Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Environmental Conservation & Climate Action
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Fighting Food Miles
I have always been a huge fan of sweet, exotic fruits. Every morning, I used to eat a large bowl of chopped bananas, mangoes, and pineapples for breakfast. However, a few months ago, my science teacher showed us a documentary about “food miles.” I learned that the fresh fruits I loved so much travelled thousands of miles by plane and ship just to reach my local supermarket. The video explained how this massive journey produces terrible air pollution. Suddenly, my healthy breakfast didn’t seem so good for the planet anymore, and I felt quite guilty about my shopping habits.
Determined to make a difference, I set myself a personal challenge: for one entire month, I would only eat seasonal food grown in my local area. I thought it would be an easy promise to keep, but I quickly realised how restrictive it was. When I went to the supermarket, I noticed that almost everything had been imported from other countries. The hardest part was definitely giving up bananas. Instead, I had to eat basic local apples and pears, which felt incredibly boring at first. I actually considered quitting the challenge after just three days.
Fortunately, my mum suggested we visit the local farmers’ market on Saturday morning. I hadn’t expected much, but the atmosphere was absolutely brilliant. The market was filled with colourful stalls selling fresh, seasonal vegetables and fruits that I had never even heard of before. I spent an hour chatting with the farmers, who explained exactly how they grew their crops without using harmful chemicals. When I tasted the strawberries we bought there, I was amazed. They were so much sweeter and juicier than anything I usually bought from the large supermarkets.
That single visit completely changed my perspective on eating. I no longer miss those exotic imported fruits because I have discovered so many delicious local options. Although my month-long challenge is officially over, I have decided to permanently change my diet. I now understand that buying local food isn’t just about reducing air pollution; it is also about supporting your community and enjoying better quality meals. I hope I can persuade more teenagers at my school to think carefully about where their dinner comes from.
1 Why did the writer change his opinion about his breakfast?
(A) He learned that the fruits he ate caused environmental damage.
(B) His science teacher told him that exotic fruits were unhealthy.
(C) He realised he spent too much money on imported pineapples.
(D) He wanted to complete a science project about food transportation.
2 How did the writer feel during the first few days of his challenge?
(A) Upset that his local supermarket had suddenly closed down.
(B) Surprised that local apples and pears were so expensive.
(C) Frustrated because his daily food choices felt very limited.
(D) Annoyed that his parents wouldn’t buy him any bananas.
3 What did the writer enjoy most about the farmers’ market?
(A) Finding exotic fruits that were grown in his local area.
(B) The superior taste of the food compared to supermarket products.
(C) Learning how to cook new seasonal vegetable recipes.
(D) Meeting teenagers from his school who also shopped there.
4 What does the writer say about his eating habits now?
(A) He occasionally allows himself to eat imported bananas.
(B) He plans to start growing his own vegetables at home.
(C) He is glad his one-month challenge is finally over.
(D) He intends to continue eating locally grown food.
5 What would the writer write in his blog about his experience?
(A) “I tried eating local food for a month, but it was too difficult. I can’t wait to go back to eating my favourite imported mangoes.”
(B) “The local farmers’ market is great, but I think supermarkets are still the best place to find sweet, high-quality strawberries.”
(C) “Giving up exotic fruit was tough at first, but discovering the amazing local food at the market made me change my habits for good.”
(D) “I want to stop air pollution, so I’m trying to convince my science teacher to start a farming club at our school.”
Answer Key & Explanations
1 A – In the first paragraph, the writer states he watched a documentary showing how his favourite fruits travelled thousands of miles, which “produces terrible air pollution,” leading him to feel his breakfast “didn’t seem so good for the planet anymore.”
2 C – In the second paragraph, the writer mentions that giving up bananas and eating basic apples felt “incredibly boring,” that he realised how “restrictive” it was, and that he “actually considered quitting,” which means he was frustrated by his limited choices.
3 B – In the third paragraph, the writer expresses his amazement after tasting the market strawberries, noting that they were “so much sweeter and juicier than anything I usually bought from the large supermarkets.”
4 D – In the fourth paragraph, the writer states, “Although my month-long challenge is officially over, I have decided to permanently change my diet,” confirming his intention to keep eating locally.
