Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Outdoors & Animals 2
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A Game on the Snow
When I volunteered to work as a ski instructor assistant during my winter break, I was absolutely thrilled. Because I have been skiing since I was a child, I imagined myself racing down steep mountains with a group of older teenagers. However, when I arrived at the resort, the manager assigned me to the beginners’ class for five to seven-year-olds. Although I felt a little disappointed at first, I assumed that looking after small children would at least be a relaxing and easy experience.
My opinion changed completely on the very first morning. Working on the small practice hill was incredibly tiring. The children were constantly falling over, dropping their gloves, and getting their skis crossed. One little boy named Toby was having a particularly terrible time. No matter how hard he tried, he kept slipping and falling onto the cold snow. Eventually, he became so frustrated that he sat down and began to cry loudly. Because the main instructor was busy helping two other children, I had to deal with the situation alone, which made me feel quite anxious.
I quickly realised that repeating standard instructions like “bend your knees” or “make a pizza shape” wasn’t helping Toby at all. I knew I had to try a completely different approach to stop his tears. Remembering a game I loved playing at primary school, I suggested we play ‘freeze tag’ on our skis. I told Toby we were running away from imaginary snow monsters, and whenever I shouted “freeze,” he had to stop moving completely.
The change in Toby’s attitude was amazing. He immediately forgot about being upset and started laughing as he tried to escape the monsters. By focusing entirely on the fun game, he naturally began to balance and stop correctly without even thinking about it. When the main instructor came over, she was very impressed to see Toby skiing happily down the small hill. Seeing his proud smile gave me a fantastic feeling of achievement.
That challenging morning completely changed how I feel about my winter job. I discovered that I actually possess a hidden talent for communicating with young children. Teaching someone a new skill is much more rewarding than just skiing fast down a mountain. I have already decided that when I am old enough next year, I am going to study for my official ski instructor licence.
1 Why was the writer initially disappointed with his job assignment?
(A) He wanted to teach more advanced skiers his own age.
(B) He thought working with young children would be too stressful.
(C) He didn’t want to spend his winter holiday working.
(D) He was worried that his skiing skills were not good enough.
2 How did the writer feel when Toby started crying?
(A) Annoyed because the boy had dropped his gloves again.
(B) Relieved that the main instructor came to help him.
(C) Nervous because he had to manage the problem by himself.
(D) Angry that Toby wasn’t listening to his clear instructions.
3 What did the writer decide to do to help Toby?
(A) Give him clearer instructions about bending his knees.
(B) Introduce a playful activity to distract him from his frustration.
(C) Teach him how to make a pizza shape properly.
(D) Tell him a frightening story about snow monsters.
4 What was the result of the new approach?
(A) The main instructor decided to play the game with the whole class.
(B) Toby finally managed to ski down the highest mountain.
(C) The writer felt proud because he was the fastest skier in the group.
(D) Toby learned the right skiing techniques without focusing on them.
5 What would the writer write in his diary at the end of the week?
(A) The kids are cute, but the practice hill is too boring. I hope the manager lets me ski with the older teenagers next week.
(B) Toby’s constant crying ruined my first week as an assistant. I really don’t think I have the right personality for this job.
(C) I used to think teaching was just about giving instructions, but making it fun changed everything. I can’t wait to get my proper teaching licence!
(D) Playing games is fun, but it doesn’t teach kids how to ski safely. Next time, I will make sure Toby listens to my instructions carefully.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 A – In the first paragraph, the writer states he imagined himself “racing down steep mountains with a group of older teenagers,” which explains his initial disappointment at being assigned to five to seven-year-olds.
2 C – The second paragraph explains that because the main instructor was busy, the writer “had to deal with the situation alone, which made me feel quite anxious.”
3 B – In the third paragraph, the writer realizes standard instructions aren’t working and decides to try a “completely different approach” by suggesting they play ‘freeze tag’ to stop his tears.
4 D – The fourth paragraph details that by focusing on the game, Toby “naturally began to balance and stop correctly without even thinking about it.”
5 C – This option accurately captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text: moving from expecting a relaxing job with older teens, to overcoming a teaching challenge creatively, and finally discovering a passion for teaching and a desire to become fully qualified.
