Practice English Reading Exercises for A2 – Water Conservation & Clean Oceans
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The Teenager Singing for the Sea
Fifteen-year-old Mia has two great passions: playing the guitar and swimming in the sea. Last month, she went to her favourite beach with her family. Usually, the sand is beautiful, but this time it was completely full of plastic bags and empty bottles. Mia felt extremely sad and decided to do something about it.
When she returned home, Mia started writing a song about protecting the ocean. At first, it was quite difficult to find the right words. She spent three evenings just thinking of a good message. Then, she asked her music teacher to help her choose the best notes for her guitar.
A few weeks later, Mia played her new song at the school concert. She felt a bit nervous before she started, but she sang beautifully. Her classmates loved the music, and her best friend made a video of her performance on his mobile phone. He immediately put it on the internet.
The next day, everyone in Mia’s town was talking about the video. Many students decided to go to the beach at the weekend and pick up the rubbish. Mia feels incredibly proud of her work. Next year, she hopes to write another song about saving wild animals in the forest.
1 Why did Mia feel sad during her trip to the beach?
(A) She could not go swimming in the sea.
(B) There was a lot of waste left on the ground.
(C) She had to go there with her family.
2 How did Mia’s music teacher help her?
(A) By helping her find the right words.
(B) By spending three evenings thinking of a good message.
(C) By showing her what to play on her instrument.
3 What did Mia’s best friend do at the concert?
(A) He filmed her while she was singing.
(B) He felt a bit nervous before she started.
(C) He used the internet on his mobile phone.
4 What did the other students do after seeing the video?
(A) They started talking about the forest.
(B) They wrote another song about saving wild animals.
(C) They cleaned up the area near the water.
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) Thinking of a good message for the school concert
(B) The schoolgirl who used music to help nature
(C) How to choose the best notes for your guitar
ANSWER KEY
1 B 2 C 3 A 4 C 5 B
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Less Plastic, Fantastic!
Thirteen-year-old Sophie loves playing sports at her secondary school. However, last term, she noticed something terrible after her basketball lessons. The rubbish bins in the sports hall were always full of empty plastic water bottles. She knew this plastic was very bad for the environment and wanted to do something about it.
The next day, Sophie spoke to her science teacher, Mr. Clarke. He listened carefully and asked her to give a short talk to her classmates. On Friday, Sophie stood in front of the class. She showed everyone her new metal bottle and explained that they could wash it and use it every single day.
In the beginning, it was quite difficult to change her friends’ habits. Some students often forgot to bring their bottles from home, and others complained that metal bottles were too heavy to carry. But Sophie didn’t stop trying. She drew a large poster showing how much money they could keep if they stopped buying plastic bottles at the shop.
After a month, the situation completely changed. Now, nearly all the teenagers in her class use reusable bottles. The head teacher is extremely pleased and wants to introduce Sophie’s idea to the whole school next term. Sophie feels incredibly proud and hopes to start an environmental club soon!
1 Why was Sophie unhappy after her basketball lessons?
(A) She saw too much harmful waste in the bins.
(B) She wanted to play sports at her secondary school.
(C) She needed to buy empty plastic water bottles.
2 What did Sophie do on Friday?
(A) She asked her science teacher to give a short talk.
(B) She gave a presentation to the other students.
(C) She listened carefully to Mr. Clarke.
3 Sophie made a poster to help her friends understand that
(A) metal bottles were too heavy to carry.
(B) they could save cash by changing what they do.
(C) they often forgot to bring their bottles from home.
4 What do we learn in the final paragraph?
(A) The head teacher hopes to start an environmental club soon.
(B) Sophie wants to introduce her idea to the whole school next term.
(C) The project will include more teenagers in the future.
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) How to stop buying plastic bottles at the shop
(B) A student’s successful plan to reduce school waste
(C) The best sports to play at secondary school
ANSWER KEY
1 A 2 B 3 B 4 C 5 B
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Tracking the Tap: A Teenager’s Water Project
Fourteen-year-old Mia loves learning about the environment. Last month, her science teacher explained that many people waste too much water at home. That evening, Mia watched her parents and older brother washing the dishes after dinner. She noticed the tap was running the whole time. She decided to track exactly how much water they were using.
For the next seven days, Mia stood in the kitchen with a large plastic bucket. Every time someone washed a plate or a cup, she collected the water in her bucket to measure it. Her older brother laughed and said it was a silly game. However, her parents thought it was a useful idea and helped her write down the numbers.
At the end of the week, Mia looked at her notebook. She was shocked by the results. The family was using almost a hundred litres of water just for washing dishes! She asked her family to change their habits. She showed them how to wash everything in a small bowl of hot water instead of leaving the tap on.
After a month, the family’s new water bill arrived in the post. Her dad was very happy because it was much cheaper than before. Even her brother stopped laughing and said well done. Next week, Mia is going to share her water-saving project with her classmates.
1 Why did Mia decide to start her water project?
(A) She realised her relatives were wasting it in the kitchen.
(B) Her science teacher explained how to track it.
(C) She had to wash the dishes after dinner.
2 How did Mia’s brother feel about her activity?
(A) He thought it was a stupid thing to do.
(B) He thought it was a useful idea.
(C) He helped her write down the numbers.
3 What did Mia want her family to do?
(A) Clean things without keeping the water flowing.
(B) Use almost a hundred litres of water for washing.
(C) Look at her notebook at the end of the week.
4 What was the result of Mia’s project?
(A) Her family spent less money on their water.
(B) Mia’s dad stopped laughing and said well done.
(C) She shared her project with her classmates.
5 What is the best title for the article?
(A) How one teenager helped her family save water
(B) The cheapest water bill in the world
(C) Why Mia loves her science lessons
ANSWER KEY
1 A 2 A 3 A 4 A 5 A