Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Modern Lifestyle, Habits & Productivity 2
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Taking Back My Time
For the past few months, my daily schedule has been incredibly busy. Between going to school, attending swimming practice, and finishing mountains of homework, I felt like I never had a single minute to myself. Because my days were so full of responsibilities, I developed a very bad habit. When I finally got into bed at night, instead of turning off the light, I would stay awake until 2 AM watching funny videos on my phone. I felt that if I didn’t do this, I wouldn’t have any fun at all.
However, this late-night screen time quickly became a serious problem. When my alarm clock rang at seven o’clock the next morning, I was always completely exhausted. I started falling asleep during my afternoon lessons, and I even had to miss a swimming competition because I felt so tired. I knew that looking at my phone in the dark was destroying my energy, but I just couldn’t stop. I felt angry that my entire life consisted only of work and sleep.
One weekend, while looking for advice online, I read an interesting article about something called “revenge bedtime procrastination.” It explained that people stay up late because they want to take back control of their free time. The article suggested a simple solution: scheduling a strict hour of “me time” during the day. I decided to try it. I rearranged my daily timetable so that as soon as I got home from school, I had exactly one hour to do whatever I wanted, before starting my homework.
During this new afternoon break, I allowed myself to play video games, listen to music, or simply do nothing at all. At first, I worried that I wouldn’t finish my schoolwork, but the opposite happened. Because I had already enjoyed some free time, my brain felt refreshed and I actually completed my homework much faster. Best of all, when I got into bed that night, I didn’t feel the need to look at my screen. Now, I easily fall asleep by 10 PM, and my days are far more enjoyable.
1 Why did the writer start watching videos late at night?
(A) They couldn’t sleep because their homework was too difficult.
(B) They wanted to feel like they had some free time for themselves.
(C) They needed to watch training videos for their swimming club.
(D) They were waiting for their friends to reply to their messages.
2 What was the consequence of the writer’s late-night habit?
(A) They had to stop going to their swimming club completely.
(B) They were unable to wake up when their morning alarm rang.
(C) They lacked the energy to perform well during the daytime.
(D) They became angry with their teachers for giving too much work.
3 How did the writer try to solve their problem?
(A) by taking an hour of free time immediately after school
(B) by reading more articles about psychology on the internet
(C) by waking up an hour earlier to finish their homework
(D) by refusing to do any schoolwork during the afternoon
4 What happened after the writer started their new routine?
(A) They found it difficult to finish all their homework on time.
(B) They felt guilty for playing video games in the afternoon.
(C) They no longer felt the urge to use their phone in bed.
(D) They decided to sell their games console to sleep better.
5 What would the writer write in their diary now?
(A) It’s so annoying that I can’t watch videos at night anymore, but I guess I need to focus more on my swimming competitions.
(B) Making sure I have some fun during the afternoon has completely cured my tiredness. I finally feel in control of my schedule again!
(C) The article I read was totally wrong. I tried taking a break in the afternoon, but it just meant I stayed up even later doing homework.
(D) I wish I had less homework so I could have free time. Until my teachers give me less work, I will always be exhausted.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The first paragraph states that the writer felt they never had a minute to themselves and stayed up watching videos because they “felt that if I didn’t do this, I wouldn’t have any fun at all.”
2 C – In the second paragraph, the writer explains that they “started falling asleep during my afternoon lessons” and missed a competition because they “felt so tired,” mapping to lacking energy during the day.
3 A – The third paragraph describes the writer’s solution: they “rearranged my daily timetable so that as soon as I got home from school, I had exactly one hour to do whatever I wanted.”
4 C – In the fourth paragraph, the writer notes the result: “when I got into bed that night, I didn’t feel the need to look at my screen.”
5 B – This option successfully captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text: recognizing that scheduling afternoon free time solved their exhaustion and gave them back control of their daily routine.
