US Shale Gas Fracking Reading Answers

Apr 25, 2025

US Shale Gas Fracking Reading Answers is an academic reading answers topic. US Shale Gas Fracking Reading Answers has a total of 13 IELTS questions in total. In the question set you have to choose which paragraph contains the given statement. In the next question set you have to choose five letters from A-L describing the disadvantages to the US shale gas fracking industry. In the last question, you have to choose the correct answer from the given options.

The IELTS Reading section is an essential part of the test that evaluates a candidate's comprehension and analysis of various passage types. You will work through a number of IELTS reading practice problems in this section that resemble actual test situations. These questions are designed to help you improve your ability to recognize essential concepts, extract particular facts, and make inferences. Practicing US Shale Gas Fracking IELTS reading problems can help you get comfortable with the structure and increase your confidence for the exam, regardless of whether you are studying for the Academic or General Training module.

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Section 1 US SHALE GAS FRACKING

Paragraph A

We have had widespread drilling for oil and gas deposits for more than 100 years in the United States. Until the 1990’s most of this recovery has occurred from conventional wells that were drilled down to rock formations, from which hydrocarbons could be pumped to the surface. The discovery of hydraulic fracking in the late 1940’s has long allowed companies to extract gas and Oil from shale, but the perfection of these two techniques over the past few decades has allowed the process to become cost effective. There are numerous shale plays in the United States from which shale gas can be extracted, and firms are busy drilling wells in many areas of the country.

Paragraph B

Shale gas is natural methane in rock formations deep underground that, before fracking, was not feasible to extract. Its removal today depends on hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling, Hydraulic fracturing is the use of pressure to force liquids containing proppants (of ten sand) into

rock strata, so that hydrocarbons are available for extraction. Current technology uses water, sand, and miscellaneous fluids, all of which must be imported to the well site. A wellbore is drilled, and then the fracturing fluid is forced through holes in the casing into the plays. High pressures are used to create fissures where the proppants are deposited to hold fissures open, so that hydrocarbons can be released. Hydraulic fracturing occurs in a number of stages and the fracturing fluid is forced into a small portion of the wellbore at each stage. After the hydraulic fracturing is completed, some of the fracturing fluid comes back up the well. Because the flowback and wastewater from a well can be toxic, it must be disposed of in a manner that does not create any health, safety, or environmental problems. The underground areas from which the gas is extracted may be left with cavities, which in turn can sometimes cause ground subsidence.

Paragraph C

The development of American shale gas deposits has been accompanied by notable benefits and a significant impact on the American economy. Next year, it is estimated that the development of Americtfs shale gas resources will employ 869,000 people. The shale gas industry will have capital expenditures of $48 billion and pay more than $28 billion in federal and state taxes this year. Due to shale gas, the US is using less coal and the country's electricity costs have been lowered by about ten per cent. Shale gas has also contributed to a decrease in imports of foreign natural gas.

Paragraph D

Yet not everything is positive. The development of shale gas resources is associated with its toxic pollutants and environmental problems. It needs to be mentioned that the American federal and state governments were not prepared for the problems that accompany shale gas development. A lack of sufficient regulatory oversight in the US when the industry began allowed some unfortunate situations and instances of damage that could have been prevented.

Paragraph E

Sites where wells are drilled for extracting shale gas of ten cover about two hectares and involve increased traffic, noise, light, dangerous equipment, and toxic chemicals. The activities and conditions at a site therefore create a potential for contamination and environmental degradation. The major risk involves damage from the toxic chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing. The fracking fluid is approximately 99.5 percent water and sand and 0. 5 per cent additives used to enhance hydrocarbon recovery, An average of 5000 gallons of chemical additives may be used to frack a well and some of them are toxic. Since different chemicals and different amounts are used at each well, the toxicities may vary.

