Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – Autobiographies & Empathy for the Famous 9

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

You are going to read an article about four young adults describing how reading the autobiography of an immigrant entrepreneur deeply resonated with their own family’s struggles.

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

Which person/section

1   highlights the immense pressure placed on the younger generation to succeed?

2   notes the author’s vivid portrayal of the frustration caused by not speaking the local language?

3   shares that reading the book sparked a meaningful discussion with a relative?

4   was moved by the author’s decision to forsake their own professional aspirations for their family?

5   admits they had previously failed to fully value their parents’ efforts?

6   relates to the entrepreneur’s early commercial setbacks?

7   mentions that the book was initially acquired for a university assignment?

8   gained insight into why their parents enforced strict discipline at home?

9   was motivated to record their family’s journey after finishing the memoir?

10   identified with the author’s feeling of being caught between two different worlds?

Turning Pages, Uncovering Roots: A Memoir’s Impact

A Mateo

I used to take our comfortable suburban life completely for granted, rarely pausing to consider the sheer effort it took to build it. Reading this autobiography was a harsh but necessary wake-up call. The author’s vivid accounts of being unable to articulate his thoughts due to a lack of fluency instantly reminded me of my father. He arrived here with an engineering degree but ended up working grueling night shifts in a factory because he couldn’t speak a word of English at the time. I felt a heavy pang of guilt for all the occasions I’d impatiently corrected his pronunciation. While the entrepreneur in the book eventually built a highly lucrative empire, it was the psychological toll of that initial linguistic isolation that truly struck a chord with me. I finally grasped the magnitude of my dad’s resilience. Many pick this up for business tips, but for me, it provided profound personal insight.

B Sofia

When I bought this memoir, I was hoping for some inspiration to help me launch my own tech startup. However, what I actually found was a mirror reflecting my mother’s past. The chapters detailing his initial bankruptcies and the agonizing stress of unpaid bills closely mirrored my mother’s early struggles when she opened her bakery. She poured her heart and soul into that tiny shop, facing constant setbacks and a steep learning curve. Reading about the author’s refusal to throw in the towel, even when the odds were heavily stacked against him, made me appreciate her determination in a whole new light. In fact, seeing his legacy preserved in print gave me the push I desperately needed to start recording her anecdotes. I’ve begun interviewing her every Sunday because her remarkable story deserves to be documented for our future generations, just like this author’s journey.

C Leo

I was actually assigned this memoir for a sociology module at university, so I hadn’t expected to be so profoundly moved by it. What really got to me was the protagonist’s conscious choice to leave behind a promising medical career in his homeland to work menial jobs abroad, solely to ensure his children had access to better schooling. It was exactly what my own parents did. They traded their professional status for our future. The author perfectly captures the crushing weight of knowing you simply cannot fail because of what your parents gave up for you. That unspoken expectation is something my siblings and I have wrestled with our entire lives. We were always pushed to excel academically, and occasionally, it felt suffocating. However, seeing those sacrifices spelled out so clearly on the page helped me come to terms with my parents’ intense focus on my educational achievements.

D Aisha

Growing up, I frequently clashed with my parents over what I perceived to be their old-fashioned values. It felt like they were constantly imposing unnecessary restrictions on my social life. However, this autobiography completely reframed my perspective. His ongoing battle to navigate a dual identity—trying to honour his heritage while adapting to a new, progressive society—resonated deeply with my own upbringing. It suddenly made sense why my folks were so uncompromising about our traditions and boundaries; they were simply terrified of losing their cultural roots in a foreign land. Handing the book to my dad actually initiated the most honest heart-to-heart chat we’ve ever had. We stayed up for hours discussing his emigration experience, breaking down walls that had stood for years. It turns out that underneath our disagreements, there was a wealth of shared anxiety and unspoken love that this book ultimately helped us to articulate.

Reading 2

You are going to read an article about four individuals talking about the fascinating psychology of reading dual biographies, showing how two bitter rivals perceived the exact same historical events completely differently.

