Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Mishaps & Resilience 1
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Missing the Last Train
Last month, I went on my first independent trip to Madrid. I was so proud of myself for organising everything without my parents. On my third evening, I decided to explore a beautiful neighbourhood on the other side of the city. There was so much to see and do that I completely forgot to check my watch. By the time I finally decided to head back to my hotel, it was already past midnight.
I ran down the stairs to the underground station, but the huge metal gates were locked. A security guard kindly explained in broken English that the last train had already left. Suddenly, I felt completely terrified. I was alone in a foreign city, my phone battery was only at ten percent, and I didn’t have enough cash for an expensive taxi ride. For a few minutes, I just stood there, panicking and wondering if I would have to sleep on the street.
However, I took a deep breath and reminded myself that I had to stay calm. I started walking along the main road, looking for somewhere safe to wait. Luckily, I noticed the bright lights of a small, 24-hour diner on the corner. I went inside and was warmly welcomed by the owner. It was full of local people chatting and laughing. I sat at a quiet table, plugged my phone into a wall socket, and immediately felt a huge sense of relief.
While I was waiting for the morning trains to start running, I ordered a plate of traditional Spanish churros with thick hot chocolate. It was absolutely delicious, and easily the best meal I had during my entire trip! I ended up having a lovely conversation with a friendly waiter who taught me some useful Spanish phrases. I finally returned to my hotel at six in the morning, feeling extremely tired but surprisingly happy.
Missing that train was initially my worst nightmare, but it turned out to be a great adventure. The experience taught me that things will inevitably go wrong when you travel. However, if you keep a clear head and don’t panic, you can handle a crisis perfectly well.
1 Why was Leo late getting back to his hotel?
(A) He got lost in a new neighbourhood.
(B) He didn’t pay attention to the time.
(C) His parents gave him the wrong directions.
(D) He wanted to stay out past midnight.
2 How did Leo feel when he reached the station?
(A) Frightened because he was stuck with no easy way back.
(B) Annoyed that the security guard couldn’t speak English.
(C) Upset because his phone battery was completely dead.
(D) Worried that someone had stolen his cash.
3 What did Leo do to solve his problem?
(A) He used his phone to book a cheap taxi.
(B) He asked some local people for directions.
(C) He found a secure and comfortable place to sit.
(D) He decided to walk all the way back to his hotel.
4 What does Leo say about his time in the diner?
(A) He wished he had ordered something healthier.
(B) He enjoyed the food more than anything else on his holiday.
(C) He found the waiter’s Spanish lessons too difficult.
(D) He was too exhausted to speak to anyone.
5 What would Leo write in his travel blog about the experience?
(A) I should have asked my parents to come with me. Travelling independently is just too dangerous for teenagers.
(B) Missing the last train was terrifying, but staying calm helped me turn a bad situation into a wonderful memory!
(C) If you ever miss a train in Madrid, don’t worry. Taxis are very cheap and easy to find during the night.
(D) The 24-hour diner was a great place to sleep, even though the food they served wasn’t very tasty.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In the first paragraph, the writer states that he was exploring and “completely forgot to check my watch,” meaning he didn’t pay attention to the time.
2 A – The second paragraph explains that he felt “completely terrified” because he was alone, his phone was dying, and he “didn’t have enough cash for an expensive taxi ride.”
3 C – In the third paragraph, Leo describes looking for “somewhere safe to wait” and finding the bright lights of the 24-hour diner where he felt “a huge sense of relief.”
4 B – The fourth paragraph details that the traditional Spanish churros and hot chocolate were “easily the best meal I had during my entire trip!”
5 B – This option captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text: he started out panicking (terrifying), but took a deep breath (staying calm), which led to eating delicious food and making a new friend (a wonderful memory).
