The Road to the Summit (Motivational Adventure – Past Simple – B1/B2 Level)

The Road to the Summit

(Motivational Adventure – Past Simple – B1/B2 Level)

Leo was an ordinary young man with extraordinary dreams.

Since childhood, he admired people who reached the top —

not just of mountains, but of their own potential. He

wasn’t rich or powerful, but he had one thing that made

him different: determination.

He lived in a small town near the mountains. Every

morning, he watched the sun rise behind the highest peak,

Mount Arion, and whispered to himself, “One day, I’ll

stand there.”

Most people laughed at him. “Climbing that mountain is

impossible,” they said.

But Leo never let other people’s doubts stop him.

He worked at a small repair shop during the day and

trained every evening. He ran long distances, lifted

weights, and studied books about mountaineering. His best

friend, Noah, often joined him. “Why do you push yourself

so hard?” Noah asked once.

Leo smiled and said, “Because the view is always better

from the top.”

Months passed. Leo saved every coin he could. He bought

climbing ropes, boots, and a second-hand tent. When

winter ended, he decided it was time to follow his dream.

On the morning of his journey, his mother gave him an old

compass and said, “This belonged to your grandfather. He

believed in you before anyone else did.”

Leo hugged her and promised to return.

The first days of climbing were easy. The weather was

kind, and the wind felt fresh. But as he went higher, the

air became colder, and the path steeper. There were

moments when he wanted to stop — when his legs burned

and his breath grew short. Yet, every time he felt weak,

he remembered his goal.

One afternoon, a heavy fog covered the mountain. Leo lost

sight of the trail and almost slipped. He sat on a rock,

exhausted and alone. “Maybe they were right,” he

thought. “Maybe I can’t do it.”

But then, he looked at the compass in his hand. It pointed

forward — steady and sure. He smiled faintly and

whispered, “One more step.”

He climbed for hours until the fog finally cleared. Before

him stretched a sea of clouds glowing under the morning

light. And there, above everything, stood the summit.

With one final push, Leo reached the top.

He raised his hands to the sky and laughed. “I did it,” he

said softly.

Tears filled his eyes, not because of pain, but because he

realized something:

> Success wasn’t just about reaching the top — it was

about every step he refused to quit.

When he returned home, everyone congratulated him. Even

those who once doubted him now looked at him with

admiration.

Leo didn’t boast. He simply said,

> “If your dream matters to you, every challenge becomes

a lesson, not an obstacle.”

And from that day, whenever someone felt lost or

hopeless, they thought of Leo —

the boy who believed that impossible was just another

word for “not yet.”

Comprehension & Vocabulary Questions (Past Simple)

1. What made Leo different from others?

a) His wealth b) His determination c) His intelligence d)

His family

2. What did Leo dream of since childhood?

a) Becoming rich b) Climbing Mount Arion c) Owning a

shop d) Traveling abroad

3. What did people say about his dream?

a) It was dangerous b) It was impossible c) It was

easy d) It was silly

4. Who often trained with Leo?

a) His brother b) His father c) Noah d) His coach

5. What did Leo’s mother give him before his journey?

a) A book b) A compass c) A photo d) A medal

6. How did Leo feel when he started climbing?

a) Nervous b) Excited c) Bored d) Angry

7. What happened as he climbed higher?

a) The weather became easier b) The air grew colder c)

He stopped climbing d) The mountain disappeared

8. What happened when the fog appeared?

a) He fell b) He lost sight of the trail c) He turned

back d) He found a cave

9. What did the compass do?

a) It broke b) It pointed backward c) It pointed

forward d) It disappeared

10. What did Leo realize at the summit?

a) That success was about not giving up b) That he

wanted to climb again c) That he missed home d) That

he hated mountains

11. How did people react when he came back?

a) They ignored him b) They congratulated him c) They

punished him d) They laughed again

12. What did Leo tell others about success?

a) It’s for lucky people only b) It’s about hard work and

lessons c) It’s impossible to achieve d) It depends on age

13. What does “impossible” mean to Leo at the end?

a) Not real b) Not yet c) Useless d) Hopeless