Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Sports Career Development, Competitions & Injuries 4
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Rediscovering the Joy of Sport
I started playing tennis when I was seven years old. For years, I spent every weekend hitting balls across the net and dreaming of winning large tournaments. I was quite successful, but recently, something changed. I realised I was no longer enjoying the matches. Going to practice felt like a boring chore rather than an exciting activity. After a lot of thought, I made the difficult decision to put my racket away and look for a completely different sport.
A few weeks later, my friend Sarah suggested I join her local volleyball club. I immediately agreed because I really missed being active. Since I was already extremely fit from my tennis days, I honestly expected to be brilliant at volleyball straight away. However, during my first training session, I quickly realised how wrong I was. Hitting a heavy ball with my bare hands was completely different from using a light tennis racket.
Throughout that first month, I struggled to get the basic techniques right. Whenever I tried to serve, the ball would go in the wrong direction, and my arms were covered in red marks from passing the ball. It was a very humbling experience. I was used to being one of the most talented players on the court, but suddenly, I was the worst in the team. At times, I felt quite embarrassed and wondered if I had made a terrible mistake by switching sports.
Fortunately, the other players were incredibly supportive. In tennis, you are usually alone and competing against everyone else, but volleyball is all about working together. Whenever I missed a shot, my teammates didn’t get angry; they just encouraged me to try again. Slowly, my skills improved. Yesterday, I managed to score a point with a perfect serve, and the whole team cheered for me.
That simple moment made me realise something important. I wasn’t feeling any pressure or stress anymore. For the first time in months, I was actually smiling while playing a sport. Starting again as a complete beginner was definitely challenging, but it has finally brought back my love for exercise. I am so glad I made the change, and I can’t wait for our next match!
1 Why did the writer stop playing tennis?
(A) She suffered a serious injury during a tournament.
(B) She felt that the sport was no longer fun for her.
(C) She wanted to spend her weekends doing other things.
(D) She realised she wasn’t successful enough to win matches.
2 What did the writer believe before her first volleyball session?
(A) Her previous athletic experience would make her naturally good.
(B) Hitting a volleyball would be less painful than hitting a tennis ball.
(C) The volleyball club would be too difficult to join without a friend.
(D) She would need to improve her fitness level before playing.
3 How did the writer feel about her performance in the first month?
(A) Frustrated that the other players didn’t help her with techniques.
(B) Ashamed because she was the weakest player on the team.
(C) Angry that the heavy ball was leaving red marks on her arms.
(D) Relieved that the basic skills were quite easy to learn.
4 What does the writer appreciate most about volleyball?
(A) The fact that she can score more points than in tennis.
(B) The opportunity to teach other beginners how to serve perfectly.
(C) The lack of pressure and the friendly team atmosphere.
(D) The fast improvement she has made in such a short time.
5 What might the writer write in her diary today?
(A) I regret giving up tennis. Even though volleyball is fun, I miss winning tournaments and being the best player on the court.
(B) Starting a new sport from zero is tough, but playing volleyball has reminded me why I used to love being active so much!
(C) Volleyball is much easier than tennis. I didn’t need to practice much because my fitness level was already so high.
(D) My teammates are nice, but I find the lack of competition quite boring. I think I need to find a more challenging sport.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In the first paragraph, the writer states she “was no longer enjoying the matches” and that practice “felt like a boring chore rather than an exciting activity.”
2 A – The second paragraph says, “Since I was already extremely fit from my tennis days, I honestly expected to be brilliant at volleyball straight away.”
3 B – In the third paragraph, the writer notes, “I was used to being one of the most talented players… suddenly, I was the worst in the team,” which made her feel “quite embarrassed” (ashamed).
4 C – In the fourth and fifth paragraphs, she explains that “volleyball is all about working together,” her teammates “encouraged” her, and she “wasn’t feeling any pressure or stress anymore.”
5 B – This option captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text: she found it hard to start from the bottom again (humbling/tough), but the supportive team environment helped her rediscover her passion for sports.
