Windfall for the Environment — Downfall for Health Reading Answers

Feb 1, 2025

Windfall for the Environment — Downfall for Health is a generic topic for IELTS Reading Answers. Windfall for the Environment — Downfall for Health Reading Answers has 14 IELTS questions. In the first set of questions (from Questions No. 27-30), match the given statements with the given options labeled in letters. After that, in the next set of questions (from Questions No. 31-36), you must answer all the questions in either TRUE, FALSE, OR NOT GIVEN options. Then, on the remaining questions (from Questions No. 37-40), choose the correct option from the given list of options.

The IELTS Reading Section plays an important role in the IELTS exam, evaluating the candidate's ability to understand and interpret various texts. IELTS Reading Answers check the comprehension skills of the candidates through passages on various topics. In this article, you will engage with a series of IELTS Reading Practice Tests that simulate real test scenarios. Whether you're studying for academic or general training modules, working on these IELTS Reading questions will familiarize you with the overall test structure and increase your confidence for the real exam.

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Section 1 Windfall for the Environment — Downfall for Health

Wind turbines are popping up around the world as an alternative source of energy, but residents who live near them say the machines are making them sick. Imagine the sound of a train going over a bridge, a jet engine propeller slicing through the air, or even a bee stuck inside your ear. These are the descriptions given by residents from New Zealand, Australia, and Britain, all living near wind farms. What is seen by many people as a solution to the world’s growing need for electricity has become, for these residents, a force so disruptive that they have had to uproot their lives to find relief.

Wind turbine farms are quickly becoming a popular green energy alternative for many countries, including the United States, Germany, and China. There are more than 3,000 onshore turbines in Britain alone, which increased its wind power capacity by nearly 25 percent in 2011. During the same period, Australia expanded its wind power capacity by more than 11 percent. While organizations such as the World Wind Energy Association praise this increase in wind farms as a positive development in “community energy,” those who live close enough to them to hear their constant drone disagree.

One of those residents, Andreas, lived in Waterloo, South Australia, until last year. In October 2010, the gas and electricity provider TruEnergy installed a 37-turbine wind farm on a ridge skirting his town. At the time, he says he was in favor of wind energy. “I was a firm believer that wind turbines were going to be a good idea,” he says. “We were all for wind power.” However, his opinion changed when the blades started to spin at the Waterloo Wind Farm. Within weeks, he and his family began to experience everything from heart problems and sleep disturbances to a constant ringing in their ears. However, he didn’t immediately associate his health concerns with the new wind farm near his home. It wasn’t until a conversation with his friend who lived nearby that he started to link the two. “He got angry with me for asking how he slept,” Andreas remarked. “I asked my sister-in-law, and she said, ‘I haven’t slept for a week.’ I asked another neighbor, and he said the same thing. At that point, I thought, ‘It’s not just me.’”

Looking for answers, he searched the Internet for information on the possible side effects of wind turbines, and that’s when he came across the website of Dr. Nina Pierpont, a doctor and researcher from New York. Andreas began an email correspondence with her husband, which resulted in her agreeing to come to his home to talk to him and his neighbors in person. He and his neighbors erupted into stories of night sweats and constant headaches, revealing that all had experienced similar symptoms. After everyone was finished, she put her book on the table and said, “This is happening in Victoria, too. But not just in Victoria. It’s happening all over the world.”

That book was Wind Turbine Syndrome: A Report on a Natural Experiment. Pierpont first introduced the term “wind turbine syndrome” in 2006; she later published a book about it—the same one on Andreas’s table—in 2009. Pierpont’s research involved 38 residents in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Italy. Her presentations on wind turbine syndrome have been widely debated within the research and medical communities. The wind energy associations of Canada, the United States, and Britain have all criticized her work.

A study conducted by a group of researchers from the University of Salford in Manchester, England, concluded that there is no such thing as wind turbine syndrome. Dr. Huberlein, who specializes in the effects of noise and psychoacoustic technology, was one of the five researchers who prepared that Salford University report, Research into Aerodynamic Modulation of Wind Turbine Noise, which was commissioned by the British Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs.

