Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – Travel Mishaps & Problem Solving
Reading 1
You are going to read a magazine article about a tourist arriving at holiday accommodation in a rough neighbourhood.
For questions 1-6, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.
The Heart Behind the Grit
When I was searching for accommodation for my week-long getaway to Naples, I deliberately bypassed the typical tourist hotspots. Armed with a tight budget and a strong desire for an authentic experience, I scoured various websites until I found a remarkably cheap apartment. The listing confidently described the area as ‘vibrant and up-and-coming’, which sounded incredibly appealing to my adventurous spirit. I excitedly pictured myself mingling with artists and sipping espresso in quaint, undiscovered cafes. If I had bothered to read the reviews a little more thoroughly, I might have picked up on the subtle hints about the neighbourhood’s actual reputation. However, blinded by the bargain price and my own romantic ideals, I confidently clicked ‘book’.
My optimistic illusions began to crumble the moment my taxi driver hesitated after hearing the address. As we drove further away from the pristine historic centre, the elegant architecture was swiftly replaced by towering, neglected apartment blocks covered in aggressive graffiti. The streets grew narrower and darker, illuminated only by the flickering glow of a few broken streetlights. Groups of youths were lingering on street corners, their faces obscured by the deep shadows of the alleyways. The driver abruptly pulled over, muttered a quick warning to hold tightly onto my bags, and sped off into the night. Standing alone on the cracked pavement, a wave of intense paranoia washed over me.
I quickly found the building’s entrance, fumbling with the heavy iron keys with trembling hands. Once safely inside the apartment, I immediately bolted the door and drew the thin curtains. Every sudden noise from the street below—the roar of a modified scooter, a loud shout, a slamming car door—made me jump. I sat on the edge of the bed, frantically searching my smartphone for alternative hotels. Unfortunately, it was well past midnight, and the few rooms available elsewhere were astronomically expensive. Moreover, the prospect of wandering those intimidating streets again with a heavy suitcase was far too terrifying. I had no choice but to stay put and endure a sleepless night. This was turning out to be the worst travel decision I had ever made.
The following morning, the bright Mediterranean sunshine did little to ease my anxiety. I needed groceries, so I cautiously ventured out, keeping my head down and avoiding eye contact with anyone. As I approached a small corner shop, a heavily tattooed man with a fierce scowl stepped directly into my path. I froze, my heart pounding in my chest, assuming I was about to be mugged. Instead, he pointed at my unzipped backpack, gruffly warning me to secure it because there were pickpockets operating in the city centre. He then surprised me by holding the shop door open, nodding politely as I scurried past him.
Inside the shop, the elderly owner struck up a conversation, asking where I was from. When I mentioned the street I was staying on, she smiled warmly. She candidly explained that while the district certainly looked rough around the edges and had a troubled history, a fierce sense of community remained. “We look after our own,” she assured me, “and that includes our visitors. Nobody here will let any harm come to you.” It dawned on me that the locals were fiercely protective of tourists, knowing perfectly well that their presence was vital for the struggling local economy.
Over the next few days, my fear completely evaporated, replaced by a genuine appreciation for the neighbourhood’s raw, unpolished charm. I became a familiar face at the local bakery, and the youths on the corner always offered a friendly wave. My initial panic had been entirely fuelled by superficial stereotypes and urban myths. I realised that while caution is always necessary when travelling, judging a place solely by its gritty exterior can prevent you from experiencing its true heart. The area may not have been the picturesque paradise I initially envisioned, but it offered a level of warmth and genuine authenticity that no luxury tourist district ever could.
1 Why did the writer choose to book that specific apartment in the first paragraph?
(A) He was eager to mingle with local artists in the city’s popular tourist hotspots.
(B) He wanted a genuinely local experience and it was highly affordable.
(C) He had thoroughly read the reviews and was reassured by what they said.
(D) He specifically wanted to stay near the city’s quaint, well-known cafes.
2 How did the writer feel upon arriving in the neighbourhood?
(A) Frustrated that the taxi driver sped off without helping him with his bags.
(B) Annoyed that the streetlights were broken and the roads were narrow.
(C) Highly alarmed by the intimidating and neglected environment around him.
(D) Optimistic about exploring the towering apartment blocks and alleyways.
3 What does the word ‘This‘ refer to in the third paragraph?
(A) The act of searching his phone for alternative hotels.
(B) Being forced to remain in an environment that terrified him.
(C) Enduring the loud noises from the modified scooters outside.
