Photovoltaics on the Rooftop Reading Answers

Dec 17, 2022

Photovoltaics on the rooftop Reading Answers have 13 questions that have to be answered in 20 minutes. Photovoltaics on the rooftop Reading Answers comprises question types, namely-. select the appropriate paragraph and yes/no/not given. This topic has been taken from the book The Complete Guide to IELTS with DVD. Candidates must understand the IELTS reading passage to identify keywords that will help them to answer the questions. More IELTS Reading topic topic like Photovoltaics on the rooftop Reading Answers is available online. Stiudents can access and practice them at IELTS Reading Practice papers.

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Section 1

Reading the Passage to Answer the following Questions

Topic: Photovoltaics on the rooftop Reading Answers

In the past, urban homeowners have not always had much choice in the way electricity is supplied to their homes. Now, however, there is a choice, and a rapidly increasing number of households worldwide are choosing the solar energy option. Solar energy, the conversion of sunlight into energy, is made possible through the use of ‘photovoltaics’, which are simple appliances that fit onto the roof of a house.
The photovoltaics-powered home remains connected to the power lines, but no storage is required on-site, only a box of electronics (the inverter) to the interface between the photovoltaics and the grid network. Figure 1 illustrates the system. During the day, when the home may not be using much electricity, excess power from the solar array is fed back to the grid, to factories and offices that need daytime power. At night, power flows the opposite way. The grid network effectively provides storage. If the electricity demand is well matched to when the sun shines, solar energy is especially valuable. This occurs in places like California in the US and Japan, where air-conditioning loads for offices and factories are large but heating loads for homes are small.
The first systematic exploration of the use of photovoltaics on homes began in the US during the 1970s. A well-conceived program started with the sitting of a number of residential experiment stations, at selected locations around the country, representing different climatic zones. These stations contained a number of ‘dummy’ houses, each with different solar-energy system design. Homes within the communities close to these stations were monitored to see how well their energy use matched the energy generated by the stations’ dummy roofs. A change in US government priorities in the early 1980s halted this program.
With the US effort dropping away, the Japanese Sunshine Project came to the fore. A large residential test station was installed on Rokko Island beginning in 1986. This installation consists of 18 ‘dummy5 homes. Each equipped with its own 2-5 kilowatt photovoltaic system (about 20 – 50 square meters for each system). Some of these simulated homes have their own electrical appliances inside, such as TV sets, refrigerators and air conditioning units, which switch on and off under computer control providing a lavish lifestyle for the non-existent occupants. For the other systems, electronics simulate these household loads. This test station has allowed the technical issues involved in using photovoltaics within the electricity network to be explored systematically, under well-controlled test conditions. With no insurmountable problems identified, the Japanese have used the experience gained from this station to begin their own massive residential photovoltaics campaign.
Meanwhile, Germany began a very important “1,000 roof program, in 1990， aimed at installing photovoltaics on the roofs of 1,000 private homes. Large federal and regional government subsidies were involved, accounting in most cases for 70% of the total system costs. The program proved immensely popular, forcing its extension to over 2,000 homes scattered across Germany. The success of this program stimulated other European countries to launch a similar program.
Japan’s ‘one million roof program’ was prompted by the experience gained in the Rokko Island test site and the success of the German 1,000 roof program. The initially quoted aims of the Japanese New Energy Development Organization were to have 70,000 homes equipped with the photovoltaics by the year 2000, on the way to 1 million by 2010. The program made a modest start in 1994 when 539 systems were installed with a government subsidy of 50 per cent. Under this program, entire new suburban developments are using photovoltaics.
This is good news, not only for the photovoltaic industry but for everyone concerned with the environment. The use of fossil fuels to generate electricity is not only costly in financial terms, but also in terms of environmental damage. Gases produced by the burning of fossil fuels in the production of electricity are a major contributor to the greenhouse effect. To deal with this problem, many governments are now proposing stringent targets on the amount of greenhouse gas emissions permitted. These targets mean that all sources of greenhouse gas emissions including residential electricity use will receive closer attention in the future.
It is likely that in the future, governments will develop building codes that attempt to constrain the energy demands of new housing. For example, the use of photovoltaics or the equivalent may be stipulated to lessen demands on the grid network and hence reduce fossil fuel emissions. Approvals for building renovations may also be conditional upon taking such energy-saving measures. If this were to happen, everyone would benefit. Although there is an initial cost in attaching the system to the rooftop, the householder’s outlay is soon compensated with the savings on energy bills. Also, everyone living on the planet stands to gain from the more benign environmental impact.

Solution with Explanation
Questions 14-19:
Reading passage has nine paragraphs(listed A-H)
Which paragraph contains the following information?
Write the appropriate letters A-H in boxes 14-19 on your answer sheet.

NB: you may use any letter more than once

examples of countries where electricity use is greater during the day than at night

Answer: B
Supporting Sentence: During the day, when the home may not be using much electricity, excess power from the solar array is fed back to the grid, to factories and offices that need daytime power.
Keywords: electricity, excess power, day, solar array
Keywords Location: Paragraph B, line 3
Explanation: The author directly states that less electricity is used in the daytime. Surplus power from the solar array is given back to the grid. This is used for the factories and offices that require daytime power when they are running for the whole day. This means even at night. Hence, Paragraph B is the correct answer.

a detailed description of an experiment that led to photovoltaics being promoted throughout the country

