Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Wildlife Encounters 1
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Whale Watching in Iceland
When my parents told me we were spending our summer holidays in Iceland, I was absolutely thrilled. I’ve always been fascinated by marine life, so the first thing I asked to do was a whale-watching tour. I had watched dozens of documentaries and seen incredible photos online. In my mind, the moment our boat left the harbour, we would be surrounded by huge sea creatures putting on a show just for us. I was so sure it would be easy to spot them that I almost didn’t bring my binoculars.
However, the reality of the trip was quite different from what I had imagined. We boarded a small boat early in the morning, and despite wearing three layers of clothing, the freezing wind made me shiver. For the first two hours, we saw absolutely nothing except grey waves and a few seabirds. The guide kept telling us to be patient, but my excitement was quickly disappearing. Some people went inside the cabin to keep warm, and I started to regret coming, thinking we had spent a lot of money just to stare at an empty ocean.
Then, just as I was about to give up and go inside to get a hot drink, the captain suddenly shouted and pointed to the left. Before I could even raise my camera, the water broke and a massive humpback whale flew into the air, crashing back down with a thunderous splash. It was so close that the freezing water sprayed onto my face! My heart was beating incredibly fast. The sheer size and power of the animal were unbelievable, far more impressive than any video I had ever watched on the internet.
The whale stayed near our boat for about twenty minutes, occasionally coming up to breathe before finally diving deep and disappearing into the dark water. On the journey back to the shore, nobody complained about the cold. I realised that the long, boring wait was exactly what made the experience so special. You can’t control nature, and animals don’t perform on a schedule. Seeing such a magnificent creature in its natural environment was a magical moment that I will never forget, and it taught me that the best things in life are definitely worth waiting for.
1 What did Leo think would happen before the boat trip?
(A) He expected to see whales as soon as the trip started.
(B) He was worried he had forgotten to pack his binoculars.
(C) He believed he knew more about whales than the tour guides.
(D) He thought he would be able to film a documentary about them.
2 How did Leo feel during the first few hours on the boat?
(A) Annoyed that other passengers went inside to get warm.
(B) Disappointed because the trip seemed to be a waste of money.
(C) Angry that the guide was giving them the wrong information.
(D) Worried because the weather was suddenly getting worse.
3 What happened when the whale finally appeared?
(A) Leo managed to take some incredible photos of it.
(B) The captain warned the passengers that it was getting too close.
(C) Leo was shocked by how big and strong the creature was.
(D) The animal made a strange noise before crashing into the water.
4 What did Leo learn from the whale-watching trip?
(A) Wild animals are much better viewed on the internet.
(B) It is important to dress warmly when going out to sea.
(C) Nature is unpredictable and requires people to be patient.
(D) Shorter boat trips are usually more successful than long ones.
5 What would Leo write in his travel blog about the trip?
(A) I recommend watching documentaries instead of going out on a boat. It’s much warmer and you are guaranteed to see the animals.
(B) If you go whale watching, be prepared to wait. It can be freezing and boring at first, but seeing a whale in the wild makes it all worthwhile!
(C) The humpback whale was amazing, but I wish the captain had found it sooner so we didn’t have to spend so much time in the cold.
(D) I was so happy that I had my camera ready when the whale jumped. It was the perfect end to our summer holiday in Iceland.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 A – The text states, “the moment our boat left the harbour, we would be surrounded by huge sea creatures,” which matches the expectation of seeing them immediately.
2 B – He mentions he “started to regret coming, thinking we had spent a lot of money just to stare at an empty ocean,” which shows his disappointment regarding the cost and lack of results.
3 C – He describes the event by saying, “The sheer size and power of the animal were unbelievable,” reflecting his shock at its strength and scale.
4 C – In the final paragraph, he reflects that “You can’t control nature” and “the best things in life are definitely worth waiting for,” showing he learned the value of patience with unpredictable wildlife.
