reading comprehension b1 education

Are you a learner at B1 English level (intermediate) ? This section offers reading practice to help you understand texts with everyday or job-related language. Texts include articles, travel guides, emails, adverts and reviews.

Each lesson has a preparation task, a reading text and two tasks to check your understanding and to practise a variety of reading skills. Make a start today.

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A conference programme

Read the programme for a management conference to practise and improve your reading skills.

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A flyer for a gym

Read a flyer promoting a new gym to practise and improve your reading skills.

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A travel guide

Read a travel guide about Bangkok to practise and improve your reading skills.

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An email request for help

Read an email asking for help from another department to practise and improve your reading skills.

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Digital habits across generations

Read an article about how people at different ages use computers and smartphones to practise and improve your reading skills.

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Encyclopedia entry

Read an encyclopedia entry on the Taj Mahal to practise and improve your reading skills.

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How to spot fake news

Read some tips for spotting fake news to practise and improve your reading skills.

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Innovation in business

Read a blog post about being innovative in business to practise and improve your reading skills.

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Planning an event

Read a dialogue where three people negotiate who does what to achieve a task.

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Robot teachers

Read an article about robot teachers to practise and improve your reading skills.

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Social media influencers

Read a blogpost about the impact of social media influencers in the business world to practise and improve your reading skills. 

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The legend of fairies

Read a text about the legend of fairies to practise and improve your reading skills.

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The Martian: a book review

Read a review of the book 'The Martian' to practise and improve your reading skills.

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B1 is one of the CEFR levels described by the Council of Europe.

B1 Reading: Education

B1 reading topics.

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• Education 1  
• Education 2  
• Hotel reviews  
• Free time  
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• Country kids  

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A1 – Elementary

Practice Grammar Tests for A1 with Answer

A2 – Pre-intermediate

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B1 – Intermediate

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B2 – Upper-intermediate

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C1 – Advanced

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Pre-A1 – STARTERS

Practice Listening Tests for STARTERS with Answer & Audioscript

Practice Listening Tests for A1 with Answer & Audioscript

Practice Listening Tests for B1 with Answer & Audioscript

Practice Listening Tests for B2 with Answer & Audioscript

Practice Reading Tests for STARTERS with Answer

Practice Reading Tests for A1 with Answer

Practice Reading Tests for A2 with Answer

Practice Reading Tests for B1 with Answer

Practice Reading Tests for B2 with Answer

Use of English Tests for A1 with Answer

Use of English Tests for A2 with Answer

Use of English Tests for B1 with Answer

Use of English Tests for B2 with Answer

Practice Writing Tests for STARTERS with Answer

Practice Writing Tests for A1 with Answer

Practice Writing Tests for A2 with Answer

Practice Writing Tests for B1 with Answer

Practice Writing Tests for B2 with Answer

Key (KET) Listening Tests

Key (ket) reading & writing tests.

Practice KET Reading and Wrting Tests with Answer

Preliminary (PET) Listening Tests

Practice PET Listening Tests with Answer & Audioscript

First (FCE) Listening Tests

Practice FCE Listening Tests with Answer & Audioscript

CAE Listening Tests

Practice CAE Listening Tests with Answer & Audioscript

TOEIC Listening Tests

Practice Toeic Listening Tests with Answer & Audioscript

Practice Vocabulary Tests for A1 with Answer

Practice Vocabulary Tests for A2 with Answer

Practice Vocabulary Tests for B1 with Answer

Practice Vocabulary Tests for B2 with Answer

English practice TEST

– matching – multiple choice – multiple-choice gapped text, — matching —, department stores, art courses, film studios, reviews of animated films, geography websites, jobs available, local activities, fitness activities, properties to rent, tv programmes, restaurant reviews, film and documentary reviews, popular local shops, what’s on this weekend, our top eight cafés, mobile central, film reviews, great birthday venues, — multiple choice —, karina moore – teenage high diver, whale-watching trip, our school newspaper, coasteering, cross-country skiing in sweden, our great ocean road adventure, how she gets a good night’s sleep, buddy jones, musician, robert taylor talks about his new art show, jon leverson talks about working in comedy, headteacher mary collins talks about healthy school days, georgina johnson writes about the mobile phone, kirsty wade, young athlete, mark charles: extreme weather photographer, steve cummins talks about starting his own business, paul harris talks about how he studied by distance learning before going to university, corinna held talks about attending a music festival, jessica hail – comedian, painting in spain, harry parnell: photographer of the stars, — multiple-choice gapped text —, computer game exhibition, the giant piano, digging into the past, a new way of making electricity, lost in the mountains, a helping hand, my first marathon, the story of the carrot and the ring, my new hobby, clothes exchange, cooper’s hill cheese chase, saved by dolphins, an amazing journey, baking and me, the history of fish and chips, the crime of the century, why the sea is good for you, lost luggage, what’s the point in studying music, pin it on pinterest.

