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Advanced English reading -
CEFR level, grammar and exercise index

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An index of grammar points and classroom exercises or activities accompanying Linguapress advanced English reading texts

This index covers  B2 , C1 and C2 English reading texts available on Linguapress.com.
You may also like more information on  CEFR B2 level.
For a full list by topic, return to the Advanced reading resources index.

In addition to the main activities and exercises listed, most pages in this index also come with additiional tips for teachers, information about grammar, and/or more classroom ideas. Extra activities, interactivity and exercises are added periodically to these resources, and suggestions are welcomed from teachers.

  • Exercises shown as interactive can be completed on screen, either by students working online or networked, or in the classroom using an interactive whiteboard.
  • Language and grammar points column: all texts illustrate multiple points of language and grammar; clearlyevery text uses verbs and nouns and adjectives!This column indicates just specific points that are particularly well illustrated or exploited in particular articles.
  • MCQ =  Multiple choice questions (cloze exercises).
  • Audio versions of texts - podcasts - can be streamed as MP3 files.

Advanced English  reading texts - by level

Note: some B2 texts are harder than others. For shorter or easier B2 texts, see index of intermediate A2 - B1 - and  B2 texts by  CEFR level and grammar points.
Title CEFR level Theme Language and grammar points Worksheet, main exercises and activities
A short history of the English language  from the Middle Ages to today  - English language

Word stress in English   with audio how to know how to stress words correctly.  - English language

Accents and dialects. - with audio   B2 English language Phonetics
Drugs: Days in the death of Francis X B2 Interview
True/False questions.
Writing exercise: from interview to article
The Bird Man of the Isles B2 Interview – Scotland – environment
Comprehension: true or false. Writing: write an article based on the interview.
All you need is Love -With audio B2 Ireland – family  life Relative / nominal relative pronouns  (that, which, who, whom, what, how)
22 written or oral comprehension questions on this article.
 Interactive  Replace the relative or nominal relative pronouns.
Short story: Blue Gum Tree - by Pat Boyle.  with audio B2 Short Story - New Zealand
Two listening comprehension exercises are suggested.
Writing exercise: Retell the story as a local newspaper article. Include certain terms.
A few good reasons - by Sue Quinn.  with audio B2 Short Story - USA
 Interactive  General comprehension questions.
 Interactive  A short story with general comprehension exercises .
 Interactive  MCQ -Confusable words.
Rewriting: tell the story from Caroline's point of view.
For Elise - by Pamela Garza.   with audio B2 Short Story - USA
Questions: make up the questions to match the answers given.
Role Play: the moral dilemma
Guy Fawkes and bonfire night B2 UK – history Negation
Interactive  Text correction (correctable onscreen): Correct 20 mistakes of grammar and vocabulary.
Interactive: Negation: Replace all the words that are missing from this extract.
Britain's Chinese come out on top - B2 UK – society Punctuation
Interactive  blank-fill exercise: rephrasing
Complete extracts suggesting alternative expressions.
Interactive exercise: put back all the missing punctuation.
From smugglers to people trafficking: old activity, new phase B2 UK – society Prepositions and Adverbs
 Interactive  Text correction.  Correct the mistakes in this badly copied extract from the article.
Interactive: Prepositions and adverbs:
Replace the missing prepositions and adverbs
Just who are the English ? B2 UK – society Verb forms
Interactive :  Replace the verbs  using the correct form and tense.
Writing activity: summarise this document.
Bodie - where the West was once wildest - B2 USA - history Word order Interactive Reconstruct sentences putting the words given into the right order.
Interactive right or wrong exercise.
College sport USA -  With audio B2 USA - life Nouns, adjectives
Interactive  missing nouns and andjectives
Write a letter reusing certain elements of vocabulary from the article.
Hillary Clinton - the early years . B2 USA - people
Questions from answers. Complet an imaginary interview.
Rosa Parks -  with audio B2 USA - people
Interactive - General comprehension questions about the article.
So just who is Angelyne ? - B2 USA - people
MCQ - words and meanings
John Lennon B2 USA – music Modal verbs and auxiliaries
Interactive : Replace the missing modal verbs or auxiliaries
Mississippi music - Elvis Presley and the roots of Rock - With audio B2 USA – music
Interactive : Replace the missing words, from the list provided..
Right (R) or wrong (W). Rewrite any wrong statements, correcting them as necessary.
Woodie Guthrie. B2 USA – music Prepositional verbs.
Punctuation
Prepositional verbs and meanings: matching exercise.
Interactive
  Replace the missing word endings in this short extract from the article.
Replace punctuation in an extract from the text.
A town called Sturgis B2 USA – places "One" as a pro form.
Verbs : active and passive
Interactive  exercise. Write active (not passive) sentences starting with the prompts suggested;.
Creative writing exercises.
Mighty Mississippi   with audio B2 USA – places
Interactive  blank-fill exercise:  confusable words. complete an extract from the text using the original words.