5 B – This option captures the entire emotional arc of the text: the initial cold and boring wait, followed by the rewarding and awe-inspiring payoff of seeing the whale in its natural habitat.
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Meeting a wild kangaroo
My family and I recently took a trip to Australia, and the highlight was driving along the famous Great Ocean Road. We wanted to experience the amazing coastal views and, more importantly, see some native wildlife. My parents suggested we stop at a well-known nature reserve for a bush walk. I was excited, but I must admit I was also quite nervous. I had read online that wild kangaroos could be taller than adult humans and sometimes aggressive. The thought of meeting one of these powerful animals without any fences between us made me feel quite anxious.
As we began our walk, the scenery was absolutely beautiful, with tall eucalyptus trees and bright green ferns. However, I couldn’t relax. I kept jumping at every sound, convinced that a huge animal was about to leap out at us. After about twenty minutes, we turned a corner on the path. Suddenly, my dad pointed ahead and whispered, “Look!” Standing right in the middle of our route was a fully grown kangaroo. It was enormous, with broad shoulders and strong back legs. My heart started beating incredibly fast. I froze completely, wishing we could just turn around and run back to the safety of our car.
But then, something unexpected happened. The kangaroo looked in our direction for a moment, its large ears turning toward the sound of our footsteps. Instead of approaching us aggressively or hopping away in a panic, it simply lowered its head and began to peacefully pull up some grass. We stood silently watching it. Seeing it calmly eating completely changed my mood. My fear quickly melted away, replaced by pure fascination. I noticed its soft brown fur and the gentle way it moved. It wasn’t a frightening monster at all; it was just a hungry animal enjoying its breakfast.
We stayed there for about ten minutes, simply admiring the beautiful creature from a safe distance before it slowly hopped off into the bushes. For the rest of the walk, I felt completely different. I was no longer looking over my shoulder in terror. Instead, I was actively hoping we would see another one. That encounter taught me that while we should always respect wild animals, we don’t need to be terrified of them. By the time we got back to the car, my only disappointment was that I had been too amazed to take a photo!
1 How did the writer feel about doing the bush walk?
(A) She was annoyed by her parents’ suggestion.
(B) She was anxious because of something she had read.
(C) She was disappointed that there were no fences.
(D) She was surprised by the lack of wildlife.
2 When the writer first saw the kangaroo, she
(A) hoped she could hide behind the tall trees.
(B) tried to make a loud noise to scare it away.
(C) thought it was going to attack her dad.
(D) wanted to return to the vehicle immediately.
3 What caused the writer’s feelings to change?
(A) The kangaroo began behaving in a relaxed way.
(B) The kangaroo showed a lot of interest in humans.
(C) She realised the kangaroo was smaller than her.
(D) She was finally able to touch its soft fur.
4 What does the writer say about the rest of the walk?
(A) She was annoyed that the kangaroo hopped away.
(B) She was keen to have another wildlife encounter.
(C) She was worried that a different animal would appear.
(D) She felt disappointed that the walk was so short.
5 What would the writer write in her diary that evening?
(A) Today we finally saw a kangaroo. It was much smaller than I thought it would be, but still very interesting to look at.
(B) The Great Ocean Road was beautiful, but the bush walk was ruined by the dangerous animals we met along the way.
(C) I was so scared of kangaroos before today, but seeing one acting so calmly in the wild completely changed my mind.
(D) I got some amazing photos of a huge kangaroo today! It came right up to us while we were walking on the path.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The text states the writer was nervous because she “had read online that wild kangaroos could be taller than adult humans and sometimes aggressive.”
2 D – In paragraph 2, when the writer spots the kangaroo, she states she froze and was “wishing we could just turn around and run back to the safety of our car.”
3 A – The writer’s fear melts away when the kangaroo “lowered its head and began to peacefully pull up some grass.”
4 B – In the final paragraph, the writer mentions that for the rest of the walk, she was “actively hoping we would see another one.”
