Meeting New People B1

This is a free B1 intermediate level English reading lesson about making new friends. It includes the reading and reading comprehension exercises in 4 different formats together with the answer keys and explanations.

True/False questions
Multiple choice questions
Short answer questions
Multiple choice cloze exercise

Meeting New People

Mary walked slowly towards the small room where the book club was meeting. It was a sunny day and the sky was bright blue, making her feel a bit better. She had never been to a book club before and was feeling quite shy. She loved reading and spent many evenings lost in stories of faraway places. Yet, talking to new people about her thoughts always made her nervous.

As she entered the room, she saw a circle of chairs waiting for the members. There were already some people there, chatting and laughing with one another. Mary took a deep breath and reminded herself that everyone was there for books. She walked over to an empty chair and quietly sat down, looking around the room. The walls were lined with bookshelves filled with all sorts of books.

A friendly woman noticed Mary sitting alone and walked over to introduce herself. ‘Hello, I’m Susan, and you must be Mary,’ she said with a warm smile. ‘Yes, I am Mary. It’s my first time here,’ Mary replied, feeling a bit more at ease. Susan sat down next to Mary and began to talk about the book club. ‘We’re a friendly group, and we love to see new faces,’ Susan assured her. Mary started to relax as Susan talked about the books they read.

Soon, it was time to start the discussion about the book of the month. Mary had read the book twice and had many thoughts about it. When it was her turn to speak, she hesitated, but then shared her ideas. To her surprise, the others listened to her and nodded in agreement. She even made them laugh with a joke about one of the book’s characters.

By the end of the evening, Mary felt like she belonged to the group. She had contributed to the conversation and even promised to come back next month. As Mary left, she realized that she was no longer anxious about meeting new people. She was already looking forward to the next meeting with her new friends at the book club.

CEFR Level Card

General Level: B1.0

Vocabulary: A1.8

Verb Forms: A2.8

Sentences: B1.1

Vocabulary

assure VERB B2 x1

Definition (En):

inform positively and with certainty and confidence
v. assure somebody of the truth of something with the intention of giving the listener confidence

contribute VERB B2 x1

Definition (En):

contribute to some cause
v. be conducive to

ease NOUN B2 x1

Definition (En):

freedom from difficulty or hardship or effort
n. a freedom from financial difficulty that promotes a comfortable state
n. freedom from constraint or embarrassment
v. move gently or carefully

faraway ADJ C2 x1

Definition (En):

very far away in space or time
s. far removed mentally

hesitate VERB B2 x1

Definition (En):

pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness
v. interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing

line VERB B2 x1

Definition (En):

a formation of people or things one beside another
n. a mark that is long relative to its width
n. a formation of people or things one behind another
n. a length (straight or curved) without breadth or thickness; the trace of a moving point

nod VERB B2 x1

Definition (En):

a sign of assent or salutation or command
n. the act of nodding the head
v. express or signify by nodding
v. lower and raise the head, as to indicate assent or agreement or confirmation

yet CONJ B2 x1

Definition (En):

up to the present time
r. within an indefinite time or at an unspecified future time

Phrases

PHRASE	COUNT	SENTENCES
all sorts of	1	The walls were lined with bookshelves filled with all sorts of books.
at ease	1	It’s my first time here,’ Mary replied, feeling a bit more at ease.
contribute to (something)	1	She had contributed to the conversation and even promised to come back next month.
line (something) with (something)	1	The walls were lined with bookshelves filled with all sorts of books.
take a deep breath	1	Mary took a deep breath and reminded herself that everyone was there for books.

Reading Comprehension Exercises

True / False / Not Given

Mary felt a bit happier because it was a rainy day.

The book club meeting was in a big room.

Mary had gone to book clubs many times before.

Mary enjoys reading about places that are far away.

Mary was scared to share her thoughts with the group.

Someone from the group approached Mary to say hello.

Mary decided not to talk during the book discussion.

Mary felt that she didn’t fit in with the group by the end of the evening.

There were a lot of chairs in the room.

Mary is no longer planning to attend future book club meetings.

Multiple Choice

1) Why did Mary feel better as she walked towards the room?

A) Because she was late

B) Because it was sunny

C) Because she had met the members before

D) Because she didn’t like books

2) Why was Mary feeling shy?

A) Because the room was small

B) Because it was raining

C) Because she had never been to a book club before

D) Because she was always confident

3) What made Mary nervous?

