece of just ninety pages. It tells a delightful story about a family living in the countryside and finishes with a wonderfully cheerful conclusion. It is a perfect, quick read for students who want to enjoy traditional literature without spending hours reading.

B The Soldier’s Honor

This is a brilliant historical masterpiece detailing a great conflict from the past. The text uses highly complex language and unusual, ancient terms, making it perfect for advanced learners. Best of all, the back of the book features a complete glossary that lists and explains every challenging phrase clearly.

C The Midnight Whisper

This story was originally composed in the fourteenth century. This thrilling detective tale follows a guard trying to solve a strange crime in a dark palace. You can download the complete spoken audio version from our website, allowing you to enjoy this ancient mystery while you travel on the move.

D Great Expectations

This work by the legendary Charles Dickens is available on our digital platform at zero cost. To help modern readers, the text has been completely rewritten using clear, everyday language, removing all the complicated old vocabulary. It is a fantastic opportunity to experience a legendary writer without spending any money.

E Love in Paris

This is an emotional, romantic masterpiece published in 1910. Spanning over six hundred pages, this deep and detailed tale is excellent for a long holiday. This special edition features a gorgeous hard cover illustrated by an artist, making it a beautiful decoration to display proudly in your room.

F War and Peace

This is an epic historical novel filled with military strategy and dramatic battles. It contains incredibly advanced vocabulary and complex sentences that will challenge any language student. However, it is an extremely long book of over one thousand pages and does not include any footnotes or word lists to help you.

G The Winter Choice

This book by a famous 19th-century writer is a short romance of just eighty pages. It tells a lovely story but ends with a very sad, tragic conclusion where the main characters lose everything. It is a quick read, but be prepared for a very unhappy ending.

H Oliver Twist

This is a world-famous classic that you can read completely for free on our internet site. It features a clear story about a young boy in London. However, this online version uses the original, unchanged text from 1838, which is filled with extremely difficult old words and complicated vocabulary.

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a modern detective and crime book to read.

There are descriptions of eight crime books.

Decide which book would be the most suitable for the people below.

1   Anna wants a fast-paced thriller that she can’t put down. She prefers stories where the main police officer is a woman. She also loves reading books that take place in a huge, modern city.

2   David enjoys trying to guess the murderer before the end. He wants to read a crime story that happens in the past, around the 1800s. He also needs a book with maps or drawings included.

3   Maria and John are looking for a story based on real crimes. They love learning about modern science and how police use laboratories to catch criminals. They prefer reading short chapters because they read before sleeping.

4   Samuel wants a crime novel that makes him laugh out loud. He prefers mysteries where the hero is just an ordinary person, not a professional detective. He is looking for a story set in a freezing, snowy village.

5   Lily loves reading about why criminals do terrible things and understanding their thoughts. She wants to discover a translated book written by an international author. She also hopes it is the first novel in a long series.

Modern Detective and Crime Fiction

A Neon Shadows

You will turn the pages incredibly quickly in this thrilling adventure. The hero is a brilliant policewoman fighting terrible criminals on the busy, crowded streets of New York. The action never stops from the very beginning, making it a perfect choice if you want non-stop excitement in a huge urban environment.

B The Gaslight Secret

Set in London two hundred years ago, this brilliant mystery invites you to find the killer. Readers must use their brains to solve the complicated puzzle. To help you follow the clues, the author has provided beautiful illustrations and plans of the historical streets where the terrible crimes happened.

C Laboratory Lies

This fascinating book explores actual police investigations that happened recently. It explains exactly how experts examine blood and fingerprints to put guilty people in prison. The sections are very brief, so you can easily finish a few pages each night when you are tired and ready for bed.

D The Frozen Thief

Expect to giggle constantly while reading this hilarious mystery. The main character isn’t a trained cop; he is just a clumsy baker trying to find a missing person! The entire amusing adventure happens in a tiny rural community completely covered in thick winter ice, bringing plenty of smiles and surprises.

E Dark Thoughts

Originally published in Sweden and now available in English, this chilling novel takes you deep inside the dark brain of a dangerous killer. It perfectly explores the reasons behind his terrifying actions. Best of all, this is just the beginning of a fantastic five-part collection following the same characters.

