Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Modern Lifestyle, Habits & Productivity 9
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The “No-Gossip” Pact
My friends and I have always spent a lot of time together after school. We usually go to a café or sit in the park. For a long time, we thought we were just sharing news, but one afternoon, I realised something unpleasant. We had spent two hours talking about other classmates, and most of it wasn’t very nice. We were just complaining about people’s clothes, their mistakes, or who they were hanging out with. It made me feel quite guilty, and when I mentioned it to my friends, they surprisingly agreed that we had become too negative.
Right then, we decided to make a strict “no-gossip pact”. We promised each other that we wouldn’t talk badly about anyone for a whole month. If someone started to gossip, the others had to stop them immediately. However, the first few days were incredibly awkward. When we met up, nobody knew what to say. We would just sit there in silence, staring at our phones. Without other people’s drama to discuss, it felt like we had absolutely nothing in common. I actually worried that we might stop being friends altogether.
Fortunately, that awkward phase didn’t last forever. Slowly, we had to find new ways to keep our conversations going. Instead of talking about people, we started talking about things and ideas. One day, my friend Sarah brought up a science fiction film she had watched, and we ended up debating the ending for ages. After that, we started discussing our hobbies, books we were reading, and even our plans for the future. I found out that my friend Leo wanted to study architecture, which was something I had never known about him.
Looking back now, that one-month challenge was the best thing we could have done. Our conversations are so much more interesting, and I always leave our meetings feeling positive and inspired, rather than stressed. I feel like I know my friends much better now because we actually talk about what matters to us. The month is over, but we have all agreed to keep the pact going. If we ever hear someone spreading rumours, we just change the subject to something better.
1 Why did the writer and her friends decide to change their conversations?
(A) They realised they were being unkind about other people.
(B) They were bored of sitting in the same park every day.
(C) They were worried about their classmates finding out.
(D) They wanted to share more personal news with each other.
2 How did the writer feel during the first few days of the pact?
(A) Annoyed because someone broke the rules.
(B) Surprised by how much they enjoyed the silence.
(C) Concerned that their friendship might actually end.
(D) Upset that she couldn’t use her mobile phone.
3 What happened when the group started finding new conversation topics?
(A) They realised they preferred talking about science fiction.
(B) The writer discovered new facts about her friends’ lives.
(C) They decided to start reading the exact same books.
(D) The writer helped Leo apply for a university course.
4 What is the writer’s attitude towards her friendship group now?
(A) She wishes they had tried the challenge for a shorter time.
(B) She feels they have a deeper connection than before.
(C) She is worried they might start spreading rumours again.
(D) She is proud that they stopped spending time with negative people.
5 What would the writer write in her diary?
(A) It is so hard to stop gossiping. I can’t wait for this month to end so we can talk normally again.
(B) We don’t talk as much as we used to, but it’s better than arguing with my friends all the time.
(C) Stopping our negative talk was difficult at first, but it has completely transformed and improved our friendship.
(D) I finally convinced my friends to watch more films with me instead of talking about our classmates.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 A – In paragraph 1, the writer says she realised “most of it wasn’t very nice” and they were “just complaining about people”, which made her feel guilty and agree they had become “too negative.”
2 C – In paragraph 2, the writer mentions that without gossip, they had nothing to say and states: “I actually worried that we might stop being friends altogether.”
3 B – In paragraph 3, the text describes how they started discussing hobbies, books, and plans, and the writer says, “I found out that my friend Leo wanted to study architecture, which was something I had never known about him.”
4 B – In paragraph 4, the writer explains that their conversations are more interesting and says, “I feel like I know my friends much better now because we actually talk about what matters to us.”
5 C – This option correctly synthesizes the global meaning of the text: the “no-gossip pact” was initially hard (awkward silence) but ultimately led to deeper, more meaningful connections between the friends.
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The Power of Single-Tasking
I always believed I had a special talent for doing several things at once. Every evening after school, I would proudly sit on the sofa with my dinner, a history textbook on my knees, and my favourite television series playing loudly in the background. I genuinely thought I was being incredibly efficient and clever. If anyone told me that multitasking was a bad idea, I would just laugh and tell them I was saving hours of my free time.
However, when I received my mid-term school reports, my confident attitude completely changed. My teachers complained that my essays were full of careless mistakes, and my grades had dropped significantly compared to the previous year. I felt shocked and quite upset. One evening, while I was trying to eat a slice of pizza, watch an action film, and solve a complex maths problem all together, I completely forgot how to do the equation. I finally realised that although I was doing three things at once, I wasn’t doing any of them properly.
The following week, I decided to try a new experiment called ‘single-tasking’. This simply meant I had to focus on just one activity at a time. On Monday afternoon, I turned off my television, left my smartphone in another room, and sat at a quiet desk to write a geography essay. For the first twenty minutes, the silence was absolutely awful. My brain was so used to constant entertainment, and working on just one single thing felt painfully slow and boring. I desperately wanted to check my messages or turn on some loud music.
Despite the initial struggle, I forced myself to continue working in silence. To my surprise, after about half an hour, I became deeply interested in the topic I was researching. Because I wasn’t constantly distracted by glowing screens, I actually finished the long essay in half my usual time, and the quality was definitely much higher. Now, I actually enjoy giving my full attention to whatever I am doing, whether it is eating a delicious meal, talking to a close friend, or studying for a test. I have learned that taking things one step at a time is the real secret to success.
1 How did the writer feel about his habits at the beginning of the text?
(A) He was proud of his ability to do multiple things together.
(B) He was annoyed that his favourite television shows were distracting him.
(C) He was worried that he didn’t have enough free time for his hobbies.
(D) He was confident that his teachers would be impressed by his efficiency.
