Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – Climate Change Adaptation & Disasters 4

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

You are going to read an article about four young professionals describing the complex process of “climate-proofing” their homes.

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

Which person

1   admits they initially faced resistance from someone living with them?

2   was prompted to take action after seeing what happened to a local resident?

3   regrets trying to save money by doing the work themselves?

4   found dealing with official paperwork particularly frustrating?

5   notes a significant improvement in their quality of sleep?

6   mentions having to accept a change to the aesthetic appearance of their property?

7   acknowledges that their modifications might not be a permanent solution?

8   was pleasantly surprised by the financial benefits of their upgrades?

9   had to alter the position of essential household infrastructure?

10   states that the noise level in their home was reduced during a weather event?

Future-Proofing Our Homes

A Liam

Living near the river, flash flooding had become a recurring nightmare. I finally bit the bullet and invested in comprehensive flood defenses for my property. The actual physical modifications, which included shifting all the ground-floor electrical sockets much higher up the walls and fitting watertight barriers to the doors, were surprisingly straightforward. However, attempting to secure a local government grant to help with the costs was a completely different story. Navigating that endless maze of official forms was incredibly tedious and nearly made me give up. While a nearby resident suffered terrible water damage last winter, my living room remained completely dry. I was relieved, though I’m under no illusions. With environmental changes accelerating, I’m fully aware this is just a temporary fix. If the river keeps bursting its banks with increasing severity, packing up and relocating will eventually be my only viable option. Until then, it’s a huge weight off my mind.

B Sophia

Urban heatwaves have become unbearable lately, turning my top-floor apartment into a greenhouse. I decided to overhaul our insulation and install solar-reflective window films. My husband, however, wasn’t convinced. He argued that the staggering upfront cost wasn’t justified for just a few weeks of hot weather, and we had some heated debates about it. Fortunately, I managed to talk him round. We hired reliable contractors, which meant dealing with a lot of dust and mess, but we deliberately didn’t try to cut corners by doing it ourselves. The transformation has been remarkable. Previously, tossing and turning through sweltering July nights was the norm, leaving us exhausted for work. Now, our bedroom remains pleasantly cool, and we wake up feeling completely refreshed. He now admits it was worth every penny. Even our utility bills have gone down slightly, although the main reward is simply being comfortable in our own home without relying heavily on air conditioning.

C Mateo

My coastal property is beautiful, but it regularly takes a battering from coastal gales. I decided to install heavy-duty storm shutters and a reinforced front door to withstand the extreme winds. Initially, I figured I could easily fit the shutters myself and keep expenses down. That turned out to be a massive miscalculation; I attached the hinges incorrectly, and a professional had to be called in to redo the entire job, which ended up costing me double. Visually, the house has lost a bit of its traditional charm because the bulky metal frames stand out, but I’ve come to terms with the new look. The ultimate test came during a fierce cyclone last month. Not only did the house remain completely unscathed, but the howling wind was barely a whisper indoors. We didn’t even lose any sleep over it. It’s comforting to know the house is secure, even if the exterior isn’t quite as picturesque as it used to be.

D Chloe

Freezing winters have always been a challenge here, but recent cold snaps have been unprecedented. I hadn’t seriously considered climate-proofing until the elderly woman next door had her pipes freeze and burst, causing catastrophic damage to her property. Seeing her devastating situation was a real wake-up call. I immediately arranged for triple-glazing to be fitted and upgraded to a highly efficient geothermal heat pump. I was fortunate that I didn’t have to deal with any complicated paperwork, as the installers handled all the local permits for me. What has genuinely astonished me is the impact on my monthly outgoings. I expected a modest drop in heating costs, but my energy bills have literally halved. The house stays incredibly cozy, no matter how much snow piles up outside. I thought the thick new windows might alter the look of my cottage, but they blend in seamlessly. It’s given me peace of mind, knowing my home can easily cope with plummeting temperatures.

Reading 2

You are going to read an article about four people reflecting on the psychological impact of seeing previously lush, green local landscapes turn into dry, barren dust bowls due to prolonged drought.

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

Which person/section

1   admits to feeling remorse for how they used to take resources for granted?

2   expresses irritation towards people who do not seem to care about the situation?

3   describes the distress caused by the disappearance of a childhood haven?

4   was originally under the impression that the dry spell was just a normal seasonal event?

5   finds a small sense of optimism in the resilience of certain plant life?

6   highlights the severe consequences the drought has had on the local economy?

7   uses a specific psychological term to define their emotional state?

8   mentions the heartbreak of seeing animals struggle to survive?

9   actively participates in measures to conserve water at home?

10   acknowledges that the changed landscape dictates their personal emotional state on a daily basis?

When the Green Fades: Living in a Changing Landscape

A Mark

Growing up, I spent my summers swimming in the winding river at the edge of our village. It was a lush, vibrant paradise. Now, looking at the cracked, barren earth where the water used to flow, I feel an overwhelming sense of grief. A psychologist recently told me there’s a word for this: solastalgia, which is defined as the distress caused by environmental change in your home area. I can’t deny that it’s incredibly difficult to come to terms with. Some neighbours hold out hope that it’s just a temporary phase, but having read extensively about climate patterns, I knew this wasn’t a mere seasonal fluctuation. The transformation is devastating. While I try to remain objective, seeing this dust bowl where my most cherished memories were made is utterly heartbreaking. I haven’t changed my daily routine much, but the psychological weight of this barren view is something I carry with me everywhere.

B Elena

What gets me down most isn’t just the brown, parched fields; it’s the sheer complacency of some residents. Despite the unprecedented drought, you still see individuals watering their driveways or filling massive swimming pools, which absolutely drives me up the wall. Personally, I’ve gone out of my way to install rain barrels and greywater systems to drastically cut down my household’s consumption. However, individual efforts feel like a drop in the ocean when you look at the broader picture. If you drive to the outskirts of town, the impact on local agriculture is undeniable. Several family-run farms have gone bankrupt, and the ripple effect on our local economy has been catastrophic. Some folks say they feel guilty about the landscape drying up, but honestly, I just feel a profound anxiety about our collective future. Unless everyone steps up, our once-green valley will become permanently uninhabitable.

C Liam

When the grass first started turning yellow last May, I didn’t think much of it. We usually experience a few dry weeks in the height of summer, so I took it for granted that the autumn rains would quickly restore the greenery. How wrong I was. Two years on, the landscape resembles a desert. If I had known this was a permanent shift, I would have appreciated the greenery more while it lasted. The psychological toll of this is hard to articulate, but it hit me hardest when I started noticing the silence. We used to have throngs of migratory birds and vibrant insects, but their habitats have completely vanished. Watching bewildered deer venture into our gardens in a desperate search for hydration is truly distressing. The realisation that this is our new reality has been a bitter pill to swallow, leaving a lingering sense of helplessness.

D Sarah

It sounds cliché, but my mood is inextricably linked to my surroundings. Waking up to grey, dusty skies and withered lawns instantly dampens my spirits before I’ve even had my morning coffee. I frequently look back at old photographs of our vibrant, leafy garden and am struck by a heavy wave of remorse. I used to leave the sprinkler on for hours without a second thought, completely oblivious to the precious nature of water. Although the overall situation is depressing, there is one small comfort I cling to. While the delicate, water-hungry flowers have long died out, the native shrubs and wild cacti are miraculously thriving. Witnessing their sheer determination to survive against the odds brings me a tiny glimmer of hope. It serves as a powerful reminder that while we have permanently altered our environment, nature possesses an incredible ability to adapt and endure.

Exercises:   123456