An Assessment of Micro-wind Turbines IELTS Academic Reading Sample with Explanation
The IELTS academic reading test has a total of 40 questions and is scheduled for an hour. The IELTS Academic Reading Section tests the prowess of the candidate to make sense of and interpret information over three passages and 40 questions. The candidates will be given wide-ranging styles of questions that they’ll have to answer after carefully reading the given materials. The following IELTS academic reading piece caters to three types of questions:
- Give preferred headings for paragraphs
- Choose the correct statement
- Complete the sentences
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Section 1
Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions
An Assessment of Micro-wind Turbines IELTS Academic Reading Sample
- In terms of micro-renewable energy sources suitable for private use, a 15-kilowatt (kW) turbine is at the biggest end of the spectrum. With a nine metre diameter and a pole as high as a four-storey house, this is the most efficient form of wind microturbine, and the sort of thing you could install only if you had plenty of space and money. According to one estimate, a 15-kW micro-turbine (that’s one with the maximum output), costing £41,000 to purchase and a further £9,000 to install, is capable of delivering 25,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh)’ of electricity each year if placed on a suitably windy site.
- I don’t know of any credible studies of the greenhouse gas emissions involved in producing and installing turbines, so my estimates here are going to be even more broad than usual. However, it is worth trying. If turbine manufacture is about as carbon intensive per pound sterling of product as other generators and electrical motors, which seems a reasonable assumption, the carbon intensity of manufacture will be around 640 kilograms (kg) per £1,000 of value. Installation is probably about as carbon intensive as typical construction, at around 380 kg per £1,000. That makes the carbon footprint (the total amount of greenhouse gasses that installing a turbine creates) 30 tonnes.
- The carbon savings from wind-powered electricity generation depend on the carbon intensity of the electricity that you’re replacing. Let’s assume that your generation replaces the coal-fuelled part of the country’s energy mix. In other words, if you live in the UK, let’s say that rather than replacing typical grid electricity, which comes from a mix of coal, gas, oil and renewable energy sources, the effect of your turbine is to reduce the use of coal-fired power stations. That’s reasonable, because coal is the least preferable source in the electricity mix. In this case the carbon saving is roughly one kilogram per kWh, so you save 25 tonnes per year and pay back the embodied carbon in just 14 months - a great start.
- The UK government has recently introduced a subsidy for renewable energy that pays individual producers 24p per energy unit on top of all the money they save on their own fuel bill, and on selling surplus electricity back to the grid at approximately 5p per unit. With all this taken into account, individuals would get back £7,250 per year on their investment. That pays back the costs in about six years. It makes good financial sense and, for people who care about the carbon savings for their own sake, it looks like a fantastic move. The carbon investment pays back in just over a year, and every year after that is a 25-tonne carbon saving. (It’s important to remember that all these sums rely on a wind turbine having a favorable location)
- So, at face value, the turbine looks like a great idea environmentally, and a fairly good long-term investment economically for the person installing it. However, there is a crucial perspective missing from the analysis so far. Has the government spent its money wisely? It has invested 24p per unit into each micro-turbine. That works out at a massive £250 per tonne of carbon saved. My calculations tell me that had the government invested its money in offshore wind farms, instead of subsidising smaller domestic turbines, they would have broken even after eight years. In other words, the micro-turbine works out as a good investment for individuals, but only because the government spends, and arguably wastes, so much money subsidising it. Carbon savings are far lower too.
- Nevertheless, although the micro-wind turbine subsidy doesn’t look like the very best way of spending government resources on climate change mitigation, we are talking about investing only about 0.075 percent per year of the nation’s GDP to get a one percent reduction in carbon emissions, which is a worthwhile benefit. In other words, it could be much better, but it could be worse. In addition, such investment helps to promote and sustain developing technology.
- There is one extra favourable way of looking at the micro-wind turbine, even if it is not the single best way of investing money in cutting carbon. Input- output modeling has told us that it is actually quite difficult to spend money without having a negative carbon impact. So if the subsidy encourages people to spend their money on a carbon-reducing technology such as a wind turbine, rather than on carbon-producing goods like cars, and services such as overseas holidays, then the reductions in emissions will be greater than my simple sums above have suggested.
Section 2
Solution and Explanation
Questions 1-7
The reading passage has SEVEN paragraphs, A-G.
Choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list of headings below.
Write the correct number, i-ix.
List of Headings:
- A better use for large sums of money.
- The environmental costs of manufacture and installation.
- Estimates of the number of micro-turbines in use.
- The environmental benefits of running a micro-turbine.
- The size and output of the largest type of micro-turbine.
- A limited case for subsidising micro-turbines.
- Recent improvements in the design of micro-turbines.
- An indirect method of reducing carbon emissions.
- The financial benefits of running a micro-turbine.
- Paragraph A
Answer: v -The size and output of the largest type of micro-turbine
Supporting Sentence: According to one estimate, a 15-kW micro-turbine (that’s one with the maximum output), costing £41,000 to purchase and a further £9,000 to install, is capable of delivering 25,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh)’ of electricity each year if placed on a suitably windy site.
Keywords: Maximum output, capable of delivering 25,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh)’ of electricity each year
Keyword Location: Paragraph A, line 3
Explanation: The largest micro-turbine is a 15-kW turbine that can produce up to 25000 kWh of electricity annually when placed on a windy location.
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- Paragraph B
Answer: ii - The environmental costs of manufacture and installation
Supporting Sentence: If turbine manufacture is about as carbon intensive per pound sterling of product as other generators and electrical motors, which seems a reasonable assumption, the carbon intensity of manufacture will be around 640 kilograms (kg) per £1,000 of value. Installation is probably about as carbon intensive as typical construction, at around 380 kg per £1,000.
Keywords: Carbon-intensity of manufacture
Keyword Location: Paragraph B, line 3
Explanation: Similar to other technologies, manufacturing and installing micro-wind turbines generates a carbon footprint. Although the author fails to find any research evidence stating the exact figure for the emissions. Therefore, he estimates a value for the same.
- Paragraph C
Answer: iv-The environmental benefits of running a micro-turbine
Supporting Sentence: In other words, if you live in the UK, let’s say that rather than replacing typical grid electricity, which comes from a mix of coal, gas, oil and renewable energy sources, the effect of your turbine is to reduce the use of coal-fired power stations. That’s reasonable, because coal is the least preferable source in the electricity mix.
Keywords: The effect of your turbine is to reduce the use of coal-fired power stations
Keyword Location: Paragraph C, line 3
Explanation: Micro-turbines are an effective approach to reducing carbon generation. It can replace coal in making grid electricity.
- Paragraph D
Answer: ix-The financial benefits of running a micro-turbine
Supporting Sentence: The UK government has recently introduced a subsidy for renewable energy that pays individual producers 24p per energy unit on top of all the money they save on their own fuel bill, and on selling surplus electricity back to the grid at approximately 5p per unit. With all this taken into account, individuals would get back £7,250 per year on their investment.
Keywords: Payback on their investment
Keyword Location: Paragraph D, line 1
Explanation: Besides being environment friendly, micro-turbines are also cost-effective. Even though the initial costs are high, the savings on fuel and electricity paired with government subsidies amount to an annual financial gain of around £7,250.
- Paragraph E
Answer: i -A better use for large sums of money
Supporting Sentence: My calculations tell me that had the government invested its money in offshore wind farms, instead of subsidising smaller domestic turbines, they would have broken even after eight years.
Keywords: Broken even after eight years
Keyword Location: Paragraph E, line 5
Explanation: While on the surface, micro-turbines look like a terrific option, on minute observation, the author believes that the government would have profited if they invested in offshore wind farms rather than on domestic turbines.
- Paragraph F
Answer: vi-A limited case for subsidising micro-turbines
Supporting Sentence: Nevertheless, although the micro-wind turbine subsidy doesn’t look like the very best way of spending government resources on climate change mitigation, we are talking about investing only about 0.075 percent per year of the nation’s GDP to get a one percent reduction in carbon emissions, which is a worthwhile benefit. In other words, it could be much better, but it could be worse. In addition, such investment helps to promote and sustain developing technology.
Keywords: Worthwhile benefit, promote, and sustain developing technology
Keyword Location: Paragraph F, lines 1-3
Explanation: Whilst the author believes that subsidizing micro-turbines is an ineffective use of government resources, it has positive implications in mitigating carbon emission and promoting new-age technologies.
