Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Sports Career Development, Competitions & Injuries 10
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Finding My Voice in Kendo
I have always been interested in martial arts. Last month, my dad took me to a cultural festival where I saw a Kendo demonstration. Kendo is a traditional Japanese fencing style using bamboo swords and heavy, dark armour. The fighters looked incredibly impressive as they moved quickly across the wooden floor. I wanted to improve my fitness, and this looked much more exciting than joining a normal gym, so I asked my parents if I could sign up for beginner lessons.
When I arrived for my first class at the local sports centre, I was quite nervous. The teacher explained the basic rules clearly. However, one thing completely shocked me. Every time the students attacked each other, they had to scream as loudly as possible! In Kendo, this shout is called a ‘kiai’. As a naturally quiet teenager, the thought of making so much noise in front of a room full of strangers made me feel incredibly embarrassed.
During the first few weeks, I really struggled. I learned how to hold the sword and move my feet correctly, but my attacks were always too slow and weak. The problem was that I was simply too shy to shout. Whenever it was my turn to strike the target, I only made a tiny noise. Eventually, my teacher stopped the practice. He patiently explained that the shout wasn’t just a silly sound; it was actually a tool to give me energy and make my strikes more powerful.
In the following lesson, I decided I had to be brave. When my turn came, I took a deep breath, looked at the target, and ran forward. As I swung the bamboo sword down, I let out the loudest shout I possibly could. To my absolute amazement, the strike was fast and strong! The teacher smiled, and suddenly, all my embarrassment completely disappeared. I felt a rush of pure confidence and finally understood his valuable advice.
Now, I absolutely love my Kendo classes. Getting used to the heavy armour and the loud shouting took some time, but it is a fantastic way to relieve stress after school. I am far from being an expert, but I am excited to keep practicing and enter a tournament next year.
1 Why did the writer decide to start doing Kendo?
(A) He wanted to find a more thrilling way to get fit.
(B) His dad suggested he should learn how to use a sword.
(C) He wanted to wear the traditional Japanese armour.
(D) He was tired of doing the same exercises at his normal gym.
2 How did the writer feel about the ‘kiai’ at first?
(A) He found it very difficult to remember the rules about it.
(B) He was angry that the other students were screaming at him.
(C) He felt ashamed about having to yell in front of people he didn’t know.
(D) He was shocked by how strict the teacher was about the noise.
3 What did the teacher tell the writer about shouting?
(A) It is the best way to scare the other students in the room.
(B) It helps to improve the strength and focus of an attack.
(C) It is a traditional rule that all quiet teenagers must follow.
(D) It is necessary to make a tiny noise before swinging the sword.
4 What happened when the writer finally shouted loudly?
(A) He realised that his bamboo sword was broken.
(B) He felt proud because his hit was very successful.
(C) He had to close his eyes to avoid looking at the teacher.
(D) He felt embarrassed because everyone smiled at him.
5 What might the writer write in his diary that evening?
(A) Kendo is great, but I think I’m too quiet for it. I’m going to ask my parents if I can join a normal gym instead.
(B) I finally understand why we have to shout! It felt strange at first, but today I realised how much it improves my fencing.
(C) My teacher is so strict that he stopped the class just to shout at me. I hope next week’s lesson is a bit more relaxing.
(D) I won my first tournament today! The heavy armour is still uncomfortable, but my loud shouting helped me beat all the experts.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 A – In the first paragraph, the writer states he “wanted to improve my fitness” and that Kendo “looked much more exciting than joining a normal gym”.
2 C – In the second paragraph, the writer explains that making so much noise “in front of a room full of strangers” (people he didn’t know) made him feel “incredibly embarrassed” (ashamed).
3 B – In the third paragraph, the teacher explains that the shout is a tool to “give me energy and make my strikes more powerful”, matching the idea of improving strength and focus.
4 B – In the fourth paragraph, after shouting loudly, the writer notes that the “strike was fast and strong” and he “felt a rush of pure confidence” (proud).
5 B – This option captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text: initially feeling embarrassed about shouting, receiving the teacher’s advice, and finally experiencing the physical benefits of embracing the shout.
