Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – Physical Endurance & Sports 6
Reading 1
You are going to read a magazine article about a woman’s experience kayaking to a nearby island.
For questions 1-6, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.
Paddling Through the Panic
The island of Mallaig lay just two miles off the coast, a rugged jewel of green and grey rising from the sparkling sea. Having recently completed an introductory sea kayaking course, I was eager to put my newfound skills to the test. The forecast had promised exceptionally mild conditions, and as I dragged my bright yellow kayak down the sandy beach, the ocean resembled a vast, flawless mirror. I had convinced myself that reaching the island would simply be a matter of steady paddling, imagining a tranquil morning spent gliding over the water before enjoying a well-deserved picnic on the deserted shore.
For the first forty minutes, the experience matched my idyllic expectations perfectly. The rhythmic splash of the paddles entering the water was the only sound interrupting the profound silence. I found myself completely captivated by the marine life beneath me, occasionally spotting silver fish darting through the vibrant kelp forests. My arms felt strong, and the kayak cut through the water with effortless grace. If I had known how quickly the ocean could alter its character, I might not have lingered so long to admire a passing flock of seabirds. But in that moment, I felt a deep sense of harmony with the environment.
The subtle shift occurred just as I passed the halfway mark. The water, previously so obliging, suddenly felt thick and unyielding, as if I were trying to paddle through liquid concrete. I glanced at my watch and realised with a jolt that I had miscalculated the turn of the tide. The current was now sweeping forcefully out to sea, pushing directly against the nose of my kayak. Despite my frantic efforts to maintain my forward momentum, the rocky outline of the island seemed to be mocking me, refusing to draw any closer. It was a brutal awakening that instantly stripped away any remaining illusions of a relaxing excursion.
A wave of physical exhaustion soon set in, accompanied by a rising tide of panic. My shoulders throbbed with every stroke, and my previously confident movements degenerated into clumsy, desperate splashes. I recalled my instructor mentioning that inexperienced kayakers often underestimate the sheer power of coastal currents. Now, I was experiencing that reality firsthand. I desperately wanted to drop the paddles and let the water take me wherever it pleased, convinced that my muscles were completely incapable of completing the journey. It must have been obvious to anyone watching from the shore that I was struggling to keep the boat in a straight line.
However, surrendering to the ocean wasn’t a viable option. Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to stop fighting the water and start working with my own endurance. I remembered a crucial piece of advice from my training: when brute strength fails, rely on technique. I deliberately slowed my frantic pace, focusing entirely on planting the blade cleanly and using my torso, rather than just my aching arms, to power each stroke. By breaking the intimidating distance down into manageable targets—focusing on reaching a specific lobster buoy, then a jagged rock—I slowly regained a sense of control over my escalating panic.
When the nose of my kayak finally scraped against the pebbly beach of the island, I collapsed forward over my paddle, gasping for air. My arms were trembling so violently that I could barely drag the boat out of the reach of the waves. Yet, as I sat on the shore looking back at the churning stretch of water I had just conquered, a profound sense of pride washed over me. The expedition had been far from the peaceful outing I had originally envisioned. Nevertheless, it taught me that when physical strength inevitably runs out, it is the resilience of the human mind that ultimately keeps you moving forward.
1 Why did the writer decide to kayak to the island of Mallaig?
(A) She wanted to prove to her instructor that she could kayak alone.
(B) She was keen to apply the techniques she had recently learned.
(C) She knew the weather forecast promised a challenging wind.
(D) She wanted to have a picnic on a beach she had visited before.
2 How did the writer feel during the initial part of the journey?
(A) highly focused on reaching her destination as quickly as possible
(B) anxious about the changing behaviour of the ocean currents
(C) annoyed that she had wasted time watching a flock of seabirds
(D) completely at peace with her beautiful natural surroundings
3 What does the word ‘It‘ refer to in paragraph 3?
(A) the realisation that her efforts to move forward were failing
(B) the fact that she had miscalculated the turn of the tide
(C) the sudden thickness of the water surrounding her kayak
(D) the moment she looked at her watch and noticed the time
4 What is implied about the writer in the fourth paragraph?
(A) Her instructor had specifically warned her that her arms were not strong enough.
