Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – Autobiographies & Empathy for the Famous 7

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

You are going to read an article about four individuals reviewing the memoir of a famous fashion icon and focusing on the intense psychological pressure of aging in a beauty-obsessed industry.

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 the author’s struggle with relentless public scrutiny of their physical imperfections?

2   expresses relief that a prominent figure has finally voiced a widespread industry anxiety?

3   highlights the author’s initial refusal to accept the inevitable reality of getting older?

4   points out the sharp contrast between the polished media portrayals and the subject’s actual unhappiness?

5   mentions the author’s successful transition into a different professional role within the business?

6   was surprised by the intense self-doubt experienced by someone who was universally idolised?

7   notes the drastic medical steps the author took in an attempt to halt the aging process?

8   mentions the severe mental toll of trying to achieve impossible physical targets prior to important work commitments?

9   admires the author’s ultimate decision to proudly display their natural appearance?

10   points out how quickly the sector abandons professionals once they are perceived as too old?

Fading Glamour: Reviews of ‘Behind the Seams’

A Anna

I must admit I picked up Behind the Seams with a bit of skepticism, assuming it would just be another superficial celebrity diary. Instead, I found a brutally honest account of the desperation that sets in when your livelihood depends entirely on your looks. The author openly discusses the extreme lengths she went to, undergoing countless surgical procedures just to freeze time. As someone who works in fashion, I know first-hand how suffocating this environment can be. It was genuinely refreshing to see such a high-profile figure break the silence on the terror of finding that first grey hair or fine line. She articulates the unspoken rule that getting older is somehow a personal failure. If she hadn’t been so candid about her own insecurities, many young models would still be suffering in silence. It takes immense courage to admit that the pursuit of eternal youth is a battle you are ultimately bound to lose.

B Ben

What fascinated me most about this memoir was the author’s psychological journey from absolute denial to empowerment. In the early chapters, she confesses that she genuinely believed she could outsmart the aging process, simply ignoring the younger faces brought in to replace her. The fashion world is notoriously unforgiving, and the book brilliantly captures the ruthless way it casts aside those who no longer fit its narrow definition of perfection. It must have been incredibly painful to be dropped by major designers practically overnight. However, the true turning point comes when she stops fighting her own biology. By stepping away from the runway and establishing her own inclusive clothing label, she managed to completely reinvent herself. She realised that her worth wasn’t tied to a flawless complexion. It’s a compelling reminder that when one door closes, another opens, provided you are willing to adapt and let go of the past.

C Clara

As a fashion student, I’ve always admired her editorial campaigns, convinced she lived a life of absolute glamour. However, reading her memoir completely shattered that illusion. The stark discrepancy between the stunning, heavily retouched magazine covers and her behind-the-scenes misery is truly shocking. She describes the weeks leading up to major campaigns as a nightmare of sleep deprivation and starvation diets, driven by the intense fear that she was looking ‘too mature’ for the camera. It’s heart-breaking to realise that behind that confident smile was a woman plagued by anxiety, constantly worrying that her career would evaporate if she gained a single pound or showed signs of fatigue. It makes you wonder how many other icons are secretly enduring the same mental torment. I certainly won’t look at fashion photography in the same way again, knowing the severe psychological price paid for that so-called flawless image.

D David

I don’t follow fashion closely, but this book was highly recommended by a colleague. I was genuinely taken aback to discover that a woman universally celebrated for her stunning features felt so incredibly inadequate. The memoir delves deeply into the modern nightmare of constant digital surveillance, describing how social media trolls and intrusive paparazzi would ruthlessly zoom in on every perceived flaw or new wrinkle. Living constantly under the microscope evidently took a massive toll on her mental health. Despite the heavy subject matter, the conclusion of the book is surprisingly uplifting. She talks about finally throwing away the heavy makeup and wearing her visible signs of aging as badges of honour. Seeing her eventually embrace her reality, refusing to be shamed by a culture obsessed with youth, was truly inspiring. It’s a powerful message that true elegance comes from being comfortable in your own skin, regardless of what the critics say.