Intermediate English reading

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Reading comprehension texts for intermediate  English - CEF levels A2, B1 and B2

1.  Topics about life in Britain

Britain in general.

• NEW   Keir Starmer - Britain's new Prime Minister - 
• NEW   Princess Kate - from ordinary girl to Queen - (short A2 - B1 level text with   audio ).
• NEW   Sport: The origins of football and rugby - (short A2 level text).
• NEW   Charles III, his coronation and the future    audio
• NEW   London Fashion - London is the world capital of fashion
• Remembering Queen Elizabeth - simple English    audio
• Britain's new king  With  audio - Queen Elizabeth II has died. God save the King.
• The Commonwealth .  After the United Nations, it is the world's largest grouping of nations ..
• Britain - a nation of cat-lovers  -  audio A touching story about an old lady and her cats: interactive
• The tradition of Christmas cards .  People have been sending Xmas cards in England since 1843.
• Christmas in England With  audio - Christmas is the biggest... and longest... festival in the year.
• Christmas shopping  For many people, it is the most important aspect of Christmas.
• Britain, that island   With  audio - Why did Britain vote for Brexit? Is Britain really so different ? Easy intermediate English
• The place where money has no value - (short A2 - B1 level text with   audio ).
• Living in the Highlands. What is it like to live in the Highlands of Scotland, specially for young people?
• The wind farm controversy - Conservationists oppose plans to modernise a wind farm.
• Moving to the Country - With  audio   More and more people want to live the rural life, but....
• Leaving home - Leaving home is part of the teenage dream, particularly in Britain. But the dream is often a long way from reality.
• Black and British; an extended document .  A full Focus on minorities in Britain.
• No more Fish 'n' Chips?  a look at Britain's original fast food
• Scouting moves ahead . The scout movement is over 100 years old, and still going strong.
• English ghost stories   New  audio Fact or fiction?
• The Mother of Parliaments!  The English / British parliament is almost 1000 years old. 
• Cambridge new and old - The historic university city is the heart of Britain's "Silicon Fen".
• NEW   Polluting for pleasure ? - B1 - a dialogue in simple English
• Pollution - someone else's problem - a humorous dialogue on a serious subject.
• Dialogue: School uniforms  With  audio -  British school pupils discuss the pros and the cons
• Dialogue: Work  British school pupils talk about work
• Dialogue: Drugs  British school pupils discuss drugs – now less cool than they used to be
• Dialogue: Talking about "culture"  What is culture? And do teenagers get enough of it?
• Dialogue: Are you a brand slave? British teens discuss designer clothes
• Dialogue: Fast food, OK ?  With  audio - British teens discuss fast food. 
• NEW   Black taxis going green .  London's iconic black taxis are changing.
• NEW     Music: Ed Sheeran - from Yorkshire to the world - (short A2 - B1 level text with   audio ).
• My name is Bond .  An imaginary interview with James Bond.
• New Life for Big Ben.  With  audio . London's iconic clock is being renovated.
• Charlie Chaplin and the Little Tramp .  A classic story of "rags to riches".
• Sherlock Holmes is getting old  - The famous detective first appeared in 1887. - over 130 years ago.
• Still No. 1 in 2024 ! Music : the Beatles - Fifty years on, they are still among the best-selling groups in the world.
• Robin Hood - Fact or fiction ?  Did this popular hero really exist?
• The Loch Ness Monster - does it really exist?
•   Who is James Bond ?
•   The story of the BBC - Britain's main broadcaster is one of the most important in the world
•   The men who guard the King With  audio - who are the red-coated guards outside Buckingham Palace ?
• New Life for Big Ben.  With  audio .  London's iconic clock has been renovated.
•   London in the Sea ? - Britain's capital city is at serious risk from rising sea levels.
• The story of London - Britain's capital city, once the biggest city in the world, is over 2000 years old.
• Big red London buses  With  audio   -  the story of London's famous routemaster buses
• London : Madame Tussaud's -  Where you can be sure to see the celebrities every day
• London: the Lord Mayor's show .  One of the biggest free shows in the world.
• London: the Great River Race  London's other marathon
• Britain: sport cuts crime.  In Bristol, a new football league is making its mark
• Sport: The story of the Derby - With  audio - The oldest and most famous horse race in the world.
• Sport: The story of football and rugby - (B2 level text), and how football came from England to Brazil.
• More resources coming

