Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – Destination Reviews & Hidden Gems 10

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

You are going to read an article about four individuals describing their experiences of swimming in the Dead Sea.

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

Which person/section

1   advises against sudden, vigorous movements while in the water?

2   describes a failed attempt to move through the water in a conventional way?

3   was surprised by the unusual physical texture of the water?

4   felt uncoordinated when trying to leave the water?

5   successfully recreated a well-known holiday snapshot?

6   admits they initially doubted what they had been told about the sea?

7   mentions a physical reaction to a minor injury they had forgotten about?

8   noticed a visible residue left on their body after the swim?

9   highlights the positive impact the natural elements had on their skin?

10   underestimated how intensely hot the surrounding environment would be?

Floating at the Lowest Point on Earth

A Mark

I’ve always taken travel brochures with a pinch of salt. When my guidebook claimed it was genuinely impossible to sink in the Dead Sea, I frankly thought it was a massive exaggeration. However, the moment I waded in and lifted my feet, I shot up like a cork. It’s an incredibly bizarre sensation, as if an invisible force is stubbornly pushing you upwards from below. You genuinely have to work hard just to push your legs down! One thing the local guides strongly stress, which I quickly realised is crucial, is to keep your head above the surface at all times. I saw one tourist flailing wildly, which resulted in a heavy splash of water straight into his eyes. Judging by his agonizing screams, it’s not an experience you want to replicate. Consequently, I made sure to wade very cautiously. It’s a place that demands respect, but floating effortlessly while gazing at the distant Jordanian mountains is something I’ll never forget.

B Sarah

Everyone talks endlessly about the impossible buoyancy, but nobody adequately prepares you for the sheer sting of the water. I consider myself a tough traveller, but I had completely overlooked a tiny papercut on my finger from the flight. The instant it made contact with that hyper-saline water, it felt as though it had literally been set on fire! The pain was mind-blowing, though it mercifully faded after a few agonizing minutes. Once I managed to get over the initial shock, I decided to try doing some actual swimming. Big mistake. Trying to do the breaststroke is an exercise in utter futility. Because your lower body is violently forced to the surface, your legs just thrash around helplessly in the air. I ended up looking absolutely ridiculous, completely unable to propel myself forward. It’s definitely not the place for a strenuous workout. You just have to surrender to the water and let it do all the heavy lifting.

C David

What struck me most wasn’t the floating itself, but rather the consistency of the sea. I had expected it to feel like regular ocean water, perhaps just a bit thicker. In reality, it has a distinctly oily, almost slippery quality to it, which leaves a strange coating on your hands. Before getting in, I decided to slather myself in the famous black mud found along the shoreline. It looked hilarious, but I have to admit, once I washed it off, my complexion felt incredibly smooth and rejuvenated. Of course, I couldn’t leave without attempting the classic tourist cliché. I had brought a local newspaper specifically for this purpose. Getting balanced was tricky, but I finally managed to recline comfortably and hold the paper up as if I were relaxing in an armchair. My friend snapped the picture, and it came out perfectly. It’s a totally stereotypical image, I know, but it’s the ultimate proof that you’ve conquered the Dead Sea!

D Emma

Visiting the Dead Sea in the height of summer is certainly not for the faint-hearted. I had vastly misjudged the fierce, baking heat radiating from the surrounding desert; the sand was scorching, making the short dash to the water’s edge a painful sprint. While floating peacefully was a dream, exiting the water turned out to be an entirely different challenge. Because the water is so dense and shallow near the shore, trying to stand up straight is remarkably difficult. I completely lost my balance, stumbling around awkwardly and feeling incredibly clumsy while other tourists watched from the beach. Once I finally made it to dry land and the water evaporated in the blazing sun, I was left covered in a thick, white crust of salt. My skin felt uncomfortably tight, and my swimsuit was as stiff as cardboard. Plunging under the cold outdoor showers was an absolute necessity, bringing a wave of intense, much-needed relief.

Reading 2

You are going to read an article about four tourists reflecting on how a specific museum in a foreign country fundamentally changed their understanding of a major global historical event.