Reading 2

You are going to read an article about four students sharing their frustration when reading an autobiography that felt incredibly narcissistic, lacking any self-awareness or admission of mistakes.

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

Which person/section

1   points out the author’s habit of holding everyone else accountable for their failures?

2   felt the author’s attempts at appearing modest were completely insincere?

3   gave up on the book before reaching the final chapter?

4   expresses disappointment that the author completely ignored a widely known controversy?

5   only picked up the book because of the enthusiastic reviews it had received?

6   felt irritated by the constant mentioning of high-profile connections?

7   notes a significant mismatch between how the author portrays themselves and how they are truly perceived?

8   felt that the author’s tone towards the reader was consistently patronising?

9   questions whether the celebrity was actually the person who penned the memoir?

10   had anticipated reading an uplifting account of bouncing back from hardship?

The Ego Trip: When Memoirs Miss the Mark

A Liam

I originally bought this memoir hoping to glean some valuable leadership insights. Instead, what I got was three hundred pages of unadulterated arrogance. What really got under my skin was his absolute refusal to own up to any missteps. Whenever a business venture went south, it was mysteriously the fault of his colleagues, a volatile economy, or sheer bad luck—he never once took the blame for his own poor judgment. Furthermore, the way he addresses the audience is incredibly condescending. He consistently spells out relatively simple concepts as if we couldn’t possibly grasp his ‘genius’ otherwise. I was severely tempted to throw in the towel halfway through, but I forced myself to plod on to the bitter end, purely out of stubbornness. It is genuinely astonishing that someone can lack such a fundamental level of self-awareness while writing a book entirely about themselves.

B Chloe

I wouldn’t have bothered opening this autobiography if it hadn’t been hyped up so much by various online critics. I took it for granted that it would be a highly transparent, revealing read, but it actually read more like a carefully crafted PR campaign. The most frustrating aspect was how he conveniently brushed a massive, widely documented legal dispute under the carpet. Everyone is fully aware of his spectacular fall from grace a few years ago, yet there isn’t a single sentence addressing it in the text. It’s as if he resides in an alternate reality where his public image is utterly flawless, which sharply contrasts with what people actually think of him. He spends chapters boasting about his achievements, which I wouldn’t mind if it were balanced with a shred of vulnerability. Reading it felt like being trapped with a dinner party guest who simply won’t stop talking about themselves.

C Marcus

I have read my fair share of memoirs, but this one really took the biscuit when it came to sheer self-obsession. By the time I reached chapter four, I had completely lost the will to live and simply tossed the book into the recycling bin. I just couldn’t stomach another page of it. It wasn’t just the lack of self-reflection that grated on me; it was the endless, tedious lists of high-society figures he claimed to be closely associated with. Every single anecdote seemed deliberately designed to showcase his elite social circle or his absurdly luxurious lifestyle, rather than conveying an engaging narrative. If he had actually admitted to making a few mistakes along the way, I might have kept reading. However, if you are going to publish your life story, you need to offer the reader some sort of relatable human experience, not just a glamorous catalogue of who you know.

D Sarah

Having followed his career for a while, I had geared myself up for an inspiring tale about overcoming adversity. I genuinely thought he would dive into the gritty reality of his early struggles. Instead, the narrative was nothing more than a monumental exercise in self-worship. The absolute worst part was his reliance on false modesty. He would frequently highlight a so-called ‘flaw’—like working far too hard or caring too much about perfection—which were just thinly veiled compliments masquerading as weaknesses. It was entirely insincere. Additionally, the writing style felt so polished and devoid of genuine emotion that I am highly suspicious of whether he even put pen to paper himself; it reeks of a PR team trying to control the narrative. I wanted to learn how a successful person handles failure, but according to this book, he has never made a single mistake in his entire life.

Exercises:   123456