Alternative Energy Sources – IELTS Reading Answers

The Academic passage, ‘Alternative Energy Sources Reading Answers’, is a reading passage that consists of 13 questions.

The Reading Module can be the top-scoring category for IELTS aspirants, with diligent practice. To score well, you must understand how to approach and answer the different question types in the Reading Module.

Ideally, you should not spend more than 20 minutes on a passage. You must scan the material for important terms, comprehend the subject, and then respond in accordance with the instructions. Also, read this IELTS reading passage ‘Alternative Energy Sources,’ pick out significant words, and recognize synonyms in order to provide a one-word response.

So, let’s see how easy this passage is for you and if you’re able to make it in 20 minutes. If not, try more IELTS reading practice tests from IELTSMaterial.com.

The question types found in this passage ‘Alternative Energy Sources’ are:

• Multiple-Choice Questions (Q. 1-2)
• True/False/Not Given (Q. 3-7)
• Matching Sentence Completion (Q. 10-13)

Are you struggling with True/False/Not Given type questions? Then watch this video.

Reading Passage

Alternative Energy Sources

A Alternative energy sources are being pursued for a variety of reasons. Many countries have signed the Kyoto Protocol, making measures to reduce pollutants and greenhouse gases a top priority in today’s culture. Alternative, or renewable, energy sources hold a lot of promise for reducing the quantity of pollutants produced as a result of energy use. Alternative energy not only protects against unwanted by-products, but also helps to maintain many of the natural resources that we now utilize as energy sources. It’s crucial to know what sorts of alternative energy are available in order to comprehend how they can assist in protecting the planet’s delicate ecological balance and conserve non-renewable energy sources like fossil fuels.

B Alternative energy sources are constantly replaced by non-polluting resources. They are not caused by fossil fuel combustion or atom splitting. The utilization of renewable energy helps supplement our energy supply. Alternative energy sources include biomass energy, geothermal energy, hydroelectric power, solar power, wind power, fuel cells, ocean thermal energy conversion, tidal energy, and wave energy.

C Biomass is a type of renewable energy derived from organic matter. Wood, forest and mill leftovers, animal waste, cereals, agricultural crops, and aquatic plants are all examples of biomass fuels. These materials are used as fuel to heat water for steam generation or are processed into liquids and gases that can be burned to achieve the same result. By 2020, the United States could generate up to four-and-a-half times more biopower thanks to increased biomass use, cheaper production costs, and improved technology. It is predicted that biomass will grow at the fastest rate among renewable energy sources, increasing by 80 percent to 65.7 billion KW by 2020.

D Geothermal energy extracts heat from the earth’s interior. To deliver the hot water or steam to the surface, wells are bored into geothermal reservoirs. In geothermal facilities, the steam drives a turbine generator, which generates energy. This heat is used to heat homes and greenhouses in some regions, as well as to supply processed heat for businesses and industries. Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik, is heated by geothermal energy. The majority of geothermal resources are found in the western United States. Geothermal heat pumps heat and cool homes by tapping into shallow earth energy, and they may be used in practically any place. Much more power could be generated from hydrothermal resources with technical advancements. Scientists have been experimenting with geothermal power plants by pumping water into the hot, dry rock 3-6 miles beneath the earth’s surface.

E Hydroelectric (hydropower) energy is produced by driving turbine generators with the force of falling water. Hydroelectricity generates more electricity than any other renewable energy source. Estimates indicate that hydroelectric power in the United States will decrease from 389 billion KW in 1999 to 298 billion KW in 2020. The majority of the best hydropower sites have already been developed, and there are concerns about the environmental impact of large-scale hydroelectric installations, therefore this decline is anticipated.

F Solar power is produced without the use of a turbine or an electromagnet. Photovoltaic cells on special panels catch sunlight and convert it directly into electricity. A battery is used to store the electricity. Solar energy can also be utilized to heat domestic water directly (solar thermal technology). The domestic photovoltaic (PV) industry might supply up to 15% of the new peak electricity capacity required in the United States by 2020.

G Electricity can be generated using wind energy. The blades of a windmill spin when the wind blows past them. The shaft connected to the blades rotates, powering a pump or turning a generator to generate electricity. After that, electricity is stored in batteries. The amount of energy that can be produced is determined by the wind speed and the size of the blades. In windier areas of the country, wind energy is more efficient. The majority of wind energy is generated by wind farms, which are enormous clusters of turbines positioned in reliably windy areas. Wind as a source of energy is both free and non-polluting, with no emissions or chemical waste. Wind-generated electricity is becoming more prevalent.

H Fuel cells are electrochemical devices that use a chemical reaction to generate power. Fuel cells are rechargeable, have no moving parts, are quiet, and have no moving parts. Scientists are investigating how they could be utilized as a power source for almost-emission-free autos and as electricity-generating plants. The exorbitant cost of producing fuel cells has kept this important energy source from becoming widely used.

