Joy English
Joy English
← Back to the lesson

Joy English · Level B2 · Urban gardeningjoy-english.com

Test 3: Urban gardening

Name:Date:

A mixed grammar and vocabulary test about growing food in cities: choose the right word, write missing words and build new words.

Part 1: Multiple-choice gaps

Choose the word or phrase that best completes each sentence.

  1. In many cities, empty rooftops are being ___ into small vegetable gardens.
    • a) turned
    • b) become
    • c) grown
    • d) set
  2. Community gardens give neighbours the chance to get to know each other and ___ lasting friendships.
    • a) do
    • b) take
    • c) form
    • d) gain
  3. Plants grown in containers need watering more often, ___ the soil dries out quickly.
    • a) so
    • b) as
    • c) unless
    • d) whereas
  4. Tomatoes need plenty of sunlight; ___, they will not ripen properly.
    • a) however
    • b) therefore
    • c) moreover
    • d) otherwise
  5. Trees and plants ___ a vital role in keeping the neighbourhood cool in summer.
    • a) make
    • b) do
    • c) play
    • d) take
  6. Mina grows herbs on her balcony, which ___ her quite a lot of money every month.
    • a) spares
    • b) saves
    • c) keeps
    • d) protects
  7. Before planting, the volunteers ___ the soil by adding compost and removing stones.
    • a) arranged
    • b) organised
    • c) provided
    • d) prepared
  8. By the end of next year, the project ___ more than fifty gardens across the city.
    • a) will have created
    • b) will create
    • c) creates
    • d) has created

Part 2: Open gaps

Type one word in each gap.

  1. Kofi had never grown anything before, ___ now he produces enough lettuce for the whole street.
  2. The garden is open to anyone ___ wants to help, whatever their experience.
  3. Plant the seeds about two centimetres ___ the surface of the soil.
  4. It was ___ a dry summer that the residents built a system to collect rainwater.
  5. The project depends ___ donations of tools, seeds and time.
  6. Even ___ the garden is quite small, it produces a surprising amount of food.
  7. Jamal is responsible ___ looking after the compost bins.
  8. Many residents have started growing their ___ fruit and vegetables.

Part 3: Word formation

Use the word in CAPITALS at the end of each sentence to form a word that fits the gap. Type one word.

  1. Many people see urban gardening as a more ___ way of producing food. (SUSTAIN)
  2. The ___ of green spaces in cities has been linked to better mental health. (AVAILABLE)
  3. Some residents were ___ about the idea at first, but they soon became its biggest supporters. (ENTHUSIASM)
  4. The rooftop garden has ___ reduced the temperature inside the building. (NOTICE)
  5. Local schools use the garden to teach children about ___ and where food comes from. (NUTRITIOUS)
  6. Gardeners use natural methods against pests, because chemical sprays can be ___ to bees. (HARM)
  7. There has been a rapid ___ in the number of urban gardens over the past ten years. (GROW)
  8. The site was ___ a car park before volunteers turned it into a garden. (ORIGIN)

Answer key

Part 1: Multiple-choice gaps

  1. a) turnedTurn something into something means change it into something else.
  2. c) formThe collocation is form a friendship.
  3. b) asThe second part gives the reason, so we use as, meaning because.
  4. d) otherwiseOtherwise means if not: if they do not get sunlight, they will not ripen.
  5. c) playThe collocation is play a role.
  6. b) savesSave somebody money means help them to spend less.
  7. d) preparedPrepare the soil means get it ready for planting.
  8. a) will have createdBy + a future time shows that the action will be complete before then, so we use the future perfect.

Part 2: Open gaps

  1. but / yet / though / although / whereas / while / whilst / andWe need a linking word between the two clauses. But, yet, though, although, whereas and while show the contrast; and is also possible.
  2. who / thatA defining relative clause about people takes who or that.
  3. below / beneath / under / underneathSeeds go lower than the surface, so we need below, beneath, under or underneath.
  4. suchSuch + a + adjective + noun is followed by that to show the result.
  5. on / uponDepend on (or the more formal depend upon) is the correct preposition.
  6. though / ifEven though introduces a contrast with a fact. Even if is also possible.
  7. forResponsible for + noun or -ing form.
  8. ownTheir own means belonging to them, not bought from someone else.

Part 3: Word formation

  1. sustainableBefore the noun way we need an adjective. Sustainable means it can continue without harming the environment.
  2. availabilityAfter the we need a noun: availability.
  3. unenthusiasticBut shows a change from a negative to a positive opinion, so we need the negative adjective unenthusiastic.
  4. noticeablyBefore the verb reduced we need an adverb. Noticeably means enough for people to notice.
  5. nutritionAfter about we need a noun. Nutrition is the study of food and health.
  6. harmfulAfter be we need an adjective: harmful to means causing damage to.
  7. growthAfter a rapid we need a noun. The noun from grow is growth.
  8. originallyWe need an adverb meaning at first, before it changed: originally.

Joy English · free English practice · https://joy-english.com/use-of-english/b2-urban-gardening