(B) She had injured her shoulders by using clumsy, desperate paddle strokes.
(C) The sheer power of the water made her feel as though she could not go on.
(D) People on the shore were shouting instructions because she was struggling.
5 How did the writer manage to overcome her panic?
(A) by speeding up her strokes to escape the pull of the current
(B) by relying purely on the remaining strength in her aching arms
(C) by completely changing the final destination she was aiming for
(D) by adopting a more controlled and rhythmic paddling method
6 What is the writer’s main message in the article?
(A) Proper physical training is the most essential part of sea kayaking.
(B) Mental determination is crucial when physical endurance fails.
(C) Kayakers must always pay close attention to the changing tides.
(D) Achieving a goal is less satisfying if the journey is too difficult.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B: The writer states she was “eager to put my newfound skills to the test” after completing an introductory course. Distractor A is an over-inference; she wants to test her skills, not explicitly prove something to her instructor. Distractor C is the opposite; the forecast promised “exceptionally mild conditions”. Distractor D is a partial truth; she wanted a picnic, but it is unstated that she had visited this beach before.
2 D: The text notes that she “felt a deep sense of harmony with the environment,” which aligns with feeling completely at peace. Distractor A is the opposite; she “lingered” to look at birds and wasn’t rushing. Distractor B is a chronological trap; the anxiety happens later in the text. Distractor C is false; she states she might not have lingered if she had known what was coming, but in that initial moment, she was perfectly happy.
3 A: The pronoun ‘It’ refers to the immediately preceding sentence: “refusing to draw any closer.” The brutal awakening was the fact that despite her frantic efforts, she was making no progress toward the island. Distractors B, C, and D are all events that happened earlier in the paragraph, but they are not the specific realization that stripped away her illusions of a relaxing trip at that exact moment.
4 C: The writer explains she “desperately wanted to drop the paddles and let the water take me,” convinced her muscles were “completely incapable of completing the journey.” This shows the water’s power made her want to give up. Distractor A is a partial truth; the instructor warned about currents, but not about her personal arm strength. Distractor B is a false cause; her clumsy strokes were a result of exhaustion, not the cause of an injury. Distractor D is a false match; she assumed people on the shore could see her struggle, but nobody shouted instructions.
5 D: The writer overcame the challenge when she “deliberately slowed my frantic pace, focusing entirely on planting the blade cleanly and using my torso,” which is a controlled and rhythmic method. Distractor A is the opposite; she slowed her pace down. Distractor B is the opposite; she focused on her torso “rather than just my aching arms”. Distractor C is false; she broke the distance into “manageable targets” (like a buoy), but she was still aiming for the same island.
6 B: In the final paragraph, the writer concludes the text by reflecting that “when physical strength inevitably runs out, it is the resilience of the human mind that ultimately keeps you moving forward.” Distractor A is a partial truth but misses the main point; the article focuses on mental resilience over physical strength. Distractor C is good advice mentioned in the text, but it is not the overarching moral of the story. Distractor D is the opposite; despite the difficulty, she felt a “profound sense of pride.”
Reading 2
You are going to read a magazine article about a teenager’s intense mountain biking experience.
For questions 1-6, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.
The Edge of Control
Standing at the summit of Pine Ridge, staring down the notoriously steep trail known simply as ‘The Drop’, my heart was hammering against my ribs. I had spent the entire summer tackling increasingly difficult routes, building up my stamina and honing my technique for this exact moment. My friends, several of whom had already completed the descent, had warned me about the treacherous nature of the terrain. However, I confidently brushed off their concerns, convinced that my upgraded mountain bike and recent practice sessions would be more than enough to see me safely to the bottom. As I secured my helmet and gripped the handlebars, the initial apprehension I felt was rapidly replaced by a powerful surge of adrenaline. I was absolutely ready for the challenge.
The first section of the trail was deceptively forgiving. Pushing off from the starting point, I quickly found a steady rhythm, weaving smoothly between towering pine trees and gliding over exposed roots. The suspension of my bike absorbed the minor bumps effortlessly, and I allowed myself to relax slightly. The crisp mountain air whipped past my face, and the sheer thrill of the speed was intoxicating. I felt completely in tune with my machine, leaning into the gentle curves and pedalling with deliberate force. I foolishly began to assume that the trail’s intimidating reputation had been wildly exaggerated by my peers.