(D) Walking through the dangerous streets with a heavy suitcase.
4 What can be inferred about the tattooed man’s behaviour in the fourth paragraph?
(A) His actions completely contradicted the writer’s fearful assumptions.
(B) He was secretly trying to distract the writer in order to rob him.
(C) He was annoyed that the writer’s backpack had been left unzipped.
(D) He held the door open because he was the owner of the corner shop.
5 According to the shop owner, how do the locals view tourists?
(A) They resent visitors for changing the raw character of the district.
(B) They believe tourists are responsible for the neighbourhood’s troubled history.
(C) They prefer tourists who stay in their community rather than the city centre.
(D) They actively ensure the safety of visitors to support the area’s finances.
6 What is the writer’s main message in the final paragraph?
(A) Tourists should always ignore urban myths and explore dangerous areas at night.
(B) Frightening outward appearances shouldn’t stop us from seeing a place’s true value.
(C) Picturesque tourist districts are always less welcoming than poorer neighbourhoods.
(D) The initial panic experienced by tourists is usually justified by the harsh reality.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B: The text states the writer was “Armed with a tight budget and a strong desire for an authentic experience” when he booked the remarkably cheap apartment. Distractor A is a false match; he deliberately bypassed the tourist hotspots. Distractor C is the opposite of the text, which says he didn’t read the reviews thoroughly. Distractor D is a false match; he wanted undiscovered cafes, not well-known ones.
2 C: The writer notes that “a wave of intense paranoia washed over me” after seeing the “neglected apartment blocks” and “youths lingering on street corners.” Option C accurately paraphrases this fear. Distractor A is a partial truth; the driver sped off, but the writer was afraid, not frustrated by a lack of help. Distractor B is a partial truth; these details are mentioned, but annoyance wasn’t his primary emotion—paranoia was. Distractor D is the exact opposite of his actual feelings.
3 B: The pronoun ‘This’ directly follows the sentence: “I had no choice but to stay put and endure a sleepless night.” Therefore, ‘This’ refers to the situation of being trapped in the scary apartment. Distractor A occurred earlier in the paragraph. Distractor C is a detail from earlier that contributed to his fear, but isn’t what ‘This’ is grammatically summarising. Distractor D refers to an action he explicitly avoided doing.
4 A: The writer assumed he “was about to be mugged,” but instead, the man warned him about pickpockets and politely held the door open for him. This shows the man’s actions completely defied the writer’s negative expectations. Distractor B is the opposite of what happened. Distractor C is a false match; he gruffly warned the writer, but the text doesn’t imply he was angry at him. Distractor D is an over-inference not supported by the text.
5 D: The elderly owner states, “We look after our own… and that includes our visitors. Nobody here will let any harm come to you.” The writer then realizes this is because “their presence was vital for the struggling local economy.” Distractor A is the opposite of their protective attitude. Distractor B is a false cause; the area has a troubled history, but tourists didn’t cause it. Distractor C is an over-inference; they protect tourists in their area, but don’t state a preference over city-centre tourists.
6 B: The writer concludes the text by reflecting that “judging a place solely by its gritty exterior can prevent you from experiencing its true heart,” which perfectly matches Option B. Distractor A is an extreme statement; he explicitly notes that “caution is always necessary.” Distractor C uses extreme language (“always less welcoming”) which Cambridge avoids, and which goes further than the writer’s personal conclusion. Distractor D is the opposite of his final realization.
Reading 2
You are going to read a magazine article about a traveller who ran out of money while on holiday.
For questions 1-6, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.
Penniless in Tokyo
I had spent the first four days of my trip to Tokyo living like royalty. Having saved up for over a year, I was determined to enjoy every moment without constantly checking my bank balance. From eating at top-tier sushi restaurants to purchasing overpriced souvenirs, my mindset was firmly set to ‘vacation mode’. However, this carefree attitude came to an abrupt halt during a rather embarrassing incident at a high-end café. After finishing a generous slice of matcha cake, I confidently handed over my debit card, only for the waiter to return moments later with a sympathetic smile, informing me it had been declined.
Assuming it was a simple technical glitch, I stepped outside to call my bank. The reality, as it turned out, was far worse. A polite customer service representative explained that my card had been blocked due to suspected fraudulent activity overseas. Because it was a Friday evening, the security team wouldn’t be able to review my case and lift the restriction for another three days. Hanging up the phone, a wave of sheer panic washed over me. I hastily emptied my pockets and counted my remaining cash: just enough loose change to equate to around fifteen dollars. I was stranded on the other side of the world with virtually nothing.