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

Which person

1   acknowledges that their previous education had provided a biased perspective?

2   was disturbed by the harsh reality faced by the very young?

3   no longer views certain famous individuals in a glamorous light?

4   shifted their focus away from viewing the era as merely a conflict between governments?

5   mentions their emotional reaction to seeing everyday items belonging to a devastated society?

6   abandoned the assumption that a historical period brought nothing but positive advancements?

7   was taken aback by the genuine passion ordinary citizens had for a national goal?

8   expresses admiration for the highly inventive methods used to bypass a restriction?

9   highlights the fact that financial prosperity was built upon the exploitation of the vulnerable?

10   regrets not previously grasping the long-lasting psychological effects on the local population?

A New Lens on the Past: Museums That Changed Our Minds

A Mark (The Cold War – Berlin, Germany)

Before visiting Berlin, I had always thought of the Cold War as a giant chessboard where superpowers played a dangerous political game. In my high school classes, the syllabus was entirely about treaties, espionage, and nuclear threats. However, wandering through the museum dedicated to the Berlin Wall completely transformed my outlook. I finally grasped the devastating human cost of the divide. Instead of focusing on politicians, I found myself captivated by the stories of ordinary families who were torn apart overnight. What truly blew me away was the sheer ingenuity people demonstrated when attempting to flee. I stared in awe at modified cars with hidden compartments and even a homemade hot air balloon used to secretly cross the border. While my education had touched on the broader conflict, it was these tangible stories of desperate, brilliant escapes that made me realise the era wasn’t just a clash of states, but a daily struggle for freedom.

B Chloe (The Industrial Revolution – Manchester, UK)

Growing up, I had always associated the Industrial Revolution with magnificent feats of engineering and the dawn of the modern world. I assumed it was a golden age of unhindered progress and scientific breakthroughs. That illusion was entirely shattered during my trip to a heritage museum in Northern England. The exhibits painted a grim picture of the 19th-century textile mills, demonstrating that the nation’s booming economic wealth was heavily reliant on the severe mistreatment of the working class. The most harrowing section for me was dedicated to child labour. Reading firsthand accounts of kids as young as seven working grueling fourteen-hour shifts in deafening, dangerous conditions was deeply unsettling. While the museum did display some incredibly clever machines, the magic of the era completely faded for me. I came away fully understanding that the technological leaps we take for granted today came at an unimaginable human price.

C Diego (The Space Race – Moscow, Russia)

As an American, my knowledge of the mid-20th century Space Race had been heavily skewed. My teachers had invariably framed it as a heroic triumph of Western science, barely mentioning the Soviet perspective except as the faceless ‘rival’. Visiting the Museum of Cosmonautics in Russia was a massive eye-opener that forced me to admit my schooling had been incredibly one-sided. I was completely surprised by the sheer fervour and patriotic pride the average Soviet citizen felt towards their space programme. It wasn’t just a strict government initiative; it was a deeply ingrained cultural dream. The exhibition halls were filled with emotional letters from factory workers and school children expressing their joy over early cosmos milestones. Seeing their beautiful, retro-futuristic posters and personal artifacts made me appreciate that the ‘other side’ was a nation of people united by an authentic, starry-eyed passion for exploration.

D Yumi (The Age of Discovery – Mexico City, Mexico)

For a long time, the Age of Discovery conjured up romantic images of brave explorers setting sail across uncharted oceans to map the globe. However, my visit to the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City fundamentally challenged this narrative. Walking through the vast halls, I was confronted with the breathtaking sophistication of indigenous civilisations long before the European arrival. Coming face-to-face with beautifully preserved pottery, intricate jewellery, and ordinary household tools belonging to a culture that was subsequently decimated was a profoundly moving experience. Consequently, I can no longer look at the famous conquistadors as dashing heroes; they were directly responsible for erasing entire ways of life. Furthermore, listening to modern indigenous voices in the final exhibit made me wish I had previously understood the enduring generational trauma caused by the conquest. It’s a heavy psychological burden that is clearly still felt by the local communities today.

Exercises:   123456