Level B1

Cosy up by the campfire with this B1-level reading text and comprehension questions.

Practise essential campfire vocabulary over in our list of campfire words and matching exercises.

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Reading Comprehension Text B1

By the Campfire

Last weekend I went camping with some friends. We all brought plenty to eat and drink and made a campfire in the woods.

Christina was responsible for beverages: she brought beer, lemonade and wine. Maria brought sausages and meat for us to roast over the flames. I’m the only vegetarian in the group, so I took care of the veggie options: potatoes, avocados, mushrooms and pasta salad, a must-have at any picnic. Our picnic was almost perfect, but unfortunately, I had forgotten to bring my favourite — homemade garlic bread. Paul and his little brother had been fishing on the lake that morning, and they managed to catch something! Two huge fish that we cooked on the campfire.

We were starving after our long hike, so everyone was enjoying the picnic when something crazy happened. The sun had already set when the nearby bushes started to rustle. Out of nowhere, two raccoons appeared. They took a moment to observe us, then, they jumped into action. Before we could react, the raccoons ran straight towards our picnic blanket. They knocked over the beer and wine, grabbed the sausages and ran off into the night. They didn’t touch the pasta salad though, I guess they’re not keen on vegetarian food …

The whole thing happened in seconds. We were speechless. It was only after we had tidied up that we realised that the raccoons had also taken one of the fish!

Reading Comprehension Questions

Read the story and find words in the text that match the definitions below.

  1. (pronoun) a lot →  
  2. (noun) drinks →  
  3. (noun) an essential →  
  4. (adjective) very hungry →  
  5. (verb) when leaves make a soft noise →  
  6. (adjective) interested in →  
  7. (adjective) stunned →  

Improve your English reading skills with this reading text and comprehension for B2 level all about a golden wedding anniversary.

You can practise the key words from this text over in our wedding anniversary vocab list with matching exercises.

Reading Comprehension Text

Wedding Anniversary

It’s my grandparents’ 50th wedding anniversary today.

We’re throwing a huge surprise party for them tonight. They think that we’re just going out to dinner, but really we’ve rented a big hall and invited all their friends and family.

I told my grandparents that we’re going to quite a fancy restaurant, so they should dress up. My grandma is wearing a long pink dress together with all her best jewellery: a necklace, a bracelet and a pair of beautiful diamond earrings.

My grandad is wearing an elegant grey suit with a waistcoat and jacket. The colour of his tie matches my grandma’s dress, which is very sweet! Unfortunately, he forgot to iron his shirt, so it’s a little wrinkled, and his waistcoat is missing a button, but I’m sure no one will notice.

Of course, they are both wearing their wedding rings, just like every day for the past 50 years.

Everyone in the family has a different responsibility at the party: my cousin Lauren baked the cake, my uncle Tony is responsible for the decorations and I’m in charge of the present, although I really wanted to be the DJ.

The whole family contributed so we could buy a really nice present for my grandparents. We’ve bought them two tickets for a weekend in London, where they can see a show, check out the sights and celebrate their anniversary in style.

I can’t wait to see their faces when they walk into the hall later and everyone shouts “Surprise!”. Let's hope everyone else can keep the secret for a few more hours.

Reading Comprehension Questions B1

Part 1

Read the text and answer the questions.

  1. What is special about the party?
    In the text: a huge surprise party
  2. Where is the party?
    In the text: we’ve rented a big hall
  3. What is the problem with Grandad’s shirt?
    In the text: he forgot to iron his shirt, so it’s a little wrinkled
  4. What is the speaker’s task at the party?
    In the text: I’m in charge of the present

Part 2

Find words and phrases in the text that match the meanings below.

  1. (adjective, 1 word) very big:  
  2. (adjective, 1 word) elegant or classy:  
  3. (phrasal verb, 2 words) put on smart clothing:  
  4. (phrase, 4 words) be responsible for:  
  5. (noun, 1 word) person who plays music at a party or event:  
  6. (noun, 1 word) play or performance: