Talk Icon

Practice 100+ speaking topics!

Star rating icon

4.2

1M+ Installs

Get App

leap-scholar-logo
hamburger-menu

Green Roofs Reading Answers: IELTS Reading Practice Test

updated at

Updated on Jul 02, 2024, 11:57

Green roofs are vegetative systems installed on rooftops of buildings to provide environmental benefits such as reducing stormwater runoff, improving air quality, and regulating building temperature. They are becoming increasingly popular in urban areas to promote sustainability and improve the urban environment.

 

Green Roofs is a topic that may appear in the IELTS reading section. It refers to vegetative systems installed on rooftops of buildings to provide environmental benefits such as reducing stormwater runoff, improving air quality, and regulating building temperature. 

On This Page

Arrow right
Slider image

1. Green Roofs Reading Passage

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1-13 based on Reading Passage 1 below.

Slider image

2. Green Roofs Reading Questions & Answers

Have you read the passage? Now, take the test and find Green Roofs Reading answers! Try to answer these questions by yourself before you sneak a peek at the answers given below.

More for you

Boost your IELTS Reading score

 

Book Free Reading class arrow right

See how to score 8+ in Speaking. 

 

Get proven strategies to ace your IELTS Speaking test.

Learn More arrow right
3/3
1.

Green Roofs Reading Passage

General Instructions to Follow During the IELTS Reading Test

The following instructions will help you save time and improve your scores in the Green Roof reading questions and answers.

  • Pay attention to the instructions given before the questions. Read it carefully and understand what’s being asked of you.
  • The reading passages are typically ordered with slightly increasing difficulty levels. To save time, try to answer the most challenging parts first.
  • Keep an eye on the clock. Every IELTS Exam centre has a clock on the wall. Watch it to stay ahead of your time limit.
  • Use skimming and scanning techniques and scan for keywords to answer questions.

 

 

 

 

Green Roof Reading Passage


 

A. Rooftops covered with grass, vegetable gardens and lush foliage are now a common sight in many cities worldwide. More and more private companies and city authorities are investing in green roofs, drawn to their wide-ranging benefits. Among the benefits are saving on energy costs, mitigating the risk of floods, making habitats for urban wildlife, tackling air pollution and even growing food. These increasingly radical urban designs can help cities adapt to the monumental problems they face, such as resource access and a lack of green space due to development. However, the involvement of city authorities, businesses, and other institutions is crucial to ensuring their success, as is research investigating different options to suit the variety of rooftop spaces found in cities. The UK is relatively new to developing green roofs, and local governments and institutions play a major role in spreading the practice. London is home to much of the UK’s green roof market, mainly due to forward-thinking policies such as the London Plan, which has paved the way to more than doubling the area of green roofs in the capital.

 

B. Ongoing research showcases how green roofs in cities can integrate with ‘living walls’: environmentally friendly walls which are partially or completely covered with greenery, including a growing medium, such as soil or water. Research also indicates that green roofs can be integrated with drainage systems on the ground, such as street trees so that the water is managed better and the built environment is made more sustainable. There is also evidence to demonstrate the social value of green roofs. Doctors are increasingly prescribing time spent gardening outdoors for patients dealing with anxiety and depression. Research has found that access to even the most basic green spaces can provide a better quality of life for dementia sufferers and help people avoid obesity.

 

C. In North America, green roofs have become mainstream, with a wide array of expansive, accessible and food-producing roofs installed in buildings. Again, city leaders and authorities have helped push the movement forward – only recently, San Francisco, USA, created a policy requiring new buildings to have green roofs. Toronto, Canada, has policies dating from the 1990s that encourage the development of rooftop urban farms. These countries also benefit from having newer buildings than in many parts of the world, which makes it easier to install green roofs. Keeping enough water at roof height and distributing it across the rooftop is crucial to maintaining the plants on any green roof – especially on ‘edible roofs’ where fruit and vegetables are farmed. And it’s much easier to do this in newer buildings, which can typically hold greater weight than to retrofit old ones. A stronger roof also makes growing a greater variety of plants easier, since the soil can be deeper.

 

D. For green roofs to become the norm for new developments, support from public authorities and private investors is needed. Those responsible for maintaining buildings may have to acquire new skills, such as landscaping; in some cases, volunteers may be needed to help out. Other considerations include installing drainage paths, meeting health and safety requirements and perhaps allowing access for the public, and planning restrictions and disruption from regular activities in and around the buildings during installation. Economic arguments are still important in convincing investors and developers that installing green roofs is worthwhile. The term ‘natural capital’ has been developed to explain the economic value of nature; for example, measuring the money saved by installing natural solutions to protect against flood damage, adapting to climate change or helping people lead healthier and happier lives.

