Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – Practical Life Skills 8

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

You are going to read an article about four students talking about a specialized course that taught them how to identify and forage for wild, edible plants safely.

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 to having held an inaccurate belief regarding the taste of foraged food?

2   owns up to a blunder made while participating in an outdoor activity?

3   was disappointed by the theoretical, classroom-based segments of the course?

4   explains that their main reason for enrolling was to conquer a personal fear?

5   was caught off guard by the intense physical exertion required during the trips?

6   stresses the ethical necessity of leaving sufficient resources for the local ecosystem?

7   expresses an intention to pass on their newly acquired skills to relatives?

8   highly valued the experience of turning raw gathered items into a cooked meal?

9   concluded that the high cost of the tuition was ultimately money well spent?

10   discovered that using their hands and nose was crucial for accurate plant identification?

Nature’s Pantry: Learning to Forage for Wild Foods

A Leo

When I first enrolled in the urban foraging workshop, my main objective was to conquer my deep-seated fear of accidentally consuming something toxic. I’ve always been fascinated by wild plants, but I took it for granted that everything growing in the woods was potentially lethal. The instructor was phenomenal at putting us at ease. Instead of just looking at pictures, we were taught to crush leaves between our fingers and inhale the scent, or feel the texture of the stems. It turns out that relying on smell and touch is often far more reliable than just trusting your eyes. Bouncing back from my initial paranoia took a few weeks, but I eventually felt completely in my element. The course has been so empowering that I’ve already promised to take my younger cousins on a guided woodland walk next spring. It’s incredibly rewarding to pass on these survival skills, provided you know exactly what you’re doing!

B Mia

If I’m perfectly honest, I severely underestimated how physically demanding the fieldwork would be. I had envisioned leisurely strolls through sunlit meadows, but we spent hours scrambling up steep, muddy banks and wading through dense undergrowth. Despite the sheer exhaustion I felt after every trip, it was genuinely thrilling. What truly took me by surprise, however, was the culinary aspect. I had always assumed that wild weeds would taste incredibly bitter or bland, but the wild garlic and sweet chestnuts we gathered were absolutely bursting with flavour. Furthermore, the course opened my eyes to the wealth of traditional knowledge that our ancestors relied upon. Learning how generations before us lived in harmony with the seasons made me realise how disconnected we have become from nature. While some of my classmates struggled with the early morning starts, I found the whole experience to be a breath of fresh air.

C Ethan

Initially, I hesitated to sign up because the tuition fee seemed rather steep for a weekend hobby. However, looking back, I can confidently say it was worth every penny. The level of expertise provided by the botanists was outstanding. That said, I certainly didn’t get everything right straight away. During our second outing, I confidently harvested what I thought was edible wild celery, only to be gently informed by the tutor that I had picked a mildly toxic lookalike. It was a humiliating blunder, but a vital learning curve. Above all, the most crucial lesson wasn’t just about identification, but about ecological ethics. We were repeatedly warned never to strip a patch bare, ensuring we leave enough behind for local wildlife and future regeneration. Grasping this concept of sustainable gathering has profoundly changed how I view our local environment; it’s a delicate balance that must be respected at all costs.

D Chloe

The curriculum was split into classroom seminars and outdoor practicals. To be totally frank, I found the indoor modules a bit of a letdown. Staring at slideshows of leaf shapes and root structures for hours on end was mind-numbingly dull, and I frequently caught myself zoning out. Fortunately, the outdoor sessions more than made up for it. The absolute highlight for me was the transition from forest to fork. After spending the morning collecting nettles and wild mushrooms, we took our haul back to the training kitchen to whip up a communal feast. Transforming a pile of rough foliage into a gourmet risotto was incredibly satisfying. Before this course, I would never have dared to consume anything I hadn’t bought in a supermarket. Now, I have the confidence to wander into the local woods alone and safely forage for my own dinner. It has completely revolutionised my relationship with food.

