Sakyamuni Pagoda in China IELTS Reading Answers

Mar 16, 2024

Sakyamuni Pagoda in China IELTS Reading Answers is an academic reading answers topic. Sakyamuni Pagoda in China IELTS Reading Answers have a total of 14 IELTS questions in total. The first four questions are true or false. This rest of the questions in which we have to fill up the black choosing one word and no more than two word answers.

Candidates should read the IELTS Reading passage thoroughly to recognize synonyms, identify keywords, and answer the questions below. IELTS Reading practice papers, which feature topics such as Sakyamuni Pagoda in China Reading Answers. Candidates can use IELTS reading practice questions and answers to enhance their performance in the reading section.

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Section 1

Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions

Sakyamuni Pagoda in China

Using wood as a construction material for large buildings is an ancient practice. The 67-metre-high Sakyamuni Pagoda in China was constructed in 1056, while Japan's Höryü-ji Temple is even older, dating from the 7th or 8th century. That these magnificent structures have survived for over a thousand years is evidence of wood's strength and durability as a building material. Still today. 80% of houses in the USA are built of wood. In Australia the proportion is slightly smaller since stone is also a popular choice particularly in the southern states, while in New Zeoland the figure is more like 85%.

Certainly, there are problems associated with wooden constructions: wood can rot when exposed to water and is said to be a fire risk. However, with modern technology these issues can be eliminated, which has led to a dramatic renewal of interest in wood as a building material in recent years. Today, architects and engineers recognize the potential of wood not only for private homes but also for larger multi-storey offices

and apartment blocks. In 2015, a 52.8-meter wooden tower block was constructed in Norway, then a world record for an apartment block, but this was soon surpassed by a 53-meter student dormitory at the University of British Columbia in Canado. Then came the 84-meter HoHo building in Vienna, home to a hotel, offices and apartments. Although the HoHo building has a concrete core, most of the structure, as well as the floors, are built of wood. Many of these advances have been made possible by research at the Technical Institute in Graz, Austria, where new engineering systems based on wood construction have been pioneered.

A good exomple of these techniques is found at the Wood Innovation and Design Centre at the University of Northern British Columbic Canada. The first stage in the construction of the building saw large planks of Douglas fir being fastened to one another with glue which these days can be stronger than nails or screws. This produced large heavy sheets of wooden material; these became the basic structural components for the building. These sheets then had to be precision-cut to create the thousands of columns and beams necessary-the team employed lasers for this purpose. Once the cutting work wos complete, all the wooden components were taken to the site for assembly.

The building was constructed one storey at a time, layer upon layer, not unlike the system used to make a large cake. Once the eighth and final storey was completed, the building reached a height of 30 meters and became a notable landmark in its neighbourhood. And, of course, one of the great advantages of wood comes ot the end of a building's life in around 100 years' time. When the Wood Innovation and Design Centre eventually has to be demolished, it will be possible for its principal building material to be recycled, which is not usually practical with steel or concrete.

Other significant wooden buildings are to be found in locations around the world. Perhaps not surprisingly, given that the Höryü-j Temple may be the oldest large wooden building in the world, Japanese engineers are at the forefront of this process. One thing that has been learned from maintaining the Höryü-ji Temple over many centuries is that it is often simpler to make major repairs to wooden structures than to those made of concrete and steel. Until quite recently, regulations in Japan have made the construction of very large wooden structures difficult. However, in recognition of new technologies, these are being relaxed by the government, with the result that ever more ambitious projects are being announced. Perhaps the most radical example is the proposed Sumitomo Tower a skyscraper of 70 storeys to be built largely of wood in central Tokyo; its completion date is 2041.

Because wood is more flexible than steel, it has great potential in countries prone to earthquakes, such as Japan and New Zealand Engineers in New Zealand believe that wood construction can significantly improve building safety in the event of a natural disaster as has been demonstrated at the new Wynn Williams House. The wood has been left exposed inside the house to showcase how this type of construction provides attractive interiors as well. Another advantage of wood is that it is so light, particularly when compared to steel and concrete. In Australia, the benefits of lightweight have been taken advantage of in the city of Melbourne, where a large wenden library has heen constructed directly heside the water, on land so soft that a heavier building would have been impossible.

Furthermore, wood is advantageous even in extreme climates. In Finland, where winter temperatures can fall to -30°C, wood provides all the Ic id-bear ng structurer the faek: olka Pecstut also guarantees excellent heat insulation as well. As wood construction technIc gies conanue to develop, it seems probabie that architects and engineers will dream up ever more uses for this practical, flexible, and beautiful building material.

Section 2

Solution and Explanation

Questions 1-4

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage?

In boxes 1-4 on your answer sheet, 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

More houses are built of wood in Australia than in the USA.

Answer: FALSE
Supporting statement: “........That these magnificent structures have survived for over a thousand years is evidence of wood's strength and durability as a building material. Still today. 80% of houses in the USA are built of wood..........”
Keywords: evidence, houses
Keyword Location: para A, line 4
Explanation: The passage states that in the USA, 80% of houses are built of wood, while in Australia the proportion is slightly smaller. It does not imply that more houses are built of wood in Australia than in the USA.

