Reading: the school garden

How it works

The text

Three years ago, the land behind a secondary school in a small town near Hawassa was empty and dusty. A biology teacher, Ato Tesfaye, suggested turning it into a garden that students could look after themselves. At first, many parents were doubtful, because they thought the garden would take time away from studying. However, the teacher used the garden as an outdoor classroom. Students measured how fast the plants grew, recorded the rainfall and compared different kinds of soil. Today the garden produces cabbage, tomatoes and onions, and it supplies part of the vegetables for the school's lunch program. Extra vegetables are sold at the local market, and the money buys seeds and tools for the next season. The students say the project has taught them more than farming. They have learned to plan, to share work and to keep careful records. Now the parents who once had doubts often visit the garden, and some of them even help during the rainy season.

Exercises

1. What is the main idea of the passage?

   የምንባቡ ዋና ሐሳብ ምንድን ነው?

   • ☐ a) Parents should help teachers during the rainy season.
   • ☐ b) Vegetables are cheaper at the local market.
   • ☐ c) A school garden became a useful place for learning and food.
   • ☐ d) Biology is the most important subject at school.

2. Why were many parents doubtful at first?

   ብዙ ወላጆች መጀመሪያ ለምን ተጠራጠሩ?

   • ☐ a) They thought the land was too dusty.
   • ☐ b) They thought the garden would take time from studying.
   • ☐ c) They did not like the biology teacher.
   • ☐ d) They wanted to sell the land.

3. The word "it" in sentence 2 refers to …

   በዓረፍተ ነገር 2 ያለው "it" የሚያመለክተው…

   • ☐ a) the garden program
   • ☐ b) the town
   • ☐ c) the school
   • ☐ d) the land behind the school

4. The word "doubtful" is closest in meaning to …

   "doubtful" የሚለው ቃል በትርጉም የሚቀርበው ለ…

   • ☐ a) happy
   • ☐ b) tired
   • ☐ c) angry
   • ☐ d) not sure

5. According to the passage, what happens to the money from the market?

   እንደ ምንባቡ ገለጻ፣ ከገበያው የሚገኘው ገንዘብ ምን ይሆናል?

   • ☐ a) It pays the teacher.
   • ☐ b) It is given to the parents.
   • ☐ c) It buys seeds and tools.
   • ☐ d) It buys lunch for the students.

6. All of the following are done in the garden EXCEPT …

   ከ… በስተቀር የሚከተሉት ሁሉ በአትክልት ቦታው ይሰራሉ።

   • ☐ a) comparing soils
   • ☐ b) measuring plant growth
   • ☐ c) recording the rainfall
   • ☐ d) raising chickens

7. What can we infer about the parents now?

   ስለ ወላጆቹ አሁን ምን መረዳት እንችላለን?

   • ☐ a) They want to close the garden.
   • ☐ b) They work in the garden every day.
   • ☐ c) They have changed their opinion about the garden.
   • ☐ d) They still think the garden is a waste of time.

8. Which is the most suitable title for the passage?

   ለምንባቡ በጣም ተስማሚ ርዕስ የትኛው ነው?

   • ☐ a) Rain in Hawassa
   • ☐ b) How to Grow Tomatoes
   • ☐ c) Why Parents Worry
   • ☐ d) A Garden That Teaches