Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – Adventure Guides & Tourism Professionals 3

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

You are going to read an article about four safari guides sharing their scary experiences of having to protect tourists who recklessly ignore rules to get closer to dangerous wild animals.

For questions 1-10, choose from the people/sections (A-D). The people/sections may be chosen more than once.

Which person/section

1   states that some guests were dismissed from the trip as a punishment?

2   mentions someone putting themselves in danger to fetch something they had dropped?

3   had to use their transport to physically block an animal?

4   was distracted by a vehicle repair when the incident unfolded?

5   mentions a tourist who treated a dangerous predator like a harmless house animal?

6   admits they had to make a massive effort to hide their fury?

7   had to grab hold of a client to pull them away from a threat?

8   explains that a client deliberately aggravated an animal to get a more exciting recording?

9   felt a sense of extreme personal mortality during the crisis?

10   highlights that tourists neglected the rules they had been taught that very morning?

Close Encounters in the Wild

A Jackson

I’ve spent fifteen years guiding in the Serengeti, but nothing prepared me for last Tuesday. We were observing a massive bull elephant grazing peacefully. I had explicitly warned the group to remain absolutely silent, as these creatures are easily startled. Suddenly, one passenger decided the elephant wasn’t active enough for his video. He stood up and let out a piercing whistle to catch its attention. The elephant immediately turned, its ears flared, and it mock-charged. If I hadn’t slammed the jeep into reverse and spun it around to use the chassis as a defensive barrier, we could have been easily trampled. I was shaking like a leaf, whereas the tourist simply laughed, oblivious to the peril. He took our safety completely for granted, failing to realise that a six-ton wild animal isn’t a trained circus performer. They hadn’t necessarily broken a written rule earlier, but ignoring my direct command in the heat of the moment almost led to a catastrophic outcome.

B Sarah

Every morning, I deliver a comprehensive safety briefing, emphasising that guests must never leave the confines of the vehicle. Yet, it seems some individuals consider these regulations optional. Last month, we were parked mere metres away from a pride of sleeping lions. Suddenly, a woman dropped her expensive designer sunglasses over the side. Before I could even register what was happening, she had opened the door and stepped onto the grass to retrieve her prized possession. A lioness, which had been dozing heavily, instantly locked her gaze on the woman and flattened herself into a hunting crouch. I banged violently on the car door to distract the predator and ordered the tourist back inside. She casually strolled back, looking mildly annoyed. I had to bite my tongue to stop myself from completely losing my temper. It is absolutely infuriating when visitors assume their accessories are worth dying for, completely disregarding the strict instructions I had laid out just hours prior.

C Moses

We had unfortunately suffered a puncture on a muddy track, so I instructed everyone to stay seated inside the jeep while I changed the tyre. I was up to my elbows in grease when I heard the unmistakable, deep grunt of a hippopotamus. I glanced up to see one of my guests wandering towards the riverbank, armed with a heavy camera. Hippos are notoriously territorial and cause more fatalities than any other mammal here. The beast surged out of the water, its massive jaws wide open. Knowing there was absolutely no time to shout a warning, I sprinted over, grabbed the man firmly by his leather belt, and physically dragged him backwards behind a large termite mound. My whole life flashed before my eyes during those frantic seconds. The tourist was outraged at being manhandled until he saw the hippo crush a thick log exactly where he had been standing. He mistakenly believed that because the vehicle was stationary, the surrounding area was perfectly safe.

D Chloe

It absolutely boggles the mind how some people manage to confuse a deadly predator with a cuddly domestic pet. Last season, we were quietly observing a leopard resting on a low branch. Out of nowhere, a young couple in my group began clicking their fingers and making kissing noises, actively trying to coax the leopard closer as if it were a stray tabby cat. When that failed to get its attention, the man actually pulled a sandwich out of his rucksack and tossed it towards the tree. The leopard dropped down instantly, snarling aggressively, and stalked right up to our open-top jeep. I immediately rolled up the canvas windows and drove off. I was so appalled by their reckless behaviour that as soon as we arrived back at the camp, I reported them. Consequently, they were ordered to pack their bags and were removed from the tour altogether. I refuse to tolerate individuals who endanger everyone else out of sheer ignorance.

