Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – Water Sports & Extreme Adventures 10

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

You are going to read an article about four people describing the frustration of being entirely dependent on unpredictable weather and tides for their chosen water sports.

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 making an unwise choice even though the weather predictions were unfavorable?

2   expresses envy towards individuals who participate in indoor activities?

3   mentions the annoyance of missing out on ideal conditions due to professional commitments?

4   describes a frightening moment brought about by an unexpected shift in the elements?

5   frequently spends a significant amount of time sitting around with nothing to do?

6   points out that a specific location’s shape makes the water movements more extreme?

7   has developed an obsessive habit of checking meteorological updates?

8   was forced to abandon a planned excursion right before it was due to start?

9   acknowledges that the lack of control actually adds to their enjoyment?

10   complains about the money wasted on fruitless journeys to the coast?

At the Mercy of the Elements: When Nature Dictates Your Sport

A Jake – Kitesurfing

As a dedicated kitesurfer, my life is entirely dictated by the wind. I have to confess, it has become slightly unhealthy; I am constantly glued to meteorological apps on my phone, refreshing the screen every half hour. There is absolutely nothing more agonizing than gazing out of my office window on a Tuesday afternoon, seeing the trees bending under a perfect twenty-knot breeze, and knowing I am stuck behind a desk. By the time the weekend rolls around, it’s often dead calm again. I’ve lost count of the times I’ve felt deeply frustrated by this. Nevertheless, you eventually have to come to terms with the fact that you can’t manipulate the elements. Actually, I believe that this unpredictability is precisely what makes kitesurfing so addictive. When the tide is right and the wind finally plays ball, the feeling of freedom is unmatched. If you could just switch on the wind whenever you pleased, the sport would undoubtedly lose a significant part of its magic.

B Mia – Surfing

People often romanticize surfing, picturing endless sunny days and perfect waves, but the reality is far more grueling. Because I live two hours from the ocean, calculating swells and tidal charts is a daily headache. The most infuriating aspect is undoubtedly the expense. I can’t bear to calculate how much cash I’ve thrown away on petrol, only to arrive at the beach and find a completely flat sea. Sometimes, the forecast promises a massive swell, but the wind direction shifts at the last minute and ruins the waves. On days like those, when I’ve driven for hours for absolutely nothing, I honestly look at my colleagues who play badminton or basketball and feel incredibly jealous. They just book a court, turn up, and play, regardless of whether it’s pouring with rain or completely still outside. Despite the inevitable disappointments, when you finally catch that flawless wave, all the wasted fuel and frustration are instantly forgotten.

C Toby – Open-water swimming

Open-water swimming is heavily reliant on understanding the ocean’s moods. You need to be acutely aware of tidal movements, especially in the estuary where I train. The geography of the area means the narrow bay acts exactly like a funnel, dramatically speeding up the flow of the water as the tide goes out. If you miscalculate the timing, you can easily be swept out to sea. I learned this the hard way last autumn. The predictions indicated an unusually strong spring tide, but I brushed the warnings aside, arrogantly assuming my fitness would see me through. I was swimming against the current and suddenly realised I was making zero progress. I was completely exhausted and had to be hauled out by a passing fishing boat. It was a massive blow to my ego. It taught me that you must never take the ocean for granted. No matter how strong you think you are, the water will always have the upper hand.

D Sarah – Dinghy sailing

Dinghy sailing requires a delicate balance; you need enough breeze to move, but not so much that it becomes hazardous. Consequently, a massive part of the sport involves hanging around the marina for hours on end, drinking endless cups of coffee while waiting for the conditions to improve. Just last month, we had been preparing for a major regional regatta for weeks. However, we were forced to call off the entire event on the very morning of the race because a severe storm warning was issued. It was utterly demoralising. We did manage to get out a few days later, but out of nowhere, a vicious squall swept across the bay. The sky turned black in minutes, and the wind nearly flipped our dinghy over. It was a genuinely terrifying ordeal, and we had to battle furiously to get back to shore safely. It just goes to show how quickly a calm sea can turn into a hostile environment.

Reading 2

You are going to read an article about four young adults reflecting on the profound sense of humility they feel when confronted by the vastness and power of the ocean.