Nevada and its Extraterrestrials. B2 USA – places Prepositions Interactive Replace missing prepositions and adverbs.
.Careful reading: Find the 20 cases where the information in the resumé of the article does not correctly reflect what was written in the original. Covers vocabulary and factual information.
America's teen courts B2 USA – society Verb tenses and forms.
Basic legal vocabulary
Interactive  grammar exercise - Verbs tenses and forms
Synonyms : word search - find the original words.
Role play scenario: Conduct sessions of the teen court in class (7 to 10 roles).
Americans fat and thin - B2 USA – society Word order Rearrange words to make correctly formed questions, then answer the questions.
Interactive Add the necessary word endings, and words, to complete this extract
Synonyms : find the original words
Crime-time Basketball - B2 USA – society
Word order in questions. Reorganize sentences.
Interactive Make up questions using the prompts, and answer them..
Interactive open cloze exercise. Add missing words.
Paused reading suggestion.
The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County by Mark Twain (Appendix to Mark Twain and the frogs of Calaveras County) B2
and

C1
Short Story - USA Style - 19th century American English Interactive : Complete the following extract from the text, replacing the missing words or parts of words
The Man who changed America. With audio - Henry Ford B2 / C1 USA - history Modal verbs Interactive modal verb exercise
Interactive exercise on consecutive verbs (gerund or infinitive).
Listening or reading: IELTS-style interactive true or false exercise
Listening: find the small differences between the written and recorded versions of the text
Skyscrapers   B2 / C1 USA – society Articles
Count and non-count nouns
Interactive Put in the definite articles in an extract from the text, but only when they are needed.
Mark Twain and the frogs of Calaveras County. With audio  B2+ USA - life
Interactive: replace missing words or parts of words.
A rose by any other name. - with audio  C1 English language Word formation, suffixes

Interview with Leonard Cohen . C1 Interview - Canada – music
Writing exercise: write an article about Cohen, using the interview as your source.
The Taylor Swift phenomenon  - with audio C1 People - music
Interactive Words and meaning (mcq).
Form questions using the prompts.
Complete the words: MCQ
A suitable job - by Lindsay Townsend.   with audio C1 Short Story - England
 Interactive  Characterising; describe all the people in the story
 Interactive  MCQ. Choose the closest synonym for the words listed
Short story: The Car  - by Andrew Rossiter. A short story in advanced level English  with audio C1 Short Story - England Punctuation  4 interactive exercises.
1. MCQ.  Select the best synonym from the dropdown list.
2. Missing words.
3. Questions: complete the dialogue
4. Missing punctuation.

 Writing exercise: Rewrite the story as told by Shafi in his own words.
Short Story: Lucky Jim - by Walda Cameron. with   audio C1 Short Story - USA Verbs. Past tenses, including the past perfect.  4 interactive exercises.
1. MCQ words and meanings
2. General comprehension questions.
3. Writing exercise:  Interactive The local coast guard chief had to write a report explaining the events that took place. Complete ... using the prompts suggested.
4. Questions from answers.
Charles Babbage, the father of the computer  (short text). C1 Technical
Explain technical expressions
Skiing in the wind C1 Technical Text with gaps.
Verbs: voices - active and passive.
Compound nouns
Interactive  Select the correct words to complete the article grammatically and logically.
Interactive  Convert active sentences to passives, using the prompts given
Greenwashing - What's it all about? with audio  C1 Technical In-text vocabulary MCQ Interactive  Multiple choice comprehension questions
Gandhi, the man who opposed violence with oece. with audio  C1 India -
People
Interactive  Words and endings - Complete the missing endings  where necessary .

