Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – Life Lessons & Personal Growth 9

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

You are going to read an article about four teenagers sharing the realization that holding onto resentment is like drinking poison, after finally forgiving a bitter enemy.

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

Which person

1   implies that maintaining their anger required a significant amount of effort?

2   discovered the background reasons for their enemy’s hostile behaviour?

3   felt that their grudge was negatively impacting their future prospects?

4   initially thought that moving on meant accepting defeat?

5   was deeply hurt by someone revealing private information?

6   mentions that letting go of their bitterness brought an instant sense of freedom?

7   realised their anger was allowing someone else to dictate their mood?

8   acknowledges that their own performance improved after making peace?

9   confronted the individual directly to find out what was wrong?

10   notes that the individual who upset them used to be a very close companion?

Letting Go of the Poison

A Leo

For a long time, I couldn’t even look at Sam. We had been thick as thieves since primary school, which made his betrayal all the more devastating. When he carelessly leaked a highly sensitive secret about my family to our classmates, I was entirely crushed. I immediately cut him off and swore I’d never speak to him again. For months, I glared at him in the corridors and went out of my way to avoid him. However, I didn’t anticipate how exhausting it would be. Constantly fueling that level of hostility was utterly draining; it felt like I was running a marathon every day just to stay angry. Eventually, I realised that my bitterness was only punishing me, while he seemed perfectly fine. I didn’t officially excuse his behaviour, but I made a conscious decision to stop caring. The moment I came to terms with what had happened and stopped investing my energy in resentment, I finally found peace.

B Mia

My feud with Chloe was entirely academic. We were both aiming for the top spot in our year, and the competition quickly turned toxic. She would constantly make snide remarks about my assignments, and I retaliated by trying to outdo her at every turn. It got to the point where my obsession with beating her overshadowed my actual desire to learn. I was so consumed by resentment that I started losing sleep, and ironically, my focus slipped, threatening my university applications. I genuinely believed that if I dropped my guard, she would somehow sabotage my chances. But one day, after bombing a mock exam, it hit me: holding onto this grudge was like drinking poison and expecting Chloe to fall ill. I decided to step back and simply focus on my own progress. Although we never became friends, calling a truce changed everything. Unsurprisingly, my academic results bounced back almost immediately once I let go of that bitter rivalry.

C Toby

Playing for the school football team should have been the highlight of my year, but Jake made it a nightmare. He was our captain and took every opportunity to belittle me on the pitch. His constant criticism made my blood boil, and I spent my evenings plotting ways to get him kicked off the squad. I held onto this fierce grudge, convinced he was just inherently cruel. The breaking point came after a particularly disastrous match. I’d had enough and pulled him aside in the changing rooms, demanding to know what his problem was. To my shock, he broke down. He confided that he was facing intense pressure from his demanding parents and was taking his frustration out on me. I had been completely unaware of his domestic struggles. Hearing that shifted my entire perspective. I realised my intense anger was only adding to a cycle of misery, and by offering him a bit of empathy, the tension evaporated.

D Zara

After a falling out over a petty misunderstanding, a girl named Lily started spreading vicious rumours about me online. I was absolutely furious and spent hours scrolling through social media, agonizing over every spiteful comment. I refused to let it go because, in my mind, moving on was synonymous with giving up. I thought that if I didn’t stay angry, it would mean she had won the battle. Consequently, I carried that heavy burden of resentment everywhere, allowing her to live rent-free in my head. I was essentially handing over the remote control to my emotions. One evening, my older sister pointed out that Lily had probably forgotten all about the conflict, while I was still letting it ruin my weekends. That was a massive wake-up call. I hit the block button and consciously chose to forgive her—not for her sake, but for mine. The relief was instantaneous; it felt as though a physical weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

Reading 2

You are going to read an article about four students describing the psychological weight of living a double life to hide a secret from their strict parents.

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

Which person

1   experiences a strong sense of remorse when their parents express pride in them?

2   states that their parents’ strict expectations are driven by a desire for financial stability?

3   occasionally contemplates abandoning their secret life to relieve the stress?

4   depends on the cooperation of peers to maintain their cover story?

5   mentions that the effort of hiding their true self is physically draining?

6   acknowledges that their deception involves misusing funds provided by their parents?

7   feels isolated because their family is unacquainted with their true character?

8   is fearful of an approaching event when they will no longer be able to hide reality?

9   falsely believed that managing two separate lives wouldn’t be very difficult?

10   confesses that their secret commitment has led to a decline in their school marks?

The Heavy Burden of a Double Life

A Leo

My parents sacrificed everything to build a life here, which is why they are so uncompromising about my future. They insist I become a corporate lawyer, firmly believing that economic security is the only genuine measure of success. I couldn’t bear to disappoint them, so I enrolled in law school, but my true passion lies in the theatre. For the past year, I’ve been secretly attending an evening drama academy. To finance this, I’ve been using the generous allowance my parents give me for private law tutors. Initially, I was convinced that keeping this under wraps would be a walk in the park. However, the psychological toll of constantly lying is immense. Every time I cash their cheques, a wave of shame washes over me. I’m living a lie, and the constant fear of being found out makes it incredibly hard to concentrate on anything. If I had known how stressful this double life would be, I might have reconsidered my choices.

B Maya

Coming from a long line of doctors, it was simply expected that I would follow in their footsteps. My parents are incredibly strict and would never have accepted any alternative. Two years ago, unable to cope with the rigorous medical curriculum, I secretly transferred to graphic design. It was the best decision for my mental health, but it initiated a nightmare of deception. The hardest part isn’t the coursework; it’s the profound guilt I experience during family dinners. Whenever my parents boast to relatives about their ‘future surgeon daughter’, it breaks my heart. I feel absolutely terrible receiving their praise under false pretences. I know I am living on borrowed time. University graduation is only six months away, and the realisation that my secret will inevitably be exposed terrifies me. They are bound to find out when they show up to the ceremony and see me receiving an arts degree. The anxiety of anticipating their reaction keeps me awake at night.

C Tariq

My parents hold very traditional views and have rigid expectations about who I should associate with. For the past eighteen months, I have been in a committed relationship with someone from a completely different cultural background. If my parents were to find out, the fallout would be catastrophic. Consequently, I’ve had to construct an elaborate web of lies. I frequently rely on my close group of friends to back up my stories, claiming I’m studying at their houses when I’m actually out on a date. While I love my partner deeply, the emotional burden of this double life is overwhelming. I often look at my parents and realise they have no idea who I truly am or what matters to me. This lack of authentic connection makes me feel incredibly isolated, even when sitting in the same room as them. It’s a tragic situation; in order to keep the peace in our household, I have sacrificed any chance of an honest relationship with my family.

D Chloe

My parents are obsessed with academic excellence and consider anything unrelated to studying a complete waste of time. What they don’t know is that I am the captain of a highly successful, competitive esports team. Because my parents monitor my daytime activities closely, my team practice sessions have to take place in the dead of night. I am constantly burning the candle at both ends, and the severe lack of sleep is absolutely exhausting. Trying to look alert at the breakfast table after getting only two hours of rest takes a massive physical toll on me. Unsurprisingly, my academic performance has taken a nosedive recently, which has led to even more pressure from my parents. The psychological weight of juggling these two worlds is so crushing that I have frequently considered throwing in the towel and quitting the team altogether. However, gaming is where my true talent lies, and stepping down would feel like giving up on my dreams.

Exercises:   123456