“There is no scientific evidence to date that there is a direct physiological connection between wind turbine noise and health,” he explains. “Having said that, there are effects, and one is sleep disturbance.” The thing to point out here really is the sleep disturbance part. Whether it can be scientifically proven that the noise from wind farms is detrimental to human health is a debate likely to continue as wind energy increases globally. The Global Wind Energy Council reports that by 2030 half of all the wind energy produced in the world will come from countries that have just begun to explore wind turbine-produced power.

Questions 27-30

(Match the letters A-D) Label who voices the appropriate following statements:

A. The resident is at the center of this article.

B. The government-funded researcher.

C. The author of the book on wind turbine syndrome.

D. The numerous locals residing nearby.

27. Background noise from various factors can negatively affect sleep patterns.

Answer: The government-funded researcher.

Supporting statement: “.......There is no scientific evidence to date that there is a direct physiological connection between wind turbine noise and health,” he explains. “Having said that, there are effects, and one is sleep disturbance.........”

Keywords: Noise, Sleep, Scientific, Evidence

Keyword Location: para 7, Line 1-3.

Explanation: Dr. Huberlein mentions sleep disturbance as an effect of wind turbine noise but denies a direct health impact.

28. Wind turbine syndrome has become a worldwide concern for many citizens.

Answer: The author of the book on wind turbine syndrome.

Supporting statement: “.......That book was Wind Turbine Syndrome: A Report on a Natural Experiment. Pierpont first introduced the term “wind turbine syndrome” in 2006; she later published a book about it—the same one on Andreas’s table—in 2009..........”

Keywords: Wind, Syndrome, Book, Published

Keyword Location: para 5, Line1-3.

Explanation: Dr. Nina Pierpont introduced and documented “wind turbine syndrome” as a global issue affecting residents of many countries through her research and book.

29. Originally very supportive of the concept of using wind power, but then switched views.

Answer: (The local resident at the center of this article)

Supporting statement: “.......At the time, he says he was in favor of wind energy. “I was a firm believer that wind turbines were going to be a good idea,” he says. “We were all for wind power.” However, his opinion changed when the blades started to spin at the Waterloo Wind Farm..........”

Keywords: Wind, Energy, Blades, Waterloo

Keyword Location: para 3, Line 3-5

Explanation: Andreas, the local resident, initially supported wind power but changed his opinion after experiencing health issues caused by the wind turbines near his home.

30. Using imagination relating to annoying insects and transportation to describe effects.

Answer: The numerous locals residing nearby.

Supporting statement: “.......Imagine the sound of a train going over a bridge, a jet engine propeller slicing through the air, or even a bee stuck inside your ear...........”

Keywords: Imagine, Train, Propeller, Insects

Keyword Location: para 1, Line 3-4

Explanation: The passage states that residents have described the sound as similar to “a bee stuck inside your ear,” “a train going over a bridge,” and “a jet engine propeller.”

Questions 31-36

(Do the following statements agree with the information given in the text?)

Label as:

True – if the statement agrees with the information

False – if the statement contradicts the information

Not Given – if there is no information on this.

31. The figures for Britain on its own, from a few years ago, showed that a quarter of turbines were constructed on wind farms in the sea off the coast.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: “.......There are more than 3,000 onshore turbines in Britain alone, which increased its wind power capacity by nearly 25 percent in 2011...........”

Keywords: Turbines, Britain, Coast, Capacity

Keyword Location: para 2, Line 2-4

Explanation: The passage states, "There were more than 3,000 onshore turbines in Britain.” Onshore means on land, which contradicts the statement about offshore (marine) turbines.

32. All those who live near these wind farms have been affected and have set up roots elsewhere to find a new peace.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: “........These are the descriptions given by residents from New Zealand, Australia, and Britain, all living near wind farms. What is seen by many people as a solution to the world’s growing need for electricity has become, for these residents..........”

Keywords: Wind farms, Residents, Electricity

Keyword Location: para 1, Line 4-7

Explanation: The passage mentions that “residents who live near them say the machines are making them sick” but does not state whether all have been modified or have relocated.

