Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Everyday Social Responsibility & Sustainable Living
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
My Eco-Friendly Kitchen Experiment
I have always packed a sandwich for my school lunch, but recently I started feeling guilty about the amount of plastic cling film I was throwing away every day. I wanted to find a more environmentally friendly solution. While looking online for ideas, I discovered beeswax wraps. They are pieces of cotton cloth covered in natural wax, which you can wash and use again. I saw that I could buy them on the internet, but they were quite expensive. Instead, I decided it would be a fun project to make my own at home.
For my first attempt, I bought some pure beeswax and found some old cotton material in the cupboard. The instructions said I needed to melt the wax into the cloth using a hot iron. Unfortunately, I didn’t put enough protective baking paper over the cloth. As soon as the wax melted, it went straight onto my mum’s favourite clothes iron. The hot wax then dripped all over the kitchen table. It was a complete disaster, and it took me hours to scrape the sticky mess off the equipment and the furniture!
Despite the terrible mess, I refused to give up. I realised that using an iron was too difficult for a beginner like me, so I searched for an alternative method. I found a different recipe that suggested putting the cloth and wax in the oven. I placed the cotton on a baking tray, sprinkled the wax pieces on top, and heated it gently for a few minutes. This technique was much easier to control. The wax melted perfectly and spread evenly across the material without ruining the kitchen.
Now, I use my homemade wraps every single day. Not only do they look beautiful, but they also have a lovely, sweet smell of honey. More importantly, my sandwiches actually stay much fresher than they did in plastic film. Whenever my friends see my lunch at school, they ask me where I bought my wraps. I feel incredibly proud to say I made them myself, and I am thrilled that I am no longer adding to the world’s plastic pollution.
1 Why did the writer decide to make beeswax wraps?
(A) To save money on buying sandwiches at school.
(B) To reduce the amount of rubbish she produced.
(C) Because she needed a project for a science class.
(D) Because her friends had recommended buying them online.
2 What happened during the writer’s first attempt?
(A) She used the wrong type of cotton material.
(B) She damaged a household appliance with the wax.
(C) She forgot to read the instructions before starting.
(D) She burned the cloth because the iron was too hot.
3 How did the writer solve her problem?
(A) She asked her mother to help her use the iron correctly.
(B) She bought a special baking tray just for melting wax.
(C) She switched to a different way of heating the wax.
(D) She put more protective paper over the material.
4 What does the writer say about her finished wraps?
(A) They keep her food in better condition than plastic did.
(B) They no longer smell like honey after being washed.
(C) She plans to start selling them to her school friends.
(D) They are much cheaper than the ones sold on the internet.
5 What would the writer write in her diary?
(A) I finally finished making my beeswax wraps today. They took a long time and the oven was messy, but at least I won’t need to buy plastic film anymore.
(B) My homemade wraps are working perfectly! Although my first try was a disaster, I’m glad I didn’t quit because now my lunches are completely eco-friendly.
(C) I feel terrible for ruining Mum’s iron. I’ve decided that trying to be environmentally friendly is too difficult, so I will just buy wraps online next time.
(D) My friends loved the wraps I brought to school today. I’m going to spend the weekend making more so I can start a small business selling them.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The text states in the first paragraph that the writer started “feeling guilty about the amount of plastic cling film I was throwing away every day,” which paraphrases reducing rubbish/waste.
2 B – In the second paragraph, the writer explains that the melted wax went “straight onto my mum’s favourite clothes iron,” effectively damaging a household appliance.
3 C – The third paragraph describes how the writer realised the iron was too difficult and “searched for an alternative method,” successfully switching to heating the wax in the oven instead.
4 A – In the fourth paragraph, the writer notes that “my sandwiches actually stay much fresher than they did in plastic film,” meaning the food is kept in better condition.
5 B – This option captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the text: it acknowledges the initial failure (the disaster with the iron), the resilience to keep trying, and the pride in the final eco-friendly result.
