Practice English Reading Exercises for A2 – Environmental & Sustainability

Exercises:   12345

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The Teenager Powered by the Sun

Seventeen-year-old Leo loves spending his free time outdoors. He goes hiking in the mountains every weekend. However, he always had a problem: his mobile phone battery often died after a few hours. Because of this, he decided to create something useful for his school science fair.

Leo wanted to build a phone charger that uses the sun to work. He bought a small solar panel online and found some old wires in his garage. Putting the pieces together was quite difficult. At first, the charger got too hot and didn’t give any power to his phone. His science teacher gave him some advice, and finally, Leo made it work perfectly.

The day of the science fair was very busy. Many students brought amazing projects, like robots and model cars. Leo felt quite nervous because his invention looked very simple. But when the judges tested his charger, they loved it. They gave Leo the second prize for having the most useful idea.

Now, Leo’s friends all want him to build chargers for them, but he is too busy studying for his exams. Next month, he is going to take his invention on a long camping trip. He hopes to study green energy at university so he can make more things to help the environment.

1   Why did Leo decide to make the solar charger?

     (A) to find a solution to a frequent personal issue

     (B) to go hiking in the mountains every weekend

     (C) to create something amazing for his science teacher

2   What does Leo say about building his machine?

     (A) He easily found a small solar panel in his garage.

     (B) The device failed to function correctly in the beginning.

     (C) His science teacher made it work perfectly.

3   How did Leo feel at the science fair?

     (A) He was upset because the judges tested his charger.

     (B) He felt amazing because he built robots and model cars.

     (C) He was anxious because his project appeared too basic.

4   What is Leo doing at the moment?

     (A) He is building chargers for all his friends.

     (B) He is taking his invention on a long camping trip.

     (C) He is focusing on preparing for his school tests.

5   What is the best title for the article?

     (A) How to win the first prize at a school fair

     (B) A smart student’s sunny and helpful invention

     (C) The teenager who makes robots and model cars

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The Teenager Who Changed How Her School Shops

Fifteen-year-old Lily loves the environment. Last year, she noticed something that made her feel very sad. Her school friends often bought new clothes and quickly threw their old ones in the bin. Lily knew this was terrible for our planet, so she wanted to change her classmates’ shopping habits.

She decided to organize a ‘clothes swap’ at her school. She explained her idea to her head teacher, and he agreed immediately. Lily and her friends spent two weeks making colorful posters to put on the classroom walls. They asked students to wash their old jackets, dresses, and T-shirts and bring them to the school hall on Friday.

On the day of the event, the hall looked like a large clothing shop. Over a hundred students arrived with bags of things they didn’t wear anymore. For every item they brought, they could choose a different piece of clothing to take home. Many teenagers were surprised to find fantastic ‘new’ outfits for free.

At the end of the afternoon, there were still some clothes left on the tables. Lily didn’t throw them away; she gave them to a local charity. Lily feels incredibly proud of her project because everyone learned a lot about sustainable fashion. Next summer, she is going to organize another clothes swap for the whole town.

1   Why did Lily feel sad last year?

     (A) Her classmates put their unwanted fashion items in the trash.

     (B) She often bought new clothes and quickly threw her old ones in the bin.

     (C) She wanted to change her classmates’ shopping habits.

2   How did Lily prepare for the event?

     (A) She asked students to make colorful posters.

     (B) She worked with other pupils to create advertising materials.

     (C) She spent two weeks washing her old jackets, dresses, and T-shirts.

3   What happened during the clothes swap?

     (A) Over a hundred students arrived at a large clothing shop.

     (B) Many teenagers were surprised to buy fantastic ‘new’ outfits.

     (C) Young people selected other things to wear without spending money.

4   What did Lily do with the extra items after the event?

     (A) She presented the remaining pieces to an organization that helps people.

     (B) She decided to leave the clothes left on the tables.

     (C) She gave them to her school friends and threw them away.

5   What is the best title for the article?

     (A) How to wash your old clothes

     (B) A fun project for a greener planet

     (C) The teenager who works for a local charity

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

Safe Homes for City Birds

Fifteen-year-old Sam has always loved wildlife. Last spring, while he was walking in the park with his friends, he found a small bird with a broken wing. He carried it carefully to the local animal hospital. After that day, Sam decided he wanted to do more to help birds in his town.

He understood that many birds do not have safe places to live. So, he started building special birdhouses. He doesn’t buy new materials. Instead, he uses old wood from his grandfather’s garage. He paints them green and brown so they look like trees, and puts them high up where hungry cats cannot reach them.

In the beginning, building the birdhouses was quite difficult for Sam. He often hit his fingers with his hammer, and it took a long time to finish just one. However, he didn’t stop. He took photos of his finished work and showed his classmates. Soon, three of his friends asked to join him. Now, they spend their weekends making the houses together.

So far, the teenagers have built over forty safe homes for birds. Sam feels incredibly happy when he hears the birds singing inside them. Because of his hobby, he knows exactly what he wants to do in the future. When he leaves school, he is going to study biology and become a wildlife doctor.

1   What made Sam want to help birds?

     (A) He walked in the park with his friends.

     (B) He discovered an animal that was hurt.

     (C) He worked at the local animal hospital.

2   Where does Sam get the things to make his birdhouses?

     (A) He uses items from a family member.

     (B) He buys new materials.

     (C) He finds old wood in the trees.

3   What happened when Sam first started making the birdhouses?

     (A) He stopped taking photos of his finished work.

     (B) He asked his classmates to spend their weekends with him.

     (C) He found the job very hard to do.

4   What do we learn about Sam in the last paragraph?

     (A) He is certain about the job he wants later.

     (B) He plans to build over forty safe homes.

     (C) He wants to stay at his school to study biology.

5   What is the best title for this article?

     (A) A trip to the local animal hospital

     (B) How to use old wood from a garage

     (C) Helping birds find a safe place to live

Exercises:   12345