That illusion of safety was abruptly shattered as I entered the middle section of the course. The tree line suddenly fell away, revealing a harsh, almost vertical descent littered with jagged rocks and loose gravel. The trail narrowed dramatically, forcing me to navigate a series of incredibly tight corners. As I approached the sharpest bend, travelling at a much higher speed than intended, I squeezed the brake levers, expecting the familiar, reassuring resistance. Instead, they felt terrifyingly spongy, and the bike continued to accelerate downwards, sliding uncontrollably over the loose stones. This was the exact nightmare scenario I had spent countless nights dreading. A wave of sheer, paralyzing terror washed over me as the edge of the trail rushed up to meet me.
For a split second, my mind went completely blank. My immediate instinct was to squeeze the brakes even harder and rigidly tense up my entire body in preparation for a catastrophic crash. But then, almost miraculously, a piece of advice from my older brother echoed in my head. He had once told me that if you lock the brakes on a steep skid, you are guaranteed to lose your balance. Realising that panicking would only guarantee a severe injury, I forced myself to let go of the brakes slightly. I shifted my weight as far back over the rear wheel as possible and deliberately steered into the skid, desperately hoping the tyres would find some traction on the unstable surface.
It was a huge gamble, but it worked. The thick rubber treads suddenly gripped a solid patch of dirt, violently jerking the bike back into a straight line. I was thrown roughly against the saddle, but I managed to keep my feet firmly on the pedals. Having navigated the dreaded corner, I carefully modulated my speed for the remainder of the descent, my hands trembling uncontrollably all the way down. When I finally skidded to a halt at the base of the mountain, a thick cloud of dust engulfed me. I dropped the bike and fell to my knees, gasping for air.
As the terror slowly faded, it was replaced by a rushing wave of absolute euphoria. I had faced every mountain biker’s worst fear and emerged relatively unscathed. Although the experience had been genuinely terrifying, it also made me feel immensely and undeniably alive. Looking back, I realise that extreme sports are not just about seeking a thrill; they are about discovering how you react when everything goes wrong. If I hadn’t experienced that terrifying loss of control, I wouldn’t have discovered the deep reserve of resilience I possessed. It was a steep learning curve, but one that left me incredibly proud.
1 What was the writer’s attitude before starting the descent?
(A) He felt his previous training had adequately prepared him.
(B) He was terrified by the warnings given by his friends.
(C) He regretted upgrading his mountain bike for the trail.
(D) He was overwhelmed by the treacherous nature of the terrain.
2 How did the writer feel during the initial part of the ride?
(A) He was surprised by how much physical force was required.
(B) He felt the trail’s difficulty had been overstated by others.
(C) He struggled to find a steady rhythm between the pine trees.
(D) He was frustrated that the suspension couldn’t handle the bumps.
3 What does ‘This‘ refer to in paragraph 3?
(A) dropping away from the safety of the tree line
(B) the brakes failing to slow the bike down effectively
(C) navigating a series of incredibly tight corners
(D) dreading a nightmare scenario during the night
4 What did the writer realise during the moment of crisis?
(A) Squeezing the brakes harder would help him regain his balance.
(B) He needed to tense his entire body to safely absorb the impact.
(C) Reacting purely on his initial instinct would lead to an accident.
(D) His older brother had deliberately given him incorrect advice.
5 What happened immediately after the bike regained traction?
(A) The writer fell off his pedals into a thick cloud of dust.
(B) The writer deliberately increased his speed to reach the bottom.
(C) The writer dropped his bike on a solid patch of dirt.
(D) The writer was pushed harshly against the seat of the bike.
6 What is the writer’s main conclusion about his mountain biking experience?
(A) Extreme sports are only enjoyable if you avoid making mistakes.
(B) Facing a dangerous situation helped him uncover his inner strength.
(C) Relying on other people’s advice is the only key to mastering a trail.
(D) Mountain biking is too terrifying to be considered a fun sport.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 A: The text states that he had spent the summer “building up my stamina and honing my technique” and was “convinced that my upgraded mountain bike and recent practice sessions would be more than enough.” This is a paraphrase of feeling adequately prepared. Option D uses exact words from the text (“treacherous nature of the terrain”) as a false match; his friends warned him of this, but he brushed it off, so he wasn’t overwhelmed by it.
