Green Virtues of Green Sand Reading Answers

Dec 13, 2022

Green Virtues of Green Sand Reading Answers contains 14 questions to answer in 20 minutes. Green Virtues of Green Sand Reading Answers consists of two types of questions including- match the paragraph, and no more than three words. Candidates are required to choose the correct paragraph that matches the description. In no more than three words, candidates are required to answer based on the given cue within a word limit of three words. Candidates must read the IELTS reading passage, identify keywords, and recognize synonyms to answer the question. In the IELTS Reading Section, the candidates are presented with different question styles with specific instructions. It is important that candidates abide by the word limit as well as answer accurately for what is asked.

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Section 1

Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions

Green Virtues of Green Sand Reading Answers

For the past 100 years, special high-grade white sand dug from the ground at Leighton Buzzard in the UK has been used to filter tap water to remove bacteria and impurities but this may no longer be necessary. A new factory that turns used wine bottles into green sand could revolutionize the recycling industry and help to filter Britain’s drinking water. Backed by $1.6m from the European Union and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), a company based in Scotland is building the factory, which will turn beverage bottles back into the sand from which they were made in the first place. The green sand has already been successfully tested by water companies and is being used in 50 swimming pools in Scotland to keep the water clean.
The idea is not only to avoid using up an increasingly scarce natural resource, sand but also to solve a crisis in the recycling industry. Britain uses 5.5m tonnes of glass a year, but recycles only 750,000 tonnes of it. The problem is that half the green bottle glass in Britain is originally from imported wine and beer bottles. Because there is so much of it, and it is used less in domestic production than other types, green glass is worth only $25 a tonne. Clear glass, which is melted down and used for whisky bottles, mainly for export, is worth double that amount.
Howard Dryden, a scientist and managing director of the company, Dryden Aqua, of Bonnyrigg, near Edinburgh, has spent six years working on the product he calls Active Filtration Media, or AFM. He concedes that he has given what is basically recycled glass a ‘fancy name' to remove the stigma of what most people would regard as an inferior product. He says he needs bottles that have already contained drinkable liquids to be sure that drinking water filtered through the AFM would not be contaminated. Crushed down beverage glass has fewer impurities than real sand and it performed better in trials. 'The fact is that tests show that AFM does the job better than sand, it is easier to clean and reuse and has all sorts of properties that make it ideal for other applications.' he claimed.
The factory is designed to produce 100 tonnes of AFM a day, although Mr Dryden regards this as a large-scale pilot project rather than full production. Current estimates of the UK market for this glass for filtering drinking water, sewage, industrial water, swimming pools and fish farming are between 175.000 to 217.000 tonnes a year, which will use up most of the glass available near the factory. So he intends to build five or six factories in cities where there are large quantities of bottles, in order to cut down on transport costs.
The current factory will be completed this month and is expected to go into full production on January 14th next year. Once it is providing a ‘regular’ product, the government’s drinking water inspectorate will be asked to perform tests and approve it for widespread use by water companies. A Defra spokesman said it was hoped that AFM could meet approval within six months. The only problem that they could foresee was possible contamination if some glass came from sources other than beverage bottles.
Among those who have tested the glass already is Caroline Fitzpatrick of the civil and environmental engineering department of University College London. ‘We have looked at a number of batches and it appears to do the job.' she said. ‘Basically, sand is made of glass and Mr Dryden is turning bottles back into sand. It seems a straightforward idea and there is no reason we can think of why it would not work. Since glass from wine bottles and other beverages has no impurities and clearly did not leach any substances into the contents of the bottles, there was no reason to believe there would be a problem,’ Dr Fitzpatrick added.
Mr Dryden has set up a network of agents round the world to sell AFM. It is already in use in central America to filter water on banana plantations where the fruit has to be washed before being despatched to European markets. It is also in use in sewage works to filter water before it is returned to rivers, something which is becoming legally necessary across the European Union because of tighter regulations on sewage works. So there are a great number of applications involving cleaning up water. Currently, however, AFM costs $670 a tonne, about four times as much as good quality sand. ‘Hut that is because we haven't got large-scale production. Obviously, when we get going it will cost a lot less, and be competitive with sand in price as well.’ Mr Dryden said. ‘I believe it performs better and lasts longer than sand, so it is going to be better valued too.'
If AFM takes off as a product it will be a big boost for the government agency which is charged with finding a market for recycled products. Crushed glass is already being used in road surfacing and in making tiles and bricks. Similarly. AFM could prove to have a widespread use and give green glass a cash value

