Green Shelves
B2 First · Open Cloze · Cambridge Ready original exercise
For questions 1–8, read the text below and think of the word which best fits each gap. Use only one word in each gap. There is an example at the beginning.
For a long time, houseplants were thought (0) ___ as rather old-fashioned. Today, however, many young people living in small flats fill every shelf and windowsill (1) ___ them. There are several reasons for this. Some people say that taking care (2) ___ something living helps them relax at the end of a busy day. Others simply enjoy having a bit of nature indoors, especially if they do not have a garden (3) ___ their own. Keeping plants alive, however, is not as easy (4) ___ it looks. Surprisingly, more houseplants are killed by too (5) ___ water than by too little, so it is best not to water them every day. It is also important to put each plant in the right place, because some need plenty (6) ___ light while others are happier in the shade. Beginners should choose a plant that is hard to kill, (7) ___ as a cactus. Be warned, though: once you have bought one, you may soon have more plants (8) ___ you have space for!
Green Shelves
Available as a free printable PDF worksheet with an optional answer key.