Practice English Reading Exercises for A2 – Green Energy & Saving Electricity
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The Teenager Who Turned Off the Lights
Fourteen-year-old Maya recently learned about the environment in her science class. Her teacher explained that saving energy is very important for our planet. When Maya went home, she noticed that her family used a lot of electricity. Her parents were watching television, and her younger brother was playing on his computer. Maya decided she needed to do something.
The next day, Maya asked her family to have a “no electricity” evening once a week. She wanted everyone to turn off all their screens and lights every Friday night. At first, her brother was quite angry because he loves playing video games with his friends online. However, her parents thought it was a brilliant idea and agreed to try it.
On their first Friday without power, the house was completely dark. Maya’s mother lit some candles, and they all sat around the living room table. Instead of cooking a hot meal, they ate cold sandwiches. Then, they played board games and told funny stories. To their surprise, everyone laughed a lot and had a wonderful time together.
Now, the “no electricity” evening is the best part of the week for Maya’s family. Even her brother prefers playing games with his sister instead of looking at his computer screen. Maya feels incredibly happy. She is helping the environment, and her family is spending more time together. Next month, she hopes to ask her neighbors to do it too.
1 Why did Maya want to change her family’s habits?
(A) She saw them spending a lot of time on their electronic devices.
(B) She recently learned about the environment in her science class.
(C) Her teacher explained that saving energy is very important.
2 How did Maya’s brother react to her plan initially?
(A) He thought it was a brilliant idea.
(B) He asked his family to have a “no electricity” evening.
(C) He was annoyed because he could not use his technology.
3 What did the family do on their first special evening?
(A) They decided to start cooking a hot meal.
(B) They had fun playing games and sharing tales.
(C) They sat around the living room table in a completely dark house.
4 What is Maya planning to do next?
(A) Prefer playing games with his sister.
(B) Help the environment and spend more time together.
(C) Try to get other people in her street to participate.
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) A schoolgirl’s idea for a technology-free family night
(B) Playing video games with friends online
(C) Learning about the environment in science class
ANSWER KEY
1 A 2 C 3 B 4 C 5 A
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Power from the Wind
Fifteen-year-old Leo has always loved science. Last month, his school announced a big science competition. Leo wanted to create a project about green energy because he recently watched a fantastic TV programme about the environment. He thought about it for a few days and decided to build a small wind turbine.
To make his turbine, Leo didn’t want to buy expensive new materials from the shop. Instead, he looked for old objects. He used some plastic bottles and small pieces of wood from his dad’s garage. Building it wasn’t easy. The hardest part was getting the turbine to turn. Leo actually had to rebuild it three times before it moved beautifully in the wind.
On the day of the competition, Leo felt incredibly nervous. When he looked around the school hall, he saw that his classmates had amazing robots and volcanoes. But when it was Leo’s turn, he turned on a small fan to blow air at his project. His wind turbine worked perfectly, and it even turned on a tiny light bulb! His science teacher was completely delighted.
In the end, Leo won second prize for his brilliant project. He felt extremely proud of his hard work. Now, Leo wants to learn more about saving electricity. Next year, he hopes to build a much bigger wind turbine for his family’s garden so they can power the lights in their house.
1 Why did Leo choose to do a project on green energy?
(A) He got the idea from a television show about nature.
(B) His school announced a big science competition.
(C) He wanted to watch a fantastic TV programme.
2 Where did Leo get the things to make his turbine?
(A) He bought expensive new materials from the shop.
(B) He reused items he already had at his house.
(C) He found old objects and plastic bottles in the street.
3 How did Leo feel at the beginning of the science fair?
(A) He was completely delighted by the other projects.
(B) He felt extremely proud of his amazing robots.
(C) He was quite worried before he showed his work.
4 What is Leo planning to do next year?
(A) Win second prize for his brilliant project again.
(B) Make a larger machine to give energy to his home.
(C) Power the lights in the school hall.
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) How to build amazing robots and volcanoes
(B) Buying expensive new materials for school
(C) A student’s successful green energy project
ANSWER KEY
1 A 2 B 3 C 4 B 5 C
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Turning Off to Save the Planet
Fourteen-year-old Sam loves his computer. He uses it every evening to do his homework and play games. One day, his science teacher told the class that leaving electronics on standby is terrible for the environment. Sam was surprised because his family always did this. He decided to find out why it was so bad.
During the weekend, Sam read some articles on the internet. He learned that when a computer is on standby, it is not actually sleeping. It is still taking electricity from the wall. Making this extra electricity uses a lot of coal and gas. This puts dirty air into the sky and makes the planet hotter.
Sam wanted to see if he could change things at home. For the next week, he walked around his house before bed. He checked the family’s computers and televisions. Instead of using the remote control to put them on standby, he turned them completely off at the wall.
At the end of the month, Sam’s parents got their electricity bill. They were very happy because it was much cheaper than usual. Sam explained his project to them. Next week, he is going to talk to his classmates. He hopes they will stop using standby and help save the Earth too.
1 Why did Sam want to learn about computers on standby?
(A) To understand a fact he heard at school.
(B) To do his homework and play games.
(C) Because his family always did this.
2 What did Sam find out during the weekend?
(A) Electronics still use power when they are resting.
(B) A computer on standby is actually sleeping.
(C) Making electricity takes dirty air out of the sky.
3 What action did Sam take before bed?
(A) He shut down the devices completely.
(B) He used the remote control to put them on standby.
(C) He walked around to watch televisions.
4 Why were Sam’s parents pleased at the end of the month?
(A) They saved money on their energy costs.
(B) They finally got their electricity bill.
(C) Sam is going to talk to his classmates.
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) A simple way to help the environment
(B) How to use computers for homework
(C) The cheapest electricity bill in the world
ANSWER KEY
1 A 2 A 3 A 4 A 5 A