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Surviving the Storm
I’ve been a member of my local youth sailing club for two years, but last weekend was my first time competing in a major regatta. Our crew of four teenagers had spent months practising on calm waters. When we arrived at the coast, I felt a mix of excitement and nerves. Seeing so many expensive boats and confident, older sailors made me wonder if we were really ready for such a big event. Our coach reminded us to just do our best, but I secretly hoped we wouldn’t finish in last place.
The morning of the race began perfectly. The sun was shining brightly, and there was a gentle breeze, which was ideal for sailing. We had a great start and were making good progress. However, about an hour into the competition, everything changed completely. The blue sky suddenly turned a dark grey, and the wind became incredibly strong. Huge waves started crashing over the sides of our small boat. The weather forecast hadn’t mentioned any bad weather, so we were all completely shocked. For a terrifying minute, nobody knew what to do, and panic began to spread among us.
Fortunately, that panic didn’t last long. Without even thinking about it, our months of careful training finally kicked in. Liam, our team captain, started shouting clear instructions over the noise of the wind. Instead of freezing with fear, we all immediately jumped into action. I had to pull the ropes as tightly as I could to lower the main sail, while my teammates balanced the boat to stop it from turning over. We had to trust each other completely. There was no time to argue or be scared; we just had to work together as a single unit.
After thirty exhausting minutes of fighting the storm, we finally managed to navigate our boat safely back into the harbour. The organisers had canceled the rest of the regatta, but we honestly didn’t care about the competition anymore. Sitting on the wet deck, we were freezing cold and exhausted, but we couldn’t stop smiling. Surviving that dangerous situation brought us so much closer together as a team. I now know that if we can handle a sudden storm like that, we can face any challenge on the water. I’m already looking forward to our next race!
1 Why did the writer feel nervous before the regatta?
(A) She thought the other competitors looked more experienced.
(B) She was using a new, expensive boat for the very first time.
(C) She hadn’t spent enough time practising with her sailing club.
(D) She felt pressured by her sailing coach to win the competition.
2 What does the writer say about the storm?
(A) It started before the sailing race officially began.
(B) It was something they had been warned to expect.
(C) It caused the crew to feel frightened initially.
(D) It brought the gentle breeze that the team wanted.
3 How did the team deal with the dangerous situation?
(A) They argued about who should lower the main sail.
(B) They remembered their training and worked together.
(C) They waited for their captain to fix the ropes by himself.
(D) They focused all their attention on trying to finish the race.
4 How did the writer feel after returning to the harbour?
(A) Disappointed that the organisers decided to cancel the regatta.
(B) Annoyed because she was freezing cold and completely exhausted.
(C) Pleased because the experience had improved their teamwork.
(D) Relieved that they managed to win the sailing competition.
5 What would the writer text her friend that evening?
(A) The regatta was cancelled because of a storm, which is a pity because I’m sure we would have easily beaten the older sailors!
(B) We had a terrifying experience in a storm today! We didn’t finish the race, but I’ve never felt more connected to my team.
(C) I never want to sail in a storm again. My teammates totally panicked, and I had to do all the work to save our boat.
(D) The race went perfectly today! The sun was shining the whole time, and my coach was incredibly proud of our performance.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 A – Paragraph 1 states that “Seeing so many expensive boats and confident, older sailors made me wonder if we were really ready,” which matches the idea that the other competitors looked more experienced.
2 C – Paragraph 2 explains that when the storm hit, “For a terrifying minute, nobody knew what to do, and panic began to spread among us,” showing they felt frightened initially.
3 B – Paragraph 3 details how their “months of careful training finally kicked in,” and they jumped into action, trusting each other completely to “work together as a single unit.”
4 C – Paragraph 4 highlights that surviving the dangerous situation “brought us so much closer together as a team,” and they “couldn’t stop smiling,” demonstrating she was pleased about their improved teamwork.
5 B – This option successfully captures the global narrative and emotion of the text: the writer survived a frightening storm, didn’t complete the competition, but gained a deep, positive connection with her team.