Interactive Questions from answers: an interview with Gandhi, in 1948  I Gandhi is nearing the end of his life. Imagine this interviewers questions

Fox Talbot and the origins of photography  C1 UK – history Word exploration,
Technical English
Compound adjectives.
Articles
Count and non-count nouns
Interactive  exercise. Add articles when and only when they are needed.
Interactive IELTS style true or false statements.
The Queen who almost wasn't with audio C1 UK – history Noun formation.
Third conditionals (unfulfilled hypothesis).
Interactive  MCQ - expressions.
Interactive  Words and endings
 Reading for information: Complete  sentences using information from the text, and providing the number of words indicated
The King, the Monarchy and their future -   with audio C1 UK – institutions
Interactive Words and meaning (mcq).
Interactive rephrasing exercise, with prompts.
Gap fill exercise – fill from memory.
Paused reading activity.
The Oxford and Cambridge boat race C1 UK – institutions Questions
Interactive Form questions from prompts.
Interactive Missing words.
Creative writing: letter writing using prescribed words.
English pub signs   C1 UK – life Count and non count nouns; use of articles Comprehension. Read the article and write down five things that you have learned about British pubs.
Interactive Complete an extract from the text, adding articles where necessary.
London's Notting Hill Carnival C1 UK – life Verbs and tenses
Interactive Missing words MCQ.
Writing exercise: Describe a day at the carnival, using the words given
Tea and the British - with audio C1 UK – life
Interactive Text comparison : Find and correct the ten factual mistakes in a summary of the article
Agatha Christie - C1 UK – people Word order
As Uses and meanings of the word as..
 Interactive  Word order: Reorganise the words in the boxes to make up correctly structured sentences.
J.R.R. Tolkien - C1 UK – people
 Interactive  Read through the article, then complete sentences using relevant information.
Writing exercise:  letter writing, based on information in the article. An exchange of letters between Tolkien and Edith.
Stephen Hawking - C1 UK – people Word endings Interactive replace all the correct endings
Britain - at any cost ? C1 UK – society Negation
10 oral or written comprehension questions about the article.
 The Rosenberg affair   C1 USA - history Word endings
Interactive replace all the correct endings
Highway 66 revisited -- with audio C1 USA - history
Read the article, then put these events in the right order.
Writing exercise:  Letter writing, based on information in the article
Log cabins and the White House.  with audio  C1 USA - history Relative pronouns
Word endings
Add the missing word endings in an extract from the text.
Relative pronouns and adjectives: MCQ exercise
The story of Ellis Island, With audio  - C1 USA - history Prepositions.
Time clauses
Printable worksheet.
Replace all the missing prepositions.
Matching exercise:  match an element a and an element b, and add a time clause, to make logical and correct sentences.
 The origins of American democracy C1 USA - institutions Verb forms and tenses
Word endings
Interactive: Choose the correct verb form from drop-down lists. Synonyms and antonyms.
Interactive – add the missing word endings.
The US Presidential elections '24 C1 USA - institutions
Interactive Words and meaning (MCQ). Sentences to rephrase using prompts
Mardi gras in New Orleans - C1 USA - life
Ten general comprehension questions to answer.
Interactive MCQ - confusable words and terms.
Thanksgiving  With audio C1 USA - life Articles  Interactive  Rephrase sentences, starting with the prompt given.
 Interactive Choose the correct article from the multiple choice dropdown lists
The American way of eating. With audio C1 USA - life
Interactive: write factual sentences starting with the prompts provided:
Interactive: MCQ missing words gap-fill exercise.
The Yukon Quest - C1 USA - life
Synonyms
Wall Street Culture - C1 USA - life Word endings  Interactive Replace the missing word endings.  
Citizen Welles C1 USA - people Questions
Interactive: Imaginary interview: make up the questions using the prompts. -
Who killed Martin Luther King? With audio C1 USA - people Verbs: past tenses, participles
MCQ vocabulary exercise
Interactive: gap-fill exercise. - tenses and participles
Deserts of America - with audio - C1 USA – environment, places
True/False questions.
Parallel texts :  pick out differences in expression either between the audio version of this text and the written version, or between the written version and a second version.
Role play activity.
Save the Everglades C1 USA – environment, places Verbs - active and passive.
Present perfect.
Prepositions
Interactive rephrasing exercise - passive to active.
