Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Office, Tech & Creative Roles
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Coding Can Be a Game
When I saw an advertisement for a part-time job teaching computer programming to eight-year-olds, I applied immediately. I have always been passionate about technology, and I am quite good at writing code in Python. I imagined my new classroom would be filled with quiet children, all looking at their screens and carefully listening to my instructions. I was absolutely certain that being a coding tutor would be the easiest job in the world.
However, my first few classes were a complete disaster. The children were full of energy, but they got distracted very easily. Instead of writing the simple code I showed them on the board, they preferred chatting with their friends or changing the background pictures on their computers. If I tried to explain how a piece of code worked, they quickly lost interest. I felt extremely frustrated and started to think I simply didn’t have the right personality to be a teacher.
One evening, while I was doing my own homework, I realised I needed a completely different approach. Eight-year-olds love playing, so I decided to turn the next lesson into a competition. I brought a small toy robot into the classroom and built a simple track on the floor. I explained to the kids that they could only make the robot race to the finish line if they wrote the correct Python commands on their computers.
The change in their behaviour was incredible. Suddenly, the children stopped talking and focused completely on their screens. They worked together in small groups, trying to figure out the right instructions to make the robot turn left or move faster. They were having so much fun trying to win the race that they didn’t even realise they were actually learning how to code. It was amazing to watch them succeed.
This experience completely changed my opinion about teaching. I used to believe that being a good tutor just meant knowing a lot of facts about your subject. Now, I understand that you must be creative and understand what keeps your students interested. Turning a boring lesson into an exciting game didn’t just help the children learn; it also made me a much better and more confident teacher.
1 What did the writer expect before starting the job?
(A) He thought the children would be silent and attentive.
(B) He believed he would need to learn more about Python.
(C) He worried that the kids would know more than him.
(D) He hoped the school would provide better computers.
2 How did the writer feel during his first few classes?
(A) Surprised that the children were already good at coding.
(B) Annoyed because the students were playing computer games.
(C) Upset because the children paid no attention to his lessons.
(D) Delighted by the amount of energy the children had.
3 To solve the problem, the writer decided to
(A) let the students play video games on their computers.
(B) ask the children to build their own toy robots.
(C) use a racing game to make writing code necessary.
(D) give a prize to the student who finished their homework first.
4 During the robot race, the students
(A) worked independently to finish the task quickly.
(B) learned programming concepts without noticing it.
(C) asked the writer to explain the instructions again.
(D) spent too much time talking to their friends.
5 What would the writer write in his blog?
(A) I’m going to stop teaching and focus on my own computer studies. 8-year-olds are simply too noisy and impossible to control in a classroom.
(B) Being a teacher is easy if you know your subject well. As long as you give clear instructions, the children will always listen to you.
(C) My students completely ignored my first few lessons. However, they finally learned to sit quietly after I became a much stricter teacher.
(D) I discovered that making lessons fun is the secret to teaching. Programming a robot helped my students learn code, and it improved my teaching skills, too!
Answer Key & Explanations
1 A – In the first paragraph, the writer states, “I imagined my new classroom would be filled with quiet children, all looking at their screens and carefully listening to my instructions.”
2 C – The second paragraph describes how the children “got distracted very easily” and “lost interest,” leaving the writer feeling “extremely frustrated” and like a bad teacher.
3 C – The third paragraph explains that he brought in a toy robot and built a track, explaining that they could only make it race “if they wrote the correct Python commands.”
4 B – The fourth paragraph says the students “were having so much fun… that they didn’t even realise they were actually learning how to code,” matching the idea of learning without noticing it.
5 D – This option successfully synthesises the global meaning of the text: it captures the shift from the writer’s early struggles to his successful, creative solution (the robot race), which engaged the kids and boosted his own teaching confidence.
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Thinking on My Feet
My name is Leo, and last month I got a weekend job as an assistant to an event planner. I have always loved organising school parties, so I thought this job would be easy. My first real task was helping out at a large corporate conference in a city hotel. I was really excited because I wanted to learn how professional events were managed, although I felt slightly nervous about making a mistake in front of hundreds of important business people.
The morning went perfectly. I helped register the guests and showed them to their seats. However, just before the midday break, my boss, Sarah, looked terrified. She told me that the caterers, who were bringing the sandwiches and hot meals, were stuck in heavy traffic. They were going to be at least an hour late. Sarah started panicking because business conferences follow a strict schedule, and hungry guests quickly become angry guests. I knew I had to do something fast to help her.
While Sarah made urgent phone calls, I ran to the hotel kitchen. I asked the hotel staff if they could immediately provide enough coffee, tea, and biscuits for two hundred people. Luckily, they said yes. Then, I rushed back to the main hall and made a quick announcement. I told the guests that we were starting a special ‘coffee networking session’ in the lobby. I encouraged everyone to use the time to meet new people and discuss the morning’s presentations before lunch.
To my surprise, the guests thought this was a fantastic idea. They happily drank their coffee and chatted in groups. By the time the caterers finally arrived and set up the food, nobody had even noticed the delay. After the event, Sarah thanked me for saving the day. She told me that the most important skill in event planning isn’t just organising things, but knowing how to think on your feet when things go wrong. I definitely learned a lot that day, and I am even more certain that this is the career for me.
1 Why was Leo looking forward to the corporate conference?
(A) He wanted to see how experts handled events.
(B) He thought it would be easier than a school party.
(C) He was eager to meet important business people.
(D) He wanted to show his boss what he could do.
2 Why did Sarah, the boss, become so anxious?
(A) The guests were already complaining about the food.
(B) She couldn’t find the food she had originally ordered.
