Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Targeted Fitness, Health and Dance 9
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Dancing to the Beat
I have always been a huge fan of K-pop music, mainly because of the incredible music videos. The singers always perform such complex dance routines with perfect timing. A few months ago, I decided it would be a brilliant idea to form a dance cover group with four of my school friends. Our plan was to learn a popular routine, record a video of ourselves, and upload it to the internet. We were all quite good dancers, so I confidently assumed we would learn it in just a few days.
However, I quickly realised that dancing alone in my bedroom was completely different from dancing with a group. The choreography we chose was extremely fast and detailed. During our first few practice sessions, it was a complete disaster. We were always bumping into each other, and nobody was moving at the same time. Because everyone learned at different speeds, people started getting frustrated. Soon, there were silly arguments, and a couple of my friends even said they wanted to quit the group.
I knew I had to do something to keep the team together. Instead of trying to learn the whole song at full speed, I suggested we slow the music down and just practise ten seconds at a time. We also stopped worrying about looking like professional pop stars and focused more on listening to the beat together. We agreed to add extra practice sessions on Sunday mornings. It was exhausting, but slowly, our movements began to match, and the arguments finally stopped.
When the day of the final video recording arrived, we were all feeling incredibly nervous. We dressed in matching outfits and went to the local park to film. As soon as the music started, my anxiety vanished. We remembered all the difficult steps and moved exactly at the same time. When we watched the video on my camera afterwards, we couldn’t stop smiling. Seeing how professional we looked made all those stressful practices and arguments completely worth it.
Since uploading our video, we have received hundreds of positive comments from other K-pop fans. The whole experience wasn’t just a physical challenge; it also taught us how to communicate better and solve problems as a team. We are already looking for our next song to cover!
1 Why did the writer decide to start the dance group?
(A) She wanted to enter a dance competition at her school.
(B) She wanted to create a video of a popular routine with her friends.
(C) She wanted to prove she was a better dancer than her friends.
(D) She thought it would take a long time to learn the choreography.
2 What was the main problem during the early practices?
(A) The music they chose was too slow for the fast dance steps.
(B) Some friends had already quit before they even started dancing.
(C) The group members were unable to move in time with each other.
(D) They didn’t have enough space in the bedroom to dance properly.
3 How did the group improve their situation?
(A) They hired a professional pop star to teach them.
(B) They changed the song to something much easier to learn.
(C) They decided to focus more on their individual dancing skills.
(D) They practised smaller parts of the dance to slower music.
4 How did the writer feel after watching the recorded video?
(A) pleased that their difficult preparation had produced a great result
(B) nervous about showing the video to people in the local park
(C) annoyed that they had forgotten some of the difficult steps
(D) anxious because their matching outfits didn’t look professional
5 What would the writer write in her diary that night?
(A) I’m glad the video is finally finished, but I’ll never dance with a group again. The arguments just ruined the whole experience for me.
(B) Today showed me that with enough patience and teamwork, we can achieve anything! I’m so proud of how our video turned out.
(C) Our video looks amazing, mostly because I learned the steps much faster than anyone else and had to teach them everything.
(D) I can’t believe how easy it was to record our first cover. We barely had to practise at all to look like real K-pop stars!
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In the first paragraph, the writer explains that her plan was to “learn a popular routine, record a video of ourselves, and upload it to the internet” with four of her friends.
2 C – The second paragraph states that they were “always bumping into each other, and nobody was moving at the same time,” which means the group members were unable to synchronize their movements.
3 D – The third paragraph describes the writer suggesting that they “slow the music down and just practise ten seconds at a time,” which perfectly matches practising smaller parts of the dance to slower music.
4 A – In the fourth paragraph, the writer notes that seeing how professional they looked “made all those stressful practices and arguments completely worth it,” mapping to being pleased that their difficult preparation had produced a great result.
5 B – This option accurately captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text. It acknowledges the hard work and patience required to overcome the team’s early arguments, while emphasizing her ultimate pride in their successful teamwork and final video.