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Finding the Right Wave
When I saw an advertisement for a summer assistant at ‘Wave Riders’ surf school, I couldn’t believe my luck. I lived just ten minutes from the beach, and I imagined that working there would be the perfect summer experience. I honestly thought I would spend my days relaxing on the warm sand, getting a great tan, and chatting with the instructors. I was also hoping they might let me use the surfboards for free when the school was closed.
However, the reality of the job was a huge shock to my system. I had to wake up at six o’clock every morning to help set up the equipment before the customers arrived. My main task was carrying dozens of heavy, wet surfboards from the storage shed down to the water. After a few hours, my arms were aching, and I was covered in cold, wet sand. By the end of my first week, I was completely exhausted and seriously considered looking for an easier job in a local café.
Everything changed on a particularly busy Saturday when a twelve-year-old boy named Leo arrived for his first lesson. He looked absolutely terrified as he stared at the crashing waves. The main instructor was busy with another group, so I sat down with Leo to help him put on his wetsuit. I told him about my own first time surfing and promised him that the instructors were fantastic. I spent a few minutes carrying his board to the water’s edge, constantly reminding him that falling off was just part of the fun.
Later that morning, I stopped carrying boards for a moment to watch Leo’s group. I saw him paddle hard, struggle for a few seconds, and then finally stand up perfectly on a beautiful, green wave. The huge smile on his face was unforgettable. Suddenly, the heavy boards and the early mornings didn’t matter anymore. I felt an incredible sense of pride knowing I had helped him find his confidence. I decided not to quit, and I now realise that helping others succeed is the most rewarding part of the job.
1 Why did the writer want to work at the surf school?
(A) He wanted to train to become a professional surf instructor.
(B) He expected to have an easy and relaxing summer by the sea.
(C) He needed to earn money to buy his own expensive surfboard.
(D) He was asked to help out by his friends who worked at the beach.
2 How did the writer feel during his first week of work?
(A) Surprised by how cold the ocean water was in the early morning.
(B) Annoyed that the instructors were making him do all of their work.
(C) Anxious because the storage shed was so far away from the beach.
(D) Exhausted by the physical tasks and thinking about leaving the job.
3 What did the writer do to help Leo?
(A) He taught him the correct way to stand up on the surfboard.
(B) He asked the main instructor to give Leo a quiet, private lesson.
(C) He shared his own past experience to help reduce the boy’s fears.
(D) He carried him into the water so that he wouldn’t get too cold.
4 Watching Leo catch a wave made the writer
(A) jealous that Leo was already a much better surfer than him.
(B) relieved that he no longer had to carry any more heavy boards.
(C) hopeful that Leo would come back and thank him for his assistance.
(D) proud to know that his support had contributed to the successful moment.
5 What would the writer write in his diary that night?
(A) The instructors here are great, but carrying boards all day is too difficult. I am definitely going to find a job in a café next week.
(B) I used to think working at a surf school was just about relaxing. Today, seeing a nervous student succeed showed me how rewarding hard work can be.
(C) I managed to stand up on a really big wave today! I am so glad I took this job because I get to surf for free all the time.
(D) It was so embarrassing when Leo fell off his board, but I’m glad I told him that falling is just a normal part of the learning process.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The text states in paragraph 1 that he “imagined that working there would be the perfect summer experience” and thought he would “spend my days relaxing on the warm sand”, matching the expectation of an easy, relaxing summer.
2 D – Paragraph 2 explains that his main task was carrying heavy boards, making his arms ache, and that he was “completely exhausted and seriously considered looking for an easier job”, meaning he was thinking about leaving.
3 C – In paragraph 3, the writer notes that to help the terrified boy, “I told him about my own first time surfing”, which maps to sharing his own past experience to reduce the boy’s fears.
4 D – Paragraph 4 details how watching the boy stand up gave the writer “an incredible sense of pride knowing I had helped him find his confidence”, meaning his support contributed to the moment.
5 B – This option accurately captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text: moving from expecting a relaxing beach job to finding deep pride and reward in working hard to help others succeed.