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Becoming a Triathlete
I have always enjoyed being active, but I usually only focused on one sport at a time, like playing tennis or going jogging. A few months ago, I saw an advertisement for a local teen mini-triathlon. It involved a 400-metre swim, a 10-kilometre bike ride, and a 2.5-kilometre run. I thought it would be a fantastic way to push myself, so I immediately filled out the online application form. Although I knew the training would be extremely tough, I felt really motivated to try something entirely new and test my physical limits.
To prepare, I started practising all three sports every single week. Swimming and running on their own were quite manageable, and I have always loved cycling around my neighbourhood. However, I quickly discovered that the hardest part of a triathlon is actually the ‘transition’ – moving directly from one activity to the next without stopping to rest. The first time I tried running immediately after a long bike ride, my legs felt like heavy jelly. I was so exhausted that I could barely walk, let alone run at my usual speed. It took several weeks of hard practice before my body finally got used to the sudden changes.
When race day finally arrived, I stood nervously by the lake in my wetsuit, waiting for the event to begin. When the starting horn blew, hundreds of us splashed into the freezing cold water. I managed to complete the swimming section without any problems, but by the middle of the bike ride, my energy levels dropped completely. As we cycled up a long, steep hill, I watched several other teenagers easily ride past me. By the time I dropped my bike and began the final running section, I was near the back of the group. My whole body ached terribly, and I seriously considered giving up.
Despite the intense pain in my legs, I forced myself to keep moving forward. As I finally jogged towards the finish line, I looked around and realised there was no one else behind me. I was actually going to finish in last place. Surprisingly, the crowd didn’t stop cheering; in fact, they clapped even louder to encourage me. When a race official placed the medal around my neck, I didn’t care about my final position at all. Completing the three events was the hardest physical challenge I have ever faced, but crossing that line made me feel like a true champion. I am definitely entering again next year!
1 Why did the writer enter the triathlon?
(A) He wanted to test his physical limits with something new.
(B) He was bored of playing tennis and jogging every day.
(C) A friend recommended the local teen mini-triathlon.
(D) He wanted to find a sport that involved less training.
2 What did the writer find most difficult about his training?
(A) Improving his speed while cycling around his neighbourhood.
(B) Learning how to swim for 400 metres without stopping.
(C) Making his body run when it was already tired from cycling.
(D) Finding enough free time to practise three different sports.
3 During the cycling section of the race, the writer
(A) felt annoyed that the lake water had been so freezing cold.
(B) struggled to maintain his energy while riding up a hill.
(C) decided to stop the race because his body ached too much.
(D) crashed his bike while watching other teenagers ride past.
4 How did the writer feel about finishing in last place?
(A) Embarrassed because the crowd was clapping loudly for him.
(B) Upset that the race official didn’t give him a better medal.
(C) Disappointed that he didn’t run faster at the very end.
(D) Proud of his amazing achievement despite his final position.
5 What would the writer write in his diary that evening?
(A) I finished my first triathlon today! I came last, but I’m just incredibly proud that I managed to complete such an exhausting challenge.
(B) The race was a disaster. I was completely exhausted during the bike ride, and I’m never going to attempt anything like this again.
(C) I had to stop and give up during the run because my legs hurt too much. Next year, I need to practise my transitions more carefully.
(D) I easily finished the swim, but the other teenagers were cheating on their bikes. That’s the only reason I ended up at the back of the group.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 A – In the first paragraph, the writer states that he thought the triathlon would be a fantastic way to “push myself” and that he felt motivated to “try something entirely new and test my physical limits.”
2 C – Paragraph two explains that the hardest part was the ‘transition’ and that when he tried running immediately after a long bike ride, his legs “felt like heavy jelly” and he was “so exhausted.” This matches making his body run when already tired from cycling.
3 B – In the third paragraph, the text notes that by the middle of the bike ride, his “energy levels dropped completely” and as he cycled up a “long, steep hill,” he watched others ride past him.
4 D – The final paragraph states that despite knowing he was last, “I didn’t care about my final position at all” and that “crossing that line made me feel like a true champion.” This shows he was proud of his achievement regardless of his position.
5 A – This option successfully synthesizes the global meaning of the text. It acknowledges his last-place finish and the exhausting nature of the physical challenge (covered in paragraphs 3 and 4), while capturing his overwhelming sense of pride and triumph at the end.