Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Mishaps & Resilience 10
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The Shared Dormitory Experience
Last month, I went on my first solo trip to Europe. Because I am a student and needed to save money, I decided to book a bed in a youth hostel in Berlin. Before my journey, I was feeling quite confident and excited about the adventure. However, when I arrived and saw the room, my confidence quickly faded. I was sharing a single dormitory with eleven complete strangers! There were tall metal bunk beds everywhere, and I realised immediately that I wouldn’t have any personal space or privacy at all.
Getting ready for bed that evening was incredibly awkward. I had to change my clothes quietly in a tiny, dark corner, hoping nobody was paying attention. When I finally climbed into my uncomfortable bed, the real nightmare began. The room was extremely hot, and a man sleeping near the window was snoring louder than a broken tractor. Another person was noisily packing their backpack in the dark, dropping heavy things on the wooden floor. I pulled the thin blanket over my head, feeling completely miserable. I promised myself that I would find a proper hotel the next day, no matter how much it cost.
Despite the terrible noise, I eventually managed to get a few hours of sleep. The next morning, I woke up very early, packed my bag, and went down to the hostel kitchen. I just wanted to eat a quick breakfast before searching for a better place to stay. I sat alone at a large table with my hot coffee, feeling exhausted. Suddenly, a friendly girl from Argentina sat opposite me and introduced herself. Soon, a teenager from Japan and two sisters from Australia joined us. Before I knew it, we were all chatting and laughing loudly.
As we shared our travel stories, my terrible mood completely disappeared. I realised that I was eating my morning meal with fascinating people from five different continents! They were incredibly kind and gave me fantastic advice about free museums and cheap markets to visit in the city. I understood then that hosteling isn’t really about having a comfortable bed or perfect privacy. Instead, it’s about the amazing community of travellers you meet. I went back to my room and unpacked my bag, happily deciding to stay in the busy dormitory for the rest of my holiday.
1 How did the writer feel upon entering his hostel room?
(A) annoyed that his bed was made of tall metal
(B) shocked because he had to share the space with so many people
(C) confident because he was finally on a solo adventure
(D) disappointed because the hostel was too expensive
2 Why did the writer pull his blanket over his head during the night?
(A) He was trying to hide while he changed his clothes.
(B) He wanted to protect himself from the cold weather.
(C) He was annoyed by the unpleasant actions of other people.
(D) He was trying to pack his bag without making a noise.
3 What was the writer’s plan when he went to the hostel kitchen?
(A) To complain to the staff about the noise in the dormitory.
(B) To have a meal and then leave to look for different accommodation.
(C) To find some interesting teenagers from other countries to talk to.
(D) To unpack his bags and relax with a cup of hot coffee.
4 How does the writer feel about staying in youth hostels now?
(A) He thinks meeting new people is more important than comfort.
(B) He believes they should provide more privacy for young travellers.
(C) He wishes they were located closer to museums and markets.
(D) He feels they are only suitable for people travelling in large groups.
5 What would the writer write in his diary at the end of the second day?
(A) Sharing a room with eleven strangers was awful. The terrible snoring completely ruined my first solo trip to Europe.
(B) I packed my bags this morning to find a quiet hotel, but after eating with some amazing travellers, I changed my mind.
(C) I had a great breakfast with some friendly Australians, but I am still leaving because the dormitory is just too hot.
(D) Hosteling is a great way to save money. I was very lucky to have a quiet, private room after such a busy day in Berlin.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In the first paragraph, the writer states that his confidence faded upon arriving because he was “sharing a single dormitory with eleven complete strangers!” and realized he wouldn’t have any privacy.
2 C – In the second paragraph, the writer pulls the blanket over his head because he is “feeling completely miserable” due to the room being hot, a man snoring loudly, and another person noisily packing a bag.
3 B – Paragraph three explains that the writer “packed my bag” and “just wanted to eat a quick breakfast before searching for a better place to stay.”
4 A – In the final paragraph, the writer concludes that “hosteling isn’t really about having a comfortable bed or perfect privacy” but rather “the amazing community of travellers you meet.”