5 C – This option accurately captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text: the writer struggled initially with giving up his favourite imported fruits, but his experience at the farmers’ market convinced him to make a permanent lifestyle change to support the environment and his community.
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Nature’s Secret Rebels
I live in a large city where almost everything is made of gray concrete. A few months ago, I was reading an article online about ‘guerrilla gardening’ and discovered something called ‘seed bombs’. These are small balls made of clay, soil, and wildflower seeds. Because I was tired of seeing so many ugly, abandoned spaces in my neighborhood, I decided to make some. It felt like a chance to do something slightly rebellious, but in a completely harmless and positive way.
The following weekend, I invited my friend Leo over to help me. The process was incredibly messy but a lot of fun. We mixed thick clay with dark soil and poured in hundreds of tiny wildflower seeds. Then, we rolled the mixture into small balls and left them in the sun to dry. As we packed the hard dirt balls into our backpacks, I felt a thrill of excitement, exactly as if we were preparing for a secret spy mission.
That evening, we rode our bicycles around the city looking for the worst, most forgotten areas. We found empty lots full of rubbish, cracks in the pavement, and abandoned building sites. Whenever we saw a gray, lifeless corner, we quickly threw a seed bomb over the fence or onto the dirt. Nobody paid any attention to us. I felt like a true rebel, even though I wasn’t actually causing any damage or breaking any serious laws.
After that night, the weather turned cold and wet, and I honestly forgot all about our secret project. I assumed the birds had eaten the seeds or they had simply washed away in the heavy rain. However, when spring finally arrived several months later, I walked past one of the abandoned building sites we had targeted. I couldn’t believe my eyes.
Instead of ugly dirt and broken concrete, there was a beautiful explosion of color. Bright pink, yellow, and blue wildflowers were growing everywhere. Over the next few days, I checked our other spots and saw the same amazing results. Transforming those dead, gray spaces into living gardens gave me an incredible sense of power. It proved that you don’t need a lot of money or permission to make the world a more beautiful place.
1 Why did the writer decide to make seed bombs?
(A) He wanted to break the environmental laws in his city.
(B) He was bored of the gray and ugly areas in his neighborhood.
(C) He had to complete a school project about guerrilla gardening.
(D) He wanted to grow wildflowers in his own garden to sell online.
2 How did the writer feel while getting the seed bombs ready?
(A) annoyed because the mixture of clay and soil was so messy
(B) worried that the seeds wouldn’t grow properly in the hot sun
(C) excited because it felt like they were planning a secret operation
(D) exhausted from carrying the heavy backpacks full of dirt
3 What did the writer and his friend do that evening?
(A) They cleaned up the rubbish they found in the empty lots.
(B) They secretly threw the balls of dirt into abandoned places.
(C) They rode their bicycles to a colourful forest outside the city.
(D) They asked people for permission to plant flowers in the street.
4 What did the writer think had happened during the winter?
(A) The seeds had been destroyed by the weather or eaten by wildlife.
(B) The local government had found the bombs and removed them.
(C) The heavy winter rain had made the flowers grow much too fast.
(D) Someone else had found the spots and planted pink and yellow flowers.
5 What would the writer say in his blog about the experience?
(A) Guerrilla gardening is a lot of fun, but it is too dangerous because you might get caught breaking the law.
(B) It takes a lot of time and money to plant a garden, so you should always ask professionals for help.
(C) I was very disappointed that the birds ate most of my seed bombs, but I will definitely try again next year.
(D) Creating a beautiful, living garden in a forgotten city space gives you an amazing and powerful feeling.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – In the first paragraph, the writer states, “Because I was tired of seeing so many ugly, abandoned spaces in my neighborhood, I decided to make some.” This matches being bored of the gray and ugly areas.
2 C – The second paragraph says that as they packed the backpacks, the writer “felt a thrill of excitement, exactly as if we were preparing for a secret spy mission.”
3 B – Paragraph 3 explains that they found forgotten areas like empty lots and building sites, and “quickly threw a seed bomb over the fence or onto the dirt.”