Paragraph F

Under US federal law, the chemicals used at a well are exempted from full reporting requirements. Under most State laws, the supplier or the service company of a fracturing operation must disclose information, unless the chemicals are claimed as a trade secret. Recently, it was estimated that in approximately two-thirds of the cases the complete chemical conditions were not reported. Chemical secrecy is a problem, because persons working at wells and persons who come into contact with chemicals used at a well do not have sufficient information to know whether they need medical attention. Without timely information of the chemicals involved in a spill or release, first responders to emergencies health professionals,

and property owners may lack key information for deciding what actions they should take.

Paragraph G

Issues are also being raised about the need for better management practices to reduce the risks that accompany shale gas development. Hundreds of best management practices have been identified to employ during energy development and extraction, but most of these are currently voluntary. In the absence of mandatory management practices covering all of the stages of shale gas development, there are not sufficient assurances that people and the environment are adequately protected against health and safety problems. By adopting more mandatory management practices, the industry may be able to reduce the risks and shale gas development would be beneficial overall

Paragraph H

The American experiences can be helpful in discerning whether Other countries might proceed with shale gas development. The activities connected with developing shale gas can be assessed to learn about the risks, dangers, and problems that need to be addressed. Then,

existing laws and regulations can be evaluated to determine their probable success in addressing the risks. Additional regulations can be developed if they are needed and firms can be required to adopt best management practices. Governments can require disclosure of dangerous materials and establish funding mechanisms to pay for regulatory oversight and for collecting monies to be used to remedy future damages caused by fracking.

Questions 27-34

The text above has 8 paragraphs A —H.

Which paragraph contains the following information?

Write your answers in bares 27-34 your answer sheet.

27.Not all chemicals used for fracking are poisonous.

Answer: E

Supporting statement: chemical additives may be used to frack a well and some of them are toxic.

Keywords: chemical, toxic

Keyword Location: Para E, Lines 6-7

Explanation: According to the text, not all the chemical additives that could be around some 5000 gallons used in the process of fracking a well might be toxic or not as the ratios vary greatly.

28. Shale gas is found deep under the ground.

Answer: B

Supporting statement:Shale gas is natural methane in rock formations deep underground that

Keywords: Shale gas, underground

Keyword Location: Para B, Line 1

Explanation: According to the text shale gas is naturally occurring methane found in underground rock formations that was once difficult to extract before the use of hydraulic fracturing. Today, horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing have become essential for its removal.

29. At present, recommended management practices for fracking companies are not compulsory.

Answer: G

Supporting statement:but most of these are currently voluntary. In the absence of mandatory management practices covering

Keywords: voluntary, management practices

Keyword Location: Para G, Line 4

Explanation: The text states that at present, most of the management practices covering all of the stages of shale gas development are not done by the companies as a compulsory procedure; still some companies do it voluntarily to reduce the risks that comes with it.

30. The US government did not initially enforce enough control on the fracking industry.

Answer: D

Supporting statement:A lack of sufficient regulatory oversight in the US when the industry began

Keywords: regulatory, US

Keyword Location: Para D, Line 4

Explanation: The text states that the federal and state governments in the United States were unprepared for the challenges that come with the growth of shale gas. When the sector first started in the US, there wasn't enough regulatory control, which led to several regrettable circumstances and instances of damage that could have been avoided.

31. Fracking techniques have been available since the 1940s.

Answer: A

Supporting statement: The discovery of hydraulic fracking in the late 1940’s has long allowed companies

Keywords: hydraulic, 1940’s

Keyword Location: Para A, Line 4

Explanation: According to the text companies have long been able to extract oil and gas from shale since the late 1940s when hydraulic fracturing was discovered.

32. Finance should be set aside to pay for future problems that fracking might create.

Answer: H

Supporting statement: funding mechanisms to pay for regulatory oversight and for collecting monies to be used to remedy future damages caused by fracking.

Keywords: pay for regulatory, damages

Keyword Location: Para H, Lines 7-8

Explanation: The text states that in order to pay for regulatory oversight and to collect funds for potential fracking-related damages, governments can mandate the disclosure of hazardous materials and set up funding structures.

33. Some companies do not publicise the chemicals that they use for

Answer: F

Supporting statement: Recently, it was estimated that in approximately two-thirds of the cases the complete chemical conditions were not reported.

