Urban Trees Reading Answers

Bhaskar Das

Jul 17, 2025

Urban Trees is an IELTS Reading Answer that contains 13 questions and needs to be completed within 20 minutes. Urban Trees Reading answers, also help you to prepare for your IELTS exam. Urban Trees Consist of questions like: Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer in Reading Passage and Choose one word only. Participants should go through the IELTS Reading passage to recognize synonyms, identify keywords, and answer the questions. Also, Urban Trees Reading Answers discusses the vital environmental, social, and economic benefits of street trees. Candidates can use IELTS reading practice questions and answers to enhance their performance in the reading section.

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Topic:

The presence of street trees can dramatically improve urban environments in a variety of ways.

Street trees are not only a key component of the urban landscape, but also provide numerous environmental, economic and social benefits. Despite this, in many towns and cities, they are frequently seen as a problem, and in recent years, large numbers have been removed or severely cut back.

Street trees are trees that are located on public land along streets and boulevards, and in parks. They are usually the responsibility of local governments, although in some cases they may be privately owned. In the past, street trees were planted and maintained by local authorities for the public good. However, with the increasing privatisation of public space, the responsibility for street trees has shifted from the public to the private domain, and they are now often seen as a liability.

Street trees can make urban areas much more pleasant places in which to live, and there are many studies to show that they are associated with a wide range of benefits. For example, they remove pollutants from the air, provide shade, and reduce the urban heat island effect, which is caused by hard surfaces such as concrete and asphalt storing heat from the sun. They also improve water quality, reduce flooding, and decrease the amount of water that ends up in drainage systems. In addition, they can save energy by shading buildings and reducing the need for air conditioning in summer.

Street trees also have significant social benefits. They make streets more pleasant to walk along, and provide shade and shelter for pedestrians. They also act as a buffer between pedestrians and traffic, and reduce traffic noise. In addition, they can provide a sense of place and identity, and improve the quality of life for residents. Studies have shown that street trees can reduce crime, improve mental health, and increase property values. They can also provide habitat for wildlife, and improve biodiversity in urban areas.

Despite these benefits, street trees are often seen as a problem. One reason for this is that they can cause damage to infrastructure, such as roads, footpaths and underground services. This is often due to the fact that they are planted in small pits with limited space for root growth, which can lead to roots damaging infrastructure as they search for water and nutrients. In addition, street trees can be seen as a nuisance because they drop leaves, fruit and branches, which can be messy and require cleaning up. They can also block light and views, and interfere with overhead wires and signage.

Another reason why street trees are seen as a problem is that they can be expensive to maintain. They require regular pruning to keep them in good condition, and to prevent them from interfering with infrastructure. They also need to be watered, fertilised and protected from pests and diseases. In addition, they can be damaged by vehicles, vandalism and extreme weather events, which can result in costly repairs or replacement.

In recent years, there has been a trend towards removing street trees, or replacing them with smaller, more manageable species.

This is often done to reduce maintenance costs, and to prevent damage to infrastructure. However, this can result in a loss of the benefits that street trees provide. In some cases, street trees are replaced with artificial trees, which do not provide the same benefits as real trees.

There are a number of ways in which the benefits of street trees can be maximised, and the problems minimised. One way is to plant the right tree in the right place. This means choosing tree species that are suitable for the local climate, soil and growing conditions, and that will not cause damage to infrastructure. It also means planting trees in locations where they will provide the most benefits, such as along streets with high pedestrian traffic, or in areas with high levels of air pollution.

Another way to maximise the benefits of street trees is to provide them with adequate space and resources to grow. This means planting them in large pits with good quality soil, and providing them with regular watering, fertilising and pruning. It also means protecting them from damage by vehicles, vandalism and extreme weather events.

In conclusion, street trees are a vital component of the urban landscape, and provide numerous environmental, economic and social benefits. However, they are often seen as a problem, and are frequently removed or severely cut back. By planting the right tree in the right place, and providing them with adequate space and resources to grow, the benefits of street trees can be maximised, and the problems minimised.

