Practice English Reading Exercises for A2 – Sustainable Shopping & Fashion
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The Second-Hand Style
Fifteen-year-old Leo has always loved fashion. He used to enjoy going to the shopping centre every weekend to buy new T-shirts. However, last year, he watched a documentary about the environment in his geography class. He learned that making new clothes uses a lot of water and creates terrible pollution. Because of this, Leo decided to make a big change. He stopped buying new things completely.
Instead, Leo started visiting charity shops and local street markets. Finding the right size and colour is sometimes difficult. It takes much more time than just picking something from a shelf in a large supermarket. But Leo doesn’t mind the hard work. He can buy fantastic jackets and trousers for very little money, so he saves a lot of his pocket money.
At first, a few of his classmates laughed at him. They only wanted to wear famous brands and thought old clothes were dirty. But Leo asked his grandmother to teach him how to sew. Soon, he was changing boring old shirts into cool, modern pieces. When his friends saw his amazing new style, they stopped laughing. Now, they often ask him to find and fix clothes for them too!
Leo feels very proud of his wardrobe. He is helping the planet and looking great at the same time. Next month, he is going to start a website to teach other teenagers how to shop for second-hand clothes. He hopes everyone will join his green fashion project.
1 Why did Leo stop buying new clothes?
(A) He found out that producing clothes damages the earth.
(B) He enjoyed going to the shopping centre every weekend.
(C) He had to make a documentary for his geography class.
2 What does Leo think about his new way of shopping?
(A) He prefers picking something from a shelf in a large supermarket.
(B) It requires a long time, but it is not expensive.
(C) Finding the right size and colour costs very little money.
3 What happened when Leo changed the old shirts?
(A) His friends only wanted to wear famous brands.
(B) His classmates asked his grandmother to teach them how to sew.
(C) His friends liked his outfits and wanted him to make things for them.
4 What is Leo planning to do in the future?
(A) show people online how to buy used fashion
(B) help the planet and look great at the same time
(C) join a green fashion project for teenagers
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) The best charity shops and local street markets
(B) A teenager’s stylish plan to protect the world
(C) How to sew your own jackets and trousers
ANSWER KEY
1 A 2 B 3 C 4 A 5 B
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Leo’s Bright New Bags
Fourteen-year-old Leo loves fashion, but he doesn’t like how much clothing people throw in the bin. Last month, he read an article about plastic bags in the ocean. He decided he wanted to help the environment and make something useful at the same time. He looked in his wardrobe and found lots of old, colourful T-shirts that were too small for him.
Leo took his old clothes to his grandmother because she is very good at making things. She taught him how to use a needle and thread. First, Leo cuts the sleeves off the T-shirts. Then, he sews the bottom closed. After a few hours of hard work, he had five fantastic new shopping bags!
Last Saturday, Leo brought his bags to a special market at his school. He was worried that his classmates might think they looked strange. However, everyone loved the bright colours! A lot of students bought one. Leo didn’t spend the cash on video games; instead, he used it to buy better scissors and more thread.
Leo feels amazing because his project helps people stop using plastic. His friends are now giving him their old clothes to use. Next month, Leo is going to film a short video for the internet. He wants to teach other teenagers how to make their own bags.
1 Why did Leo decide to make the shopping bags?
(A) He wanted to protect the natural world after reading about an issue.
(B) He read an article about lots of old, colourful T-shirts in the ocean.
(C) He wanted to throw a lot of old clothing in the bin.
2 How did Leo learn to make the bags?
(A) A family member showed him how to join the material together.
(B) His grandmother took his old clothes to make things for him.
(C) He taught his grandmother how to use a needle and thread.
3 What did Leo do with the money he made at the market?
(A) He purchased some equipment to help him make more bags.
(B) He chose to spend the cash on some new video games.
(C) He used it to buy bright colours for his classmates.
4 What is Leo planning to do next month?
(A) Produce an online recording to instruct other young people.
(B) Ask his friends to give him their old clothes to use.
(C) Film a short video about how to stop using plastic.
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) The boy who cleans plastic from the ocean
(B) A teenager’s clever idea for reusing old clothes
(C) How to sell video games at a school market
ANSWER KEY
1 A 2 A 3 A 4 A 5 B
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Maya’s Clothes-Swapping Party
Next month, fifteen-year-old Maya and her classmates are going on a four-day school trip to the mountains. All her friends wanted to buy new jackets and boots for the holiday, but shopping for clothes is very expensive. Maya wanted to find a cheaper way to get ready for the trip.
She had a brilliant idea and decided to organize a clothes-swapping party. She sent a message to ten classmates, asking them to bring clean clothes they never wore anymore. Before the party, Maya cleaned her large living room and made some sandwiches and biscuits for everyone.
When her friends arrived on Saturday afternoon, they brought lots of heavy bags. At first, the teenagers were a bit quiet and just looked at the different jumpers and trousers. But when Maya’s best friend put on a bright red coat, everyone started laughing and trying things on. It was great fun!
By the end of the day, all the girls had fantastic “new” outfits for their mountain trip. The best thing was that nobody spent any cash! They put the clothes they didn’t want into a big box and gave them to a local charity shop. Maya feels very proud and wants to have another party soon.
1 Why did Maya want to find a different way to get clothes?
(A) She wanted to buy new jackets and boots.
(B) She thought buying things in stores cost too much.
(C) She was going on a four-day school trip.
2 What did Maya do to get ready for the party?
(A) She brought clean clothes she never wore anymore.
(B) She sent a message to her ten classmates.
(C) She prepared some food for her guests.
3 How did the friends behave at the beginning of the event?
(A) They were shy and didn’t speak much.
(B) They put on a bright red coat.
(C) They started laughing and trying things on.
4 What did the teenagers do with the items they didn’t keep?
(A) They wore them on their mountain trip.
(B) They donated them to a place that helps others.
(C) They sold them for some cash.
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) How to make sandwiches for your friends
(B) A heavy bag full of dirty clothes
(C) A free way to get a new wardrobe
ANSWER KEY
1 B 2 C 3 A 4 B 5 C