Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – Social Psychology & Human Interaction
Reading 1
You are going to read a magazine article about a young woman dealing with the fear of missing out.
For questions 1-6, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.
FOMO: Fear Of Missing Out
It was a dreary Tuesday afternoon, and the rain was beating relentlessly against the office window. I was supposed to be finalising a complex spreadsheet for my manager, but my attention had inevitably drifted towards my smartphone. Scrolling through my social media feed, a vibrant burst of turquoise water caught my eye. A group of my closest friends had just uploaded an album from their holiday in Greece, a trip I had been forced to decline due to work commitments. I watched a video of them laughing around a sun-drenched restaurant table. Almost instantly, a familiar, sharp pang of jealousy hit me. While they were busy creating unforgettable memories, I was stuck behind a desk, surrounded by paper and the monotonous hum of the air conditioning.
This uncomfortable sensation is universally recognised nowadays as FOMO, or the ‘Fear Of Missing Out’. As I clicked through the endless stream of flawless pictures, my initial envy quickly spiralled into a profound sense of anxiety. I began to irrationally question my own life choices. Why was I working so hard when everyone else seemed to be living their best lives? I felt as though I was being left behind, excluded from the shared experiences that would form the foundation of their conversations for months. It didn’t matter that I had willingly chosen to save money and prioritise my career this year; the carefully curated images on my screen made my sensible decision feel like a massive mistake.
By the time I commuted back to my empty apartment, my mood had hit rock bottom. I collapsed onto the sofa, instinctively reaching for my device to check if new photos had been added. Suddenly, I caught a glimpse of my exhausted reflection in the dark television screen. I realised I was actively choosing to make myself miserable by monitoring a situation I couldn’t change. With a sudden burst of determination, I held down the power button and watched the screen fade to black. It was a surprisingly difficult thing to do. For the first twenty minutes, I felt restless, my hands twitching with the urge to reconnect to the digital world. The silence in my flat felt overwhelmingly loud.
Determined to break the cycle, I forced myself to walk into the kitchen and cook a proper meal, rather than ordering a takeaway. As I chopped vegetables and listened to the soothing sound of a simmering pan, my mind gradually began to quieten down. I started thinking critically about the holiday photos. I knew from previous trips that travelling with a large group was rarely as harmonious as it appeared online. There would have been arguments over where to eat and stressful delays at the airport. I was comparing my behind-the-scenes reality to their highlight reel, forgetting that nobody ever posts pictures of their sunburn or their arguments over the hotel bill.
Later that evening, I curled up in an armchair with a classic novel I had been meaning to read for months. Without the constant interruption of notifications, I found myself completely absorbed in the story. When I eventually went to bed, I felt a profound sense of calm that I hadn’t experienced in weeks. The jealousy and anxiety had entirely evaporated, replaced by a genuine appreciation for my quiet, uncomplicated evening. I realised that being alone didn’t mean I was missing out; it simply meant I was present in my own life. Embracing the peace of the present moment turned out to be exactly the holiday my mind truly needed.
1 Why did the writer feel jealous in the opening paragraph?
(A) She was working in a dull environment while her friends were having fun abroad.
(B) She was forced to cancel her own holiday due to unexpected work commitments.
(C) She was struggling to complete a complex spreadsheet for her manager on time.
(D) She felt her friends were deliberately trying to make her feel bad about working.
2 How did the writer view her decision not to go on the trip after seeing the photos?
(A) She was angry that her friends had excluded her from their conversations.
(B) She felt it was an error, despite having originally made it for sensible reasons.
(C) She realised she hadn’t saved enough money to properly prioritise her career.
(D) She wished she had worked harder to be able to afford the trip to Greece.
3 What does ‘It‘ refer to in the third paragraph?
(A) making herself miserable by monitoring the situation
(B) catching a glimpse of her exhausted reflection
(C) feeling a strong urge to reconnect to the digital world
(D) the act of completely turning off her mobile phone
4 What does the writer imply about social media posts in the fourth paragraph?
(A) They frequently cause arguments among large groups of people travelling together.
(B) They are usually uploaded to make other people feel jealous of the highlight reel.
(C) They only display the most enjoyable parts of an experience, hiding any difficulties.
(D) They accurately reflect how harmonious a holiday with close friends usually is.