Section 2

Solution and Explanation
Questions 1-10
This Reading Passage has 8 paragraphs labelled A-H. Which paragraph contains the following information?
Write the correct letter A-H in boxes 1-10 on your answer sheet.

NB You may use any letter more than once.

(Guide: Go through the paragraphs correctly and check which paragraph content align with the sentence of the question. Tip: Look for the keywords in the question and find the same keywords in the paragraphs of the IELTS reading passage)

A description of plans to expand production of AFM

Answer: Paragraph D
Keywords: Green glass, six factories, large quantities of bottles
Supporting sentence: So he intends to build five or six factories in cities where there are large quantities of bottles, in order to cut down on transport costs.
Explanation: The last sentence of paragraph D mentions that he had an intention to build 5-6 factories in the cities. This plan has a clear indication of reducing the transportation costs. Mr. Dryden had a full-fledged plan to use the recycling technology for the benefit of society. Mr.Dryden intends to produce 100 tonnes of AFM in the factory as a large-scale pilot project rather than going for full production. The current requirement of the UK market for this glass for purifying drinking water, sewage, industrial water, swimming pools, and fish farming is up to 175.00 to 217.000 tonnes a year which will utilize most of the glasses accessible near the factory. He hopes to build five or six factories in cities where there are large quantities of bottles available. This will help to snuff out transportation costs. The content clearly goes with the sentence given in this question - so this is the correct description of paragraph D.

The identification of potential danger in the raw material for AFM

Answer: Paragraph E
Keywords: raw material, AFM, possible contamination
Supporting sentence: A Defra spokesman said it was hoped that AFM could meet approval within six months. The only problem that they could foresee was possible contamination if some glass came from sources other than beverage bottles.
Explanation: The last 2 lines of paragraph E mentions that the possibility of contamination can only occur if a glass substance is used which came from an unusual source other than beverage bottles. Here it is clearly stated that a Defra spokesman mentioned that there were hopes. AFM could probably meet approval in six months. But there was a risk - possible contamination in case some glass came from sources other than beverage bottles. As it completely aligns with the given sentence of this question, Paragraph E is the correct answer for this question.

An example of AFM use in the export market

Answer: Paragraph G
Keywords: sell AFM, central America, despatched to European markets
Supporting sentence: Mr Dryden has set up a network of agents round the world to sell AFM. It is already in use in central America to filter water on banana plantations where the fruit has to be washed before being despatched to European markets. It is also in use in
sewage works to filter water before it is returned to rivers, something which is becoming legally necessary across the European Union because of tighter regulations on sewage works.
Explanation: According to the first and second lines of paragraph G, Mr.Dryden has concocted a network of agents around the world to sell Active Filtration Media. It is employed in Central America to purify water on banana plantations where the fruit has to be washed before being shipped out to European markets. This is exactly what the sentence of the question says - so, there is no doubt that it is the correct answer.

A comparison of the value of green glass and other types of glass

Answer: Paragraph B
Keywords: Clear glass, Green Glass
Supporting Sentence: “Because there is so much of it, and it is used less in domestic production than other types, green glass is worth only $25 a tonne. Clear glass, which is melted down and used for whisky bottles, mainly for export, is worth double that amount.”
Explanation: The main motto behind using this way to purify is to avoid using scarce natural resources and also to solve the crisis in the recycling industry. Britain uses 5.5m tonnes of green glasses a year but converts only 750,000 tonnes of it. The problem lies in the fact that half of the green bottles used in Britain are initially from imported wine and beer bottles and that it is used less in domestic production. The actual worth of green glass is only $25 a tonne. Whereas the clear glass is warmed down and used for whisky bottles which are mainly used for shipping is worth double that amount.