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
My Sunday Reset
Mondays used to be the absolute worst day of the week for me. I would always wake up late, run around my bedroom looking for a clean school shirt, and rush out the front door. Half the time, I forgot my homework or missed the school bus. By the time I sat down at my desk for the first lesson, I already felt exhausted and stressed. I knew I had to do something to change this awful routine, but I didn’t know where to start.
One weekend, while I was watching videos online, I came across a vlogger talking about her “Sunday Reset”. She spent Sunday evenings preparing for the week ahead so that her Mondays would be less stressful. It sounded like a brilliant idea, so I decided to give it a try. I started with just a few basic tasks. After dinner on Sunday, I spent twenty minutes packing my school bag and choosing my clothes for the next day.
After a few weeks, I decided to add food preparation to my new routine. Previously, I would just grab an unhealthy snack on my way to school or buy something expensive from the canteen. Now, I spend about an hour on Sunday evening chopping vegetables and preparing healthy lunches for the first few days of the week. Although it means I have slightly less free time on Sunday night, the benefits are definitely worth it. I even enjoy cooking while listening to my favourite podcasts.
The difference this routine has made to my life is incredible. Now, when my alarm rings on Monday morning, I don’t panic. Everything I need is already waiting for me. I actually have time to sit down, eat a proper breakfast, and chat with my parents before I leave. I arrive at school feeling calm and ready to learn. My teachers have even noticed that I am more focused in class and rarely forget my assignments anymore.
If someone had told me a year ago that I would look forward to Mondays, I would have laughed. Of course, there are still times when I feel a bit lazy on a Sunday evening and want to skip my “reset”. But I always remind myself how much easier my week will be if I just spend that little bit of time getting organised.
1 Why did the writer decide to change his morning routine?
(A) He wanted to stop missing his morning classes.
(B) He was tired of feeling anxious before school even started.
(C) His teachers complained about him being late for school.
(D) His parents told him he needed to be more organised.
2 How did the writer begin his ‘Sunday Reset’?
(A) By watching videos about it every weekend.
(B) By spending hours preparing everything for the week.
(C) By getting a few essential things ready the night before.
(D) By doing all of his homework on Sunday evening.
3 What does the writer say about preparing his lunches on Sundays?
(A) He prefers buying food from the school canteen.
(B) It takes up far too much of his free time.
(C) He dislikes cooking vegetables for his meals.
(D) He finds the experience quite enjoyable now.
4 What has been the result of the writer’s new routine?
(A) He wakes up much earlier than he used to.
(B) He has improved his grades in several subjects.
(C) He feels much more relaxed when he gets to school.
(D) He cooks breakfast for his parents every Monday.
5 What would the writer write in his blog about his Sunday Reset?
(A) I still hate Mondays, but at least my bag is packed. I wish I didn’t have to spend my whole Sunday preparing for school.
(B) Giving up a little bit of my weekend to get organised has completely changed how I start my week. I highly recommend it!
(C) The Sunday Reset is a great idea, but I find it too difficult to keep up with every week. I think I’ll stop doing it soon.
(D) I love waking up early on Mondays to prepare my lunch and choose my clothes. It’s the best way to start the day.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The text states that by the time he sat down for the first lesson, he “already felt exhausted and stressed,” mapping to feeling anxious before school started.
2 C – The writer explains that he started with “a few basic tasks” and spent twenty minutes “packing my school bag and choosing my clothes for the next day.”
3 D – The writer mentions that although it takes some free time, he says, “I even enjoy cooking while listening to my favourite podcasts.”
4 C – In paragraph 4, the writer states the result of the routine: “I arrive at school feeling calm and ready to learn.”
5 B – This option captures the global meaning and the writer’s overall positive attitude towards giving up some Sunday evening time to make the rest of the week much easier.
