Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – Climate Change Adaptation & Disasters 3

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

You are going to read an article about four teenagers discussing the frustration of debating with climate change deniers.

For questions 1-10, choose from the people (A-D). The people may be chosen more than once.

Which person

1   feels their opinions were ignored because of their age?

2   appealed to their relative’s desire to avoid unnecessary expenses?

3   highlights a clash between their relative’s pastime and their climate views?

4   acted upon a communication strategy suggested by an educator?

5   mentions that the disputes used to leave them feeling psychologically exhausted?

6   wishes their relative had paid attention to the written evidence they supplied?

7   realised their forceful debating style was actually pushing their relative away?

8   found that encouraging their relative to reminisce produced an unexpected breakthrough?

9   came to a conclusion about their debating approach while participating in an outdoor activity?

10   confesses that they have not completely let go of their internal resentment?

Bridging the Generational Divide: Teenagers and Climate Change

A Leo

It’s incredibly exasperating when I try to have a rational conversation about the climate crisis with my grandfather. No matter how many peer-reviewed articles or terrifying statistics I bring up, he just brushes them off as alarmist nonsense. He frequently resorts to the argument that I’m too young to understand how the world truly works, which completely undermines my confidence. If the reports I printed out for him had actually been read, he might have realised the severity of the situation. Initially, I used to lose my temper and storm out of the room, but I’ve recently come to terms with the fact that bombarding him with hard facts is completely ineffective. Now, I simply try to point out the extreme weather events happening right in our region. It hasn’t drastically changed his mindset yet, but at least he’s stopped laughing at my concerns. I haven’t thrown in the towel completely, but I’ve definitely lowered my expectations.

B Maya

For a long time, family dinners were a source of intense anxiety for me, primarily because my aunt would inevitably bring up her climate denial theories. I used to fall into the trap of arguing back passionately, quoting scientists and explaining the greenhouse effect. However, it always ended in a shouting match, leaving me emotionally drained and her even more entrenched in her views. A few months ago, I was advised by a teacher to switch my tactics. Instead of lecturing her, I started asking her questions about her own youth. I asked her if she had noticed any shifts in the local seasons since she was my age. Surprisingly, this subtle approach worked wonders. By prompting her to reflect on her own experiences rather than defending myself against her skepticism, the tension dissipated. We haven’t entirely seen eye to eye yet, but the bitter arguments have been replaced by somewhat constructive dialogues.

C Sam

What truly gets under my skin is the sheer hypocrisy of the situation. My uncle is a passionate gardener who is always going on about the importance of protecting local wildlife, yet he stubbornly refuses to acknowledge that global warming is a reality. Whenever I brought up the subject of carbon emissions, my arguments were instantly dismissed as a passing trend fabricated by the media. I used to get so worked up that I’d spend hours researching rebuttals, desperate to prove him wrong. However, I had a sudden realisation last month while we were planting trees. I noticed that confronting him directly only made him more defensive. Consequently, I’ve decided to focus purely on our shared love for nature. I now talk about pollution affecting his beloved garden birds rather than global rising sea levels. It takes a massive amount of patience, and I still feel frustrated deep down, but at least we are finding some common ground.

D Chloe

Discussing environmental issues with older relatives used to feel like banging my head against a brick wall. My grandmother, who I adore, has always been highly skeptical of renewable energy and climate change, claiming that the Earth’s climate has always fluctuated naturally. I used to feel profoundly disappointed by her reluctance to look at the bigger picture. I desperately wanted to convince her, but my aggressive approach only alienated her. Eventually, it dawned on me that throwing global statistics at her was pointless. Instead, I started highlighting the economic benefits of going green, such as how much money could be saved by installing solar panels. Because she has always been incredibly frugal, this specific argument resonated with her. While she might not be a dedicated environmentalist now, she is definitely more receptive to the idea of sustainable living. It taught me that understanding someone’s core values is essential if you want to alter their perspective.

Reading 2

You are going to read an article about four individuals sharing the extreme anxiety of living in a coastal town that is visibly losing meters of shoreline to rising sea levels every year.

For questions 1-10, choose from the people (A-D). The people may be chosen more than once.

Which person

1   is unable to financially safeguard their home against natural disasters?

2   suggests that a collective move away from the sea is the only viable option?

3   has noticed the disappearance of places they used to play in as a youngster?

4   experienced a moment of clarity regarding the severity of the threat?

5   suspects they were deceived when acquiring their property?

6   feels that taking action sooner could have saved the town?

7   is exhausted by the continuous physical labour required to hold back the water?

8   is deeply worried about the inheritance they are passing down to their offspring?

9   feels trapped because they cannot find a buyer for their home?

10   uses a physical measurement to track the advancing tide?

Living on the Edge: The Disappearing Coast

A Elias

My family has resided in this coastal village for over a century, and I took it for granted that I would grow old here. Lately, however, a profound sense of grief has washed over me. The cliffs where my friends and I used to hide and seek have literally crumbled into the sea. It is heartbreaking to witness your own heritage being swallowed by the waves. If the local authorities had constructed the coastal defences a decade ago, as promised, we might have avoided this catastrophe. Instead, they dragged their heels, and now it is simply too late. People often ask why I don’t just pack up and leave. But how do you abandon the only home you have ever known? I have come to terms with the fact that the town will eventually disappear, but the anxiety of waiting for the inevitable is incredibly wearing. It feels as though we are living on borrowed time.

B Sarah

I moved here three years ago, seeking a tranquil seaside retreat. Now, I wake up in a cold sweat every time there is a storm. When I purchased this cottage, the shoreline was a comfortable distance away. The previous owners must have known about the accelerating erosion, but they conveniently left that out of the negotiations. Now, my dream home has become a financial prison. I am desperate to sell, but nobody in their right mind would invest in a property that might plummet into the ocean within the next five years. To make matters worse, insurance companies flatly refuse to provide cover for flood or structural damage here. Consequently, I am constantly on edge. Every time I hear the waves crashing violently against the nearby rocks, I wonder if this will be the night I lose everything. I am trapped, both physically and financially, and the stress is overwhelming.

C Mark

As the coordinator of our local coastal defence group, I spend my weekends filling sandbags and reinforcing the temporary barriers. We have fought tooth and nail to protect our community, but honestly, it feels like we are merely delaying the inevitable. No matter how many defences are built, the sea always bounces back stronger. The sheer physical toll of constantly battling the winter tides is leaving the volunteers drained, both mentally and physically. Furthermore, the council’s budget has been exhausted. We need to face reality rather than pouring money into a lost cause. In my opinion, the government needs to facilitate a managed retreat. Instead of stubbornly fighting nature, residents should be compensated and assisted to relocate the entire town several miles inland. It is a controversial stance that angers some of my older neighbours who cling to the past, but unless we adapt proactively, we will eventually be completely submerged.

D Elena

The reality of our situation didn’t truly hit me until last month. I had always known the sea was encroaching, but it felt like a slow, abstract threat. Then, I decided to measure the distance from our back fence to the cliff edge. It had shrunk by three metres in just one winter. That sudden discovery sent a shiver down my spine. I looked at my two young children playing in the garden and felt a crushing wave of guilt. What kind of legacy are we leaving them? We brought them here for the fresh air and open spaces, but instead, we have handed them a front-row seat to an environmental disaster. Every time the wind picks up, the kids ask if the house is going to fall in. As a parent, you are supposed to provide a safe haven, but I can no longer guarantee that. We are essentially packing up our lives in boxes, waiting for the final warning to evacuate.

Exercises:   123456