Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – Water Sports & Extreme Adventures 9

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

You are going to read an article about four individuals reviewing their experiences of learning to paraglide and the importance of trusting their instructor.

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 their prior background in extreme activities made them initially careless?

2   relied completely on remote verbal guidance to steer clear of a dangerous situation?

3   explains how taking the time to learn about their trainer’s background put them at ease?

4   highlights how their instructor’s composed response to a sudden problem during takeoff averted disaster?

5   acknowledges that a potentially fatal error with their gear was spotted by their coach?

6   mentions the psychological difficulty of carrying out a command that felt completely unnatural?

7   describes the sense of relief that came from giving up the burden of making choices?

8   contrasts the overwhelming sensory experience of the flight with the clarity of their trainer’s directions?

9   reveals that sheer terror almost prevented them from even beginning the flight?

10   realises that their physical safety depended on carrying out orders without a moment of hesitation?

Taking the Leap: The Ultimate Test of Trust

A Mark

Standing on the edge of the precipice, my heart was pounding so violently I could barely catch my breath. Despite being an avid skier who is used to steep altitudes, the sheer vertical drop below had me absolutely paralysed with fear, and I was genuinely on the verge of backing out of the entire experience. However, my instructor, Tom, proved to be the epitome of calm. The most challenging aspect was when he explicitly commanded me to sprint directly towards the cliff edge. Every survival instinct in my brain was screaming at me to stop, making it a profoundly difficult instruction to mentally accept and execute. Just as we began our run, an unpredictable crosswind violently caught the canopy, threatening to drag us sideways into the rocky terrain. I completely froze, but Tom didn’t bat an eyelid. With a swift, expertly executed pull on the risers, he stabilised our gear effortlessly, averting what could have been a disastrous take-off.

B Sarah

Having spent several years participating in extreme sports like base jumping and bungee jumping, I was under the rather dangerous illusion that learning to paraglide would be an absolute breeze. Consequently, I took it for granted that I knew what I was doing and paid far less attention to the initial safety briefing than I should have. Before my first solo launch, I hastily strapped myself into the complex harness, entirely convinced I had secured it perfectly. Thankfully, my instructor, Leo, was meticulous and insisted on conducting his standard pre-flight physical inspection. He instantly noticed that the primary carabiner attaching my harness to the wing hadn’t been locked securely—a careless oversight that would undoubtedly have resulted in a fatal accident once I was airborne. It was a harsh wake-up call. Although he didn’t raise his voice, his stern warning reminded me that gravity doesn’t care about your ego. From that moment, I swallowed my pride and trusted his judgement implicitly.

C David

Completing a tandem flight with an expert is one thing, but being strapped into the paragliding wing all by yourself is a completely different ballgame. The moment my feet left the solid ground, I was completely overwhelmed by the deafening roar of the wind rushing past my ears and the dizzying vastness of the valley sprawling beneath me. It was a sensory overload. Piercing through that chaotic wall of sound, however, was the steady, reassuring tone of my instructor coming through the two-way radio attached to my helmet. About ten minutes into the flight, an unexpected thermal draft dragged me alarmingly close to a dense line of tall pine trees. Without missing a beat, the radio crackled and he commanded me to shift my body weight and brake hard to the right. I didn’t pause to analyse the physics of the situation; I just obeyed the command in a split second. That immediate compliance allowed me to steer clear of the hazard safely.

D Emma

For me, trusting a complete stranger with my personal safety requires far more than a quick introductory handshake and a demonstration of the equipment. Before we even unpacked the paragliding canopy, my instructor, Maya, deliberately took the time to sit down and converse with me over a coffee. Listening to stories about her fifteen years of professional flying and the thousands of successful jumps she had overseen was exactly what was needed to put my mind at rest. Once we were finally soaring high above the mountainous landscape, I grasped just how mentally demanding it must be to continuously evaluate fluctuating wind speeds, thermal patterns, and safe landing zones. Relinquishing control of all those complicated calculations and letting Maya take the reins was an incredibly liberating sensation. Instead of stressing over navigation, my sole responsibility was to take in the spectacular panoramic views, safe in the knowledge that her extensive expertise was guiding us.

