Living a More Sustainable Lifestyle B2 Reading Practice Tests

Exercises: 1 2

📖Reading Passage (B2)

Read the passage carefully before attempting Exercise 1 (Multiple Choice) and Exercise 2 (Fill in the blanks dropdown) below.

Every week, it seems, another alarming report is published about rising temperatures, disappearing species, or record-breaking wildfires. For many people, the scale of the climate crisis feels overwhelming — so enormous that no single person could possibly influence the outcome. And yet, across the world, millions of individuals are quietly reconsidering the way they live, shop, eat, and travel. Whether this shift in behaviour is enough to reverse decades of environmental damage is a question that continues to divide scientists and policymakers alike.

The argument for individual action is straightforward: if enough people adopt more sustainable habits, the cumulative effect can be significant. Switching to a plant-based diet, for instance, has been shown to reduce a person’s carbon footprint considerably, since livestock farming is responsible for a substantial proportion of global greenhouse gas emissions. Similarly, choosing to repair a broken appliance rather than replace it, or buying second-hand clothing instead of fast fashion, reduces the demand for energy-intensive manufacturing. Campaigners who advocate for lifestyle change often point out that consumer choices send powerful signals to businesses, which are ultimately driven by what people are willing to buy.

However, critics argue that placing the burden of responsibility on individuals is not only ineffective but potentially misleading. They contend that the fossil fuel industry, in particular, has actively promoted the idea of a “personal carbon footprint” — a concept originally popularised by a BP advertising campaign — in order to shift public attention away from corporate and governmental accountability. If the systems that produce our energy, food, and goods remain unchanged, individual efforts will always be limited. A family that cycles to work and composts their food waste still lives in a world where coal-fired power stations generate electricity and where affordable sustainable options are often unavailable to lower-income households.

This tension between personal responsibility and systemic change need not be an either/or debate. Many environmental advocates now suggest that the two approaches are complementary rather than competing. Making sustainable choices in daily life can foster a mindset that supports broader political engagement — people who have already reduced their own consumption, for example, may be more inclined to vote for greener policies or pressure companies to change their practices.

What is clear is that sustainable living looks different depending on where you live, how much you earn, and what options are available to you. Expecting every individual to make identical sacrifices ignores the deep inequalities that shape people’s choices. Nevertheless, the conversation itself — about what we consume, why we consume it, and who bears the cost — may be one of the most important that modern society is having.

Exercise 1

Read the passage about living a more sustainable lifestyle carefully, then choose the correct answer for each question based on the information in the text.

Example: According to the text, which everyday habit significantly reduces a person's carbon footprint?
Answer: Choosing to walk or cycle instead of driving reduces a person's carbon footprint significantly.

1. What is the main purpose of this passage?

To argue that individual lifestyle changes are the only solution to climate change.

To explore the debate between personal responsibility and systemic change in addressing environmental problems.

To explain why governments and corporations are solely responsible for the climate crisis.

To describe scientific research into rising temperatures and disappearing species.

2. According to the passage, why does switching to a plant-based diet reduce a person's carbon footprint?

Because plant-based foods require less packaging and transportation than other foods.

Because livestock farming produces a large share of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Because plant-based diets are healthier and reduce the need for medical care.

Because growing plants uses less water than raising animals for food.

3. What does the passage say about the concept of a 'personal carbon footprint'?

It was developed by climate scientists to help individuals measure their environmental impact.

It was introduced by government agencies to encourage greener consumer behaviour.

It was originally promoted by a fossil fuel company to redirect blame away from industry.

It was popularised by environmental campaigners who wanted to change consumer habits.

4. The writer mentions a family that cycles to work and composts their food waste. What is the purpose of this example?

To show that individual sustainable habits can completely eliminate a household's carbon emissions.

To illustrate that even committed individuals are limited by unchanged energy and food systems.

To suggest that cycling and composting are the most effective actions a family can take.

To demonstrate that lower-income households are more likely to adopt sustainable habits.

5. Which of the following best describes the writer's attitude towards the debate between personal responsibility and systemic change?

The writer believes that personal responsibility is clearly more important than systemic change.

The writer thinks the two approaches are in direct conflict and cannot work together.

The writer suggests that the two approaches can support and reinforce each other.

The writer argues that systemic change is the only meaningful solution to climate change.

6. According to the passage, what effect might making sustainable personal choices have beyond reducing one's own carbon footprint?

It may encourage people to give up voting in favour of direct protest actions.

It may make people more likely to support greener policies and put pressure on companies.

It may cause businesses to immediately stop using fossil fuels in their production processes.

It may persuade scientists and policymakers to reach an agreement on climate change.

7. What does the word 'cumulative' mean as used in the second paragraph of the passage?

Immediate and dramatic

Shared equally among a group

Building up gradually over time through many small contributions

Difficult to measure or calculate accurately

8. According to the passage, why is it unfair to expect all individuals to make identical sustainable changes?

Because some people care more about the environment than others.

Because sustainable products are always more expensive than non-sustainable ones.

Because people's choices are shaped by inequalities in income, location, and available options.

Because individual actions have very little impact compared to government policies.

9. Critics of the individual responsibility approach argue that it is 'potentially misleading'. What do they mean by this?

That individuals are unable to understand complex environmental information.

That focusing on personal choices may distract people from demanding accountability from corporations and governments.

That sustainable lifestyle campaigns contain inaccurate scientific information.

That most people who claim to live sustainably are not actually reducing their emissions.

10. What can be inferred from the opening paragraph about how many people currently feel about the climate crisis?

Most people are well-informed about climate science and feel confident about solving the problem.

