Building Houses Out Of The Earth Reading Answers

Aug 22, 2024

The topic discussed is an academic reading answers topic. Building Houses Out of Earth Reading Answers has a total of 7 IELTS questions. You have to choose the correct choice for the statements and fill in the blanks

Candidates should read the IELTS Reading passage thoroughly to recognize synonyms, identify keywords, and answer the questions below. IELTS Reading practice papers feature topics such as Building houses out of Earth Reading Answers. Candidates can use IELTS reading practice questions and answers to enhance their performance in the reading section.

Section 1

BUILDING HOUSES OUT OF EARTH

A. On every continent, one can find houses or other buildings made of clay-bearing soils dug up from the ground In some places, earth-building technologies have been around for a very long time. In the southwestern United States, for example, American Indian tribes such as the Pueblo people have been building earth houses and other earth structures for thousands of years. And in China's Xinjiang Province, archaeologists have found entire earth villages dating back over 2500 years. While building houses out of earth is certainly not new, it has never been very common because of the preference for other materials.

B. In some parts of the world, however, there has been renewed growth in the popularity of earthbuilding. Two such places are Australia and New Zealand, where the practice did not exist until the relatively recent arrival of European settlers. It is estimated that there are now over 2100 houses made of earth in Australia, and 35% of them were built within the past decade. An equal proportion of the 550 earthen structures in New Zealand were built in the last five years. This trend appears to reflect growing earth construction in North America and Eastern Europe.

C. Why is there a renewed interest in earth building? The building material itself is probably the reason. Earth is available virtually anywhere, literally under our feet. And unlike many other building materials that typically require treatment with chemical preservatives, it is non-toxic. This cannot be said for commercially sold timber and brick products

D. Another well-known characteristic of earth houses is their passive solar capacity - their ability to retain warmth in the winter and keep cool in the summer without the need for dedicated solar panels, plumbing, or fossil fuel energy sources. This comes entirely from the effective way in which earthen walls act to store heat.

E. Some people claim that earth buildings are cheaper to build than conventional brick or wooden houses, the two most common types in Australia and New Zealand. This appears to be true, according to data from the New Zealand Construction Quarterly. Assuming walls make up 15% of the cost of building a house, then the use of earthen walls would bring a total saving of 10% over timber frame construction and 38% over brick.

F. But perhaps most attractive of all is the unique atmosphere provided by earth houses, with their natural colors, their acoustic properties, and thick, solid walls. Not all the earth-building is done the same way. The technologies used vary from region to region, depending on the types of earth available and local building traditions. They are also undergoing constant study and improvement, intending to enhance resistance to earthquakes and weather.

G. In New Zealand, stabilizers such as cement, sand, straw, and even cow dung, have been found to make a stronger and longer-lasting material when added to earth. The downside of using particularly effective stabilizers like cement is that they can be expensive and their manufacture may create much pollution. Thus, their use should be kept to a minimum

H. Those who choose to build with the earth should also be careful about using paints or other coatings on the surface of the earth's walls. Some coatings can end up preventing the walls from 'breathing'. When this happens, any water coat that gets absorbed into the walls may not have a way of escaping and get trapped. This may lead to cracks or both signs of the early deterioration of the earthen material.

Question 30

Choose the appropriate letter (A - D)

30. In 'Building Houses Out of Earth', the writer's main aim is to .......

A. provide an overview of earth building.

B. promotes the building of earth houses.

C. reviews the history of earth building.

D. examines the variety of earth buildings.

Supporting statement: “......On every continent, one can find houses or other buildings made of the clay-bearing soils dug up from the ground In some places, earth-building technologies have been around for a very long time........”

Keywords: technologies, bearing

Keyword Location: para 1, line 1

Explanation: The passage doesn't focus solely on promoting, reviewing the history, or examining the variety of earth buildings but provides a broad overview of the topic. The writer explains the different aspects and benefits of earth building, making option A the most fitting choice.

Questions 31 and 32

Write your answers in boxes 31 & 32 on your answer sheet.

31. Name places where earth-building practices have existed for a long time. Southwestern United States and (31)....

Supporting statement: “.......In some places, earth-building technologies have been around for a very long time. In the southwestern United States, for example, American Indian tribes such as the Pueblo.......”

Keywords: Indian, Pueblo

Keyword Location: para A, Lines 3-5

32. Name places where earth building is becoming more popular.

Australia, North America and (32) …..

Supporting statement: “......This trend appears to reflect growing earth construction in North America and Eastern Europe........”

Keywords: America, Europe

Keyword Location: para B, Line 5

Explanation: The passage indicates that earth building is becoming more popular in Australia, North America, and Eastern Europe. Therefore, Eastern Europe is the correct answer as it is mentioned as a region where earth building is gaining traction.

Questions 33-36

In 'Building houses out of the earth', the writer mentions several reasons why some people prefer earth houses.

Read the list of reasons below and choose FOUR options referred to in the passage.

A. cost of construction

B. resistance to earthquakes

C. stability of earth

D. heat storage capacity

E. availability of materials

F. construction technology

G. appearance and character

Q.33

Supporting statement: “........Some people claim that earth buildings are cheaper to build than conventional brick or wooden houses... This appears to be true, according to data from the New Zealand Construction Quarterly.......”

Keywords: conventional, wooden

Keyword Location: para E, Lines 1-2

Explanation: The passage states that earth buildings are considered cheaper to construct compared to traditional materials like brick or wood, making cost a significant reason for their preference.

Q.34

Supporting statement: “.......Another well-known characteristic of earth houses is their passive solar capacity - their ability to retain warmth.......”

Keywords: capacity, ability

Keyword Location: para D, Lines 1-2

Explanation: The passage highlights the ability of earth houses to store heat, providing a natural method of temperature regulation, which is an appealing feature for those preferring earth houses.

Q.35

Supporting statement: “......The building material itself is probably the reason. Earth is available virtually anywhere, literally under our feet.........”

Keywords: virtually, literally

Keyword Location: para C, Lines 2-3

Explanation: The widespread availability of earth as a building material is mentioned as a key reason for the preference for earth houses, making it a practical and accessible option.

Q.36

Supporting statement: “......But perhaps most attractive of all is the unique atmosphere provided by earth houses, with their natural colors, their acoustic properties and thick, solid walls........”

Keywords: earth, natural

Keyword Location: para F, Line 1

Explanation: The passage notes the aesthetic and atmospheric appeal of earth houses, mentioning their natural colors and solid construction, which adds to their attractiveness and character, influencing people's preference for these structures.

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