There are solutions to the problems of building with wood.

Answer: TRUE
Supporting statement: “........Certainly, there are problems associated with wooden constructions: wood can rot when exposed to water and is said to be a fire risk..........”
Keywords: constructions, exposed
Keyword Location: para 2, line 2
Explanation: The passage mentions that although there are problems associated with wooden constructions such as rotting and fire risk, modern technology has provided solutions to these issues.

Several different species of tree were used to construct the HoHo building.

Answer: NOT GIVEN
Explanation: There has been no instance in the passage that says several different species of tree were used to construct the HoHo building.

Research at the Technical Institute in Graz improved wooden building technology.

Answer: TRUE
Supporting statement: “........are built of wood. Many of these advances have been made possible by research at the Technical Institute in Graz, Austria, where new engineering systems based on wood construction have been pioneered..........”
Keywords: wood, engineering
Keyword Location: para 2, line 12
Explanation: The passage states that many of the advances in wooden building construction have been made possible by research at the Technical Institute in Graz, Austria.

Questions 5-8

Write ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.

Building the Wood Innovation and Design Centre Wooden planks were joined together using (5)..........

Answer: GLUE
Supporting statement: “.......construction of the building saw large planks of Douglas fir being fastened to one another with glue which these days can be stronger than nails or screws...........”
Keywords: fastened, screws
Keyword Location: para 3, line 3
Explanation: The passage mentions that large planks of Douglas fir were fastened to one another with glue.

(6).......... were then used to cut this material accurately.- The wood was taken to the site

Answer: LASERS
Supporting statement: “.......These sheets then had to be precision-cut to create the thousands of columns and beams necessary-the team employed lasers for this purpose. Once the cutting work wos complete, all the wooden components were taken to the site for assembly. ..........”
Keywords: site, assembly
Keyword Location: para 3, line 6
Explanation: The passage states that lasers were employed to precision-cut the wooden components.

The building was constructed in the same way a (7)..........put together.-

Answer: CAKE
Supporting statement: “........The building was constructed one storey at a time, layer upon layer, not unlike the system used to make a large cake..........”
Keywords: layer, large
Keyword Location: para 4, line 1
Explanation: The passage compares the construction process of the building to putting together a large cake

In clout 100 years time,wood can be (8) …….

Answer: RECYCLED
Supporting statement: “.......Design Centre eventually has to be demolished, it will be possible for its principal building material to be recycled, which is not usually practical with steel or concrete...........”
Keywords: steel, concrete
Keyword Location: para 4, line 6
Explanation: The passage mentions that one of the advantages of wood is that at the end of a building's life, it can be recycled.

Questions 9-13

Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.

Other Significant Wooden Buildings

Japan:

Experience with the Höryü-ji Temple proves that (9)........... are easier with wood. New

Answer: REPAIRS
Supporting statement: “........One thing that has been learned from maintaining the Höryü-ji Temple over many centuries is that it is often simpler to make major repairs to wooden structures than to those made of concrete and steel.........”
Keywords: wooden, concrete
Keyword Location: para 5, line 4
Explanation: The passage states that one thing learned from maintaining the Höryü-ji Temple is that it is often simpler to make major repairs to wooden structures than to those made of concrete and steel.

technologies and new (10)............. make large buildings such as Sumitomo Tower possible.

Answer: REGULATIONS
Supporting statement: “........Until quite recently, regulations in Japan have made the construction of very large wooden structures difficult..........”
Keywords: construction, wooden
Keyword Location: para 5, line 6
Explanation: The passage mentions that regulations in Japan are being relaxed by the government, allowing for more ambitious wooden building projects.

Other Countries:

Wynn Williams House in New Zealand is earthquake-proof and is

an example of how wooden buildings can have (11)....... Wood is so light that a new library in Australia was built right

Answer: ATTRACTIVE INTERIORS
Supporting statement: “.......The wood has been left exposed inside the house to showcase how this type of construction provides attractive interiors as well. ..........”
Keywords: showcase, interior
Keyword Location: para 6, line 5
Explanation: The passage states that the wood in Wynn Williams House has been left exposed inside to showcase attractive interiors.

next to (12)......... Finland's Puukuokka Block illustrates that wood provides a good

Answer: WATER
Supporting statement: “........where a large wenden library has heen constructed directly heside the water, on land so soft that a heavier building would have been impossible..........”
Keywords: heside, impossible
Keyword Location: para 6, line 8
Explanation: The passage mentions that the Puukuokka Block in Finland illustrates that wood provides a good solution even in extreme climates, including being built next to water.

(13)........ in addition to structural strength.

Answer: (HEAT) INSULATION
Supporting statement: “........ In Finland, where winter temperatures can fall to -30°C, wood provides all the Ic id-bear ng structurer the faek: olka Pecstut also guarantees excellent heat insulation as well..........”
Keywords: excellent, insulation
Keyword Location: para 7, line 1
Explanation: The passage mentions that wood provides excellent heat insulation in addition to structural strength.

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