Keywords: two-thirds, reported

Keyword Location: Para F, Lines 4-5

Explanation: The text mentions that some of the companies do not publicise the information regarding the chemicals they use in the fracturing operation.

34. Using shale gas has reduced US expenditure on electricity generation.

Answer: C

Supporting statement: Due to shale gas, the US is using less coal and the country's electricity costs have been lowered by about ten per cent.

Keywords: electricity, lowered

Keyword Location: Para C, Lines 5-6

Explanation: According to the text, the United States has reduced its coal consumption and reduced its electricity costs by around 10% as a result of shale gas. Foreign natural gas imports have decreased as a result of shale gas.

Questions 35-39

Choose FIVE letters, A — L

Which of the following sentences below accurately describe disadvantages to the US shale gas fracking industry?

A. Toxic Liquid can flow up a drilling installation and potentially create pollution.

B. Underground gas explosions can be a risk to local communities.

C. The ground over the fracking areas can sometimes become unsafe.

D.Oil deposits can sonætimes be lost during gas fracking.

E. Fracking installations generate additional traffic pollution.

F Excess light can be present at fracking installations.

G. Sand used in fracking can pollute the water table.

H. Workers contaminated during fracking operations can have correct treatment delayed

I. Tax dollars are taken out of the country by overseas extraction companies

35…………

Answer: A

Supporting statement: some of the fracturing fluid comes back up the well. Because the flowback and wastewater from a well can be toxic, it must be disposed of

Keywords: fracturing fluid, toxic

Keyword Location: Para B, Lines 10-11

Explanation: According to the text toxic liquid can fill back up in drilled wells and it can pollute the environment so it must be discarded in such a way so that it does not create any health, safety, or environmental problems.

36…………...

Answer: C

Supporting statement:The underground areas from which the gas is extracted may be left with cavities, which in turn can sometimes cause ground subsidence.

Keywords: underground areas, cavities

Keyword Location: Para B, Lines 12-13

Explanation: According to the text ground sinking may occur occasionally from the cavities that are left behind in the underground places from where the gas is removed.

37…………...

Answer: E

Supporting statement:Sites where wells are drilled for extracting shale gas of ten cover about two hectares and involve increased traffic,

Keywords: extracting, traffic

Keyword Location: Para E, Lines 1-2

Explanation: According to the text sites where fracking installations are done to extract shale gas might cause traffic pollution.

38…………...

Answer: F

Supporting statement:increased traffic, noise, light, dangerous equipment, and toxic chemicals.

Keywords: increased, light

Keyword Location: Para F, Lines 1-2

Explanation: According to the text, sites where fracking installations are done to extract shale gas might have excess light with other things, such as excess noise, dangerous equipment and toxic chemicals as it is required for the drilling process.

39…………...

Answer: H

Supporting statement: persons working at wells and persons who come into contact with chemicals used at a well do not have sufficient information to know whether they need medical attention.

Keywords: persons working, sufficient information

Keyword Location: Para H, Lines 5-7

Explanation: The text states that individuals who work at wells and those who come into touch with chemicals employed there lack the knowledge necessary to determine whether they require medical assistance. First responders to emergencies, medical professionals, and property owners may not have the necessary knowledge to determine what steps to take if they do not receive timely information about the chemicals involved in a spill or leak.

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D

40. What is the writer's purpose in Reading Passage 3?

A To analyse the government's role in US fracking.

B To criticise US fracking techniques.

C To compare US and European Fracking methcüs.

D To provide an overview of the benefits and risks of US fracking.

Answer: D

Supporting statement: Yet not everything is positive. The development of shale gas resources is associated with its toxic pollutants and environmental problems.

Keywords: positive, pollutants

Keyword Location: Para D, Lines 1-2

Explanation: According to the text the writer want to convey the overall view of risk and advantages of the fracking as not everything is positive as there is some negative that comes with the fracking of the shale gas in one place it reduces the US coal consumption and reduction in electricity consumptions but on the other hand it causes noise, traffic and release of toxic pollutants into the environment and health hazard to the people involved in the fracking process.

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