Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – Extended Family, Grandparents & Heritage 1
Reading 1
You are going to read a magazine article about a teenager who has to give up their bedroom for their grandfather.
For questions 1-6, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.
The Room I Lost, The Grandfather I Found
For any sixteen-year-old, a bedroom is more than just a place to sleep; it is a sanctuary. I had spent years meticulously decorating mine, carefully selecting posters and arranging my furniture to create the perfect retreat. So, when my parents announced that my grandfather could no longer live independently and would be taking over my room, I was absolutely devastated. I was expected to move into the cramped guest room down the hall, taking only the bare essentials with me. While I understood logically that family comes first, a bitter resentment bubbled up inside me. It felt as though my hard-won independence was being unceremoniously snatched away.
The initial few weeks of our new living arrangement were incredibly challenging. Grandad was a man of strict, old-school routines, having spent decades in the military. He insisted on waking up at the crack of dawn, whistling cheerfully as he brewed his tea, completely oblivious to my desperate need for sleep. Furthermore, his hearing was not what it used to be, meaning his television constantly blared at maximum volume. Whether I was trying to concentrate on my complicated maths homework or simply unwind after a long day at school, the deafening sounds of classic Western films echoed through the house. I found his constant presence suffocating and deliberately avoided him whenever possible.
The turning point occurred on a rainy Saturday afternoon. The relentless noise from the television had reached an unbearable level, and my patience finally snapped. I marched down the hallway, fully intending to demand some peace and quiet. However, as I pushed open the door to my former sanctuary, the angry words died in my throat. Grandad wasn’t watching the screen. Instead, he was sitting on the edge of the bed, surrounded by faded photographs and small velvet boxes. He was carefully polishing a collection of intricate bronze stars, holding them with a visible reverence that immediately caught my attention.
Sensing my presence, he didn’t scold me for entering without knocking. Instead, he gently gestured for me to sit beside him. He picked up one of the heavy medals, explaining that he had been awarded it for bravery during a particularly fierce conflict. As he spoke, his voice lost its usual stern edge, replaced by a quiet vulnerability. If I hadn’t lost my patience that day, I would probably still be oblivious to his incredible past. I listened, mesmerised, as he vividly described the intense fear and camaraderie he had experienced overseas. It slowly dawned on me that beneath his rigid exterior lay a wealth of experiences. I must have been incredibly ignorant to dismiss him simply as a noisy inconvenience.
From that day forward, the atmosphere in the house shifted dramatically. Instead of retreating to my tiny room after dinner, I found myself lingering in the living room, eager to hear more of his fascinating tales. We established a new routine, bonding over shared pots of tea and historical documentaries, which we now watched at a much more reasonable volume. I discovered that Grandad possessed a remarkably sharp sense of humour, and his seemingly strict advice was actually rooted in a deep desire to see me succeed. The frustrating pensioner I had initially resented had transformed into an irreplaceable friend.
Looking back now, the sacrifice of my bedroom seems entirely insignificant. The physical space I lost was more than compensated for by the profound connection I gained. We still have occasional disagreements, of course, and he still wakes up far earlier than anyone reasonably should. Nevertheless, the house would feel unbearably empty without the comforting sound of his whistling in the morning. Giving up my sanctuary turned out to be the greatest gift I could have ever received, as it allowed me to truly know the extraordinary man my grandfather is.
1 What was the writer’s initial reaction to the new living arrangement?
(A) She felt extremely bitter because she perceived it as a loss of her personal freedom.
(B) She was devastated because she had to throw away her carefully selected posters.
(C) She logically accepted that her family’s needs were far more important than her own.
(D) She was annoyed that she was expected to help her grandfather move his essentials.
2 How did the writer feel about her grandfather’s daily habits?
(A) She felt amused by his cheerful whistling at the crack of dawn.
(B) She was frustrated because he refused to let her do her maths homework.
(C) She admired his strict, old-school routines because he had been in the military.
(D) She found them overwhelming and deliberately tried to stay away from him.
3 What does the phrase ‘died in my throat’ in paragraph 3 suggest about the writer?
(A) She felt physically ill from the unbearable level of noise in the house.
(B) She suddenly found herself unable to say what she had planned to say.
(C) She became afraid that her grandfather would shout at her for interrupting.
(D) She decided to whisper her complaints so she wouldn’t startle her grandfather.
4 What can be inferred about the writer’s change of perspective in the fourth paragraph?
(A) She felt guilty for entering his bedroom without knocking on the door first.
(B) She understood that his time overseas had made him a very angry person.
(C) She realised she had misjudged her grandfather based on superficial annoyances.
(D) She was disappointed that he lost his usual stern edge when telling stories.
5 How did the relationship between the writer and her grandfather improve?
(A) He completely stopped offering her strict advice about her future success.
(B) They began spending more time together engaging in shared interests.
(C) She successfully convinced him to move his television into her tiny bedroom.
(D) They agreed to completely ignore each other’s irritating daily habits.
6 What is the writer’s main message in the article?
(A) Teenagers should always respect their grandparents’ military background.
(B) Living with elderly relatives is a sacrifice that inevitably destroys your independence.
(C) It is nearly impossible to overcome the challenges of sharing a house with noisy people.
(D) Giving up personal space can sometimes lead to unexpectedly rewarding relationships.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 A: The text states the writer felt a “bitter resentment” because it “felt as though my hard-won independence was being unceremoniously snatched away.” Option B is a false match; she mentions decorating with posters, but doesn’t say she had to throw them away. Option C is a partial truth trap; she understood it logically, but her actual reaction was devastation and resentment. Option D contains misplaced information; she took her own essentials, not his.
2 D: The writer explicitly states, “I found his constant presence suffocating and deliberately avoided him whenever possible.” Option A is the opposite; she was desperate for sleep, not amused by his whistling. Option B is a false match; she was trying to concentrate on her homework while the TV played, but he didn’t actively refuse to let her do it. Option C is a false conclusion; the text mentions his military routines, but she certainly did not admire them at this stage.
3 B: The idiom “the words died in my throat” means you stop speaking abruptly because you are surprised or overwhelmed. She had marched down “fully intending to demand some peace” but upon seeing him, she couldn’t speak. Option A is a literal, incorrect interpretation of “throat”. Option C is an over-inference; he “didn’t scold” her, and there is no evidence she was afraid. Option D is a false interpretation of the idiom.
4 C: The writer reflects, “I must have been incredibly ignorant to dismiss him simply as a noisy inconvenience,” demonstrating her realisation that she had judged him unfairly based on surface-level irritations. Option A is a false match; he didn’t scold her for not knocking, and she expresses no guilt about the entry itself. Option B is incorrect; the text mentions fear and camaraderie, not anger. Option D is the opposite; she was “mesmerised” by this vulnerable side, not disappointed.
5 B: The text explains they “established a new routine, bonding over shared pots of tea and historical documentaries,” which clearly indicates engaging in shared interests. Option A is the opposite; he still gave “seemingly strict advice”, but she now understood it was out of a desire for her to succeed. Option C is unstated and highly unlikely based on the text. Option D is incorrect; they didn’t ignore the habits, they compromised (e.g., watching TV at a “much more reasonable volume”).
6 D: In the final paragraph, the writer concludes that “The physical space I lost was more than compensated for by the profound connection I gained,” and calls giving up her sanctuary “the greatest gift.” Option A is too narrow and misses the emotional growth of the story. Option B is the direct opposite of her conclusion. Option C is contradicted by the text, as they successfully overcame those exact challenges.
Reading 2
You are going to read an extract from a short story about a teenager visiting her grandmother.
For questions 1-6, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.
The Memory Fade
The drive to Gran’s house had always been my favourite part of Sunday. As I pushed open the familiar creaky wooden gate, the comforting scent of freshly baked cinnamon biscuits wafted through the crisp autumn air. Gran’s cottage was a sanctuary of warm nostalgia, filled with ticking grandfather clocks, embroidered cushions, and shelves crammed with framed family photographs. Ever since I was a child, this place had represented safety. Gran was the one who had taught me how to bake, who had listened to my endless teenage grievances with unwavering patience, and who always knew exactly what to say to make things right.
Entering the hallway, I found her sitting in her usual floral armchair by the window, gazing out at the overgrown garden. ‘There you are, my darling,’ she said, her face lighting up with a radiant smile. We settled into our usual routine, sipping steaming cups of tea and discussing the local wildlife. She was just as animated as ever, pointing out a robin that had nested in the oak tree. Yet, there were subtle anomalies; she repeated a story about the postman twice within ten minutes, and she seemed to struggle to find the word for ‘birdbath’. Still, I easily brushed these minor lapses aside as normal signs of ageing.
However, the comfortable illusion was abruptly shattered shortly after I brought out the photo album I had brought to show her. I pointed to a picture of us from my graduation ceremony last summer. Gran leaned in closely, her brow furrowed in deep concentration. Suddenly, she looked up at me, her eyes clouded with an unsettling fog of confusion. ‘It’s a lovely picture,’ she murmured politely, ‘but remind me, dear… whose daughter are you exactly? Have you come far?’ The words hung in the air, heavy and suffocating. A chilling wave of heartbreak crashed over me, leaving me entirely speechless. It was a question that completely dismantled my world in an instant.
For a terrifying moment, I desperately wanted to run out of the room. I braced myself, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill over. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I gently placed my hand over hers. ‘It’s me, Gran. It’s Chloe. Your granddaughter,’ I replied, forcing my voice to remain remarkably steady. She blinked, the confusion lingering for a few agonizing seconds before a flash of recognition finally pierced through the fog. ‘Oh, Chloe, of course,’ she chuckled, waving her hand dismissively. ‘My mind was wandering. Don’t be silly.’ She smoothly changed the subject, but the damage was done; I knew this wasn’t just a simple mistake.
