CEFR CEFR B2 English Reading Comprehension 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Read the passage: 'Ocean acidification occurs when seawater absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, lowering its pH. Marine biologists are particularly concerned about coral reefs, as more acidic water interferes with corals' ability to build their calcium carbonate skeletons.' What problem does ocean acidification cause for corals?
- It raises water temperatures too high for coral survival
- It prevents corals from building their skeletons (Correct answer)
- It reduces the amount of sunlight reaching coral reefs
- It increases the salt content of seawater
Correct answer: It prevents corals from building their skeletons
The passage states that acidic water 'interferes with corals' ability to build their calcium carbonate skeletons.'
This is a detail comprehension question. The passage explicitly states that acidic water interferes with skeleton-building in corals. Options A, C, and D (temperature, sunlight, salt) are not mentioned in the passage and are therefore unsupported.
Question 2: Read the passage: 'Urban farming has gained popularity as cities look for ways to reduce food miles — the distance food travels from farm to consumer. Rooftop gardens and vertical farms allow residents to grow fresh produce locally, reducing transportation costs and carbon emissions.' What does 'food miles' mean in this context?
- The nutritional value of food measured in calories
- The distance food travels before reaching the consumer (Correct answer)
- A government rating system for organic food
- The cost of food transportation per kilogram
Correct answer: The distance food travels before reaching the consumer
The passage defines 'food miles' directly as 'the distance food travels from farm to consumer.'
This vocabulary question is answered within the passage itself. The dash after 'food miles' signals a definition: 'the distance food travels from farm to consumer.' This makes option B correct. The other options may sound related to food logistics but are not what the term means according to the passage.
Question 3: Read the passage: 'Many European countries have adopted a four-day work week in pilot programs. Early results show productivity remained stable or even improved, while employee stress and burnout decreased significantly. However, not all industries are suitable for this arrangement.' What would be the BEST title for this passage?
- Why Employees Hate Working Five Days a Week
- Four-Day Work Week: Early Results Show Promise but Limitations Exist (Correct answer)
- How European Governments Are Fixing Workplace Stress
- The End of Traditional Work Schedules in Europe
Correct answer: Four-Day Work Week: Early Results Show Promise but Limitations Exist
The passage discusses pilot results (productivity maintained, stress reduced) and also notes limitations (not all industries suit it), making option B the most balanced and accurate title.
Title questions test your ability to identify the main idea plus nuance. Option A is too negative and subjective. Option C overstates government involvement. Option D is too absolute — the passage says 'not all industries' can use this, so the work week has not ended everywhere. Option B captures both the positive results AND the caveat, matching the passage's balanced tone.
Question 4: Read the passage: 'Mindfulness meditation, once rooted in Buddhist tradition, has entered mainstream Western culture. Research indicates it can reduce anxiety and improve focus. Critics, though, caution against commercializing spiritual practices and warn of McMindfulness — a watered-down version that strips the practice of its deeper meaning.' What does 'watered-down' most likely mean?
- Made more complex and difficult to understand
- Diluted or simplified, losing important qualities (Correct answer)
- Connected to water-based relaxation techniques
- Translated from another language inaccurately
Correct answer: Diluted or simplified, losing important qualities
'Watered-down' is an idiom meaning something has been diluted or weakened, losing important elements of the original.
This idiom question uses context to test vocabulary. 'Watered-down' literally means diluted with water. Figuratively, it means simplified or weakened. In the passage, McMindfulness is described as losing mindfulness's 'deeper meaning,' which aligns with 'diluted or simplified' (B). The other options are unrelated to this meaning.
Question 5: Read the passage: 'Electric vehicles (EVs) are increasingly seen as a solution to urban air pollution. Governments worldwide are offering purchase incentives and building charging infrastructure. Despite this, EV adoption remains slow in lower-income households due to the high upfront cost of vehicles.' What barrier to EV adoption is mentioned in the passage?
- A lack of government support
- The high initial purchase price (Correct answer)
- Poor performance compared to petrol cars
- Limited availability of EV models
Correct answer: The high initial purchase price
The passage states that 'EV adoption remains slow in lower-income households due to the high upfront cost of vehicles.'
This is a detail question with a directly stated answer. The passage identifies 'the high upfront cost of vehicles' as the reason adoption is slow among lower-income groups. Option A contradicts the passage (governments ARE offering incentives). Options C and D are not mentioned in the passage.
Question 6: Read the passage: 'Bees play a critical role in pollinating roughly 70% of the world's crops. Colony collapse disorder — a phenomenon where worker bees abandon their hives — has led to sharp declines in bee populations globally. Agricultural scientists stress that without bees, food security would be severely threatened.' What can be INFERRED from the passage?
- Colony collapse disorder only affects wild bee populations
- Most crops currently grow without the help of bees
- A significant decline in bees could endanger the global food supply (Correct answer)
- Scientists have found a solution to colony collapse disorder
Correct answer: A significant decline in bees could endanger the global food supply
The passage says bees pollinate 70% of crops, and their decline threatens food security, so it can be inferred that losing bees would endanger the food supply.
Inference questions require combining multiple pieces of information. Bees pollinate 70% of crops + scientists warn food security would be threatened = if bees decline sharply, food supplies are endangered (C). Option A is not supported — the passage does not specify wild vs. farmed bees. Option B contradicts the 70% statistic. Option D is unsupported — no solution is mentioned.
Question 7: Read the passage: 'The industrial revolution transformed not only manufacturing but also everyday life. Cities grew rapidly as workers migrated from rural areas seeking factory employment. Living conditions in early industrial cities were often overcrowded and unsanitary, leading to outbreaks of disease.' What was ONE consequence of rural workers moving to cities?
- Agricultural production increased significantly
- Factory wages rose due to competition for workers
- Cities became overcrowded with poor living conditions (Correct answer)
- Rural areas became more politically powerful
Correct answer: Cities became overcrowded with poor living conditions
The passage states that cities grew rapidly and 'living conditions in early industrial cities were often overcrowded and unsanitary.'
This is a cause-and-effect comprehension question. Workers migrated to cities, cities grew rapidly, overcrowding and poor sanitation followed (C). The passage does not mention agricultural production (A), factory wages (B), or rural political power (D). Option C is directly supported by the text.
CEFR CEFR B2 English Reading Comprehension 2
Read the passage: 'Ocean acidification occurs when seawater absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, lowering its pH.
Marine biologists are particularly concerned about coral reefs, as more acidic water interferes with corals' ability to build their calcium carbonate skeletons.' What problem does ocean acidification cause for corals?