Many people feel that the problem is too large for any one person to make a difference.

People are generally unconcerned about climate change because they trust governments to act.

The majority of people have already made significant changes to reduce their environmental impact.

Exercises: 1 2

Living a More Sustainable Lifestyle

Before you read, think about these questions: Have you ever changed a habit because of environmental concerns? And do you think individual choices can really make a difference to the planet? Keep these ideas in mind as you read the article below.

Reading Passage: Small Changes, Big Consequences

The argument for individual action is straightforward: if enough people adopt more sustainable habits, the cumulative effect can be significant. Switching to a plant-based diet, for instance, has been shown to reduce a person's carbon footprint considerably, since livestock farming is responsible for a substantial proportion of global greenhouse gas emissions. Similarly, choosing to repair a broken appliance rather than replace it, or buying second-hand clothing instead of fast fashion, reduces the demand for energy-intensive manufacturing. Campaigners who advocate for lifestyle change often point out that consumer choices send powerful signals to businesses, which are ultimately driven by what people are willing to buy.

However, critics argue that placing the burden of responsibility on individuals is not only ineffective but potentially misleading. They contend that the fossil fuel industry, in particular, has actively promoted the idea of a "personal carbon footprint" — a concept originally popularised by a BP advertising campaign — in order to shift public attention away from corporate and governmental accountability. If the systems that produce our energy, food, and goods remain unchanged, individual efforts will always be limited. A family that cycles to work and composts their food waste still lives in a world where coal-fired power stations generate electricity and where affordable sustainable options are often unavailable to lower-income households.

What is clear is that sustainable living looks different depending on where you live, how much you earn, and what options are available to you. Expecting every individual to make identical sacrifices ignores the deep inequalities that shape people's choices. Nevertheless, the conversation itself — about what we consume, why we consume it, and who bears the cost — may be one of the most important that modern society is having.

Key Vocabulary in Context

Word / Phrase	Part of Speech	Definition	Example Sentence
cumulative	adjective	increasing or growing by adding together many small amounts or effects over time	The cumulative impact of skipping exercise for months was a noticeable drop in fitness.
carbon footprint	noun phrase	the total amount of greenhouse gases produced by a person's or organisation's activities	Flying less is one of the most effective ways to reduce your carbon footprint.
advocate (for)	verb	to publicly support or recommend a particular course of action or policy	Several charities advocate for stricter regulations on plastic packaging.
accountability	noun	the fact of being responsible for your decisions and actions and expected to explain them to others	The report called for greater accountability from large corporations regarding their pollution levels.
complementary	adjective	combining well with something else to produce a good or complete result; working well together	Diet and exercise are complementary — each one makes the other more effective.
systemic	adjective	relating to a whole system rather than individual parts of it	Poverty is often a systemic problem that requires large-scale policy solutions.
inclined (to)	adjective	feeling a tendency or willingness to do something	After reading about factory farming, she felt more inclined to reduce her meat consumption.
contend	verb	to state or argue that something is true, especially in a debate or disagreement	Some economists contend that taxing carbon emissions would accelerate the shift to clean energy.

Reading Strategies & Comprehension Tips

Skimming for the Main Idea

Read the first and last sentences of each paragraph quickly. Notice how the article moves from presenting one side (individual action) to the opposing view (systemic change) and then to a balanced conclusion. This structure is common in discursive magazine articles.

Scanning for Specific Details

If a question asks about a specific fact — such as where the concept of "personal carbon footprint" came from — scan for proper nouns, quotation marks, or italicised phrases. These signal important specific information.
Numbers, statistics, and named examples (like BP) are anchor points that help you locate details quickly without re-reading the whole text.

Understanding the Writer's Attitude

The writer does not simply take one side. Look for balancing language such as however, nevertheless, and need not be an either/or debate — these signal that the writer is presenting a nuanced, balanced viewpoint rather than arguing strongly for one position.
Ask yourself: does the writer think individual action is useless? Or does the text suggest something more complex?

Inferring Implied Meaning

The final paragraph implies that sustainable living is not equally accessible to everyone. The writer does not state this bluntly — instead, look at phrases like "ignores the deep inequalities that shape people's choices" to understand what is being suggested between the lines.

Common Reading Pitfalls & Traps

Trap 1: Misreading the writer's position

Because the article presents both pro-individual and pro-systemic arguments, some readers assume the writer is dismissing personal action entirely. In fact, the conclusion suggests both approaches work together. Be careful not to identify the view of one paragraph as the writer's overall view.

Trap 2: The word "complementary" vs "complimentary"

These two words look nearly identical but mean completely different things. Complementary means "working well together," whereas complimentary means "given free of charge" or "expressing praise." In this passage, only complementary makes sense in context.

Trap 3: Assuming "contend" means "argue aggressively"

In academic and journalistic writing, contend simply means "to claim or assert." It does not necessarily imply an angry argument — it is a neutral reporting verb, similar to suggest or maintain.

Trap 4: Confusing the BP reference

The passage mentions that BP popularised the term "personal carbon footprint." This does not mean BP invented the concept of sustainability — it refers specifically to the way a marketing campaign redirected public focus. Read these sentences carefully before answering questions about the passage's claims.

Quick Summary

Now read the passage carefully and complete Exercise 1 (Multiple Choice) and Exercise 2 (Fill-in-the-gap dropdown) below.

📄 Download the Living a More Sustainable Lifestyle PDF

Download this Living a More Sustainable Lifestyle grammar lesson as a free printable PDF.
It includes grammar rules, examples, and explanations so you can study offline anytime.

📥 Download Free PDF