Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Wildlife Encounters 4
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
My Journey to the Orangutans
Last summer, my family and I travelled to Borneo in Southeast Asia for a two-week holiday. While my parents were looking forward to relaxing on the beautiful beaches, I was most excited about a day trip we had booked to an orangutan sanctuary. I have always been fascinated by apes, and the chance to see them up close was a dream come true. When we finally arrived at the reserve after a long, bumpy bus ride, the heat of the jungle was exhausting, but I couldn’t wait to get inside.
Before we were allowed to see the animals, our guide gave us a presentation about why the sanctuary was necessary. I listened carefully, but what I heard made me feel incredibly sad. He explained that huge areas of the orangutans’ natural forest home are being cut down to create palm oil farms. Because of this deforestation, many wild orangutans lose their homes and struggle to survive. I had read a little bit about environmental problems before at school, but hearing the real stories of these rescued apes made the situation feel much more serious than I had realised.
After the talk, we followed a narrow path through the trees to the main viewing area. The adult orangutans were swinging high above us in the branches, confidently eating fruit. But then, as we walked past a safe play area for the younger apes, something unforgettable happened. A baby orangutan, who had been rescued just weeks earlier, slowly walked over to the wire fence. He looked right at me, gently reached his long fingers through the gaps, and briefly touched my hand. His brown eyes seemed so intelligent and sad.
That short moment completely changed my attitude towards nature. As we travelled back to our hotel that evening, I realised I couldn’t just return home and forget about what I had seen. I have now started a conservation club at my secondary school to raise awareness about palm oil and collect money for the sanctuary. I know I am only one teenager, but if we all make small changes, I believe we can protect these incredible creatures and their forests.
1 Why was the writer excited about the trip to the sanctuary?
(A) They wanted to escape the hot weather at home.
(B) They were eager to see their favourite animals in real life.
(C) They enjoyed taking long bus rides through the jungle.
(D) They wanted to spend time walking on the beach.
2 How did the writer feel during the guide’s presentation?
(A) shocked because they had never heard of environmental problems before
(B) bored because the guide was talking about school subjects
(C) upset after discovering the true effects of losing the forest
(D) angry that the sanctuary workers were cutting down trees
3 What happened while the writer was walking near the play area?
(A) An adult orangutan dropped some fruit from the branches.
(B) A rescued animal tried to steal something from their hand.
(C) They climbed over a wire fence to play with a baby orangutan.
(D) A young ape made physical contact with them.
4 Since returning from the holiday, the writer has
(A) decided to travel back to the sanctuary to work as a guide.
(B) begun taking action to help the rescued apes.
(C) stopped eating all foods that contain palm oil.
(D) realised that one person cannot make a difference.
5 What would the writer write in their blog?
(A) The bus journey was terrible, and the jungle was far too hot, but at least the beaches in Borneo were relaxing.
(B) I used to think the environment was a boring subject, but meeting the baby orangutan showed me that animals are actually quite fun.
(C) Seeing how human actions harm such beautiful animals broke my heart, but it has also inspired me to do whatever I can to help them.
(D) The sanctuary is doing a fantastic job, although I think the adult orangutans should be kept in cages instead of swinging in the trees.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The text states that the writer has “always been fascinated by apes, and the chance to see them up close was a dream come true.”
2 C – The writer mentions listening carefully and feeling “incredibly sad,” noting that hearing the stories made the situation of deforestation and habitat loss “feel much more serious.”
3 D – The text describes a baby orangutan reaching its fingers through the wire fence and briefly touching the writer’s hand.
4 B – In the final paragraph, the writer explains that they have started a conservation club to “raise awareness” and “collect money for the sanctuary.”
5 C – This option perfectly captures the writer’s global attitude throughout the text: feeling deep sadness over the deforestation stories and using that emotion as motivation to start a conservation club.