2 What made the writer realise he needed to change his routine?
(A) He ruined his textbook by dropping his dinner on it.
(B) He discovered that the quality of his schoolwork was getting worse.
(C) His teachers gave him extra maths problems to solve at home.
(D) He found out that he was unable to understand action films.
3 How did the writer feel when he first started ‘single-tasking’?
(A) relieved that he didn’t have to write a geography essay
(B) glad that his smartphone wasn’t interrupting his studies
(C) frustrated because the experience was very quiet and dull
(D) anxious because he thought his friends were messaging him
4 What was the result of the writer’s experiment?
(A) He decided to stop watching television entirely.
(B) He spent more time studying for tests than talking to friends.
(C) He found the geography topic more difficult to research.
(D) He completed his homework much faster than before.
5 What would the writer text to a friend about his new habit?
(A) “I can’t believe how much time I’m saving! Doing all my homework while we watch TV is definitely the best way to get good grades.”
(B) “It was so hard to concentrate without my phone at first, but focusing on just one thing has made my schoolwork so much better!”
(C) “I really hate single-tasking. It takes me twice as long to finish an essay when I don’t have music playing in the background.”
(D) “My teachers were wrong about multitasking. I just needed to try harder to solve my maths equations while I ate my dinner.”
Answer Key & Explanations
1 A – The writer states in paragraph 1 that he “always believed I had a special talent for doing several things at once” and would “proudly sit on the sofa” multitasking.
2 B – In paragraph 2, the writer’s attitude changes when he receives his school reports and his teachers complain that his essays are “full of careless mistakes, and my grades had dropped significantly”.
3 C – Paragraph 3 describes how awful the silence was, stating that “working on just one single thing felt painfully slow and boring.”
4 D – Paragraph 4 explains that because he wasn’t distracted, he “finished the long essay in half my usual time, and the quality was definitely much higher.”
5 B – This option accurately captures the global meaning and the writer’s change in attitude: he admits the initial difficulty of putting his phone away but recognizes the superior results that come from focusing on one thing at a time.
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A Better Place to Study
My name is Leo, and until recently, I had a terrible attitude towards studying. Whenever I had homework to do, I usually just sat on my bed. However, my bed was always covered in a mountain of clean laundry and old magazines. Because it was so comfortable, I usually ended up falling asleep while reading my textbooks. If I managed to stay awake, I was constantly distracted by the mess around me or by looking at my smartphone. As a result, my school grades were starting to drop, and I felt stressed all the time.
One evening, I read an interesting article online about study habits. The writer explained that your physical environment has a huge effect on your brain. If you try to work in a place designed for resting, like a bed, your brain will naturally want to sleep. The article suggested that students need a dedicated space just for working. I immediately realised that this was exactly what was missing from my routine. I decided to make a big change the very next morning.
In the corner of my bedroom, there was a small wooden desk that I only used for storing empty cups and broken pens. I spent two hours completely clearing it and cleaning the surface. I wanted the space to look attractive and positive, so I bought a small green plant to put in the corner. Finally, I placed a bright desk lamp right in the middle. I made a strict rule for myself: I would never use my phone or eat snacks at this desk.
The difference this new workspace has made is absolutely incredible. Now, whenever I sit in that specific chair and turn on the bright lamp, it creates a psychological trigger. It instantly tells my brain that it is time to focus. I no longer feel sleepy or distracted when I am doing my math or history homework. I can finish my school projects much faster, which means I actually have more free time at the weekends. Creating a positive workspace has completely changed my daily life.
1 Why were Leo’s school grades starting to go down?
(A) He was spending too much time playing games on his smartphone.
(B) He kept falling asleep or losing focus while trying to study.
(C) He had too much clean laundry to put away after school.
(D) He found his school textbooks too difficult to read.
2 What did Leo learn from the online article?
(A) That students shouldn’t do their homework in the evening.
(B) That working in a very comfortable place is the best method.
(C) That the place where you study affects how you think.
(D) That you should always try to do your homework in a library.
3 What rule did Leo make for his new wooden desk?
(A) He would only use it for storing his old pens and cups.
(B) He had to keep a green plant on it at all times.
(C) He was not allowed to use it for studying at the weekend.
(D) He wouldn’t do any non-work activities like eating there.
4 What is the result of turning on the desk lamp now?
(A) It makes his bedroom feel much warmer in the evenings.
(B) It signals to his mind that he needs to start working.
(C) It helps him fall asleep faster when he finishes his homework.
(D) It makes doing math history projects his favourite activity.
5 What would Leo write in a text message to his friend?
(A) I’m so annoyed! I spent hours cleaning my desk, but I still keep falling asleep when I try to do my homework.
(B) The article I read was completely wrong. Having a special place to study doesn’t help at all, so I’m going back to studying on my bed.
(C) I finally cleared my desk and set up a proper workspace. It’s amazing how much it helps me concentrate and finish my homework quickly!
(D) I bought a really nice green plant and a new lamp for my bedroom today. Do you want to come over and help me fold my laundry?
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The text states in the first paragraph that Leo ended up “falling asleep” or was “constantly distracted” (losing focus), and “As a result, my school grades were starting to drop.”
2 C – In paragraph 2, the article explained that “your physical environment has a huge effect on your brain,” which matches the idea that the place you study affects how you think.
3 D – Paragraph 3 mentions that Leo “made a strict rule” that he would “never use my phone or eat snacks at this desk,” meaning he wouldn’t do non-work activities there.
4 B – Paragraph 4 explains that turning on the bright lamp creates a psychological trigger that “instantly tells my brain that it is time to focus” (signals to his mind he needs to start working).
5 C – This option captures the global meaning of the text. Leo successfully created a dedicated workspace (cleared his desk/set it up) and this change stopped his bad habits, allowing him to focus and finish his work faster.