Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – Endurance Sports & Country Walking 5

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

You are going to read an article about four people sharing the profound sense of achievement they felt upon reaching the summit of the highest mountain in their country.

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

Which person/section

1   admits they were driven by a desire to show that others had misjudged them?

2   experienced a brief moment where they seriously considered abandoning the expedition?

3   was taken aback by the complete absence of sound at the highest point?

4   acknowledges that a sudden shift in the climate made the final stretch particularly treacherous?

5   undertook the challenge as a way to pay tribute to a family member?

6   credits their successful ascent to a strict and prolonged training regimen?

7   felt an overwhelming sense of relief that a long period of physical restriction had ended?

8   was surprised by how much the shared hardship strengthened a family bond?

9   mentions that the view from the peak was completely different from what they had anticipated?

10   collected money for an organisation that had looked after a relative?

Reaching the Peak: A Sense of Achievement

A Mark

Reaching the summit of our country’s highest peak was a profoundly emotional experience for me. I had decided to take on this massive challenge to raise funds for the local hospice that had taken such wonderful care of my late grandfather. While I’d jogged a few times a week to prepare, nothing could have equipped me for the grueling reality of the ascent. About two-thirds of the way up, my energy levels plummeted. My legs felt like lead, and I was on the verge of throwing in the towel. I sat on a boulder, genuinely convinced I couldn’t take another step. However, thinking about the generous donations people had made in my grandfather’s memory pushed me forward. Stepping onto the rocky plateau at the top, I broke down in tears. The sense of achievement was unbelievable. The weather was unusually clear, and although the wind was howling around my ears, all I felt was a deep, quiet peace inside.

B Sarah

My relationship with my father had always been somewhat strained; we rarely saw eye to eye on anything. When he suggested we tackle the national peak together, I only agreed to prove to myself that I had the stamina. The first few hours were relatively straightforward, and we hiked in somewhat awkward silence. However, as we approached the final ridge, the conditions deteriorated rapidly. A thick, swirling mist descended out of nowhere, accompanied by freezing rain, making the loose rocks incredibly slippery and dangerous. It was a perilous situation, and my dad suggested we head back. I refused, and we had to rely entirely on each other to navigate the hazardous path safely. Reaching the summit in that blinding fog meant there was absolutely no view to admire, yet it didn’t matter. The real triumph wasn’t just conquering the altitude; it was the unexpected connection I’d forged with my dad. We hugged at the top, and we’ve been incredibly close ever since.

C David

Just two years ago, following a severe skiing accident, I was confined to a wheelchair. The surgeons warned me that walking without a limp, let alone climbing mountains, was highly unlikely. Standing at the highest point in the country was the ultimate closure I needed. It signified the end of endless physiotherapy sessions and the profound frustration of being trapped in a body that wouldn’t cooperate. What struck me most as I finally crested the summit wasn’t just the breathtaking altitude. I had expected howling winds and the chatter of fellow climbers, but for those few minutes I was entirely alone, and the sheer, absolute silence was deafening. It was a magical, overwhelming stillness. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, savouring the realisation that I had finally bounced back from my ordeal. The descent took a toll on my knees, but the overwhelming relief of knowing my physical limitations were truly a thing of the past made every painful step worthwhile.

D Elena

I’ve always been the least athletic person in my social circle, so when I announced my intention to scale the highest mountain in our region, my friends openly scoffed. Their disbelief was exactly the motivation I needed; I was determined to make them eat their words. I completely overhauled my lifestyle, committing to a punishing six-month schedule of weightlifting and endless stair-climbing. I didn’t miss a single session, rain or shine. By the time the expedition day arrived, I was in the best shape of my life. The climb was tough, with dozens of other hikers making it quite a noisy and crowded experience, but my stamina held up perfectly. Interestingly, having seen heavily edited photos online, I had anticipated a pristine, snow-capped wonderland at the peak. Instead, I was greeted by a rugged, lunar-like expanse of grey boulders and sparse vegetation. It was starkly beautiful in its own unique way, and standing there, snapping a selfie to send to my friends, felt incredibly satisfying.

Reading 2

You are going to read an article about four runners discussing their experiences with chronic shin splints and rehabilitation.