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Snorkeling with Manta Rays
Last year, my family went on a holiday to Hawaii. My parents are always looking for unusual activities, so they booked a night snorkeling trip to see manta rays. When they told me, I wasn’t sure it was a good idea. I had seen photos of manta rays, and they looked like enormous, terrifying underwater bats. The thought of swimming in the dark ocean with creatures that can grow up to four metres wide made me feel quite nervous.
On the evening of the trip, we sailed out on a small boat just after the sun went down. The sky was completely black, and the ocean looked cold and unwelcoming. Our guide gave us wetsuits and snorkels, explaining that we needed to hold onto a large surfboard with bright lights shining down into the water. These lights attract tiny sea creatures, which the manta rays come to eat. Even though the guide promised it was perfectly safe, I was shaking as I jumped into the dark water.
I held tightly to the board and put my face in the water. For a few minutes, there was nothing. Then, out of the darkness, a huge shadow appeared. A giant manta ray swam directly towards us with its massive mouth wide open. My first reaction was pure fear. However, as it got closer, it slowly turned upside down and glided gracefully just a few centimetres away from my mask. It didn’t look like a monster at all. Instead of feeling terrified, I suddenly felt completely calm. It was like watching a beautiful underwater dance.
We stayed in the water for nearly an hour, watching several more rays swim around us. They never touched us, although they came incredibly close. By the time we climbed back onto the boat, I was exhausted but absolutely thrilled. The animals I had thought were frightening bats were actually gentle and elegant. Now, whenever my friends ask about my trip to Hawaii, this is the first story I tell them. I would love to experience something like that again, and it has even made me think about studying marine biology in the future.
1 Why was the writer worried about the snorkeling trip at first?
(A) They did not think they were a strong enough swimmer.
(B) They thought the animals they would see looked scary.
(C) They were angry that their parents hadn’t asked them first.
(D) They disliked the idea of going on a boat at night.
2 What did the guide tell the group to do in the water?
(A) Shine their own torches to see in the dark.
(B) Catch the tiny sea creatures for the rays to eat.
(C) Hold onto a piece of equipment that had lights on it.
(D) Stay very close to the side of the boat.
3 How did the writer feel when the manta ray came very close?
(A) Worried that it was going to touch their face mask.
(B) Disappointed that the ray swam away so quickly.
(C) Shocked by how aggressive the animal was.
(D) Amazed by the animal’s gentle movements.
4 How has the experience affected the writer?
(A) They have decided to stop being afraid of the dark ocean.
(B) They only want to go on holidays that involve snorkeling.
(C) They now want to learn more about ocean life.
(D) They plan to take their friends to Hawaii one day.
5 What would the writer text a friend after the trip?
(A) I loved snorkeling in Hawaii, but the manta rays looked like giant bats and really frightened me the whole time I was in the water.
(B) I was terrified to go into the dark ocean, but the manta rays were so elegant. It was the most amazing experience!
(C) The boat trip was fun, but we had to wait for an hour in the cold water before we finally saw some manta rays.
(D) My parents made me go swimming at night. A huge ray almost hit my mask, so I got out of the water immediately!
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The text states the writer felt nervous because they had seen photos of manta rays and thought they “looked like enormous, terrifying underwater bats.”
2 C – In paragraph 2, the guide explains that they “needed to hold onto a large surfboard with bright lights shining down into the water.”
3 D – The writer notes in paragraph 3 that instead of feeling terrified, they “suddenly felt completely calm” watching the ray “glided gracefully,” describing it as a “beautiful underwater dance.”
4 C – In the final paragraph, the writer states that the trip “has even made me think about studying marine biology in the future,” indicating a desire to learn about ocean life.
5 B – This option captures the global meaning and the writer’s emotional arc: starting with extreme fear of the dark water and the “monsters,” but ending with absolute awe at their elegant and gentle nature.
