The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Reading test is designed to evaluate a candidate’s ability to read and understand written English. It consists of 40 questions that test a wide range of skills, including vocabulary, grammar, comprehension, and critical thinking. The Reading test is divided into three sections, each containing one or more passages of increasing difficulty.
Each section of the IELTS Reading test is designed to test different skills. Section one focuses on basic reading comprehension, while section two is designed to test a candidate’s ability to identify specific information within a text. Section three requires candidates to understand the overall meaning of a text and to make inferences based on the information presented.
Each question in the IELTS Reading test is worth one point, and candidates have 60 minutes to complete the entire test. The test is designed to be challenging, and candidates who are well-prepared are more likely to achieve a high score.
After completing the IELTS Reading test, candidates receive a band score ranging from 0 to 9, with 9 being the highest possible score. Candidates may also receive a half-band score, such as 6.5, to provide more accurate information about their language abilities.
In order to prepare for the IELTS Reading test, candidates should practice reading a variety of texts in English, including academic articles, news articles, and literary texts. It is also important to develop strong reading strategies, such as skimming and scanning, to improve reading speed and accuracy.
When practicing IELTS Reading passages, it is recommended to always check the answers after completing the test, to understand the mistakes made and to learn from them. It is also useful to review the answers and explanations to understand why they were correct or incorrect.
Overall, the IELTS Reading test is an important component of the IELTS exam, and achieving a high score requires dedicated preparation and practice.
Green Roof Reading Passage
Green Roof Reading Passage A
In the past, urban homeowners have not always had much choice in the way electricity is supplied to their homes. Now, however, there is a choice, and a rapidly increasing number of households worldwide are choosing the solar energy option. Solar energy, the conversion of sunlight into energy, is made possible through the use of ‘photovoltaics’, which are simple appliances that fit onto the roof of a house.
Green Roof Reading Passage B
The photovoltaics-powered home remains connected to the power lines, but no storage is required on-site, only a box of electronics (the inverter) to the interface between the photovoltaics and the grid network. Figure 1 illustrates the system. During the day, when the home may not be using much electricity, excess power from the solar array is fed back to the grid, to factories and offices that need daytime power. At night, power flows the opposite way. The grid network effectively provides storage. If the demand for electricity is well matched to when the sun shines, solar energy is especially valuable. This occurs in places like California in the US and Japan, where air-conditioning loads for offices and factories are large but heating loads for homes are small.
Green Roof Reading Passage C
The first systematic exploration of the use of photovoltaics on homes began in the US during the 1970s. A well-conceived program started with the sitting of a number of residential experiment stations’ at selected locations around the country, representing different climatic zones. These stations contained a number of ‘dummy’ houses, each with different solar-energy system design. Homes within the communities close to these stations were monitored to see how well their energy use matched the energy generated by the stations’ dummy roofs. A change in US government priorities in the early 1980s halted this program.
Green Roof Reading Passage D
With the US effort dropping away, the Japanese Sunshine Project came to the fore. A large residential test station was installed on Rokko Island beginning in 1986. This installation consists of 18 ‘dummy’ homes. Each equipped with its own 2-5 kilowatt photovoltaic system (about 20 – 50 square meters for each system). Some of these simulated homes have their own electrical appliances inside, such as TV sets, refrigerators and air conditioning units, which switch on and off under computer control providing a lavish lifestyle for the non-existent occupants. For the other systems, electronics simulate these household loads. This test station has allowed being explored in a systematic way, under well-controlled test conditions. With no insurmountable problems identified, the Japanese have used the experience gained from this station to begin their own massive residential photovoltaics campaign.
Green Roof Reading Passage E
Meanwhile, Germany began a very important ‘1,000 roof program’ in 1990, aimed at installing photovoltaics on the roofs of 1,000 private homes. Large federal and regional government subsidies were involved, accounting in most cases for 70% of the total system costs. The program proved immensely popular, forcing its extension to over 2,000 homes scattered across Germany. The success of this program stimulated other European countries to launch a similar program.
Green Roof Reading Passage F
Japan’s ‘one million roof program’ was prompted by the experience gained in the Rokko Island test site and the success of the German 1,000 roof program. The initially quoted aims of the Japanese New Energy Development Organization were to have 70,000 homes equipped with the photovoltaics by the year 2000, on the way to 1 million by 2010. The program made a modest start in 1994 when 539 systems were installed with a government subsidy of 50 percent. Under this program, entire new suburban developments are using photovoltaics.