Initially, I retreated to my pre-paid hostel room and wallowed in self-pity. I mentally cancelled the bullet train tickets and the guided tours I had originally planned to book. I felt entirely trapped, convinced that the rest of my holiday was ruined. But by the following morning, hunger pangs kicked in, forcing me to snap out of my misery. I realised I had a choice: I could spend the next 72 hours crying over my misfortune, or I could treat it as an unexpected challenge. I chose the latter, resolving to squeeze as much joy out of the city as possible without spending a fortune.
My first major adjustment was transportation. Tokyo boasts one of the most efficient subway systems in the world, which I had previously relied on extensively. Now, stripped of my transport budget, I had no alternative but to walk everywhere. Surprisingly, this forced change of pace proved to be a revelation. Instead of zipping underground between major tourist landmarks, I navigated narrow, winding residential streets, discovering hidden shrines and tiny neighbourhood parks I would never have seen otherwise. I was experiencing the authentic, quiet rhythm of the city, far removed from the chaotic neon-lit avenues.
Food, naturally, presented the greatest hurdle. Elaborate restaurant meals were swiftly replaced by convenience store excursions. I soon discovered that extreme budgeting required a great deal of culinary creativity. I swapped premium sushi for hot water and instant noodles, which I ate on a park bench while watching the world go by. To my amazement, a bowl of cheap noodles consumed in the crisp evening air felt just as satisfying as a costly multi-course dinner. If I hadn’t been forced into this situation, I would never have appreciated the simple pleasure of an affordable local snack.
By the time my bank finally unblocked my card on Monday morning, I felt a strange sense of reluctance to return to my previous spending habits. The financial crisis had undoubtedly tested my nerves, but it had also pushed me to step out of my comfort zone. I had arrived in Japan believing that a great holiday depended heavily on a substantial budget. Yet, the days I spent counting every single coin turned out to be the most memorable. The experience taught me that true adventure doesn’t require a premium price tag; it simply demands resilience and an open mind.
1 How did the writer find out there was a problem with his finances?
(A) He was checking his bank balance after buying overpriced souvenirs.
(B) A staff member told him his payment method was rejected.
(C) The high-end café’s payment machine experienced a technical glitch.
(D) He tried to purchase a generous slice of matcha cake.
2 What was the writer’s immediate reaction to the phone call with the bank?
(A) He felt relieved that he had enough loose change to last three days.
(B) He assumed the restriction on his account would be lifted by Friday evening.
(C) He was overwhelmed by fear regarding his dire financial situation.
(D) He politely explained to the security team that he was stranded.
3 What does the word ‘it‘ refer to in paragraph 3?
(A) the pre-paid hostel room
(B) the guided tour
(C) his remaining cash
(D) his misfortune
4 What does the writer imply about walking around the city?
(A) It allowed him to observe a more genuine side of the local culture.
(B) It was much more efficient than using the underground subway system.
(C) It was exhausting to navigate the narrow, winding residential streets.
(D) It allowed him to visit a greater number of major tourist landmarks.
5 How did the writer feel about his new diet?
(A) He missed having a costly multi-course dinner on a park bench.
(B) He needed to use culinary creativity to cook premium sushi.
(C) He found his basic meals unexpectedly enjoyable.
(D) He felt frustrated that he was forced to eat cheap local snacks.
6 What is the writer’s main message in the final paragraph?
(A) Financial crises are likely to ruin a holiday if you lack a substantial budget.
(B) A rewarding travel experience relies more on adaptability than money.
(C) You should always maintain your previous spending habits when travelling.
(D) It is impossible to enjoy an adventure without a premium price tag.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B: The text states that “the waiter return[ed] moments later with a sympathetic smile, informing me it had been declined,” which paraphrases a staff member rejecting his payment method. Distractor A is an Opposite Trap; he was “determined to enjoy every moment without constantly checking my bank balance.” Distractor C is a False Match; he initially assumed it was a technical glitch, but that wasn’t the actual problem. Distractor D is a Partial Truth; he did eat the cake, but he found out about the money issue after he tried to pay for it.
2 C: The text says that upon hanging up the phone, “a wave of sheer panic washed over me” because he was “stranded on the other side of the world with virtually nothing.” This matches being overwhelmed by fear. Distractor A is the Opposite; he only had fifteen dollars, which caused his panic rather than relief. Distractor B is a False Match; it was Friday evening, meaning he had to wait three days. Distractor D places the information incorrectly (Information Misplaced); the representative was polite, not him.