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Wild Mustangs of Nevada
My family and I recently decided to spend our summer holidays on a long road trip across the western United States. When my parents first told me we were driving through the state of Nevada, I imagined it would be a thrilling adventure. However, after three days sitting in the back of our hot car, I had completely changed my mind. There was absolutely nothing out the window except dry, brown sand, rocks, and flat bushes that seemed to go on for miles. My mobile phone had no internet connection at all, and I was getting incredibly bored. I actually started to wish I had just stayed at home with my friends instead.
Then, late one afternoon, my dad suddenly pointed toward the horizon. “Look over there!” he shouted excitedly. I slowly looked up from my book and saw a huge cloud of dust moving quickly across the desert landscape. At first, I thought it was just a severe storm or perhaps a large truck driving off the road. But as the thick dust cloud got closer to us, I could clearly see animal shapes appearing. It was a large herd of wild horses, which are known as mustangs in America. I pressed my face against the glass, completely amazed by what was happening right in front of me.
There were about twenty of them, in all different colours – brown, black, and a beautiful bright white. They were running incredibly fast, and for a few magical minutes, they moved right alongside our car. My dad slowed down so we could watch them safely. I had seen horses on farms before, but these creatures were completely different. They looked so strong, wild, and full of energy. Watching them run without any fences or rules perfectly captured the true spirit of freedom. I didn’t even try to reach for my camera to take a photo; I just wanted to enjoy the incredible moment with my own eyes.
Eventually, the leader of the herd turned away from the road, and they all quickly disappeared back into the endless desert. The car was completely silent for a while as we thought about what we had just seen. After that incredible experience, my opinion of Nevada completely changed. I stopped reading my book and spent the rest of the long journey looking out of the window. I finally understood that the desert wasn’t just an empty, boring place. It was actually a wonderful environment full of hidden life. If you are patient enough to look closely, you will definitely find beautiful secrets out there.
1 How did the writer feel at the beginning of the road trip through Nevada?
(A) disappointed because the scenery was uninteresting
(B) annoyed that her parents had planned the trip without asking her
(C) anxious about travelling in a hot car for several days
(D) pleased to have some time away from her friends and the internet
2 What did the writer initially think the cloud of dust was?
(A) a group of wild animals
(B) bad weather or a vehicle
(C) a fire in the distance
(D) a farmer driving his horses
3 When the horses ran next to the car, the writer
(A) asked her dad to drive faster to keep up with them.
(B) felt afraid because they were moving so quickly.
(C) chose to just watch them instead of taking a picture.
(D) decided to record the experience on her phone.
4 How did the writer’s attitude change by the end of the trip?
(A) She wished she could spend more time reading her book.
(B) She was sad that the journey was finally over.
(C) She decided she wanted to return to Nevada to catch wild horses.
(D) She realised that the desert is actually a fascinating place.
5 What would the writer write in her diary about the trip?
(A) I can’t believe how boring Nevada was. I spent the whole time reading my book and wishing I was back home with my friends.
(B) It was fantastic seeing the mustangs, but it’s a shame my dad didn’t slow the car down so I could get a good photo of them.
(C) Seeing those wild horses totally changed my trip! It made me realise that there is amazing wildlife even in places that look empty.
(D) I loved seeing the wild horses on the farms we drove past. They looked so peaceful standing behind the fences in the sunshine.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 A – In paragraph 1, the writer says there was “nothing out the window except dry, brown sand” and she was “getting incredibly bored,” wishing she had stayed home.
2 B – In paragraph 2, the writer explains that at first, she thought the dust cloud was “just a severe storm or perhaps a large truck”.
3 C – Paragraph 3 states that the writer “didn’t even try to reach for my camera to take a photo” and instead just “wanted to enjoy the incredible moment”.
4 D – In paragraph 4, the writer explains that her “opinion of Nevada completely changed” and she understood the desert “wasn’t just an empty, boring place” but full of “hidden life”.
5 C – This statement accurately reflects the writer’s journey from being bored by the empty-looking desert to being amazed by the sudden appearance of the wild mustangs and changing her perspective entirely.