2. Topics with a North-American theme

• NEW     Martin Luther King - an American hero - (short A2 - B1 level text with   audio ).
• NEW    American Indians - With  audio - Also known as Native Americans, they are the original inhabitants of the USA 
• Alcohol, Prohibition and Al Capone B1 level, a simple but interesting text with interactive worksheet.
• Profession : Cowboy   With  audio There are still cowboys working today in the American west
• George Washington  -  With  audio - the story of America's first president
• Hollywood & Superheroes    New  audio

• USA: Still looking for Gold  Out west, the gold rush is not yet over...
• USA: who was Buffalo Bill? With  audio - Remembering one of America's great folk heroes .
• USA: Team sports, American style  Why do the USA and Europe have different sports?
• Elvis - he's still the "King" and his home Graceland, in Memphis, is a major tourist attraction.
• The story of Silicon Valley  What is Silicon valley, where is it, and why ?
• The story of Coca-Cola. With  audio  The name "Coca-Cola" is the best-known name in the whole world.
• The story of Blue Jeans. New  audio  The world's most popular garment was first created in 1873
• Hollywood - its life and times A short story of Hollywood, in easy English.
• America's oil - a love affair Americans use a lot of energy; but the cost of oil is going up.
• USA: Winter sports USA  Americans love winter sports, because their winters are so cold
• USA: Close encounters with a Twister  -  A tornado strikes....
• Go West, young man! The phrase that built America  - With  audio
• Plastic pollution; how can we stop it? - With  audio

3. Other reading resources - varia, short stories, technical English, songs, cartoons

• NEW   ► The End of the World? -  How much longer can planet Earth survive? A B1 level text with interactive exercises and  audio
•  Looking for the yeti .   A2 - B1 level. Does this legendary creature really exist ?
•   Humour and jokes .  in easy English   A2

Short stories - teenage fiction  ( ► see also short stories )

• NEW    Short story: Dr. Trelew's Encounter - (B1) a Victorian mystery with worksheet and  audio
• NEW    Short story: Dance Macabre  - (B1) a short story from the USA with worksheets and  audio
• NEW   Short story: Driftwood  - (B2) a short story from England with worksheet and  audio
• Short story: the Wimp .  Teenage fiction, in two parts, with worksheets and  audio
• Short Story - The Girl in the Denim Jacket , a story in two parts with worksheets and  audio
• Short Story - The Trap , a story in two parts
• Mystery : The Titanic and the Temple of Doom  Did this really happen ?
• Short story: the Box  - a short story in two parts with worksheets and  audio
• Short Story - One Foggy Night - teenage fiction -  a short story in two parts with worksheets and  audio
• Short Story - The path to High Crag , a story in two parts
• Song: I would if I could.  An English learning song; theme, modal verbs (+ audio )
• Song: the Titanic.   A popular folk song, with words (+  audio )

Technical English

• NEW     Living underground - past and future - (short A2 - B1 level text with   audio ).
• NEW   Storing electricity - the big challenge . The sun doesn't shine at night, and sometimes the wind stops blowing....
• NEW   Climate change: can we stop it ? -  Or are we heading for disaster? With  audio
• Polluting for pleasure ? -  a dialogue in simple English
•   Short text: The car of the future?  An easy text in semi-technical English.  With  audio
•   Will there be life after oil?  What will happen when the oil runs out ?  With  audio
•   Short text: Holidays in space  With  audio   An easy text in semi-technical English
•   The story of Silicon Valley  What is Silicon valley, where is it, and why ?
• Short text: Living without energy  A short text in semi-technical English
• The legendary Mini Cooper - Semi-technical English
• The story of the bicycle - semi technical English
•    Cartoon - MacBrain & MacBrawn 1 - Fiona McBelle -          MacBrain & MacBrawn - cartoon 2 : A Walk in the hills         MacBrain & MacBrawn - cartoon 3 : The Sales         MacBrain & MacBrawn - cartoon 4 : Wishful thinking          MacBrain & MacBrawn - cartoon 5 : The motorbike          MacBrain & MacBrawn - cartoon 6 : Another dinner date          MacBrain & MacBrawn - cartoon 7 : African safari ?          MacBrain & MacBrawn - cartoon 8 : A new job...          MacBrain & MacBrawn - cartoon 9 : Hang-gliding champion...    and more to come.

4.  Go to > Intermediate Puzzles and word games

English for a2 b1 and b2 levels. intermediate english reading resources .

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Are you an intermediate (CEFR level B1) learner of English? Practise and improve your reading skills with these texts and exercises.