A) Reading stories

B) Talking to new people about her thoughts

C) Laughing with friends

D) Sitting alone

4) How did Mary feel after Susan introduced herself?

A) More nervous

B) Angry

C) Confused

D) A bit more at ease

5) What helped Mary to start relaxing in the book club?

A) Sitting in a circle of chairs

B) Reading stories of faraway places

C) Chatting and laughing with others

D) Susan talking about the books they read

6) What was happening when Mary first entered the room?

A) Everyone was already discussing the book

B) People were waiting for Mary to arrive

C) People were chatting and laughing with one another

D) The room was empty and quiet

7) How did others at the book club react to Mary’s ideas?

A) They ignored her

B) They nodded in agreement

C) They asked her to leave

D) They didn’t understand her

8) What did Mary promise at the end of the meeting?

A) To never come back

B) To bring more books

C) To read the book three times

D) To come back next month

9) How did Mary’s feelings change by the end of the evening?

A) She decided to stop reading

B) She wanted to leave early

C) She felt she belonged to the group

D) She was more anxious than before

10) What is Mary looking forward to?

A) The sunny weather

B) Avoiding new people

C) The next meeting with her new friends

D) Forgetting about the book club

Short Answer

What made Mary feel a bit better on her way to the book club?

Why did Mary feel shy going to the book club?

What did Mary like to spend her time doing in the evenings?

What helped Mary to calm down when she entered the book club’s room?

How did Susan help Mary to feel more at ease?

What did Susan do that made Mary start to relax?

What was Mary’s reaction when it was her turn to speak about the book?

How did the group react to Mary’s contribution to the discussion?

What did Mary promise at the end of the evening?

How did Mary feel about meeting new people after the meeting?

Multiple Choice Cloze

Mary walked slowly towards the small room where the book club was ___1___. It was a sunny day and the sky was bright blue, making her feel a bit ___2___. She had never been to a book club before and was feeling quite ___3___. She loved reading and spent many evenings lost in stories of faraway places. Yet, talking to new people about her thoughts always made her ___4___.

As she entered the room, she saw a circle of chairs waiting for the ___5___. There were already some people there, chatting and laughing with one ___6___. Mary took a deep breath and reminded herself that everyone was there for books. She walked over to an empty chair and quietly sat down, looking around the room. The walls were lined with bookshelves filled with all sorts of ___7___.

A friendly woman noticed Mary sitting alone and walked over to introduce herself. ‘Hello, I’m Susan, and you must be Mary,’ she said with a warm smile. ‘Yes, I am Mary. It’s my first time here,’ Mary replied, feeling a bit more at ___8___. Susan sat down next to Mary and began to talk about the book club. ‘We’re a friendly group, and we love to see new ___9___,’ Susan assured her. Mary started to relax as Susan talked about the books they read.

1) A. meeting B. eating C. sleeping D. dancing

2) A. sad B. better C. angry D. worried

3) A. joyful B. shy C. bold D. careless

4) A. excited B. nervous C. confident D. disinterested

5) A. speakers B. members C. actors D. students

6) A. another B. alone C. quietly D. angrily

7) A. books B. tools C. pictures D. clothes

8) A. home B. school C. ease D. work

9) A. faces B. books C. days D. songs

10) A. characters B. authors C. pages D. covers

Exercise Answers

True / False / Not Given Answers

False

Explanation: The text states it was a sunny day, not a rainy day, which made her feel a bit better.

(“It was a sunny day and the sky was bright blue, making her feel a bit better.”)

False

Explanation: The text explicitly mentions that the meeting was in a small room.

(“Mary walked slowly towards the small room where the book club was meeting.”)

False

Explanation: The text says that it was Mary’s first time at a book club.

(“She had never been to a book club before and was feeling quite shy.”)

True

Explanation: The text indicates that Mary loves reading stories of faraway places.

(“She loved reading and spent many evenings lost in stories of faraway places.”)

True

Explanation: The text states that talking to new people about her thoughts made her nervous.

(“Yet, talking to new people about her thoughts always made her nervous.”)

True

Explanation: The text states that a friendly woman walked over to Mary to introduce herself.

(“A friendly woman noticed Mary sitting alone and walked over to introduce herself.”)

False

Explanation: The text shows that Mary hesitated but still shared her ideas.

(“When it was her turn to speak, she hesitated, but then shared her ideas.”)

False

Explanation: The text tells us that by the end, Mary felt like she belonged.