2 B: In the second paragraph, the writer notes, “I foolishly began to assume that the trail’s intimidating reputation had been wildly exaggerated by my peers.” This perfectly matches feeling the difficulty had been overstated. Option C and D are the opposite of the text, as he found a steady rhythm and the suspension absorbed bumps effortlessly.
3 B: The word ‘This’ refers to the terrifying event that just happened: the brake levers feeling spongy and the bike “sliding uncontrollably” instead of stopping. Option A and C are details from earlier in the paragraph that set the scene, but are not the “nightmare scenario” itself. Option D is a distractor using words from the text out of context.
4 C: The text explains that his “immediate instinct was to squeeze the brakes even harder” but he realized that “panicking would only guarantee a severe injury”. Thus, reacting on instinct would lead to a crash. Option A and B are his dangerous initial instincts, not what he ultimately realised was the right thing to do.
5 D: The text says that when the bike gripped the dirt, “I was thrown roughly against the saddle”. Option D paraphrases this exactly (“pushed harshly against the seat”). Option A mixes up two different events (keeping his feet on the pedals vs. the dust at the bottom). Option B is the opposite; he “carefully modulated his speed”.
6 B: In the final paragraph, the writer concludes that extreme sports are about “discovering how you react when everything goes wrong” and that the loss of control helped him discover a “deep reserve of resilience”. This matches uncovering his inner strength. Option A and D are the direct opposite of his conclusion, as he felt “immensely and undeniably alive” and “proud.”
Reading 3
You are going to read a magazine article about a woman who takes a circus trapeze class.
For questions 1-6, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.
Letting Go
I have always considered myself a relatively grounded person. Literally. While my friends spend their weekends rock climbing or bungee jumping, I prefer activities that keep my feet firmly planted on solid earth. However, after watching a mesmerizing circus documentary, a spark of curiosity ignited within me. The grace and fluidity of the trapeze artists seemed almost magical, entirely detached from the clumsy realities of everyday life. Before I could talk myself out of it, I had booked a beginner’s flying trapeze class at a local circus school. I reasoned that if I pushed myself out of my comfort zone, I might discover a hidden talent, or at the very least, gain a fantastic story to tell.
Upon arriving at the cavernous warehouse that served as the training facility, my initial enthusiasm quickly evaporated. The sleek, shiny trapeze rig loomed above us, looking far more intimidating in person than it had on a television screen. The instructor, a muscular former gymnast named Leo, enthusiastically explained the safety procedures. He pointed to the vast, bouncy net stretched out below, assuring us that it would catch anyone who slipped. But rather than feeling reassured, gazing down at the interwoven ropes only made my stomach churn. It looked less like a safety precaution and more like a giant spider’s web waiting to entangle those who inevitably failed.
When it was finally my turn, I slowly ascended the incredibly steep ladder. With every rung I climbed, the ground seemed to shrink away, and the air grew noticeably thinner. By the time I reached the tiny wooden platform, my legs were trembling so violently that I was certain everyone in the building could see my knees knocking together. Leo stood beside me, securing my safety harness while casually chatting about the weather. His calm demeanor contrasted sharply with my rising panic. I gripped the heavy trapeze bar, which was wrapped in rough white tape, and stared out across the terrifying void. Crossing it seemed like an absolute impossibility.
The defining moment in a trapeze routine isn’t just swinging; it’s the ‘catch’. You must swing out, let go of the bar, and allow yourself to be caught mid-air by a second instructor swinging from the opposite side. The mere thought of releasing my tightly clenched fingers was unbearable. What if the timing was wrong? What if I plummeted into that dreadful net? Leo must have sensed my hesitation. He didn’t pressure me or shout commands; instead, he gently reminded me that the hardest part was simply deciding to trust. The mechanics of the swing were secondary to letting go of the desperate need to control the situation.
“Ready,” Leo called out, his voice cutting through the ringing in my ears. Taking a sharp breath, I stepped off the ledge. The sensation of weightlessness was immediate and shocking. The wind roared past my ears as I swung in a massive arc. At the peak of the swing, the catcher yelled, “Hep!” – the universal circus cue to let go. For a split second, instinct screamed at me to hold on, but I forced my hands to open. I was flying through the empty space, entirely untethered. Then, strong hands clamped tightly around my wrists.