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Winning Barnaby’s Trust
When I first got a weekend job at the local riding school, I imagined spending my days riding beautiful horses through green fields. However, the reality of the situation was completely different. As a stable hand, my duties mostly involved sweeping up heavy wet hay, washing dirty equipment, and clearing deep mud from the stables. It was exhausting, unglamorous work, and my boots were always covered in dirt by the end of the day. During those first few weeks, I seriously wondered if earning a little extra money was really worth waking up at six o’clock every Saturday morning.
Things began to change when a new horse named Barnaby arrived at the stables. Barnaby was a rescue animal who had been treated badly by his previous owners. Because of his difficult past, he was extremely nervous and terrified of humans. If anyone walked into his stable, he would immediately move to the back corner and shake with fear. The manager told all the staff to be very careful around him. She advised us to keep our distance and leave him alone until he got used to his new environment.
Despite the warning, I felt really sorry for Barnaby and wanted to help him feel safe. I realised that loud noises and sudden movements frightened him, so I changed the way I worked. Whenever I had to clean his area, I moved as slowly and quietly as possible. I didn’t try to touch him or force him to interact with me at all. I just talked to him in a soft, gentle voice about my day at school while I replaced his water and cleared the dirty straw from the floor.
It took nearly two months, but my patience finally brought some wonderful results. One rainy afternoon, as I was sitting near his door resting, Barnaby slowly walked over to me. He gently pushed his nose against my shoulder. I carefully picked up a brush and began to clean his coat, and to my surprise, he didn’t run away. He stood perfectly still, closing his eyes to show he was relaxed. In that moment, I understood that building trust takes a lot of time and gentleness. Suddenly, all the hard, dirty work I did every weekend felt completely worth it.
1 What was the writer’s attitude towards her job in the beginning?
(A) She felt it was exactly what she had hoped for.
(B) She started to doubt if doing such difficult tasks was worth it.
(C) She was angry that she wasn’t allowed to ride the horses.
(D) She felt happy to earn so much extra money.
2 What do we learn about Barnaby in the second paragraph?
(A) He was a nervous horse who had never seen a human before.
(B) He was frightened of people because he hadn’t been looked after well.
(C) The manager believed he was too dangerous for the staff to handle.
(D) The staff were told they had to spend more time with him.
3 What did the writer decide to do while cleaning Barnaby’s stable?
(A) She made sure she did her chores as peacefully as possible.
(B) She tried to get him used to sudden, loud noises.
(C) She offered him special treats to encourage him to approach her.
(D) She stayed completely silent so she wouldn’t frighten him.
4 When Barnaby finally approached the writer, she realised that
(A) he was ready to be ridden for the first time.
(B) he only liked people when the weather was bad.
(C) being calm and gentle is the best way to make a connection.
(D) she no longer needed to do any of the dirty jobs at the stable.
5 What might the writer write in her diary?
(A) I’m so tired of waking up early to clear mud and hay. Tomorrow, I’m going to tell the manager that I’m quitting.
(B) It took a long time, but my quiet approach finally worked. Having Barnaby trust me made all the boring chores feel worthwhile.
(C) Barnaby let me brush him today! I’ve realised that you need to be very strict and loud if you want a horse to respect you.
(D) I finally got to ride the beautiful horses through the green fields today. It was everything I expected my weekend job to be!
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The writer states in the first paragraph that the work was exhausting and she “seriously wondered if earning a little extra money was really worth waking up at six o’clock”, matching the idea that she doubted if the difficult tasks were worth it.
2 B – The text explicitly states that Barnaby was a rescue animal who had been “treated badly by his previous owners” and because of this difficult past, he was “terrified of humans”.
3 A – The writer says she “moved as slowly and quietly as possible” and talked to him in a “soft, gentle voice”, which means she did her chores peacefully. Option D is incorrect because she talked to him, rather than staying silent.
4 C – When the horse finally lets her brush him, the writer reflects that “building trust takes a lot of time and gentleness”, highlighting the lesson about making a calm connection.
5 B – This option successfully synthesises the global meaning of the text: the patience and quiet approach the writer used to gain a nervous horse’s trust, which ultimately changed how she felt about the hard, unglamorous stable work.