Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Study Methods, Tech & Distance Learning 9
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Building a PC for School
My name is Leo, and recently I decided to take an optional graphic design course at my secondary school. After the first week, I quickly realised my old, slow laptop just couldn’t handle the heavy software we needed to use for our homework. I started looking at new computers online, but the powerful ones were completely out of my budget. A classmate mentioned that building your own PC from separate parts is actually much cheaper. Although I had absolutely no experience with electronics, I thought it was a brilliant idea and decided to give it a try.
The next step was deciding exactly what to buy. I spent hours reading articles and asking questions on computer forums. At first, all the technical words like ‘motherboard’ and ‘processor’ felt like a foreign language. However, I gradually understood what was necessary for a good design computer. I finally ordered all the different pieces and eagerly waited for them to be delivered. When several large boxes arrived at my house a few days later, I unpacked everything onto my bedroom floor. Looking at all the cables and metal parts, I suddenly felt quite anxious.
On Saturday morning, I opened my laptop, found a detailed YouTube tutorial, and began the building process. The video made it look incredibly easy, but the reality was quite different. Getting the tiny screws into the right places was frustrating, and I was terrified of accidentally dropping and breaking the expensive parts. I had to pause and rewind the video dozens of times to make sure I was following the instructions perfectly. It took me almost five hours to connect everything, which was much longer than I had planned.
Eventually, the final cable was plugged in. It was time for the moment of truth. I took a deep breath, reached out, and pushed the power button on the front of the case. For a second, nothing happened, but then the inside lit up with bright colours and the fans started spinning quietly. When the screen turned on and showed the starting menu, a massive wave of satisfaction washed over me. Now, doing my graphic design homework is a pleasure, and I am incredibly proud that I built the machine myself.
1 Why did Leo decide to build his own computer?
(A) His old laptop was completely broken and couldn’t be fixed.
(B) He couldn’t afford to buy a pre-made one that was powerful enough.
(C) His graphic design teacher told him it was a requirement for the course.
(D) He had a lot of experience with electronics and wanted a challenge.
2 How did Leo feel when the computer parts arrived?
(A) Confused about what the technical words on the boxes meant.
(B) Upset that some of the deliveries were missing.
(C) Worried when he saw all the separate pieces on his floor.
(D) Impatient to ask questions on internet computer forums.
3 During the building process, Leo
(A) found the video tutorial very difficult to understand.
(B) broke one of the expensive pieces by accident.
(C) took less time to finish than the video suggested.
(D) was very careful not to damage anything.
4 What happened when Leo pressed the power button?
(A) It worked immediately and made a very loud noise.
(B) Nothing happened because a cable was missing.
(C) He felt a great sense of achievement when it started successfully.
(D) The screen lit up but the fans refused to spin.
5 What would Leo write in his diary that evening?
(A) “I can’t believe how easy it was to build a PC. I didn’t even need to use any instructions to put it together.”
(B) “I spent hours building my PC today and I was so nervous, but turning it on and seeing it work was the best feeling ever!”
(C) “Building my own computer was a terrible idea. It took all day and I still can’t use it for my graphic design homework.”
(D) “My classmate was wrong about building a PC. It was much more complicated and expensive than buying one from the shop.”
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The text states in the first paragraph that “the powerful ones were completely out of my budget” and a classmate mentioned building one “is actually much cheaper.”
2 C – In paragraph 2, Leo states that after unpacking the boxes, “Looking at all the cables and metal parts, I suddenly felt quite anxious,” which paraphrases being worried when he saw all the separate pieces.
3 D – Paragraph 3 explains that Leo “was terrified of accidentally dropping and breaking the expensive parts” and followed instructions perfectly, which means he was very careful not to damage anything.
4 C – Paragraph 4 details that when the screen turned on, “a massive wave of satisfaction washed over me,” which matches feeling a great sense of achievement.
5 B – This option accurately captures the global meaning and Leo’s emotional arc: it mentions the long, nerve-wracking building process and the immense satisfaction he felt when the computer finally turned on.
