Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – Extreme Expeditions & World Records 4

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

You are going to read an article about four extreme athletes sharing their ultimate motivation for risking their lives: raising millions for a charity close to their hearts, rather than seeking personal glory.

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 would have retired from their perilous activities if not for their chosen charity?

2   used the memory of the people they were helping to survive a life-threatening situation?

3   expresses astonishment at the sheer volume of money donated by unknown individuals?

4   rejected lucrative commercial opportunities in order to maintain the integrity of their campaign?

5   confesses that being separated from their relatives during the challenge caused them distress?

6   is motivated to assist individuals dealing with a physical disability they themselves once faced?

7   observes that journalists often fail to understand why they avoid the spotlight?

8   insists that the true heroes of their expedition are the individuals who financed the cause?

9   believes that psychological resilience is far more crucial than bodily fitness in their chosen environment?

10   states that the death of a close relative sparked the idea for their monumental fundraising effort?

Risking It All for a Cause

A Liam – High-Altitude Mountaineer

People frequently assume that anyone scaling the world’s most treacherous peaks must be driven by a massive ego. When I reached the summit of K2, reporters told me I must have been thrilled by the personal glory. They simply couldn’t grasp why I actively shied away from the cameras. The truth is, standing in the limelight has never appealed to me. My sole motivation for enduring such brutal conditions is the children’s hospital back home. Years ago, my younger sister was treated there, and I vowed to raise two million pounds for a new wing. During my last ascent, I was caught in a terrifying avalanche. I was buried waist-deep in snow, on the verge of hypothermia. If I hadn’t vividly pictured the faces of those brave patients, I would certainly have surrendered to the cold. The media might focus on the records, but I take it for granted that the real triumph is the money we’ve raised.

B Sofia – Deep-Sea Free Diver

Plunging hundreds of metres into the ocean on a single breath takes a devastating toll on the human body. Frankly, the sheer terror of the abyss is something I struggle to come to terms with every single time I dive. If I hadn’t partnered with a mental health charity following my brother’s severe struggles, I would have undoubtedly walked away from this hazardous sport years ago. Because free diving has recently gained immense popularity, I’ve been inundated with offers from sports brands. However, I’ve strictly turned down these highly profitable contracts because I refuse to let commercial interests overshadow the cause. I’m not doing this to become a wealthy influencer or to see my face on billboards. Every ounce of publicity must be directed towards raising awareness and funds. Although navigating the immense underwater pressure is fraught with danger, knowing that the millions we generate could literally save lives makes the unbearable risks totally worth it.

C Marcus – Solo Ocean Rower

Spending ninety days entirely alone rowing across the relentless Atlantic Ocean is a gruelling psychological test. The journey was conceived shortly after my mother passed away from a rare form of cancer; her tragic absence was the ultimate catalyst for my campaign to fund pioneering medical research. Before setting off, I was plagued by intense guilt about leaving my wife and children behind for months. It must have been incredibly tough for them, waking up every day wondering if my boat had capsized. Many commentators have praised my physical endurance, yet I genuinely feel that the credit doesn’t belong to me at all. The monumental success of this project lies entirely with the thousands of people who dug deep into their pockets to finance the research. The staggering three million pounds that was raised was achieved through their generosity, not my rowing. It’s their collective effort that will ultimately lead to a breakthrough, rather than my solitary adventure.

D Elena – Desert Ultramarathon Runner

Running consecutive ultramarathons through the scorching Sahara is an ordeal that completely breaks you down. What most people fail to realise is that surviving in fifty-degree heat requires far more mental fortitude than cardiovascular fitness. When your muscles are screaming and your core temperature soars, it is your mind that dictates whether you take another step. My motivation is deeply personal: I run to provide state-of-the-art prosthetic limbs for children. Having successfully bounced back from a severe leg injury in my twenties, I know exactly how vital mobility is for a child’s independence. While I anticipated some support from friends and family, I was utterly blown away by the massive influx of donations from complete strangers. Discovering that anonymous well-wishers had contributed over a million dollars left me speechless. Whenever I hit the proverbial wall during a race, reminding myself of those incredibly generous individuals completely revitalises me, allowing me to push through the unimaginable agony.