A list of potential applications of AFM in the domestic market

Answer: Paragraph D
Keywords: drinking water, sewage, industrial water, swimming pools and fish farming
Supporting Sentence: Current estimates of the UK market for this glass for filtering drinking water, sewage, industrial water, swimming pools and fish farming are between 175.000 to 217.000 tonnes a year, which will use up most of the glass available near the factory. So he intends to build five or six factories in cities where there are large quantities of bottles, in order to cut down on transport costs.}
Explanation: The potential use of Active filtration Media in the UK market for this glass is panning drinking water, sewage, industrial water, swimming pools, and fish farming that generally comprises between 175.000 to 217.000 tonnes a year. This will generally use up most of the glass accessible near the factory. Therefore, Paragraph D goes accurately with the sentence mentioned here.

The conclusions drawn from laboratory checks on the process of AFM production

Answer: Paragraph F
Keywords: made of glass, turning bottles back into sand
Supporting Sentence: ‘We have looked at a number of batches and it appears to do the job.' she said. ‘Basically, sand is made of glass and Mr Dryden is turning bottles back into sand. It seems a straightforward idea and there is no reason we can think of why it would not work.
Explanation: Mr.Dryden has tested the bottles in the laboratory. The conclusion he drew out from that is sand is made of glass and he can turn bottles back into the sand. He wanted to prove that glass from wine bottles and other beverages has no contaminants and it did not leach any substance into the contents of the bottles. Hence it was approved and there was no reason to believe that there would be a problem.

Identification of current funding for the production of green sand

Answer: Paragraph A
Keywords: Backed by $1.6m, urn beverage bottles, into the sand, first place
Supporting Sentence: Backed by $1.6m from the European Union and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), a company based in Scotland is building the factory, which will turn beverage bottles back into the sand from which they were made in
the first place.
Explanation: Around 100years ago, high-grade white sand was used to filter tap water to wipe out bacteria and impurities from the ground at Leighton Buzzard in the UK. Thereafter a new factory was created which could turn wine bottles into green sand. This invention helped to revolutionize the recycling enterprise and to filter out Britain's drinking water. The green sand has been successfully assessed by water companies and it is employed in swimming pools in Scotland to keep the water pristine. The company in Scotland named the European Union and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is designing the factory which can turn beverage bottles back into the sand.

An explanation of the chosen brand name for crushed green glass

Answer: Paragraph C
Keywords: fancy name, remove the stigma, inferior product
Supporting Sentence: He concedes that he has given what is basically recycled glass a ‘fancy name' to remove the stigma of what most people would regard as an inferior product. He says he needs bottles that have already contained drinkable liquids to be sure that drinking water filtered through the AFM would not be contaminated.
Explanation: A scientist and managing director of the company Dryden Aqua has used up 6 years working on the product which is labeled as Active Filtration Media. He titled that recycled product of glass a 'fancy name' to discard the stigma of being an inferior outcome. He believed that bottles that have already contained drinkable liquids when passed through Active Filtration Media would not be polluted. Also, crushed down beverage glass has fewer contaminants than real sand and it performed better in trials.

A description of plans for exporting AFM

Answer: Paragraph G
Keywords: use in sewage works, filter water, cleaning up water
Supporting Sentence: It is also in use in sewage works to filter water before it is returned to rivers, something which is becoming legally necessary across the European Union because of tighter regulations on sewage works. So there are a great number of applications
involving cleaning up water.
Explanation: Mr.Dryden has concocted a network of agents around the world to sell Active Filtration Media. It is employed in Central America to purify water on banana plantations where the fruit has to be washed before being shipped out to European markets. It was also adopted in sewage works to screen water before it is returned to rivers. This has become legally important across the European Union due to tighter regulations on sewage works. The outcome of this process is promising and additionally, other processes are used to clean up water.

