Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – Extreme Expeditions & World Records 6

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

You are going to read an article about four solo sailors sharing how they dealt with immense waves, broken masts, and the sheer terror of navigating through a violent tropical hurricane entirely alone.

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

Which person/section

1   mentions having to take over the navigation of the boat by hand?

2   admits to making a poor decision regarding meteorological updates before the event?

3   describes using a makeshift repair to keep their vessel functional?

4   experienced a psychological boost from maintaining a seemingly insignificant daily habit?

5   experienced a brief period where they lost the will to keep fighting?

6   remarks on the stark difference in the environment once the worst had passed?

7   felt overwhelmed by the sheer volume of water entering their living space?

8   highlights the psychological impact of the deafening noises created by the storm?

9   acknowledges feeling completely insignificant compared to the power of the ocean?

10   lost the ability to contact anyone in the outside world?

Surviving the Swell: Solo Sailors in the Eye of the Storm

A Arthur

When the hurricane hit, it didn’t build gradually; it slammed into my yacht with the force of a freight train. I had been sailing solo for weeks, but nothing could have prepared me for those colossal swells. In the dead of night, a towering wave crashed onto the deck, snapping the mainmast like a twig. Panic threatened to overwhelm me, but I knew that freezing up would inevitably cost me my life. I had no choice but to drag myself onto the slippery deck in the pouring rain and secure the wreckage. Using spare ropes and a few metal poles, I managed to rig a temporary splint to stabilise the structure. It was an incredibly dangerous manoeuvre, but it kept the boat afloat. Sitting in the cabin afterwards, soaking wet and utterly exhausted, I looked out at the churning black water. In that moment, I grasped just how microscopic and fragile my existence was amidst the staggering, merciless power of the natural world.

B Beatrice

The sheer terror of a tropical cyclone isn’t just about the colossal size of the waves; it’s the relentless, aggressive soundtrack that accompanies them. The wind didn’t just blow; it shrieked like a jet engine directly in my ear, making it utterly impossible to think straight. The noise was so intense that it felt physically crushing. Shortly after the storm intensified, a lightning strike blew out my radio and satellite systems, completely severing my ties to civilisation. Being trapped in a violently tossing cabin with no way to call for help was a sobering reality. To stop my mind from spiralling into total despair, I forced myself to stick to a rigid schedule. I insisted on brewing a cup of instant coffee at exactly the same time every morning, despite the boat pitching wildly. That trivial, ordinary task grounded me. It gave me a tiny sliver of control over my terrifying environment, which was absolutely crucial for my mental survival.

C Callum

I’d weathered rough seas before, but this hurricane was a completely different beast. The most terrifying moment came when a massive wall of water broke over the stern, flooding the cabin. Suddenly, I was standing knee-deep in freezing seawater, frantically scooping it out with a plastic bucket to prevent the yacht from sinking. To make matters worse, the electronic steering system short-circuited. I had to rush to the helm and physically grip the wheel, battling the fierce currents for ten exhausting hours straight. My muscles were screaming in agony, and there was a dark half-hour where my energy evaporated entirely. I slumped against the wheel, genuinely convinced that the ocean had won and I was going to perish. But somehow, the survival instinct kicked in. I dug deep, found a hidden reserve of strength, and dragged myself back to my feet to keep steering. You learn a lot about your own resilience when your back is truly against the wall.

D Diana

In hindsight, I only have myself to blame for the nightmare I endured. A couple of days prior, I had received a marine broadcast suggesting a severe depression was forming, but I foolishly dismissed it as a minor squall and didn’t alter my course. That misjudgement nearly cost me everything. When the hurricane finally engulfed me, it was a terrifying blur of shattered fiberglass and mountainous waves. However, the most bizarre aspect of the entire ordeal was the morning it finally ended. After two days of sheer, violent chaos, the skies cleared abruptly. The ocean, which had been a raging monster trying to swallow me whole, transformed into a tranquil, glittering mirror under the gentle morning sun. The absolute stillness was so profound it was almost unsettling. Stepping out onto the battered deck to survey the extensive damage, I felt an overwhelming wave of relief, mixed with a bitter regret over my own arrogance in underestimating the forecast.

