Cultural Activities and Young People

📝 B2 – Open Cloze: Unit 7 (Compact First 2nd Edition)

Instructions:
Read the following text and think of the word which best fits each gap. Use only one word in each gap.

🎭 Cultural Activities and Young People

Many parents believe that teenagers are (1) interested in nothing but social media and gaming. However, recent studies show that young people today are (2) more likely to take part in cultural activities than ever before.

Attending concerts, visiting galleries, and participating (3) community theatre are just a few of the ways teens are engaging with the arts. This might (4) something to do with increased access to events promoted online and on social platforms.

It’s true that not everyone can afford to attend live performances, which (5) be quite expensive. Nevertheless, local councils and schools often organize free or low-cost events, making it easier (6) families to enjoy them together.

Some parents might assume their children are uninterested in culture, but they (7) be wrong. In fact, given the chance, many teenagers say they’d love to spend more time exploring museums or learning an instrument.

It’s important that schools and parents continue to encourage students to get involved in the arts, as these experiences (8) help develop creativity, empathy, and confidence.

  

A Life of Travel

 B2 Multiple-Cloze Exercise – Topic: Travel and Adventure

 

Instructions: Read the text below and choose the best word (A, B, C, or D) for each gap.

 

A Life of Travel

For many people, the idea of travelling the world is a (1) ______ come true.

Exploring unfamiliar places, learning new languages and meeting people from different cultures can be an unforgettable (2) ______.

However, being constantly on the move also has its challenges. Flights can be delayed or (3) ______, accommodation may not match the photos online, and unexpected problems can (4) ______ at any moment.

That’s why experienced travellers learn to stay calm and (5) ______, even when things don’t go according to plan.

They know that it’s all part of the journey—and sometimes, the best stories (6) ______ from situations that seemed disastrous at first.

 

1. A. dream

B. desire

C. thought

D. goal

2. A. event

B. experience

C. memory

D. situation

3. A. prevented

B. postponed

C. cancelled

D. refused

4. A. rise

B. happen

C. occur

D. appear

5. A. confident

B. flexible

C. grateful

D. sensible

6. A. create

B. come

C. begin

D. result

🏰 Buckingham Palace Visit – Grammar Cloze

🏰 Buckingham Palace Visit – Grammar Cloze

Instructions: Read the text and choose the correct word (A, B, C, or D) to fill each gap (22–29).

 

Buckingham Palace Visit

Buckingham Palace is one of the most famous buildings in the UK. It (22) _____ by millions of people every year, especially in the summer months when the State Rooms (23) _____ to the public.

 

Photography is not allowed inside the rooms because many of the objects (24) _____ by the Royal Collection Trust. If visitors follow the rules, they (25) _____ the opportunity to enjoy the palace and its gardens peacefully.

 

If it (26) _____ tomorrow, the Changing of the Guard ceremony will be held outside as usual. However, if it (27) _____ heavily, the event might be cancelled.

 

In the past, many important events (28) _____ at the palace, such as state banquets and royal receptions. If I (29) _____ in London next year, I would definitely visit Buckingham Palace again.

🔢 Choose the correct option:

(22)

A. visit

B. visited

C. is visited

D. was visited

(23)

A. open

B. are opened

C. were opening

D. is opened

(24)

A. own

B. are owned

C. owned

D. were own

(25)

A. will have

B. have

C. had

D. has

(26)

A. rains

B. will rain

C. rained

D. would rain

(27)

A. rain

B. rains

C. will rain

D. rained

(28)

A. are held

B. hold

C. were held

D. are holding

(29)

A. am

B. will be

C. were

D. was

B1 Reading Gapped Text: A Journey on the Hogwarts Express

 🧙‍♂️ B1 Reading Gapped Text: A Journey on the Hogwarts Express

 

Instructions: You are going to read a text about a student's first journey on the Hogwarts Express. Six sentences have been removed from the text. Choose from the sentences A–H the one which fits each gap (1–6). There are two extra sentences you do not need to use.

 

🚂 A Magical Journey

It was a bright September morning when I arrived at King's Cross Station with my parents. (16)___________.The station was bustling with travelers, but none seemed to notice the peculiar platform we were searching for. After a moment of confusion, we spotted a group of people disappearing through a solid brick wall between platforms nine and ten. With a deep breath, I pushed my trolley forward and, to my amazement, passed through the barrier onto Platform 9¾. (17)_____

The gleaming scarlet engine of the Hogwarts Express stood before me, emitting puffs of steam into the air. Students in robes were saying their goodbyes and boarding the train. I found an empty compartment and settled in, my heart pounding with excitement. (18)____

 

As the train began to move, the scenery outside transformed from urban landscapes to rolling green hills. Inside the compartment, I introduced myself to the other students, and we shared stories about our backgrounds and expectations for the year ahead. The trolley witch came by, offering an array of magical sweets, and I couldn't resist trying a Chocolate Frog.

 

Suddenly, the train jolted, and the lights flickered. A chill filled the air as a dark, cloaked figure appeared at the compartment door. (19)_____.I felt an overwhelming sense of despair, but a senior student quickly stood up and cast a spell, causing the figure to retreat. (20)____

 

The rest of the journey passed without incident, and as night fell, the train slowed to a stop. Through the window, I saw the towering silhouette of Hogwarts Castle illuminated against the starry sky. (21)_____ My adventure was just beginning.

 

🧩 Missing Sentences

A. I had read about them in books, but seeing one in person was terrifying.

B. The platform was empty, with no sign of any train.

C. My parents hugged me tightly, wishing me luck on my new journey.

D. I couldn't believe my eyes; the train looked exactly as I had imagined.

E. We laughed and chatted, the nervousness slowly fading away.

F. The prefect explained that it was a Dementor, a creature that feeds on happiness.

G. I waved goodbye, promising to write home soon.

H. The castle's windows glowed warmly, welcoming us to our new home.

B1 (PET) Reading Part 3 – Multiple Choice exercise set in Iceland

B1 (PET) Reading Part 3 – Multiple Choice exercise set in Iceland. Students read a longer text and answer five questions with four options each. The focus is on comprehension of details, main ideas, and opinions.