5 B – This option successfully captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text: transitioning from a miserable night where he intended to pack up and find a new hotel, to connecting with fellow travelers at breakfast and deciding to stay.
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Stuck in the Sky
Last winter, my family travelled to a resort in the mountains for a week of skiing. I had been practising for a few years, so I felt confident on the snow. On our third morning, the weather was beautiful—sunny, but very cold. My parents wanted to stay on the easier slopes near the hotel, but I decided to explore a higher, more difficult mountain. I got on the chairlift alone, feeling excited about the journey ahead. A teenager wearing a bright yellow jacket sat next to me, but we didn’t speak at all.
We were halfway up the mountain, dangling high above the pine trees, when the chairlift suddenly stopped moving with a loud noise. At first, I assumed it was a normal, short pause to let someone get on safely at the bottom. However, after fifteen minutes, we were still sitting in exactly the same place. The wind began to blow strongly, and it was freezing. Looking down at the deep snow far below us, I started to feel genuinely frightened. We had no idea how long we would be trapped there.
After nearly half an hour in the freezing air, the boy next to me noticed I was shaking and looked upset. He introduced himself as Leo and pulled a spare pair of thick gloves from his backpack, kindly offering them to me. To stop us from thinking about the terrifying height and the dropping temperature, Leo suggested we play some word games. We started with simple guessing games and then tried making up funny stories. It was a brilliant distraction.
We spent over an hour laughing and concentrating on our games before the lift finally started moving again. When we eventually reached the top station, my parents were waiting for me, looking incredibly worried. Although my toes were frozen, I wasn’t feeling angry or scared anymore. The experience taught me that in unexpected, frightening situations, keeping your mind busy is the best way to stay calm. I was so grateful to Leo for his help, and we actually
spent the rest of the afternoon skiing down the mountain together.
1 Why was the writer riding the chairlift alone?
(A) Their parents preferred to ski in a simpler area.
(B) They wanted to practise a new winter sport.
(C) Their parents had already returned to the hotel.
(D) They were planning to meet a friend at the top.
2 What did the writer think when the chairlift first broke down?
(A) They were terrified by the loud noise the machine made.
(B) They believed it would only be a brief delay.
(C) They worried about falling into the deep snow below.
(D) They knew exactly why the machine had stopped.
3 How did Leo help the writer?
(A) He used his backpack to keep the cold wind away.
(B) He told funny stories about the terrifying heights.
(C) He shared some warm clothing and entertained them.
(D) He contacted someone to rescue them from the cold.
4 When the writer finally reached the top of the mountain, they
(A) were angry with their parents for worrying so much.
(B) felt glad they had learned how to fix the ski lift.
(C) were too frozen to ski with their new friend.
(D) realised that focusing on other things helps reduce fear.
5 What would the writer text to a friend about the trip?
(A) My parents left me alone on a broken ski lift today. Luckily, I had some thick gloves in my backpack, so I stayed warm while I waited.
(B) I got stuck on a chairlift for an hour today! The weather was freezing, but a stranger kept my mind off it and we became friends.
(C) I met a boy named Leo today. We played word games for a while, but then the ski lift broke and ruined the rest of our afternoon.
(D) I decided to try the easier slopes today, but the chairlift stopped. I was so terrified of the height that I couldn’t even speak to anyone.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 A – In paragraph 1, the writer states that “My parents wanted to stay on the easier slopes near the hotel, but I decided to explore a higher, more difficult mountain,” which means their parents preferred a simpler area.
2 B – In paragraph 2, the writer explains that when the lift stopped, they “assumed it was a normal, short pause to let someone get on safely,” meaning they thought it would just be a brief delay.
3 C – In paragraph 3, Leo helps the writer by offering “a spare pair of thick gloves from his backpack” (warm clothing) and suggesting they “play some word games” (entertained them).
4 D – In paragraph 4, the writer reflects on the event, saying, “The experience taught me that in unexpected, frightening situations, keeping your mind busy is the best way to stay calm.”
