Practice English Reading Exercises for A2 – Planting Trees & Gardening

Exercises:   12345

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The Rooftop Butterfly Garden

Mia is fourteen years old and lives in a tall apartment building in the centre of the city. She really loves nature, but there are not many parks near her home. One day, Mia learned about butterflies in her science class. Her teacher said that these beautiful insects need more places to live. Mia decided to build a special garden for them on the empty roof of her building.

First, Mia read lots of books from the library to find out what butterflies like. She discovered that they love red and purple flowers. At the weekend, she went to a large garden centre with her father. They bought some big pots, lots of earth, and young plants. Carrying everything up the stairs to the roof was very hard work!

After they finished planting, Mia went to the roof every day to wait for the butterflies. For the first two weeks, nothing happened. Mia felt a little sad because she thought her project was a mistake. However, one sunny afternoon, she finally saw a beautiful yellow butterfly on a red flower. Soon, many more arrived.

Now, the rooftop garden is Mia’s favourite place. She usually does her homework there after school. Sometimes, her neighbours come up to sit and enjoy the quiet space. Mia is very proud of her work. Next summer, she is going to build a tiny pool so that little birds can drink water there too.

1   Why did Mia decide to make the garden?

     (A) She wanted to help insects find a home.

     (B) She needed to do a project for her science class.

     (C) She wanted to build a new park near her home.

2   What did Mia do before she went to the garden centre?

     (A) She carried big pots and earth up the stairs.

     (B) She learned what kind of flowers butterflies prefer.

     (C) She bought lots of young plants with her father.

3   How did Mia feel during the first two weeks?

     (A) tired because planting the garden was hard work

     (B) unhappy because the insects didn’t arrive

     (C) sad because she saw a yellow butterfly

4   What do we learn about Mia’s neighbours?

     (A) They usually do their homework on the roof.

     (B) They are going to build a tiny pool next summer.

     (C) They like relaxing in the garden.

5   What is the best title for the article?

     (A) A girl’s idea to bring nature to the city

     (B) How to get good marks in science class

     (C) The most beautiful parks in the city centre

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

Leo’s Green Bedroom

Fifteen-year-old Leo has always loved nature, but he lives in a small apartment without a garden. Last year, his aunt gave him a small green plant for his bedroom. At first, he didn’t know what to do with it, but soon, he started buying more plants. Now, he has over thirty different plants in his room!

When Leo’s school friends visited him, they loved his room. They wanted to have plants too, but they were worried because their plants always died. Leo noticed that many teenagers think caring for indoor plants is too difficult. So, he decided to write a short guidebook to help them.

He spent two months working on the book after school. In his guidebook, Leo doesn’t use difficult science words. Instead, he explains simple things, like how much water a plant needs and the best place to put it near a window. He also took all the photographs for the book with his smartphone.

Last week, Leo printed fifty copies of his guidebook and gave them to his classmates. The teachers were very proud, and the students loved the clear instructions. Leo feels amazing because three of his friends have already started their own indoor gardens. Next, he wants to start a club at school for plant lovers.

1   How did Leo first get interested in indoor plants?

     (A) A family member brought him one as a present.

     (B) He wanted to build a garden in his small apartment.

     (C) He started buying over thirty different plants.

2   Why did Leo decide to write a guidebook?

     (A) To teach other teenagers how to look after plants.

     (B) Because his school friends visited him to buy plants.

     (C) Because he wanted to show why plants always died.

3   What do we learn about Leo’s guidebook?

     (A) He uses basic language and his own pictures in it.

     (B) It is full of difficult science words to read after school.

     (C) It explains the best place to put a smartphone near a window.

4   What happened after Leo finished his guidebook?

     (A) Some of his classmates began growing their own plants.

     (B) The teachers printed fifty copies of the book for the students.

     (C) He started a club at school for plant lovers last week.

5   What is the best title for the article?

     (A) A teenager’s guide to indoor gardening

     (B) How to start a school club for plants

     (C) Why teenagers should study difficult science

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

A Summer on the Farm

Fifteen-year-old Toby usually spends his summer holidays playing computer games in his bedroom. But this year, he wanted to do something different. He decided to help some local farmers pick organic vegetables. Toby wanted to spend more time outdoors and earn a little money to buy a new bicycle.

During his first week, Toby started work at seven o’clock every morning. The farmers woke up at five, but Toby was happy he could sleep a bit longer. His main job was to pick tomatoes and green beans. It was hard work, and his arms often hurt, but he really loved being in the fresh air all day.

Toby didn’t work alone. He met two other teenagers, Sarah and Mark, who were also helping on the farm. At midday, they always sat under a large tree to eat their sandwiches. During these breaks, the farmers taught them how to grow plants naturally, without using any chemicals. Toby thought this was very interesting.

Now, the summer is over, and Toby is back at school. He didn’t buy the bicycle in the end, but he feels much stronger and healthier than before. He enjoyed his time on the farm so much that he wants to return next summer. He is even thinking about studying farming at university when he is older.

1   Why did Toby want to work on a farm this year?

     (A) He wanted to play computer games in his bedroom.

     (B) He hoped to be outside and get some cash.

     (C) He needed to help some local farmers.

2   What does Toby say about his first week?

     (A) He woke up at five o’clock every morning.

     (B) He liked being outside even though the job was difficult.

     (C) His arms often hurt because he woke up at five.

3   What did Toby do at midday?

     (A) He had lunch with the other teenagers.

     (B) He taught the farmers how to grow plants naturally.

     (C) He sat under a large tree without using any chemicals.

4   How does Toby feel at the end of the summer?

     (A) He is sad that he didn’t buy the bicycle in the end.

     (B) He is in better physical shape than before.

     (C) He is ready to start studying farming at university.

5   What is the best title for the article?

     (A) How to grow vegetables without chemicals

     (B) A teenager’s unusual summer holiday

     (C) The boy who finally bought a new bicycle

Exercises:   12345