Practice English Reading Exercises for A2 – Science, Environment & Research

Exercises:   12345

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

Leo’s Space Dream

Leo is a fifteen-year-old high school student with an amazing dream. Most of his classmates hope to be doctors or IT engineers in the future, but Leo’s ambition is to become an astronaut. His love for space began when he was just eight years old. His grandfather took him to a science museum, and since that day, Leo has read hundreds of books about the planets.

To make his dream come true, Leo knows he must work very hard at school. Physics and mathematics are his favourite subjects, and he always gets the best marks in his class. Every Thursday evening, he attends a local astronomy club where he uses a large telescope to look at the stars.

Leo also understands that astronauts have to be very healthy and strong. Because of this, he wakes up early to run three kilometres every morning. At the weekends, he goes to the swimming pool. Sometimes his parents worry that he is doing too much and gets too tired, but Leo never stops.

Next summer, Leo plans to travel to a famous space camp in the USA. His school pays for the camp, but he has a Saturday job at a café to save up for his plane ticket. He washes dishes and serves drinks there. Leo believes that if he continues to work hard, he will fly in a rocket one day.

1   When did Leo first become interested in space?

     (A) After visiting an exhibition with a family member.

     (B) When he wanted to be an IT engineer like his classmates.

     (C) While he was reading hundreds of books about planets.

2   What does Leo do on Thursday evenings?

     (A) He works very hard at school.

     (B) He gets the best marks in physics and mathematics.

     (C) He goes to a group to observe the night sky.

3   How do Leo’s parents feel about his activities?

     (A) They think he should run three kilometres every morning.

     (B) They are concerned that he might need more rest.

     (C) They want him to go to the swimming pool at the weekends.

4   Why does Leo have a Saturday job at a café?

     (A) Because his school pays for the camp.

     (B) To earn enough money for his flight.

     (C) Because he wants to wash dishes and serve drinks.

5   What is the best title for the article?

     (A) The best physics and mathematics student

     (B) A Saturday job in a local café

     (C) A teenager’s plan to reach the stars

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

Maya’s Clean Energy Dream

Fifteen-year-old Maya has a very important dream. While her friends hope to become doctors or teachers, Maya wants to do something different. Her biggest ambition is to work in a laboratory and discover clean energy sources, like wind or solar power. She believes this is the best way to protect our beautiful planet.

To prepare for her future job, Maya works very hard at school. She spends a lot of time studying physics and chemistry. At the weekends, she doesn’t go shopping or watch movies like other teenagers. Instead, she reads thick science magazines and builds small solar-powered toy cars in her bedroom. She loves seeing how things work.

Last month, Maya had an amazing experience. Her teacher took the class to visit a real science laboratory at the city university. Before the trip, Maya was worried that the lab would be dark, boring, and quiet. However, it was bright, noisy, and full of exciting machines! A friendly scientist also showed the students how they test new batteries for electric cars.

Next summer, Maya is going to enter a national science competition. She won’t discover a new energy source immediately, of course. She knows she needs to study at university for many years first. However, she is excited to learn more and hopes to change the world one day.

1   How is Maya’s dream different from her friends’ dreams?

     (A) She hopes to become a doctor or a teacher.

     (B) She wants to find new ways to make power.

     (C) She would like to protect her friends.

2   What does Maya do in her free time?

     (A) She goes shopping and watches movies.

     (B) She makes toy cars that work with the sun.

     (C) She reads thick books about doctors.

3   How did Maya feel about the university laboratory?

     (A) She thought it was dark and quiet.

     (B) She was worried about testing the new batteries.

     (C) She was surprised because it was a lively place.

4   What does Maya understand about her future?

     (A) She will have to spend a long time studying.

     (B) She will discover a new energy source next summer.

     (C) She is going to work at the university immediately.

5   What is the best title for the article?

     (A) How to win a national science competition

     (B) A teenager’s plan to help the planet

     (C) The best university for physics and chemistry

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

Talking to Chimpanzees

Fifteen-year-old Ben has a special hobby. Most of his classmates spend their weekends playing video games or football. However, Ben prefers watching nature documentaries on television. Since he was a little boy, he has always loved wild animals, but his absolute favourites are monkeys and apes.

Ben is especially interested in chimpanzees. He often goes to the local zoo to watch them. Last year, he noticed something amazing. He saw that chimpanzees don’t just use sounds to talk to each other. They also use their hands and faces to share their feelings. Ben really wants to understand exactly what they are saying.

To learn more, Ben is preparing for his future right now. He borrows big books about animals from the school library, and his science teacher, Mrs. Smith, often helps him. Last summer, Ben joined a wildlife club instead of going on a beach holiday. He spent three weeks learning how to observe animals quietly in the woods.

Next year, Ben is going to apply to a famous college to study zoology. After that, his dream is to travel to Africa to do his research. His mother and father are a bit worried because Africa is far from their home, but they are also very proud of him. Ben cannot wait to finish school and start his adventure.

1   How does Ben spend his weekends?

     (A) playing video games or football

     (B) viewing television programmes about animals

     (C) spending time with most of his classmates

2   What did Ben discover about chimpanzees?

     (A) They just use sounds to talk to each other.

     (B) They often go to the local zoo to watch him.

     (C) They communicate with their bodies and expressions.

3   What did Ben do during his last summer holiday?

     (A) He was going on a beach holiday with his family.

     (B) He learned how to watch creatures without making noise.

     (C) He borrowed big books from the school library.

4   How do Ben’s parents feel about his plans?

     (A) They want to travel to Africa to do his research.

     (B) They are going to apply to a famous college.

     (C) They have some fears but are pleased with him.

5   What is the best title for this article?

     (A) A teenager’s dream to study chimpanzees

     (B) How to observe animals in the woods

     (C) The best nature documentaries on television

Exercises:   12345