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Adventure travel

Check out this brochure with some of the most exciting adventure holidays around the world and improve your reading skills. Are you ready for this?

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An Olympic blog

Imagine you're looking for information online about the Olympic Games and you find this very old blog post from 2012! Check out this blogger's memories of the 2012 London Olympics.

Food and restaurants

Do you like eating out? Check out these reviews of the trendiest places to eat and improve your reading skills.

Foreign exchange emails

Look at these emails between a student and his friend who is studying in Scotland, then do the exercises to improve your reading skills.

Friendship quiz

Are you really a good friend? Would you always be there when your friends need you? Try this quiz to find out!

How to be a safe and smart searcher

Can you always find what you want to find on the internet? These eight easy-to-remember tips will help you to become a safe and smart searcher!

Job adverts

Do you need some cash? Are you looking for work? Well, look at these job adverts and do the exercises to improve your reading skills.

Skills for the 21st-century workplace

Have you got the skills you need for the 21st-century workplace? Read about what employers are looking for and test yourself to see if you are prepared!

The noticeboard

What's going on in your local area? Look at the different notices on the noticeboard and do the exercises to practise and improve your reading skills.

Tips for being a super-organised student

Are you a super-organised student? How do you make sure you get your homework in on time? Read the blog post and tips to see if you agree with them.

Travel guide

Look at this guide for tourists visiting California, then do the exercises to improve your reading skills.

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Learn Vocabulary

Learn English Vocabulary Through Pictures with 150 Topics

Vocabulary Exercises A1

English Vocabulary Exercises for A1 with Answers.

Vocabulary Exercises A2

English Vocabulary Exercises for A2 with Answers.

Vocabulary Exercises B1

English Vocabulary Exercises for B1 with Answers.

Vocabulary Exercises B2

English Vocabulary Exercises for B2 with Answers.

FULL Grammar Exercises

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Verbs and Tenses Exercises

English Verbs and Tenses Exercises with Answers and Explanations

Grammar Exercises A1

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Grammar Exercises A2

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Grammar Exercises B1

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Grammar Exercises B2

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Listening Exercises Beginner

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Listening Exercises A1

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Listening Exercises A2

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Listening Exercises B1

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Listening Exercises B2

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Listening Tests A1

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Listening Tests A2

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Listening Tests B1

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Listening Tests B2

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Word Skills Exercises A1

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Word Skills Exercises A2

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Word Skills Exercises B1

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Word Skills Exercises B2

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Reading Exercises Beginner

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Reading Exercises A1

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Reading ExercisesC A2

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Reading Exercises B1

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Reading Exercises B2

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Speaking Exercises A1

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Speaking Exercises A2

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Speaking Exercises B1

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Speaking Exercises B2

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Writing Exercises A1

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Writing Exercises A2

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Writing Exercises B1

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Writing Exercises B2

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Business Listening A1

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Business Listening A2

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Business Listening B1

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Article Level 1

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Article Level 2

Article level 3, article level 4, conversations.

Listening Practice Through Dictation with Transcripts

English practice

With answers, generations.

I can understand a text about a famous family.

I can understand an article about alternative houses.

I can understand a text about street art.

Leisure time

I can understand a text about a sports charity.

I can understand a text about robot footballers.

I can understand a text about social media texts.

The human body

I can understand a text about teenagers and sleep.

High flyers

I can understand a text about a young entrepreneur.

I can understand texts about mistakes.

Modern life

Relationships, personality, the natural world, different cultures, house and home, information, entertainment, opportunities, pin it on pinterest.

English Portal

Home > Learner > B1 > Reading

Practise reading short stories with audio.

Reading practice with audio and exercises.

Find key factual words in the text.

Read words, put them in order, listen to audio for correct or incorrect

Read and listen to passages and then complete exercises and look for words in context

Read and listening to the text with exercises.

Read stories and poems by British authors

A bank of stories based on topics to click through and read.

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Select a reading strategy, listen, watch, and read about the strategy

Select from a list of activities to practice different styles of reading comprehension

Read stories, check your reading speed and answer the questions.

Reading - A1

Reading - A2

Reading - B1

Reading - B2

Reading - B3

Reading activities - 3

Comprehension - b1.

• Adventure travel
• An Olympic blog
• Food and restaurants
• Foreign exchange emails
• Friendship quiz
• How to be a safe searcher
• Job adverts
• The noticeboard
• Travel guide _____________
• A conference programme
• A flyer for a gym
• A travel guide
• An email request for help
• Encyclopedia entry
• How to spot fake news
• Planning an event
• Robot teachers
• Social media influencers
• The legend of fairies

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