Reading 2

You are going to read an article about four desert explorers talking about the deceptive beauty of the Sahara and the desperate, terrifying search for a water source when their equipment failed.

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 the vivid colours of the sky made them forget how dangerous the region is?

2   used a traditional method of following local wildlife to locate a water source?

3   explains how a mechanical issue with their vehicle led to them wasting their water?

4   describes the unsettling psychological experience of seeing illusions due to thirst?

5   relied on an outdated geographical document to find their way to safety?

6   was rescued by a sudden and fortunate change in the weather?

7   states that a modern piece of route-finding technology stopped working because of extreme temperatures?

8   notes that the absolute quiet of the desert transformed from calming to frightening?

9   lost their vital water supply because their storage equipment was physically compromised?

10   had to physically excavate the ground to reach a hidden source of hydration?

Mirages and Miracles: Surviving the Sahara

A Omar

The Sahara is a landscape of profound, almost hypnotic beauty. I remember standing on a towering dune, captivated by the endless sea of golden sand, completely oblivious to how quickly things can go wrong. Our crisis started when the intense midday heat completely fried our main GPS device, leaving us entirely disorientated. We had left our 4×4 miles behind to explore on foot, meaning our main water reserves were out of reach. Panic quickly set in as the blazing sun beat down on us. I knew that wandering aimlessly would be a fatal mistake. Relying on my basic survival training, I forced myself to calm down and look for clues. I eventually spotted a faint set of camel tracks leading towards a rocky outcrop. Knowing that these creatures instinctively move towards moisture, we followed the trail for two exhausting hours. Just as we were about to collapse, we stumbled upon a tiny, shaded rock pool. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to keep us going until we found our way back.

B Tariq

Nothing prepares you for the sheer scale of the Sahara. At dawn, the dunes glow with a spectacular, fiery orange that takes your breath away. However, that beauty is incredibly deceptive. Our nightmare unfolded when our primary water filtration pump simply fell apart in my hands. We had plenty of dirty well water, but no safe way to drink it. As severe dehydration took hold, the intense heat began to play cruel tricks on my mind. I started seeing shimmering blue lakes in the distance, only to realise they were nothing but cruel mirages blurring the horizon. I checked my map constantly, but there was no water shown for fifty miles. We were virtually out of hope when the sky suddenly darkened. Out of nowhere, a freak, torrential downpour soaked the desert. We frantically laid out our tarpaulins and collected the precious rainwater. It was an incredibly rare event, but that brief, miraculous storm essentially saved our lives.

C Elena

For the first few days, the Sahara felt like a peaceful sanctuary. I was mesmerised by the absolute tranquility; far away from the bustling city, the silence was initially incredibly soothing. But when the seam on my main water bladder split, draining our entire supply into the thirsty sand, that same quiet suddenly felt deeply menacing. It was as if the desert was holding its breath, waiting for us to make a mistake. We couldn’t rely on finding wildlife to guide us, as the area seemed completely barren. Instead, I remembered an antique, hand-drawn map I had studied before the expedition, which detailed ancient nomadic trading routes. Desperate, I tried to match the surrounding landmarks to my memory of the document. Miraculously, I recognised a distinctive cleft in a distant ridge. We hiked towards it and discovered a tiny, concealed oasis tucked away in a narrow canyon. It was a terrifying ordeal that taught me never to underestimate such an unforgiving environment.

D Sam

When the sun sets over the Sahara, the sky erupts into an unbelievable palette of purple and crimson. It’s so visually striking that you completely forget you are standing in one of the most hostile places on Earth. Our wake-up call was brutal. We were driving across a seemingly flat expanse when the radiator on our truck suddenly blew. Not only were we stranded, but in a desperate attempt to cool the engine, we had foolishly poured our drinking water into the radiator before realising the hose was completely severed. Even though our GPS was working perfectly, knowing our exact location didn’t help without hydration. Dehydration sets in alarmingly fast. Relying on sheer instinct, I noticed a slight depression in the sand that looked like a prehistoric, dried-up riverbed. Dropping to my knees, I began frantically digging with my bare hands. After scraping away a metre of dry sand, the ground finally felt damp. We managed to squeeze enough muddy water from the soil to survive until a passing patrol spotted our flares.

Exercises:   123456