Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – Climate Change Adaptation & Disasters 8

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

You are going to read an article about four young professionals talking about their decision to choose a career specifically focused on disaster relief and climate resilience planning.

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

Which person

1   mentions initially facing discouragement from their relatives regarding their career choice?

2   admits that the nature of their work can occasionally have a negative psychological impact?

3   was motivated to enter the field by a first-hand experience of a natural catastrophe?

4   expresses irritation at organisations that only pretend to care about ecological issues?

5   highlights the absolute necessity of trusting colleagues during challenging situations?

6   had to overcome initial reservations about the financial prospects of their chosen path?

7   relocated to a completely different geographical area to carry out their work?

8   shifted their focus from theoretical studies to more practical applications?

9   believes that equipping ordinary people with knowledge is the best way to minimise harm?

10   feels a sense of satisfaction when observing tangible improvements to physical surroundings?

On the Front Lines of Climate Change

A Alex – Urban Resilience Planner

I grew up in a coastal town that was devastated by severe flooding when I was twelve. Witnessing my neighbours lose their homes left a lasting impression on me. In fact, if I hadn’t experienced that destruction firsthand, I probably wouldn’t have pursued a career in urban resilience planning. My role involves designing flood defences and sustainable drainage systems for vulnerable cities. We implement innovative solutions like permeable pavements and retention ponds. Seeing these tangible, concrete structures being completed gives me an immense sense of pride, knowing they will protect communities for decades. When I first considered this path, I was somewhat hesitant; I knew that public sector planning wouldn’t exactly make me a millionaire. Fortunately, I came to terms with the fact that job satisfaction outweighs a massive salary. My friends in corporate architecture might earn more, but I wouldn’t trade places with them. Every time a storm hits and our barriers hold, I know I made the right choice.

B Priya – Emergency Response Coordinator

As an emergency response coordinator, my job kicks in the moment a disaster strikes. Whether it’s an earthquake or a wildfire, I’m deployed to the front lines to organise rescue efforts and distribute relief supplies. It’s a high-stakes environment, and the adrenaline rush is undeniable. However, you absolutely must be able to depend on your team; without flawless cooperation, lives are put at risk. Unsurprisingly, my parents were less than thrilled when I announced my career plans. They actively tried to talk me out of it, urging me to pursue a safer, more predictable desk job in healthcare management. If I had listened to their advice, I would have been absolutely miserable in a corporate office. I do occasionally deliver lectures at universities about emergency management, which satisfies my family’s desire for me to be in a safe classroom, but my heart truly belongs in the field. There is simply no feeling quite like pulling someone from the wreckage and knowing you made a difference.

C Leo – Climate Adaptation Consultant

My background is actually in academic environmental science, but I eventually grew tired of just publishing research papers that gathered dust. I wanted to see my ideas put into action, which is why I transitioned into climate adaptation consulting. I now advise multinational companies on how to future-proof their supply chains against extreme weather events. The most frustrating aspect of my job is dealing with corporate greenwashing. It drives me up the wall when companies launch massive PR campaigns boasting about their eco-friendly policies, while privately refusing to invest in genuine resilience measures. They must think the public is incredibly naive! Despite this annoyance, the job is deeply rewarding when a client actually listens. For example, last year, I convinced a major agricultural firm to completely overhaul their water conservation strategy. I know some activists think working with big business is a sell-out move, but I firmly believe that changing these corporate giants from the inside is the quickest way to make a global impact.

D Maya – NGO Field Worker

I work for a non-governmental organisation focused on disaster preparedness in developing nations. Two years ago, I packed my bags and moved halfway across the world to a remote coastal region in Southeast Asia that is frequently battered by typhoons. My primary focus is on running workshops for the locals, teaching them evacuation protocols and how to secure their livelihoods. I genuinely believe that equipping these communities with the right information is the most foolproof strategy for reducing casualties. The work is intensely rewarding, but I won’t deny that it sometimes takes a heavy emotional toll. Constantly being surrounded by vulnerability and poverty can lead to severe burnout if you aren’t careful to set boundaries. I was originally inspired to take this path by a brilliant university lecturer who taught a module on global inequality. Though the day-to-day reality is much harsher than the theory we discussed in class, seeing a village successfully weather a major storm makes every moment of exhaustion completely worthwhile.

