Wind turbines Reading Answers

Sep 6, 2024

Wind turbines Reading Answers is an academic reading answers topic. Wind turbines Reading Answers has a total of 13 IELTS questions in total.In the first section you have to label the parts in the image. Then you have to choose the correct options. In the next section you have to tell whether the statements are true or false.

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

Section 1

WIND TURBINES

WIND AS A SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SOURCE

Wind turbines capture energy from the wind to create instant clean, green electricity and produce no pollution or greenhouse gases while they operate, but many people think they are ugly and destroy the look of wherever they are placed, whether it is on land or sea. Let's take a look at how they work. A turbine is a rotary mechanical device that captures energy from water or air flow and converts it into another form of energy. Energy produced by a turbine can be used to generate electrical power when combined with a generator. A windmill is a classic turbine, but virtually all electricity, including that from wind power hydropower and coal burning generators, is created using some kind of turbine.

The visible part of a wind turbine is the huge, curved rotor blades. The shape of these is similar to the wings of an airplane with the front edge being thicker than the back edge. This form is called airfoil, and is important for overcoming air résistance or drag. On an airplane's wings, airfoil creates lift, but on a wind turbine it causes the central axle to rotate as the rotor blades spin. The longer the blades are, the more energy the wind turbine generates. As the amount of energy produced by a wind turbine can vary, supply to the grid is stabilized by linking a large number of wind turbines in different areas. Of course the blades of the turbine are what you see, but the main workings of the wind turbine take place inside the nacelle, which is the cylinder-shaped main section of the wind turbine, mounted on the tower. Inside the nacelle, closest to the blades, is the gearbox. This helps convert the slow spinning speed of the blades into the higher rotation of the central axle, powering more electricity. Normal industrial gearboxes decrease the speed of a generator, but wind turbine gearboxes do the opposite. The gearbox is at the rear of the generator, which is the part of the wind turbine that turns kinetic energy into storable electricity The electricity created by the generator is transmitted to a transformer on the ground via a cable. The function of the transformer Is to convert the electricity to a higher voltage so that it can be directed to a local grid for distribution. A typical land wind turbine can produce around 6 million kWh in a year, which is enough electrical energy for the needs of 1,500 households At the rear of the nacelle, there is a device for measuring wind speed and direction called an anemometer. This directs what is called a yaw system to rotate the top of the turbine into the oncoming wind to catch the greatest amount of energy. When wind conditions are too strong, the rotor blades can be blocked by brakes to reduce the possibility of damage. The blades are about 80 metres in width and the tower is about 95 metres high.

This height enables more energy to be trapped. as wind has greater speed when there is nothing to block its path. For the same reason, they need to be far apart from each other. Of course, wind isn't constant, and most are usually idle for about 15 per cent of the time, but placement needs to be on a site with a high level of constant wind. If they are placed in an area where there is discernible wind only 30 per cent of the time, it would hardly create enough electricity to power a thousand homes. Bigger offshore versions with constant wind exposure can generate enough for 6,000 homes. Wind power is, however, an inconsistent form of energy and an efficient power grid could not function effectively with wind turbines as its sole source of electricity. For a 100 per cent guarantee of energy, there needs to be a mixture of other sources such as nuclear, hydro, coal-powered, natural gas or solar energy. But wind power can make a major contribution.

Denmark produces 42 per cent of its electricity needs with wind power. The most visible disadvantage of creating wind power is that it takes up a lot of space. Placed on farmland, wind turbines take up minimal land area. Turbines mounted at sea are very efficient but they are more difficult to maintain and very costly to mount. Landowners and farmers often have objections to installing new power lines and claim that wind turbines destroy the view, though many enjoy the guaranteed income for a quarter of a century for renting out their land, 95 percent of which they can still continue to use.

There are great advantages to using wind turbines, mainly that they are sustainable. Once constructed, they have no emissions and the energy created is without limit and with little further cost. Their construction does involve a lot of metal, so that has some environmental impact. However, of all forms of power generation they have the lowest carbon emissions, even including solar installations and biomass plants. And despite the very high costs of building the turbines, in the long run they are an inexpensive option per kilowatt produced, costing half the price of nuclear and two-thirds that of coal-burning plants.

Questions 1-5

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS.

Q.1

Answer: ROTOR BLADES

Supporting statement: “.....The visible part of a wind turbine is the huge, curved rotor blades.....”

Keywords: part, rotor

Keyword Location: para 2, Line 1

Explanation: The passage explicitly states that the rotor blades are the visible part of the wind turbine. They are described as large and curved, making them the most prominent and noticeable component of the turbine. Since this part is what you can see, the answer is rotor blades.

Q.2

Answer: NACELLE

Supporting statement: “.....The main workings of the wind turbine take place inside the nacelle, which is the cylinder-shaped main section of the wind turbine.....”