 

🌋 Text: A Summer Day in Iceland

 

Each summer, I spend two weeks in Iceland with my family. We love the midnight sun—during June, the sun barely sets, and we can enjoy long walks even at midnight. One evening, we took a trip to Golden Circle, where we saw geysers erupting, a powerful waterfall named Gullfoss, and a national park with hot springs and lava rocks. It was amazing!

 

The next day, we visited the Blue Lagoon, a geothermal spa with warm, milky‑blue water. It’s located in a lava field and heated naturally by volcanic activity. We relaxed there for hours—it was quiet and peaceful, perfect for reading and taking photos. When evening came, the sky turned pink and purple.

 

On the final weekend, we went whale‑watching from Húsavík on the north coast. We saw minke whales jumping and seals resting on icebergs. The sea was calm and the captain told us about Iceland’s marine life and the importance of protecting it.

 

Iceland isn’t just glaciers and geysers—it’s also about nature, wildlife, and silence. This summer trip reminded me how special and unique this country is.

 

📝 Questions 1–5

Choose the correct answer (A, B, C, or D) for each question.

1.      What is unusual about summer evenings in Iceland?

A) It gets dark very early.

B) The sun never really goes down.

C) It rains all evening.

D) You cannot see the moon.

 

2. During their visit to the Golden Circle, the family did NOT see…

A) hot springs

B) a glacier

C) a waterfall

D) lava rocks

 

3. The Blue Lagoon is described as…

A) a cold mountain lake

B) a man‑made swimming pool

C) a warm spa fed by volcanic heat

D) a saltwater pond near Reykjavik

 

4. At Húsavík, the family observed all of the following EXCEPT:

A) minke whales

B) seals

C) dolphins

D) icebergs

 

5. The writer feels Iceland is special because of…

A) its silence, nature, and wildlife

B) its shopping and nightlife

C) its museums and cities

D) activities like skiing and surfing

Matching (Environmental Clubs)

 📘 Reading Part 2 – Matching (Environmental Clubs)

Instructions: You will read five people’s profiles (6–10) and seven short texts (A–G) describing different environmental clubs.

For each person, match them with the most suitable club (A–G). Only one club matches each person, and two clubs are extra (distractors).

 

People (6–10)

6. Emma loves plants and local wildlife. She wants a chance to learn about native species, work outdoors with experts, and maybe join wildlife surveys on weekends.
7. Liam  wants to take leadership roles in climate action. He’s looking for a club that organises school campaigns and city protests to raise awareness about recycling and pollution.
8. Sofia is creative and wants to combine art with activism. She hopes to paint murals, design posters, or help with green-themed crafts to inspire others.
9. Noah likes hands-on science. He wants to join a club that lets him monitor air, water, or soil, use real equipment, and learn to interpret environmental data.
10. Ava dreams of making a difference but is shy. She’d feel more confident in a small group after school, doing simple clean-ups or planting trees with friends.

 

Environmental Clubs (A–G)

A. Green Teens Club

A friendly after-school group for 12–14 year olds. They plant trees, clean parks, and share ideas in small teams—no public speaking involved, just practical action.

B. City Nature Explorers

Join weekly weekend walks with professional ecologists. Learn about native plants and wildlife, help with local wildlife counts, and assist in habitat surveys.

C. Climate Action Crew

A high-energy youth group that plans school and city demonstrations, petitions, and campaigns for recycling, anti-pollution, and zero-waste targets.

D. Junior Environmental Lab

Work in the school lab using real tools to test water quality and air pollution, then create reports and present findings to the school community.

E. Eco‑Entrepreneurs

Focus on green business ideas and eco‑startups. Members develop sustainable products or services, pitch to local investors, and run eco‑markets.

F. Eco‑Art Collective

A creative club focusing on environmental art: they design awareness posters, paint murals, organise eco-craft workshops, and exhibit students’ work.

G. Community Gardeners

Meet after school to tend a local garden, plant vegetables and flowers, host seasonal harvest events, and learn about organic gardening.

Street pianos

Part 1: For questions 1-8, read the text below and decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits each gap. There is an example at the beginning (0).

 

0

A turned

B become

C developed

D changed

 

Street pianos

 

In recent years, public or ‘street’ pianos have (0)_B DEVELOPED_ increasingly popular in cities in many countries. They are typically (1)________ in train stations and airports, but also in markets, parks and other locations. In (2)_______ anybody can go and play them, but it tends to be pianists who are very capable and accustomed to performing in public, often playing from (3)_________.

 

The idea is that the sound at the piano being played will (4)_________ a small crowd. These passers-by will be given something beautiful or inspring in their day, a quiet thoughtful (5)______ amid the noisy hustle and bustle of daily life in a big city. It’s hoped that the spontaneuous music will also (6)________ people coming together and communicating with each other in (7)_______ of what they’re hearing.

 

Videos on social media websites show how street pianos can bring together people from different communities and backgrounds, people who would (8)_______ not normally mix.

 

 1

A settled

B laid

C ordered

D placed

 

2

A theory

B consequence

C addition

D particular

 

3

A heart

B mind

C memory

D feeling

 

4

A attract

B result

C invite

D welcome

 

5

A course

B moment

C chance

D event

 

6

A get

B make

C pull

D draw

 

7

A pleasure

B appreciation

C happiness

D satisfaction

 

8

A alternatively

B instead

C otherwise

D else