Reading 2

You are going to read an article about four people describing the surreal experience of breathing thick, orange smoke from distant forest fires.

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

Which person/section

1   initially jumped to the wrong conclusion about the source of the smoke?

2   felt a sense of confinement because they had to remain indoors?

3   compares the atmosphere of the city to a work of science fiction?

4   struggled to purchase items needed to cope with the situation?

5   is critical of the local government for their delayed response?

6   was unable to carry out their normal working duties?

7   views the event as a harsh reminder of a much wider environmental crisis?

8   suffered physically due to a long-standing health issue?

9   noticed a distinct change in the behaviour of urban animals?

10   was amazed by the vast distance the smoke had travelled?

Under an Orange Sky: When the Smoke Rolled In

A Julian

When I woke up that Tuesday, I immediately smelled burning wood. My first thought was that a factory down the street had caught fire, so I actually went outside to check. I couldn’t have been more wrong. The sky was an unnatural, murky orange, and the sun was completely blotted out. I’ve suffered from mild asthma since childhood, and within minutes of breathing in that thick, acrid air, my chest tightened painfully. I had to rush back indoors and dig out my inhaler. What struck me most, apart from the suffocating smell, was the absolute stillness. Usually, my garden is full of birds singing, but that morning, it was dead silent; they had all instinctively sought shelter. I spent the rest of the day glued to the news, feeling completely bewildered. Even though we were miles away from any dense woodland, we were certainly paying the price for the devastation.

B Clara

As a landscape gardener, I spend my life outdoors, but the sheer density of the smog brought my business to an abrupt halt. We were strictly instructed to down tools, as engaging in heavy physical labour in that toxic atmosphere would have been highly dangerous. Looking out from my apartment window, the cityscape was barely recognisable. The skyline was bathed in this bizarre, apocalyptic copper glow that made it look exactly like a scene from a dystopian sci-fi movie. I’d read about such phenomena in novels, but experiencing it firsthand was profoundly unsettling. A few of my friends were panicking about the air quality and frantically trying to order air filters. Fortunately, I already had a stash of heavy-duty masks for my gardening work, which proved to be an absolute lifesaver when I eventually had to step out for groceries.

C Victor

The most frustrating aspect of the whole ordeal was how completely unprepared our city officials were. The smoke rolled in overnight, yet it wasn’t until midday that we received any official alerts advising us to seal our windows. By then, the smog had already seeped into our homes. If they had issued a warning sooner, we could have easily taken precautions. Once the severity of the situation became clear, there was an absolute scramble to get hold of HEPA air purifiers. I drove to three different hardware stores, only to find empty shelves, and eventually had to pay an exorbitant price for a second-hand unit online. A neighbour of mine, who has respiratory issues, ended up going to the hospital because the indoor air quality plummeted so rapidly. The whole experience was a logistical nightmare that really highlighted our lack of readiness for extreme weather events.

D Maya

It was absolutely mind-boggling to comprehend that the fires producing this nightmare were burning over five hundred miles away. The idea that a disaster occurring in a completely different region could plunge our city into an eerie twilight really took my breath away. For three straight days, we were trapped in our homes, unable to even open a window for a breath of fresh air. I quickly came down with a severe case of cabin fever, pacing around my living room and feeling entirely cut off from the outside world. However, I couldn’t help but reflect on the bigger picture. This wasn’t just a freak occurrence; it was a glaring warning sign about the escalating global climate crisis. We can no longer pretend that ecological disasters are isolated incidents that only happen to other people. The orange sky served as a grim reminder that we all share the exact same atmosphere.

Exercises:   123456