Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Wildlife Encounters 2
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Turtle Hatching in Costa Rica
I always wanted to do something useful during my summer holidays, so last year, my parents and I travelled to Costa Rica to volunteer. Our job was to protect sea turtles on the coast. I have always loved animals, but I didn’t know much about wild turtles before we arrived. Our camp was right on the beach, and the project leaders explained that we would have to work during the night. This is when the mother turtles usually come out of the ocean to lay their eggs in the sand. I felt excited but also a bit nervous about staying awake so late, as I usually go to bed early.
On our first night, we went down to the dark beach at midnight. We weren’t allowed to use our phones or any bright torches because unnatural lights can frighten the turtles away. We just sat on the cold sand in the dark for hours, listening to the loud waves. If I’m honest, waiting was actually really boring and uncomfortable. I was completely exhausted, and my eyes were heavy. I started wondering if we would see anything at all, and I even asked my mum if we had travelled all this way for nothing.
Suddenly, our group leader touched my shoulder and whispered, “Look over there!” Not far from where we were sitting, the sand began to move. However, instead of a huge mother turtle, dozens of tiny baby turtles were coming out of a hole in the ground. They were much smaller than I had imagined—only about the size of a biscuit. I was completely amazed by the sight. Despite the darkness, we could clearly see hundreds of them pushing through the sand and beginning their long, slow journey toward the water.
We carefully walked behind them to make sure no birds or wild dogs attacked them on their way. It was a difficult walk because we had to be incredibly careful not to step on any of them. When the last baby turtle finally swam away safely into the ocean waves, I felt a huge sense of achievement. Seeing how small and weak they were made me realise how important it is to protect nature. If I have the chance, I’ll definitely go back to Costa Rica next year to help them again!
1 What does the writer say about her volunteering trip in the first paragraph?
(A) She already knew a lot about wild sea turtles.
(B) She felt anxious about the late working hours.
(C) She travelled there alone to protect animals.
(D) She organized the project on the beach.
2 How did the writer feel while they were waiting on the beach?
(A) annoyed that she couldn’t call her friends on her phone
(B) frightened by the sounds of the loud waves
(C) doubtful that they would actually see any turtles
(D) uncomfortable because the weather was too cold
3 When the sand began to move, the writer was surprised because
(A) the turtles were much noisier than she expected.
(B) the group leader was frightened by the turtles.
(C) she saw babies instead of an adult turtle.
(D) the turtles moved very quickly toward the water.
4 What is the writer doing in the final paragraph?
(A) complaining about the difficult walk along the beach
(B) explaining why birds and dogs attack baby turtles
(C) advising other teenagers to visit Costa Rica
(D) describing how the experience changed her attitude toward nature
5 What might the writer write in her diary about the trip?
(A) Volunteering was hard work and I didn’t enjoy waiting in the dark, but watching the babies reach the sea made it all worth it.
(B) Costa Rica is a beautiful country, but I wish we had spent more time relaxing on the beach instead of working every night.
(C) I was hoping to see hundreds of baby turtles, but unfortunately, the unnatural lights frightened them all away.
(D) If we hadn’t been there, the mother turtle wouldn’t have been able to lay her eggs safely in the sand.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The writer mentions she “felt excited but also a bit nervous about staying awake so late”, which maps to feeling anxious about the late working hours.
2 C – The writer states she “started wondering if we would see anything at all”, which shows she was doubtful they would see any turtles.
3 C – The text says that “instead of a huge mother turtle, dozens of tiny baby turtles were coming out of a hole”, explaining her amazement.
4 D – The writer reflects on the event, saying that “seeing how small and weak they were made me realise how important it is to protect nature.”
5 A – This option successfully synthesizes the writer’s global experience: acknowledging the difficult and boring wait in the dark, but concluding with the rewarding feeling of seeing the turtles reach the ocean safely.
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Bear Watching in Canada
Last summer, my family and I went on a holiday to Canada. My parents had planned a surprise for us: a bear-watching trip in the wild. When they told me, I wasn’t excited at all. In fact, I was absolutely terrified. I had seen plenty of documentaries and movies where grizzly bears were shown as aggressive, dangerous monsters. The idea of being anywhere near them made me want to stay in our hotel room, but my parents insisted that it would be a safe and unforgettable experience.
On the day of the trip, a guide took us deep into the forest. We had to walk quietly for about an hour until we reached a small wooden cabin next to a river. Our guide explained that we would wait inside this safe building until the bears came to the river to catch fish. As we sat there waiting in the silence, my heart was beating fast. Every time the wind blew through the trees, I jumped, expecting a huge bear to suddenly break through the door.
After about two hours, the guide whispered, “Look over there.” I slowly looked out of the window and saw a large female grizzly bear stepping out of the bushes. A moment later, two tiny cubs followed her. I held my breath, preparing myself for something scary. However, what happened next was completely unexpected. The mother bear didn’t look like a monster at all. She sat down near the water and watched calmly while her babies rolled around in the grass, playing with each other. At one point, she even gently pulled one of the cubs out of the water when it went too deep.
Watching this peaceful scene, all my fear completely disappeared. I realised that these animals were not the frightening creatures I had imagined. They were simply a family trying to survive in their natural habitat. The mother bear was just like any human parent, protecting and caring for her children. It was fascinating to see how gentle such a powerful animal could be.
We stayed in the cabin for another hour before the bears finally walked back into the forest. On the way back to our hotel, I couldn’t stop talking about what we had seen. I am so glad I didn’t stay in my room that day. If someone offered me the chance to go again, I would definitely say yes. Although I know grizzly bears are wild animals that you must keep your distance from, my opinion of them has completely changed.
1 How did the writer feel when they first heard about the bear-watching trip?
(A) disappointed because they wanted to do something else
(B) frightened due to things they had seen on screen
(C) excited about having an unforgettable experience
(D) annoyed that their parents hadn’t told them earlier
2 While waiting inside the wooden cabin, the writer
(A) was afraid that a bear might enter the building.
(B) felt bored because it took a long time to see anything.
(C) worried that the wind would damage the cabin.
(D) enjoyed listening to the sounds of the forest.
3 What surprised the writer about the mother bear?
(A) She caught fish very easily.
(B) She was much larger than expected.
(C) She acted in a caring and relaxed way.
(D) She encouraged her cubs to swim in the deep water.
4 How has the writer’s opinion of grizzly bears changed?
(A) They now believe bears are completely harmless to humans.
(B) They understand that bears are just families living in nature.
(C) They think bears behave exactly like human beings.
(D) They want to get closer to wild bears in the future.
5 What would the writer text to a friend about the trip?
(A) I was right to be nervous! The bears were huge and looked very aggressive, but luckily we were inside a strong cabin.
(B) My parents made me go bear watching. I was terrified at first, but seeing them behave so gently with their babies was amazing.
(C) We went to see grizzly bears today. We waited for hours in a cabin, but the bears only stayed for a few minutes before running away.
(D) I didn’t want to go bear watching, so I stayed at the hotel. After hearing about my parents’ trip, I wish I had gone!
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The text states the writer was “absolutely terrified” because they had seen “documentaries and movies” (on screen) showing bears as dangerous monsters.
2 A – In paragraph 2, the writer says that every time the wind blew, they jumped because they expected a “huge bear to suddenly break through the door.”
3 C – The writer expected something scary, but was surprised that the mother bear “sat down… and watched calmly” and “gently pulled one of the cubs out of the water,” showing caring behavior.
4 B – The writer states in paragraph 4 that they realised the bears “were simply a family trying to survive in their natural habitat,” contrasting with their earlier belief that they were monsters.
5 B – This option captures the full narrative and emotional arc of the text: the initial terror of going on the trip, followed by the amazement of seeing the gentle, family-oriented behavior of the bears.
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Facing the Wall
I have never been very interested in traditional team sports like football or basketball. Last year, I realised I needed to do some exercise to get fitter, but I wanted to find something I actually enjoyed. My best friend, Sam, suggested we try indoor rock climbing at a new centre in our town. I was immediately unsure. I have always been quite nervous about heights, and hanging from a wall by a rope sounded terrifying. However, Sam persuaded me to go to a beginner’s session with him, so I finally agreed.
When we walked into the climbing centre, I was amazed. The walls were covered in brightly coloured holds and seemed to reach the sky. Our instructor, a friendly woman named Sarah, started the session by showing us the safety equipment. We had to wear a special harness around our waist and legs, and she explained how the ropes worked to catch us if we fell. At first, all the knots and rules seemed too complicated to remember. But Sarah was incredibly patient and made sure everyone felt comfortable before we even approached the wall.
Then it was time for my first climb. I started confidently, carefully choosing where to put my hands and feet. But when I was about halfway up, I made the mistake of looking down. Suddenly, the ground seemed very far away, and my whole body froze. My arms were aching because I was holding on too tightly, and I wanted to give up. Just then, I heard Sam and Sarah cheering for me from below. They told me to take a deep breath and focus on the next step. I listened to their advice, pushed myself up, and finally touched the top of the wall.
It has been six months since that first session, and indoor climbing has become my favourite part of the week. I now go to the centre twice a week after school. Not only are my arms and legs much stronger, but I have also made several new friends there. More importantly, I have lost my fear of heights and feel much more confident in my everyday life. Next month, Sam and I are going to take part in a local climbing competition. I know I probably won’t win, but I am excited just to participate!
1 Why did the writer decide to go indoor rock climbing?
(A) He wanted to get over his fear of heights.
(B) He was looking for an enjoyable way to improve his fitness.
(C) He wanted to join a new sports team with his best friend.
(D) He wanted to try a sport that he was already good at.
2 How did the writer feel during the safety instruction?
(A) confused by the different colours on the climbing walls
(B) bored because he already knew how to tie the ropes
(C) worried that the safety equipment was not strong enough
(D) anxious because there was a lot of new information to learn
3 What happened when the writer was halfway up the wall?
(A) He became frightened after seeing how high he was.
(B) He had to stop climbing because his arms were injured.
(C) He realised he had forgotten his instructor’s advice.
(D) He climbed back down to talk to his friend Sam.
4 What does the writer say about his climbing experience now?
(A) He wishes he had more time to visit the climbing centre.
(B) He is disappointed he isn’t good enough to win competitions yet.
(C) He believes it has improved both his physical and mental strength.
(D) He prefers climbing with Sam instead of his new friends.
5 What would the writer text a friend about his new hobby?
(A) I’m so glad Sam made me try climbing. Even though I’m still terrified of heights, the exercise is definitely worth it!
(B) The climbing centre is great, but I wish the instructors were a bit more helpful when you’re struggling on the wall.
(C) I’ve only been climbing for a short time, so I’m going to wait until I’m a bit faster before I enter any local competitions.
(D) I was worried before my first climb, but it’s been amazing. I’m stronger now and can’t wait for my first competition!
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The writer states in paragraph 1 that he “realised I needed to do some exercise to get fitter, but I wanted to find something I actually enjoyed.”
2 D – In paragraph 2, the writer mentions that “At first, all the knots and rules seemed too complicated to remember,” showing his anxiety over the amount of information.
3 A – Paragraph 3 explains that when he was halfway up, he “made the mistake of looking down,” the ground seemed far away, and his “whole body froze,” indicating he was frightened by the height.
4 C – In paragraph 4, the writer notes that his “arms and legs are much stronger” (physical strength) and he feels “much more confident in my everyday life” (mental strength).
5 D – This option accurately captures the writer’s journey from being “worried before my first climb” to getting “stronger” and looking forward to his “first competition,” reflecting the global meaning of the text.