Hanging suspended high above the warehouse floor, gripping the catcher’s arms, an overwhelming wave of relief washed over me. The fear of falling had completely vanished, replaced by an intoxicating rush of adrenaline and pure joy. I hadn’t just survived the terrifying leap; I had successfully relied on another human being to keep me safe. Dropping softly into the net moments later, I couldn’t stop smiling. The experience had taught me a profound lesson. Sometimes, to experience the true thrill of flying, you simply have to let go and trust that someone will be there to catch you.
1 Why did the writer book the trapeze class?
(A) To overcome a lifelong fear of heights.
(B) To prove to her friends that she could be adventurous.
(C) She was captivated by the elegant movements of circus performers on TV.
(D) She wanted to pursue a professional career in the circus industry.
2 How did the writer feel about the safety net?
(A) It made her feel completely secure during the lesson.
(B) It increased her anxiety about making a mistake.
(C) She was amazed by how large and bouncy it looked.
(D) She felt the instructor hadn’t explained its purpose properly.
3 What does the word ‘it‘ refer to in paragraph 3?
(A) the safety harness
(B) the tiny wooden platform
(C) the heavy trapeze bar
(D) the terrifying void
4 What can be inferred about Leo in the fourth paragraph?
(A) He was frustrated by the writer’s lack of progress.
(B) He believed that physical technique was the most vital skill to learn.
(C) He understood that the writer’s struggle was psychological rather than physical.
(D) He was worried that the second instructor might miss the catch.
5 During the actual swing, the writer
(A) closed her eyes to avoid looking at the empty space.
(B) immediately released the bar the moment she stepped off the edge.
(C) ignored her natural impulses in order to follow the cue.
(D) struggled to hear the catcher’s command over the wind.
6 What is the writer’s main purpose in writing the article?
(A) To recommend trapeze classes as an effective way to conquer phobias.
(B) To describe how relying on another person led to a highly rewarding experience.
(C) To explain the specific physical techniques required to perform a trapeze catch.
(D) To warn readers about the terrifying moments involved in extreme sports.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 C: The text explicitly states that “after watching a mesmerizing circus documentary… The grace and fluidity of the trapeze artists seemed almost magical… Before I could talk myself out of it, I had booked a beginner’s flying trapeze class.” Distractor A is an over-inference; she likes keeping her feet on the ground but a “lifelong fear” isn’t mentioned. Distractor B is a partial truth; she mentions her friends are adventurous, but she did not take the class specifically to prove anything to them.
2 B: The writer states that looking at the net “only made my stomach churn” and felt like a spider’s web “waiting to entangle those who inevitably failed.” Distractor A is the opposite of the text. Distractor C is a false match; the net is described as vast and bouncy, but her emotional reaction was anxiety, not amazement. Distractor D is false because Leo enthusiastically explained the safety procedures.
3 D: The pronoun refers back to the large gap the writer was staring at in the previous sentence: “stared out across the terrifying void. Crossing it seemed like an absolute impossibility.”
4 C: Leo realizes her fear and tells her “the hardest part was simply deciding to trust” and that the mechanics of the swing “were secondary to letting go of the desperate need to control.” Distractor A is the opposite; he was patient and gentle. Distractor B is the opposite; he says the mechanics were secondary to trust. Distractor D is unstated and false.
5 C: The text explains that at the cue to let go, “instinct screamed at me to hold on, but I forced my hands to open.” Distractor A is unstated. Distractor B is false; she let go at the peak of the swing, not when she stepped off the ledge. Distractor D is a false match; the wind roared, but she clearly heard the catcher yell “Hep!”.
6 B: In the final paragraph, the writer concludes that “I had successfully relied on another human being to keep me safe” and that “to experience the true thrill of flying, you simply have to let go and trust that someone will be there to catch you.” Distractor A is too specific; she isn’t writing a general recommendation for phobias. Distractor C is a false focus; the text focuses on the emotion of the catch, not a technical tutorial. Distractor D is a false focus; the tone is triumphant, not a warning.