4 A – In paragraph 4, the writer mentions, “I assumed the birds had eaten the seeds or they had simply washed away in the heavy rain.” This means he thought they were destroyed or eaten.
5 D – This captures the global meaning and the writer’s final reflection in paragraph 5. He states that “Transforming those dead, gray spaces into living gardens gave me an incredible sense of power” and proved you don’t need money or permission to make the world beautiful.
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The Fix-It Challenge
Last month, my smartphone slipped out of my hand and crashed onto the pavement. The screen was completely shattered. When I asked my parents what to do, they immediately suggested throwing it away and buying a brand new one. However, new phones are incredibly expensive, and putting another electronic device into the rubbish bin just felt wrong. After doing some quick research on the internet, I found a website selling replacement screens and decided to order a DIY repair kit. I thought it would be a fun and cheap way to solve my problem.
A few days later, a small box arrived containing the new screen and several specialized tools. As soon as I opened it, I started to regret my decision. The screwdrivers were absolutely tiny, and the video tutorial I had to follow looked extremely complicated. Taking the phone apart was incredibly stressful. The internal components were so fragile that I was terrified of breaking something permanently. At one point, I spent twenty minutes searching for a screw that was no bigger than a grain of sand. I felt so frustrated that I almost put everything in the bin.
Despite my annoyance, I took a deep breath, drank a glass of water, and returned to my desk. I played the instructional video again, pausing it after every single step. Very slowly and carefully, I managed to connect the delicate wires to the new screen and put all the tiny pieces back together. When I finally pressed the power button, the screen lit up perfectly. I had never felt so much satisfaction in my entire life. My phone looked as good as new, and I had done it all by myself.
This challenging experience completely changed the way I think about electronics. I realised that many modern companies actually design their products to break easily so that people are forced to buy replacements. Now, I strongly disagree with this idea of throwing things away just because they are slightly damaged. In the future, I will always try to repair my broken gadgets first. In fact, a few of my friends have already asked me if I can fix their old phones, and I am actually looking forward to the challenge!
1 Why did the writer order the repair kit?
(A) To learn a new skill for a school science project.
(B) To avoid spending a large amount of money on a new phone.
(C) Because his parents told him he had to fix the screen himself.
(D) Because he couldn’t find a local shop to repair his device.
2 How did the writer feel when he started the repair process?
(A) Confident that the video tutorial would be easy to follow.
(B) Annoyed because the kit was missing some important pieces.
(C) Worried that he might cause even more damage to the device.
(D) Surprised by how big the replacement tools were.
3 What helped the writer to finally succeed?
(A) Watching the video without stopping until the very end.
(B) Taking a short break to calm down and focus.
(C) Asking his parents to connect the delicate wires for him.
(D) Buying a different screwdriver to fix the tiny pieces.
4 What does the writer believe about electronic companies now?
(A) They make products that are intentionally difficult to keep for a long time.
(B) They should provide free repair kits with every new phone they sell.
(C) They charge far too much money for their official repair services.
(D) They are making their modern devices much stronger than they used to be.
5 What would the writer post on his social media page?
(A) I finally managed to fix my phone today, but it was so stressful that I’ll definitely just buy a new one the next time it breaks!
(B) Fixing my screen was surprisingly easy, and now I really want to get a part-time job repairing electronics for a big technology company.
(C) Repairing my phone was very frustrating, but it taught me that we shouldn’t just throw our gadgets away when they stop working.
(D) My parents were totally right about throwing the phone away, because the repair kit didn’t work and the tiny tools were completely useless.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The text states in paragraph 1 that “new phones are incredibly expensive” and the writer thought the repair kit would be a “cheap way to solve my problem.”
2 C – In paragraph 2, the writer explains that the internal components were very fragile and he was “terrified of breaking something permanently.”
3 B – Paragraph 3 details how the writer took “a deep breath, drank a glass of water, and returned to my desk” before carefully completing the repair.
4 A – In paragraph 4, the writer realises that companies “design their products to break easily so that people are forced to buy replacements” (planned obsolescence).
5 C – This option perfectly captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text: overcoming the frustration of the repair to reach an important, environmentally friendly realization about not throwing things away.