Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Outdoors & Animals 7
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Saving the Flame
When I volunteered to be the Campfire Coordinator for our summer youth camp, I thought it would be the easiest job of the week. My only responsibility was to build a large fire in the center of the campsite before everyone gathered for evening songs and marshmallow roasting. I had built plenty of small fires in my own garden before, so I confidently imagined myself relaxing in a folding chair, casually throwing a few logs onto a beautiful, warm blaze.
However, my relaxed attitude completely vanished when I arrived at the fire pit. A heavy thunderstorm had passed through the forest earlier that afternoon, leaving the entire pile of firewood completely soaked. I spent thirty minutes trying to light crumpled pieces of newspaper under the logs, but every single match I struck just created a cloud of thick, grey smoke before instantly dying out. With the campers scheduled to arrive in less than an hour, I started to panic. The evening event was going to be completely ruined without a roaring campfire.
Just as I was about to give up and tell the camp leader I had failed, I suddenly remembered an old wilderness survival book I had read during the winter. The book explained that even after heavy rain, dry wood could still be found inside thick branches if you removed the wet exterior. I quickly found a sharp pocket knife and started carving away the soaked bark of the logs to create ‘feather sticks’—thin, curly shavings of dry wood that catch fire easily. Furthermore, I collected some dry pine needles from deep underneath a massive, thick tree to use as extra kindling.
Carefully building a small teepee shape with my dry shavings, I struck my very last match. This time, the small flame caught the pine needles and quickly spread to the dry wood. By the time the excited campers arrived with their guitars and marshmallows, a massive, bright fire was roaring in the pit. Sitting back and watching everyone enjoy the warmth, I felt a huge wave of relief and pride. I learned that relying on basic assumptions isn’t enough; true success often requires practical knowledge, adaptability, and the determination to keep trying when things go wrong.
1 Why did the writer initially think the job would be easy?
(A) The camp leader promised to help him build the fire.
(B) He had successfully built small fires at his home before.
(C) He had a special tool that easily dried out wet firewood.
(D) He had never built a fire and thought it looked simple.
2 What problem did the writer face at the campsite?
(A) He forgot to bring any matches or newspaper with him.
(B) The campers arrived an hour earlier than expected.
(C) The firewood was too wet to light because of a recent storm.
(D) The wind was blowing too hard to keep the fire burning.
3 How did the writer get dry wood for the fire?
(A) He asked the camp leader to bring a different pile of logs.
(B) He cut away the wet outside of the branches to reach the dry inside.
(C) He walked back to his garden to get the dry wood he left there.
(D) He used pages from an old wilderness survival book to start the fire.
4 What happened when the campers finally arrived?
(A) They were disappointed because the fire was still just thick smoke.
(B) They were annoyed that they had to build the teepee shape themselves.
(C) They were excited and ready to enjoy the evening around a large fire.
(D) They decided to go back to their tents because the weather was too bad.
5 What would the writer write in his diary that evening?
(A) I’m so embarrassed. I couldn’t start the fire because of the rain, and the evening event was completely ruined.
(B) Volunteering was a huge mistake. Next year, I will make sure someone else is the Campfire Coordinator so I can just relax.
(C) The survival book was completely useless today, but luckily the wind dried the wood out just before the campers arrived.
(D) I panicked when the wood was wet, but using survival techniques to finally start the fire made me feel incredibly proud and relieved.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In paragraph 1, the writer explains his initial confidence: “I had built plenty of small fires in my own garden before, so I confidently imagined myself relaxing…”.
2 C – In paragraph 2, the writer’s problem is revealed: “A heavy thunderstorm had passed through the forest earlier that afternoon, leaving the entire pile of firewood completely soaked.”
3 B – In paragraph 3, the writer applies a survival technique: “I quickly found a sharp pocket knife and started carving away the soaked bark of the logs to create ‘feather sticks’—thin, curly shavings of dry wood”.
4 C – In paragraph 4, the text states: “By the time the excited campers arrived with their guitars and marshmallows, a massive, bright fire was roaring in the pit.”