Reading 2

You are going to read an article about four teenagers sharing the competitive yet highly supportive culture they found within their local windsurfing community.

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

Which person/section

1   mentions being pleasantly surprised by the generosity of a rival during an event?

2   suggests that the social atmosphere following a competition is a highlight?

3   was initially hesitant to join in due to the high skill level of others?

4   highlights the value of learning to accept defeat with a good attitude?

5   reveals that experienced members willingly disclose their strategic knowledge?

6   points out a collective effort to take care of their physical environment?

7   explains that pushing each other during unofficial runs leads to mutual improvement?

8   experienced a moment of failure that resulted in unexpected encouragement?

9   appreciates the stark difference between how peers act during and after a race?

10   acknowledges that maintaining their gear would be much harder without the group’s assistance?

Riding the Waves Together

A Liam

I must admit that windsurfing is an incredibly demanding sport, both financially and technically. Had it not been for the seasoned members showing me how to patch up my damaged boards and fix torn sails, I would undoubtedly have given it up long ago. Despite this off-water solidarity, once we hit the waves, the rivalry is intense. Last month, during the regional championships, my mast snapped right before the final heat. I took it for granted that my day was ruined and prepared to pack up. Out of the blue, my main opponent paddled over and handed me his spare rig so I could compete. We still fought tooth and nail on the water, but that selfless gesture absolutely blew me away. Although I narrowly lost the race, I wasn’t upset in the slightest; knowing you have that kind of backup means more than any trophy.

B Chloe

When I first turned up at the local bay, I was completely overwhelmed by the breathtaking aerial tricks the older teens were pulling off. For several weeks, I merely sat on the sidelines, feeling far too self-conscious to launch my own board. Once I finally plucked up the courage to join in, disaster struck. I caught a massive, unpredictable gust of wind and wiped out spectacularly in front of the entire squad. I was bracing myself for their mockery, but to my astonishment, they paddled over, cheering and clapping for my daring attempt. That supportive reaction encapsulates the true spirit of our club. While everyone desperately wants to secure first place, there is a collective understanding that you must learn to take your failures on the chin. We are fierce competitors, but nobody holds a grudge, and every setback is treated as a stepping stone to future success.

C Mateo

The sheer physical exertion of windsurfing cannot be understated, and our weekend training sessions are absolutely grueling. We frequently set up unofficial courses along the coastline, relentlessly pushing our bodies to the absolute limit. It is precisely this intense, daily rivalry during practice that elevates everyone’s overall performance. What never ceases to fascinate me, however, is that nobody attempts to conceal their winning methods. If a veteran rider figures out a superior way to read the shifting coastal breezes or tackle the choppy currents, they will invariably sit down on the beach and talk the rest of us through it. Strategies and tactical maneuvers are openly discussed rather than hoarded. We frequently debate our equipment setups, and although we are all desperate to beat one another, ensuring that everyone is performing at their absolute best is considered far more important than keeping secrets.

D Jasmine

It is truly fascinating to observe how people’s personalities undergo a complete transformation on race days. While rounding the marker buoys, my peers are utterly ruthless; they won’t give you an inch of space and will capitalise on any minor error. Yet, the moment we step off our boards and return to the sand, the tension evaporates instantly, replaced by genuine warmth and solidarity. To be perfectly honest, the post-tournament barbecues, where we relentlessly analyse our techniques and laugh about our near misses, are what I anticipate the most. Furthermore, we are intensely protective of our local spot. Because we rely on the ocean so heavily, the entire squad has established a routine of gathering on Sunday mornings to pick up plastic litter and clear debris from the shoreline. It proves that our community is united by far more than just a shared desire to win races.

Exercises:   123456