Stadiums Past Present and Future Reading Answers

Jan 27, 2023

Stadiums Past Present and Future Reading Answers contains sample answers about the evolution of stadiums and its infrastructure. Stadiums Past Present and Future Reading Answers has 12 different questions. IELTS Stadiums Past Present and Future Reading Answers contains four types of questions: identify the paragraph, complete the summary, and choose two letters. Candidates are required to read the IELTS Reading passage and answer which paragraph contains the given statement, complete the summary by using only one word for each answer from the passage and for the last two sets of questions, candidates are required to choose two correct options as answers for both the questions. To gain efficiency and practice on diverse topics, candidates can undertake IELTS Reading practice papers.

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Section 1

Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions

Stadiums Past Present and Future Reading Answers

Stadiums are among the oldest forms of urban architecture: vast stadiums where the public could watch sporting events were at the centre of western city life as far back as the ancient Greek and Roman Empires, well before the construction of the great mediaeval cathedrals and the grand 19th- and 20th-century railway stations which dominated urban skylines in later eras. Today, however, stadiums are regarded with growing scepticism. Construction costs can soar above £1 billion, and stadiums finished for major events such as the Olympic Games or the FIFA World Cup have notably fallen into disuse and disrepair. But this need not be the case. History shows that stadiums can drive urban development and adapt to the culture of every age. Even today, architects and planners are finding new ways to adapt the mono-functional sports arenas which became emblematic of modernisation during the 20th century.

The amphitheatre of Arles in southwest France, with a capacity of 25,000 spectators, is perhaps the best example of just how versatile stadiums can be. Built by the Romans in 90 AD, it became a fortress with four towers after the fifth century, and was then transformed into a village containing more than 200 houses. With the growing interest in conservation during the 19th century, it was converted back into an arena for the staging of bullfights, thereby returning the structure to its original use as a venue for public spectacles. Another example is the imposing arena of Verona in northern Italy, with space for 30,000 spectators, which was built 60 years before the Arles amphitheatre and 40 years before Rome's famous Colosseum. It has endured the centuries and is currently considered one of the world's prime sites for opera, thanks to its outstanding acoustics.

The area in the centre of the Italian town of Lucca, known as the Piazza dell' Anfiteatro, is yet another impressive example of an amphitheatre becoming absorbed into the fabric of the city. The site evolved in a similar way to Arles and was progressively filled with buildings from the Middle Ages until the 19th century, variously used as houses, a salt depot and a prison. But rather than reverting to an arena, it became a market square, designed by Romanticist architect Lorenzo Nottolini. Today, the ruins of the amphitheatre remain embedded in the various shops and residences surrounding the public square.

There are many similarities between modern stadiums and the ancient amphitheatres intended for games. But some of the flexibility was lost at the beginning of the 20th century as stadiums were developed using new products such as steel and reinforced concrete, and made use of bright lights for night-time matches. Many such stadiums are situated in suburban areas, designed for sporting use only and surrounded by parking lots. These factors mean that they may not be as accessible to the general public, require more energy to run and contribute to urban heat.

But many of today's most innovative architects see scope for the stadium to help improve the city. Among the current strategies, two seem to be having particular success: the stadium as an urban hub, and as a power plant. There's a growing trend for stadiums to be equipped with public spaces and services that serve a function beyond sport, such as hotels, retail outlets, conference centres, restaurants and bars, children's playgrounds and green space. Creating mixed-use developments such as this reinforces compactness and multi-functionality, making more efficient use of land and helping to regenerate urban spaces. This opens the space up to families and a wider cross-section of society, instead of catering only to sportspeople and supporters. There have been many examples of this in the UK: the mixed-use facilities at Wembley and Old Trafford have become a blueprint for many other stadiums in the world.

The phenomenon of stadiums as power stations has arisen from the idea that energy problems can be overcome by integrating interconnected buildings by means of a smart grid, which is an electricity supply network that uses digital communications technology to detect and react to local changes in usage, without significant energy losses. Stadiums are ideal for these purposes, because their canopies have a large surface area for fitting photovoltaic panels and rise high enough (more than 4) metres) to make use of micro wind turbines. Freiburg Mage Solar Stadium in Germany is the first of a new wave of stadiums as power plants, which also includes the Amsterdam Arena and the Kaohsiung Stadium. The latter, inaugurated in 2009, has 8,844 photovoltaic panels producing up to 1.14 GWh of electricity annually. This reduces the annual output of carbon dioxide by 660 tons and supplies up to 80 percent of the surrounding area when the stadium is not in use. This is proof that a stadium can serve its city, and have a decidedly positive impact in terms of reduction of C02 emissions.

