Practice English Reading Exercises for A2 – Wildlife Observation & Nature

Exercises:   12345

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

My Amazing Garden Secret

My name is Oliver and I am fourteen years old. I live with my parents in a house with a very long garden. I love nature, so I usually spend my free time outside. Last month, I noticed something unusual. Every morning, things in our garden were in different places.

One evening, I decided to find out why. I walked down to the bottom of the garden. It is very dark there because we have lots of old, tall trees. I stood quietly behind a large bush and waited. Suddenly, I saw a beautiful red animal. It was a mother fox, and she had three little babies with her! They were playing together in the grass.

For the next two weeks, I kept my amazing secret. I didn’t tell my friends or my parents. I just wanted the foxes to be safe and happy. Every evening after dinner, I went outside to watch them. I learned that they sleep all day and only come out when the sun goes down.

Finally, I decided to speak to my science teacher at school. He was very interested in my story. He told me that wild animals are great to watch, but I must never give them any human food. Now, I am just happy to share my garden with such fantastic neighbours.

1   What made Oliver feel that something strange was happening?

     (A) Objects outside were not in their usual spots.

     (B) He spent all his free time outside in nature.

     (C) He noticed his parents in the long garden.

2   When Oliver waited at the bottom of the garden, he

     (A) stood quietly behind some old, tall trees.

     (B) decided to look for a beautiful red animal.

     (C) watched a group of animals having fun.

3   During the next two weeks, Oliver

     (A) tried to keep his friends and parents safe.

     (B) decided not to share his news with anyone.

     (C) slept all day so he could go outside after dinner.

4   What did Oliver’s science teacher tell him to do?

     (A) avoid giving the animals anything to eat

     (B) share his fantastic garden with his neighbours

     (C) tell an interesting story to the school

5   What is the best title for the article?

     (A) How to feed a wild family

     (B) The best science lesson at school

     (C) An unexpected discovery at home

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

A Walk in the Dark

Fourteen-year-old Toby loves nature, but he usually only watches animals during the day. Last weekend, his uncle invited him to do something different. They went on a special nature walk in the local forest late at night to look for owls and bats.

When they arrived, a guide gave Toby a special red flashlight. Toby was surprised because he wanted a normal white light. The guide explained that bright white lights scare the animals away. “With this red light, you can watch the birds and bats, but they won’t see you,” she said.

They walked very quietly into the dark woods. Suddenly, Toby heard a strange noise high up in a tree. He pointed his red flashlight at the branches. He couldn’t believe his eyes! There was a large grey owl looking down at him. A few minutes later, the group saw some small bats flying very fast in the sky.

The walk finished after midnight. Toby felt completely exhausted on the drive home, but he was also really happy. He usually goes to sleep early, but this trip was worth it. Now, Toby wants to borrow some books from the library to learn more about the animals of the night.

1   Why did Toby go to the forest last weekend?

     (A) To watch animals during the day.

     (B) To find creatures that are active in the dark.

     (C) To do something different with his friends.

2   What did the guide tell Toby about the flashlight?

     (A) The animals will not notice the red color.

     (B) He must use a normal white light.

     (C) It will scare the animals away.

3   What happened when Toby pointed his flashlight at the tree?

     (A) He heard a strange noise high up.

     (B) He discovered a big bird sitting there.

     (C) He saw some small bats flying very fast.

4   How did Toby feel after the trip?

     (A) He wanted to go to sleep early.

     (B) He was too exhausted to drive home.

     (C) He needed to rest but was glad he went.

5   What is the best title for the article?

     (A) How to use a red flashlight

     (B) A scary adventure in the dark woods

     (C) Toby’s amazing night in the forest

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

Tom’s Tiny Pet Farm

Ten-year-old Tom has a very different hobby from his friends. While they enjoy playing video games or reading comic books, Tom is fascinated by tiny insects. His favourite animals are ants, and he keeps a large glass ant farm on his bedroom desk.

Every day after school, Tom spends his free time watching the ants. He doesn’t just look at them for a few minutes. He sits quietly for hours. He loves watching them work hard together. They carry tiny pieces of apple and drops of honey down into the sand, building long and clever tunnels.

Last week, Tom saw something very exciting inside the glass farm. The large queen ant had laid lots of tiny white eggs. Tom immediately found his magnifying glass so he could see them clearly. He wrote down everything he saw in a small notebook because he wants to know exactly when the new baby ants will arrive.

Next month, Tom is going to bring his ant farm to his school science class. He knows that some people think insects are strange or boring, but he wants to show everyone how clever they are. He hopes to become a scientist and study insects all over the world one day.

1   What is Tom’s favourite hobby?

     (A) reading comic books in his bedroom

     (B) watching the small insects he keeps

     (C) playing video games with his friends

2   What do the ants do with the food Tom gives them?

     (A) They eat it immediately on the desk.

     (B) They leave it on top of the sand.

     (C) They take it down into their tunnels.

3   Why did Tom use a magnifying glass last week?

     (A) to see the new eggs more clearly

     (B) to find the large queen ant in the sand

     (C) to read his small notebook

4   What does Tom want his classmates to know?

     (A) that insects can be very scary and strange

     (B) that ants are actually very intelligent animals

     (C) that he wants to become a famous scientist

5   What is the best title for the article?

     (A) A boy’s interesting insect hobby

     (B) The best food to give your pet ant

     (C) How to build a glass ant farm

Exercises:   12345