Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Winter, Outdoor and Adventure Sports 10
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Magic on the Mountain
I have been skiing with my family since I was ten years old. We usually go to a busy mountain resort where the daytime slopes are packed with tourists and you have to queue for ages to use the lifts. During our winter holiday last month, my dad suggested we try something different: night-time skiing. Initially, I wasn’t very enthusiastic. I worried that it would be far too freezing and that the artificial lights wouldn’t be bright enough to see the path safely. However, I didn’t want to stay in the hotel alone, so I reluctantly agreed.
When we arrived at the mountain after dinner, I immediately noticed the incredible atmosphere. The huge floodlights pointed down the mountain, creating a bright path through the darkness. The best part was that the daytime crowds had completely disappeared. There were only a few other skiers around, which meant no waiting at all. I put on an extra jumper and thick gloves, and then we stepped out into the freezing night air.
As soon as I started going down the hill, I realised that skiing at night requires a different approach. Because the sun had gone down, the temperature had dropped significantly, turning the soft snow into solid ice. This made the surface incredibly slippery and much faster than I was used to. For the first few minutes, I struggled to keep my balance and had to push the metal edges of my skis hard into the ice. Once I adjusted my technique, the high speed actually became thrilling.
Halfway down the mountain, my dad and I stopped at the side of the slope to catch our breath. It was then that I noticed how peacefully quiet the whole area was, without the usual shouting and noise of the daytime crowds. Looking down, I could see the beautiful twinkling lights of the village far below us in the valley. Standing there in the silent darkness felt absolutely magical.
By the time we reached the bottom, my toes were completely frozen, but I couldn’t stop smiling. Experiencing the mountain at night is totally different from skiing in the sun. The combination of the empty slopes, the fast ice, and the stunning views completely changed my opinion. I am already begging my parents to book another night-time session.
1 Why did the writer agree to go night-time skiing?
(A) He wanted to avoid waiting in long queues for the ski lifts.
(B) He was curious to see how bright the artificial lights were.
(C) He preferred not to be by himself at their accommodation.
(D) He was enthusiastic about trying a completely new activity.
2 What pleased the writer most when they arrived at the mountain?
(A) The weather was much warmer than he had expected.
(B) He didn’t have to wait in line to use the ski lifts.
(C) He had remembered to bring enough warm clothes.
(D) The artificial lights made the mountain look much bigger.
3 What did the writer discover about the snow at night?
(A) It was softer than the snow during the daytime.
(B) It made his skis travel at a much greater speed.
(C) It was impossible to push his metal edges into it.
(D) It caused him to fall over several times on the hill.
4 How did the writer feel when he stopped halfway down the slope?
(A) amazed by the beautiful atmosphere of his surroundings
(B) annoyed by the loud noises coming from the village
(C) exhausted because he had been skiing so fast
(D) anxious about standing alone in the silent darkness
5 What would the writer write in his blog that evening?
(A) Night skiing is much too cold and dangerous. I think I will stick to skiing during the day when the snow is softer.
(B) I was right to be worried about the dark! The artificial lights weren’t bright enough, so we had to ski very slowly.
(C) The views of the village were nice, but I really missed the excitement and noise of all the daytime tourists on the mountain.
(D) Even though I wasn’t keen at first, skiing under the lights without the crowds was an incredibly peaceful and thrilling experience!
Answer Key & Explanations
1 C – In the first paragraph, the writer says, “I didn’t want to stay in the hotel alone, so I reluctantly agreed,” which means he preferred not to be by himself at their accommodation.
2 B – The second paragraph states that “The best part was that the daytime crowds had completely disappeared… which meant no waiting at all,” paraphrasing to not having to wait in line to use the ski lifts.
3 B – The third paragraph describes the night-time snow turning into “solid ice” which made the surface “much faster than I was used to,” meaning his skis travelled at a much greater speed.
4 A – In the fourth paragraph, the writer stops and notices how “peacefully quiet” the area was, admires the “beautiful twinkling lights,” and says it felt “absolutely magical,” showing he was amazed by the beautiful atmosphere.
5 D – This option correctly captures the global meaning and narrative arc of the text. It references his initial hesitation, the lack of crowds, the thrill of the faster ice, and the overall peaceful, magical experience he ultimately enjoyed.
