The Rise of Urban Gardening Reading Answers

Aug 18, 2025

The Rise of Urban Gardening Reading Answers is an academic reading answers topic. The Rise of Urban Gardening Reading Answers has a total of 13 IELTS questions in total such as Match each statement with the person or organisation it relates to. Write the correct letter, A—D.

Do the following statements agree with the information in the passage? Write: True, False, or Not given.

The candidate's understanding and assessment of academic and general texts are examined in the IELTS Reading Section. Using IELTS Reading Practice Questions, you can increase your vocabulary, sharpen your critical reading skills, and become more familiar with the various question types in reading tasks. Furthermore, practice enhances vocabulary and improves analytical reading skills, both of which are necessary for success. It's critical to comprehend the guidelines for every question type and create effective ways to manage time to receive excellent band scores.

Check: Get 10 Free Sample Papers
Check: Register for IELTS Coaching - Join for Free Trial Class Now

Topic:

THE RISE OF URBAN GARDENING

In the midst of high-rise buildings, concrete roads, and limited green space, a quiet revolution is taking place: urban gardening. As cities continue to grow and populations increase, many people are turning to rooftops, balconies, community plots, and vertical planters to grow their own food. This modern movement is not just about plants—it reflects a growing desire for sustainability, self-sufficiency, and connection to nature.

Urban gardening has seen a dramatic rise in the past decade, particularly in densely populated cities like New York, Tokyo, and Mumbai. In these cities, traditional gardening is almost impossible due to limited space. Urban dwellers, however, are finding innovative ways to grow vegetables, herbs, and even fruits in containers, hydroponic towers, and recycled materials. Some apartment buildings are now designed with dedicated green roofs where residents can plant collectively.

Dr. Karen Miles, an environmental sociologist, suggests that urban gardening represents a shift in how city residents view food and space. "In the past, food was something people purchased without much thought. Today, many are curious about where their food comes from and how it is grown," she says. According to Miles, people are also discovering the therapeutic benefits of gardening, such as reduced stress, increased mindfulness, and even improved mental health.

Community gardens are at the heart of the movement. These shared spaces are often created on vacant lots or underutilised land. Residents work together to grow food, learn skills, and build friendships. In cities where isolation is common, community gardens foster a sense of belonging and cooperation. Some municipal governments are supporting these projects through grants and land-sharing agreements.

Of course, urban gardening comes with its challenges. Space limitations are obvious, but there are also concerns about soil contamination, pests, and irregular sunlight. To tackle these, many urban gardeners turn to raised beds, soil testing, and crop rotation techniques. In areas with extreme weather, gardeners have adopted greenhouse-style covers or indoor systems with artificial lighting.

An increasing number of businesses are also participating in the trend. Cafés, schools, and office buildings are setting up herb gardens and edible walls. Restaurants often use produce grown on-site to enhance their sustainability profile. In London, one restaurant even cultivates mushrooms in a repurposed underground tunnel. These initiatives reduce food miles and allow businesses to educate customers about sustainability.

Another factor driving urban gardening is the concern about food security. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many cities faced temporary shortages of fresh produce due to supply chain disruptions. As a result, people began planting their own food to supplement what they could buy. This sparked an increase in online gardening tutorials, seed sales, and interest in permaculture practices.

While urban gardening cannot replace traditional agriculture, experts believe it can play a complementary role in the global food system. Small-scale urban plots may not feed entire cities, but they can increase awareness, reduce waste, and empower individuals to take part in a more sustainable future. Whether it's a tomato plant on a balcony or a full-scale community greenhouse, urban gardening offers more than food—it offers hope, healing, and connection in the heart of the city.

Questions 29-33

Match each statement with the person or organisation it relates to. Write the correct letter, A—D.

A. Dr. Karen Miles

B. Municipal governments

C. Businesses

D. Gardening experts

29. Believe gardening can help improve people's emotional well-being.

Answer: A

Supporting statement: "According to Miles, people are also discovering the therapeutic benefits of gardening, such as reduced stress, increased mindfulness, and even improved mental health."

Keywords: Dr. Karen Miles, therapeutic benefits, reduced stress

Keyword Location: Para 3, Lines 4-5

Explanation: Dr. Karen Miles is quoted as stating that people are discovering the therapeutic benefits of gardening, including improved mental health.

30. Support gardening efforts by offering financial or land resources.

Answer: B

Supporting statement: "Some municipal governments are supporting these projects through grants and land-sharing agreements."