Sporting arenas have always been central to the life and culture of cities. In every era, the stadium has acquired new value and uses: from military fortress to residential village, public space to theatre and most recently a field for experimentation in advanced engineering. The stadium of today now brings together multiple functions, thus helping cities to create a sustainable future.

Section 2

Solution and Explanation
Questions 14-17

Reading Passage has seven sections, A-G. Which section contains the following information?

NB You may use any letter more than once.

a mention of negative attitudes towards stadium building projects

Answer: A
Supporting Sentence: Today, however, stadiums are regarded with growing scepticism
Keyword : stadiums, regarded, scepticism
Keyword Location: paragraph A, line 5
Explanation: Stadiums are one of the earliest types of urban design, according to paragraph A. Stadiums, however, are now viewed with a rising amount of scepticism. Costs for construction projects can exceed £1 billion. Major event stadiums built for the Olympic Games or FIFA World Cup have noticeably fallen into neglect and decay. Thus, the answer is paragraph A.

figures demonstrating the environmental benefits of a certain stadium

Answer: F
Supporting Sentence: The latter, inaugurated in 2009, has 8,844 photovoltaic panels producing up to 1.14 GWh of electricity annually.
Keyword : photovoltaic, electricity, producing
Keyword Location: paragraph F, line 9
Explanation: As per paragraph F, the first stadium to serve as a power plant is the Freiburg Mage Solar Stadium in Germany. The Kaohsiung Stadium and the Amsterdam Arena are also included. The latter was established in 2009 and features 8,844 photovoltaic panels that can generate up to 1.14 GWh of electricity per year. This provides energy to up to 80% of the neighbourhood when the stadium is not in use, cutting the annual emission of carbon dioxide by 660 tonnes. Thus, the answer is paragraph F.

examples of the wide range of facilities available at some new stadiums

Answer: E
Supporting Sentence: a function beyond sport, such as hotels, retail outlets, conference centres, restaurants and bars, children's playgrounds and green
Keyword : hotels, conference centre, restaurants, bars, playgrounds
Keyword Location: paragraph E, line 4-5
Explanation: As per paragraph E, it's becoming more common for stadiums to have public areas and services. Especially those that perform a purpose other than just recreation. Such as lodging facilities, shops, meeting spaces, dining establishments, nightclubs, children's play areas, and open spaces. Hence, the answer is paragraph E.

reference to the disadvantages of the stadiums built during a certain era

Answer: D
Supporting Sentence: they may not be as accessible to the general public, require more energy to run and contribute to urban heat.
Keyword : accessible, general public, energy, contribute
Keyword Location: paragraph D, last line
Explanation: According to paragraph D, new goods were used in the construction of stadiums. Utilising strong lighting for nighttime matches, materials like steel and reinforced concrete were used. Such stadiums are common in suburban settings, are only used for sporting events, and are bordered by parking lots. These factors suggest that they could not be as easily accessible to the general population, use more energy to operate, and add to the urban heat. SO, the correct answer is paragraph D.

Questions 18-22

Complete the summary below. Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.

Roman amphitheatres

The Roman stadiums o'1 Europe have proved very versatile. The amphitheatre of Arles, for example, was converted first into a (18)_______ finally into an arena where spectators could watch (19) __________ in Verona, one of the oldest Roman amphitheatres, is famous today as a venue where (20_________ is performed. The site of Lucca's amphitheatre has also been used for many purposes over the centuries, including the storage of (21) __________. It is now a market square with (22)___________ and homes incorporated into the remains of the Roman amphitheatre.

Question 18:

Answer: Fortress
Supporting Sentence: Built by the Romans in 90 AD, it became a fortress with four towers after the fifth century
Keyword : romans, four towers, fifth century
Keyword Location: paragraph B, line 3
Explanation: According to paragraph B, around the fifth century, the Romans transformed the structure into a fortification with four towers. A community with more than 200 homes was later created there.

