Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – School-based Environmental Activities 3

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

You are going to read an article about four teenagers describing the physical hard work and pride involved in transforming an abandoned corner of the schoolyard into a biodiversity garden.

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 feeling doubtful about the feasibility of the project at the beginning?

2   was motivated by the prospect of creating a lasting legacy for the school?

3   had to push through unfavourable weather to get the job done?

4   points out how the visual transformation from a bleak space to a lively one felt rewarding?

5   was surprised by the amount of hidden wildlife discovered among the debris?

6   succeeded in convincing reluctant classmates to participate in the manual labour?

7   experienced a specific moment of joy when their efforts started showing visible growth?

8   acknowledges that the work resulted in some minor physical injuries?

9   mentions the sheer quantity of rubbish that needed to be cleared away?

10   highlights the encouraging feedback received from the wider community?

From Wasteland to Wonderland: Our School’s Biodiversity Garden

A Liam

When our science teacher first proposed clearing the overgrown wasteland behind the sports hall, I honestly thought he’d bitten off more than he could chew. The area had been used as an unofficial dumping ground for decades, and the sheer volume of discarded chairs, rusted metal, and plastic wrappers we had to haul away was staggering. If we hadn’t worked together as a tight-knit team, we would never have finished it. It was back-breaking work; my arms were aching for days afterwards! However, as we were pulling up some rotting wooden planks, we stumbled across a family of hedgehogs and several frogs taking shelter. Realising that nature was already desperately trying to reclaim the space gave us a massive psychological boost. Looking back, I can’t believe I was so cynical at the start. Standing there now, observing the clean, prepped earth, fills me with an indescribable sense of achievement.

B Maya

I was tasked with the actual planting phase of the biodiversity garden, which sounds wonderfully relaxing, but it was far from it. We’d carefully researched native plant species that attract local pollinators, but the weekend we chose to put them into the ground coincided with torrential rain. We ended up wading through thick mud, drenched to the bone, trying to dig holes with heavy spades. A few of my friends were complaining about the bitter cold, but we stubbornly pushed through. Despite the miserable conditions, the strenuous effort was absolutely worth it. The most rewarding milestone occurred about a month later when the first green shoots broke through the soil. It was a clear, undeniable sign that our muddy ordeal had paid off. While some teachers complimented our resilience during the storm, for me, seeing those tiny sprouts thriving was the ultimate reward, proving that hard work always pays dividends.

C Sam

My main contribution to the garden involved constructing bug hotels and birdboxes from reclaimed timber. I’m certainly no carpenter, and I have the blisters and splinters to prove it! Although my hands were covered in plasters by the end of the week, I didn’t mind the discomfort in the slightest. What truly moves me is the stark contrast between what the space used to be and what it is today. It has gone from a depressing, grey eyesore to a vibrant sanctuary bursting with colour and life. Knowing that we’ve built an intricate ecosystem that will be enjoyed by pupils for generations to come gives me an enormous sense of pride. Long after I graduate and move on, these habitats will continue to support local wildlife. It’s incredibly fulfilling to know you’ve left a positive, permanent mark on your school environment, even if it meant sacrificing smooth hands for a while!

D Chloe

Getting this project off the ground required a lot of heavy lifting, both physically and socially. Initially, a lot of my peers were dragging their heels, claiming that digging up dirt on a Saturday morning sounded like an absolute nightmare. It took a great deal of persuasion and enthusiasm to talk them into picking up a wheelbarrow and getting involved. Once they actually got stuck in, though, they loved the camaraderie, even though we were all completely exhausted by the end of the day. The best part of the whole endeavour hasn’t just been seeing the colourful butterflies return to the school; it’s been the phenomenal reaction from local residents. We’ve had people from the surrounding neighbourhood stop by the school gates just to praise our initiative. Hearing that our dedication has inspired other local groups to start their own green projects makes all the sore muscles feel completely insignificant.

Reading 2

You are going to read an article about four young environmentalists talking about the pressure of representing their school at a regional youth climate summit.