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Stopping the Energy Vampires
Recently, while doing a science project on the environment, I discovered something shocking called ‘vampire energy’. I read that electronic devices actually continue to use electricity even when they are turned off. I had always assumed that pressing the power button was enough to stop a machine from using power. Realising how much energy my family was wasting without knowing it, I immediately decided I had to do something to change our habits at home.
That very evening, I started my new energy-saving routine. Before going to bed, I walked around the house and unplugged several appliances. I pulled the plug on the living room television, the computer, and the microwave in the kitchen. It only took me a few minutes, and I went to sleep feeling quite proud of myself. I honestly believed my parents and my younger brother would be delighted that I was trying to save us money on our electricity bill.
However, my family’s reaction the next morning was definitely not what I had hoped for. When my mum went to make breakfast, she was annoyed because the microwave clock was flashing zero. My brother also complained because he had to wait for the television to reconnect to the internet. For the next few days, they kept complaining about having to reset the clocks and wait for devices to start up. They understood my reasons for doing it, but they found the whole process completely frustrating.
I knew I had to find a better solution before my parents told me to stop completely. After doing some research online, I discovered a brilliant invention: smart power strips. These look like normal extension leads, but they automatically cut off power to devices when they aren’t being used. I used my pocket money to buy one for the living room and another for the kitchen. Once I set them up, we didn’t have to worry about pulling out plugs manually anymore.
The new system has been working perfectly for a month now. My family is happy because they don’t have to reset the microwave clock every morning, and the TV turns on normally. More importantly, we are no longer wasting electricity on vampire energy. When our next electricity bill arrives, I am confident it will be lower. It feels great to know that a small change can make such a big difference to the environment!
1 Why did the writer decide to start unplugging devices?
(A) He wanted to save his parents money for a school project.
(B) He discovered that electronics use electricity even when they are off.
(C) His teacher asked him to change his family’s habits at home.
(D) He realised the power button on his devices was no longer working.
2 How did the writer feel after his first night of unplugging things?
(A) Worried that it took too much of his time.
(B) Annoyed that he had to do it all by himself.
(C) Certain that his family would be pleased with him.
(D) Confused about which appliances he needed to unplug.
3 Why was the writer’s family unhappy with his new routine?
(A) They didn’t understand why he was trying to save energy.
(B) It was taking them too much time to cook their breakfast.
(C) The television was no longer connecting to the internet.
(D) They disliked having to restart and reset their machines.
4 What did the smart power strips do?
(A) They stopped the devices from needing an internet connection.
(B) They stopped power going to devices without anyone pulling the plug.
(C) They looked completely different from normal extension leads.
(D) They cost more pocket money than the writer had expected.
5 What would the writer say in his blog about his experience?
(A) Unplugging devices every night is the only way to save energy, even if it makes your family angry.
(B) Dealing with vampire energy caused some arguments at first, but using the right technology solved the problem for everyone.
(C) I tried to save energy, but my family hated it so much that I had to give up and let the devices waste power.
(D) Smart power strips are absolutely great, but you still have to remember to reset the microwave clock every single morning!
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The first paragraph states that he read “electronic devices actually continue to use electricity even when they are turned off,” which motivated him to change his family’s habits.
2 C – The second paragraph explains that he went to sleep feeling proud and “honestly believed my parents and my younger brother would be delighted.”
3 D – The third paragraph describes the family’s frustration with having the microwave flash zero and waiting for the TV to reconnect, meaning they hated “having to reset the clocks and wait for devices to start up.”
4 B – The fourth paragraph explains that the smart power strips “automatically cut off power to devices” and meant they didn’t have to worry about “pulling out plugs manually anymore.”
5 B – This option captures the global narrative of the text: the initial conflict with the family over unplugging devices (arguments/frustration), followed by the successful technological solution (smart power strips) that made everyone happy.