A description of what has to happen before AFM is accepted for general use

Answer: Paragraph E
Keywords: perform tests, approve for widespread use
Supporting Sentence: Once it is providing a ‘regular’ product, the government’s drinking water inspectorate will be asked to perform tests and approve it for widespread use by water companies. A Defra spokesman said it was hoped that AFM could meet approval within six months.
Explanation: Once it provides regular products, the government will be obliged to go through a check of that drinking water with the help of the inspectorate of drinking water. He will thereafter perform some important tests and approve them. Once approved it can be widespread for use by water companies. A spokesman of Defra claimed that AFM could meet approval within six months. The only issue they could foresee is possible contamination if a glass substance is used other than beverage bottles.

Questions 11-14 - Complete the summary below.

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer. Write your answers in boxes 11-14 on your answer sheet.

Green sand

The use of crushed green glass (AFM) may have two significant impacts: it may help to save a diminishing 11 ................... while at the same time solving a major problem for the 12 ................... in the UK. However, according to Howard Dryden, only glass from bottles that have been used for 13 ................... can be used in the production process. AFM is more effective than 14 ................... as a water filter, and also has other uses.

Question 11:

Answer: Natural resource
Keywords: avoid using up, scarce natural resource
Supporting Sentence: The idea is not only to avoid using up an increasingly scarce natural resource, sand but also to solve a crisis in the recycling industry.
Explanation: Since natural resources are limited we can avoid using that. Paragraph B of this IELTS reading passage mentions that the idea of using this recycling technique will avoid the use of natural resources. Recycle is undoubtedly a great task and it helps the environment to remain healthy for the people living in it. However, the recycling methods need to be eco-friendly. In case, recycling process uses natural resources, there will be a scarcity of natural resources.

Question 12:

Answer: Recycling industry
Keywords: 5.5m tonnes of glass, recycles only 750,000 tonnes
Supporting Sentence: Britain uses 5.5m tonnes of glass a year, but recycles only 750,000 tonnes of it. The problem is that half the green bottle glass in Britain is originally from imported wine and beer bottles.
Explanation: This could help in figuring out the crisis of the recycling industry. The bottles are treated as garbage in Britain. In Paragraph B it is clearly mentioned that only 750,000 tonnes out of 5.5m Tonnes of glass bottles. The recycling industry can use the method of recycling glass bottles into green sand and use it for filtration purposes. This will solve the problem of treating these bottles as garbage.

Question 13:

Answer: Drinkable liquids/beverages
Keywords: drinkable liquids, drinking water filtered, crushed down beverage glass
Supporting Sentence: He says he needs bottles that have already contained drinkable liquids to be sure that drinking water filtered through the AFM would not be contaminated. Crushed down beverage glass has fewer impurities than real sand and it performed better in
trials.
Explanation: The bottles that had contained drinkable water once transmitted through Active Filtration Media would not be polluted. The crushed down material would have rarer impurities. In paragraph C, this is mentioned that the bottles containing some drinkable liquids. However, they need to make sure that drinking water filtering will save unnecessary contamination. The crushed bottles and glasses contain lesser impurities compared to real sand. So, using glass bottles are safer for filtration.

Question 14:

Answer: (real) sand
Keywords: better than sand, easier to clean and reuse
Supporting Sentence: 'The fact is that tests show that AFM does the job better than sand, it is easier to clean and reuse and has all sorts of properties that make it ideal for other applications.' he claimed.
Explanation: The Active Filtration process does a satisfactory job than sand(real). It is effortlessly used to clean and reuse. Paragraph C is all about the comparison of real sand and crushed bottle as an alternative to sand. From the 6-7th line of this paragraph, it is clear that the glass bottles are way better than the real sand. In addition to that, crushed glass bottles will solve the excess waste. Therefore, the amount of pollution in the environment will be reduced.

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