- Paragraph G
Answer: viii-An indirect method of reducing carbon emissions
Supporting Sentence: So if the subsidy encourages people to spend their money on a carbon-reducing technology such as a wind turbine, rather than on carbon-producing goods like cars, and services such as overseas holidays, then the reductions in emissions will be greater than my simple sums above have suggested.
Keywords: Spend their money on a carbon-reducing technology, reductions in emissions
Keyword Location: Paragraph G, line 3
Explanation: Subsiding micro-turbines can have some hidden benefits. Government subsidies on carbon-reducing aids can inspire people to invest in these, which can, in turn, cut their expenditure on carbon-emitting products and activities.
Questions 8-9
Choose TWO letters, A-E.
The list below contains some possible statements about micro wind turbines.
Which TWO of these statements are made by the writer of the passage?
- In certain areas, permission is required to install them.
- Their exact energy output depends on their position.
- They probably take less energy to make than other engines.
- The UK government contributes towards their purchase cost.
- They can produce more energy than a household needs.
Question 8:
Answer: B-Their exact energy output depends on their position
Supporting Sentence: According to one estimate, a 15-kW micro-turbine (that’s one with the maximum output), costing £41,000 to purchase and a further £9,000 to install, is capable of delivering 25,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh)’ of electricity each year if placed on a suitably windy site.
Keywords: Capable of delivering, suitably windy site
Keyword Location: Paragraph A, line 3
Explanation: Although in the case of a micro-turbine, the initial purchasing and installation costs are high, these can yield up to 25,000 kWh annually when seated in a correct location with the adequate wind flow.
Question 9:
Answer: E-They can produce more energy than a household needs
Supporting Sentence: In terms of micro-renewable energy sources suitable for private use, a 15-kilowatt (kW) turbine is at the biggest end of the spectrum.
Keywords: Micro-renewable energy sources, private use, biggest end of the spectrum
Keyword Location: Paragraph A, line 1
Explanation: Micro-wind turbines are a smart choice for those concerned about carbon emissions. As a micro-renewable energy source, the 15 kW turbine is capable of yielding sufficient energy for private consumption.
Questions 10-13
Complete the sentences below.
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.
- _____________ would be a more effective target for government investment than micro-turbines.
Answer: Offshore wind farms
Supporting Sentence: My calculations tell me that had the government invested its money in offshore wind farms, instead of subsidizing smaller domestic turbines, they would have broken even after eight years.
Keywords: Invested its money in offshore wind farms, broken even after eight years
Keyword Location: Paragraph E, line 5
Explanation: The passage states that the government has spent a considerable amount of wealth on domestic turbines and has subsidized such technology. However, they would attain break-even in eight years had they invested in offshore wind farms and benefitted more.
- An indirect benefit of subsidising micro-turbines is the support it provides for ________________
Answer: developing technology
Supporting Sentence: In addition, such investment helps to promote and sustain developing technology.
Keywords: Promote and sustain developing technology.
Keyword Location: Paragraph F, line 3
Explanation: The author opines that subsidizing micro wind turbines is not the ideal way to spend government resources. However, there is a silver lining. A collateral benefit of such subsidies is that it aids other developing technologies.
- Most spending has a ________________ effect on the environment.
Answer: negative
Supporting Sentence: Input- output modeling has told us that it is actually quite difficult to spend money without having a negative carbon impact.
Keywords: Negative carbon impact
Keyword Location: Paragraph G, line 2
Explanation: Throughout the passage, the author points out different aspects of micro-wind turbines and their subsidized prices. In the end, it is seen that money spent towards the carbon-cutting efforts still hurts the environment.
- If people buy a micro-turbine, they have less money to spend on things like foreign holidays and ____
Answer: cars
Supporting Sentence: So, if the subsidy encourages people to spend their money on a carbon-reducing technology such as a wind turbine, rather than on carbon-producing goods like cars, and services such as overseas holidays, then the reductions in emissions will be greater than my simple sums above have suggested.
Keywords: Subsidy encourages people to spend their money on a carbon-reducing technology, carbon-producing goods, reductions in emissions
Keyword Location: Paragraph G, line 3
Explanation: The author is not in favor of subsidizing carbon-reducing mechanisms. Nevertheless, he believes that if such endowments motivate people to invest in environmental technologies, then they would have less money to spend on carbon-emitting goods and services.
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