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 that a previously held attitude of superiority was quickly shattered?

2   attributes their feeling of insignificance to the absence of any recognizable geographical features?

3   makes the point that our species is fundamentally unsuited to permanently inhabit this environment?

4   is struck by the ocean’s formidable ability to physically alter the coastal landscape?

5 recalls a frightening experience of being rendered completely powerless by the water’s kinetic energy?

6   describes how looking at the night sky while afloat triggered a major shift in their personal perspective?

7   expresses amazement at the staggering percentage of the aquatic realm that remains a complete mystery to humans?

8   explains that standing near the stormy sea is an effective way to minimize the weight of daily pressures?

9   experienced an unexpected feeling of peace despite the daunting scale of their surroundings?

10   notes that the absence of ambient noise served to magnify their sense of physical vulnerability?

The Great Expanse: Confronting the Power of the Ocean

A Leo

I’ve always been a strong swimmer, which inevitably breeds a certain level of foolish pride. I genuinely believed I could conquer any swell the local beach threw at me. That misplaced arrogance was swiftly dealt with last winter. I had paddled out on my surfboard during a particularly rough storm, severely underestimating the conditions. Within minutes, I was caught in a brutal rip current. No matter how fiercely I paddled, I was dragged further out into the vastness. When a massive set of waves broke directly on my head, I was tossed around like a ragdoll in a washing machine, completely at the mercy of the water. If I hadn’t eventually caught a brief lull in the current, I would undoubtedly have drowned. It was a terrifying ordeal that forced me to come to terms with my own physical limitations. Now, I approach the water with profound respect, knowing that human strength is entirely insignificant against such raw, unbridled energy.

B Maya

Navigating a small yacht across the open water is a truly eye-opening experience. When you are hundreds of miles offshore, with absolutely no shoreline to ground you and completely devoid of reference points, the sheer scale of the ocean becomes almost incomprehensible. During my first night watch, the psychological impact of that extreme isolation hit me hard. I remember staring up at the glittering canopy of constellations; gazing at that infinite sky while floating on a seemingly bottomless abyss completely shifted my paradigm. You might expect such a daunting environment to induce panic, but paradoxically, I found an unexpected serenity in feeling so utterly minuscule. There is something strangely comforting about realising the universe doesn’t revolve around you. The rhythmic sound of the water lapping against the hull replaced the chaotic noise of city life. Ultimately, the ocean strips away your ego, leaving you with a deep appreciation for the majestic emptiness that covers the majority of our planet.

C Sam

Descending into the deep blue as a scuba diver is akin to stepping onto another planet. As soon as you slip beneath the surface, the familiar rules of gravity and atmosphere vanish. What always strikes me most is the heavy, muffled quiet of the deep; that profound lack of sound actively intensifies my awareness of my own physical fragility. Down there, every breath feels like an absolute privilege. We are merely fleeting guests in an ecosystem that operates entirely without us, and it is abundantly clear that this is not our natural domain. Furthermore, it leaves me utterly awestruck to consider that the staggering majority of this marine habitat remains completely unmapped and unexplored by mankind. We supposedly know more about the surface of the moon than the bottom of our own oceans! Confronting that endless, dark blue void reminds me that human knowledge is still remarkably limited, instilling a deep humility that stays with me long after I’ve dried off.

D Chloe

Living on a rugged coastline, I have a front-row seat to the ocean’s spectacular temper tantrums. During the harsh winter months, relentless gales whip the sea into a frenzy of towering, grey waves. I regularly stand on the cliffs, safely wrapped up against the biting wind, simply to witness the sheer, destructive capacity of the water. Watching massive chunks of rock being relentlessly battered and eventually crumbling into the foaming surf profoundly affects me; it is a vivid demonstration of the sea’s formidable ability to literally carve away and reshape the solid ground we rely on. Whenever I feel overwhelmed by impending work deadlines or trivial social dramas, I take a brisk walk along the shoreline. Staring out at those turbulent, chaotic waters has a remarkable way of putting everything into perspective. The ocean’s ancient, unstoppable rhythm instantly makes petty, everyday anxieties vanish, reminding me that nature’s powerful forces will endure long after our temporary problems have been entirely forgotten.

Exercises:   123456