B1 Reading: Comparatives structures

Lesson 1: The New City Library

🟡 Pre-reading

Have you ever visited a modern public building? What do you think is more important: having many books or having comfortable reading areas? Predict how the new library will be described.

📘 Reading text

The new Central City Library finally opened last Monday, and the first visitors were impressed. The old building, which closed last year, was much smaller and darker. The new library is almost as large as the City Museum, taking up a whole block. The children's section is definitely not as quiet as the adult reading room, but that’s normal! Unfortunately, some people complained that the coffee prices in the new café are too high to pay regularly, and the computers are too slow to open large files quickly. However, the space is fantastic: the windows are as wide as the walls are tall, letting in plenty of light. The biggest positive change is the study area. It is as comfortable as a luxury hotel lobby, making it the perfect place to concentrate. The local council hopes it will be as popular as the main park.

Activity 1: Reading Comprehension

Instruction: Read the text and choose the correct answer for each question.

1. The new library is comparable in size to...
2. True or False: The children's section is as quiet as the adult reading room.
3. Some visitors have a problem with the computers because...
4. The windows are described as being...
5. The council hopes the library will be as popular as...

Activity 2: Grammar Application

Instruction: Complete the sentences using as...as, not as...as, or too...to.

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Answers:

1. The new library is not as small as the old one.

2. The windows are as wide as the walls are tall.

3. The coffee prices are too high to pay regularly.

4. The study area is as comfortable as a luxury hotel lobby.

5. The computers are too slow to open large files quickly.

Lesson 2: Extreme Sports vs. Jogging

🟡 Pre-reading

Instruction: Which activity sounds more exciting: skydiving or running in a park? What are the advantages of a gentle sport?

📘 Reading text

When people think of fitness, they often imagine extreme sports. Skydiving or rock climbing might be considered as exciting as a Hollywood movie. However, jogging is making a comeback. One runner said, "My new running shoes are as light as a feather, and the activity is not as complicated as trying to set up climbing gear." Some believe jogging is too repetitive to be interesting, but others say it’s perfect because it’s not as tiring as a heavy gym session. It's also not as expensive as joining a specialized club. For many, a gentle run is as relaxing as meditation. While a marathon is certainly a challenge, daily jogging is too simple to cause major injuries, provided you have good shoes. Ultimately, extreme sports are not as accessible as simple jogging for most people.

Activity 1: Reading Comprehension

Instruction: Read the text and choose the correct answer for each question.

1. Extreme sports are compared to a Hollywood movie in terms of...
2. What is special about the runner's new shoes?
3. Some people dislike jogging because they think it is...
4. Compared to a gym session, jogging is...
5. For most people, jogging is considered more accessible than extreme sports.

Activity 2: Grammar Application

Instruction: Complete the sentences using as...as, not as...as, or too...to.

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Answers:

1. Jogging is not as complicated as climbing gear.

2. Jogging is as relaxing as meditation.

3. Jogging is too repetitive to be interesting.

4. Jogging is not as expensive as a specialized club.

5. Daily jogging is too simple to cause major injuries.

Lesson 3: New Tech: The Smart Kettle

🟡 Pre-reading

Instruction: Have you used any smart kitchen devices? What do you think a smart kettle does that a normal one cannot? Predict one advantage and one disadvantage.

📘 Reading text

The "HeatWave 5000" smart kettle promises to change tea-making forever. A spokesperson claimed it’s as intelligent as a phone app, allowing users to schedule boiling times. However, critics argue that the device is too complicated to be worth the extra cost. A simple kettle, after all, is not as difficult as learning a new operating system. The HeatWave 5000 is also significantly more expensive; it is not as cheap as the basic model, costing three times more. Its design is certainly as sleek as any high-end gadget, but many users found the instruction manual too long to read entirely before their first use. Ultimately, while it is as fast as a regular kettle at boiling water, the setup process is too slow to be practical for a quick cup of tea.

Activity 1: Reading Comprehension

Instruction: Read the text and choose the correct answer for each question.

1. The smart kettle is compared to a phone app because of its...
2. True or False: The smart kettle is as cheap as the basic model.
3. What problem did users have with the instruction manual?
4. In terms of design, the HeatWave 5000 is...
5. What is the main issue with the HeatWave 5000's practicality?

Activity 2: Grammar Application

Instruction: Complete the sentences using as...as, not as...as, or too...to.

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Answers:

1. The smart kettle is not as cheap as the basic model.

2. The setup process is too slow to be practical.

3. A simple kettle is not as difficult as learning a new operating system.

4. The design is as sleek as any high-end gadget.

5. The instruction manual is too long to read entirely.

Lesson 4: The Mars Colony Project

🟡 Pre-reading

Instruction: Do you believe humans will colonize Mars one day? What do you think would be the greatest challenge: food, water, or social life?

📘 Reading text

The "Red Home" project aims to establish a self-sustaining colony on Mars. Proponents claim the Martian atmosphere is not as deadly as most people imagine, but it is certainly too thin to breathe without assistance. The cost of construction is as high as launching a small country into orbit, making fundraising a massive problem. The first residential dome is designed to be as strong as steel, using innovative composite materials. However, critics suggest the psychological strain will be too much to bear for long periods. They believe living underground is not as healthy as living under a natural sun. Even so, the challenge is as exciting as the first moon landing, inspiring a new generation of scientists.

Activity 1: Reading Comprehension

Instruction: Choose the correct answer for each question.

1. The Martian atmosphere is described as:
2. What is comparable in strength to the residential dome?
3. Critics believe the psychological strain is:
4. Living underground is described as:
5. The project's challenge is compared to:

Activity 2: Grammar Application

Instruction: Complete the sentences using as...as, not as...as, or too...to.

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Answers:

1. The cost is as high as launching a small country into orbit.

2. The residential dome is designed to be as strong as steel.

3. The atmosphere is too thin to breathe without assistance.

4. The Martian atmosphere is not as deadly as most people imagine.

5. The psychological strain will be too much to bear for long periods.

Lesson 5: Changes in Fast Food Habits

🟡 Pre-reading

Instruction: Has the quality of fast food improved or worsened in the last few years? What is one healthy option you can find in a fast food restaurant?

📘 Reading text

The global fast-food industry is adapting to new health trends. Today’s salads are as fresh as anything you would find at a high-end restaurant, dispelling old myths. However, traditional burgers are still too tempting to completely avoid for many customers. Price-wise, fast food is not as cheap as it used to be; a full meal is now often as expensive as a casual sit-down lunch. Critics still argue that many portions are too large to finish in one sitting, leading to waste. On the positive side, delivery services make getting a meal as easy as sending a text message. Nonetheless, despite these changes, the sugar content in desserts is still often not as low as health guidelines recommend.

Activity 1: Reading Comprehension

Instruction: Choose the correct answer for each question.

1. Today's fast-food salads are compared to:
2. True or False: Fast food meals are as cheap as they used to be.
3. What prevents many people from avoiding traditional burgers?
4. Getting a meal via delivery is compared to:
5. The sugar content in desserts is:

Activity 2: Grammar Application

Instruction: Complete the sentences using as...as, not as...as, or too...to.

Attempts: 0 / 3
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Answers:

1. A full meal is now as expensive as a casual sit-down lunch.

2. Today’s salads are as fresh as anything you would find at a high-end restaurant.

3. Many portions are too large to finish in one sitting.

4. Delivery services make getting a meal as easy as sending a text message.

5. Fast food is not as cheap as it used to be.