Man in white outfit sitting surrounded by several fans indoors during daytime.
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Ways to keep a home cool in hot weather

Level
a2
Topic
daily_life

Read this at a different level:b2c1

Last summer, my apartment was very hot. I decided to try some simple ways to keep it cool. I will share my favourite tips with you.

First, I closed my curtains during the day. This stopped the sun from heating the rooms. At night, I opened the windows. The cool air came in quickly. I also put a wet towel near the window. It made the room feel much cooler.

I turned off lights and other things I did not need. They make a room warmer. I also drank a lot of cold water. My neighbour told me to sleep with a light cotton sheet. She was right — it helped a lot.

These small changes made a big difference. My home felt more comfortable, and I slept much better. I will use all these tips again next summer.

Highlighted sentences show the grammar focus structure.

Key Vocabulary

  • curtain

    /ˈkɜːrtən/

    A piece of cloth that you hang in front of a window to block light or give privacy.

    She bought new blue curtains for her bedroom window.

  • towel

    /ˈtaʊəl/

    A soft piece of cloth that you use to dry your body or hands.

    He forgot to bring a towel to the swimming pool.

  • neighbour

    /ˈneɪbər/

    A person who lives very close to you, for example in the next house or apartment.

    My neighbour always says hello when we meet in the street.

  • comfortable

    /ˈkʌmftərbəl/

    Feeling pleasant and relaxed, with no pain or worry.

    This sofa is very comfortable — I could sit here all day.

  • cool

    /kuːl/

    A little cold in a pleasant way, not warm or hot.

    It was a cool morning, so she wore a light jacket to school.

Grammar Spotlight

Past Simple (regular and irregular verbs)

This is the teaching point of the lesson — the structure highlighted for students to study. The article uses other grammar structures alongside it naturally; only this structure is the focus.

We use the Past Simple to talk about finished actions in the past. Regular verbs add '-ed' (e.g. 'closed', 'turned'), and irregular verbs have a special form (e.g. 'came', 'made', 'told'). We often use time expressions like 'last summer' or 'at night' with the Past Simple.

Additional examples:

  • She opened the door and walked into the kitchen.
  • He drank a glass of water and turned off the fan.

Discussion Questions

  1. 1.

    Do you have a favourite way to stay cool in hot weather?

  2. 2.

    Have you ever asked a neighbour for help or advice?

  3. 3.

    What makes a room feel comfortable for you?

Comprehension Questions

  1. 1.

    Why did the writer close the curtains?

  2. 2.

    What did the writer put near the window?

  3. 3.

    Who told the writer to use a cotton sheet?

  4. 4.

    When did the writer open the windows?

View answers for the comprehension questions
  1. 1.The writer closed the curtains to stop the sun from heating the rooms.
  2. 2.The writer put a wet towel near the window. It made the room feel cooler.
  3. 3.The writer's neighbour told them to sleep with a light cotton sheet.
  4. 4.The writer opened the windows at night. The cool air came in quickly.

Test your knowledge

Question 1Fill-in-the-blank

She closed the ____ to stop the sunlight coming into the room.

Question 2Fill-in-the-blank

After swimming, he used a ____ to dry his hands and face.

Question 3Fill-in-the-blank

The bedroom felt ____ because the window was open all night.

Question 4Fill-in-the-blank

The room was quiet and clean, so everyone felt very ____.

View answers for test your knowledge
  1. 1.curtain
  2. 2.towel
  3. 3.cool
  4. 4.comfortable

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