(C) A delay to the food delivery would cause problems with the timetable.
(D) She had forgotten to book the catering company.
3 What did Leo do to solve the problem?
(A) He helped the hotel staff bake some biscuits.
(B) He asked the guests to delay their lunch until later.
(C) He set up a temporary activity to keep people busy.
(D) He called a different catering company to bring food.
4 What did Leo realise by the end of the day?
(A) He needs to improve his organisational skills.
(B) Dealing with unexpected problems is a key part of the job.
(C) He would prefer to work in hotel kitchens in the future.
(D) Event planning is too stressful a career for him.
5 What would Leo write in his diary about his first job experience?
(A) The caterers were so late that the whole event was ruined. I feel terrible that my boss got into trouble because of me.
(B) Although I enjoyed my first day, I don’t think I want to be an event planner anymore. It’s just too much hard work.
(C) I was really worried when the food didn’t arrive, but creating a quick solution was actually a great learning experience.
(D) My boss Sarah is great at solving problems. I just watched and learned while she dealt with the delayed food.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 A – The text states Leo was excited “because I wanted to learn how professional events were managed,” which paraphrases as wanting to see how experts handled events.
2 C – Sarah panicked because the caterers were late, and she knew that “business conferences follow a strict schedule, and hungry guests quickly become angry guests.”
3 C – Leo solved the issue by arranging a quick ‘coffee networking session’ to distract the guests and encourage them to chat while they waited for the actual lunch.
4 B – At the end of the text, Leo reflects on Sarah’s advice that the most important skill is “knowing how to think on your feet when things go wrong,” showing he understands the value of handling unexpected issues.
5 C – This option best captures the global meaning of the text. It accurately reflects the conflict (the delayed food), Leo’s active role in creating a solution, and his positive takeaway from the experience.
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Finding My Voice
My name is Maya, and I have always been told that I have a great speaking voice. A few months ago, I decided to try working as a freelance voiceover artist. Since I didn’t have the money to rent a professional recording studio, I created my own inside my bedroom closet. It was filled with winter coats and thick sweaters, which actually helped block out the background noise from the busy street outside. I was thrilled to finally have my own quiet space to work in.
During my second week, I got the chance to audition for an online radio commercial. I was extremely nervous, so I focused on reading the script as clearly as possible. I made sure to pronounce every single word perfectly without making any mistakes. However, a few days later, I received an email saying I didn’t get the job. The director explained that my reading was accurate, but my voice sounded “too stiff” and lacked energy. I felt quite disappointed because I had tried so hard.
Instead of giving up, I decided to look for advice online. I watched several video clips of famous voice actors recording their lines in studios. I immediately noticed something surprising. Even though the audience would never see them, these actors didn’t just stand perfectly still in front of the microphone. They were waving their arms, making funny faces, and jumping around. I realised that to make my voice sound natural, I needed to physically act out the script.
When my next audition opportunity arrived, I was ready to try this new technique. The script was for a sports shoe advertisement, so it needed to sound exciting. While I was recording in my tiny closet, I smiled as widely as I could, pointed my fingers, and moved my body to the rhythm of the words. I felt completely ridiculous, but when I listened to the recording, I couldn’t believe it. My voice sounded full of life and completely natural.
I sent the recording to the company and, to my amazement, they offered me the job! I learned that doing voiceovers isn’t just about reading words on a page; it is about bringing them to life with your whole body. I am now much more confident and can’t wait for my next recording session.
1 Why did Maya decide to use her bedroom closet for her voiceover work?
(A) It was the only place where she could keep her winter clothes.
(B) It prevented unwanted sounds from outside from being recorded.
(C) She wanted to hide her new equipment from her family.
(D) She had earned enough money to turn it into a professional studio.
2 Why was Maya’s first audition unsuccessful?
(A) She made too many mistakes while reading the script.
(B) She spoke too quietly for the director to hear her.
(C) She didn’t sound relaxed or enthusiastic enough.
(D) She forgot to pronounce some of the words clearly.
3 What did Maya discover when she watched videos of professional voice actors?
(A) They used their bodies and faces while recording.
(B) They preferred to sit completely still while they worked.
(C) They always wore funny clothes inside the recording studio.
(D) They usually recorded their lines in front of a live audience.
4 How did Maya feel while recording her second audition?
(A) She felt silly about the way she was behaving.
(B) She was amazed by how much space she had in the closet.
(C) She felt tired from moving around so much.
(D) She was frustrated because the script was difficult to read.
5 What would Maya write in her blog about her experience?
(A) Working as a voiceover artist is easy because nobody can see you, so you don’t have to act at all.
(B) I was so upset when I failed my first audition that I have decided to look for a different career.
(C) Creating a studio in my closet was a mistake because it didn’t help me win the sports shoe commercial.
(D) I finally understand that if you want your voice to sound natural, you have to use your whole body.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The text states that the clothes in the closet “helped block out the background noise from the busy street outside,” which means it prevented unwanted sounds from being recorded.
2 C – In paragraph 2, the director explains that her reading was accurate but her voice sounded “too stiff” and “lacked energy.” This paraphrases as not sounding relaxed or enthusiastic enough.
3 A – Maya noticed that the professionals didn’t stand still; instead, they “were waving their arms, making funny faces, and jumping around,” meaning they used their bodies and faces.
4 A – While doing physical movements to record the sports shoe advertisement, Maya states, “I felt completely ridiculous,” which matches feeling silly about her behavior.
5 D – This option accurately captures the global meaning and the main lesson Maya learned. It reflects her realization in the final paragraph that doing voiceovers “is about bringing them to life with your whole body.”