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Turning the Bus Ride into a Classroom
My name is Leo, and I live quite a long way from my secondary school. Every morning, I have to spend almost an hour on the bus, and then another hour coming back in the afternoon. For a long time, I found this daily journey incredibly boring. I usually just stared out the window or listened to the exact same music playlist on my phone. Eventually, I got so tired of hearing the same songs that I knew I had to find something else to keep me entertained.
One evening, while I was searching online for some new music, I noticed a recommendation for an educational podcast called ‘History’s Hidden Secrets’. I had never really listened to a podcast before, and to be honest, history was not my favourite subject at school. However, the title of the first episode sounded like a thrilling adventure movie, so I decided to download it for my bus ride the next morning.
As soon as I started listening, I was completely hooked. The presenter didn’t just read out boring lists of dates and names like a traditional textbook. Instead, he told amazing stories about ordinary people, strange historical mysteries, and unusual events that I had never heard of. I suddenly found myself looking forward to my long commute. I was learning so many fascinating facts without even trying, and the hour-long bus ride suddenly seemed to pass by in just a few minutes.
A few weeks later, we were studying ancient Egypt in my history class. My teacher, Mr. Harris, asked a very difficult question about a specific pharaoh that wasn’t in our coursebook. The classroom was completely silent. I raised my hand and gave the correct answer, including a few extra unusual details. Mr. Harris was absolutely amazed and asked how I knew so much. I felt incredibly proud when I told him about my new morning routine.
Since then, I have listened to dozens of different educational podcasts, covering everything from science to geography. I have realised that learning doesn’t only happen inside a classroom. By changing what I listen to, I have managed to turn two hours of wasted travel time into the most productive and enjoyable part of my day.
1 Why did Leo decide to look for something new to listen to?
(A) He wanted to learn more about history.
(B) He was bored of the music he always listened to.
(C) He needed to study for a school test on the bus.
(D) He wanted to stop looking out the window.
2 Why did Leo download ‘History’s Hidden Secrets’?
(A) His history teacher recommended it to him.
(B) He had always been a big fan of podcasts.
(C) The episode title sounded very exciting.
(D) History was his favourite subject at school.
3 What did Leo like most about the podcast?
(A) It helped him to memorize important historical dates.
(B) The presenter told history like an engaging story.
(C) It was shorter than his usual bus journey.
(D) It sounded exactly like his school textbooks.
4 What happened in Mr. Harris’s class?
(A) Leo asked a question that the teacher couldn’t answer.
(B) Mr. Harris was surprised by Leo’s unusual knowledge.
(C) Leo brought his podcast to play for the whole class.
(D) Mr. Harris gave Leo a prize for reading the coursebook.
5 What would Leo write in his diary?
(A) I still hate my long bus journey, but at least the history podcasts help me fall asleep faster.
(B) I’m so glad I found those podcasts. I’ve turned a really boring daily commute into a great way to learn new things!
(C) I wish I had never answered that question in class. Now Mr. Harris expects me to know everything about ancient Egypt.
(D) Podcasts are fun, but I think I’ll go back to listening to music because learning outside of school is too exhausting.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 (B) – In paragraph 1, the writer explains his motivation to find something new, stating: “Eventually, I got so tired of hearing the same songs that I knew I had to find something else to keep me entertained.”
2 (C) – In paragraph 2, the writer states that even though he didn’t love history, “the title of the first episode sounded like a thrilling adventure movie, so I decided to download it”.
3 (B) – In paragraph 3, the writer highlights that the presenter “didn’t just read out boring lists” but instead “told amazing stories about ordinary people, strange historical mysteries, and unusual events”.
4 (B) – In paragraph 4, after Leo answers the difficult question with extra details, the text notes that “Mr. Harris was absolutely amazed and asked how I knew so much.”
5 (B) – This option perfectly captures the global meaning of the text. It summarizes Leo’s transformation from hating his boring bus ride to successfully using that time to enjoyably learn new, interesting facts.
