Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Mental Health, Sleep & Mindfulness
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
My Caffeine Reality Check
A few months ago, I was completely convinced that I had a serious problem with my mental health. I was constantly feeling nervous, my heart would suddenly beat very fast for no reason, and I often had shaky hands during my morning school classes. Even worse, my mind was always full of racing thoughts when I tried to relax in my bedroom at night. I started reading various articles online about anxiety disorders, and I was absolutely terrified that I would feel this uncomfortable way for the rest of my life.
Eventually, I decided I couldn’t ignore the problem anymore, so my mum booked an appointment with our local doctor. She listened carefully as I described my symptoms and then asked me a very surprising question: “How much coffee do you drink every day?” I had to admit that I was buying at least three large cups of strong coffee to help me stay awake for my school exams. She gently explained that a high amount of caffeine can actually create physical feelings that are exactly like severe anxiety.
I found it hard to believe that my favourite hot drink was causing such terrible problems, but I agreed to test the doctor’s theory immediately. The next day, I switched completely to decaffeinated coffee. For the first few days, the change was tough. I felt incredibly tired and suffered from a continuous mild headache because my body was so used to having caffeine. It was quite a difficult period, and my older sister even offered to make me a normal coffee, but I was determined to follow the medical advice.
By the end of the second week, the transformation in my body was absolutely incredible. My hands completely stopped shaking, and my heart returned to a normal, steady rhythm. More importantly, my mind felt clear and peaceful again when I tried to sleep. I finally realised that my panic wasn’t a mental health issue at all; it was simply a chemical reaction to too much caffeine. I am so relieved that I discovered the true cause of my stress. Now, I only drink decaf, and I feel completely normal again.
1 Why was the writer worried at the beginning of the text?
(A) She was studying too hard for her morning school classes.
(B) She was experiencing physical and mental signs of severe stress.
(C) She had discovered a terrifying article about a rare disease online.
(D) She felt angry that she had to spend so much time in her bedroom.
2 How did the writer feel during her visit to the doctor?
(A) She was shocked by the question the medical professional asked her.
(B) She was annoyed that her mum made her go to the appointment.
(C) She felt embarrassed about admitting she drank too much coffee.
(D) She was relieved when the doctor said she didn’t have a disorder.
3 What does the writer say about giving up caffeine?
(A) She found it easy because she drank decaffeinated coffee instead.
(B) She almost accepted a normal hot drink from her older sister.
(C) She felt quite unwell for a few days after changing her diet.
(D) She refused to believe the doctor’s theory and kept drinking caffeine.
4 What did the writer learn from this experience?
(A) That mental health issues are very easy to cure with diet changes.
(B) That she needs to drink decaf coffee to help her fall asleep at night.
(C) That she should never drink any kind of hot beverage again.
(D) That her scary symptoms were only caused by a substance she consumed.
5 What would the writer write in her diary?
(A) I can’t believe my doctor told me to stop drinking coffee. I tried it for a week, but the headaches were just too terrible to continue.
(B) Drinking decaf coffee is so much cheaper than buying strong coffee every day. I’m glad I found a way to save my money and reduce my stress.
(C) I finally understand why my heart was beating so fast. It turns out I didn’t have an anxiety disorder, I just needed to change my morning drink!
(D) I’m still feeling a bit nervous during my school exams, but at least my hands have stopped shaking since I stopped drinking caffeine.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In paragraph 1, the writer explains they had “shaky hands,” a heart that would “beat very fast,” and “racing thoughts,” all of which paraphrase experiencing physical and mental signs of severe stress (anxiety).
2 A – Paragraph 2 states that the doctor “asked me a very surprising question” regarding her coffee habits, mapping directly to being shocked by the medical professional’s question.
3 C – In paragraph 3, the writer states that the change was tough and that she “felt incredibly tired and suffered from a continuous mild headache,” meaning she felt quite unwell for a few days.