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Moving to the Rhythm
I have always been a very active person, playing basketball and going swimming regularly. However, last month, I saw a performance at a local street festival that completely amazed me. A group of people were doing Capoeira, a traditional Afro-Brazilian martial art. They were jumping, spinning, and kicking in a circle, but they never actually hit each other. The incredible energy and the loud live music made me want to learn how to do it immediately. I signed up for a beginner’s class, expecting it to be quite similar to karate.
When I arrived for my first lesson, I quickly realised my expectations were completely wrong. Capoeira isn’t just about fighting; it is a confusing mixture of dance, acrobatics, and self-defence. The instructor told us to start with the basic step, called the ginga. Instead of standing still and throwing punches, you have to swing your arms and step back and forth continuously. I found it incredibly difficult to coordinate my arms and legs at the same time. I kept stepping on my own feet and felt quite embarrassed because the older teenagers made it look so natural.
During the next few sessions, my instructor, Carlos, noticed my frustration and pulled me aside. He explained that my biggest mistake was treating Capoeira like a normal sports competition. He pointed to the musicians playing a strange string instrument called the berimbau. Carlos told me that in Capoeira, the music controls everything. You don’t try to destroy your opponent; you have a physical conversation with them. He advised me to stop thinking so hard about my feet and just let the rhythm guide my movements.
I decided to follow his advice and closed my eyes for a moment to listen to the beat of the drums and the singing. When I opened them and faced my partner, something finally clicked. Without even looking down, I started stepping side to side, performing the ginga perfectly in time with the music. My movements finally felt smooth and relaxed. I haven’t learned how to do any impressive acrobatic flips yet, but completing that basic movement fluidly gave me an enormous sense of achievement. I know I have found a hobby I will love for years.
1 Why did the writer decide to try Capoeira?
(A) He wanted to improve his skills for a karate competition.
(B) He was impressed by a display he watched in his town.
(C) He needed a new way to keep active after quitting basketball.
(D) He wanted to learn how to play traditional Brazilian instruments.
2 How did the writer feel during his first Capoeira lesson?
(A) Disappointed that he was the youngest teenager in the class.
(B) Annoyed that the instructor made him stand completely still.
(C) Uncomfortable because he struggled to manage the basic movements.
(D) Surprised by how much the basic step resembled normal dancing.
3 What advice did the instructor, Carlos, give to the writer?
(A) To pay closer attention to exactly where he was placing his feet.
(B) To fight much harder to beat his partner during the competition.
(C) To ask the musicians to play the string instruments more slowly.
(D) To concentrate on the music rather than treating it like a fight.
4 What does the writer say about his progress at the end of the text?
(A) He is proud that he can finally move naturally to the beat.
(B) He is disappointed that he cannot do complicated jumps yet.
(C) He thinks it is safer to practice with his eyes completely closed.
(D) He wants to start teaching the basic steps to his new partner.
5 What would the writer post on his blog about his Capoeira experience?
(A) I signed up for Capoeira hoping to learn self-defence, but it’s just dancing. I think I will go back to swimming next week.
(B) Capoeira is so challenging! I struggled at first, but learning to move with the music was a fantastic feeling. I can’t wait to learn more.
(C) I managed to do the basic step today, but I still keep stepping on my partner’s feet. I definitely need to focus more on my footwork.
(D) The live music at Capoeira is too loud and makes it impossible to concentrate. I wish we could just practice the martial art in silence.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – Paragraph 1 states that the writer “saw a performance at a local street festival that completely amazed me” and that this “made me want to learn how to do it immediately.”
2 C – Paragraph 2 explains that the writer “found it incredibly difficult to coordinate my arms and legs” and “felt quite embarrassed” because he kept stepping on his own feet, matching feeling uncomfortable while struggling with basic movements.
3 D – Paragraph 3 details how Carlos explained that treating Capoeira like a normal sports competition was a mistake. Instead, he told the writer to “stop thinking so hard about my feet and just let the rhythm guide my movements.”
4 A – Paragraph 4 highlights that performing the ginga perfectly in time with the music made his movements feel “smooth and relaxed,” which gave him “an enormous sense of achievement.”
5 B – This option successfully captures the global narrative and attitude of the text: the writer initially found the mixture of skills confusing and frustrating, but eventually felt a great sense of achievement when he learned to let the music guide his movements.