3 D: In the sentence “I could spend the next 72 hours crying over my misfortune, or I could treat it as an unexpected challenge,” the pronoun ‘it’ substitutes the negative situation (his misfortune) so as not to repeat the word.
4 A: The writer states that walking allowed him to experience “the authentic, quiet rhythm of the city, far removed from the chaotic neon-lit avenues.” This strongly implies observing a genuine side of local culture. Distractor B is a False Match; the subway was efficient, not the walking. Distractor C is Unstated/Opposite; he viewed navigating the streets as a “revelation,” not exhausting. Distractor D is the Opposite; he walked instead of zipping between major tourist landmarks.
5 C: The writer notes, “To my amazement, a bowl of cheap noodles consumed in the crisp evening air felt just as satisfying as a costly multi-course dinner,” matching the idea that the basic meals were unexpectedly enjoyable. Distractor A is a False Match; he ate noodles on the park bench, not a multi-course dinner. Distractor B mixes information (Information Misplaced); he swapped premium sushi for noodles, he didn’t cook sushi. Distractor D is the Opposite of how he felt.
6 B: The final paragraph concludes that “true adventure doesn’t require a premium price tag; it simply demands resilience and an open mind.” This perfectly reflects that adaptability is more important than money. Distractor A is the Opposite of his conclusion; his trip wasn’t ruined. Distractor C is an Opposite Trap; he felt a “reluctance to return to my previous spending habits.” Distractor D uses Extreme Language to state the exact opposite of the text’s message.
Reading 3
You are going to read an article about a woman’s experience of a rental car breakdown in the desert.
For questions 1-6, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.
Stranded in the Sun
When I first picked up the keys to my gleaming rental car, I envisioned the ultimate road trip. Leaving the bustling city behind, I headed straight for the rugged beauty of the desert. For the first few hours, everything was absolutely perfect. With the windows rolled down, my favourite playlist blasting from the speakers, and a seemingly endless stretch of empty asphalt ahead, I felt an incredible sense of freedom. I had spent months saving up for this adventure, carefully mapping out a route that would take me far away from the usual tourist traps. Cruising through the arid landscape, taking in the towering red rock formations, I was convinced that renting a car had been the best decision I could have possibly made.
My idealized vision of the journey, however, came to a sudden halt just after midday. Without any prior warning, a loud clunking noise echoed from the engine, immediately followed by a thick plume of acrid grey smoke pouring out from under the bonnet. Heart pounding, I wrestled with the steering wheel, managing to pull the vehicle onto the dusty shoulder of the road. I quickly turned the ignition off and scrambled out, terrified the car might burst into flames. After standing at a safe distance for several minutes, I gingerly popped the hood open. The intense heat radiating from the engine block made it abundantly clear that my trusty vehicle wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
Initially, I assumed it would just be a matter of calling a roadside assistance company to come and rescue me. I reached into my pocket for my smartphone, only to be met with the words ‘No Service’ flashing in the top corner of the screen. A wave of helpless dread washed over me as I held the phone up in the air, desperately pacing around the car in search of a single bar of signal. To make matters worse, the desert road, which had felt so liberatingly empty earlier, now seemed frighteningly deserted. I waited anxiously for over an hour, squinting into the heat haze, but not a single car passed by in either direction. The relentless afternoon sun began to beat down on me.
Taking inventory of my supplies, I realised I only had two half-empty bottles of water and a few cereal bars. Staying with the vehicle is generally the golden rule of surviving a breakdown in a remote area. If I had packed more water, waiting for help might have been a viable option. However, as the temperature continued to soar, I knew that sitting passively could prove dangerous. Squinting at the horizon, I noticed a metallic glint reflecting the sun’s rays about two miles across the scrubland. It looked like the roof of an agricultural shed. Leaving the relative safety of the car was undeniably risky, but that seemed vastly preferable to doing nothing while my supplies rapidly dwindled.
Gathering my courage, I packed my water and valuables into a small rucksack, locked the useless rental car, and set off towards the distant structure. The uneven terrain was challenging, dotted with prickly cacti and loose rocks, but focusing on my destination kept the panic at bay. By the time I finally reached the property, I was exhausted and drenched in sweat, but immensely relieved to find an elderly farmer tending to his tractor. He kindly offered me a glass of cold water and told me I could use his landline to call a tow truck. Looking back, the breakdown shattered my perfect itinerary, but it also taught me that when faced with a crisis, taking decisive action is far more empowering than giving in to despair.