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 that people subconsciously alter their memories to protect their self-esteem?

2   describes the mental fatigue caused by constantly having to decide which version of an event to trust?

3   confesses to developing sympathy for a historical figure they had previously considered to be the villain?

4   provides a specific example of two individuals taking full credit for the exact same breakthrough?

5   compares the dynamics of these historical disputes to the way modern-day arguments unfold?

6   expresses astonishment at the realisation that an entirely objective account of history might not exist?

7   highlights the demanding task the author faces in preventing their own biases from showing?

8   mentions that understanding someone’s past experiences makes their hostile behaviour easier to comprehend?

9   notes that reading this specific format demands a greater level of focus than a traditional biography?

10   appreciates a biographer’s skill in seamlessly transitioning between two fiercely opposing viewpoints?

Two Sides of the Same Coin: The Psychology of Dual Biographies

A Lucas

Reading The Final Duel completely changed how I view historical conflicts. The book examines two eighteenth-century politicians who despised each other, detailing the exact same parliamentary debates from both their private diaries. What fascinated me wasn’t just their hatred, but the psychology behind their conflicting accounts. It becomes glaringly obvious that neither man was intentionally lying; rather, they were both victims of their own egos. The book cleverly demonstrates how we unconsciously distort our own recollections to ensure we remain the hero of our own story. If one made a ruthless political move, he recorded it as a necessary evil, while his rival documented it as an act of pure malice. It honestly made me reflect on my own life. The way these prestigious historical figures bickered and justified their flaws is exactly how ordinary people handle petty disagreements today. You take it for granted that history is factual, but this proved that it is often heavily coloured by personal pride.

B Maya

I recently picked up a dual biography about two pioneering aviators, and it was a genuinely exhausting read. The author presented their intertwined lives chapter by chapter, shifting between their perspectives. What I found particularly impressive was the writer’s ability to glide effortlessly from one aviator’s bitter mindset to the other’s without causing any confusion for the reader. However, because both men constantly accused the other of stealing their designs, you are left in a constant state of doubt. Weighing up the evidence and continuously trying to figure out who was actually telling the truth really drained my energy by the end of the book. Furthermore, I couldn’t help but admire the tightrope the author had to walk. It must be incredibly challenging to pen a book like this and refrain from letting your own personal preferences subtly influence the narrative. By the end, I hadn’t developed sympathy for either of them, but I was absolutely captivated by the format.

C Tariq

Last month, I read an extraordinary book about two rival scientists racing to map the human genome. Both fiercely ambitious, they ended up writing separate accounts of the exact same decade. There is a fascinating chapter where they describe the day the sequence was finally cracked; astonishingly, both scientists genuinely believed that they alone were responsible for the momentous discovery, entirely dismissing the other’s contribution. If you are used to straightforward historical narratives, this genre can be a shock to the system. Having to hold two contradictory storylines in your head simultaneously definitely requires a lot more concentration than your average chronological biography. Ultimately, the experience was a huge wake-up call for me. I had always assumed that historical events were solidly grounded in verifiable facts. It was truly mind-blowing to realise that the concept of an absolute, unbiased truth is basically an illusion, depending entirely on whose perspective you happen to be reading.

D Chloe

I’ve just finished a dual biography focusing on two rival queens who fought for the same throne. Going into it, I was heavily biased. Society has always painted one queen as a tragic victim and the other as a ruthless tyrant. However, looking at the unfolding war through the ‘villain’s’ eyes completely turned my preconceptions upside down. I actually found myself feeling incredibly sorry for the woman I had always despised. The book delves deeply into her traumatic childhood, showing how she was constantly betrayed by those closest to her. Once you grasp the intense paranoia she grew up with, her supposedly cruel and unforgiving decrees suddenly make perfect sense as desperate acts of self-preservation. While the book demands your full attention, the psychological depth is absolutely worth it. It proves that no one is simply born wicked. Even the most bitter historical rivalries are often just clashes between two damaged people trying to survive in a hostile world.

Exercises:   123456