Practice English Reading Exercises for A2 – Environmental & Sustainability 1

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

A Cleaner Beach for Everyone

Fifteen-year-old Leo has lived near the sea all his life. At the weekends, he usually goes surfing with his brother. However, last month, he noticed something terrible. There was a lot of plastic rubbish on the sand. Leo felt very sad about this and decided he had to do something to help.

First, Leo wanted to organize a beach clean-up. He asked his classmates to help him, but they were busy playing video games or doing their school projects. Leo didn’t stop. He used his computer to make an interesting poster about his idea. Then, he shared it on social media.

When Saturday morning arrived, Leo stood on the beach with some empty rubbish bags. He was worried because he thought nobody would come. Suddenly, over fifty people from his town arrived to help! Children and adults worked together for three hours. They collected twenty big bags of plastic bottles and old food boxes.

After the hard work, the beach looked beautiful and safe for animals again. Leo felt very tired, but he was incredibly happy. Next month, he is planning to organize another clean-up event. This time, he is going to ask local cafes to give free drinks to all the volunteers.

1   Why did Leo decide to help the beach?

     (A) He wanted to go surfing with his brother.

     (B) He saw that the area was full of trash.

     (C) He noticed something terrible about his brother.

2   What happened when Leo tried to get help?

     (A) His friends from school did not have time.

     (B) He was busy playing video games.

     (C) His classmates made an interesting poster.

3   How did Leo feel on Saturday morning?

     (A) He was worried because fifty people arrived.

     (B) He was angry because he had empty rubbish bags.

     (C) He was afraid that people would not appear.

4   What is Leo planning to do next month?

     (A) Make the beach safe for animals again.

     (B) Request some businesses to provide drinks for helpers.

     (C) Give free drinks to local cafes.

5   What is the best title for the article?

     (A) The best way to use social media

     (B) A teenager’s project to clean the coast

     (C) Why you should go surfing at the weekend

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The Boy Who Built a Cheap Water Filter

Fifteen-year-old Leo visited his grandparents’ village in the mountains last summer. He noticed that the water from the local river wasn’t very clean. Sometimes, drinking it made the people there feel sick. Leo loved helping people, so he decided to find a way to give the village clean drinking water.

When he returned to his town, he talked to his science teacher. He learned that you don’t need expensive machines to clean water. So, Leo made a cheap filter using simple things he found outside. He just used an old plastic bottle, some small stones, clean sand, and black charcoal from a fire.

To test his new invention, Leo poured dirty water into the top of the plastic bottle. The water travelled down through the sand and charcoal very slowly. When it came out at the bottom, it looked completely clear! His grandparents boiled the water, drank it, and said it tasted great.

Now, almost everyone in his grandparents’ village uses Leo’s simple water filter. It is a wonderful invention because it doesn’t cost any money to make. Last month, Leo’s head teacher gave him a special prize for his brilliant idea. When he finishes high school, he wants to go to university and become a scientist.

1   Why did Leo want to help the village?

     (A) He noticed his grandparents’ village was in the mountains.

     (B) He knew the river water was making people unwell.

     (C) He drank from the local river and felt sick.

2   How did Leo create his water filter?

     (A) He bought expensive machines to clean water.

     (B) He used everyday objects from nature.

     (C) He talked to his science teacher in his town.

3   What happened when Leo tested the filter?

     (A) The dirty water was completely clear at the top.

     (B) It took a long time for the liquid to pass through.

     (C) His grandparents poured dirty water into the bottle.

4   What do we find out in the final paragraph?

     (A) Almost everyone in the village received a special prize.

     (B) Leo hopes to continue his education after high school.

     (C) It costs a lot of money to make Leo’s simple water filter.

5   What is the best title for the article?

     (A) The boy who gave a village safe water

     (B) How to build expensive machines at school

     (C) The best way to clean an old plastic bottle

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The Teenager Making His City Greener

Sixteen-year-old Lucas lives in a very large city. He loves his hometown, but the streets are always full of cars. Because of this traffic, the air is often dirty. One day, his science teacher explained that trees can clean the air. Lucas decided he had to do something to help his city.

At first, Lucas planted a few small trees in his family’s garden. However, he soon realised that this was not enough. He wrote a letter to the city council and asked if he could put plants in the local parks. When they said yes, Lucas used his own pocket money to buy twenty young trees.

Working in the parks was not easy. Digging holes in the dry ground was heavy work, and Lucas felt very tired. Luckily, his classmates saw him working at the weekend. They wanted to help, so they brought their own tools. Together, the group of teenagers planted all the trees in just two days.

Now, the parks look much more beautiful, and the air feels fresher. People often stop Lucas in the street to say thank you for his hard work. Lucas feels very proud. Next year, he hopes to start a special nature club at his school. He wants to teach younger students how to look after the environment.

1   Why did Lucas start his tree project?

     (A) A lesson at school inspired him to clean the environment.

     (B) His science teacher decided he had to do something.

     (C) He loves his hometown and its streets full of cars.

2   How did Lucas get the trees for the public areas?

     (A) He found a few small trees in his family’s garden.

     (B) The city council used their own pocket money.

     (C) He paid for them using his personal savings.

3   What was difficult for Lucas in the beginning?

     (A) His classmates saw him working at the weekend.

     (B) Preparing the hard earth made him feel exhausted.

     (C) He had to bring his own tools for two days.

4   What do the people in Lucas’s town do now?

     (A) They stop Lucas to start a special nature club.

     (B) They look after the environment for younger students.

     (C) They show their appreciation when they see him.

5   What is the best title for the article?

     (A) How to write a letter to the city council

     (B) The schoolboy who is making his town greener

     (C) Why digging holes is very heavy work

Exercises:   123456