5 What helped the writer finally feel a profound sense of calm?
(A) planning a future holiday to relieve her anxious mind
(B) becoming fully immersed in a book without digital interruptions
(C) finally going to sleep after weeks of suffering from severe anxiety
(D) enjoying a quiet, uncomplicated evening chatting with her friends
6 What is the writer’s main purpose in writing the article?
(A) to show that disconnecting from the digital world helps us find contentment in our own lives
(B) to argue that travelling with friends is rarely as enjoyable as spending an evening alone
(C) to highlight that it is more important to save money than to spend it on expensive holidays
(D) to prove that the fear of missing out can only be cured by deleting social media applications
Answer Key & Explanations
1 A: The text states: “While they were busy creating unforgettable memories, I was stuck behind a desk, surrounded by paper and the monotonous hum of the air conditioning.” This confirms she was jealous of their fun while she was in a dull setting. Distractor B is a False Match; she declined to go on their trip, she didn’t cancel her own holiday. Distractor C is a Partial Truth; she was doing a spreadsheet, but this wasn’t the direct cause of the jealousy. Distractor D is Unstated.
2 B: In paragraph two, the writer states: “It didn’t matter that I had willingly chosen to save money and prioritise my career this year; the carefully curated images on my screen made my sensible decision feel like a massive mistake.” This perfectly matches option B. Distractor A is a False Match; she felt excluded, but her friends didn’t actively exclude her (she chose not to go). Distractor C uses the text’s words incorrectly (she did save money).
3 D: The pronoun ‘It‘ refers back to the immediate preceding action: “I held down the power button and watched the screen fade to black.” Therefore, ‘it’ was the act of turning the phone off. Distractors A and B refer to earlier actions in the paragraph. Distractor C refers to a feeling she experiences after turning the phone off.
4 C: The writer states she was “comparing my behind-the-scenes reality to their highlight reel, forgetting that nobody ever posts pictures of their sunburn or their arguments.” This implies social media only shows the positives. Distractor A is a False Match; the arguments happened on the trip, they weren’t caused by the posts. Distractor D is the Opposite; the text says the trip is “rarely as harmonious as it appeared online.”
5 B: The text explicitly links her calm state to her activity: “Later that evening, I curled up in an armchair with a classic novel… Without the constant interruption of notifications, I found myself completely absorbed in the story.” Distractor C is an Over-inference; she hadn’t felt calm in weeks, but it doesn’t say she had insomnia/severe anxiety for weeks. Distractor D is a False Match; she was reading alone, not chatting with friends.
6 A: The final paragraph summarizes the global meaning: “I realised that being alone didn’t mean I was missing out; it simply meant I was present in my own life… Embracing the peace of the present moment turned out to be exactly the holiday my mind truly needed.” This aligns with finding contentment by disconnecting. Distractor B is an Over-inference (she still wants to see her friends). Distractor C is Too Specific (saving money was just her personal reason for not going). Distractor D uses Extreme Language (“only be cured”, “deleting”).
Reading 2
You are going to read a magazine article about a woman who decides to stay home instead of attending a major social event.
For questions 1-6, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.
JOMO: The Joy Of Missing Out
Friday evening had finally arrived, and according to my calendar, I was supposed to be getting ready for Sarah’s monumental 30th birthday bash. It was an event that had been talked about for months, promising a live DJ and a guest list including practically everyone I knew. In the past, the mere thought of skipping such a massive gathering would have filled me with a crushing sense of FOMO, or the Fear Of Missing Out. After all, society constantly dictates that our weekends must be packed with exciting activities and endless socialising. Sitting on my bed, staring blankly at the sequined dress hanging on my wardrobe door, I felt the heavy weight of social obligation pressing down on my tired shoulders.
It had been a particularly grueling week at the agency where I work, filled with tight deadlines and demanding clients. Consequently, my social battery was completely depleted. As I reluctantly began to apply my makeup, my reflection in the mirror seemed to be pleading with me to stop. I imagined the deafening music, the crowded rooms where you had to shout to be heard, and the inevitable exhaustion that would follow. I paused, realising I was only going to please other people, not myself. Mustering a burst of courage, I picked up my smartphone and typed out an apologetic message to Sarah, explaining that I was feeling rather unwell and wouldn’t be able to make it.