5 C – This option accurately captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text, moving from initial fear of the wild animals to fascination after witnessing the kangaroo’s calm behavior.
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
My First African Safari
When my parents told me we were going on a family holiday to Kenya for a wildlife safari, I wasn’t as thrilled as they expected. I’d seen plenty of lions and elephants at our local city zoo, so I figured this would be pretty much the same experience, just in a hotter climate. I imagined we would drive around in a bus, looking at sleepy animals resting behind hidden fences while a guide told us facts we could easily read on the internet.
However, my opinion changed completely on our very first morning. We had to wake up before sunrise and climb into an open-top jeep. As we drove out into the vast African savannah, the first thing that struck me was the endless space. There were no walls, no glass windows, and absolutely no fences. We were visitors in their home. At first, the drive was peaceful. We watched a family of giraffes eating leaves from tall trees and a large group of zebras drinking from a small river. It was beautiful, but still quite calm.
Then, our guide suddenly stopped the jeep and told us to be completely silent. He pointed towards some tall, dry grass. For a minute, I couldn’t see anything. Then, I noticed a female lion hiding perfectly in the shadows, her eyes locked on a herd of gazelles in the distance. Suddenly, she ran out of the grass. The speed and power of the lion were absolutely shocking. We watched the hunt happen right in front of us. It was incredibly fast, noisy, and completely thrilling.
Seeing this made me realise how wrong my earlier thoughts had been. In a zoo, animals are safe and their meals are brought to them every day. Out here, life is a daily battle for survival. The animals aren’t just sitting around waiting for tourists to take their photos; they are living their wild, unpredictable lives. It was a bit scary, but mostly it was fascinating.
By the time we flew back home, my attitude had completely transformed. The safari taught me to respect nature’s true power. Now, instead of just visiting zoos, I spend my free time reading about wildlife conservation, hoping that these amazing animals will be protected forever.
1 How did the writer feel before going on the safari?
(A) He was worried about the hot weather in Kenya.
(B) He thought the trip would be similar to visiting a zoo.
(C) He was excited to learn facts from the tour guide.
(D) He didn’t want to travel on a bus with other tourists.
2 What surprised the writer most when they entered the savannah?
(A) Having to wake up before the sun came up.
(B) How peaceful the wild animals were.
(C) The lack of barriers between them and the animals.
(D) Seeing giraffes and zebras together.
3 When the writer watched the lion hunt, he was
(A) amazed by how fast and strong the animal was.
(B) disappointed that the lion remained hidden for so long.
(C) frightened because the jeep had suddenly stopped.
(D) shocked that the guide allowed them to make noise.
4 What did the writer learn about wild animals from this experience?
(A) They usually ignore the tourists taking photos of them.
(B) They face difficult challenges to stay alive every day.
(C) They prefer to hunt for food rather than being fed.
(D) They are much scarier than the animals he saw at home.
5 What would the writer write in his blog about his trip?
(A) I enjoyed seeing the animals, but I think I prefer the safety and comfort of my local zoo back home.
(B) The safari was a fun family holiday, even though the animals were mostly sleeping during the day.
(C) Seeing animals in their natural habitat showed me how wild they really are, and it changed the way I think about nature.
(D) If you go on a safari, make sure you ask your guide to find a lion hunt, because the peaceful animals are quite boring.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The text states the writer figured the safari would be “pretty much the same experience” as seeing lions and elephants at the “local city zoo.”
2 C – In paragraph 2, the writer notes that “the first thing that struck me was the endless space” and emphasizes that there were “no walls, no glass windows, and absolutely no fences.”
3 A – Paragraph 3 mentions that the “speed and power of the lion were absolutely shocking” to him during the hunt.
4 B – In paragraph 4, the writer contrasts the safety of a zoo with the wild, realizing that “Out here, life is a daily battle for survival.”
5 C – This option accurately captures the writer’s complete shift in attitude, going from expecting a zoo-like experience to respecting nature’s true power and unpredictable wildlife.