Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – Life Lessons & Personal Growth 3

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

You are going to read an article about four young people reflecting on a time they judged someone based on a stereotype and were proven completely wrong.

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

Which person

1   states that someone’s choice of clothing led to an incorrect assumption about their intellect?

2   was astonished to learn about an individual’s highly compassionate career choice?

3   was helped out of a stressful predicament related to their university studies?

4   initially assumed that collaborating with someone would be a highly uninteresting experience?

5   confesses to deliberately staying away from someone due to feeling physically intimidated?

6   discovered that someone used an exhilarating activity to relieve the strain of their education?

7   wrongly believed that someone would be entirely incapable of using contemporary gadgets?

8   witnessed someone taking charge and succeeding during a failing workplace negotiation?

9   experienced a shift in perspective as a result of a clumsy mishap in a public place?

10   concluded that observing someone in just one context gives a severely limited view of their character?

More Than Meets the Eye

A Liam

When Mr. Henderson moved in next door, I immediately took it for granted that he would be the stereotypical grumpy older man. With his tweed jackets and slow, deliberate walk, he seemed completely out of touch with the modern world. I assumed he’d spend his days complaining about noise and struggling to operate a smartphone. I couldn’t have been more wrong. The turning point came when my laptop crashed right before a major university deadline. I was panicking on the front porch when he wandered over. To my absolute astonishment, he didn’t just offer sympathy; he offered to fix it. It turned out he was a retired software developer who had been coding since the 1980s. Within an hour, he had retrieved my lost files and even upgraded my operating system. We ended up having a fascinating chat about the evolution of artificial intelligence. I felt incredibly foolish for having underestimated him based purely on his age and appearance.

B Maya

I admit that I tend to make snap judgments, and my experience with Bruno was a classic example. He started coming to my local café every Tuesday—a towering guy with broad shoulders, a shaved head, and arms covered in elaborate tattoos. I automatically assumed he was a tough, unapproachable character, perhaps someone involved in a rough crowd. I actually used to avoid sitting near him because of his fierce exterior. Then, one afternoon, I accidentally dropped my coffee cup, shattering it everywhere. Bruno leaped up instantly, not to complain, but to help me clean up the mess with remarkable gentleness. While we were sweeping, I noticed a tiny, beautifully hand-knitted sweater sticking out of his bag. He sheepishly explained that he is a neonatal nurse and knits clothes for premature babies to help him unwind. I was completely taken aback and deeply ashamed of my initial prejudice.

C Chloe

During my first term at university, I was paired with Sarah for a history project. She wore thick glasses, always sat at the front of the lecture hall, and barely spoke above a whisper. I quickly labelled her as a predictable bookworm who rarely left the library and had zero sense of adventure. I was convinced working with her would be efficient but exceptionally dull. However, my perception was shattered when I bumped into her at a local skate park over the weekend. Far from the quiet student I knew, she was effortlessly performing complex aerial tricks on a skateboard, surrounded by a group of cheering friends. She spotted me and confidently skated over, explaining that the adrenaline rush helped her cope with academic stress. It was a massive wake-up call for me. I realised that you can never truly know what makes someone tick if you only see them in one specific environment.

D Sam

When Jessica joined our marketing team, I struggled to take her seriously. She was invariably dressed in flawless designer outfits, with immaculate makeup and a seemingly endless obsession with social media trends. I unfairly concluded that she was entirely superficial and lacked the strategic mindset required for our complex campaigns. I assumed she’d only be useful for basic visual tasks. However, during a high-pressure meeting with a demanding client, our pitch started falling apart. While the rest of us panicked, Jessica calmly stepped in. She delivered a razor-sharp, data-driven analysis of the market that completely turned the negotiation around. She had thoroughly researched the client’s financial history and anticipated their objections perfectly. Not only did she save the contract, but she also proved that caring about your appearance has absolutely no bearing on your capability. I definitely learned my lesson about judging a book by its cover.

Reading 2

You are going to read an article about four students sharing how a period of severe financial difficulty in their family drastically changed their attitude towards money.

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

Which student

1   carefully monitors their financial outgoings on a regular basis?

2   has made a firm decision to avoid getting into debt?

3   altered their professional ambitions to guarantee a reliable income?

4   points out that having fun is not dependent on spending cash?

5   deliberately chooses to buy things that are not brand new?

6   expresses remorse about how they used to waste their personal funds?

7   decided to find employment to help support their parents economically?

8   mentions having to move to a less expensive property?

9   was taken aback by the suddenness of their family’s economic crisis?

10   places greater importance on shared experiences than on material goods?

Money Changes Everything

A Leo

Before my dad’s manufacturing company went bankrupt, I took my weekly allowance entirely for granted. If I saw a new video game I wanted, I simply bought it, without giving it a second thought. However, I was completely caught off guard by how rapidly our lifestyle had to change when the business failed. We went from living comfortably to struggling to pay the electricity bill in a matter of months. Looking back, I feel guilty about pouring so much cash down the drain on useless gadgets. Now, my entire perspective has shifted. I’ve become incredibly meticulous with my money. I use an application on my phone to keep track of every single penny that comes in and goes out. While my friends still splash out on designer clothes, I always look for bargains. Although my parents have finally bounced back financially, that challenging period taught me that economic security can vanish overnight.

B Maya

When my mum was made redundant three years ago, our household income was slashed in half. Seeing the toll it took on my parents, I couldn’t just sit around, so I immediately applied for a weekend job at a local café to contribute to the grocery bills. Earning my own wage was a real eye-opener; it made me realise just how many hours of hard work it takes to afford a pair of trainers! Before the crisis, I firmly believed that weekends were for going to the cinema or shopping at the mall. Now, I recognise that you don’t need a fat wallet to enjoy life. We started going for long walks in the countryside and having picnics. I came to terms with the fact that creating memories with my family is far more rewarding than accumulating the latest fashion accessories. I still work at the café, but I now save most of my wages.

C Tariq

A few years ago, my family went through a rough patch when my father fell seriously ill. Since he couldn’t work, my parents had to rely on credit cards to keep our heads above water for over a year. I watched them drown in paperwork, constantly stressed by the sheer volume of what they owed to the banks. Witnessing that anxiety first-hand left a lasting impression on me. If my father hadn’t become ill, I probably wouldn’t have understood the dangers of borrowing. Consequently, I’ve sworn to myself that I will never borrow money or buy anything on credit, no matter how tempting it might be. To stick to this rule, I’ve had to completely rethink my shopping habits. I now exclusively shop at charity stores or browse online auction sites for pre-owned items. Some teenagers might feel embarrassed about not wearing brand-new gear, but I wear my thrift-store finds with pride.

D Chloe

The economic downturn hit my family incredibly hard, eventually forcing us to sell our spacious house and relocate to a cramped apartment on the other side of town. Leaving my childhood home was devastating, but it served as a harsh wake-up call. I used to be a very carefree person who dreamt of becoming a freelance artist. I didn’t care much about earning a high salary, as long as I was doing what I loved. However, living through that period of profound uncertainty completely altered my priorities. I realised that I desperately wanted to build a secure foundation for my future. As a result, I decided to switch my university application from fine arts to business and accounting. While some people might think my new career path sounds a bit dull, having the guarantee of a steady paycheck is absolutely essential to me now. I’ll still paint, but strictly as a hobby.

Exercises:   123456