Answer: D
Supporting Sentence: With no insurmountable problems identified, the Japanese have used the experience gained from this station to begin their own massive residential photovoltaics campaign.
Keywords: residential, photovoltaics, insurmountable problems, gained
Keywords Location: Paragraph D, last line
Explanation: As per the final sentence of the passage, the test station has allowed the technical challenges involved in using photovoltaics inside the energy network to be examined systematically. The Japanese have launched their own significant home photovoltaics campaign. Large-scale home PV campaigns are launched as a result of the expertise gathered. Hence, this was promoted throughout the country.

the negative effects of using conventional means of generating electricity

Answer: H
Supporting Sentence: For example, the use of photovoltaics or the equivalent may be stipulated to lessen demands on the grid network and hence reduce fossil fuel emissions.
Keywords: fossil fuel, emission, reduce
Keywords Location: Paragraph H, line 2
Explanation: The passage shows that the use of photovoltaics lessens the demand on the grid network. This in turn reduces the emission of fuels in the environment. The negetive effects of using conventional means of electricity generation is also shown. Hence, H is the correct answer.

an explanation of the photovoltaic system

Answer: B
Supporting Sentence: The photovoltaics-powered home remains connected to the power lines, but no storage is required on-site, only a box of electronics (the inverter) to the interface between the photovoltaics and the grid network.
Keywords: photovoltaics, power lines, electronics, grid network
Keywords Location: Paragraph B, line 1
Explanation: The first line of paragraph B states that the photovoltaics-powered home stays connected to the electricity lines. However, no on-site storage was required, simply a box of electronics (the inverter) to the interface between the photovoltaics and the grid network. This tells us how the photovoltaic system worked. Hence, B is the correct answer.

the long-term benefits of using photovoltaics

Answer: H
Supporting Sentence: It is likely that in the future, governments will develop building codes that attempt to constrain the energy demands of new housing
Keywords: government, building codes, energy demand, new housing
Keywords Location: Paragraph H, line 1
Explanation: The author in the first line of paragraph H states that governments will adopt building rules that aim to control the energy demands of new homes in the future. This means that statement is discussing the future or the long-term advantages of employing photovoltaics. It directly relates to the government's future intentions for photovoltaic systems.

a reference to wealthy countries being prepared to help less wealthy countries have access to photovoltaics

Answer: E
Supporting Sentence: Large federal and regional government subsidies were involved, accounting in most cases for 70% of the total system costs.
Keywords: subsidies, large federal, system costs
Keywords Location: Paragraph E, line 2
Explanation: According to line 2 of paragraph E, the program extended to more than 2,000 houses dispersed throughout Germany. This would ultimately enable less wealthy countries (stimulated by other European countries) to obtain access to photovoltaics. It can be seen as a metaphor for wealthier countries becoming ready. Hence, the paragraph E is in sync with the question.

Questions 20-26:
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage?
In boxes 20-26 on your answer sheet, write

TRUE if the statement is true
FALSE if the statement is false
NOT GIVEN if the information is not given in the passage

Photovoltaics are used to store electricity.

Answer: False
Supporting Sentence: The photovoltaics-powered home remains connected to the power lines, but no storage is required on-site, only a box of electronics (the inverter) to the interface between the photovoltaics and the grid network.
Keywords: power lines, storage, grid network, photovoltaics
Keywords Location: Paragraph B, line 1
Explanation: The first line of paragraph B states that the homes were connected to power lines and there was no need for storage. This makes the question statement false.

Since the 1970s, the US government has provided continuous support for the use of photovoltaics on homes.

Answer: False
Supporting Sentence: A change in US government priorities in the early 1980s halted this program.
Keywords: government, priorities, 1980’s, halted
Keywords Location: Paragraph C, last line
Explanation: As per the passage, throughout the 1970s, the first systematic investigation of the application of photovoltaics on dwellings began. There were 'dummy' homes with various designs for solar energy systems. However, this was discontinued in 1980 due to the change in strategies. This means that there was no continuous support for the use of photovoltaics on homes.

The solar-powered houses on Rokko Island are uninhabited.

Answer: True
Supporting Sentence: A large residential test station was installed on Rokko Island beginning in 1986.
Keywords: residential, Rokko Island, 1986
Keywords Location: Paragraph D, line 2
Explanation: The passage states that with the US effort waning, the Japanese Sunshine Project moved to the forefront. A sizable residential test station was built on Rokko Island. There were dummy homes which means people did not live there actually. This makes the statement True.

In 1994, the Japanese government was providing half the money required for installing photovoltaics on homes.

Answer: True
Supporting Sentence: The program made a modest start in 1994 when 539 systems were installed with a government subsidy of 50 per cent.
Keywords: system, government subsidy, 50 per cent
Keywords Location: Paragraph F, 2nd last line
Explanation: The passage states that the program got off to a modest start in 1994. With a subsidy of 50%, 539 systems were installed. This subsidy was provided by the government. Therefore, it can be said that the Japanese government was contributing half of the money needed for (a small start) house PV installation.

Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Australia all have strict goals concerning greenhouse gas emissions.

Answer: Not Given
Explanation: No such relevant information has been provided in the paragraph.

Residential electricity use is the major source of greenhouse gas emission.

Answer: Not Given
Explanation: No such relevant information has been provided in the paragraph.

Energy-saving measures must now be included in the design of all new homes and improvements to buildings.

Answer: False
Supporting Sentence: Although there is an initial cost in attaching the system to the rooftop, the householder’s outlay is soon compensated with the savings on energy bills.
Keywords: initial cost, housholder, compensated, saving, energy bill
Keywords Location: Paragraph H, 2nd last line
Explanation: If the approvals for building modifications may likewise be conditional on such energy-saving measures, it would benefit everyone. Though the installation will incur costs, the saving of energy will neutralize that cost. This proves that energy-saving measures should be included in the design of all new homes. .