The moment my thumb hit the ‘send’ button, an intense wave of guilt washed over me. I tossed the device onto my duvet, convinced I had committed a social crime. What if Sarah was deeply offended? What if this turned out to be the party of the decade, and my friends spent the night making hilarious memories I would never understand? For the next twenty minutes, I paced around my small apartment, jumping at every notification ping. This was the treacherous part of cancelling plans; the agonizing period where your brain insists you have made a terrible mistake. If I had simply forced myself out the door, I probably wouldn’t have been overthinking things to such a ridiculous extent.
However, as the evening progressed, the anxiety-inducing chatter in my head gradually began to subside. Sarah replied with a remarkably understanding message, telling me to get some rest, and the world didn’t actually end. With the pressure officially lifted, I swapped my uncomfortable party outfit for my oldest pyjamas. I brewed a pot of chamomile tea, ordered my favourite takeaway, and settled onto the sofa with a novel I had been meaning to read for six months. As I listened to the gentle patter of rain against my window, a profound sense of comfort settled over me. I wasn’t missing out; I was consciously choosing to be exactly where I needed to be.
Waking up the following morning, the contrast could not have been starker. While my social media feeds were full of complaints about sore feet and headaches, I felt completely rejuvenated. I had successfully discovered JOMO—the Joy Of Missing Out. It is the liberating realisation that saying no to external demands is actually saying yes to your own mental health. Of course, maintaining friendships requires effort, and I have no intention of becoming a total recluse. Nevertheless, the experience taught me that setting boundaries is an essential act of self-care. I finally understood that true contentment doesn’t always come from being the life of the party; sometimes, it comes from simply enjoying your own company.
1 What does the writer reveal about her attitude towards socialising in the first paragraph?
(A) She used to feel anxious if she didn’t attend large social events.
(B) She resents society for expecting her to work hard during the week.
(C) She was excited to wear her new sequined dress to Sarah’s party.
(D) She felt obliged to organise exciting activities for everyone she knew.
2 What ultimately motivated the writer to cancel her plans?
(A) Her reflection in the mirror showed she looked visibly unwell.
(B) She realised she was attending out of a sense of duty rather than genuine desire.
(C) She knew the music at the venue would be too deafening to enjoy.
(D) She had a demanding client who required her to work late at the agency.
3 What does the word ‘This’ refer to in the third paragraph?
(A) Tossing her smartphone onto the duvet in frustration.
(B) The process of second-guessing her decision and feeling worried.
(C) Offending the host by missing the party of the decade.
(D) Forcing herself to leave the apartment despite her exhaustion.
4 When the writer changed into her pyjamas, she felt
(A) completely isolated as she watched the rain against the window.
(B) guilty that Sarah had been so remarkably understanding.
(C) a deep sense of relief that she could finally relax on her own terms.
(D) annoyed that she hadn’t started reading her novel six months earlier.
5 How did the writer feel the next morning compared to her friends?
(A) She felt pleased that her friends had suffered from terrible headaches.
(B) She was physically restored while her peers were dealing with exhaustion.
(C) She regretted not going after seeing photos of the event on social media.
(D) She resolved to stop using social media to avoid feeling like a recluse.
6 What is the writer’s main message in the article?
(A) Socialising is a waste of time for people with demanding careers.
(B) Real friends will always forgive you when you lie about being sick.
(C) Prioritising your personal well-being is more important than meeting social expectations.
(D) Experiencing the fear of missing out is a natural part of modern life.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 A: The text states, “In the past, the mere thought of skipping such a massive gathering would have filled me with a crushing sense of FOMO, or the Fear Of Missing Out.” This matches option A. Option B mixes work stress (mentioned in paragraph 2) with society’s expectations in paragraph 1. Option C contradicts the text; she was “staring blankly” at the dress feeling a “heavy weight of social obligation.” Option D is a false match using words from the text—she was expected to attend activities, not organise them.
2 B: The writer explains that she “paused, realising I was only going to please other people, not myself.” This is the core reason she picks up her phone to cancel, matching option B. Option A is a literal misinterpretation; her reflection was “pleading with me to stop” due to exhaustion, not physical illness (she only told Sarah she was unwell as an excuse). Option C is a partial truth; she thought about the loud music, but it wasn’t the ultimate realisation. Option D is a chronological trap; the demanding clients exhausted her before she got ready, but didn’t force her to work late that night.
3 B: The pronoun ‘This’ in “This was the treacherous part of cancelling plans” refers back to the entire previous description of pacing around, jumping at notifications, and wondering if she made a terrible mistake. Option B accurately summarises this feeling of worry and second-guessing. Option A is a specific physical action, not the psychological state described. Option C is what she was worried about, but not the overarching process ‘This’ refers to. Option D is what she wishes she had done to avoid the overthinking.