As the afternoon progressed, I observed her more closely. The brilliant, sharp woman I had known my entire life was gradually fading, her memories slipping away like sand through an hourglass. Initially, this realisation filled me with profound grief. I mourned the loss of our shared history and the conversations we would no longer be able to have. Yet, as she delightfully recounted a childhood memory from fifty years ago with perfect clarity, and her familiar, joyous laughter filled the room, my perspective shifted. I realised that clinging stubbornly to the past would only ruin the precious time we still had together.
The essence of who she was—her warmth, her kindness, her infectious laugh—was still very much present. By the time I stood up to leave, giving her a tight hug goodbye, my initial devastation had transformed into a bittersweet acceptance. I understood that Alzheimer’s might eventually erase my name from her mind, but it couldn’t erase the affection between us. I had to learn to love her exactly as she was in the present moment, rather than the person she used to be.
1 What does the writer highlight about her grandmother’s house in the first paragraph?
(A) It was a place where she had always felt secure and understood.
(B) It was filled with old clocks that frequently needed repairing.
(C) It smelled strongly of the crisp, fresh autumn air outside.
(D) It was the only place she could go to escape her parents’ rules.
2 How did Chloe react to her grandmother’s minor mistakes early in the visit?
(A) She was annoyed that she had to listen to the same story twice.
(B) She dismissed them as typical consequences of getting older.
(C) She tried to correct her when she talked about the postman.
(D) She became deeply worried that her grandmother had forgotten a word.
3 What does the word ‘It‘ refer to in the third paragraph?
(A) The photograph of Chloe’s graduation ceremony.
(B) The chilling wave of heartbreak she experienced.
(C) The unexpected question her grandmother asked her.
(D) The deep concentration on her grandmother’s face.
4 What can be inferred about Gran’s reaction after Chloe reminded her of her name?
(A) She started crying because she realised her mind was wandering.
(B) She became very angry and told Chloe not to be silly.
(C) She was completely unaware that she had made a serious mistake.
(D) She tried to make light of the situation to cover up her confusion.
5 What caused Chloe’s perspective to change later in the afternoon?
(A) She noticed that her grandmother’s recent memories were returning to normal.
(B) She experienced a moment of her grandmother’s enduring sense of joy.
(C) She decided it was better to forget about their shared history entirely.
(D) She saw that her grandmother was suddenly able to remember her name.
6 What is the main message conveyed in the final paragraph?
(A) It is important to appreciate and connect with people as they are right now.
(B) Alzheimer’s disease will inevitably destroy all meaningful family relationships.
(C) People should make an effort to visit their elderly relatives much more often.
(D) Remembering the past clearly is the best way to cope with a serious illness.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 A: The text states that the cottage “represented safety” and that Gran “listened to my endless teenage grievances with unwavering patience,” meaning Chloe felt secure and understood. Distractor B uses the exact word “clocks” but invents the idea that they needed repair. Distractor C is a false connection; the air was crisp, but the house smelled of “cinnamon biscuits”. Distractor D is an over-inference not mentioned in the text.
2 B: The writer notes that she “easily brushed these minor lapses aside as normal signs of ageing.” Distractor A is an opposite feeling; she wasn’t annoyed. Distractor C is unstated; there is no mention of her correcting her grandmother. Distractor D is the opposite of the text, as she actively brushed off the fact that Gran forgot the word for ‘birdbath’.
3 C: The preceding sentence features Gran asking, “…whose daughter are you exactly? Have you come far?” The pronoun “It” refers to this shocking inquiry that dismantled Chloe’s world. Distractors A, B, and D are all nouns or phrases present in the paragraph, but they do not grammatically or logically fit the description of being something that “dismantled my world in an instant” in the context of the sentence.
4 D: The text says Gran “chuckled, waving her hand dismissively” and then “smoothly changed the subject.” This implies she was trying to brush it off and make light of the lapse. Distractor A is a false match; Chloe was fighting tears, not Gran. Distractor B is a misinterpretation; Gran says “Don’t be silly” in a light-hearted, dismissive way, not in anger. Distractor C contradicts the text, which states a “flash of recognition finally pierced through.”
5 B: Chloe’s perspective shifts when her grandmother “delightfully recounted a childhood memory… and her familiar, joyous laughter filled the room.” Distractor A is false; she remembered a memory from “fifty years ago,” not recent events. Distractor C is the opposite of the text; she mourns the loss of their history, but doesn’t decide to intentionally forget it. Distractor D is unstated and incorrect; Gran’s memory of the present wasn’t returning.
6 A: The concluding thought is: “I had to learn to love her exactly as she was in the present moment, rather than the person she used to be.” Distractor B uses extreme language (“inevitably destroy all”) and contradicts the text, which says the disease “couldn’t erase the affection between us.” Distractor C is a reasonable real-world statement but is too general and not the specific conclusion of this text. Distractor D is the direct opposite of the writer’s realization that “clinging stubbornly to the past would only ruin the precious time”.