 

E. As the expertise about green roofs grows, official standards have been developed to ensure that they are designed, constructed and maintained properly and function well. Improvements in the science and technology underpinning green roof development have also led to new variations in the concept. For example, ‘blue roofs’ enable buildings to hold water over longer periods rather than quickly draining it – crucial in heavier rainfall. There are also combinations of green roofs with solar panels and ‘brown roofs’, which are wilder and maximise biodiversity. If the trend continues, it could create new jobs, a more vibrant and sustainable local food economy, and many other benefits. There are still barriers to overcome, but the evidence so far indicates that green roofs have the potential to transform cities and help them function sustainably long into the future. The success stories need to be studied and replicated elsewhere to make green, blue, brown and food-producing roofs the norm in cities worldwide.

2.

Green Roofs Reading Questions & Answers

Have you read the passage? Now, take the test and find Green Roofs Reading answers! 
 

Leap to Learn: Tip of the Moment!

Remember, most of these questions follow the order of the passage, so it’s easy to trace back if you look through the paragraphs sequentially.

 

Try to answer these questions by yourself before you sneak a peek at the answers given below. 
 

Good luck! 

Questions and Answers 1-5
  • The passage has paragraphs: A-E.
  • Which paragraph contains the following information?
  • Write the correct letter, A-E, in boxes 1-5 on your answer sheet.


Note: You may use any letter more than once.

 

  1. mention of several challenges to be overcome before a green roof can be installed
  2. reference to a city where green roofs have been promoted for many years
  3. a belief that existing green roofs should be used as a model for new ones
  4. examples of how green roofs can work in combination with other green urban initiatives
  5. the need to make a persuasive argument for the financial benefits of green roofs

 

Green Roofs Reading Answers with Explanations (1-5)

 

Type of question: Matching Information

 

A "Matching Information" question requires you to match a list of statements with the correct paragraphs or sections from a text. Read the statements, scan the text for relevant information, and transfer your answer to the answer sheet. Follow the instructions carefully and check your answers before moving on.

 

Click here to learn more about IELTS modules!

 

1. D: mention of several challenges to be overcome before a green roof can be installed

 

Reference

 

From paragraph A: “For green roofs to become the norm for new developments, support …adapting to climate change or help people lead healthier and happier lives.

 

Explanation

Paragraph A clearly mentions that green roofs are "adorned with vegetation," indicating that they are covered with plants and vegetation, not merely painted green or made of sustainable materials.

 

1. Paragraph C

 

Reference

 

From paragraph C: “Keeping enough water at roof height and distributing it across the rooftop is crucial to maintaining the plants…….retrofit old ones. A stronger roof also makes growing more plants easier since the soil can be deeper.

 

Explanation

Paragraph C mentions several challenges that must be overcome before a green roof can be installed. It discusses the importance of keeping enough water at roof height, distributing it across the rooftop, and maintaining the plants. It also highlights the difficulty of retrofitting old buildings compared to newer ones and the need for stronger roofs to support green roofs. Therefore, the answer is Paragraph C.

 

2. Paragraph C

 

Reference

 

From paragraph C: “In North America, green roofs have become mainstream, with a wide array of expansive….a greater variety of plants easier, since the soil can be deeper.”
 

Explanation

Paragraph C discusses that in North America, green roofs have become popular, with many buildings having expansive, accessible, and food-producing roofs installed. City leaders and authorities have played a key role in promoting this trend. For example, San Francisco, USA, recently made a policy stating that new buildings must have green roofs. Therefore, the answer is Paragraph C.

 

3. Paragraph E

 

Reference

 

From paragraph E: “As the expertise about green roofs grows, official standards have been developed to ensure that…. make green, blue, brown and food-producing roofs the norm in cities worldwide.
 

Explanation

Paragraph E states that existing green roofs serve as a model to set standards for designing and maintaining new ones, emphasising their importance in shaping future developments. Therefore, the answer is Paragraph E.

 

4. Paragraph B

 

Reference

 

From paragraph B: “Ongoing research showcases how green roofs in cities can integrate….for dementia sufferers and help people avoid obesity.
 

Explanation

Paragraph B discusses how green roofs can integrate with other green urban initiatives, such as 'living walls' and street trees, to improve water management and overall sustainability. This aligns with the statement about examples of how green roofs can work in combination with other green urban initiatives. Therefore, the answer is Paragraph B.

 

5. Paragraph D

 

Reference

 

From paragraph D: “For green roofs to become the norm for new developments, support …adapting to climate change or help people lead healthier and happier lives.
 

Explanation

The passage in paragraph D discusses the importance of economic arguments in convincing investors and developers about the worthiness of installing green roofs. It mentions the concept of 'natural capital' and how it can explain the economic value of nature, indicating the need to make persuasive financial arguments for green roofs. Therefore, the answer is Paragraph D.