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

Which person

1   admits to deliberately hiding their early symptoms to avoid interrupting their training?

2   felt a sense of loneliness after being separated from their fellow athletes?

3   mentions the unexpected and heavy costs associated with getting better?

4   expresses ongoing nervousness about the condition returning now that they are active again?

5   was forced to completely change their physical mechanics to avoid further damage?

6   experienced a frustrating relapse because they mistakenly thought they had fully recovered?

7   learned that their injury was actually caused by a lack of strength in different muscle groups?

8   took up an entirely different cardiovascular activity to stay fit while recovering?

9   found the highly repetitive nature of their rehabilitation drills to be incredibly boring?

10   expresses regret over ignoring the initial physiological indicators of the injury?

The Road to Recovery: Battling Shin Splints

A Mark

I always took my fitness for granted until chronic shin splints abruptly halted my training. Looking back, I really should have paid closer attention to the initial warning signs. Instead of resting, I actively concealed my discomfort from my coach, terrified that taking a break would derail my marathon preparation. Naturally, this sheer stubbornness led to severe inflammation. If I had been sensible and stopped earlier, I wouldn’t have faced such a gruelling, drawn-out recovery. The rehabilitation process itself was profoundly frustrating; I went from running fifty kilometres a week to struggling with basic calf stretches. To maintain my cardiovascular fitness without subjecting my lower legs to impact, my physiotherapist strongly advised me to take up swimming. Initially, I felt rather reluctant, but it actually turned out to be a blessing in disguise. I’ve finally bounced back, but I’ve certainly come to terms with the fact that pushing through the pain barrier is a dangerous game.

B Sarah

For me, the most challenging aspect of battling chronic shin splints wasn’t necessarily the physical agony, but rather the heavy mental toll it took. I had been a core member of a vibrant local running club, and suddenly being sidelined made me feel entirely cut off from my primary social circle. I missed the camaraderie of our weekend group runs terribly. Furthermore, the daily rehabilitation protocol I was prescribed involved endless, repetitive resistance band exercises. To be brutally honest, the routine was mind-numbingly dull, and I frequently struggled to muster the motivation to complete it. Nevertheless, working alongside a specialist revealed that my running form was fundamentally flawed. Apparently, my tendency to overstride had been placing excessive stress on my lower legs. Consequently, my rehab wasn’t merely about healing the damaged tissue; it required completely relearning how to run. It demanded months of tedious drills to adjust my stride, but those crucial modifications have ultimately made me a far more efficient athlete.

C David

The sheer financial burden of overcoming chronic shin splints was something I had been entirely unprepared for. Between bi-weekly physiotherapy appointments, custom-made orthotic insoles, and specialised massage therapy sessions, the expenses accumulated at an alarming rate. It is extraordinarily frustrating to have to part with so much money simply to be able to jog without wincing. My biggest regret, however, was my own foolish impatience. After a mere three weeks of rest, the aching had subsided, and I convinced myself that I was fully cured. Completely ignoring medical advice, I stubbornly attempted a fast five-kilometre run. The familiar stabbing pain returned almost instantly, effectively setting my recovery back by another two months. Experiencing that relapse was absolutely devastating. It taught me the hard way that you simply cannot accelerate the healing of bone and connective tissue. I had to resign myself to a painfully slow progression of run-walk intervals, which was a tough pill to swallow.

D Emma

When I was initially diagnosed with severe shin splints, I naturally assumed the problem lay exclusively within my lower legs. Therefore, I was fascinated to learn from my sports therapist that the root cause was actually located much further up my body. It transpired that I suffered from significant muscle imbalances—specifically weak glutes and hips—which meant my shins were absorbing shock they simply weren’t designed to handle. Resolving this required spending countless hours in the gym lifting heavy weights, which is an activity I have always despised. As a dedicated runner, I crave fresh air, so being stuck indoors performing endless squats felt like a punishment. Thankfully, the rigorous strength training paid off. I am now back on the trails, although I must admit that the psychological scars remain. Every time I lace up my trainers, a wave of apprehension washes over me; I am constantly hyper-aware of every minor twinge, terrified that the debilitating injury might flare up again.

Exercises:   123456