Read the passage carefully before attempting Exercise 1 (Multiple Choice) and Exercise 2 (Fill in the blanks dropdown) below.
The night before I left for Porto, I was seriously considering cancelling the whole trip. I had booked a five-day solo journey to Portugal three months earlier, feeling confident and adventurous. But now, sitting on my bedroom floor surrounded by half-packed bags, I was certain I had made a terrible mistake. I had never travelled alone before, and suddenly every possible problem was running through my mind. What if I got lost? What if I couldn’t communicate with anyone? What if something went wrong and there was nobody to help me?
I went anyway. And from the moment I landed at Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport and felt the warm September air on my face, something shifted. Without a group to agree with, I could do exactly what I wanted. On my first afternoon, I wandered through the narrow, cobblestoned streets of the Ribeira district, stopping whenever something caught my eye — a faded blue tile on an old wall, a tiny bakery selling pastéis de nata, a street musician playing something melancholy and beautiful. I ate dinner alone at a small restaurant by the river, which felt strange at first, but I quickly got used to it. I even started a conversation with a local woman at the next table, who recommended a viewpoint that wasn’t in any guidebook.
By the third day, I had completely stopped worrying. I was making my own decisions, managing my own schedule, and solving small problems — like missing a bus or finding a cheaper hotel — without any help. It felt surprisingly good. Although solo travel can feel lonely at times, I discovered that being alone actually made me more open to meeting new people and trying things I might have avoided in a group. I came home feeling more confident than I had in years. If I had cancelled that trip, I would have missed one of the best experiences of my life. Now I’m already planning my next solo adventure — this time, somewhere in Southeast Asia.
Exercise 1
Read the passage about a first solo trip carefully, then answer each question by choosing the correct option based on the information in the text.
Example: Where did the writer decide to go on their first solo trip?
Answer: The writer decided to go to Barcelona on their first solo trip.
My First Solo Trip
Have you ever done something completely alone for the first time and felt both terrified and excited at the same moment? Travelling without friends or family can feel overwhelming, but many people say it is one of the most rewarding experiences of their lives. Before you read, think about these two questions: What challenges might someone face when travelling alone for the first time? And what do you think a person could learn about themselves from a solo trip?
Reading Passage: The Best Decision I Almost Didn't Make
The night before I left for Porto, I was seriously considering cancelling the whole trip. I had booked a five-day solo journey to Portugal three months earlier, feeling confident and adventurous. But now, sitting on my bedroom floor surrounded by half-packed bags, I was certain I had made a terrible mistake. I had never travelled alone before, and suddenly every possible problem was running through my mind. What if I got lost? What if I couldn't communicate with anyone? What if something went wrong and there was nobody to help me?
I went anyway. And from the moment I landed at Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport and felt the warm September air on my face, something shifted. Without a group to agree with, I could do exactly what I wanted. On my first afternoon, I wandered through the narrow, cobblestoned streets of the Ribeira district, stopping whenever something caught my eye — a faded blue tile on an old wall, a tiny bakery selling pastéis de nata, a street musician playing something melancholy and beautiful. I ate dinner alone at a small restaurant by the river, which felt strange at first, but I quickly got used to it. I even started a conversation with a local woman at the next table, who recommended a viewpoint that wasn't in any guidebook.
By the third day, I had completely stopped worrying. I was making my own decisions, managing my own schedule, and solving small problems — like missing a bus or finding a cheaper hotel — without any help. It felt surprisingly good. Although solo travel can feel lonely at times, I discovered that being alone actually made me more open to meeting new people and trying things I might have avoided in a group. I came home feeling more confident than I had in years. If I had cancelled that trip, I would have missed one of the best experiences of my life. Now I'm already planning my next solo adventure — this time, somewhere in Southeast Asia.
Key Vocabulary in Context
| Word / Phrase | Part of Speech | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| overwhelming | adjective | So strong or difficult that it is hard to manage or control | The noise and crowds in the city centre were overwhelming for someone used to quiet villages. |
| rewarding | adjective | Making you feel satisfied because it is worth the effort | Learning a new language is difficult, but it is extremely rewarding in the end. |
| wandered | verb (past simple) | Walked slowly without a fixed plan or destination | She wandered around the old market for hours, looking at all the interesting stalls. |
| melancholy | adjective | Slightly sad, often in a gentle or thoughtful way | The melancholy music made everyone in the room feel quiet and reflective. |
| guidebook | noun | A book with information and advice for tourists visiting a place | The restaurant was so small and local that it didn't appear in any guidebook. |
| schedule | noun | A plan that shows what you will do and when | When travelling alone, you can change your schedule whenever you want. |
| adventurous | adjective | Willing to try new, exciting, or sometimes risky things | She was feeling adventurous, so she tried the local street food instead of going to a familiar restaurant. |
| viewpoint | noun | A place, usually high up, from which you can see a wide view of an area | The viewpoint at the top of the hill gave us a breathtaking view of the whole city. |
Reading Strategies & Comprehension Tips
Skimming for the Main Idea
Before reading every word carefully, skim the passage quickly — read the first and last sentences of each paragraph. This will help you understand the overall story: the writer's fear before the trip, their positive experiences in Porto, and the confidence they gained. Don't get distracted by specific details on your first read.
Scanning for Key Details
If a question asks you about a specific fact — such as how long the trip was, which city the writer visited, or who gave the writer a recommendation — scan the text quickly for names, numbers, or proper nouns. These stand out visually and will help you locate the answer faster.
Understanding Tone and Feeling
Pay close attention to the writer's emotions throughout the passage. Notice how the tone changes from paragraph one to paragraph three. Words like terrified, confident, strange, and surprisingly good are clues to how the writer was feeling at different moments. Questions about attitude or feeling rely on these emotional cues.
Inferring Meaning
Some information is not stated directly. For example, the writer never says "I enjoyed my trip," but the details about stopping to look at tiles, eating local food, and planning a second trip all suggest this strongly. Practice asking yourself: What does this detail tell me about the writer's experience?
Common Reading Pitfalls & Traps
Confusing Feelings at Different Times
The writer feels nervous and doubtful before the trip, but confident and happy by the end. A common mistake is to read the first paragraph and assume the writer had a bad or negative experience overall. Always read the complete passage before choosing an answer about the writer's general opinion or feeling.
Misreading "Almost Didn't Make"
The title says The Best Decision I Almost Didn't Make. This means the writer nearly decided not to go. Some students misread this and think the writer did cancel the trip. Check the first paragraph carefully — the writer did travel to Porto in the end.
Assuming "Lonely" Means "Negative"
In paragraph three, the writer says solo travel can feel lonely at times. However, this does not mean the writer had a lonely or unhappy trip. The sentence continues to explain that being alone was actually a positive thing. Read complete sentences — never stop at the first half.
Local Woman's Recommendation
The local woman recommended a viewpoint that was not in any guidebook. She did not recommend a restaurant. This is a small but important detail that could easily appear in a comprehension question designed to test careful reading.
Quick Summary
This passage tells the personal story of someone who almost cancelled their first solo trip to Porto, Portugal, but decided to go and had a life-changing experience. The writer describes their initial fears, the freedom and discoveries they enjoyed while travelling alone, and the confidence they gained as a result. The passage uses a first-person narrative voice with natural B1-level grammar including past simple, conditionals, relative clauses, and common linking words.
Now read the passage carefully and complete Exercise 1 (Multiple Choice) and Exercise 2 (Fill-in-the-gap dropdown) below.
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