Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Specialized Tours & Experiences 4

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find an ancestry and genealogy research trip.

There are descriptions of eight family history trips.

Decide which family history trip would be the most suitable for the people below.

1   Lucas wants to travel with a few other people to see the rural villages where his ancestors lived. Since he only speaks English, he needs a professional to explain old foreign documents to him.

2   Sofia wants to explore official town record buildings to find her great-grandparents’ names. She hopes to learn how to use internet databases for family history. As a student, she requires affordable places to sleep during the trip.

3   The Martin family wants to visit cultural exhibitions about their past and eat traditional meals from their ancestors’ region. Mr. Martin has trouble walking, so they need a trip where vehicles take them everywhere without long walks.

4   Emma is keen on taking photos of historic graveyards where her relatives are buried. She requires a personal guide just for herself, and she would love to receive a physical book containing her family’s past when she finishes.

5   Chen is looking for a short weekend break to discover his roots. He hopes to meet living family members in the area. In the evenings, he wants to relax and listen to historical, traditional songs from the region.

Family History Trips

A Rural Roots Tours

Join our special trips designed for a maximum of six guests. We will take you out of the busy city to the peaceful farming regions your family once called home. Our bilingual staff will carefully read and convert any historic letters or certificates from the local language into English for you.

B Digital Discoveries

Uncover your past by looking through original papers at government offices and city halls. We also offer daily classes on operating computer programs to safely store your family data on the web. Our package provides beds in low-cost hostels, so you won’t spend a lot of money on your stay.

C Cultural Past Journeys

Explore excellent interactive museums filled with historical objects showing exactly how your relatives lived. Afterwards, enjoy delicious classic dishes cooked just as they were centuries ago. You won’t need to stand or hike at all, because our comfortable private buses drive you directly to the entrance of every single location.

D Personal Ancestry Guide

Enjoy the full attention of your very own history expert. We will take you to ancient burial grounds so you can capture pictures of your ancestors’ tombs. As a special gift to take home, we produce a beautifully bound text featuring all the research and stories we find about your family.

E Family Connections

Only have Saturday and Sunday free? We specialize in setting up meetings with people who share your surname so you can say hello to actual cousins today! When night falls, we arrange special entertainment featuring talented local musicians playing old folk instruments and singing classic tunes from your grandparents’ era.

F City History Walks

Need help understanding old documents? Our language experts will happily translate official papers while we visit the main city hall. Please wear strong boots, as this tour involves spending the entire day hiking for miles through busy urban streets to find the houses where your family used to live.

G Weekend Tomb Explorers

Join a large, fun group of fifty people for a two-day weekend adventure! We specialize in visiting historic burial sites to find where famous local people rest. While we don’t offer individual guides or printed materials, it is a fantastic way to learn about the region’s famous historical figures.

H Farming Heritage Trips

Travel out to rural agricultural villages to see exactly where your great-grandparents worked the land. Guests will enjoy eating wonderful meals made from old recipes passed down through generations. Unfortunately, all our historical tours are conducted entirely in the local language, so we cannot assist tourists who only understand English.

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a photography landscape weekend.

There are descriptions of eight photography tours.

Decide which tour would be the most suitable for the people below.

1   Lucas wants to photograph the ocean. He loves taking pictures when the sun comes up. He also hopes a professional can look at his work and give him advice on how to get better.

2   Maria wants to capture images of high mountains. She doesn’t have her own camera, so she needs a trip where she can borrow one. She also requires a weekend tour that provides delicious meals without any meat.

3   David prefers taking photos just before it gets dark. He wants to share his pictures with other students to discuss them together. He is a student, so he needs a cheap place to sleep during the trip.

4   Emma is just starting out and needs basic lessons on how to use her camera. She wants to take pictures of forests and wild plants. She also needs a tour that offers a bus ride from the city.

5   The Singh family loves walking long distances to find the perfect nature spots. They want to take photographs as the sun goes down. Finally, they’d like a physical copy of their favourite picture to take home.

Photography Landscape Weekends

A Coastal Dawn

Join us by the water to capture stunning beach views. We start before breakfast to catch the beautiful early sunlight on the waves. In the afternoon, our expert guides will sit down with you to review your images and suggest ways to develop your skills. It is perfect for nature lovers!

B High Peak Snaps

Explore the beautiful snowy peaks with our experienced guides. If you don’t own the right technology, don’t worry, we have top-quality devices available for you to use. After a busy day outside, enjoy a fantastic dinner prepared by our chef, which includes only fresh vegetables and no animal products.

