Advanced English Reading Comprehension and Grammar Practice Exercises

An Original Way to Meet People

1. The narrator needed official permission from Frank Gehry for a building project.
2. The narrator was distracted, because he was lost and feared he would be late for his meeting, and his car hit the dog, killing his dog.
3. Neither Frank Gehry nor his wife could bring themselves to have it killed, but it was old and very ill.
4. False. She looked... my dog (Line 6).
5. True. Great... his dog (Line 9).
6. Refusal
7. Downtown (Line 3)
8. Courage (Line 12)
9. Asleep
10. If I had been you, I would have told your parents.
11. It was such a long race I couldn't finish it.
12. Whose boyfriend was quite funny?
13. My wife's car was stolen yesterday.

Eating Less Meat Could Save Lives

1. They are cut down to make way for cattle farms to provide meat for consumption.
2. It leads to diseases which cause thousands of deaths each year, and it also has negative effects on the environment.
3. Most people already eat less meat than they should. Reducing meat consumption would have little effect. Red meat is good for people's health.
4. False. More than... claim today. (Lines 1-2)
5. True. Widespread... (Lines 2-3)
6. Widespread (Line 2)
7. Disease (Line 3)
8. Better (Line 9)
9. Take care of
10. It is unhealthy to eat red meat.
11. John, who is an excellent pianist, plays professionally.
12. ..., the world would be a better place.
13. A strange noise was heard at the other side of the door.

Green Energy Industry Asks for Government Help to Meet Targets

1. Half will be spent on the development of offshore aeolian power, and the other half will be used to help the green energy industry make a profit.
2. Because in Denmark, government backing of the green energy industry has made it extremely profitable.
3. ... because it fears the turbines could cause interference with the radar equipment needed to fly planes.
4. False. "It's a huge... serious crisis" (Lines 14-15)
5. True. "There are encour..." (Lines 18-19)
6. Investment
7. Trip
8. Encouragement
9. Frankly
10. Will have been travelling
11. The benefits of green energy are being analysed by governments.
12. ...., we would harm nature much less than we do now.
13. He was too exhausted to go on.

Social Care for Graduates: Compassionate Embrace

1. ... because you gain tolerance and improve yourself.
2. Social workers treat very difficult cases, often in coordination with local government or public services, and social carers look after people who are weak and need attention.
3. ... because more and more people are in need of care.
4. False. ... you don't need... as a carer.
5. False. Workers in social... work with.
6. Look after
7. Disabilities
8. Tough
9. Elderly
10. What do social workers need?
11. Will have finished
12. Would feel better
13. Many graduates who feel the need to do something different when they get their degree decide to become social carers.

Bullying at School

1. No, bullying also includes rudeness, saying nasty words, and other unpleasant behaviour.
2. Factors which may lead to bullying include how strong or weak children are, as well as their social background.
3. No, they are not. Most research says that informing schoolchildren and helping them change the way they behave would be more successful.
4. False. ... bullying is certainly... to be studied.
5. True. ... former school... in their lives.
6. Broad (Line 8)
7. Friendly
8. Suitable (Line 21)
9. Quite
10. The truth has just been told to me.
11. Would have told my parents
12. How much money do most employees earn?
13. Was being laughed at

Affordable, Accessible Coverage Options for All

1. People risk losing their medical cover as individuals and small companies find it harder to pay.
2. It will make them include treatment for illnesses the client already has.
3. No. According to the article, Obama's plan must be supplemented with other government action involving agriculture, education, and the environment.
4. False. Nowadays, fewer... slowing down (Lines 5-6)
5. False. Under the Obama... (Lines 10-11)
6. Options
7. Improve
8. Lack (Line 2)
9. Up
10. Was driving
11. The doctor said not to take another pill until the day after.
12. She has been working really hard for years, so now she owns her own business.
13. How much money do you have in your wallet?

The England Patient

1. Because excessive anxiety and fear of failure may prevent them from performing like professionals.
2. He is helped by some leaders in the English team, the cultural architects, who are in charge of putting his ideas into practice on the field.
3. True. He is now... thinking (Line 3).
4. False. Psychologists from some... amateurs (Lines 7-8).
5. True. "If the brain... over the bar" (Lines 9-10).
6. True. England is going... preparedness (Line 15).
7. Harmful (Line 4)
8. Success
9. Encouragement
10. Plan (Line 4)
11. Beat
12. Nowadays, new kinds of sport which seldom appear on television attract more and more people.
13. He asked me whether she often played rugby.
14. How long did the new manager stay in England?