Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – Climate Change Adaptation & Disasters 5

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

You are going to read an article about four teenagers talking about how global warming has affected their favourite winter sports.

For questions 1-10, choose from the people (A-D). The people may be chosen more than once.

Which person

1   points out the financial burden of having to travel further to find suitable conditions?

2   highlights the physical dangers associated with using man-made surfaces?

3   misses the lively atmosphere that used to characterise their local area?

4   admits to feeling guilty about the carbon footprint generated by their current sporting habits?

5   mentions taking up a different activity to compensate for the lack of snow?

6   expresses frustration over the frequent cancellation of organised events?

7   observes the devastating economic impact the changing weather has had on local businesses?

8   acknowledges that they previously underestimated the speed of climate change?

9   argues that technological alternatives fail to provide a genuine sporting experience?

10   laments the disappearance of a natural frozen feature they once relied on?

Fading Winters: How Global Warming is Melting Our Sports

A Lukas

I grew up in a quaint mountain village where skiing wasn’t just a hobby; it was a way of life. Just a decade ago, our local resort would be buzzing with tourists and locals alike from December onwards. I really yearn for that vibrant energy. Now, the slopes remain depressingly green well into February. It’s heartbreaking to witness the financial ruin this has brought to the community. Independent cafes and ski rental shops that had been operating for generations have been forced to shut down permanently due to the severe lack of visitors. The resort management tried investing in snow cannons, but they are incredibly noisy and can’t cover the entire mountain. Occasionally, my family drives to the Alps so I can ski, which is great, but it breaks my heart to see my hometown turning into a ghost town. Unless drastic action is taken, I fear our local skiing heritage will be lost forever.

B Chloe

Snowboarding has been my absolute passion since I was eight, but practicing it has become a logistical nightmare. In the past, I could just catch a short bus ride to the nearest slopes. These days, however, those lower-altitude resorts are completely devoid of snow. Consequently, I’m forced to book flights to higher destinations just to get a week of decent riding. The escalating travel expenses are really eating into my savings, making it an unsustainable passion. Furthermore, it’s a vicious circle; I’m acutely aware that flying regularly significantly increases my carbon footprint, which in turn accelerates the very global warming that is destroying my sport. Some of my friends have switched to skateboarding at the local park, but it just doesn’t give me the same adrenaline rush. It’s incredibly frustrating to realise that the breathtaking winter landscapes I took for granted are slowly vanishing before my eyes.

C Johan

I used to assume that climate change was a distant threat, something that wouldn’t genuinely affect my daily life for decades. I couldn’t have been more wrong. My favourite winter pastime has always been cross-country skiing and skating on the massive freshwater lake near my house. We used to rely on it freezing over solidly by late November. Sadly, it hasn’t formed a thick enough layer of ice for the last three winters. Desperate to maintain my fitness and keep my passion alive, I eventually bit the bullet and purchased a pair of roller skis. It allows me to glide along the tarmac paths in the local park, which is better than nothing, but it’s a poor substitute for the crisp winter air and the silence of a snow-covered forest. I genuinely miss the magical feeling of gliding across the natural ice, and it’s sobering to think those days might be gone for good.

D Mia

As a competitive freestyle skier, the unseasonably warm winters have thrown my training schedule into absolute chaos. We rely heavily on terrain parks, but without natural snowfall, resorts are utterly dependent on artificial snow. The problem is that machine-made snow tends to be much denser and quickly turns into solid ice. If you misjudge a jump and wipe out, the impact is brutal, and the likelihood of breaking a bone is significantly higher compared to landing on fresh powder. Furthermore, these technological fixes simply can’t mimic the soft, forgiving texture of real snow, making the whole experience feel entirely unnatural. To make matters worse, the season has become incredibly erratic. I can’t count the number of times I’ve trained for months, only for a major competition to be called off at the eleventh hour because a sudden warm spell melted the course. It’s incredibly demotivating and makes me anxious about the future of competitive winter sports.