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

Which person/section

1   admits to worrying they would forget their prepared material entirely?

2   felt that the adult attendees initially viewed their participation as just for show?

3   mentions experiencing difficulties in agreeing on a unified message with their peers?

4   was forced to think on their feet due to an unexpected hardware issue?

5   credits a staff member’s reassurance for helping them overcome their nerves?

6   successfully altered the course of a conversation during the event?

7   concluded that showing true dedication is more important than delivering a flawless performance?

8   felt pressured to live up to the legacy of former students from their school?

9   felt overwhelmed by the highly specialized language used by other speakers?

10   acknowledges that reaching a compromise ultimately resulted in a much stronger project?

Stepping Up to the Podium: Youth Voices on Climate

A Leo

When I was chosen to speak at the summit, I was absolutely over the moon, but that excitement quickly gave way to sheer terror. My biggest fear was experiencing a complete mind blank on stage, leaving me staring silently at the audience. I had spent weeks memorising statistics about renewable energy, yet I was convinced my memory would fail me when it mattered most. The pressure was intense, especially since I was the one delivering the opening remarks. I actually considered backing out at the eleventh hour. If Mr. Harrison, my geography teacher, hadn’t taken me aside, I probably would have. He reminded me that the panel wanted to hear my genuine perspective, not a robotic recitation of facts. His words worked wonders, calming me down just enough to step up to the podium. In the end, the speech went smoothly. I did use a digital prompter, which thankfully worked perfectly, allowing me to focus on connecting with the crowd rather than panicking about my notes.

B Maya

Stepping into the main conference hall, I felt completely out of my depth. The room was packed with seasoned policymakers and scientists, and I quickly became bogged down by the dense jargon they were throwing around. I could barely keep up with their advanced terminology regarding carbon sequestration! Moreover, I couldn’t shake the nagging suspicion that we were only invited to tick a box—a token youth presence to make the organisers look good. During a panel on local emissions, the discussion became incredibly theoretical, losing touch with the reality of our community. Despite my shaking hands, I raised my microphone and shared a personal anecdote about how the polluted river affects my neighbourhood. To my amazement, that intervention completely shifted the dynamic of the debate. If I hadn’t spoken up, the entire session would have remained an abstract academic exercise. The adults finally started treating me as an equal, realising our generation brings invaluable firsthand experiences to the table.

C Toby

Our school has a reputation for excellence at these summits; last year’s delegates even won an award for their sustainability initiative. Consequently, I felt a heavy burden on my shoulders to maintain that impressive track record. The hardest part wasn’t the event itself, but the preparation. My team and I clashed constantly over our core focus. I wanted to pitch a recycling scheme, whereas my classmates were determined to campaign for solar panels. For a while, we were completely at loggerheads, and the tension was unbearable. Eventually, we managed to find middle ground by proposing a comprehensive ‘green campus’ policy that incorporated both our ideas. Looking back, having to merge our conflicting viewpoints is exactly what made our proposal so robust. It forced us to anticipate counterarguments and refine our strategy. If we had simply gone with my initial idea without debating it, our presentation wouldn’t have been half as convincing or well-received by the judges.

D Chloe

I’ve always been a perfectionist, so I spent an exorbitant amount of time designing our visual presentation. I wanted the graphics to be absolutely spectacular, convinced that a sleek slideshow was the key to winning over the committee. However, disaster struck the moment we walked on stage. The projector simply refused to turn on, leaving us completely stranded without our meticulously crafted charts. Panic briefly set in, but there was no time to dwell on it. I had to abandon the script and deliver our pitch about ocean conservation completely off the cuff. Strangely enough, stripping away the flashy visuals turned out to be a blessing in disguise. I spoke straight from the heart, and the audience was captivated by our raw enthusiasm. It was a massive learning curve for me. I realised that while preparation is important, demonstrating authentic passion leaves a far more lasting impression than any state-of-the-art technological display ever could.

Exercises:   123456