4 D – Paragraph 4 explains that the writer realized her panic “wasn’t a mental health issue at all; it was simply a chemical reaction to too much caffeine,” showing her symptoms were caused by a substance she consumed.
5 C – This option accurately captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the passage: the fear of having an anxiety disorder, the discovery that caffeine was the actual cause of her fast heartbeat, and the successful resolution by changing her drink.
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Learning to Really Listen
I always thought I was a very good friend. I am talkative, friendly, and I love spending time with my classmates. However, a few months ago, I realised something embarrassing about my communication skills. During conversations, I never actually listened to what my friends were saying. Instead, I just stayed quiet and waited for my turn to speak. As soon as they paused, I would immediately jump in and start talking about myself or my own opinions.
The problem became obvious during a lunch break with my best friend, Leo. He was telling me about a difficult argument he had just had with his brother. He was clearly upset and needed some support. But before he could even finish his story, I interrupted him to complain about a disagreement I once had with my own sister. Leo looked at me in disbelief. He told me that I didn’t care about his feelings at all, and he walked away looking incredibly angry.
I felt terrible. I didn’t want to lose my best friend, so I went online and searched for advice on how to be a better listener. I discovered a technique called ‘mindful listening’. The website explained that true listening means focusing completely on the other person. You shouldn’t be planning your next sentence or thinking about your own life while they are speaking. You just need to pay attention, look at them, and try to understand their emotions.
The next day, I apologised to Leo and asked him to finish his story. This time, I used my new mindful listening skills. At first, it felt quite unnatural to stay completely silent and just nod my head. My brain kept wanting to share my own experiences. However, I forced myself to concentrate entirely on Leo’s words. Because I was paying proper attention, I could ask him helpful questions when he finally finished.
Leo immediately noticed the difference in my behaviour, and he thanked me for understanding him. Since that day, I have practised mindful listening with everyone I know. It has completely transformed my relationships. I have learned that giving someone your full attention is the most valuable gift you can offer them.
1 What did the writer realise about himself recently?
(A) He was too shy to talk to his classmates.
(B) He only pretended to pay attention to his friends.
(C) He didn’t enjoy spending time with his friends anymore.
(D) He was afraid of sharing his own opinions.
2 Why did Leo walk away from the writer?
(A) Leo was angry about a disagreement he had with his sister.
(B) The writer started talking about himself instead of supporting Leo.
(C) Leo didn’t want to talk about his brother anymore.
(D) The writer refused to give Leo any advice.
3 According to the website, what does ‘mindful listening’ involve?
(A) Giving the speaker your full concentration.
(B) Planning exactly what you are going to say next.
(C) Sharing your own emotions with the speaker.
(D) Searching online for solutions to the speaker’s problems.
4 How did the writer feel when he first tried the new technique?
(A) He found it difficult to think of helpful questions.
(B) He was annoyed that he had to stay completely silent.
(C) He felt that not speaking was a bit strange.
(D) He was disappointed that Leo didn’t notice the change.
5 What would the writer say about his experience?
(A) “Listening is a hard skill to learn, so I prefer spending time with friends who talk less.”
(B) “Mindful listening is useful, but sometimes it is better to interrupt people if you have good advice.”
(C) “I almost lost my best friend, but changing how I communicate has made my friendships much stronger.”
(D) “I am still a very talkative person, but now I only share my opinions when people ask for them.”
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The first paragraph states that the writer “never actually listened” but instead “just stayed quiet and waited for my turn to speak”. This paraphrases pretending to pay attention.
2 B – In the second paragraph, Leo gets upset and walks away because the writer “interrupted him to complain about a disagreement I once had with my own sister” instead of letting Leo finish his story about his brother.
3 A – Paragraph three explains that true listening means “focusing completely on the other person” and paying attention without planning your next sentence. This matches giving the speaker your full concentration.
4 C – In paragraph four, the writer mentions that “it felt quite unnatural to stay completely silent”, which means he felt that not speaking was a bit strange.
