A Garden Between the Buildings
An article about a community garden that turned neglected land into a meeting place for neighbors, and an advertisement for a gardening workshop for beginners.
Tap any word to hear it · dotted words have a definition in the glossary
Text 1
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A Garden Between the Buildings
1Two years ago, the empty land behind our apartment buildings in Holon was full of old and broken bottles. Nobody went there, and parents did not let their children play there. Then Mrs. Ruth Levi, a teacher from the third floor, had an idea. She knocked on every door and asked her neighbors a simple question: "Do you want to grow something together?"
2At first, only six people came to the first meeting. They spent three weekends cleaning the land. A local shop gave them and for free. Slowly, more neighbors joined. Today the garden has forty members, from a five-year-old girl to an eighty-year-old man.
3Every family has a small piece of land. Some grow tomatoes and cucumbers, and others grow like mint and basil. There is also a shared area with fruit trees. The fruit and vegetables from this area go to families who need help.
4"The vegetables are great, but they are not the most important thing," says Mrs. Levi. "Before the garden, I knew only two neighbors. Now I know almost everyone. People who never said hello now drink coffee together in the garden."
5The garden is open every day from seven in the morning until , and new members are always welcome.
Text 2
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Green Hands: A Gardening Workshop for Beginners
1Have you always wanted to grow your own vegetables but didn't know how to start? Come to our free workshop at the Neighborhood Garden! No experience needed – just bring your curiosity.
2When: Friday, 9:00–11:30 in the morning. Where: the garden behind Building 12, next to the playground.
3What will you learn? Our two experienced gardeners will show you how to prepare the for planting and which vegetables are easy for beginners. You will also learn how much water plants need in the hot summer months and how to turn kitchen waste into , a natural food for the .
4Who can join? Everyone aged 10 and up. Children under 14 must come with an adult.
5What should you bring? Please bring a hat, a bottle of water and comfortable shoes. Don't worry about gloves and tools – we will give them to you at the garden.
6A small gift: at the end of the workshop, every will take home a small pot with a basil plant.
7There are only 25 places, so please by Wednesday. To , visit the garden any evening and leave your name and phone number with one of our members. See you on Friday!
📘 Glossary
- retired - no longer working because of age
- tires - the thick rubber rings on the wheels of a car
- soil - the earth in which plants grow
- seeds - small things from which new plants grow
- herbs - plants used to add flavor to food
- sunset - the time in the evening when the sun goes down
- compost - a natural food for soil made from old plants and food waste
- participant - a person who takes part in an activity
- register - to put your name on a list to join
Questions
Finding details · Text 1
1. What was the land behind the buildings like two years ago?Finding details · Text 1
2. Copy the question that Mrs. Levi asked her neighbors (paragraph 1).Reference words · Text 1
3. What does the word "They" in paragraph 2 refer to?Finding details · Text 1
4. Who gave the group soil and seeds?Finding details · Text 1
5. Give TWO things that families grow in their own piece of land.Finding details · Text 1
6. What happens to the fruit and vegetables from the shared area?Making inferences · Text 1
7. According to Mrs. Levi, what is the most important thing about the garden?Purpose and structure · Text 2
8. The main purpose of Text B is to…Finding details · Text 2
9. Give TWO things you will learn at the workshop.Finding details · Text 2
10. Who must come to the workshop with an adult?Finding details · Text 2
11. What do the participants NOT need to bring? Give ONE thing.Making inferences · Text 2
12. Why should people register by Wednesday?Finding details · Text 2
13. What will every participant take home?Finding details · Text 2
14. Copy the words from paragraph 1 that show you don't need to know anything about gardening before the workshop.Comparing texts
15. What do BOTH texts show?
Answer every question to get a score (0/15)