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A Fashion Disaster on the Slopes
When my family and I arrived at the beautiful ski resort in the Alps, I couldn’t wait to hit the slopes. I had spent weeks saving up for a fashionable new ski jacket and matching trousers, and I was excited to wear them. However, my excitement quickly turned into anger when we collected our bags at the airport. Everyone else’s luggage appeared on the belt, but my suitcase was nowhere to be seen. I felt absolutely furious and immediately told my parents that I just wanted to cancel the holiday and fly back home.
My parents eventually calmed me down, but I still had a major problem: I had no winter clothes. The next morning, we went to the resort’s rental shop to find something for me to wear. Unfortunately, the only items left in my size were incredibly old-fashioned. I was forced to borrow a bright yellow jacket and a pair of baggy purple trousers that were much too big for me. Looking in the mirror, I felt completely embarrassed. I was convinced that everyone on the mountain would stare and laugh at my ridiculous outfit.
Despite my awful clothes, I reluctantly followed my family to the ski lift. For the first hour, I felt incredibly self-conscious. I spent more time pulling up my huge trousers than concentrating on my skiing. But as the morning went on, something changed. The snow was soft and fresh, and the sun was shining brightly in the clear blue sky. I started going faster, feeling the cold wind on my face. Suddenly, I was having so much fun that I completely forgot about the bright yellow jacket I was wearing.
By the end of the afternoon, my attitude had completely changed. I noticed that the other skiers were too busy enjoying the amazing weather and the fantastic slopes to pay any attention to my clothes. I realised that looking good is not the most important thing when you are doing a sport. The actual experience and the feeling of skiing down a mountain are what truly matter. Even though my suitcase didn’t arrive until the last day of our trip, I can honestly say it was the best winter holiday I’ve ever had.
1 Why did the writer want to go home at the beginning of the trip?
(A) He disliked the ski resort in the Alps.
(B) He was extremely upset because his baggage was lost.
(C) He did not have enough money to buy a new jacket.
(D) He was angry that his flight was delayed.
2 How did the writer feel about the clothes he had to rent?
(A) Surprised that they fitted him so perfectly.
(B) Pleased because they were very bright and fashionable.
(C) Annoyed that they were so expensive to hire.
(D) Worried that people would make fun of his appearance.
3 What happened during the writer’s morning on the slopes?
(A) He eventually stopped caring about his strange outfit.
(B) He had to stop skiing because his trousers fell down.
(C) He fell over because the fresh snow was too soft.
(D) He decided to go back inside because of the cold wind.
4 What did the writer learn from his holiday?
(A) Other skiers are usually very unfriendly to beginners.
(B) It is important to always carry your luggage with you.
(C) Enjoying the activity is more important than worrying about fashion.
(D) Renting ski equipment is better than buying your own.
5 What would the writer write in his diary at the end of the trip?
(A) The airline finally found my bag, but I was so angry about losing my new clothes that I stayed in the hotel all week.
(B) I had to wear the ugliest rental clothes today! I was so embarrassed that I couldn’t focus on skiing and had a terrible time.
(C) Losing my suitcase seemed like a disaster, but skiing in an oversized, silly outfit taught me that having fun is what really counts!
(D) I was so excited to show off my new ski jacket on the slopes today, but the weather was too warm to wear it!
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In paragraph 1, the writer states that his excitement “turned into anger” because his “suitcase was nowhere to be seen,” causing him to feel furious and want to fly back home.
2 D – In paragraph 2, the writer looks in the mirror and feels “completely embarrassed,” stating he was “convinced that everyone on the mountain would stare and laugh at my ridiculous outfit.”
3 A – In paragraph 3, the writer explains that after initially feeling self-conscious, he started having so much fun that he “completely forgot about the bright yellow jacket I was wearing.”
4 C – In paragraph 4, the writer reflects and realises that “looking good is not the most important thing… The actual experience and the feeling of skiing down a mountain are what truly matter.”
5 C – This option accurately captures the global narrative and emotional arc of the text: starting with the disaster of the lost luggage, feeling embarrassed by the baggy rental clothes, but ultimately learning that the enjoyment of the activity is far more important than looks.
