Nuclear Power: Friend or Foe? Reading Answers

Aug 8, 2025

Nuclear Power: Friend or Foe? Reading Answers is an academic reading answers topic. Nuclear Power: Friend or Foe? Reading Answers has a total of 13 IELTS questions in total. In the question set given, you have to state whether the statement is true, false or not given with the information given in the text. In the next question set, you have to match the statement with the correct paragraph. Write the correct letter, A—G.

The IELTS Reading section is an essential part of the test that evaluates a candidate's comprehension and analysis of various passage types. You will work through a number of IELTS reading practice problems in this section that resemble actual test situations. These questions are designed to help you improve your ability to recognise essential concepts, extract

particular facts, and make inferences. Practising these IELTS reading problems can help you get comfortable with the structure and increase your confidence for the exam, regardless of whether you are studying for the Academic or General Training module.

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Section 1

NUCLEAR POWER: FRIEND OR FOE?

Nuclear power has long been a subject of intense global debate, praised for its efficiency and low greenhouse gas emissions, yet feared for its potential dangers and long-term environmental consequences. As countries seek sustainable energy sources to combat climate change, the role of nuclear energy remains complex and controversial.

The primary advantage of nuclear power lies in its efficiency. A single uranium pellet, no larger than a fingertip, can produce as much energy as a tonne of coal. Unlike fossil fuels, nuclear plants release negligible amounts of carbon dioxide during energy production. This has led proponents to argue that nuclear power is a crucial part of any realistic plan to reduce carbon emissions and slow global warming. Countries like France and Sweden rely heavily on nuclear energy and boast some of the lowest carbon footprints in the industrialized world.

However, the concerns associated with nuclear power are considerable. The most prominent is the risk of accidents. Incidents such as the 1986 Chernobyl disaster in Ukraine and the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi meltdown in Japan revealed how catastrophic a nuclear accident can be, both in terms of human health and environmental destruction. While proponents argue that modern reactors are far safer and incorporate fail-safes, critics maintain that no system is immune to human error or natural disasters.

Another major issue is radioactive waste. Spent nuclear fuel remains hazardous for thousands of years, and currently, no country has developed a universally accepted long-term storage solution. Most waste is stored in secure facilities near reactors or in temporary underground locations, but critics worry about the risks of leakage, terrorism, or natural degradation of containment systems over time.

Cost is another debated aspect. Nuclear power plants are extremely expensive to build, often taking decades to become operational. Though they produce electricity at low cost once functioning, initial construction, decommissioning, and waste management significantly raise the overall price tag compared to renewable sources like wind or solar. In contrast, advancements in renewable technology are making green energy more competitive every year.

Public opinion on nuclear energy varies widely. Some see it as a "necessary evil" in the transition to cleaner energy, especially for countries that cannot rely on consistent sunlight or wind. Others believe that investments should focus entirely on renewable sources, viewing nuclear power as a distraction and a long-term liability. In conclusion, the debate over nuclear power does not present simple answers. It offers promising solutions to energy and climate challenges, but comes with serious risks that society must manage. The path forward may depend on technological advances, public acceptance, and political will to weigh the benefits against the dangers.

Questions 28-33

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the passage? Write:

TRUE if the statement agrees with the information

FALSE if the statement contradicts the information

NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this

28. Nuclear energy releases more carbon dioxide than fossil fuels.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: "Unlike fossil fuels, nuclear plants release negligible amounts of carbon dioxide during energy production."

Keywords: carbon dioxide, unlike fossil fuels

Keyword Location: Para 2, Lines 2-3

Explanation: The passage explicitly states that nuclear plants release negligible amounts of carbon dioxide, which is the opposite of releasing more carbon dioxide than fossil fuels.

29. Some countries generate a significant portion of their electricity from nuclear sources.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: "Countries like France and Sweden rely heavily on nuclear energy and boast some of the lowest carbon footprints in the industrialized world."

Keywords: France, Sweden, rely heavily, nuclear energy

Keyword Location: Para 2, Lines 5-6

Explanation: The passage states that France and Sweden rely heavily on nuclear energy, indicating that a significant portion of their electricity comes from this source.

30. The Fukushima incident was the most severe nuclear disaster in history.

Answer: NOT GIVEN

Explanation: While the passage discusses the Fukushima incident, it does not provide information to compare its severity to other nuclear disasters to determine if it was the most severe in history.