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
My Windowsill Garden
Living in a small apartment on the fifth floor in the middle of the city has its advantages, but having a garden is definitely not one of them. I’ve always loved watching cooking shows where chefs step outside to pick fresh ingredients. I wanted to experience that, but without a garden or even a balcony, growing my own food seemed impossible. However, after reading an article online about indoor gardening, I realised I could use the sunny window in my bedroom. I went to the local market, bought some small pots, and planted basil and mint seeds.
For the first two weeks, I was so excited. I watered the soil carefully every morning before school and checked for any changes. Finally, tiny green leaves appeared. I felt incredibly proud of my little project. But one afternoon, I came home and discovered a disaster. My two cats, Leo and Bella, were sitting on my desk looking very pleased with themselves. The pots were knocked over, and my beautiful new leaves were completely gone! The cats had eaten my entire first crop. I was so upset that I almost threw the pots away.
After calming down, I knew I had to find a solution. I still wanted to grow the plants, but I had to keep them safe from my hungry pets. The herbs needed plenty of sunlight, so I couldn’t hide them in a dark cupboard. While looking around a hardware store, I noticed some small shelves that hung from the ceiling using thick string. It was the perfect idea! I bought one, attached it securely above my window, and started the growing process again.
This time, everything went perfectly. The cats could only sit on the floor and watch the pots from a distance. A few weeks later, my hanging shelf was full of bright, healthy basil and mint. Last Sunday, I finally picked a handful of basil leaves to put on my homemade pasta. The flavour was absolutely delicious, and it felt amazing to eat something I had grown for free. My indoor garden is small, but it has taught me that you don’t need a huge outdoor space to enjoy nature.
1 Why did the writer decide to grow plants in their bedroom?
(A) They saw a famous chef doing it on a television programme.
(B) They wanted fresh ingredients but lacked outdoor space.
(C) They were asked to complete a gardening project for school.
(D) They wanted to make their city apartment look more attractive.
2 How did the writer feel after the cats ruined the plants?
(A) Annoyed enough to consider giving up on the project completely.
(B) Surprised because they didn’t know cats liked eating plants.
(C) Worried that the mint and basil leaves might make the cats sick.
(D) Amused by how pleased the cats looked sitting on the desk.
3 Why did the writer choose a hanging shelf for the new plants?
(A) It was the cheapest option available in the local hardware store.
(B) It matched the thick string they already used in their bedroom.
(C) It was dark enough to protect the delicate new herb leaves.
(D) It allowed the plants to get light while keeping them out of reach.
4 What does the writer say about the final result?
(A) The fresh herbs didn’t taste as good as the ones from the market.
(B) The cats eventually found a clever way to reach the hanging shelf.
(C) Eating food they had produced themselves was a highly rewarding experience.
(D) They are planning to sell their extra basil to make some money.
5 What would the writer write in a blog post about this experience?
(A) I was foolish to think I could grow food inside a flat. Next year, I’m going to rent a garden space to grow vegetables safely.
(B) Even though my pets caused some trouble at the start, finding a creative solution gave me a great sense of achievement!
(C) Growing herbs is a fun activity, but I don’t recommend planting basil or mint because they are too difficult to look after.
(D) The local hardware store gave me some brilliant advice on keeping animals away, and now my room is full of beautiful plants.
Answer Key & Explanations
1 B – The writer explains in paragraph 1 that they wanted to pick fresh ingredients like chefs do, but since they live in an apartment on the fifth floor without a garden or balcony, they used their bedroom window.
2 A – In paragraph 2, the writer states, “I was so upset that I almost threw the pots away,” which matches being annoyed enough to consider giving up.
3 D – Paragraph 3 mentions that the herbs “needed plenty of sunlight” but also had to be kept “safe from my hungry pets.” The hanging shelf provided both solutions.
4 C – In paragraph 4, the writer describes the flavour as delicious and notes, “it felt amazing to eat something I had grown for free,” which is a highly rewarding experience.
5 B – This option captures the global meaning and emotional arc of the passage: the initial challenge caused by the cats, discovering a clever solution (the hanging shelf), and feeling proud of the final successful harvest.