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Stepping Back in Time
My best friend Emma and I were extremely bored on a rainy Saturday afternoon last month. We were scrolling through the internet, looking for something entertaining to do, when we discovered a fitness video from the 1980s. The instructor was wearing bright pink leggings, a tight yellow top, and had huge, curly hair. We thought it looked absolutely hilarious. Because we wanted a good laugh, we decided to push the living room furniture out of the way and copy the routine. We expected it to be completely ridiculous and incredibly easy.
When we pressed play, the loud, energetic pop music started immediately. The instructor cheerfully told us to begin stepping from side to side while waving our arms in the air. At first, Emma and I couldn’t stop giggling. We were making silly faces and joking about how uncool the dance moves were. However, the speed of the routine quickly increased. We had to do high kicks, jump up and down, and swing our arms in complicated circles, all without pausing for a single second.
After just fifteen minutes, the joking completely stopped. I suddenly realised that my legs were feeling incredibly heavy and I was breathing terribly fast. I looked over at Emma, and her face was bright red. I had always assumed that modern gym workouts were the only real way to get fit, but this vintage video was proving me wrong. The constant stepping and arm movements required a huge amount of coordination and physical energy. It was definitely one of the toughest workouts I had ever attempted!
By the time the forty-five-minute video finally ended, we collapsed onto the living room carpet. We were completely covered in sweat and our muscles ached, but surprisingly, we also felt absolutely fantastic. The fast music and continuous movement had given us a wonderful burst of energy.
That afternoon completely changed my opinion of aerobic exercise. It taught me that you shouldn’t judge a workout by how old or silly it looks. I enjoyed the routine so much that I now do an 80s aerobics video three times a week. I might look completely ridiculous jumping around my living room, but it is definitely my new favourite way to keep fit.
1 Why did the writer and her friend decide to copy the video?
(A) They wanted to find a serious new fitness routine.
(B) They thought following the old exercises would be funny.
(C) They needed to practice their dancing for a party.
(D) They were told to do more exercise on rainy days.
2 What happened shortly after the video started?
(A) The girls found it difficult to hear the instructor’s instructions.
(B) The girls were confused by the complicated pop music.
(C) The movements became fast and challenging very quickly.
(D) The instructor told them to stop giggling and making faces.
3 What surprised the writer after fifteen minutes?
(A) How much she missed doing modern gym workouts.
(B) How difficult it was to learn the complicated dance steps.
(C) How quickly her friend Emma learned the routine.
(D) How physically demanding the old exercise routine actually was.
4 How does the writer feel about 80s aerobics now?
(A) She prefers to do it with a large group of friends.
(B) She is embarrassed if anyone sees her doing the exercises.
(C) She continues to do it regularly because it is an excellent workout.
(D) She thinks it is too exhausting to do more than once a week.
5 What would the writer text to another friend about the experience?
(A) We tried an 80s fitness video today! It looked silly, but it was actually a brilliant and exhausting workout. I’m going to do it again!
(B) Emma and I did a vintage aerobics video. It was really funny, but it was much too easy, so we’re going to join a modern gym instead.
(C) I tried an old exercise video, but it was just too ridiculous. My legs hurt so much that I’m never doing aerobics again.
(D) We did an 80s workout today. It’s a great way to exercise, but I’m too embarrassed to do it in my living room anymore.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In the first paragraph, the writer states, “We thought it looked absolutely hilarious. Because we wanted a good laugh, we decided to… copy the routine.” This paraphrases to thinking following the old exercises would be funny.
2 C – Paragraph two explains that while they giggled at first, “However, the speed of the routine quickly increased. We had to do high kicks, jump up and down… without pausing for a single second.” This matches the movements becoming fast and challenging.
3 D – In the third paragraph, the writer notes her heavy legs and fast breathing, concluding that “this vintage video was proving me wrong… It was definitely one of the toughest workouts I had ever attempted!” This means she was surprised by how physically demanding it was.
4 C – The final paragraph states, “I enjoyed the routine so much that I now do an 80s aerobics video three times a week… it is definitely my new favourite way to keep fit.” This shows she continues to do it regularly as an excellent workout.
5 A – This option successfully synthesizes the writer’s global experience. It captures her initial motivation/reaction (“looked silly” from paragraph 1), the unexpected physical challenge (“exhausting workout” from paragraph 3), and her positive future plans (“going to do it again” from paragraph 5).