5 B – This option successfully captures the global meaning and the writer’s emotional arc: acknowledging the scary situation of being stuck in the cold, but focusing on how a stranger helped them stay calm and became a new friend.
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The Scenic Route
When I decided to visit my aunt in the city last Tuesday, I wanted to get there as quickly as possible. I went online and quickly checked the train times, writing down the details of the fast express train. I imagined a smooth, efficient journey where I could just sit back, listen to music, and arrive in under an hour. I was completely confident in my planning and looked forward to an easy, relaxing morning of travel.
However, my confidence disappeared as soon as I arrived at the station. I looked up at the large electronic departure board, but my express train wasn’t listed anywhere. Confused, I asked a ticket officer for help. He politely pointed out that I had been looking at the weekend timetable instead of the weekday one. My train simply didn’t exist! I felt incredibly foolish and frustrated. With no other trains running for hours, my only option was to catch a slow, local bus that would take twice as long to reach the city.
I boarded the old bus feeling thoroughly annoyed about the delay. I expected a long, boring ride along a grey highway. But to my surprise, the bus turned off the main road and began winding its way through the countryside. Because it was a local service, it travelled through tiny, picturesque villages that the high-speed train completely bypassed. I saw beautiful stone cottages, rolling green hills, and quiet little farms. The views were so spectacular that I put my headphones away and just stared out of the window.
By the time I finally arrived at my aunt’s house, I was much later than I had originally planned, but I felt wonderfully relaxed. Making that silly mistake with the timetable was initially stressful, but it turned out to be a blessing. It taught me that sometimes, taking the slow and unexpected path can be far more rewarding than rushing to your destination. I certainly wouldn’t have traded that beautiful bus ride for the fast train.
1 What did the writer expect his train journey to be like?
(A) A chance to see beautiful countryside villages.
(B) A long but relaxing ride along a grey highway.
(C) A quick and effortless trip to the city.
(D) A stressful experience because he was traveling on a weekday.
2 Why was the writer frustrated at the train station?
(A) The ticket officer was unhelpful and impolite.
(B) He realised he had misread the travel information online.
(C) The large electronic departure board was broken.
(D) He didn’t have enough money to buy a ticket for the bus.
3 How did the writer react to the bus journey once it started?
(A) He became annoyed because the other passengers were too noisy.
(B) He was so amazed by the scenery that he stopped listening to music.
(C) He felt disappointed because the countryside looked exactly like the city.
(D) He closed his eyes and tried to sleep for the entire trip.
4 What did the writer learn from his mistake?
(A) It is always much safer to travel on the weekends.
(B) You should always ask a ticket officer before booking a train.
(C) Slower, unplanned journeys can actually offer wonderful experiences.
(D) Local buses are generally faster than express trains.
5 What would the writer text a friend about his journey?
(A) I ruined my trip by reading the wrong timetable. The bus ride was so long and boring that I was in a terrible mood by the time I arrived.
(B) Make sure you check the weekday timetable! I missed my express train and had to sit at the station for hours waiting for the next one.
(C) I was right to think the train would be boring, so I intentionally took the local bus to see the rolling hills and farms instead.
(D) I made a silly mistake with the schedule and was forced to take a slow bus, but seeing those beautiful hidden villages made it absolutely worth it!
Answer Key & Explanations
1 C – In the first paragraph, the writer states he wanted to get there “as quickly as possible” and imagined a “smooth, efficient journey… and arrive in under an hour.”
2 B – The second paragraph explains that the ticket officer pointed out he had been looking at the weekend timetable instead of the weekday one, making him realise his mistake and feel “incredibly foolish and frustrated.”
3 B – In the third paragraph, the writer notes that the views of the stone cottages and hills were “so spectacular that I put my headphones away and just stared out of the window.”
4 C – The final paragraph reflects on the lesson learned: “It taught me that sometimes, taking the slow and unexpected path can be far more rewarding than rushing to your destination.”
5 D – This option captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text: transitioning from the frustration of a silly mistake and a delayed journey to the delightful surprise of discovering a beautiful, scenic route.