Reading Comprehension Practice: News Articles on Protests, Environment, Technology and Education

Reading Comprehension Practice: News Articles with Exercises

This section contains a series of short news articles from different years, each followed by comprehension questions, true or false statements, and vocabulary exercises. Work through each article carefully and check your answers with the key provided.

1. Dozens Hurt in Drunken Spanish Protest (2008)

Police used rubber bullets and arrested sixteen people in Salamanca after a large crowd of young people, many of them drunk, gathered in the streets to protest. Up to 2,500 people took part in the demonstration in the city of Granada.

Exercise 1: Multiple Choice

1. a) P2   b) P4
2. a) False   b) True   c) True

Exercise 2: Vocabulary Matching

• Congregated: assembled
• Fires: blazes
• Confrontations: clashes
• Shot: fired

Answer Key

1-B, 2-B, 3-C

2. Arctic Sea Ice Melting Faster (2007)

A new study published in February showed that the power of global warming is causing the Arctic sea ice to melt more quickly than expected. The study focused on the period when the ice reaches its maximum extent in September.

Exercise 1: Multiple Choice

1. a) The power of global warming on the sea ice   b) The study’s findings about the ice melting most in September
2. a) True   b) False   c) True

Exercise 2: Vocabulary Matching

• Made public: released
• Tendencies: trends
• Examined: reviewed
• Diminish: shrink

Answer Key

1-B, 2-C, 3-C

3. Brilliantly Boring (2007)

In an information age, we can access an enormous amount of content. It would be nice if slow horses could live longer, but the fact that many websites are boring shows that boredom seems to be a common experience online.

Exercise 1: Multiple Choice

1. a) In an information age, we can access...  b) It would be nice...
2. a) False   b) True   c) False

Exercise 2: Vocabulary Matching

• Incapable: unable
• Imply: mean
• Excess: overload
• Obtain: achieve

Answer Key

1-A, 2-B, 3-B

4. Addicted to Her Mobile (2006)

The expression on her face shows her dependence and compulsion. She cannot stop checking her phone, and because she has not got enough credit, she has to borrow money to keep using it. When she hears the ringtone, she becomes happy.

Exercise 1: Multiple Choice

1. a) The expression... and compulsion   b) Because she can’t... to take it
2. a) False   b) False   c) True

Exercise 2: Vocabulary Matching

• Worried: preoccupied
• Silly: nonsensical
• Silent: mute
• Leading: top

Answer Key

1-C, 2-B, 3-B

5. Meet the Metrolescents (2006)

Trends in fashion are spreading quickly. Potent mechanisms such as the internet and mobile devices allow ideas to disseminate faster than ever. In the era of everything being available instantly, young people are the first to adopt new styles.

Exercise 1: Multiple Choice

1. a) P1   b) P2
2. a) True   b) True   c) False

Exercise 2: Vocabulary Matching

• Trends: fashions
• Potent: powerful
• Mechanisms: devices
• Disseminate: spread

Answer Key

1-B, 2-A, 3-C

6. Schools Exclude 10 Pupils a Day (2006)

Some local authorities have not provided accurate data, but the number of pupils being excluded from school is falling. Exclusions reached 11 per day, according to the Department for Education and Skills (DfES). Schools are offering assistance and support, including mentors who share their experience with students, and thorough intensive programmes to help pupils return.

Exercise 1: Multiple Choice

1. a) P1   b) P4
2. a) False   b) False   c) True

Exercise 2: Vocabulary Matching

• Assistance, aid: support
• Experienced people: mentors
• Thorough: intensive
• Expel: exclude

Answer Key

1-A, 2-C, 3-B

7. Town vs Country (2006)

The main objective of the demonstration was to protest against hunting with dogs. Protesters believed that the activity violated animal and human rights. The offence was considered a crime, and the authorities wanted to prohibit it. Many people were annoyed and angry about the decision.

Exercise 1: Multiple Choice

1. a) The main objective... with dogs   b) Because they think...
2. a) True   b) False   c) False

Exercise 2: Vocabulary Matching

• Demonstration: protesters
• Offence: crime
• Prohibit: ban
• Annoyed: angry

Answer Key

1-A, 2-B, 3-B

8. Why Thin Doesn’t Sell (2006)

Ultra-thin models get to them, but research shows that women can suffer from eating disorders when they see such images. Our research found that thin models are used in advertising, and this sends a dangerous message. Critics accused advertisers of blaming women for their own insecurities, but some companies are unwilling to change. Designers must confront this problem and choose slender, healthy-looking models instead.

Exercise 1: True or False

1. a) False   b) True

Exercise 2: Vocabulary Matching

• Accused: blamed
• Confront: face
• Unwilling: reluctant
• Slender: slim