4 C: The text notes that “With the pressure officially lifted, I swapped my uncomfortable party outfit… a profound sense of comfort settled over me. I wasn’t missing out; I was consciously choosing to be exactly where I needed to be.” This matches option C. Option A uses words from the text (“rain against my window”) but falsely claims she felt isolated. Option B is incorrect; Sarah’s understanding message helped her anxiety subside, it didn’t cause more guilt. Option D is a false match; the book is mentioned, but she feels no annoyance about it.
5 B: The writer states she felt “completely rejuvenated” while noting her feeds were full of “complaints about sore feet and headaches” from her friends. This aligns perfectly with option B. Option A is an over-inference; she noticed their complaints but the text doesn’t say she felt malicious pleasure over their pain. Option C is the opposite of the text. Option D is unstated; she mentions she has “no intention of becoming a total recluse”, but doesn’t mention quitting social media.
6 C: The global takeaway, summarized in the final paragraph, is: “saying no to external demands is actually saying yes to your own mental health… setting boundaries is an essential act of self-care.” This points directly to option C. Option A uses extreme language (“waste of time”) which she denies by stating “maintaining friendships requires effort.” Option B focuses on a minor detail (her white lie to Sarah) rather than the main theme. Option D is a partial truth from the first paragraph, but the main message is about overcoming it to find the Joy Of Missing Out (JOMO).
Reading 3
You are going to read a blog post about a person who overcame their hesitation to help a stranger in public.
For questions 1-6, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.
Stepping Out of the Crowd
It was a typical Tuesday evening in London, and the pavements were swarming with commuters desperate to escape the biting autumn wind. I was among them, marching towards the underground station with my headphones firmly in place, completely absorbed in my own world. As far as I was concerned, the people around me were simply obstacles to navigate around. I had just dodged a businessman when I heard a loud tear, followed by the sound of heavy items hitting the concrete. A few metres ahead of me, a woman’s overloaded paper shopping bag had split open, sending her groceries rolling in every possible direction across the busy path.
Instinctively, I slowed my pace, expecting a flood of good Samaritans to rush to her aid. After all, in a street packed with so many individuals, it stood to reason that somebody would immediately step in to help. This is a classic psychological phenomenon known as the bystander effect; we convince ourselves that because there are plenty of others present, the responsibility to act belongs to someone else. I watched as people briefly glanced at the spilled tins, only to adjust their paths and carry on walking. I, too, hesitated, rationalising that I might just get in the way or make the poor woman feel even more flustered if I intervened without being asked.
However, as I stood frozen on the pavement, a hot wave of embarrassment began to wash over me. The woman was crawling around, frantically chasing a runaway jar of coffee while people continued to step over her discarded apples. It suddenly struck me how absurd my internal justifications were. If everyone in the crowd was thinking exactly the same thing as me, then nobody was ever going to help her. This was a highly uncomfortable truth to accept. My supposedly polite reluctance to interfere was, in reality, just a convenient excuse for apathy. I realised that if I had been the one on the ground, I would have been incredibly grateful for some assistance.
Forcing myself to push past the invisible barrier of social awkwardness, I finally stepped out of the relentless stream of pedestrians. I took off my headphones, crouched down on the damp pavement, and began gathering her scattered belongings. “Let me give you a hand with that,” I said gently, handing her a slightly bruised packet of tomatoes. She looked up at me, her face flushed with stress, and breathed a heavy sigh of relief. We worked together, stuffing the rescued items into my own reusable canvas bag, which I had thankfully remembered to bring with me that morning.
What happened next was genuinely fascinating. My simple act of stepping forward seemed to break the spell that had paralysed the rest of the crowd. A teenager who had been walking past suddenly stopped to retrieve a rolling onion, and a woman in a smart suit bent down to pick up a loaf of bread. Within a matter of seconds, four different strangers had joined the rescue mission. It became abundantly clear that they hadn’t been uncaring or malicious; they had simply been trapped in the same mindset of hesitation as I was. They just needed someone to take the initiative and act first.
Once the groceries were safely packed away, the woman thanked us profusely and went on her way. As I resumed my journey to the station, my earlier exhaustion had completely evaporated, replaced by a profound sense of pride. I hadn’t just helped someone in need; I had inadvertently sparked a chain reaction of kindness. It was a powerful reminder that while it is remarkably easy to blend into the background and wait for others to act, true leadership often involves nothing more than being the first person to stop and care.