33. Andreas immediately linked his new health issues with the nearby recently constructed wind farm.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: “........However, he didn’t immediately associate his health concerns with the new wind farm near his home. It wasn’t until a conversation with his friend who lived nearby that he started to link the two..........”

Keywords: Immediately, Health Issues, Conversation

Keyword Location: para 3, Line 8-10

Explanation: Andreas did not immediately connect his health issues to the wind farm. He made the connection only after talking to his neighbors, who reported similar symptoms.

34. Research was conducted by Andreas on the web in an attempt to discover potential negative effects attributed to wind-generating technology

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: “........Looking for answers, he searched the Internet for information on the possible side effects of wind turbines, and that’s when he came across the website of Dr. Nina Pierpont, a doctor and researcher from New York...........”

Keywords: Internet, Website, Doctor, Information

Keyword Location: para 4, Line 1-3

Explanation: Andreas searched online for potential negative impacts of wind turbines, which led him to Dr. Nina Pierpont's research on “wind turbine syndrome.”

35. Criticism of the concept of wind turbine syndrome has come from many countries, including the USA, Germany, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, and China.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: “........The wind energy associations of Canada, the United States, and Britain have all criticized her work............”

Keywords: USA, Canada, Britain, Criticized

Keyword Location: para 5, Line 6-8

Explanation: Criticism of wind turbine syndrome is mentioned in the United States, Canada, and Britain, but there is no information about Germany, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, or China.

36. Approximately just over a decade later, 50% of 36 energy from wind will be produced in those locations just starting to use this technology.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: “........The Global Wind Energy Council reports that by 2030 half of all the wind energy produced in the world will come from countries that have just begun to explore wind turbine-produced power...........”

Keywords: Countries, Explore, Wind Energy

Keyword Location: para 7, Line 6-8

Explanation: The Global Wind Energy Council estimates that half of all wind energy produced by 2030 will come from countries exploring wind energy, which confirms this statement.

Questions 37-40

Choose the correct letter.

37. As a green alternative option to fossil fuels, energy obtained from wind is gaining in

A. Possibility.

B. Popularity.

C. Practicality.

Answer: B (Popularity)

Supporting statement: “........Wind turbine farms are quickly becoming a popular green energy alternative for many countries, including the United States, Germany, and China...........”

Keywords: Popular, Alternative, Green Energy

Keyword Location: para 2, Line 1-2

Explanation: The passage mentions how wind turbine farms are becoming a widely chosen green energy option in various countries, including the US, Germany, and China, highlighting their growing popularity.

38. Seen as the environmental answer by some, many families were forced to move as the effects were too great a

A. Disruption.

B. Production.

C. Criticism.

Answer: A (Disruption)

Supporting statement: “........What is seen by many people as a solution to the world’s growing need for electricity has become, for these residents, a force so disruptive that they have had to uproot their lives to find relief............”

Keywords: Disruption, Relief, Electricity, Force

Keyword Location: para 1, Line 5-8

Explanation: Wind turbines were initially seen as a green energy solution, but the disruptive noise forced families to leave their homes due to health problems and constant disturbance.

39. When telling their stories, the symptoms felt by all those spoken to were described as

A. Immediate.

B. Changeable.

C. Consistent

Answer: C (Consistent)

Supporting statement: “........He and his neighbors erupted into stories of night sweats and constant headaches, revealing that all had experienced similar symptoms............”

Keywords: Stories, Symptoms, Revealing, Experienced

Keyword Location: para 4, Line 6-8

Explanation: The symptoms described by Andreas and his neighbors, such as night sweats, headaches, and sleep disturbances, were experienced repeatedly by all of them, indicating stability rather than variation or urgency.

40. Within the health industry and academic communities, her (Pierpont) findings at first were widely

A. Discussed.

B. Denied.

C. Studied.

D. Expanded.

Answer: A (Discussed)

Supporting statement: “........Her presentations on wind turbine syndrome have been widely debated within the research and medical communities...........”

Keywords: Presentations, Widely, Debated, Syndrome

Keyword Location: para 5, Line 5-6

Explanation: Pierpont's findings were widely debated within the research and medical communities, indicating that they were discussed rather than completely denied or expanded upon.

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