Two volunteers pick up trash by a river, promoting environmental conservation.
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Volunteer river clean-up by divers in Northampton

Level
a2
Topic
environment

Read this at a different level:b2

My friend Callum lives near a river in Northampton. Last month, he told me about something exciting. Divers from Northampton Scuba School cleaned the river. He said it was one of the most impressive things he ever saw in his city.

Callum watched the divers work for six hours. The team also worked with other local groups. Together, they pulled a lot of waste out of the water. Callum said the river looked much cleaner after the event. He thought it was the most important clean-up in his neighbourhood.

Callum wants to help at the next event. He is going to contact the scuba school soon. He told me he feels proud of his city. I think it is a great idea too. Clean rivers are better for everyone who lives nearby.

Highlighted sentences show the grammar focus structure.

Key Vocabulary

  • diver

    /ˈdaɪvər/

    A person who swims underwater, usually with special equipment to help them breathe.

    The diver found a beautiful fish near the bottom of the sea.

  • waste

    /weɪst/

    Things that people throw away because they do not want or need them anymore.

    There was a lot of waste on the beach after the weekend.

  • impressive

    /ɪmˈprɛsɪv/

    Something that is very good and makes you feel admiration or surprise.

    The children built an impressive sandcastle at the beach.

  • proud

    /praʊd/

    Feeling very happy and pleased because you or someone you know did something good.

    She felt proud when she passed her driving test.

  • contact

    /ˈkɒntækt/

    To write to, call, or speak to someone because you want to talk to them or get information.

    I need to contact my teacher about the homework.

Grammar Spotlight

Superlatives — the -est / the most + adjective

the + adjective-est OR the most + adjective

When do we use it?

  • Use superlatives to say that one thing is number one in a group — the biggest, the most exciting, etc.
  • Use them when you are comparing three or more people, places, or things.
  • They often appear with 'in' or 'of': the cleanest river in the city, the best of the team.

How is it formed?

the + short adjective + -est+the most + long adjective

Short adjectives (1–2 syllables): add -est. Long adjectives (3+ syllables): use 'the most'.

★Always use 'the' before a superlative!

See it in action

  1. Callum said it was one of the most impressive things he ever saw.

  2. The river is the cleanest it has ever been after the dive.

  3. It was the longest dive the Northampton Scuba School ever did.

  4. That was the most exciting event in our city this year.

Remember this

Most adjectives follow the regular rules (add -est or use 'the most'), but a few common adjectives have irregular superlative forms that you must memorise.

!
good → the best: It was the best day of the year.
!
bad → the worst: That was the worst weather we had all month.
!
far → the furthest / the farthest: The divers swam to the furthest part of the river.

Discussion Questions

  1. 1.

    Are there rivers, lakes, or parks near your home? Do people in your area keep them clean?

  2. 2.

    Did you ever help to clean a public place in your city or town? What did you do?

  3. 3.

    Would you like to join a clean-up event in your neighbourhood? Why or why not?

Comprehension Questions

  1. 1.

    Where does Callum live?

  2. 2.

    How many hours did the divers work?

  3. 3.

    Why does Callum feel proud of his city?

  4. 4.

    Who is Callum going to contact soon?

View answers for the comprehension questions
  1. 1.Callum lives near a river in Northampton.
  2. 2.The divers worked for six hours.
  3. 3.He feels proud because the divers cleaned the river and made it much better for everyone.
  4. 4.Callum is going to contact the scuba school soon.

Test your knowledge

Question 1Fill-in-the-blank

The man wore special equipment so he could swim underwater as a ____.

Question 2Fill-in-the-blank

She felt very ____ after her team won the competition.

Question 3Fill-in-the-blank

Everyone stopped to look at the painting because it was so ____.

Question 4Fill-in-the-blank

She decided to ____ the school to ask about the new classes.

View answers for test your knowledge
  1. 1.diver
  2. 2.proud
  3. 3.impressive
  4. 4.contact

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