Keywords: workings, nacelle

Keyword Location: para 3, Line 1

Explanation: The passage indicates that the nacelle is where the critical operations of the wind turbine occur. It houses key components like the gearbox and generator, which are crucial for the turbine's function. Thus, the nacelle is the central hub of operations within the turbine.

Q.3

Answer: GENERATOR

Supporting statement: “.....The generator is the part of the wind turbine that turns kinetic energy into storable electricity.....”

Keywords: energy, generator

Keyword Location: para 3, Line 4

Explanation: The generator is identified as the component that converts the kinetic energy (energy from motion) of the spinning blades into electrical energy. This conversion is essential for generating electricity, making the generator the correct answer.

Q.4

Answer: TRANSFORMER

Supporting statement: “.....The function of the transformer is to convert the electricity to a higher voltage so that it can be directed to a local grid for distribution.....”

Keywords: voltage, transformer

Keyword Location: para 3, Line 5

Explanation: The passage explains that the transformer's role is to increase the voltage of the generated electricity, allowing it to be transmitted efficiently through the power grid. This process is crucial for distributing electricity to homes and businesses, which is why the transformer is the correct answer.

Q.5

Answer: ANEMOMETER

Supporting statement: “.....At the rear of the nacelle, there is a device for measuring wind speed and direction called an anemometer.....”

Keywords: speed, anemometer

Keyword Location: para 4, Line 1

Explanation: The anemometer is specifically mentioned as the device that measures wind speed and direction. This information is vital for optimizing the turbine's position and operation, making the anemometer the correct answer.

Questions 6-7

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

Why is an airfoil shape used for the blades of a wind turbine?
A. It makes them rise.
B. It makes them curve.
C. It makes them turn.
D. It makes them drag.

Answer: C

Supporting statement: “.....On a wind turbine, it causes the central axle to rotate as the rotor blades spin.....”

Keywords: rotate, rotor

Keyword Location: para 2, Line 5

Explanation: The passage explains that the airfoil shape of the blades creates a force that causes the central axle to rotate, leading the blades to spin. This rotation is essential for generating electricity, as it drives the mechanical processes inside the turbine. Thus, the airfoil shape is used to ensure that the blades turn efficiently.

The part of the wind turbine that controls the speed of the central axle is the
A. gearbox.
B. rotor blades.
C. generator.
D. transformer

Answer: A

Supporting statement: “.....The gearbox helps convert the slow spinning speed of the blades into the higher rotation of the central axle......”

Keywords: gearbox, central

Keyword Location: para 3, Line 2

Explanation: The gearbox's role is to increase the speed of the central axle from the slower rotation of the blades. This is essential for generating more electricity, as a faster rotation is needed to drive the generator efficiently.

Question 8

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

The yaw drive
A. faces the direction of the wind."
B. changes the position of the rotor blades.
C. rotates the central axle
D. calculates wind speed and direction.

Answer: B

Supporting statement: “.....This directs what is called a yaw system to rotate the top of the turbine into the oncoming wind to catch the greatest amount of energy.....”

Keywords: system, rotate

Keyword Location: para 4, Line 3

Explanation: The yaw system's function is to rotate the top of the turbine, aligning it with the wind direction to maximize energy capture. By changing the position of the rotor blades relative to the wind, the yaw drive optimizes the turbine's performance.

Questions 9-13

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

In boxes 9-13 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

A wind turbine is about 80 metres high.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: “.....The blades are about 80 meters in width, and the tower is about 95 meters high......”

Keywords: meters, 95

Keyword Location: para 4, Line 4

Explanation: The statement in the passage clarifies that the blades are 80 meters wide, not the height of the turbine. The height of the tower is actually 95 meters. Therefore, the statement that a wind turbine is 80 meters high is incorrect.

Wind turbines in the sea create more electricity than those on land.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: “.....Bigger offshore versions with constant wind exposure can generate enough for 6,000 homes......”

Keywords: offshore, generate

Keyword Location: para 5, Line 4

Explanation: The passage explains that offshore wind turbines, due to their exposure to constant wind, can generate more electricity than land-based turbines. This increased efficiency allows them to power more homes

Wind power should be used in conjunction with other forms of energy production.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: “....For a 100 per cent guarantee of energy, there needs to be a mixture of other sources such as nuclear, hydro, coal-powered, natural gas, or solar energy......”

Keywords: mixture, energy

Keyword Location: para 5, Line 5

Explanation: The passage clearly states that relying solely on wind power is not sufficient for a stable energy supply. A combination of different energy sources is necessary to ensure a continuous and reliable power grid, making the statement true.

A disadvantage of wind turbines on farmland is that farmers lose money.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: “.....Many enjoy the guaranteed income for a quarter of a century for renting out their land, 95 percent of which they can still continue to use.....”

Keywords: income, renting

Keyword Location: para 6, Line 4

Explanation: The passage contradicts the idea that farmers lose money by hosting wind turbines. Instead, it highlights that farmers receive a steady income from renting their land for turbine installation while still using most of their land for farming.