Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – Practical Life Skills 5

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

You are going to read an article about four students reviewing a time-management seminar that taught them how to prioritize tasks and avoid procrastination.

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 used to delay starting tasks because they wanted flawless results?

2   initially doubted that the seminar would be of any practical use?

3   mentions a technique that involves eliminating digital interruptions?

4   realised their main issue was an inability to refuse requests from others?

5   was surprised by how much free time they actually had once they became organised?

6   discovered that dividing massive assignments into smaller steps made them manageable?

7   had to learn how to distinguish between what is pressing and what is truly valuable?

8   found it helpful to monitor their daily routines to see where their hours were going?

9   notes that the seminar helped them overcome a constant feeling of guilt?

10   successfully applied the strategies to balance their studies with non-academic commitments?

Taking Back the Clock: Our Time-Management Seminar Reviews

A Liam

When my tutor suggested I attend the ‘Master Your Time’ seminar, I honestly thought it would be a complete waste of an afternoon. I assumed it would just be another speaker lecturing us on basic scheduling, which I felt I already knew. However, I couldn’t have been more wrong. The presenter introduced us to the concept of ‘time blocking’. Previously, I’d write a massive to-do list and just randomly tackle things, which left me constantly stressed out. Now, I allocate specific time slots for everything, including relaxation. The biggest revelation was looking at my new timetable and realising I wasn’t actually as overloaded as I’d convinced myself I was. By cutting out the dead time between tasks, I suddenly had my evenings back. Some of my peers complain about having a strict routine, but for me, establishing a solid, predictable framework has been incredibly liberating.

B Chloe

I’ve always been a terrible procrastinator, but I never really understood why until I attended this workshop. The speaker explained that people often put things off not out of laziness, but because they are terrified of not doing them perfectly. That hit the nail on the head for me; I’d stare at a blank screen, paralysed by the desire to write a brilliant essay. The most valuable takeaway was the strategy of ‘chunking’. Instead of facing a terrifying 3,000-word paper, I now break it down into tiny, achievable goals, like writing just the introduction. This approach completely removed my anxiety. Furthermore, I used to carry around this heavy burden of remorse whenever I wasn’t studying, feeling like I should always be doing more. Now that I have a structured plan, I can finally switch off and relax without that nagging voice in my head.

C Noah

My main problem was that I was involved in way too many university societies. Whether it was the drama club or the student newspaper, I simply couldn’t bring myself to say no when people asked for my help. Consequently, my academic performance was slipping badly. The seminar introduced me to a priority matrix, a tool that forces you to categorise tasks based on their urgency and their actual importance. I quickly realised that I was spending hours putting out fires for other people—dealing with sudden but ultimately unimportant issues—while ignoring my own critical coursework. It was a tough pill to swallow, but I’ve finally learned to politely decline extra responsibilities. Since I started evaluating my commitments more ruthlessly, I’ve managed to successfully juggle my degree with a couple of carefully chosen extracurricular activities, rather than spreading myself too thin.

D Maya

I always felt like I was studying hard. I’d sit at my desk for six hours straight, yet somehow accomplish very little. The seminar instructor challenged us to log our activities meticulously for three days. When I reviewed my habit tracker, I was absolutely horrified. I discovered I was picking up my phone to check social media every ten minutes! Those quick glances were completely destroying my concentration. The workshop emphasised the importance of ‘deep work’—periods of intense, uninterrupted focus. Now, whenever I sit down to revise, my phone goes into a completely different room. At first, the separation anxiety was real, and I kept reaching for a device that wasn’t there. But bouncing back from that digital addiction has done wonders for my productivity. I now get more done in two hours of focused study than I used to manage in a whole afternoon of distracted reading.

Reading 2

You are going to read an article about four teenagers describing the physical challenge and sense of achievement in learning how to ride a bicycle late in life.

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

Which person/section

1   deliberately kept their learning process hidden from their peers?

2   was motivated by the desire to travel without assistance?

3   struggled with the need to perform several actions simultaneously?

4   had previously abandoned an attempt to acquire the skill?

5   felt self-conscious practising in the presence of small children?

6   mentions sustaining minor physical injuries while learning?

7   made use of a relative’s bicycle to practise?

8   was surprised by how physically exhausting the activity was?

9   felt prompted to learn because of an approaching social event?

10   describes a sudden instance when the technique finally made sense?

Late Starters: Mastering Two Wheels

A Liam

I took it for granted that I’d eventually learn to ride a bike, but somehow, I reached sixteen without ever getting the hang of it. My main motivation for finally taking the plunge was practical: I was fed up with relying on my parents for a lift to college every morning. The desire to commute independently pushed me to sign up for a weekend cycling workshop. To be honest, I felt incredibly awkward wobble-boarding around the local park while five-year-olds zoomed past me without a care in the world. Being surrounded by little kids was definitely a blow to my ego! At first, finding my centre of gravity seemed impossible, and I constantly had to put my foot down. However, I persevered. Now, cycling to college is second nature to me. While I occasionally get a few scraped shins from the pedals, the sheer freedom of relying on my own two wheels is an accomplishment I’m immensely proud of.

B Maya

When I was ten, I had a nasty fall off a bike and completely lost my nerve. After that, I threw in the towel and swore I’d never ride again. However, when my friends planned a massive cycling trip for the summer holidays, I knew I couldn’t just sit it out. That upcoming excursion was exactly the push I needed. If my friends hadn’t planned that trip, I probably would never have faced my fears. I borrowed my neighbour’s old mountain bike and headed to a quiet trail. What I hadn’t anticipated was the sheer cardiovascular effort required. After just half an hour of pedalling, my thighs were burning and I was entirely out of breath; I honestly hadn’t realised it would be such a strenuous workout. Despite the intense fatigue, I refused to give up. By the end of the month, I was keeping up with the rest of the group. Overcoming my deep-rooted fear made the holiday unforgettable.

C Sam

Most teenagers learn to ride when they’re toddlers, so deciding to master it at seventeen was quite daunting. My older brother had recently upgraded his road bike, so I decided to take his old one out for a spin. Initially, my biggest hurdle was coordination. Trying to balance, steer straight, and pedal at the same time felt like patting my head while rubbing my stomach. My brain just couldn’t process the multitasking required. I spent days clumsily veering into hedges. Then, one Tuesday evening, it was as if a switch had been flicked; my muscle memory kicked in, and everything just clicked into place. Suddenly, I was gliding down the pavement effortlessly. I didn’t tell my classmates immediately, waiting until I was fully confident in my abilities. The rush of wind against my face and the pure thrill of speed was exhilarating. It’s a fantastic milestone, and I’m genuinely delighted that I finally cracked it.

D Chloe

In my social circle, being able to cycle is just expected, so I was absolutely mortified that I couldn’t do it. Desperate to avoid any mockery, I made a point of keeping my attempts strictly under wraps. Had I not been so terrified of being teased, I might have asked someone for help. Instead, I would drag my bike out to an empty supermarket car park late at night, ensuring none of my classmates would catch a glimpse of my wobbly disasters. The physical learning curve was brutal. I spent the first two weeks constantly losing my balance and taking tumbles, resulting in an impressive collection of cuts and bruises all over my knees. It was incredibly frustrating, and my muscles ached constantly, but I was highly motivated to succeed. Last week, I finally joined my friends for a ride to the beach, and the sense of victory I felt when I casually rolled up alongside them was indescribable.

Exercises:   123456