Speed Reading — Cutting the Grass - Level 3 — 300 wpm

Now do this put-the-text-back-together activity.


This is the text (if you need help).

A charity in the U.K. is urging people not to cut the grass in their garden. When spring arrives, many gardeners mow their lawn. The call to not do this is part of a project called "No Mow May". It is to help flowers grow wild and insects breed. No Mow May is a campaign to promote biodiversity. It is from the charity Plantlife. The charity is also asking people to count the types and number of wild flowers in their garden. Plantlife says leaving the grass uncut creates a habitat that will help "our bees, butterflies, wildlife and us". Bees are an essential part of nature as they pollinate flowers. Cutting the grass means there are fewer flowers for bees to work their natural magic.

A spokesperson for Plantlife said garden lawns have the potential to be "biodiversity hotspots". Last year, the charity found over 250 species of plants on people's lawns. These included wild strawberry and wild garlic. Plantlife wants people to value wild lawns more. It said people would get a nice, colourful surprise if they did not cut their grass. One gardener spoke to the BBC about the joy of wild gardens. He said people care too much about having a neat garden and use too many chemicals. He believes not mowing the lawn lets people "reconnect with the natural world". Plantlife agreed. It said a wild garden "makes you feel like you're somewhere tropical instead of your own garden".

Comprehension questions
  1. When do gardeners in the U.K. mow their lawns?
  2. What is the name of the campaign to stop people cutting their grass?
  3. What does the charity say it wants its campaign to promote?
  4. Who does uncut lawns help besides bees, butterflies and wildlife?
  5. What does the article say bees work?
  6. What did Plantlife say lawns have the potential to be?
  7. How many species of plants can there be on our lawns?
  8. What did a gardener saw people could get if they did not cut their grass?
  9. What did a gardener say people put too much of on lawns?
  10. Where did Plantlife say a wild garden can make you feel you are?

Back to the cutting the grass lesson.

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