Interactive  Prepositions: Replace the missing prepositions.
Expression: Role play with eight roles - or pair work.
Gettysburg - the terrible battle. C1 USA – history Modal verbs Interactive  MCQ  words and synonyms
Interactive  MCQ  words - options check vocabulary, grammar and spelling,
Interactive  Modal verbs exercise.
Interactive  Parallel text with errors to correct.
Creative writing exercises..
The Story of the Blues - with audio  - C1 USA – music
Explain the use of certain expressions.
Writing exercise: Write sentences to link words in the order given
Awaiting the Big One. C1 USA – places Word endings Interactive  Replace the missing word-endings in two extracts.
Writing - Imagine that you are a journalist in 1906 in San Francisco, a short time after the earthquake. Describe the scene that you see
Los Angeles - city on the brink -   with audio C1 USA – places
Interactive: gap-fill exercise.
Interactive: Guided creative writing - text contraction
Contract the article into 6 sentences of no more than 25 words each, using the prompts given.
Interactive: Rephrase sentences, starting with the prompts given.
Careful listening: note the differences between written and recorded texts
Steaming on the Mississippi. With audio C1 USA – places
Interactive: antonyms exercise.
Interactive: Question forming. Make up questions using the prompt words given.
Paused reading exercise.
America's Amish; model society?   C1 USA – society Prepositions Interactive:  MCQ - missing prepositions.
Cretive writing: imaginary interview with a young Amish
America's Drive-in Movie theaters C1 USA – society
Interactive:  MCQ - missing words
True/False questions - justify your answers
The decline of WASP America - from Kennedy to Trump. C1 USA – society
Interactive: Words and meaning MCQ
Interactive: Synonym search
The Mormons, a curiously American phenomenon. C1 USA – society Relative pronouns
Sentence building exercise. Build correctly formed statements using the elements provided.
Interactive   Cloze exercise on relative pronouns.
Thinking it over with baby. With  audio   C1 USA – society Word order in questions
Listening exercise:  Find the differences between the written text and the recorded version, and pick out those that change the meaning.
Interactive   Reorganise the words to make correctly formed questions.
Globalization, what globalization? C1 World - economy Conditionals with and without if.
Economic vocabulary
Interactive   Rewrite conditional sentences  including the word "if"
Interactive  Questions from answers, using the prompts provided.
Text copntraction: contract this text to a third of its original length
Aeroponics. C1 / C2 Technical Word endings Interactive   Add the missing word endings in this extract.
GM crops: Frankenstein food? C1 / C2 Technical Basic technical English Explain or rephrase expressions used in the article.
  Interactive vocabulary exercise - complete the missing words or part words.
Role play scenario.
 The story of the jet plane  With audio C2 Technical Verbs: participles Interactive replace all the -ed and -ing endings in  extract.
Creative writing: air travel in 2020.
Meet Robodog C2 Technical Complex nouns  and noun phrases Explain the meanings of the expressions listed.
The electric car revolution, realistic or optimistic? C2 Technical
Interactive – Words and meaning (mcq). Explain the meaning of certain terms. Oral pair work: imagine an interview.
Charles Darwin - a genius remembered with audio C2 UK – history Word endings Interactive  Add the necessary word endings to complete this extract.
Interactive  Make up questions to match Darwin's answers (imaginary interview).
Paused reading
Shakespeare's enduring heritage  With audio C2 UK – people Conditionals
Interactive text-study worksheet
Rodeo - the sport of the American West . C2 USA - life Participles and -ing words.
Phrasal verbs.
Interactive cloze exercise - present and past participles, and other words in -ing.
California's Water Wars - C2 USA – environment, places Qualifiers, adjectives
Produce projects for authentic documents (in English) for distribution to the public
Interactive  A challenging memory & logic cloze exercise (qualifiers - adjectives)
America's bald eagles - a story of success . C2 USA- environment, places Word endings Interactive Add the necessary word endings, and words, to complete this extract.
Jewel, the voice from Alaska -
USA – music
Read the article then put list of events into chronological order.

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► Return to the main Linguapress advanced level reading texts index

► For easier texts, see index of intermediate A2 - B1 - B2 texts by  CEFR level and grammar points.

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