Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – Practical Life Skills 10

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

You are going to read an article about four teenagers talking about the process of learning sign language to communicate with a deaf friend or relative.

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

Which person

1   points out that the language’s sentence structure differs from what they are used to?

2   was terrified of making embarrassing blunders in front of someone else?

3   realised that effective communication required the use of their entire upper body?

4   felt overwhelmed by how quickly experienced individuals communicate?

5   mentions a specific moment of shared amusement that made the effort worthwhile?

6   was determined to ensure a newcomer didn’t feel left out?

7   believes that interacting in everyday settings is superior to formal instruction?

8   observed that their new skill helped bridge an age gap within their family?

9   concluded that showing genuine willingness mattered more than flawless accuracy?

10   constantly had to remind their relative not to rush when communicating?

Breaking the Silence: Learning to Sign for a Loved One

A Leo

When my cousin was born deaf, my family always relied on his parents to interpret for us. As we grew older, I desperately wanted to connect with him directly, so I started watching online tutorials. At first, I was under the illusion that mastering the alphabet and a few basic gestures would be enough. However, I soon discovered that the hands are only half the story. To truly convey meaning and emotion, you have to incorporate intense facial expressions and shoulder movements, which felt incredibly unnatural to me at first. I felt like I was overacting! The breakthrough finally came during a video call last month. I managed to sign a really complicated, funny story about my dog, and he burst out laughing. That shared joke was a massive turning point. It made all the frustrating hours of practising in front of a mirror totally worth it, and our bond has never been stronger.

B Chloe

When a deaf student named Lily joined our class, I noticed she spent most break times sitting alone. I couldn’t stand the thought of her feeling excluded, so I made up my mind to learn British Sign Language (BSL). Initially, I was a bundle of nerves. I was petrified that I’d accidentally use the wrong hand shape and say something completely inappropriate or ridiculous. Because of this fear, I held back and hesitated to approach her. Eventually, I plucked up the courage to introduce myself using a few basic phrases I’d memorised. I stumbled over almost every gesture, but her face absolutely lit up. That interaction taught me a valuable lesson: perfection isn’t the goal. Lily didn’t care that my technique was sloppy; she was just thrilled that someone was making a genuine effort to enter her world. We now hang out every day, and my fluency is improving by leaps and bounds.

C Noah

My younger sister is deaf, and for years, we communicated using a mix of homemade signs and lip-reading. However, as she became more fluent in standard sign language, I realised I was falling behind. I enrolled in an evening class, assuming I’d catch up quickly. The reality was a harsh wake-up call. While I could easily memorise individual signs from a textbook, following a conversation in real time was mind-boggling. Fluent signers move their hands at an astonishing pace, and my brain simply couldn’t process the visual information fast enough. I used to get so frustrated because I had to constantly beg my sister to slow down so I could figure out what she was saying. Ultimately, I realised that sitting in a classroom only gets you so far. The key to true comprehension is stepping away from the desk and immersing yourself in daily, rapid-fire conversations at home, even if it feels overwhelming at first.

D Maya

A couple of years ago, my grandfather completely lost his hearing due to illness. It was a tough adjustment for the whole family, so my mum and I decided to take up sign language to keep him in the loop. What genuinely took me by surprise was the mechanics of the language itself. I had foolishly assumed it was simply English translated into hand gestures, word for word. I was fascinated to learn that it has its own unique syntax and grammatical rules. For instance, the subject usually comes first, followed by the adjective, which completely threw me off balance initially. Studying alongside my grandfather has been a deeply rewarding experience. We practise together every Sunday afternoon over a cup of tea. Not only has it allowed him to express himself freely again, but sharing this learning journey has also brought our two generations remarkably close. We now share a secret language that is entirely our own.

Reading 2

You are going to read an article about four young adults sharing their experiences of decluttering their lives after taking a course on minimalism and organization.

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

Which person

1   admits to having been initially cynical about the program’s usefulness?

2   highlights how their new lifestyle unexpectedly improved their ability to host guests?

3   found it emotionally challenging to discard items associated with childhood memories?

4   came to a shocking realisation regarding their previous financial habits?

5   expanded the decluttering philosophy beyond physical possessions?

6   confesses to experiencing a brief lapse in their commitment to the lifestyle?

7   was significantly inspired by a personal experience related by the instructor?

8   derived great satisfaction from giving their unwanted belongings to a good cause?

9   mentions experiencing tension with a housemate due to their new habits?

10   was taken aback by the physical dimensions of their room after the process?

Finding Focus: The Magic of Decluttering

A Liam

When my girlfriend bought me a ticket to a minimalism masterclass, I rolled my eyes. I took it for granted that it would be a complete waste of time, full of obvious advice. However, sitting in that seminar, I realised my hoarding was completely out of control. The hardest hurdle was clearing out my old bedroom. I spent days agonising over boxes of primary school reports and vintage action figures, finding it incredibly tough to break those emotional ties. Eventually, I managed to let go. The most surprising outcome hasn’t been the tidy shelves, though. Because my apartment is no longer cluttered with endless piles of junk, I actually invite friends over for dinner on a regular basis now. Previously, I was too embarrassed by the sheer mess to have anyone round! I occasionally buy things I don’t strictly need, but overall, it’s been a massive shift in my daily habits.

B Maya

The minimalism course really opened my eyes, but not in the way I anticipated. While the other participants were stressing over throwing away physical photo albums, I had no emotional attachment to my belongings whatsoever. My true weakness was digital hoarding. My laptop and phone were completely choked with thousands of unread emails, duplicate pictures, and unused applications. By applying the tutor’s strict sorting methods to my electronic devices, my daily productivity has skyrocketed. Furthermore, the course forced me to sit down and calculate my outgoings. Adding up the cost of countless impulsive online purchases over the last few years was a bitter pill to swallow; I was absolutely horrified by the vast sums I had carelessly thrown away. Seeing that final number completely cured my shopping addiction. Now, my virtual workspace is just as spotless and organised as my physical one.

C Ethan

I honestly wouldn’t have embraced minimalism if it hadn’t been for our lecturer. During the very first session, she recounted a moving story about losing all her possessions in a sudden flood and realising that her core identity wasn’t tied to objects. That profound revelation really struck a chord with me. Initially, I aggressively cleared out my wardrobe and packed up dozens of expensive jackets and unworn shoes. Dropping those heavy bags off at the local charity shop brought me an immense feeling of fulfillment, knowing someone else would truly value them. However, I must confess that keeping up this disciplined approach hasn’t been entirely plain sailing. A few months in, I fell back into my old routine of buying trendy clothes whenever I felt stressed at university. It took a massive effort to pull myself together and start decluttering again. I’ve now promised my flatmate I won’t bring any more useless items into our shared space.

D Chloe

After completing the organisation workshop, I was overwhelmingly eager to transform my living environment. I spent an entire weekend ruthlessly clearing out unnecessary furniture, dusty ornaments, and towering piles of old magazines. When I finally finished and took a step back, I literally couldn’t believe my eyes; underneath all that junk, my cramped bedroom was actually incredibly spacious! It was like moving into a brand-new apartment. Unfortunately, my newfound enthusiasm hasn’t gone down entirely well at home. My older sister, whom I share the flat with, is a massive hoarder. We’ve had several heated arguments because I keep suggesting she throw her things away, which she strongly resents. I understand why she gets defensive, as parting with sentimental items is a highly delicate process, but it’s rather frustrating to live in a half-minimalist, half-cluttered house. Despite the domestic friction, I personally feel so much lighter and much more focused.

Exercises:   123456