Practice English Reading Exercises for A2 – Green Energy & Saving Electricity

Exercises:   12345

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

Sofia’s Energy Challenge

Sofia is a fourteen-year-old student who really cares about the environment. Last month, during a science lesson, she learned how much electricity people waste every day. After that, she started looking around her school. She saw lights on in empty classrooms and computers that were never turned off. She knew she had to change this.

She went to her headteacher, Mr. Davis, with an exciting idea. She wanted to start a competition to see which class could save the most electricity in four weeks. Mr. Davis thought it was a brilliant plan. Together, they put large posters on the walls to tell all the teenagers about the rules.

When the competition started, it was quite difficult. Many students forgot to switch off the lights before they went out to play. But after a few days, things got better. Teenagers started opening the windows for natural light instead of turning on the lamps. They also remembered to shut down the computers. A class called 3B was especially good at doing these things.

At the end of the month, Class 3B won the competition. Their prize was a special trip to the city science museum. Sofia was in Class 4A, so she didn’t win the trip, but she wasn’t sad. The school’s electricity bill was much cheaper, and Sofia felt incredibly proud of what she did.

1   Why did Sofia decide to take action at her school?

     (A) She noticed that energy was being used when nobody was there.

     (B) She wanted to teach a science lesson about the environment.

     (C) She needed to use the computers that were never turned off.

2   How did students find out about the new competition?

     (A) Sofia gave an exciting idea to the teenagers.

     (B) Mr. Davis explained the brilliant plan in a meeting.

     (C) They read the information that was placed on the walls.

3   During the competition, the students

     (A) forgot to go out to play.

     (B) learned to use sunlight to see in their classrooms.

     (C) started turning on the lamps more often.

4   How did Sofia feel at the end of the month?

     (A) Sad because she didn’t win the special trip.

     (B) Pleased that the school spent less money on power.

     (C) Proud because Class 4A won the competition.

5   What is the best title for this article?

     (A) The science museum’s cheap electricity bill

     (B) A clever way to make a school greener

     (C) How to win a trip with Mr. Davis

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The Teenager Lighting Up His Street

Sixteen-year-old Max has always loved reading about the environment. Last month, his science teacher explained that old light bulbs use too much energy. She said that LED bulbs are much better for the planet. Max went home and asked his parents to put LED lights in every room. A few weeks later, their electricity bill was much cheaper.

Max wanted to help other people on his street save energy, too. He started knocking on doors to talk to his neighbours. However, it wasn’t easy at first. Many older people didn’t want to change their lights. They said their old lamps worked perfectly well and they didn’t want to spend cash on new ones.

Max decided to try a different idea. He used his own pocket money to buy a box of LED bulbs. He went to his neighbour, Mrs Green, and put one in her living room. He showed her that it was incredibly bright but didn’t become hot. Mrs Green was so amazed that she asked Max to change all the lights in her house.

Soon, other neighbours heard about Mrs Green’s new lights, and they all wanted them! Now, nearly everyone on Max’s street uses eco-friendly bulbs. Max feels very proud of his hard work. Next month, he is going to speak to the town leaders about using LED lights in the local park.

1   What happened after Max’s parents changed the lights in their house?

     (A) His science teacher explained that old light bulbs use too much energy.

     (B) The family spent less money on their power.

     (C) Max asked his parents to put LED lights in every room.

2   Why did some neighbours dislike Max’s suggestion at first?

     (A) Max wanted to help other people on his street save energy.

     (B) He started knocking on doors to talk to his neighbours.

     (C) They refused to pay for new objects when theirs were not broken.

3   What made Mrs Green change her mind about the lights?

     (A) She saw that the bulb produced great light but stayed cool.

     (B) She asked Max to change all the lights in her house.

     (C) Max used his own pocket money to buy a box of LED bulbs.

4   What is Max planning to do in the future?

     (A) Suggest an environmentally friendly idea for a public space.

     (B) Make sure nearly everyone on Max’s street uses eco-friendly bulbs.

     (C) Feel very proud of his hard work next month.

5   What is the best title for the article?

     (A) Using your own pocket money to buy a box

     (B) The teenager who helped his neighbours save energy

     (C) Reading about the environment with a science teacher

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

Tracking Energy with a Tap

Sixteen-year-old Ryan is very interested in computers. Last winter, his parents were unhappy because their electricity bills were extremely expensive. They often forgot to turn off the lights and the television. Ryan wanted to do something to help his family save money and protect the environment at the same time.

He decided to design a new program for smartphones. Ryan didn’t know much about building apps, so he asked his IT teacher, Mr Jenkins, for some advice. Mr Jenkins gave him a great book about coding. Ryan spent three months working on his project in his bedroom every evening. Sometimes it was quite difficult, but he didn’t stop.

Finally, the app was ready. He called it ‘EcoHome’. The app easily connects to a mobile phone and shows exactly how much electricity a house uses. Because the information is incredibly simple to read, his parents quickly started turning off computers and lights. In just one month, the family kept a lot of their money!

Now, many of Ryan’s classmates use ‘EcoHome’ in their houses too. His head teacher is very pleased and wants Ryan to talk about his work in front of the whole school next week. Ryan feels extremely proud. When he leaves high school, he hopes to start his own technology company.

1   What was the problem in Ryan’s house last winter?

     (A) The family was paying too much for power.

     (B) His parents wanted to do something to help his family.

     (C) Ryan forgot to turn off the lights and the television.

2   How did Ryan manage to build the smartphone app?

     (A) He spent three months working for his IT teacher.

     (B) He asked Mr Jenkins to design a new program.

     (C) He studied a text that his instructor provided.

3   What happens when people use ‘EcoHome’?

     (A) It directly turns off computers and lights.

     (B) It displays the amount of energy a residence is using.

     (C) It keeps a lot of money inside a mobile phone.

4   What is Ryan going to do next week?

     (A) Ask his head teacher to talk about his work.

     (B) Give a presentation to all the other students.

     (C) Start his own technology company with his classmates.

5   What is the best title for the article?

     (A) The most expensive electricity bills in winter

     (B) How to start your own technology company

     (C) A teenager’s clever app to monitor energy

Exercises:   12345