F Chasing Shadows

This exciting novel is based on actual events that shocked the world. The story moves at an incredible speed as a famous male inspector hunts down dangerous thieves across the country. However, you will need plenty of free time to read it, because the sections are extremely long and detailed.

G The Coffee Shop Mystery

This brilliant modern comedy will have you smiling as you try to work out who stole the expensive diamonds. A group of ordinary cafe workers decide to solve the crime themselves. It is a fantastic brain-teaser set in a sunny beach town today, though it contains no pictures to look at.

H The Quiet Detective

Follow the fantastic adventures of a highly intelligent woman who solves crimes in her hometown. This is the fourth book in a widely popular collection written by a famous American author. It is a very calm, unhurried story, perfect for readers who prefer taking their time with a relaxing plot.

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a fantasy series for young adults to read.

There are descriptions of eight fantasy book series.

Decide which fantasy book series would be the most suitable for the people below.

1   Leo wants a story about a normal teenager who suddenly gets magical abilities. He hates waiting for sequels, so the series must have at least three books available now. He prefers to listen to his books on his smartphone.

2   Maya and her sister want a fantasy tale set in a highly advanced, futuristic city where people use magic. They love stories featuring brave animal companions. They don’t want to spend money, so it must be available at the library.

3   Tom is fascinated by magic systems controlled by the natural elements, like fire and water. He needs the books to include a detailed map of the fantasy world. Because of his eyesight, the text must be printed in large letters.

4   Sarah enjoys reading about a loyal group of teenage friends who go on magical adventures together. She wants a series that contains beautiful black-and-white drawings inside. Since she reads before sleeping, the chapters must be very short and quick.

5   David is looking for a dark, frightening magical world. He prefers a male teenage hero who has absolutely no magical powers of his own. He wants to buy and download digital copies straight to his tablet to read tonight.

Fantasy Series for Young Adults

A The Hidden Spell

Follow fifteen-year-old Jason, an average schoolboy who unexpectedly wakes up with the amazing ability to move objects with his mind. Fans will be thrilled because parts one, two, and three are already published! You can easily download the voice-recorded versions directly to your mobile device for your daily journeys.

B City of Stars

This thrilling saga takes place in a high-tech metropolis during the next century, where wizards use advanced computers to cast spells. You can borrow the paperback versions from your local public reading room at zero cost. However, there are no pets or wildlife involved in this completely urban adventure.

C Neon Dragons

Set in a modern flying city of the future, this magical journey follows a young girl and her loyal, talking wolf. The mix of advanced technology and ancient spells is amazing. Even better, you can easily borrow the printed copies from the town lending centre without paying a single penny.

D The Four Winds

In this fantastic universe, wizards control earth, wind, rain, and flames. Readers can easily follow the characters’ journeys across the kingdom using the beautiful drawing of the lands provided at the front. These editions are specially produced using bigger, clearer words, making them extremely comfortable for your eyes to read.

E The Midnight Circle

Join five brave high school mates as they team up to defeat an evil wizard. The author has divided the story into brief, five-page sections, which is perfect if you only have a few minutes to read. Unfortunately, there is no artwork or pictures included anywhere in these plain books.

F Silver Shadows

This brilliant series is about a close team of young classmates fighting magical creatures. Readers will love the lovely, colorless sketches that appear throughout the pages. The writer keeps the action moving quickly by using very brief sections, which makes it incredibly easy to finish a part before going to sleep.

G The Gloomy Kingdom

Step into a terrifying, shadow-filled land full of dangerous monsters. The main character is a brave sixteen-year-old boy who must survive using only his sword, as he cannot cast spells himself. You can get the electronic editions from our website right now and enjoy them on your digital reading screen.

H Awakening Power

Meet Arthur, a typical student whose life changes forever when he suddenly learns how to fly. This incredible debut novel is available as an audio file for your smartphone. It is a fantastic introduction to a planned saga, though fans must wait until next year for the second volume.

Exercises:   123456