Reading 2

You are going to read an article about four individuals describing the strong sense of solidarity and mutual aid that emerged among strangers when their city was hit by a massive hurricane.

For questions 1-10, choose from the people/sections (A-D). The people/sections may be chosen more than once.

Which person/section

1   mentions changing a negative assumption about their neighbours?

2   was relieved by the orderly way people behaved in a confined space?

3   was offered accommodation by individuals they didn’t know?

4   explains how witnessing others’ determination lifted their own spirits?

5   highlights the collaborative effort to maintain contact with the outside world?

6   shared a specific skill to assist those who were distressed?

7   notes that differences in background became completely irrelevant?

8   used their own equipment to tackle a physical obstacle?

9   was forced to take shelter while in the middle of a routine activity?

10   expresses gratitude for being given essential clothing?

Weathering the Storm Together

A Liam

I was just doing my weekly grocery run when the emergency sirens went off. If I had left the house five minutes later, I would have been caught in the worst of the torrential rain. The store manager immediately locked the heavy glass doors for our safety, leaving about fifty of us stranded inside. I’d always assumed that in a crisis, panic would set in and people would fight over resources. On the contrary, the sense of order was remarkable. Shoppers systematically pooled whatever snacks and bottled water they had in their trolleys so everyone got a fair share. As a primary school teacher, I’m used to managing chaotic situations, so I took it upon myself to organise games for the frightened children. It effectively kept their minds off the howling wind outside. We were trapped there for nearly two days, but the calm cooperation made an incredibly tense situation surprisingly bearable.

B Chloe

When the hurricane ripped through our coastal suburb, the sheer force of the wind blew the roof right off my apartment building. I managed to escape, but I was utterly drenched, shivering, and at a complete loss with nowhere to go. Out of the blue, a family who lived several streets away—whose house had thankfully escaped the worst of the damage—spotted me and insisted I stay with them. They must have realised how shocked I was. Not only did they provide me with a spare bed, but they also dug out some dry jumpers and coats for me to wear, which was exactly what I needed. During the three days I stayed there, their home became a hub for anyone displaced by the storm. It was fascinating; you had bankers, mechanics, and students all huddled together by candlelight. Nobody cared about social status or professions; we were just human beings looking out for one another.

C Mateo

Stepping outside the morning after the storm, the devastation was absolutely staggering. Our entire street was blocked by massive uprooted trees, making it impossible for emergency vehicles to get through. Initially, I just stared at the debris, feeling completely overwhelmed and convinced that we would be cut off for weeks. However, hardly had I sat down on my porch when dozens of residents emerged from their homes, ready to pitch in. Seeing absolute strangers rolling up their sleeves and working relentlessly instantly snapped me out of my gloomy mood. Realising I had a heavy-duty chainsaw in my garage, I quickly grabbed it and joined the frontline. For ten exhausting hours, we hacked away at the thick branches. It was back-breaking work, but the mutual encouragement kept us going. By sunset, we had successfully cleared a single lane. It proved to me that when push comes to shove, collective willpower can overcome almost anything.

D Aisha

Having moved to this metropolis from a small village, I had always felt that city dwellers were rather aloof and preferred to keep to themselves. I honestly thought that if you were in trouble here, you were on your own. The hurricane completely shattered that misconception. After the power grid failed, we were plunged into darkness with no Wi-Fi or television. Yet, rather than isolating themselves, people in my apartment complex started knocking on doors to check on the elderly and vulnerable. Since the mobile networks were barely functioning, a few tech-savvy neighbours set up a communal charging station in the lobby using solar-powered battery banks. This meant we could all keep our phones alive just enough to send text messages to worried relatives abroad. It was incredibly moving to see so many people pooling their limited resources to ensure everyone could reassure their loved ones. We were all in the same boat, pulling together.

Exercises:   123456