Practice English Reading Exercises for A2 – Planting Trees & Gardening

Exercises:   12345

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The Clever Plant Pot

Toby is a sixteen-year-old student who loves science. Last year, for his birthday, his parents gave him a beautiful houseplant. Toby was very happy, but he often forgot to look after it. A few weeks later, the plant died because it was too dry. Toby felt terrible and decided to find a way to stop this from happening again.

Because Toby is good with computers, he started working on a project in his dad’s garage. He spent two months trying to build a special plant pot. He put a tiny computer at the bottom of the pot. It was difficult work, and he had to try many different ideas before he got it right.

Finally, the smart pot was ready. So, how does it work? When the plant needs water, the tiny computer connects to the internet. Then, it sends a short message straight to Toby’s smartphone. The message says, “I am thirsty!” Toby put a new plant in his invention, and this time, the plant grew beautifully.

Toby showed his smart pot to his science teacher, Mrs Clark. She thought it was a brilliant idea. Now, the students use Toby’s pots for all the plants in the school science lab. Next year, Toby is going to make more of these pots, and he hopes to sell them in garden shops.

1   Why did Toby decide to invent something?

     (A) His parents gave him a beautiful houseplant.

     (B) He wanted to keep his plants alive.

     (C) He forgot to look after his birthday present.

2   What does the writer say about Toby’s project in the garage?

     (A) He built a tiny computer for his dad.

     (B) He spent two months working at the bottom of the pot.

     (C) It took a lot of effort to get the machine to work.

3   What does the smart pot do?

     (A) It texts Toby’s mobile phone when the earth is dry.

     (B) It needs water to connect to the internet.

     (C) It sends a short message to the new plant.

4   What is true about Toby’s pots at the moment?

     (A) They are used during school science lessons.

     (B) Toby is going to make more of them next year.

     (C) You can buy them in garden shops.

5   What is the best title for the article?

     (A) Why plants need the internet to grow

     (B) The boy who created a talking plant

     (C) A teenager’s invention to help nature

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The Great Pumpkin Competition

Twelve-year-old Toby loves spending his weekends in the garden. Last spring, he noticed a large, empty space behind his school. Because autumn is his favourite season, Toby had a brilliant idea. He decided to organize a competition to see which student could grow the biggest pumpkin.

First, Toby needed some help, so he spoke to his science teacher, Mr. Clark. Mr. Clark thought it was a fantastic plan. He bought fifty pumpkin seeds and gave one to each student who wanted to enter. He also gave them a piece of paper with instructions on how to look after the plants. The students planted their seeds in May and watered them carefully all summer.

Finally, the big day arrived in October. Over thirty students brought their pumpkins to the school gym. Toby was very surprised when he saw them. His own pumpkin was quite small, but it was a beautiful bright orange. However, his best friend Sarah brought a really heavy, green pumpkin. It was so big that her dad had to carry it!

Mr. Clark weighed all the pumpkins, and Sarah won the competition. Her prize was a wonderful book about farming. Toby didn’t feel sad that he didn’t win. He was just pleased that everyone had so much fun. Next year, he is going to start a new competition, but this time they are going to grow the tallest sunflowers.

1   Why did Toby decide to organize the competition?

     (A) He wanted to spend his weekends in the garden.

     (B) He wanted to do something with a free area at his school.

     (C) He needed to choose his favourite season.

2   What did Mr. Clark do?

     (A) He gave the students information on growing the plants.

     (B) He planted their seeds in May.

     (C) He watered them carefully all summer.

3   What do we learn about Toby’s pumpkin?

     (A) It was a really heavy, green pumpkin.

     (B) It was so big that his dad had to carry it.

     (C) It was a nice colour but not very large.

4   How did Toby feel at the end of the competition?

     (A) happy that the other children had a good time

     (B) sad that he didn’t win the competition

     (C) excited to read a wonderful book about farming

5   What is the best title for the article?

     (A) A fun school growing project

     (B) How to grow a heavy green pumpkin

     (C) Mr. Clark’s favourite science class

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

Toby’s Shoe Garden

Fourteen-year-old Toby has a beautiful garden, but his plants do not grow in normal plastic pots. Last year, Toby wanted to grow more flowers, but he didn’t have enough pocket money to buy new pots from the garden centre. Then, he looked at his dirty, broken winter boots and had a brilliant idea.

Toby decided to use his old boots as homes for his small plants. First, he makes small holes in the bottom of the shoes so water can come out. Then, he puts soil inside and adds the green plants. Now, he asks his family and neighbours for their old trainers and shoes. They are always happy to give them to him because they don’t wear them anymore.

Last month, Toby took his shoe plants to a school market. He was worried that people might laugh at them. However, the students and teachers loved his creative idea! He sold twenty plant shoes very quickly. Toby didn’t keep the money for himself; he used it to buy different kinds of flower seeds.

Toby feels great because his hobby is good for the environment. Instead of throwing old shoes in the bin, people can use them again to make something beautiful. Next summer, Toby is going to start a video channel to teach other teenagers how to make their own shoe pots!

1   Why did Toby start putting plants in old boots?

     (A) He did not have the cash to get normal garden pots.

     (B) He wanted to buy new pots from the garden centre.

     (C) He had too many dirty, broken winter boots to wear.

2   What is the first thing Toby does with the shoes?

     (A) He puts soil inside and adds the green plants.

     (B) He creates spaces in them so the liquid can leave.

     (C) He asks his family and neighbours for old trainers.

3   What did Toby do with the money from the school market?

     (A) He decided to keep the money for himself.

     (B) He sold twenty plant shoes very quickly.

     (C) He bought some new things to grow in his garden.

4   What does Toby plan to do next summer?

     (A) Start throwing old shoes in the bin to help the environment.

     (B) Use the internet to instruct young people about his hobby.

     (C) Make something beautiful to sell to other teenagers.

5   What is the best title for the article?

     (A) How to clean your dirty winter boots

     (B) The best garden centre for buying pots

     (C) A teenager’s unusual idea for growing plants

Exercises:   12345