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Walking for a Reason
I have always enjoyed going for short walks in the countryside, but I had never attempted anything truly challenging. Last year, I saw an advertisement for a twenty-mile charity walk to raise money for a local children’s hospital. Because my little sister had been treated there when she was younger, the cause was very important to my family. I decided to sign up and managed to collect a large amount of sponsorship money from my friends and relatives. I felt incredibly motivated, although I was slightly nervous about the long distance.
On the morning of the event, the atmosphere was amazing. Hundreds of people gathered at the starting line, wearing brightly coloured t-shirts. When the walk finally began, the weather was cool and pleasant. For the first ten miles, everything felt wonderfully easy. I chatted with other walkers, enjoyed the beautiful scenery, and even felt confident enough to walk a bit faster than my usual pace. I actually thought the challenge was going to be completely effortless.
However, by the time I reached the fifteen-mile mark, my opinion had completely changed. My legs felt incredibly heavy, and the sun was now burning down on us. Worse still, I could feel large, painful blisters forming on the bottom of both my feet. Every single step became an agony. I had to stop and sit on the grass by the side of the road. As I took off my shoes, I seriously considered calling my parents to come and pick me up. I didn’t think I could walk another five miles.
As I sat there feeling sorry for myself, I looked at the charity logo printed on my t-shirt. I thought about the brave children in the hospital and how my temporary pain was nothing compared to what they go through every day. That thought gave me a sudden burst of energy. I carefully put my shoes back on, stood up, and forced myself to keep moving forward. I walked much slower than before, but I refused to stop again.
Crossing the finish line was the most emotional moment of my life. I was absolutely exhausted and my feet were in terrible pain, but I had raised over five hundred pounds for the hospital. The walk taught me that when you are fighting for a good cause, your mind is much stronger than your body. I am definitely going to volunteer for the charity again next year.
1 Why did the writer decide to do the charity walk?
(A) She wanted a personal challenge to improve her physical fitness.
(B) Her family had a personal connection to the children’s hospital.
(C) Her friends and relatives persuaded her to sign up for the event.
(D) She wanted to see if she was capable of walking twenty miles.
2 How did the writer feel during the first half of the walk?
(A) Annoyed because the other walkers were talking too much.
(B) Worried that she was walking much faster than everyone else.
(C) Surprised by how incredibly cold the weather was at the start.
(D) Sure that she would finish the distance without any problems.
3 What happened when the writer reached the fifteen-mile mark?
(A) She injured her leg while resting on the grass.
(B) She suffered from painful skin problems on her feet.
(C) She got lost because she couldn’t see the road clearly.
(D) She borrowed a phone to call her parents for help.
4 What helped the writer to continue the walk?
(A) Remembering the people who would benefit from her effort.
(B) Taking her shoes off to rest her tired feet for a while.
(C) Changing into a much more comfortable charity t-shirt.
(D) Someone from the hospital coming to encourage her.
5 What would the writer write in her diary that evening?
(A) I’m so disappointed that I couldn’t finish the walk today. The blisters were just too painful, so my parents had to drive me home.
(B) The walk was incredibly tough and my feet still hurt, but raising the money was worth the pain. I’m so proud of myself!
(C) I raised a lot of money today, but the walk was actually quite easy. I don’t understand why people complain about walking twenty miles.
(D) It was a great event, but I’m annoyed that my friends didn’t sponsor me. Next year I’ll choose a completely different charity to support.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In the first paragraph, the writer states that “Because my little sister had been treated there when she was younger, the cause was very important to my family.” This matches having a personal connection to the hospital.
2 D – Paragraph two explains that for the first ten miles, “everything felt wonderfully easy” and she “actually thought the challenge was going to be completely effortless.” This means she was sure she would finish without problems.
3 B – In the third paragraph, the text states, “I could feel large, painful blisters forming on the bottom of both my feet,” which paraphrases to suffering from painful skin problems on her feet.
4 A – Paragraph four mentions that she “thought about the brave children in the hospital” and that this “thought gave me a sudden burst of energy” to keep moving forward. This means remembering the people who would benefit helped her continue.
5 B – This option successfully synthesizes the writer’s overall experience and emotional arc. It acknowledges the extreme physical difficulty and pain (paragraph 3 and 5), but highlights the triumphant ending and the importance of raising the money for the charity (paragraphs 4 and 5).
