Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Sports Career Development, Competitions & Injuries 5
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The true meaning of a champion
by Chloe Martin
I have been ice skating since I was six, but I had never felt as nervous as I did last weekend. It was the Regional Figure Skating Championship, my first time competing in the senior solo category. As I stood by the ice waiting for my name, my body was shaking. There were hundreds of people in the audience. Knowing everyone would be watching only me was terrifying. I wondered if I was really ready.
When the announcer called my name, I took a deep breath and skated to the centre of the rink. As soon as my music started, I tried to forget the crowd and focus on my routine. The first minute went perfectly. I completed my spins without any problems and moved smoothly. My confidence quickly grew, and I started to enjoy the performance. I felt like I was flying, and the audience was clapping.
However, my hardest move was still to come: a difficult jump that I had practised for months. I gathered my speed, leaped into the air, and spun around. But when my skates hit the ice, I lost my balance and crashed hard onto the freezing surface. The arena went completely silent. Lying there for a second, my face turned red with embarrassment. My first thought was to just hide my face and leave the ice in tears.
Then, I remembered my coach’s advice: “Mistakes happen to everyone, but champions always get back up.” I knew I couldn’t give up. I quickly pushed myself up, forced a big smile onto my face, and caught up with my music. I completed the rest of my routine with as much energy as possible. When I finished my final pose, the crowd didn’t just clap; they stood up and cheered loudly.
I didn’t win a medal that day, but I honestly didn’t mind. I had proven to myself that I could handle the intense pressure of a major championship. Falling wasn’t the end of the world, and finishing my routine taught me a valuable lesson about professionalism. I am already back at the training rink, working hard to perfect that jump for my next competition.
1 How did Chloe feel before her performance started?
(A) She was excited to show the audience her new routine.
(B) She was anxious because she was the center of attention.
(C) She was disappointed that so few people came to watch.
(D) She was annoyed that she had to wait so long for her turn.
2 What happened during the first minute of Chloe’s routine?
(A) She forgot to listen to her music.
(B) She struggled to perform her basic spins.
(C) She relaxed and began to have fun.
(D) She asked the audience to clap along.
3 When Chloe fell on the ice, she initially wanted to
(A) repeat the difficult jump again.
(B) blame the poor quality of the ice.
(C) ask her coach for help.
(D) stop the performance and walk away.
4 How does Chloe feel about the final result of the championship?
(A) She is proud of how she dealt with a difficult situation.
(B) She is upset that the judges didn’t give her a medal.
(C) She is surprised that the crowd cheered for a bad performance.
(D) She is worried that her coach is angry with her.
5 What would Chloe write in her diary that evening?
(A) Falling during my routine was a disaster. I’m so embarrassed that I don’t think I can ever compete in a championship again.
(B) Even though I fell and didn’t win a medal, getting back up and finishing with a smile showed me what being a real professional means.
(C) I won a medal today because the crowd cheered so loudly for me, even though I made a terrible mistake on my jump!
(D) The pressure was just too much for me. Next time, I will make sure my coach gives me an easier routine to perform.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In paragraph 1, Chloe states that her “body was shaking” and that “Knowing everyone would be watching only me was terrifying.” This matches being anxious about being the center of attention.
2 C – In paragraph 2, Chloe explains that her “confidence quickly grew” and she “started to enjoy the performance.” This directly maps to relaxing and having fun.
3 D – In paragraph 3, after she falls and feels embarrassed, Chloe notes that her “first thought was to just hide my face and leave the ice in tears,” which means she wanted to stop and walk away.
4 A – In paragraph 5, Chloe reflects that she didn’t win a medal but “honestly didn’t mind” because she had “proven to myself that I could handle the intense pressure.” This demonstrates pride in how she dealt with the difficulty.
5 B – This option captures the global meaning and narrative arc of the text: she made a mistake and didn’t win, but her ability to recover and smile through the routine taught her a great lesson in professionalism and resilience.