1 What do we learn about the writer at the beginning of the text?
(A) He felt frustrated by the slow pace of the other commuters.
(B) He was completely ignoring the people around him on the street.
(C) He was rushing to catch a taxi in the biting autumn wind.
(D) He dropped an overloaded paper shopping bag on the pavement.
2 Why didn’t the writer help the woman immediately in the second paragraph?
(A) He unconsciously assumed someone else in the crowd would take care of it.
(B) He wanted to observe a classic psychological phenomenon in real life.
(C) He didn’t want to make the woman feel flustered by staring at her.
(D) He was in too much of a hurry to stop and pick up the spilled tins.
3 What does the word ‘This‘ refer to in paragraph 3?
(A) the woman crawling around frantically on the ground
(B) the hot wave of embarrassment washing over the writer
(C) the fact that the woman would receive no assistance at all
(D) the feeling of being grateful for a helping hand
4 When the writer finally approached the woman, we can infer that
(A) she found the social awkwardness of the situation unbearable.
(B) she asked him if she could borrow his reusable canvas bag.
(C) she was angry that her packet of tomatoes had been badly bruised.
(D) she was highly relieved that someone had finally stopped to assist her.
5 Why does the writer think the other strangers eventually joined in?
(A) They were fascinated by the writer’s simple act of stepping forward.
(B) They required someone else to lead by example before they felt able to act.
(C) They felt guilty for being malicious and uncaring towards the woman.
(D) They suddenly realized that city commuting had strict unwritten rules.
6 What is the writer’s main conclusion at the end of the text?
(A) Helping strangers is a great way to forget about your own physical exhaustion.
(B) It is remarkably easy to blend into the background when someone needs help.
(C) Setting an example for others is often the most important part of helping.
(D) People should always carry a spare bag with them during their city commute.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B: The text states that the writer had his headphones firmly in place and was “completely absorbed in my own world,” viewing people as “simply obstacles to navigate around.” Distractor A is unstated; he doesn’t mention their pace being slow. Distractor C is a false match; he “dodged a businessman” who may have been looking for a taxi, but the writer was heading to the underground. Distractor D incorrectly attributes the woman’s action (dropping the bag) to the writer.
2 A: The writer explains the bystander effect, noting that “we convince ourselves that because there are plenty of others present, the responsibility to act belongs to someone else.” Distractor B is incorrect because he wasn’t intentionally trying to observe the phenomenon; he only realized it was happening in hindsight. Distractor C is a partial truth; he worried about making her flustered if he intervened, not by staring. Distractor D contradicts the text, as he actually “slowed his pace.”
3 C: The preceding sentence states: “If everyone in the crowd was thinking exactly the same thing as me, then nobody was ever going to help her.” The pronoun “This” directly refers to that uncomfortable realization—that she would be left completely alone without help. Distractors A and B are events that happen in the paragraph but are not the “uncomfortable truth” the pronoun refers to. Distractor D refers to a thought he has later in the paragraph.
4 D: The text states that when he offered help, she “breathed a heavy sigh of relief,” which implies she was very grateful and relieved. Distractor A is the opposite; it was the writer who had to push past “social awkwardness.” Distractor B is unstated; the writer used his bag, but she didn’t ask for it. Distractor C is a false match; he handed her a bruised packet of tomatoes, but she was not angry about it.
5 B: The writer concludes that the crowd had been “trapped in the same mindset of hesitation” and that “They just needed someone to take the initiative and act first.” This matches option B perfectly. Distractor A uses text words (“genuinely fascinating”, “simple act”) but misinterprets the crowd’s motive. Distractor C is the opposite of the text (“they hadn’t been uncaring or malicious”). Distractor D uses text concepts incorrectly; breaking rules is mentioned, but they joined in because they needed a leader, not because they realized rules existed.
6 C: The final paragraph highlights that “true leadership often involves nothing more than being the first person to stop and care,” showing that initiating kindness (setting an example) is crucial. Distractor A is a partial truth; his exhaustion evaporated, but this is a personal side-effect, not the overarching conclusion. Distractor B is a detail mentioned in the text, but the main conclusion is about overcoming that ease to become a leader. Distractor D is an over-inference based on the detail of him using a reusable bag.