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The geometry of pool
by Alex Vance
I’ve always enjoyed hanging out at the local youth club with my friends. We usually just play video games, but last week, we decided to try the pool tables for the first time. I had seen people playing pool in films, and it always looked incredibly easy. You just point the wooden cue at the white ball and hit it as hard as you can, right? I was completely confident that I would be sinking balls into the pockets and winning matches immediately.
However, my first attempt was a complete disaster. When it was my turn, I aimed at a solid red ball, pulled my cue back, and struck the white cue ball with all my physical strength. Instead of rolling smoothly across the green cloth, the white ball bounced violently, flew right off the table, and crashed loudly onto the hard floor. Everyone in the room stopped what they were doing and looked at me. I felt my face turn bright red with embarrassment and quickly apologised, wanting to hide.
While my friends were laughing, an older player named David walked over to our table. I expected him to be angry, but he just smiled kindly. He explained that hitting the ball with massive power is the biggest mistake beginners make. He told me that pool is actually a game of mathematics and strategy. To be successful, you have to calculate the correct angles and use a gentle, controlled touch to guide the balls exactly where you want them to go.
David set up an easy shot for me and told me to try again. This time, I completely ignored my desire to smash the ball. I focused entirely on the angle between the white ball and the pocket. I held my breath and pushed the cue forward softly. The white ball gently tapped the red one, and it rolled perfectly into the corner pocket. The satisfying sound of the ball dropping into the net felt absolutely amazing.
That single shot completely transformed my understanding of the game. I realised that pool isn’t about brute force at all; it requires patience, precision, and a calm mind. We spent the rest of the evening practising soft shots and studying the angles. I’m still a beginner, but I have found a new appreciation for the sport, and I can’t wait to play again.
1 Why did Alex think pool would be an easy game to play?
(A) He had read a book about the geometry of the game.
(B) He had watched people doing it effortlessly in films.
(C) He was already very good at playing video games.
(D) His friends had taught him how to hold the cue properly.
2 What happened when Alex took his first shot?
(A) He successfully hit the red ball into the corner pocket.
(B) He broke his wooden cue because he pushed it too hard.
(C) He hit the ball with so much power that it left the table.
(D) He ripped the green cloth on the table and had to apologise.
3 What advice did David give to Alex?
(A) Pool is about using maximum power to scare your opponent.
(B) Beginners should only play with the red balls to make it easier.
(C) He needed to buy his own pool cue to improve his technique.
(D) Success in the game relies on calculating paths and hitting softly.
4 How did Alex feel after his second attempt?
(A) Frustrated because the red ball stopped before reaching the pocket.
(B) Relieved that David had decided to play the shot for him.
(C) Amazed by the satisfying result of using the correct technique.
(D) Disappointed that the shot didn’t make a loud crashing noise.
5 What would Alex write in his blog later that evening?
(A) I completely ruined the game today. I hit the ball off the table and the older players shouted at me to leave the youth club.
(B) I thought pool was just about hitting things hard, but an older player showed me it’s actually a satisfying game of angles and control.
(C) Video games are much better than pool. Even after David gave me advice, I still couldn’t get the ball in the pocket.
(D) Pool is a great game if you have strong arms. I managed to smash the ball into the pocket and won against all my friends!
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In paragraph 1, Alex states, “I had seen people playing pool in films, and it always looked incredibly easy.” This matches watching people doing it effortlessly in films.
2 C – In paragraph 2, Alex explains that he “struck the white cue ball with all my physical strength” and that the ball “bounced violently, flew right off the table, and crashed loudly onto the hard floor.” This paraphrases hitting the ball with so much power that it left the table.
3 D – In paragraph 3, David tells Alex that pool is a game of mathematics and strategy where you must “calculate the correct angles and use a gentle, controlled touch”. This directly maps to relying on calculating paths and hitting softly.
4 C – In paragraph 4, after pushing the cue forward softly and making the shot, Alex notes that “The satisfying sound of the ball dropping into the net felt absolutely amazing.” This matches feeling amazed by the satisfying result of using the correct technique.
5 B – This option successfully captures the global narrative arc of the text: Alex’s initial false assumption (thinking it’s just hitting things hard), his embarrassing failure, the mentor’s advice about geometry and gentle touch, and his new appreciation for the strategy and control of the game.