Questions and Answers 6-9
  • Complete the summary below.
  • Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.
  • Write your answers in boxes 6-9 on your answer sheet.

 

Advantages of green roofs

City rooftops covered with greenery have many advantages. These include lessening the likelihood that floods will occur, reducing how much money is spent on (6) _________ and creating environments that are suitable for wildlife. In many cases, they can also be used for producing (7) _________ .

There are also social benefits of green roofs. For example, the medical profession recommends (8) _______ as an activity to help people cope with mental health issues. Studies have also shown that the availability of green spaces can prevent physical problems such as (9)_______ .

 

Green Roofs Answers with Explanations (6-9)

 

Question Type: Summary Completion

 

A summary completion question in IELTS reading requires the test-taker to complete a summary of a given passage using words from a list or writing their own words. This question type tests the test-taker's ability to comprehend and summarise the main ideas of a passage.
 

Learn more about IELTS Reading!

 

6. Energy

 

Reference

 

From paragraph A: “Rooftops covered with grass, vegetable gardens and lush foliage are now a common sight in….has paved the way to more than doubling the area of green roofs in the capital.

 

Explanation

Paragraph A states that one of the advantages of green roofs is "saving on energy costs." Green roofs act as natural insulators, reducing the need for heating in winter and air conditioning in summer, thus saving energy costs.

 

7. Food

 

Reference

 

From paragraph A: “Rooftops covered with grass, vegetable gardens and lush foliage are now a common sight in….has paved the way to more than doubling the area of green roofs in the capital.

 

Explanation

Paragraph A mentions that green roofs can be used for food production: "In many cases, they can also be used for food." This indicates that green roofs can serve as spaces for urban agriculture and food production.

 

8. Gardening

 

Reference

 

From paragraph B: “Ongoing research is showcasing how green roofs in cities can integrate with ‘living walls’: environmentally…better quality of life for dementia sufferers and help people avoid obesity.

 

Explanation

Paragraph B mentions that green roofs can be used to produce food. Specifically, it states, "In North America, green roofs have become mainstream, with a wide array of expansive, accessible and food-producing roofs installed in buildings." This indicates that one of the advantages of green roofs is that they can be used for gardening, which includes growing food. Therefore, gardening is the appropriate answer.

 

9. Obesity

 

Reference

 

From paragraph B: “Ongoing research is showcasing how green roofs in cities can integrate with ‘living walls’: environmentally…better quality of life for dementia sufferers and help people avoid obesity.

 

Explanation

Paragraph B suggests that the availability of green spaces can prevent physical problems such as obesity. It mentions, "Studies have also shown that the availability of green spaces can prevent physical problems such as obesity". This implies that access to green spaces encourages physical activity and contributes to a healthier lifestyle, reducing the risk of obesity.

Questions and Answers 10-13

Questions 10 and 11

  • Choose TWO letters, A-E.
  • Write the correct letters in boxes 10 and 11 on your answer sheet.

 

Paragraph C of the passage mentions TWO advantages of using newer buildings for green roofs.

 

  1. a longer growing season for edible produce
  2. more economical use of water
  3. greater water-storage capacity
  4. ability to cultivate more plant types
  5. a large surface area for growing plants

 

Questions 12 and 13

  • Choose TWO letters, A-E.
  • Write the correct letters in boxes 10 and 11 on your answer sheet.

 

In Paragraph E of the passage, which two aims of new variations on the concept of green roofs are mentioned?

 

  1. to provide habitats for a wide range of species
  2. to grow plants successfully even in the wettest climates
  3. to regulate the temperature of the immediate environment
  4. to generate power from a sustainable source
  5. to collect water to supply other buildings

 

Green Roofs Reading Answers with Explanations (10-13)

 

Type of question: Matching Headings

 

Matching headings is a question type in the IELTS reading section where you match a list of headings to paragraphs in the passage. It is important to carefully read and understand the headings, look for keywords and phrases, and use the process of elimination to determine which headings do not match. 
 

How to best answer the question

 

  • Carefully read the incomplete sentence and try to understand what information is missing.
  • Pay attention to the context and any clues in the sentence or the surrounding text.
  • Choose the option that best completes the sentence based on the information from the reading passage.

 

10 & 11. C, D

 

Reference:

 

From Paragraph C: “In North America, green roofs have become mainstream, with a wide array of expansive, accessible…variety of plants easier, since the soil can be deeper.”

 

Explanation

Paragraph C of the passage discusses the advantages of using newer buildings for green roofs. First, newer buildings have a greater capacity to store water, which is essential for maintaining vegetation on green roofs, especially when used for farming. This corresponds to option C. Second, newer buildings have stronger roofs, supporting deeper soil and a wider variety of plants. This means that more plant types can be cultivated on the green roofs of newer buildings. Option D aligns with this statement.