5 C – This option captures the global meaning and the writer’s final attitude perfectly. He notes the initial danger of his bad habit (almost losing his best friend, Leo) and concludes that practicing mindful listening has “completely transformed my relationships” (made friendships stronger).
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Confronting My Biggest Fear
For as long as I can remember, I have had a terrible phobia of needles. Just the thought of getting an injection was enough to make my hands shake. However, last month, my school announced an exciting educational trip to a tropical country. I desperately wanted to go with my friends, but there was one massive problem: I had to get a specific travel vaccination before I could buy my plane ticket. I knew I couldn’t avoid it any longer, so I finally asked my mum to book an appointment at the local health clinic.
When the day of the appointment arrived, my anxiety reached a whole new level. Sitting in the quiet waiting room, my heart was beating so fast that I could hear it in my ears. I watched the clock on the wall and wished I could just run out of the building. When the nurse finally called my name, the room seemed to spin. My legs felt like jelly, and I honestly thought I was going to faint right there in the corridor. My mum had to hold my arm to help me walk into the room.
Fortunately, the nurse was incredibly patient and noticed how pale I was. She told me to sit down and suggested I try distracting my brain. Suddenly, I remembered some advice my older sister had given me. She told me that focusing on a happy image and doing deep breathing exercises could stop the brain from panicking. I pulled out my smartphone and found a funny photograph of my pet dog playing in the garden. I stared at the screen and began to breathe in deeply, making sure to exhale very slowly.
As I focused completely on the photo and my slow breaths, I waited for the terrible pain I had imagined. “All done,” the nurse smiled, putting a small plaster on my arm. I couldn’t believe it! The sharp pinch I had been dreading felt like absolutely nothing. The distraction technique had worked perfectly. I walked out of the clinic feeling incredibly proud of myself. Not only am I going on the school trip, but I also know that I have finally beaten my biggest fear.
1 Why did the writer make an appointment at the clinic?
(A) To get medicine for an illness she caught abroad.
(B) To complete a requirement for a school holiday.
(C) To ask for advice about her shaking hands.
(D) To support her friends who needed vaccinations.
2 How did the writer feel when the nurse called her name?
(A) Relieved that the long wait was finally over.
(B) Annoyed because the clock was ticking so slowly.
(C) So terrified that she felt physically weak and dizzy.
(D) Embarrassed because her mother had to hold her arm.
3 What strategy did the writer use to stay calm?
(A) She concentrated on her phone and her breathing.
(B) She watched a funny video of her dog playing.
(C) She asked the patient nurse to tell her a story.
(D) She sent a message to her older sister for advice.
4 What did the writer discover at the end of the appointment?
(A) She would have to return for another vaccination soon.
(B) The plaster the nurse used was slightly painful to wear.
(C) The injection was much less painful than she had expected.
(D) She still felt too frightened to travel with her classmates.
5 What would the writer write in her diary that evening?
(A) I can’t believe I almost fainted today. I’ve decided to cancel my travel plans because my fear of needles is just too strong.
(B) Today I learned that a simple distraction can help you overcome panic. The injection was so easy, and now I can’t wait for my trip!
(C) The nurse at the clinic was very impatient, which made my phobia much worse. I’ll definitely ask my sister to come with me next time.
(D) I managed to get my vaccination today, but looking at my smartphone didn’t help at all. I still felt every bit of the terrible pain.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The text states in the first paragraph that the writer “had to get a specific travel vaccination” in order to go on “an exciting educational trip” with her school.
2 C – In the second paragraph, the writer explains that when her name was called, “the room seemed to spin,” her legs “felt like jelly,” and she thought she was “going to faint.”
3 A – The third paragraph describes how the writer pulled out her smartphone to look at a photograph and “began to breathe in deeply, making sure to exhale very slowly.”
4 C – In the fourth paragraph, the writer notes that she “couldn’t believe it” because the “sharp pinch I had been dreading felt like absolutely nothing.”
5 B – This option captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text: it acknowledges the successful use of a distraction technique to overcome a deep fear and ends with a positive outlook on her upcoming school trip.