31. Modern reactors have built-in safety features to prevent accidents.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: "While proponents argue that modern reactors are far safer and incorporate fail-safes, critics maintain that no system is immune to human error or natural disasters."

Keywords: modern reactors, incorporate fail-safes

Keyword Location: Para 3, Lines 5-6

Explanation: The passage explicitly mentions that proponents argue that modern reactors are far safer and incorporate fail-safes, which are built-in safety features.

32. Radioactive waste becomes harmless after a few decades.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: "Spent nuclear fuel remains hazardous for thousands of years, and currently, no country has developed a universally accepted long-term storage solution."

Keywords: hazardous, thousands of years, storage solution

Keyword Location: Para 4, Lines 1-2

Explanation: The passage states that spent nuclear fuel remains hazardous for thousands of years, directly contradicting the idea that it becomes harmless after a few decades.

33. Building nuclear power plants can take many years.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: "Nuclear power plants are extremely expensive to build, often taking decades to become operational."

Keywords: Nuclear power, expensive

Keyword Location: Para 3, Lines 1-2

Explanation: The passage clearly states that building nuclear power plants can take decades to become operational, which means many years.

Questions 34-40

Match the information with the correct paragraph. Write the correct letter, A—G.

NB: You may use any letter more than once.

34. A mention of a well-known nuclear accident in Japan

Answer: C

Supporting statement: "Incidents such as the 1986 Chernobyl disaster in Ukraine and the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi meltdown in Japan revealed how catastrophic a nuclear accident can be, both in terms of human health and environmental destruction."

Keywords: Chernobyl, Fukushima Daiichi meltdown, Japan

Keyword Location: Para 3, Lines 2-3

Explanation: Paragraph C specifically mentions the Fukushima Daiichi meltdown in Japan as a well-known nuclear accident.

35. The argument that nuclear power can help fight climate change

Answer: B

Supporting statement: "This has led proponents to argue that nuclear power is a crucial part of any realistic plan to reduce carbon emissions and slow global warming."

Keywords: reduce carbon emissions, slow global warming

Keyword Location: Para 2, Lines 4-5

Explanation: Paragraph B discusses the environmental benefits of nuclear power, particularly its role in reducing carbon emissions and combating climate change.

36. A description of where nuclear waste is usually stored

Answer: D

Supporting statement: "Most waste is stored in secure facilities near reactors or in temporary underground locations, but critics worry about the risks of leakage, terrorism, or natural degradation of containment systems over time."

Keywords: waste is stored, secure facilities, temporary underground locations

Keyword Location: Para 4, Lines 3-4

Explanation: Paragraph D focuses on the issue of radioactive waste and describes where it is typically stored.

37. Discussion of the economic burden of nuclear power

Answer: E

Supporting statement: "Nuclear power plants are extremely expensive to build, often taking decades to become operational… and waste management significantly raise the overall price tag compared to renewable sources like wind or solar."

Keywords: Nuclear power, waste management, renewable sources

Keyword Location: Para 3, Lines 1-2

Explanation: Paragraph E primarily discusses the high costs associated with building and maintaining nuclear power plants.

38. An example of a country with a low carbon footprint due to nuclear power

Answer: B

Supporting statement: "Countries like France and Sweden rely heavily on nuclear energy and boast some of the lowest carbon footprints in the industrialized world."

Keywords: France and Sweden, nuclear energy, carbon footprints

Keyword Location: Para 2, Lines 5-6

Explanation: Paragraph B provides examples of countries, specifically France and Sweden, that have low carbon footprints partly due to their reliance on nuclear power.

39. The public's differing views on nuclear energy

Answer: F

Supporting statement: "Public opinion on nuclear energy varies widely. Some see it as a 'necessary evil' in the transition to cleaner energy, especially for countries that cannot rely on consistent sunlight or wind. Others believe that investments should focus entirely on renewable sources, viewing nuclear power as a distraction and a long-term liability."

Keywords: Public opinion, necessary evil, renewable sources

Keyword Location: Para 6, Lines 1-3

Explanation: Paragraph F is dedicated to discussing the differing viewpoints and opinions held by the public regarding nuclear energy.

40. The role of uranium as an efficient fuel

Answer: B

Supporting statement: "The primary advantage of nuclear power lies in its efficiency. A single uranium pellet, no larger than a fingertip, can produce as much energy as a tonne of coal."

Keywords: uranium pellet, much energy

Keyword Location: Para 2, Lines 1-2

Explanation: Paragraph B highlights the efficiency of nuclear power and specifically uses uranium as an example of the fuel

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