Reading 2

You are going to read an article about four teenagers sharing their anxiety and techniques for overcoming the fear of public speaking in a structured workshop.

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

Which person/section

1   successfully altered their perception of the crowd’s intentions?

2   experienced a sudden shift in attitude after making an unplanned error?

3   mentions overcoming intense bodily symptoms of stress?

4   points out that writing everything out in full was actually a disadvantage?

5   used mental imagery to prepare themselves before stepping onto the stage?

6   found it beneficial to concentrate on sympathetic faces in the room?

7   originally believed that being flawless was the only way to avoid embarrassment?

8   realised that their peers were struggling with similar insecurities?

9   had previously gone to great lengths to avoid giving presentations altogether?

10   learned that relying on brief notes made them sound far more natural?

Finding Our Voices: Conquering the Stage

A Leo

Whenever a teacher announced a class presentation, I used to come up with any excuse under the sun to stay home. I’d fake a stomach ache or claim I had a dentist appointment just to get out of it. The very thought of public speaking brought me out in a cold sweat; my heart would pound, and my hands would shake uncontrollably. When my parents finally made me attend this weekend workshop, I was dreading it. However, it turned out to be a game-changer. The instructor taught us how to combat those intense physiological reactions. If I hadn’t learned the power of deep, rhythmic breathing, I would still be a nervous wreck. Furthermore, I was introduced to visualisation techniques. By closing my eyes and picturing myself delivering the speech flawlessly before I even walked to the front, I effectively tricked my brain into feeling confident. While I still get butterflies, those extreme panic attacks are a thing of the past.

B Maya

For me, the dread of public speaking stemmed entirely from a crippling fear of looking ridiculous. I’ve always been a perfectionist, convinced that if I stumbled over a single word, my classmates would secretly judge me. Consequently, my speeches were incredibly stiff. During the workshop’s improvisation drill, the worst-case scenario actually happened: I completely lost my train of thought and blurted out something nonsensical. I braced myself for the humiliation, but to my absolute astonishment, everyone just chuckled warmly. That minor slip-up actually broke the ice and made my speech far more engaging! It was a massive wake-up call. I came to terms with the fact that audiences don’t demand flawlessness; they just want authenticity. If I hadn’t messed up that afternoon, I would probably still be obsessed with getting every syllable right. Now, if I make a mistake, I simply brush it off and carry on.

C Toby

Prior to this programme, my strategy for surviving oral assignments was to write down my entire speech word-for-word and simply read it aloud. I took it for granted that having a comprehensive script was the safest safety net. However, the workshop tutors quickly pointed out that reading from a piece of paper destroys your vocal variety, making you sound robotic and disengaging. They challenged me to rely exclusively on cue cards with just a few bullet points. Initially, letting go of my detailed script felt like jumping out of a plane without a parachute. Yet, once I got the hang of it, I realised it allowed my personality to shine through. Another crucial revelation occurred during our group feedback sessions. Seeing normally confident students admit that their knees were knocking under the podium made me realise I wasn’t the only one battling self-doubt. Recognizing our shared vulnerability took a huge weight off my shoulders.

D Chloe

Whenever I stood at the front of a classroom, I used to view the audience as a pack of wolves, just waiting to tear my arguments apart. This hostile perception made me rush through my presentations at breakneck speed, desperately hoping to get back to my seat. The turning point of the seminar for me was a session dedicated to audience psychology. The coach explained that, in reality, people are inherently empathetic; they are silently rooting for you to succeed, not waiting for you to fail. Shifting my mindset to view the listeners as allies rather than adversaries was incredibly liberating. To put this into practice, I was advised to seek out one or two friendly, engaged faces in the crowd and maintain steady eye contact with them. Focusing my attention on a reassuring nod or a warm smile completely grounded me. It is remarkable how such a simple shift in perspective can transform a terrifying ordeal into an enjoyable conversation.

Exercises:   123456