Green Roof Reading Passage G
This is good news, not only for the photovoltaic industry but for everyone concerned with the environment. The use of fossil fuels to generate electricity is not only costly in financial terms, but also in terms of environmental damage. Gases produced by the burning of fossil fuels in the production of electricity are a major contributor to the greenhouse effect. To deal with this problem, many governments are now proposing stringent targets on the amount of greenhouse gas emissions permitted. These targets mean that all sources of greenhouse gas emissions including residential electricity use will receive closer attention in the future.
Green Roof Reading Passage H
It is likely that in the future, governments will develop building codes that attempt to constrain the energy demands of new housing. For example, the use of photovoltaics or the equivalent may be stipulated to lessen demands on the grid network and hence reduce fossil fuel emissions. Approvals for building renovations may also be conditional upon taking such energy-saving measures. If this were to happen, everyone would benefit. Although there is an initial cost in attaching the system to the rooftop, the householder’s outlay is soon compensated with savings on energy bills. In addition, everyone living on the planet stands to gain from the more benign environmental impact.
IELTS Reading Questions and Answers from the Passage
Questions 1-6
The Reading Passage has nine paragraphs A-H
Which paragraph contains the following information?
Write the correct letter A-H, in boxes 1-6 on your answer sheet.
NB You may use any letter more than once.
1 ABCDEFGH examples of countries where electricity use is greater during the day than at night
Answer: B
2 ABCDEFGH a detailed description of an experiment that led to photovoltaics being promoted throughout the country
Answer: D
3 ABCDEFGH the negative effects of using conventional means of generating electricity
Answer: G
4 ABCDEFGH an explanation of the photovoltaic system.
Answer: B
5 ABCDEFGH the long-term benefits of using photovoltaics
Answer: H
6 ABCDEFGH a reference to wealthy countries being prepared to help less wealthy countries have access to photovoltaics
Answer: E
Questions 7-13
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage?
In boxes 7-13 on your answer sheet, write
TRUE if the statement is true
FALSE if the statement is false
NOT GIVEN if the information is not given in passage
7 TRUE FALSE NOT GIVEN Photovoltaics are used to store electricity.
Answer: FALSE
8 TRUE FALSE NOT GIVEN Since the 1970s, the US government has provided continuous support for the use of photovoltaics on homes.
Answer: FALSE
9 TRUE FALSE NOT GIVEN The solar-powered house on Rokko Island is uninhabited.
Answer: TRUE
10 TRUE FALSE NOT GIVEN In 1994, the Japanese government was providing half the money required for installing photovoltaics on homes.
Answer: TRUE
11 TRUE FALSE NOT GIVEN Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Australia all have strict goals with regard to greenhouse gas emissions.
Answer: NOT GIVEN
12 TRUE FALSE NOT GIVEN Residential electricity use is the major source of greenhouse gas emission.
Answer: NOT GIVEN
13 TRUE FALSE NOT GIVEN Energy-saving measures must now be included in the design of all new homes and improvements to buildings.
Answer: NOT GIVEN
Tips to Ace IELTS Reading Answers
Here are some tips to help you ace your IELTS Reading answers:
- Skim and Scan: Before you start reading the passage, quickly skim through it to get an idea of the main topic and structure. Then scan the questions and look for keywords and phrases that can help you find the relevant information in the passage.
- Practice Active Reading: As you read the passage, be actively engaged by underlining or highlighting key information and taking notes. This will help you remember the details and locate the answers more easily.
- Don’t Assume: Don’t assume you know the answer before reading the question carefully. Sometimes the question can be tricky and require a careful read-through. Also, make sure you understand what the question is asking for and whether it is asking for a specific detail or a general idea.
- Check your spelling: Make sure you spell the answers correctly. Even one letter off can make your answer wrong, so be sure to double-check your spelling.
- Time management: Manage your time well, and don’t spend too much time on one question. If you are having difficulty finding the answer, move on to the next question and come back to it later if you have time.
- Practice, practice, practice: The more you practice, the better you’ll get. Use practice tests and exercises to get used to the format and timing of the IELTS Reading test.
- Increase your Vocabulary: Building your vocabulary can help you understand the passage and questions better. Try reading articles and books in English to increase your vocabulary.
Remember, the IELTS Reading test is not only about reading, but also about understanding and answering questions accurately. So, practice and follow these tips, and you’ll be well on your way to acing the IELTS Reading test!
Conclusion
In conclusion, acing the IELTS Reading test requires a combination of skills, including active reading, time management, and vocabulary building. Skimming and scanning the passage, understanding the questions, and double-checking spelling are also important strategies to help you find the answers accurately. Remember to practice regularly, and use practice tests and exercises to prepare for the test. With these tips and strategies, you’ll be on your way to success on the IELTS Reading test.
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