Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – Musical Journeys & Creative Hobbies 7

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

You are going to read an article about four teenagers describing their obsession with collecting vintage vinyl records and the superiority of analog sound.

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 modern listening habits make people less focused on the music?

2   takes pleasure in the audio flaws that are typical of this format?

3   highlights the importance of the supplementary material included with the music?

4   describes a specific instance of good fortune while browsing?

5   enjoys repairing and maintaining the machinery used to play the music?

6   considers the act of playing a record to be a deliberate, calming routine?

7   admits that building their collection demands a significant financial commitment?

8   values the shared camaraderie among fellow enthusiasts?

9   initially acquired their music from someone they are related to?

10   gains satisfaction from rescuing discarded items from obscurity?

Spinning Back in Time: The Teenagers Championing Vinyl

A Liam

To be honest, my obsession with vinyl probably started as a rebellion against streaming. With digital platforms, people have a tendency to skip halfway through a track if it doesn’t instantly grab them, which completely ruins the artist’s intended journey. Putting on a record, however, forces you to slow down. I absolutely adore the entire ritual—carefully removing the disc from its sleeve, dropping the needle, and actually sitting back to listen. The sound is incredibly warm and full-bodied, possessing a rich depth you simply cannot find in compressed audio files. I must admit, keeping up with this hobby isn’t cheap, and it demands a substantial financial commitment. I frequently end up blowing most of my part-time wages on vintage albums. If I hadn’t taken on weekend shifts, I definitely wouldn’t be able to afford it. Nevertheless, the authentic, superior audio quality means I have absolutely no regrets about the cost.

B Maya

For me, the real thrill lies in the hunt. While some of my peers buy brand-new reissues, I much prefer digging through dusty crates in charity shops or flea markets. There is an unparalleled rush in unearthing a classic album that has been sitting untouched for decades and giving it a new lease of life. People frequently throw away absolute masterpieces, completely unaware of their worth. Just last month, I stumbled upon a pristine first pressing of a 1970s rock album tucked away in a cardboard box. It was priced at a mere fifty pence! If the shop owner had realised its true value, it would have been locked in a glass cabinet. Naturally, a lot of what you find is scratched and unplayable, but that just makes the genuine treasures even sweeter. Even if an album cover just vaguely catches my eye, I’ll buy it to explore a genre I’ve never considered before.

C Ethan

I’ve always been surrounded by music, but my passion for analog sound really took off when my grandfather gifted me his entire collection. He had carefully preserved hundreds of records from the sixties and seventies in his attic. Brushing off the dust and playing them on his old turntable was a revelation. What captivates me most isn’t just the superior, organic sound, but the tangible nature of the format. A tiny digital thumbnail on a screen simply cannot compete with holding a twelve-inch cardboard sleeve. I spend hours pouring over the intricate artwork, the printed lyrics, and the extensive liner notes. It provides a fascinating insight into the historical context of the music. While my friends are satisfied with background noise from their phones, I feel that holding the physical product makes the listening experience significantly more immersive and respectful of the musicians’ original vision.

D Chloe

Some people complain about the background noise associated with vinyl, but I actually believe those subtle crackles and pops add an undeniable character to the music. It serves as a reminder that you are listening to a physical object interacting with a stylus, rather than a sterile, computer-generated file. Beyond the superior acoustics, I’m deeply fascinated by the mechanical side of things. I’ve taught myself how to restore broken turntables, replacing worn-out belts and aligning delicate needles. It is incredibly satisfying to repair a discarded piece of machinery. Furthermore, collecting has introduced me to a fantastic network of like-minded enthusiasts. I regularly attend record fairs where we swap albums, trade recommendations, and debate the merits of different audio setups. I used to think of music as a solitary pursuit, but the community I’ve discovered through this vintage medium has genuinely been the highlight of my teenage years.

Reading 2

You are going to read an article about four young adults sharing the vulnerability of writing their own original songs and playing them for an audience for the first time.

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 were anxious about how their private thoughts might be perceived?

2   discovered that an accidental technical error did not ruin the performance?

3   purposely opted to debut their music to a crowd of complete strangers?

4   describes physical symptoms of stage fright that could be seen by others?

5   was deeply comforted when the audience related to the events described in the lyrics?

6   initially mistook the audience’s silence for a negative reaction?

7   acknowledges that they had made the instrumental part unnecessarily complex?

8   felt strongly tempted to play a well-known hit instead of their own material?

9   states that they have abandoned the desire to give a flawless performance?

10   relied on repetitive practice to save them when their memory suddenly failed?

Sharing the Chords: Our First Original Performances

A Liam

When I finally decided to share my own music, I invited a handful of close friends to my living room. I didn’t want to face a crowd of complete strangers just yet. My lyrics are basically pages torn straight from my diary, and I was incredibly anxious about how such intimate reflections would be judged. Before I strummed the first chord, I was convinced they would find my private thoughts trivial or overly dramatic. I even warned them that I might make a few technical errors, though thankfully I managed to play it flawlessly. As the final note faded, my best friend told me the song perfectly captured exactly how he had been feeling lately. Hearing that someone else identified with the life events I’d described was profoundly comforting. It was a massive weight off my shoulders, and it suddenly made the terrifying vulnerability of songwriting feel completely worthwhile.

B Chloe

I’ve always been a bit of a perfectionist, which can be a real hindrance when you’re a musician. For my first gig at a local festival, I had composed a track with a terribly intricate finger-picking pattern. Looking back, I have to acknowledge that I made the guitar arrangement far too complicated for a debut performance. A singer before me had played a well-known pop anthem, which the crowd loved, making me even more nervous. Halfway through my original song, my worst nightmare came true: my fingers slipped, and I completely botched the bridge. I braced myself for the silence or the groans, but surprisingly, nobody seemed to care. The audience just smiled and clapped along to the rhythm. Coming to terms with that slip-up was a crucial learning curve for me. It taught me that audiences connect with genuine emotion, not mechanical accuracy. Since that day, I’ve given up chasing an impossibly flawless set, choosing instead to just enjoy the moment.

C Mateo

Rather than performing for my family, who would undoubtedly shower me with unearned praise, I made a point of going to an open mic night in a neighbouring town. I wanted genuine feedback, so I deliberately debuted my material to a room full of people I had never met before. My song was quite metaphorical, so I wasn’t too worried about exposing my deepest secrets. When I started singing, the entire pub went dead quiet. For the first two minutes, my stomach was in knots; I took it for granted that the lack of noise meant they were horribly bored and wishing I’d get off the stage. I was entirely wrong. It turned out they were actually listening intently to the narrative of the song. When I finished, the applause was deafening. It was a profound realisation that sometimes, a quiet crowd is the ultimate compliment. It definitely boosted my self-esteem as a composer.

D Jasmine

The moment the spotlight hit my face at the school talent show, the physical symptoms of my stage fright were impossible to ignore. My knees were visibly trembling, and my palms were sweating so profusely that I was terrified I would drop my guitar pick. In the seconds before stepping up to the microphone, I was completely overwhelmed by the urge to just play a safe, familiar chart-topper instead of my own unproven composition. Somehow, I forced myself to stick to the original plan. However, as soon as I opened my mouth to sing the first verse, my mind went completely blank. I literally couldn’t remember a single lyric. Fortunately, I had rehearsed the piece so relentlessly in my bedroom that sheer muscle memory took over. My hands just started playing the chords automatically, and a few seconds later, the words miraculously came back to me. Overcoming that overwhelming panic was the most empowering experience of my life.

Exercises:   123456