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Finding My Strength on Skates
I’ve always enjoyed roller skating at my local park, but I usually just skated around in circles on my own. I wanted to try a team sport, but traditional games like basketball or volleyball never really interested me. Last month, I saw an advertisement for a youth roller derby team. I knew it involved racing around a track on skates, so I bought some safety equipment and decided to give it a go. I felt quite excited, but also a bit nervous because I had heard it was quite an extreme sport.
When I arrived at the sports hall for my first practice, I immediately realised how physical roller derby actually is. It isn’t just about skating fast; it is a full-contact sport where players use their bodies to stop the other team from passing them. During the first half hour, older players were crashing into each other loudly. When I finally joined in, I was knocked down to the hard wooden floor several times. My body ached all over, and I honestly wondered if I had made a terrible mistake.
However, our coach, Jenna, noticed I was struggling and took me to one side. She explained that the secret to roller derby wasn’t avoiding contact, but learning how to manage it. First, she taught me how to fall safely onto my knee pads without hurting myself. Once I stopped worrying about hitting the ground, everything changed. Next, Jenna showed me how to bend my knees and use my shoulders to block opponents effectively. Suddenly, the sport felt less like a dangerous battle and more like a clever game of strategy.
Last weekend, I finally took part in my first proper match. The atmosphere in the hall was incredibly loud and energetic. In the middle of the game, a fast skater from the other team tried to push past me. Instead of panicking, I remembered Jenna’s advice. I lowered my body, moved into her path, and successfully blocked her. The crowd cheered, and I felt a huge rush of adrenaline. I used to be quite a shy person, but surviving the brutal contact on the track has made me feel incredibly tough and confident. I absolutely love my new sport.
1 Why did the writer join the roller derby team?
(A) She wanted to try a team sport that was different from the usual ones.
(B) She was bored of playing basketball and volleyball at school.
(C) Her friends told her it was an exciting and extreme sport.
(D) She wanted to improve her speed for skating around the park.
2 How did the writer feel during her first practice?
(A) Annoyed that the older players were completely ignoring her.
(B) Surprised by how slowly the other girls were skating on the track.
(C) Worried that the sport might be too painful for her to continue.
(D) Upset because she had brought the wrong safety equipment.
3 What made the writer change her opinion about the sport?
(A) Realising that she was physically much stronger than her opponents.
(B) Learning how to go to the ground without causing an injury.
(C) Discovering that she could skate much faster than the coach.
(D) Understanding the complicated rules of scoring in the match.
4 What happened during the writer’s first match?
(A) She managed to stop an opposing player from getting past.
(B) She scored the winning points for her entire team.
(C) She fell over because the crowd was cheering too loudly.
(D) She panicked when a fast skater skated towards her.
5 What would the writer write in her diary about roller derby?
(A) It’s a great sport if you want to skate fast, but I really hate the fact that players are allowed to push each other.
(B) I’m so glad I didn’t give up after the first session! Learning to handle the physical contact has made me feel so much stronger.
(C) The matches are quite fun, but my coach is too strict and I’m tired of falling on the hard wooden floor during practice.
(D) I finally blocked someone today! It was easy because I’m naturally tough, so I didn’t even need to use the coach’s advice.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 A – In the first paragraph, the writer states she “wanted to try a team sport, but traditional games like basketball or volleyball never really interested me.” This paraphrases perfectly to wanting a team sport different from the usual ones.
2 C – Paragraph two explains that she was knocked down several times, her “body ached all over,” and she “wondered if I had made a terrible mistake,” which matches being worried the sport might be too painful to continue.
3 B – In the third paragraph, the coach taught her “how to fall safely onto my knee pads without hurting myself. Once I stopped worrying about hitting the ground, everything changed.” This paraphrases to learning to go to the ground without causing an injury.
4 A – Paragraph four describes the match where a skater tried to push past her, and she “moved into her path, and successfully blocked her,” meaning she managed to stop an opponent from getting past.
5 B – This option successfully synthesizes the writer’s emotional journey. It captures her initial doubts and overcoming them (“glad I didn’t give up” from paragraph 2) and her final realization about the benefits of the rough sport (“surviving the brutal contact… has made me feel incredibly tough and confident” from paragraph 4).