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The Hard Lesson of the All-Nighter
I have always been a good student, but last month I faced a huge problem. Because I had spent the previous two weeks focused completely on the school basketball tournament, I hadn’t studied for my major history exam. With only one day left, I felt totally panicked. I decided my only option was to stay awake all night reading the textbook. I had heard older students talking about pulling an ‘all-nighter’, and I figured this extreme method would guarantee me a high grade.
I prepared my room for a long night of hard work. I made strong coffee, organized my pens, and sat at my desk. For the first few hours, everything went perfectly. I was reading quickly and making detailed notes. However, by 3 a.m., my eyes were burning and the words on the page started to blur. Despite feeling absolutely exhausted, I refused to go to bed. I drank more coffee and forced myself to memorize lists of dates until the sun finally came up.
When I arrived at school, my body was shaking slightly, but I believed my brain was packed with information. Unfortunately, the moment I looked at the exam paper, my confidence vanished. My mind felt thick and foggy. I stared at the first question, which asked about a simple date I had reviewed dozens of times. To my horror, I just couldn’t remember it. The facts were somewhere in my head, but I simply lacked the energy to find them.
I left the classroom feeling miserable. When Mr. Davis handed back our papers a week later, my low grade confirmed my fears. He noticed my disappointment and kindly explained how the brain works. He told me that while we sleep, our minds organize the information we learned during the day. Without proper rest, it is nearly impossible to recall complex details, no matter how many hours you study.
That stressful experience taught me a vital lesson. I now realize that sacrificing sleep to study is actually the worst thing you can do. These days, I break my revision into small pieces over several weeks. Most importantly, I always make sure I sleep for eight hours the night before a test.
1 Why did the writer decide to stay awake all night?
(A) He wanted to practice for a basketball tournament.
(B) He believed it was the only way to get a good mark.
(C) He wanted to copy the study habits of older students.
(D) He had forgotten to bring his history textbook home.
2 What happened to the writer in the middle of the night?
(A) He fell asleep at his desk because his eyes hurt.
(B) He realized he didn’t have enough coffee to stay awake.
(C) He found it increasingly difficult to focus on the text.
(D) He lost the detailed notes he had made earlier.
3 During the exam, the writer discovered that
(A) he had studied the wrong historical dates.
(B) his brain was too tired to remember basic information.
(C) the questions were much harder than he expected.
(D) his body was shaking too much to write clearly.
4 What did Mr. Davis teach the writer about studying?
(A) You should study complex details early in the morning.
(B) Staring at a book for hours is the best way to revise.
(C) Teachers can always tell when a student hasn’t slept.
(D) The brain needs sleep to successfully store new knowledge.
5 What would the writer write in his diary after receiving his exam results?
(A) I really hate history! I spent the entire night memorizing dates, but Mr. Davis still gave me a terrible grade.
(B) I need to stop playing basketball if I want to pass my exams. Sports are taking up far too much of my time.
(C) Staying awake all night was a huge mistake. I’ve learned that a well-rested brain is much more useful than hours of late-night reading.
(D) I’m so annoyed that I forgot those simple dates. Next time, I will make sure to drink much more coffee during my all-nighter.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In the first paragraph, the writer states he “figured this extreme method would guarantee me a high grade,” meaning he thought it was the only way to get a good mark.
2 C – The second paragraph explains that by 3 a.m., his “eyes were burning and the words on the page started to blur,” showing he was struggling to focus on his reading.
3 B – In the third paragraph, the writer mentions his mind felt “thick and foggy” and he “lacked the energy to find” the facts in his head, indicating his brain was too tired to remember what he studied.
4 D – The fourth paragraph details Mr. Davis explaining that “while we sleep, our minds organize the information we learned,” meaning sleep is required to store and recall knowledge.
5 C – This option accurately captures the global meaning and the lesson learned: the writer realizes that sacrificing sleep to cram for an exam is ineffective and that proper rest is vital for academic success.