Questions 1-7

Choose ONE WORD ONLY for each answer.

Street trees enhance urban areas by offering various ecological, financial, and societal 1……….

Answer: benefits

Supporting statement: “...provide numerous environmental, economic and social benefits.”

Keywords: ecological, financial, societal

Keyword Location: Paragraph 1, line 2

Explanation: The paragraph lists environmental, economic, and social benefits as key contributions of street trees.

Over time, the 2……………….

Answer: private

Supporting statement: “...the responsibility for street trees has shifted from the public to the private domain…”

Keywords: privatisation, responsibility

Keyword Location: Paragraph 2, line 5

Explanation: Privatisation has led to a shift of responsibility toward the private sector.

Sector has increasingly taken responsibility for street trees due to the privatization of communal spaces. Materials like asphalt and concrete contribute to the urban heat island phenomenon by absorbing and retaining solar 3……………..

Answer: heat

Supporting statement: “…caused by hard surfaces such as concrete and asphalt storing heat from the sun.”

Keywords: asphalt, concrete, storing

Keyword Location: Paragraph 3, line 3

Explanation: Heat is the element absorbed and retained by urban surfaces causing the urban heat island effect.

By improving drainage and filtering pollutants, street trees significantly enhance 4………….

Answer: water

Supporting statement: “They also improve water quality, reduce flooding…”

Keywords: drainage, pollutants, flooding

Keyword Location: Paragraph 3, line 4

Explanation: The improvement is specifically mentioned for water quality.

quality and mitigate flooding. These trees provide shade, reducing the reliance on artificial 5…………….

Answer: energy

Supporting statement: “They can also save energy by shading buildings and reducing the need for air conditioning…”

Keywords: shade, artificial cooling, summer

Keyword Location: Paragraph 3, line 5

Explanation: By reducing air conditioning needs, trees help save energy.

during warmer months. Acting as a protective 6………………

Answer: buffer

Supporting statement: “They also act as a buffer between pedestrians and traffic…”

Keywords: protective, pedestrians, vehicles

Keyword Location: Paragraph 4, line 2

Explanation: Trees serve as a buffer to shield pedestrians from traffic.

systems between pedestrians and moving vehicles, street trees reduce noise and offer a sense of safety. Ensuring street trees thrive involves choosing appropriate locations, providing high grade 7…………., and shielding them from vandalism and adverse weather.

Answer: soil

Supporting statement: “This means planting them in large pits with good quality soil…”

Keywords: quality, planting, resources

Keyword Location: Paragraph 8, line 2

Explanation: Adequate space and good soil are required for healthy tree growth.

Questions 8-13

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1? 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

8. Privatisation has made it easier for local governments to manage street trees.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: “...they are now often seen as a liability.”

Keywords: privatisation, management

Keyword Location: Paragraph 2, line 6

Explanation: Privatisation has made management more difficult, not easier, as trees are seen as liabilities.

9. Street trees can help to make people feel that they are in a unique location.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: “...provide a sense of place and identity…”

Keywords: unique location, identity

Keyword Location: Paragraph 4, line 3

Explanation: Trees help people feel connected to a specific place, implying uniqueness.

10. The pits in which street trees are planted are sometimes too small.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: “...planted in small pits with limited space for root growth…”

Keywords: small pits

Keyword Location: Paragraph 5, line 2

Explanation: The small pits can limit root expansion and cause infrastructure issues.

11. Street trees need more water in warmer climates.

Answer: NOT GIVEN

Explanation: While watering is discussed, there's no specific comparison to warmer climates.

12. Some street trees have to be removed because they are diseased.

Answer: NOT GIVEN

Explanation: Although damage is noted from pests and weather, no specific mention of removal due to disease.

13. The benefits of street trees outweigh the disadvantages.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: “...the benefits of street trees can be maximised, and the problems minimised.”

Keywords: outweigh, benefits, disadvantages

Keyword Location: Conclusion

Explanation: The tone and message of the passage affirm that the benefits outweigh the downsides when managed properly.

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