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
My paper envelope savings
I used to be terrible with money. Every Friday, my parents gave me my weekly allowance, and I always felt rich for exactly two days. By Sunday evening, my wallet would be completely empty. I usually spent all my cash on useless snacks, drinks on the way home from school, or cheap magazines that I never even finished reading. I didn’t think it was a serious problem until my favourite band announced a concert in my city, and I realised I didn’t have enough money to buy a ticket.
A few days later, my grandmother told me about a traditional budgeting method she used when she was younger. It was called the ‘envelope system’. Instead of keeping all her money together, she divided her cash into different paper envelopes for specific purposes. Although it sounded a bit old-fashioned in our modern world of digital banking, I decided to give it a try. I found three blank envelopes in my desk and carefully wrote ‘savings’, ‘fun’, and ‘clothes’ on them. When I received my next allowance, I split the cash equally between them.
Putting the system into practice was quite challenging at first. The following week, my friends invited me to the cinema, and we went to buy popcorn beforehand. I reached into my pocket, but I only had the money from my ‘fun’ envelope. I realised that if I bought a huge box of popcorn, I wouldn’t be able to afford anything else all weekend. Physically holding the paper money made me think much harder about my choices. I suddenly felt that handing over actual cash was much more difficult than simply tapping a plastic bank card.
After using this method for three months, the results have been incredible. Because I am forced to think before I spend, I have stopped wasting money on things I don’t really need. My ‘savings’ envelope is now thick with cash, and I finally had enough to buy that concert ticket. I used to think that budgeting would take away my freedom and stop me from enjoying myself. However, I’ve discovered that telling my money exactly where to go actually gives me much more control over my life.
1 Why did the writer realise he had a problem with money?
(A) His parents decided to stop giving him a weekly allowance.
(B) He couldn’t afford to pay for an experience he really wanted.
(C) He noticed his friends were buying more expensive magazines.
(D) He was spending too much on transport home from school.
2 What did the writer think about the envelope system initially?
(A) He felt it was too complicated to understand.
(B) He thought it was a method that only worked for older people.
(C) He believed it seemed a bit outdated for the current time.
(D) He was worried he wouldn’t have enough blank envelopes.
3 How did the writer feel when he went to buy popcorn at the cinema?
(A) He was embarrassed that he didn’t bring his plastic bank card.
(B) He realised that using physical cash made spending feel more serious.
(C) He was disappointed that the cinema snacks were so expensive.
(D) He decided he should borrow money from his friends for the weekend.
4 What is the writer’s attitude towards budgeting now?
(A) It takes up too much time to organise his cash every month.
(B) It is a clever way to earn extra allowance from his parents.
(C) It stops him from having fun when he goes out with his friends.
(D) It helps him feel more in charge of his own decisions.
5 What would the writer write in his diary about his new habit?
(A) “Dividing my cash into paper envelopes has changed my spending habits. I used to be broke by Sunday, but now I’ve actually saved up for the concert!”
(B) “My grandmother’s budgeting system is okay, but it’s too frustrating. I think I’m going to go back to spending my allowance as soon as I get it.”
(C) “I finally bought my concert ticket! I had to get an extra job to afford it, but using paper envelopes helped me keep my money safe.”
(D) “You should try using envelopes! It’s a bit annoying because you can’t buy snacks anymore, but it really helps your parents save their money.”
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The writer states in paragraph 1 that he didn’t think his spending was a serious problem until he realised he “didn’t have enough money to buy a ticket” for a concert.
2 C – In paragraph 2, the writer mentions that the method “sounded a bit old-fashioned in our modern world of digital banking.”
3 B – Paragraph 3 explains that “handing over actual cash was much more difficult than simply tapping a plastic bank card” and it made him think “much harder about [his] choices.”
4 D – The writer notes in the fourth paragraph that telling his money where to go “actually gives me much more control over my life.”
5 A – This diary entry accurately captures the global meaning and the writer’s positive attitude shift: the physical envelope system stopped his wasteful spending and allowed him to achieve his goal of buying a concert ticket.