Question 19:

Answer: Bullfights
Supporting Sentence: during the 19th century, it was converted back into an arena for the staging of bullfights
Keyword : 19th century, converted, arena, staging
Keyword Location: paragraph B, line 5
Explanation: According to paragraph B, the stadium, which the Romans had built in 90 AD, had been transformed back into a bullring. As a result, the edifice has been returned to its original purpose as a site for public spectacles.

Question 20:

Answer: Opera
Supporting Sentence: It has endured the centuries and is currently considered one of the world's prime sites for opera,
Keyword : endured, centuries, considered, prime site
Keyword Location: paragraph B, 2nd last line
Explanation: It is mentioned in paragraph B that the Verona Arena in northern Italy has stood the test of time. Currently, it's regarded as one of the best opera venues in the entire globe. Its superb acoustics are to be credited.

Question 21:

Answer: Salt
Supporting Sentence: filled with buildings from the Middle Ages until the 19th century, variously used as houses, a salt depot and a prison
Keyword : building, middle ages, houses, depot, prison
Keyword Location: paragraph C, line 3-4
Explanation: The Piazza dell' Anfiteatro allegedly developed similarly to Arles, as stated in paragraph C. From the Middle Ages until the 19th century, structures gradually began to enclose it. It served a variety of purposes, including housing, a salt warehouse, and a prison.

Question 22:

Answer: Shops
Supporting Sentence: ruins of the amphitheatre remain embedded in the various shops and residences surrounding the public square
Keyword : ruins, amphitheatre, varios, residences, embedded, public square
Keyword Location: paragraph C, last 2 lines
Explanation: As per paragraph C, the Lorenzo Nottolini-designed Piazza dell' Anfiteatro was converted into a market plaza. Today, the amphitheatre's ruins can still be seen incorporated into the many stores and homes that surround the town centre.

Questions 23 and 24

Choose TWO letters, A-E.

When comparing twentieth-century stadiums to ancient amphitheatres in Section D,

which TWO negative features does the writer mention?

They are less imaginatively designed.
They are less spacious.
They are in less convenient locations.
They are less versatile.
They are made of less durable materials.

Question 23:

Answer: C
Supporting Sentence: Many such stadiums are situated in suburban areas, designed for sporting use only and surrounded by parking lots
Keyword : stadium, suburban, sporting, parking lots
Keyword Location: paragraph D, line 4-5
Explanation: Many of these stadiums are located in suburban regions, according to paragraph D. They are bordered by parking areas and only intended for sporting usage. They may not be as accessible to the general public as a result of these issues.

Question 24:

Answer: D
Supporting Sentence: But some of the flexibility was lost at the beginning of the 20th century as stadiums were developed using new products
Keyword : flexibility, stadiums, developed
Keyword Location: paragraph D, line 2-3
Explanation: According to paragraph D, some of the flexibility was lost towards the start of the 20th century. As new materials like steel and reinforced concrete were used in the construction of stadiums. Additionally, they were required to use strong lights during nighttime bouts. Many of these stadiums, which are only intended for sporting events, are located in suburban regions.

Questions 25 and 26

Choose Two letters, A-E.

Which TWO advantages of modern stadium design does the writer mention?

offering improved amenities for the enjoyment of sports events
bringing community life back into the city environment
facilitating research into solar and wind energy solutions
enabling local residents to reduce their consumption of electricity
providing a suitable site for the installation of renewable power generators

Question 25:

Answer: B
Supporting Sentence: electricity supply network that uses digital communications technology
Keyword : electricity, network, digital, communications
Keyword Location: paragraph F, lines 1-3
Explanation: Paragraph F suggests that the concept that energy issues can be solved by integrating interconnected buildings. It gave rise to the practise of stadiums serving as power plants. It is accomplished using a smart grid, a network for supplying electricity that makes use of digital communications technologies. Its purpose is to identify and respond to local use changes. Hence, option B is the first right choice for this question.

Question 26:

Answer: E
Supporting Sentence: Stadiums are ideal for these purposes, because their canopies have a large surface area for fitting photovoltaic
Keyword : stadiums, ideal, large surface, photovoltaic
Keyword Location: paragraph F, line 4-5
Explanation: Stadiums are the best locations for these uses, according to paragraph F. They can accommodate many photovoltaic panels because of the vast surface area of their canopies. Additionally, they are elevated high enough (more than four metres) to utilise micro wind generators.

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