(“By the end of the evening, Mary felt like she belonged to the group.”)

Not Given

Explanation: The text does not specify the number of chairs, only that there was a circle of them.

(“N/A”)

False

Explanation: Mary promised to come back next month, so she plans to attend future meetings.

(“She had contributed to the conversation and even promised to come back next month.”)

Multiple Choice Answers

Explanation: The text mentions that the sunny day and bright blue sky made her feel a bit better.

(“It was a sunny day and the sky was bright blue, making her feel a bit better.”)

Explanation: Mary was feeling shy because it was her first time attending a book club.

(“She had never been to a book club before and was feeling quite shy.”)

Explanation: Mary got nervous when she had to talk to new people about her thoughts.

(“Yet, talking to new people about her thoughts always made her nervous.”)

Explanation: Mary felt a bit more at ease after Susan introduced herself and sat next to her.

(“‘Yes, I am Mary. It’s my first time here,’ Mary replied, feeling a bit more at ease.”)

Explanation: Susan’s talk about the books they read at the book club helped Mary to start relaxing.

(“Mary started to relax as Susan talked about the books they read.”)

Explanation: When Mary entered the room, some people were already there chatting and laughing.

(“There were already some people there, chatting and laughing with one another.”)

Explanation: The members of the book club nodded in agreement to Mary’s ideas, showing they liked them.

(“The others listened to her and nodded in agreement.”)

Explanation: Mary promised that she would return to the book club next month.

(“She had contributed to the conversation and even promised to come back next month.”)

Explanation: Mary’s feelings changed to a sense of belonging to the group by the end of the evening.

(“By the end of the evening, Mary felt like she belonged to the group.”)

Explanation: Mary is looking forward to the next book club meeting with her new friends.

(“She was already looking forward to the next meeting with her new friends at the book club.”)

Short Answer Answers

The sunny day and the bright blue sky.

Explanation: The text says the sunny day and bright blue sky improved her mood.

(“It was a sunny day and the sky was bright blue, making her feel a bit better.”)

She had never been to a book club before.

Explanation: Her shyness is attributed to the fact that it was her first time attending a book club.

(“She had never been to a book club before and was feeling quite shy.”)

Reading stories of faraway places.

Explanation: The text states that Mary loved reading and getting lost in stories.

(“She loved reading and spent many evenings lost in stories of faraway places.”)

Reminding herself that everyone was there for books.

Explanation: Mary reassured herself by remembering the shared interest in books to calm her nerves.

(“She took a deep breath and reminded herself that everyone was there for books.”)

By introducing herself with a warm smile.

Explanation: Susan’s friendly approach and warm smile made Mary feel welcomed.

(“‘Hello, I’m Susan, and you must be Mary,’ she said with a warm smile.”)

Talked about the book club and that they were happy to see new faces.

Explanation: Susan’s conversation about the book club and their welcoming of new people helped Mary relax.

(“‘We’re a friendly group, and we love to see new faces,’ Susan assured her.”)

She hesitated but then shared her ideas.

Explanation: Despite hesitation, Mary went ahead to share her thoughts about the book.

(“When it was her turn to speak, she hesitated, but then shared her ideas.”)

They listened, agreed, and laughed at her joke.

Explanation: Others in the group acknowledged Mary’s points and found humor in her joke.

(“To her surprise, the others listened to her and nodded in agreement. She even made them laugh with a joke about one of the book’s characters.”)

To come back next month.

Explanation: Mary expressed her intention to return to the book club next month.

(“She had contributed to the conversation and even promised to come back next month.”)

She was no longer anxious.

Explanation: Mary’s experience at the book club helped her overcome her anxiety towards meeting new individuals.

(“As Mary left, she realized that she was no longer anxious about meeting new people.”)

Multiple Choice Cloze Answers

Explanation: The correct word ‘meeting’ fits the context of a book club.

Explanation: The word ‘better’ indicates her mood improves with the weather.

Explanation: ‘shy’ describes how someone may feel in a new social situation.

Explanation: ‘nervous’ corresponds with feeling anxious about expressing thoughts.

Explanation: The word ‘members’ fits as it refers to people belonging to a club.

Explanation: ‘another’ is used to imply a mutual interaction among the group.

Explanation: ‘books’ is logical since the setting is a book club.

Explanation: The phrase ‘at ease’ means more comfortable.

Explanation: The word ‘faces’ refers to new members seen at the club.

Explanation: The word ‘characters’ fits the context of discussing a book.

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