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Battling the Breeze
For the past year, I have been taking archery lessons at an indoor club in my town. I love the quiet concentration the sport requires, and I have become quite good at hitting the target from a distance. Last month, my coach suggested that I should enter my first regional outdoor tournament. Although I was worried about competing against strangers, I decided to sign up. I felt confident in my abilities, but I hadn’t considered how different shooting outside would actually be.
When my family and I arrived at the field on Saturday morning, I immediately felt a bit intimidated. There were dozens of teenagers there, and many of them had expensive, professional-looking equipment. I slowly put my basic wooden bow together and tried to stay positive. The biggest surprise, however, was the weather. Instead of the calm, sunny morning the forecast had predicted, there was a surprisingly strong breeze blowing across the field.
As soon as the competition began, I realised I was in trouble. During my first few turns, my arrows kept drifting away from the yellow centre of the target. The wind was pushing them far to the left, and one arrow even missed the target board completely. I felt incredibly frustrated and angry with myself. I quickly understood that all my perfect indoor practice hadn’t prepared me for the unpredictable forces of nature.
Just as I was about to give up, I remembered an article I had read about outdoor archery. It explained that you shouldn’t fight the wind. Instead, you have to use it. On my next turn, rather than aiming straight at the centre, I aimed my bow slightly to the right. I took a deep breath, waited for a brief moment when the wind felt steady, and let the arrow go. To my absolute amazement, it landed right in the middle of the bullseye!
I used this new technique for the rest of the day and started scoring surprisingly well. I didn’t win a medal, but I proudly finished in fourth place out of thirty competitors. I learned that being able to adapt to unexpected situations is just as crucial as having perfect shooting form. I am already looking forward to my next outdoor competition.
1 Why did the writer enter the outdoor tournament?
(A) He wanted to see if his indoor skills were better than others.
(B) His coach advised him to take part in the event.
(C) He wanted to practice shooting in different weather conditions.
(D) He felt bored of practicing alone at his local club.
2 How did the writer feel when he first arrived at the field?
(A) disappointed that the weather forecast had been correct
(B) annoyed that he had to use a basic wooden bow
(C) nervous because of the other competitors and their gear
(D) confident that he could beat the other teenagers easily
3 What happened during the writer’s first few shots?
(A) He realised he was standing too far away from the target.
(B) The wind caused his arrows to fly in the wrong direction.
(C) He decided to give up and stop playing immediately.
(D) He was surprised by how heavy his arrows felt in the wind.
4 To improve his score, the writer decided to
(A) pull the string back with much more physical power.
(B) wait for the wind to stop completely before shooting.
(C) change where he was pointing his bow before releasing the arrow.
(D) ignore the wind and aim directly at the centre of the target.
5 What would the writer write in his diary that evening?
(A) I’m so annoyed that I didn’t win a medal today. The wind was completely unfair, and I think I’ll just stick to indoor archery from now on.
(B) Even though I was nervous and the wind was difficult, I learned how to adjust my aim and finished in fourth place. What a great first tournament!
(C) The tournament was quite boring, to be honest. My expensive equipment did all the work, and the weather was perfectly calm all day.
(D) Today proved that reading books about archery is a waste of time. I just aimed straight at the bullseye and scored perfectly every single time!
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The text states in the first paragraph that “my coach suggested that I should enter my first regional outdoor tournament”, which paraphrases to his coach advising him to take part.
2 C – In the second paragraph, the writer notes that he “felt a bit intimidated” (nervous) because there were dozens of teenagers there and “many of them had expensive, professional-looking equipment” (gear).
3 B – The third paragraph describes how the writer’s arrows “kept drifting away from the yellow centre” because the wind was “pushing them far to the left”, meaning they flew in the wrong direction.
4 C – In the fourth paragraph, the writer explains that instead of aiming at the centre, he “aimed my bow slightly to the right,” which means he changed where he was pointing his bow.
5 B – This option captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text. It acknowledges his initial nervousness, the challenge of the wind, his success in adapting his technique, and his ultimate pride in finishing fourth.
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Finding My Rhythm
I’ve been doing rhythmic gymnastics since I was ten, but this year is special. Next month, I’ll be competing in the regional championships for the first time. In rhythmic gymnastics, you can perform with different equipment, like a hoop, a ball, or clubs. I chose the ribbon because it always looks so beautiful and graceful when the professionals use it. I thought it would be the perfect way to show off my dancing skills, so I was really excited to start learning my new routine.
However, I quickly realised that working with a six-metre piece of silk is much harder than it looks. During my first few weeks of practice, everything seemed to go wrong. Whenever I tried to do a quick turn or a jump, the ribbon would immediately wrap around my legs or tie itself into a tight knot. My coach, Elena, had to keep stopping the music so I could untangle it. I felt incredibly frustrated, especially when I saw the other girls doing their routines perfectly with their hoops and balls.
By the end of the third week, I was seriously thinking about changing to a different piece of equipment. But then Elena asked me to stay after practice for some extra help. She noticed that I was trying to move my arms much too fast. She explained that the secret to the ribbon isn’t speed, but keeping the air flowing through the material continuously. She told me to slow down and focus on making big, smooth shapes. We practised without music for an hour, just concentrating on keeping the ribbon moving clearly through the air.
That simple advice completely changed my attitude towards my routine. As soon as I stopped rushing and started paying attention to my fluid movements, the ribbon stopped tangling. I finally managed to complete my whole routine without making a single mistake. Watching the bright material float beautifully around me made me feel incredibly proud. I know the competition next month will be challenging, but I am no longer worried. I have learned that patience is just as important as physical strength in this sport.
1 Why did the writer choose the ribbon for her routine?
(A) She wanted to copy her favourite professional gymnast.
(B) She thought it would be the best way to display her dancing.
(C) She had already learned how to use a hoop and ball.
(D) She believed it was the easiest equipment to use for beginners.
2 How did the writer feel during her early practices?
(A) Annoyed because her equipment kept getting tied up.
(B) Upset that the coach kept changing her music.
(C) Jealous because the other girls were using better ribbons.
(D) Relieved that she could stop and take breaks often.
3 What was Elena’s advice to the writer?
(A) To practice with a shorter piece of material.
(B) To change her equipment to a ball or a hoop.
(C) To match her arm movements to the speed of the music.
(D) To reduce her speed and make larger, continuous movements.
4 How does the writer feel about the upcoming competition now?
(A) She is anxious because her routine is very long.
(B) She is confident because she understands how to control the ribbon.
(C) She is disappointed that she still makes mistakes sometimes.
(D) She is surprised that physical strength is no longer necessary.
5 What would the writer write in her diary about her experience?
(A) “I really regret choosing the ribbon. It looks beautiful, but it’s just too frustrating. I’m going to ask Elena if I can use a hoop instead for the championship.”
(B) “The ribbon is finally working! I was moving way too fast before, but once I learned to slow down and move smoothly, everything clicked into place.”
(C) “I managed to complete my routine today, but the other girls are still so much better than me. I don’t think I have enough patience for this sport.”
(D) “Elena gave me some great advice today, but my ribbon still keeps getting caught on my legs. I hope I can fix it before next month’s competition.”
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In paragraph 1, the writer states “I thought it would be the perfect way to show off my dancing skills”, which matches displaying her dancing.
2 A – In paragraph 2, the writer says “I felt incredibly frustrated” because the ribbon “would immediately wrap around my legs or tie itself into a tight knot” (getting tied up).
3 D – In paragraph 3, Elena explained the secret isn’t speed, but “keeping the air flowing” and told the writer to “slow down and focus on making big, smooth shapes” (reduce speed and make larger movements).
4 B – In paragraph 4, the writer explains that the ribbon stopped tangling and says, “I know the competition next month will be challenging, but I am no longer worried.”
5 B – This option successfully captures the global narrative and emotional arc of the text: moving from frustration over the tangling ribbon to achieving success by applying the coach’s advice to slow down and focus on fluid movement.