C Shadows & Light

This exciting weekend focuses on capturing images at the end of the day when the sky turns beautiful shades of orange. Afterwards, we all gather around to show our work and exchange ideas with the rest of the class. The low price includes a comfortable bed in a budget-friendly youth hostel.

D Woodland Wonders

This relaxing trip is designed for people who have never really used a camera before. We will teach you the simplest techniques while exploring beautiful woods and looking at old trees. You won’t have to worry about driving, as our private coach will pick everyone up directly from the town centre.

E Trail & Click

Get ready to climb steep paths to reach amazing, hidden valleys. We time our walks so you can photograph the changing colours in the sky just before nighttime. Before you leave on Sunday, we will use our high-quality machines to create a beautiful paper picture of your best shot.

F Alpine Escapes

Spend your weekend photographing fantastic high hills and rocky paths with our professional team. We serve wonderful vegetarian meals every evening to keep you healthy and full. Please remember that all participants must bring their own cameras and equipment, as we do not have any devices available to provide to our guests.

G City Sunrise

Wake up early to photograph the empty streets and buildings as the sun comes up. It’s a wonderful way to see urban architecture in a new light. Later, our professional photographers will look at your pictures and give you helpful tips. We provide excellent hotel accommodation right in the city centre.

H Faces & Places

If you are completely new to photography, this is the perfect weekend for you. We provide a free, comfortable minibus from the city to our countryside studio. However, instead of nature, you will learn how to take beautiful pictures of people and their faces inside our comfortable, warm indoor building.

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a stand-up comedy festival weekend.

There are descriptions of eight comedy festivals.

Decide which comedy festival would be the most suitable for the people below.

1   Mark wants to wander between different comedy clubs. He enjoys watching performances well past midnight. He also needs simple, casual meals like burgers or pizza included in his ticket price.

2   Sarah is taking her kids, so she needs a festival where shows finish early in the evening. She wants to stay in one large building so they don’t get lost, and she needs relaxed, casual food included in the entry fee.

3   Leo and Mia want to stay up until the early hours of the morning watching comedians. They love moving between different theatres. Instead of casual fast food, they strictly require a formal, sit-down restaurant meal included.

4   David prefers to sit in one single giant theatre without moving around the city. He loves late-night shows that go past midnight. He also wants relaxed, casual food like hot dogs included with his pass.

5   Emma loves exploring the city by walking between various different comedy pubs. She needs to sleep early, so all shows must finish before 10 PM. She wants to buy her own food, so she doesn’t want any meals included.

Stand-Up Comedy Festivals

A The Urban Joke Trail

Travel between ten different city bars to see your favourite comedians! The laughter continues right through until 3 AM. Even better, your wristband gives you totally free, unlimited access to the casual burger and pizza stands located at every door.

B The Comedy Arena

Don’t worry about getting lost in the city; all our comedians perform on one massive stage under a single roof. We keep the jokes going until 2 AM for night owls! Plus, your entry pass includes unlimited free hot dogs and fries from our casual indoor stalls.

C The Royal Laughs Weekend

Experience luxury while walking between our three beautiful historic theatres to see different acts. For night owls, our spectacular headline acts start at 1 AM! Your premium ticket includes a formal, three-course meal served by waiters at a top local restaurant, rather than basic fast food.

D Family Giggle Fest

Spend your whole weekend inside our magnificent, single entertainment centre without ever needing to step outside. Perfect for early sleepers, our final acts finish at 8 PM. Everyone receives complimentary tokens for our fantastic, casual indoor pizza and burger vans.

E The Sunset Stroll

Discover the city by walking between our seven fantastic small comedy pubs. It is perfect for those who need their sleep, as all performances are completely finished by 9:30 PM. We do not provide any meals, giving you the complete freedom to visit local restaurants yourself.

F Midnight Cellar Crawl

Explore the city’s dark underground as you move between five secret comedy cellars. The comedy gets better as it gets later, with our final acts finishing at 3 AM. We strictly do not serve or include any food, so please eat before you arrive.

G The Grand Gala

Step into the city’s biggest theatre and stay in your comfortable seat all weekend, as we don’t use any other venues. The adults-only shows run late into the night, ending at 2 AM. Your ticket covers a highly expensive, formal dining experience with a private chef.

H Afternoon Chuckles

Enjoy a relaxing weekend inside one beautiful, single comedy hall. Our acts perform during the afternoon and finish by dinner time. We do not sell or provide any food, so guests are encouraged to bring their own packed lunches to eat in the garden.

Exercises:   123456