 

12 & 13. A, D

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph E: “As the expertise about green roofs grows, official standards have been developed to ensure that…. make green, blue, brown and food-producing roofs the norm in cities worldwide.

 

Explanation

Paragraph E of the passage talks about new types of green roofs. Two goals of these new variations are mentioned. One is to provide homes for many different types of plants and animals. The other is to use solar panels to produce renewable energy. Option A matches the first goal, and option D matches the second goal.

ielts logo

Get the IELTS Prep App

Star rating icon

4.2

1M+ Installs

app download banner image

Get the app link on your phone

+91

Or download app from

google play storeapp store

Next Up

IELTS Listening Practice Test

Read Now Read now

IELTS Reading Practice Test

Read Now Read now

IELTS Practice Test

Read Now Read now

IELTS Speaking Practice Test

Read Now Read now

IELTS Writing Practice Test

Read Now Read now

Top Reading Samples with Answers

IELTS Important Information

Read More about IELTS Practice Test

IELTS Accepting Universities

IELTS Test Centre and Dates in India

IELTS Accepting Countries

FAQs

Q. What are good tips/practices for IELTS Reading preparation?

Ans. To prepare for the IELTS reading exam, you should familiarise yourself with the test format, improve your reading speed, develop your vocabulary, practice with sample tests, improve your skimming and scanning skills, and read various texts. Practice is essential, and with regular practice and dedication, you can improve your reading skills and achieve a high score on the test.

Q. How can I score better on my IELTS Reading test?

Ans. To score better on your IELTS reading exam, you should focus on time management, skimming and scanning, vocabulary, accuracy, practice with sample tests, and reading different types of texts. Consistent and dedicated preparation is the key to achieving a high score on the test.

Q. Can I retake the IELTS Reading test alone?

Ans. Yes, you can retake any section of the IELTS test, whether listening, reading, writing, or speaking. The format and timing of that IELTS One Skill Retake test are the same as that individual skill in a full IELTS test; you can save time by not needing to complete the other three skills.

Q. Is the IELTS Reading test difficult to score?

Ans. The difficulty of the IELTS reading test depends on your English proficiency and familiarity with the test format. The test can be challenging because it contains a wide range of texts and questions within a limited time. However, with consistent preparation and practice, you can improve your skills and achieve a high score on the test.

Q. What is the minimum preparation time required for the IELTS Reading test?

Ans. The minimum preparation time required for the IELTS reading test is four weeks. This will give you enough time to improve your reading skills, develop your vocabulary, practice with sample tests, and improve your skimming and scanning skills. However, the amount of preparation time required depends on your current level of English proficiency and familiarity with the test format.

Q. How can I answer multiple choice questions for the IELTS Reading test?

Ans. To answer multiple-choice questions in the IELTS reading test, you should read the instructions and questions carefully, skim the text quickly to locate the relevant section, eliminate wrong answers, and make an educated guess if you are unsure. With practice, you can improve your skills and achieve a high score on the test.

Q. How can I improve my comprehension skills for the IELTS Reading test?

Ans. To improve your comprehension skills for the IELTS reading test, you can:
 

  • Read Regularly
  • Practice skimming and scanning
  • Focus on vocabulary
  • Use context clues
  • Take practice tests

 

Following these tips can improve your skills and perform better in the IELTS reading test.

Q. What are some good resources for improving my reading skills in general?

Ans.  Try using sites like Project Gutenberg and Medium, where you can find many different things to read to improve your reading skills. If you have a lot of books, go to your local library, and they'll help you find books that suit you. To easily find books and audiobooks you want to listen to, apps such as the Kindle or Goodreads can also be used. Use websites such as Khan Academy or Newsela to practice exercises that correspond with your reading levels to improve your understanding of what you read.

Q. What are some common misconceptions about the IELTS Reading test?

Ans. There are several misconceptions about the IELTS reading test, including the belief that you need to know all the words in the passage, read the entire passage, that the questions are straightforward, that you need to answer the questions in order, and that you need prior knowledge of the topics. By understanding these misconceptions, you can confidently approach the test and clearly understand what is required to do well.

Q. How can I stay calm and focused during the IELTS Reading test?

Ans. To stay calm and focused during the IELTS reading test, practice mindfulness, manage your time, stay hydrated, stay relaxed, read the questions carefully, and stay positive. You can perform to the best of your abilities by following these tips.

Q. What is the band score range for the IELTS Reading module?

Ans. The band score range for the IELTS reading module is 0 to 9. The score is based on the number of correct answers and is calculated using a conversion table. The final score is rounded to the nearest half-band and reported as a whole or half-band. A score of 9 indicates expert user proficiency, while 0 indicates non-user proficiency. The score requirements vary depending on the institution or organisation that requires the test.