5 D – This option perfectly captures the global meaning and the narrative arc of the text. It summarizes the writer’s initial panic over the wet wood and his ultimate satisfaction in using his practical knowledge to save the evening.
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
More Than Just Shade
When I started my summer job renting out beach umbrellas, I thought I had found the perfect way to spend my holidays. I imagined I would get a great tan, swim in the sea during my breaks, and earn some extra pocket money. However, the reality of the work was completely different. Every morning, I had to carry dozens of incredibly heavy umbrellas across the deep, hot sand. Before the first customers even arrived, my arms were aching and I was already exhausted.
The physical work wasn’t even the hardest part. As the beach filled up with tourists, I quickly realised that people did not like paying for shade. Almost every customer complained loudly about the high rental prices. They would often blame me, even though my manager set the daily costs. Listening to angry visitors while standing in the burning sun was extremely stressful. After two weeks of this miserable routine, I seriously considered quitting and finding an indoor job.
My attitude completely changed during a particularly busy Friday afternoon. A man marched up to me, complaining angrily that fifteen euros for an umbrella was much too expensive. I felt a wave of frustration, but instead of arguing or looking annoyed, I took a deep breath. I smiled politely, agreed that it was costly, and then told him a local secret. I explained where the safest and calmest swimming spots were, away from the dangerous rocks and crowded areas.
To my absolute surprise, the man’s angry expression completely disappeared. He thanked me warmly for the helpful advice and gladly paid the rental fee. Later that afternoon, he even bought me a cold drink to show his appreciation. From that day on, I decided to use the same strategy with everyone. I started chatting cheerfully with the tourists, recommending the best local seafood restaurants and pointing out where they could spot dolphins.
By the end of the summer, I had become one of the most popular workers on the beach. Although carrying the heavy equipment never got any easier, I didn’t mind the physical effort anymore. I learned that showing a positive attitude and sharing useful knowledge can easily turn unhappy strangers into friendly customers. This valuable lesson in communication is something I will definitely take with me into the future.
1 Why did the writer want the beach job at first?
(A) He wanted to improve his physical fitness by carrying heavy things.
(B) He hoped to enjoy the seaside environment while earning money.
(C) He thought his manager would let him swim all day instead of working.
(D) He needed to earn a huge amount of cash to pay for a summer holiday.
2 What was the writer’s biggest problem during his first two weeks?
(A) He felt personally responsible for setting the high daily prices.
(B) He spent too much time doing indoor jobs for his manager.
(C) He received too many complaints about the broken umbrellas.
(D) He found dealing with unhappy tourists to be very stressful.
3 How did the writer react to the angry man on Friday?
(A) He successfully reduced the price of the umbrella to fifteen euros.
(B) He told the man to go and swim in a more dangerous area.
(C) He remained friendly and shared some useful local information.
(D) He argued with him about the high cost of the beach rental.
4 What did the writer realise by the end of the summer?
(A) That carrying heavy equipment eventually becomes much easier.
(B) That giving people good advice makes the work much more enjoyable.
(C) That he prefers recommending restaurants rather than working outside.
(D) That working on a beach is the only way to meet friendly strangers.
5 What would the writer write in his diary today?
(A) I finally quit my job! The tourists never stopped complaining about the prices, and my arms hurt too much from carrying umbrellas in the hot sand.
(B) A tourist bought me a drink today because I gave him a cheaper umbrella. I think I’m going to start offering discounts to everyone who asks.
(C) Providing a good service is actually about more than just the product. Being polite and helpful completely changed how customers treated me!
(D) I was so angry when the tourists complained about the prices again today. No matter how much I smile, people are always incredibly rude on the beach.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In the first paragraph, the writer states he imagined he would “get a great tan, swim in the sea… and earn some extra pocket money,” which matches hoping to enjoy the seaside environment while earning money.
2 D – The second paragraph explains that “listening to angry visitors while standing in the burning sun was extremely stressful,” showing that dealing with unhappy tourists was his biggest issue.
3 C – In the third paragraph, instead of looking annoyed, the writer “smiled politely” and “explained where the safest and calmest swimming spots were,” meaning he remained friendly and shared useful local information.
