Test practice: reading comprehension A

Reading text

Last month, Year 9 students at Riverside School started a project called “A Week Without Waste”. The idea came from the school eco team after they noticed that the bins near the cafeteria were full of plastic bottles, snack wrappers and unfinished sandwiches every afternoon.

The project lasted five school days. On Monday, students counted the rubbish in each classroom. On Tuesday and Wednesday, they brought reusable bottles and lunch boxes. On Thursday, they interviewed the school cook, who explained that food waste often increased on days when pupils did not know the menu in advance.

By Friday, plastic waste had fallen by almost a third. Food waste, however, did not change as much as expected. The eco team suggested publishing the weekly menu earlier, putting posters near the cafeteria and creating a “share table” where pupils could leave unopened food for someone else.

The headteacher said the project was not perfect, but it helped the school understand the problem better. She also said that small changes are easier to keep if pupils help plan them themselves.