Reading 2

You are going to read an article about four extreme mountaineering guides describing the heartbreaking decision to turn a group back just meters from the summit due to sudden bad weather.

For questions 1-10, choose from the people/sections (A-D). The people/sections may be chosen more than once.

Which person/section

1   mentions a previous experience that heavily influenced their judgment?

2   describes a noticeable change in how a climber reacted to the news?

3   admits to struggling with feelings of self-reproach despite doing the right thing?

4   highlights the vast amount of time and money the team had invested?

5   points out how misleading the environment was just prior to the storm?

6   recalls the striking absence of conversation during the descent?

7   notes that the ultimate goal was clearly in sight when the expedition was halted?

8   is certain that pressing on would have resulted in an absolute disaster?

9   explains that they had to suppress their own ambition to complete the climb?

10   suggests that strict safety rules must always take priority over human desire?

Turning Back from the Edge of the World

A Guide Mark

As a guide, you are trained to read the mountains, but sometimes they still manage to deceive you. Just an hour before we reached the final ridge, the sky had been a brilliant, flawless blue. The suddenness of the blizzard was terrifying; the temperature must have plummeted by twenty degrees in mere minutes. We were so incredibly close to our goal. I could feel my own heart sinking, as I had desperately wanted to stand on that peak just as much as my clients. However, I had to push those selfish ambitions aside. Calling off the attempt was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Even now, a lingering sense of guilt occasionally eats away at me, though logic dictates it was the only viable option. If we hadn’t turned around immediately, we would have been trapped. The clients were devastated, and while nobody argued, their disappointment was palpable. The mountain will always be there, but swallowing your pride and accepting defeat is a bitter pill.

B Guide Sarah

We were standing on the final approach, and the summit was tantalisingly close; we could literally see the prayer flags fluttering at the top. Suddenly, the wind picked up, bringing a fierce whiteout that reduced visibility to zero. It was completely unexpected. I blew my whistle and immediately signaled for everyone to turn back. One of my most experienced clients, David, was furious. He started shouting, demanding we push through since we were only fifty meters away. I understood his frustration, but the conditions were deteriorating too rapidly. I firmly insisted we descend. We battled our way down to base camp in atrocious conditions. It was only the following morning, while drinking coffee in the safety of our tents, that David came over to me. His anger had completely evaporated, replaced by profound appreciation. He hugged me and thanked me for saving his life. It’s moments like those that remind you why we make these heartbreaking calls.

C Guide Liam

Making the call to retreat is never taken lightly, particularly when you factor in what the climbers have sacrificed to be there. These people had dedicated years of intense training and spent thousands of dollars for this exact moment. It is truly heart-wrenching to look them in the eye and shatter their dreams. However, as professionals, our ultimate responsibility is to bring everyone home alive. Protocol dictates that when a severe storm rolls in, all personal aspirations must be abandoned instantly. There is simply no room for debate. The storm hit us with an unprecedented ferocity, and if we had continued for even another ten minutes, we would undoubtedly have lost people on that ridge. It is as simple and brutal as that. Fortunately, my group understood that the mountain makes the final rules. They were physically exhausted and emotionally drained, but they followed my instructions without question, knowing that Mother Nature is entirely unforgiving.

D Guide Elena

The descent was one of the most haunting experiences of my entire career. Nobody uttered a single word for hours. The only sounds were the crunching of our crampons on the ice and the howling wind. The silence wasn’t born of anger, but of utter exhaustion and profound grief for a goal snatched away at the last second. When the dark clouds had unexpectedly gathered above the peak, I didn’t hesitate. Five years ago, I was caught in a similar sudden whiteout and narrowly escaped with my life. That specific nightmare flashed through my mind, cementing my decision to abort the climb immediately. It is devastating to stop when you are within touching distance of the top, and some clients wept silently behind their goggles. Nevertheless, I knew that ignoring the warning signs would have been a catastrophic mistake. We made it down safely, which is ultimately the only true measure of a successful expedition.

Exercises:   123456