Reading 2

You are going to read an article about four explorers talking about the surprisingly tight bonds and unspoken trust formed with indigenous guides.

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 to having initial reservations about their guide’s competence?

2   highlights the guide’s expertise in using local flora for medical purposes?

3   mentions that amusement was key to overcoming linguistic barriers?

4   talks about the necessity of entirely relinquishing their own authority?

5   describes a life-threatening incident where unspoken communication was vital?

6   maintains an ongoing relationship with the person who led them?

7   accepted that technological devices were useless in that specific environment?

8   was impressed by the guide’s capacity to forecast shifting weather conditions?

9   points out that their survival relied heavily on working together as equals?

10   felt surprisingly secure despite the extremely hostile surroundings?

Silent Footsteps: Finding Trust in the Unmapped Jungle

A Arthur

When I first met Kaelen before heading deep into the Amazon, I must confess I was rather sceptical. He looked far too young to navigate such a perilous region, and I silently questioned whether he was truly up to the task. However, I soon had to eat my words. One afternoon, while we were trekking through dense undergrowth, a sudden downpour turned the ground to mud. Before I could even process what was happening, Kaelen violently shoved me backwards. A massive, venomous snake had been coiled perfectly on the branch I was about to grab. No words were exchanged; he just knew exactly what to do. From that second on, an unbreakable bond of trust was forged. Despite having my high-tech GPS on hand, I realised that his primal instincts were what would actually keep us alive. We didn’t share a common language, but that silent rescue spoke volumes about his character and skill.

B Beatrice

Navigating the Congo Basin is certainly not for the faint-hearted. It is an intensely hostile environment where danger lurks behind every fern. Yet, wandering alongside my guide, Elikia, I experienced an overwhelming sense of reassurance that I had never felt before. Our reliance on each other was absolute, though he was undoubtedly the expert. I quickly discovered that bringing my satellite mapping equipment had been a complete waste of time, as the thick canopy rendered it entirely obsolete. Instead, I relied entirely on Elikia’s ancestral knowledge. Once, when I developed a severe tropical rash, he disappeared into the foliage and returned with a handful of crushed leaves. He applied the makeshift remedy, and within hours, the swelling had vanished. It was a remarkable demonstration of natural healing. We communicated primarily through basic gestures, and his quiet confidence made me feel utterly protected in a place that should have terrified me.

C Conrad

Deep in the unmapped territories of Borneo, I learned that true companionship doesn’t require a shared vocabulary. My local guide, Budi, and I had to rely on a combination of basic hand signals and sheer guesswork. What truly bridged the gap between our two vastly different worlds was a mutual sense of the ridiculous. Whenever we found ourselves knee-deep in swamp water or completely drenched by monsoon rains, we would simply catch each other’s eye and burst out laughing. That shared amusement kept our spirits afloat. Our bond was cemented during a gruelling three-day stretch when our food supplies unexpectedly ran out. We had to work side-by-side, setting traps and foraging for edible roots, functioning as an equal team to stave off starvation. Even now, years after that expedition, we frequently exchange letters through a translator. The deep-rooted trust we built in that jungle has blossomed into a lifelong friendship.

D Diana

As an experienced expedition leader, I am highly accustomed to being the one calling the shots. However, stepping into the remote highlands of Papua New Guinea required a drastic shift in my mindset. I quickly grasped that if I wanted to make it out in one piece, I had to completely surrender my leadership to my indigenous guide, Tariq. Handing over the reins was incredibly daunting at first, but his mastery of the environment soon put me at ease. He possessed an uncanny ability to read the jungle. By simply observing the flight patterns of certain birds or the subtle shifts in the wind, he could accurately predict a severe storm hours before the first drop of rain fell. This allowed us to build secure shelters well in advance. We rarely spoke, yet we developed a rhythmic, silent understanding. Giving up control went against all my training, but it taught me the profound value of absolute trust.

Exercises:   123456