4 B – The fifth paragraph states that “although carrying the heavy equipment never got any easier, I didn’t mind the physical effort anymore” because he learned that a positive attitude and sharing knowledge turned people into friendly customers, making the job better.
5 C – This option accurately captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text: moving from frustration over customer complaints to realizing that offering polite, helpful advice improves the entire customer service experience.
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Finding My Voice
When I saw an advert for a summer job as a ghost tour guide in my historic city, I immediately applied. I have always been fascinated by local history and love reading old stories. I assumed the job would simply involve learning historical facts and sharing them with small groups of visitors. However, I am a naturally shy person and usually speak quite quietly. When my new manager explained that I would actually be leading groups of up to thirty tourists through the dark streets, I started to feel incredibly nervous.
During my first practice tour, things did not go very well. Even though I had remembered all the spooky stories perfectly, I felt so anxious that my voice dropped to a whisper. The tourists at the back of the group couldn’t hear a word and kept politely asking me to speak up. The noise of the city traffic made it even harder. I felt completely embarrassed and honestly thought that I was just the wrong person for a job that required talking loudly in front of a large crowd.
Before my next tour, my manager, Sarah, noticed I was upset and gave me some excellent advice. She suggested that instead of being myself, I should pretend to be an actor playing a character. I decided to try it. I found a long black coat in the costume cupboard and decided to act like a mysterious, dramatic storyteller from the nineteenth century. I spent hours practising in front of my bedroom mirror, speaking in a deep, loud voice and making large hand movements.
The difference on my next walking tour was absolutely amazing. As soon as I put on the heavy coat and started acting, my usual shyness completely disappeared. Because I was playing a character, I didn’t feel self-conscious anymore. My voice easily reached the people at the back of the group, and they actually gasped and clapped at my spooky tales. I suddenly realised that performing was a fantastic way to overcome my fears. Now, I love entertaining the tourists every weekend, and my new confidence has even helped me speak up more at school.
1 Why did the writer apply for the job as a ghost tour guide?
(A) She wanted to overcome her natural shyness.
(B) She had a strong interest in the past of her city.
(C) She was asked by her new manager to join the team.
(D) She needed to earn money during her summer holidays.
2 What was the main problem during the writer’s first practice tour?
(A) She forgot some of the important historical facts.
(B) The tourists were rude and made too much noise.
(C) Her audience could not hear what she was saying.
(D) She got lost in the dark streets of the historic city.
3 To solve her problem, the writer decided to
(A) ask her manager, Sarah, to lead the next tour instead.
(B) speak directly to her bedroom mirror instead of the tourists.
(C) buy a new costume from a local clothing shop.
(D) behave like a different person while telling the stories.
4 How does the writer feel about her job now?
(A) She is surprised that the tourists always clap at her stories.
(B) She is happy that playing a role helped her gain self-assurance.
(C) She prefers acting in the theatre to guiding groups of tourists.
(D) She is annoyed that she still has to wear a heavy black coat.
5 What would the writer write in her diary after her successful tour?
(A) I hated wearing that heavy coat tonight, but if it helps people hear my stories over the traffic, I will keep doing it.
(B) I finally remembered all the ghost stories correctly today! I just hope I can learn to speak up so the people at the back can hear me.
(C) I used to be terrified of speaking in front of crowds, but pretending to be a dramatic character helped me find my voice and enjoy the job.
(D) My manager Sarah was right to take me off the tours. I am much happier researching history in the costume cupboard than talking to tourists.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The text states in paragraph 1 that she “applied immediately” because she has “always been fascinated by local history,” which matches having a strong interest in the past of her city.
2 C – Paragraph 2 explains that because she was anxious, her “voice dropped to a whisper” and the tourists “couldn’t hear a word,” meaning her audience could not hear her.
3 D – In paragraph 3, the writer follows her manager’s advice to “pretend to be an actor playing a character,” which means she decided to behave like a different person.
4 B – Paragraph 4 details how her “usual shyness completely disappeared” and mentions her “new confidence,” showing she is happy that playing a role helped her gain self-assurance.
5 C – This option accurately captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text: moving from being a shy, quiet speaker to using a theatrical persona to project her voice and confidently entertain the crowd.