Keywords: municipal governments, projects, grants

Keyword Location: Para 4, Lines 4-5

Explanation: The passage clearly states that municipal governments are supporting these projects through grants and land-sharing agreements.

31. Use urban gardens to reduce the distance food travels.

Answer: C

Supporting statement: "Restaurants often use produce grown on-site to enhance their sustainability profile. In London, one restaurant even cultivates mushrooms in a repurposed underground tunnel. These initiatives reduce food miles and allow businesses to educate customers about sustainability."

Keywords: Restaurants, initiatives, businesses

Keyword Location: Para 6, Lines 2-3

Explanation: The passage mentions that restaurant initiatives, which are examples of businesses, reduce food miles.

32. Think city gardening can contribute to larger food sustainability goals.

Answer: D

Supporting statement: "While urban gardening cannot replace traditional agriculture, experts believe it can play a complementary role in the global food system."

Keywords: experts believe, complementary role, global food system

Keyword Location: Para 8, Lines 1-2

Explanation: The passage attributes the belief that urban gardening can play a complementary role in the global food system to experts.

33. Say people now care more about how food is grown,

Answer: A

Supporting statement: "Dr. Karen Miles, an environmental sociologist, suggests that urban gardening represents a shift in how city residents view food and space. 'In the past, food was something people purchased without much thought. Today, many are curious about where their food comes from and how it is grown,' she says."

Keywords: food, purchased, grown

Keyword Location: Para 3, Lines 2-3

Explanation: In the passage, it is quoted directly as saying that many are curious about where their food comes from and how it is grown.

Questions 34-40

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

TRUE — if the statement agrees with the text

FALSE - if the statement contradicts the text

NOT GIVEN - if there is no information

34. Urban gardening has declined in popularity in rural areas.

Answer: NOT GIVEN

Explanation: The text discusses urban gardening's growth within cities but does not provide any data or discussion regarding rural areas.

35. Some buildings are designed to include shared garden spaces.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: "Some apartment buildings are now designed with dedicated green roofs where residents can plant collectively."

Keywords: apartment buildings, designed, dedicated green roofs

Keyword Location: Para 2, Line 5

Explanation: According to the passage specifically, some apartment buildings now include communal garden areas called "green roofs" that tenants can plant together.

36. Community gardening projects often lead to neighbour disputes.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: "In cities where isolation is common, community gardens foster a sense of belonging and cooperation."

Keywords: foster, cooperation

Keyword Location: Para 4, Lines 3-4

Explanation: The passage states that community gardens foster a sense of belonging and cooperation, which contradicts the idea of leading to disputes.

37. Urban gardeners may face problems with sunlight and pests.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: "Space limitations are obvious, but there are also concerns about soil contamination, pests, and irregular sunlight."

Keywords: concerns about, pests, irregular sunlight

Keyword Location: Para 5, Line 2

Explanation: The passage directly lists pests and irregular sunlight as challenges faced by urban gardeners.

38. Artificial lighting is used in some city-based indoor gardens.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: "In areas with extreme weather, gardeners have adopted greenhouse-style covers or indoor systems with artificial lighting."

Keywords: indoor systems, artificial lighting

Keyword Location: Para 5, Lines 4-5

Explanation: The passage mentions indoor systems with artificial lighting as a solution for gardeners in extreme weather conditions.

39. Restaurants with gardens often grow rice and wheat on rooftops.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: "Cafés, schools, and office buildings are setting up herb gardens and edible walls. Restaurants often use produce grown on-site to enhance their sustainability profile. In London, one restaurant even cultivates mushrooms in a repurposed underground tunnel."

Keywords: herb gardens, edible walls, produce, mushrooms

Keyword Location: Para 6, Lines 2-4

Explanation: The passage mentions restaurants growing produce, herb gardens, and mushrooms, but there is no mention of rice or wheat being grown on rooftops. Rice and wheat are generally large-scale crops not typically grown in small urban garden settings.

40. Urban gardening became more popular during the pandemic due to supply issues.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: "During the COVID-19 pandemic, many cities faced temporary shortages of fresh produce due to supply chain disruptions. As a result, people began planting their own food to supplement what they could buy. This sparked an increase in online gardening tutorials, seed sales, and interest in permaculture practices."

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic, temporary shortages, supply chain disruptions

Keyword Location: Para 7, Lines 1-3

Explanation: The passage directly links the increased interest and practice of urban gardening to the COVID-19 pandemic and supply chain disruptions, which caused temporary shortages.