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A walk in the wild
by Sam Davies
My name is Sam, and my family recently went on a holiday to a famous wildlife reserve in South Africa. For the first few days, we did traditional safaris, driving around in a large, comfortable jeep to look at the animals. It was amazing to see elephants and zebras, but looking through a glass window made me feel a bit disconnected from nature. So, when our expert guide suggested a walking safari for our final morning, I immediately convinced my parents to agree. I thought it would be a much more exciting and authentic way to explore the reserve.
However, the moment we stepped out of the safe camp and into the tall, dry grass, my feelings changed completely. Without the thick metal walls of the jeep around us, the reserve felt enormous and wild. Every time I heard a branch break or the wind move the grass, my heart beat faster. I suddenly realised how small and vulnerable humans actually are in the natural environment. We were in their territory now. Our guide was highly trained for our safety, but he told us that our main defense was just to be quiet, walk slowly, and be respectful of the animals’ space.
After walking silently in the heat for about an hour, our guide suddenly stopped and raised his hand. He pointed towards some thick, green bushes and whispered for us to hide behind them immediately. We crouched down in the dirt and waited patiently. A few moments later, a massive adult giraffe stepped out from the trees just a few metres away from us. It was so close that I could actually hear it chewing the leaves and see the beautiful, detailed patterns on its fur. Thankfully, it hadn’t noticed us hiding there at all.
Watching such a huge, elegant creature going about its daily life without disturbing it was absolutely breathtaking. I held my breath, completely amazed by the peaceful experience. Eventually, the giraffe slowly walked away into the distance. Walking back to the camp, my legs were tired, but I felt incredibly lucky. Driving in a jeep is definitely great for seeing lots of animals quickly, but being on foot connects you to the wild world in a way I will never forget. I am already saving up my money to go on another walking safari in the future!
1 Why did Sam want to go on a walking safari?
(A) He wanted to get closer to the elephants and zebras.
(B) He was bored of looking at animals from a vehicle.
(C) He felt that exploring on foot would make him feel closer to nature.
(D) His expert guide told him it was the safest way to explore.
2 How did Sam feel when he first began walking in the reserve?
(A) Annoyed that he had to walk so slowly through the dry grass.
(B) Unprotected compared to travelling in the safari vehicle.
(C) Worried that the guide was not properly trained to keep them safe.
(D) Confident that the wild animals would respect their space.
3 What happened when they were hiding behind the bushes?
(A) A giraffe noticed them but continued chewing leaves.
(B) They were able to observe a wild animal from a very short distance.
(C) The guide warned them that a dangerous animal was approaching.
(D) Sam had to crawl through the dirt to see the patterns on the giraffe.
4 What is Sam’s conclusion about his safari experience?
(A) He prefers driving safaris because they allow you to see more wildlife.
(B) He found the long walk back to the camp too tiring to do again.
(C) He thinks that walking safaris should be completely free of charge.
(D) He believes observing animals on foot is a deeply memorable experience.
5 What would Sam write in his diary that evening?
(A) The walking safari was a terrible idea. We had to hide in the bushes because the animals were too dangerous, and I wished we had taken the jeep.
(B) I managed to convince my parents to go on a walking safari, but we only saw one giraffe. Next time, I will definitely stay in the comfortable jeep.
(C) Walking through the reserve made me realise how weak humans are, but seeing a wild giraffe up close was breathtaking and definitely worth it!
(D) The guide made us hide in the dirt for an hour just to see a giraffe. It was a very boring and exhausting way to spend our final morning.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 C – In paragraph 1, Sam mentions that the jeep “made me feel a bit disconnected from nature” and that a walking safari would be an “authentic way to explore.” This paraphrases feeling closer to nature.
2 B – In paragraph 2, Sam explains his feelings changed because “Without the thick metal walls of the jeep around us… I suddenly realised how small and vulnerable humans actually are”. This maps perfectly to feeling unprotected compared to the vehicle.
3 B – In paragraph 3, Sam notes that they hid and “a massive adult giraffe stepped out from the trees just a few metres away from us.” This matches observing a wild animal from a short distance.
4 D – In paragraph 4, Sam concludes that “being on foot connects you to the wild world in a way I will never forget.” This directly paraphrases finding the experience deeply memorable.
5 C – This option successfully captures the global narrative arc: Sam’s realization of human vulnerability in the wild (weakness/lack of protection), the climax of the close encounter with the giraffe, and his overwhelming positive emotion (breathtaking and worth it).