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The Rainy Island
When my family booked a summer holiday to a beautiful tropical island in the Caribbean, I was absolutely thrilled. I had spent weeks looking at online photos of the bright sunshine, clear blue water, and perfectly white beaches. I even bought new sunglasses and packed plenty of summer clothes. I was completely certain that this would be the perfect, relaxing beach trip I had always dreamed of.
Unfortunately, my excitement disappeared the moment we stepped off the plane. The sky was covered in thick, dark grey clouds, and it immediately started to pour with rain. To my absolute horror, the heavy rain didn’t stop for the next three days. While my parents tried to stay positive by playing board games, I just sat in my hotel room and sulked. I watched boring television shows and stared angrily out of the window, completely convinced that my entire holiday was ruined.
By the fourth afternoon, the rain was still falling heavily. I was complaining again when my dad suddenly suggested we go to the beach anyway. I looked at him as if he were crazy. However, he pointed out that the air temperature was actually very warm, and we were going to get wet in the sea anyway. Reluctantly, I put on my swimming costume, grabbed a towel, and followed my parents down to the empty beach.
As soon as I ran into the water, everything changed. Swimming in the ocean while heavy, warm rain fell on my face was a truly incredible feeling. Because the weather was so bad, there were absolutely no other tourists around. We had the whole beach completely to ourselves. We spent hours jumping in the waves and laughing together. It was actually much more fun than just lying still on the sand in the burning heat.
Looking back, that rainy afternoon became the absolute highlight of our holiday. I finally understood that you can’t control the weather, but you can control how you react to it. Sometimes, the things that go wrong can actually create the most amazing and unforgettable memories. Next time it rains on holiday, I definitely won’t stay in my room!
1 How did the writer feel before leaving for the tropical island?
(A) He was worried he hadn’t packed the right summer clothes.
(B) He expected to have an incredibly sunny and relaxing holiday.
(C) He was anxious because he had only seen photos of the beach.
(D) He was surprised that his family booked a trip to the Caribbean.
2 What did the writer do during the first three days of the holiday?
(A) He spent his time playing board games with his family.
(B) He stayed indoors because he felt angry and disappointed.
(C) He went outside to explore despite the dark grey clouds.
(D) He enjoyed watching exciting television shows in his room.
3 Why did the writer finally agree to go to the beach?
(A) Because his dad explained it wouldn’t matter if they got wet.
(B) Because the heavy rain had finally started to stop.
(C) Because he wanted to show his parents he wasn’t crazy.
(D) Because he knew there would be no other tourists there.
4 How did the writer feel while swimming in the sea?
(A) He was annoyed that the heavy rain was hitting his face.
(B) He felt glad that they didn’t have to share the beach with anyone.
(C) He wished he could go back to lying down on the hot sand.
(D) He was scared because the waves in the ocean were too high.
5 What would the writer text to a friend after the holiday?
(A) The Caribbean is beautiful, but I wouldn’t recommend going there because it rains constantly and ruins the beach.
(B) I was so angry about the bad weather that I stayed in my hotel room for the entire trip and watched television.
(C) The weather was awful, but swimming in the warm rain ended up being the most memorable and fun part of the trip!
(D) My parents forced me to swim in the freezing rain, which made the holiday even worse than I thought it would be.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The text states in the first paragraph that the writer packed summer clothes and was “completely certain that this would be the perfect, relaxing beach trip.”
2 B – In paragraph 2, the writer explains that he “just sat in my hotel room and sulked” and stared “angrily out of the window” while his parents played board games.
3 A – In paragraph 3, the writer’s dad pointed out that the air was warm and “we were going to get wet in the sea anyway,” which convinced the writer to go.
4 B – In paragraph 4, the writer notes that because of the weather, “We had the whole beach completely to ourselves,” and describes the experience as more fun than lying on the sand.
5 C – This option perfectly captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text: starting out frustrated by the rain, but discovering that swimming in the warm rain was incredibly liberating and created the best memory of the holiday.