Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – Youth Entrepreneurship & Startups 7

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

You are going to read an article about four young adults describing the intense pressure of pitching their startup ideas to potential investors at a local business competition.

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 initial business calculations were inaccurate?

2   had to deliver their presentation without visual aids?

3   felt inferior to the other participants in the competition?

4   experienced a momentary inability to speak during the presentation?

5   decided to alter their planned speech just before going on stage?

6   values the blunt feedback they received from the judges?

7   believes that their ability to adapt led to a positive outcome?

8   practiced their speech to the point of sounding unnatural?

9   felt a profound sense of relaxation once their pitch concluded?

10   was thrown off balance by an unanticipated inquiry from the panel?

Under the Spotlight: Surviving the Startup Pitch

A Liam

I’ve always been a perfectionist, so leading up to the pitch, I rehearsed my script endlessly. In hindsight, I went too far; I’d memorised it so rigidly that I sounded like a robot rather than a passionate entrepreneur. When I finally walked onto the stage, the bright lights completely blinded me, and for what felt like an eternity, my mind went completely blank. I just stood there, staring blankly at the investors. Fortunately, I managed to gather my thoughts and get back on track. Everything was going reasonably well until the Q&A session. One of the judges threw me a curveball regarding my marketing strategy that I simply hadn’t anticipated. I stumbled through a response, feeling my face burn. Although they praised my app’s design, I walked away knowing I needed to be much more flexible. Next time, I won’t rely on a strict script, and I’ll definitely prepare for more left-field questions.

B Maya

As soon as I arrived at the venue, the tension was palpable. I was pitching a sustainable clothing line, and I felt fairly confident with my visual presentation. However, the moment I finished speaking, one of the investors tore into my business plan. He pointed out that I had completely underestimated the manufacturing costs, and to my horror, I realised my financial projections were wildly off the mark. Initially, his harsh words felt like a punch to the stomach. I had to bite my tongue to stop myself from becoming defensive. Yet, once the dust had settled, I came to terms with the fact that he was absolutely right. I could have easily ruined my business by ignoring those hidden expenses. Honestly, I’m incredibly grateful for his brutal honesty. While I didn’t walk away with a check that day, the critique provided me with a crucial reality check that will undoubtedly save me from future disasters.

C Noah

Pitching my meal-prep delivery service was supposed to be straightforward. I had designed a stunning slideshow to showcase the menus and app interface. Unfortunately, technology had other plans. Just as I was introduced, the projector died, and the tech team couldn’t fix it. I was a bundle of nerves, and for a split second, I considered walking off stage. Instead, I took a deep breath and decided to paint a picture with my words. I described the meals, the user experience, and the target demographic with as much enthusiasm as I could muster. It forced me to engage directly with the judges rather than hiding behind a screen. Surprisingly, they were thoroughly impressed by my ability to think on my feet under such intense pressure. They offered me the seed funding I needed, explicitly stating that my quick thinking convinced them I had what it takes to navigate the unpredictable world of business.

D Chloe

Sitting in the waiting room before my pitch, I made the mistake of listening to the other participants. They were throwing around complex financial jargon and boasting about their extensive backgrounds in corporate finance. As a recent graduate with a simple educational tech concept, I suddenly felt completely out of my depth. I was convinced the panel would laugh me out of the room. Panic set in, and just minutes before my name was called, I made a drastic decision. I scrapped my formal, data-heavy introduction and opted to share a personal story about why I created the platform instead. It was a massive risk, but it paid off by immediately capturing their attention. When I finally stepped off that stage, a massive wave of relief washed over me. I felt like a heavy weight had been lifted off my shoulders. Regardless of the final result, just surviving that high-pressure environment was a victory in itself.

Reading 2

You are going to read an article about four teenagers talking about the difficult decision to reinvest all their initial profits back into the business instead of spending the money.

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 they initially found it hard to resist purchasing a luxury item?

2   states that their equipment limitations caused them to reject profitable work?

3   changed their financial plans after receiving guidance from a business veteran?

4   felt bitter about missing out on typical teenage social events?

5   believes their investment was necessary to compete with professional companies?

6   explains how acquiring supplies in bulk led to a significant drop in costs?

7   had a sudden fear that their business might fail after spending the money?

8   recognised that the physical strain of their production method was too damaging to continue?

9   had to abandon a trip abroad they were on the verge of booking?

10   experienced a sudden feeling of relief once their payment had gone through?

Reinvesting in the Dream: Four Teen Entrepreneurs Share Their Stories

A Leo

When my customized sneaker business took off, the initial profits were far higher than I’d ever anticipated. My immediate reaction was to treat myself to a second-hand sports car; I’d even picked out the exact model at a local dealership. It was incredibly tough to resist that temptation, especially when my friends were showing off their own new gadgets. However, I was painting every single shoe by hand, which was leaving me entirely drained by the end of the week. I knew that if I wanted to expand the brand, I desperately needed an industrial airbrushing system. I remember transferring the funds to buy the machinery and suddenly wondering if I had made a terrible mistake. What if the trend faded and I was left with expensive equipment and an empty bank account? Fortunately, I bounced back from that brief period of doubt. Reinvesting every penny was daunting, but it ultimately allowed me to double my output without sacrificing any quality.

B Maya

After six months of selling homemade organic skincare products, I finally had a surprisingly healthy bank balance. My original intention was to book a well-deserved summer holiday to Spain with my sister in order to recharge my batteries. I was literally on the verge of paying for the flights when my uncle, who runs a highly successful retail firm, sat me down for a serious chat. He pointed out that by purchasing my raw ingredients—like shea butter and essential oils—in massive quantities, I could drastically lower my overheads. It made complete sense financially, but having to abandon my vacation plans was a bitter pill to swallow. I reinvested the entire sum into bulk supplies and superior eco-friendly packaging. While it was intensely disappointing to stay home mixing lotions while others travelled, I certainly don’t regret it. My profit margins have since soared, putting my products far ahead of rival local brands.

C Sam

Being a freelance web designer while still in my final year of high school is quite a juggling act. When I successfully landed my first major corporate contract, the payout was surprisingly substantial. My classmates naturally assumed I’d throw a massive party or buy designer clothes. To be honest, I felt quite resentful that I had to miss out on typical teenage socializing to focus on my long-term goals. My basic design software was fine for small local gigs, but to truly go toe-to-toe with major, established agencies, I had to upgrade to a premium, industry-standard software suite and a high-performance server. The total cost effectively wiped out my entire earnings. Before I clicked ‘purchase’, I was sweating with anxiety, but the very moment the transaction was approved, a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders. Knowing I now possessed the professional tools to take on anyone made giving up my social life completely worthwhile.

D Chloe

Baking started as a relaxing weekend hobby, but soon my custom celebration cakes were in exceptionally high demand. By December, my profit was soaring, but I was facing a serious operational bottleneck. Using a standard domestic oven meant I was constantly turning down lucrative orders simply because I didn’t have the capacity to bake them fast enough. Furthermore, kneading mountains of heavy dough by hand was taking a severe toll on my wrists and shoulders; I soon realised I couldn’t keep punishing my body like that. Instead of treating myself to the relaxing spa weekend I had desperately been craving, I spent every last cent on a commercial-grade planetary mixer and a professional double-deck oven. It was a terrifying amount of money to part with, but it completely transformed my kitchen. If I hadn’t taken that financial leap, my business would have inevitably stagnated, and my physical health would have undoubtedly suffered.

Exercises:   123456