Mother Earth Gapfill Quiz

level: intermediate

You can do this quiz online or print it on paper. It tests vocabulary and comprehension of one or more topics covered in EnglishClub's series of readings on The Environment.

When he was just six years old indigenous Aztec boy Xiuhtezcatl Martinez gave his first public speech, telling his audience to take care of "Mother Earth". Complete this extract by choosing the right words:

Hello. My name is Xiuhtezcatl Martinez. I am six years old. I'm a boy and I just said a prayer in my native language. I was giving 1. a) gifts b) a speech c) thanks to all of the elements; the water, the fire, the earth, the air. I was giving thanks to them to give us life; to give us energy; to give us 2. a) strength b) weakness c) a big house. I came to talk to you today about how sacred 3. a) the Earth b) the moon c) climate change is. Most kids don't even know that the world is sacred. That's because they spend most of their 4. a) money b) time c) future in front of their TV or in front of their video games. It's time for their parents to get them 5. a) out of the forest b) out of the house c) out to the shops and show them that Mother Earth is a sacred thing. Show them that Mother Earth is alive. It's a beautiful living thing, and if their parents don't do this we may not have a chance.

When I was five years old I wanted to go to all the 6. a) factories b) forests c) fun parks and shut them down with my little brother. But once I turned six I realized that it was us who were 7. a) selling to b) boycotting c) buying from the factories. We're supporting them. We're buying their things. There's really good things we could do like not buy from the factories or we could support a 8. a) better b) worse c) cheaper company. There's simple things you could do in your own home like not let the water run or 9. a) turn on b) turn off c) turn away from the lights when you're not using them. You could teach these things to your children. Every choice we make is for or against 10. a) our past b) our present c) our future .

Your score is:

Correct answers:

Watch Xiuhtezcatl giving this speech on YouTube or learn more about him by checking out our Xiuhtezcatl Martinez reading page.

Matt Errey Contributor: Matt Errey. Matt is the author of several books including 1000 Phrasal Verbs in Context and Common English Idioms for learners, and Matt's ESL Games and Quizzes for teachers.