Pre-reading questions:
- What do you think makes a place feel calm and relaxing?
- If you could design your perfect study or workspace, would you include plants? Why or why not?
Vocabulary:
- greenery /GREE-nuh-ree/
- toxin /TOK-sin/
- decorative /DEK-er-uh-tiv/
- foliage /FOH-lee-ij/
- tolerate /TOL-uh-reyt /
[noun] – plants and vegetation, especially those used for decoration or landscaping
The city added greenery along the sidewalks to create a more relaxing environment.
[noun] – poisonous substance that can cause harm to living organisms
Some types of seafood contain toxins that can be harmful if not cooked properly.
[adjective] – used to make something more attractive rather than functional
The restaurant placed decorative lights on each table to create a cozy atmosphere.
[noun] – the leaves of a plant or a group of plants
The park was beautiful in autumn when the foliage turned shades of red and gold.
[verb] – to endure or withstand certain conditions without being harmed
This type of paint tolerates high humidity, making it ideal for bathrooms.
Article reading:
Several plant varieties are well-suited for office conditions. Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) has trailing vines and thrives in low light. The ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) is hardy and features glossy leaves. Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema) adds a decorative touch with its patterned foliage. The snake plant (Dracaena trifasciata) grows upright and tolerates infrequent watering. The cast iron plant (Aspidistra elatior) adapts well to artificial light and temperature changes. Air plants (Tillandsia) do not need soil and only require occasional misting. While air ferns (Sertularia argentea) are often mistaken for real plants, true low-light species can enhance an office’s atmosphere. Adding plants to workspaces creates a more inviting, attractive, and healthy environment.
Comprehension questions
- Why do many offices use greenery?
- What do some plants absorb to help clean the air?
- Which organizations studied the effects of plants on air quality?
- Why is it difficult to keep plants in windowless offices?
- Why are air plants easy to maintain?
Discussion questions
- Do you have any indoor plants at home, at work, or at school? If so, what kind of plant is it? How do you take care of it? If not, would you like to have one? Why or why not?
- Have you ever been to a place with many indoor plants, like a café or an office? If so, how did the plants make you feel in that space? If not, would you like to visit a place with many plants? Why or why not?
- Do you agree that plants should be included in all office spaces, even if they are difficult to maintain?
- Why do you think some people prefer artificial plants over real ones in offices?
- What are some possible challenges of having plants in an office, and how could they be solved?