1 How did the writer feel during the early stages of the drive?
(A) Thrilled by the independence of driving through an isolated area.
(B) Glad she had mapped out a route to visit the usual tourist traps.
(C) Relieved that the gleaming rental car was proving to be so reliable.
(D) Worried about the cost of the trip after spending months saving up.
2 What was the writer’s immediate reaction when the car broke down?
(A) Frustrated that a roadside assistance company was not nearby.
(B) Annoyed by the loud clunking noise coming from the engine.
(C) Confident that she could easily fix it by opening the hood.
(D) Fearful that the vehicle was about to catch on fire.
3 How did the writer’s perception of the road change in the third paragraph?
(A) She realised it was much hotter than she had originally expected.
(B) The lack of traffic transformed from a positive feature to a source of alarm.
(C) She noticed that the heat haze made the landscape look frightening.
(D) The lack of mobile signal made her appreciate the isolation of the desert.
4 What does the word ‘that‘ refer to in the fourth paragraph?
(A) waiting for a tow truck to arrive
(B) sitting passively in the extreme heat
(C) abandoning the broken-down vehicle
(D) drinking from the limited water supply
5 What enabled the writer to cope with the difficult walk to the farmhouse?
(A) She carefully stepped over all the prickly cacti and loose rocks.
(B) She was comforted by the sight of the elderly farmer working.
(C) Concentrating on reaching her goal helped her to control her fear.
(D) She felt energized by navigating the challenging and uneven terrain.
6 What is the writer’s main purpose in this article?
(A) To describe the beautiful and rugged landscapes of the desert.
(B) To give practical advice on what provisions to pack for a road trip.
(C) To warn tourists against the dangers of renting unreliable cars.
(D) To show how taking control of a bad situation can be a positive thing.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 A: The text states that the writer felt “an incredible sense of freedom” and had mapped a route “far away from the usual tourist traps,” which perfectly paraphrases being thrilled by independence in an isolated area. Distractor B uses exact wording (“usual tourist traps”) but reverses the meaning (she wanted to avoid them, not visit them). Distractor C is a partial truth (the car was gleaming), but her relief about reliability wasn’t her primary emotion. Distractor D misuses the detail about saving up; she wasn’t worried about money.
2 D: The writer states she scrambled out of the vehicle “terrified the car might burst into flames.” Option D is a direct paraphrase of this. Distractor A refers to an event in paragraph 3, not her immediate reaction in paragraph 2. Distractor B uses exact text words (“loud clunking noise”) but misidentifies her emotion (she was terrified, not just annoyed). Distractor C is opposite to the text; she “gingerly” popped the hood and saw it wasn’t going anywhere.
3 B: The writer notes that “the desert road, which had felt so liberatingly empty earlier, now seemed frighteningly deserted.” This shows her view of the empty road went from positive (“liberatingly”) to negative/alarming (“frighteningly”). Distractor A mentions the heat, but the question asks about her perception of the road. Distractor C wrongly links the heat haze to the road looking frightening. Distractor D is the opposite of the truth; the lack of signal caused “helpless dread,” not appreciation.
4 C: In the text, the writer says, “Leaving the relative safety of the car was undeniably risky, but that seemed vastly preferable to doing nothing…” Therefore, “that” refers to the act of leaving the car (Option C). Distractor A is what she explicitly could not do. Distractor B is what she was trying to avoid by leaving. Distractor D is a detail mentioned earlier but does not fit the grammatical reference of the pronoun.
5 C: The text states that the terrain was challenging, “but focusing on my destination kept the panic at bay.” Option C correctly paraphrases this coping mechanism. Distractor A is a partial truth; the terrain was dotted with cacti and rocks, but the text doesn’t say she carefully stepped over all of them as her main coping strategy. Distractor B is incorrect because she didn’t see the farmer until after she reached the property. Distractor D contradicts the text, which says she was “exhausted,” not energized.
6 D: In the final sentence, the writer reflects on the experience, stating that it “taught me that when faced with a crisis, taking decisive action is far more empowering than giving in to despair.” This aligns with Option D. Distractor A is too specific; the landscape is only the setting of the first paragraph. Distractor B is a partial truth (she mentions her lack of water), but it’s not the primary purpose of the article. Distractor C is an over-inference; she doesn’t use her story to warn others about rental cars specifically.