I Ocean sources; Oceans, which span more than 70% of the earth’s surface, contain both thermal and mechanical energy from the sun’s heat and tides and waves. Solar radiation is converted to electricity by ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC). To create electricity, OTEC power plants employ the temperature difference between warm surface waters heated by the sun and colder waters found at ocean depths. The energy of the tides can also be used to generate electricity. The power of changing tides is harnessed via tidal energy, but considerable tidal variances are required. The tidal process makes use of the tides’ natural motion to fill reservoirs, which are then progressively emptied through electricity-generating turbines. Wave energy conversion takes energy from surface waves, pressure variations beneath the water’s surface, or the entire wave. The interaction of winds with the ocean surface is also used in wave energy. In the United States, this technology is still in the early stages of development.

Questions 1 – 2

1 Geothermal Energy is produced by

A Warming the air beneath the ground surface

B Utilising the kinetic energy of falling water

C The extraction of water steam from the earth’s subsurface.

D Utilizing the earth’s inherent energy.

2 The most significant barrier to creating one of these energy sources is

A Expense

B Amount of energy dissipated

C Electricity

D Fuel cell energy

Questions 3 – 7

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

Write

3 Alternative Energy sources have multiple applications.

4 At Least one of these alternative energy sources needs fossil fuels.

5 The disbursement is the minor factor that is an obstacle to developing one of these forms of energy.

6 Alternative energy with the highest efficiency is Wind Power.

7 There are numerous sources to generate Wave Energy.

Questions 8 – 13

8 By utilizing Alternative energy sources, we can reduce the __________ generated by conventional energy sources.

9 We currently use __________ as part of our power source, in addition to fossil fuels and atom-splitting.

10 Biomass is a type of renewable energy that comes from __________.

11 The renewable energy that originates from the earth’s interior is known as __________.

12 The __________ of manufacturing is one of the reasons why fuel cells aren’t extensively used.

13 __________ alternative energy source does not utilize turbines.

Answers of Alternative Energy Sources Reading Answers With Explanation

1 C

Explanation: The 1st line of paragraph D states,” Geothermal energy extracts heat from the earth’s interior. To deliver the hot water or steam to the surface, wells are bored into geothermal reservoirs”.

2 A

Explanation: The 5th line of paragraph H states, “The exorbitant cost of producing fuel cells has kept this important energy source from becoming widely used”.

3 True

Explanation: The 2nd line of paragraph A states,” making measures to reduce pollutants and greenhouse gases a top priority in today’s culture. Alternative, or renewable, energy sources hold a lot of promise for reducing the quantity of pollutants produced as a result of energy use. Alternative energy not only protects against unwanted by-products, but it also helps to maintain many of the natural resources that we now utilise as energy sources”.

4 False

Explanation: The 1st line of paragraph C states,” Biomass is a type of renewable energy derived from organic matter. Wood, forest and mill leftovers, animal waste, cereals, agricultural crops, and aquatic plants are all examples of biomass fuels. These materials are used as fuel to heat water for steam generation or are processed into liquids and gases that can be burned to achieve the same result”.

5 False

Explanation: The 5th line of paragraph H states, “The exorbitant cost of producing fuel cells has kept this important energy source from becoming widely used”.

6 Not Given

Explanation: The 8th line of paragraph G states,” Wind as a source of energy is both free and non-polluting, with no emissions or chemical waste. Wind-generated electricity is becoming more prevalent”.

7 True

Explanation: The 10th line of paragraph I states,” Wave energy conversion takes energy from surface waves, pressure variations beneath the water’s surface, or the entire wave. The interaction of winds with the ocean surface is also used in wave energy. In the United States, this technology is still in the early stages of development”.

8 Quantity of pollutants

Explanation: The 3rd line of paragraph A states,” Alternative, or renewable, energy sources hold a lot of promise for reducing the number of pollutants produced as a result of energy use.

9 Renewable Energy

Explanation: The 1st line of paragraph B states,” Utilisation of renewable energy helps supplement our energy supply. Alternative energy sources include biomass energy, geothermal energy, hydroelectric power, solar power, wind power, fuel cells, ocean thermal energy conversion, tidal energy, and wave energy.

10 Organic Matter

Explanation: The 1st line of paragraph C states,” Biomass is a type of renewable energy derived from organic matter. Wood, forest and mill leftovers, animal waste, cereals, agricultural crops, and aquatic plants are all examples of biomass fuels.

11 Geothermal Energy

Explanation: The 1st line of paragraph D states,” Geothermal energy extracts heat from the earth’s interior. To deliver the hot water or steam to the surface, wells are bored into geothermal reservoirs. In geothermal facilities, the steam drives a turbine generator, which generates energy.

12 (Exorbitant) Cost

Explanation: The 5th line of paragraph H states,” The exorbitant cost of producing fuel cells have kept this important energy source from becoming widely used”.

13 Fuel Cell Energy

Explanation: The 1st line of paragraph H states,” Fuel cells are electrochemical devices that use a chemical reaction to generate power. Fuel cells are rechargeable, have no moving parts, are quiet, and have no moving parts”.

Tips for Answering the Question Types in Alternative Energy Sources Reading Answers

Multiple-Choice Questions

1. Read the question first: Before you start reading the passage, quickly read the multiple-choice question. This will give you a specific focus as you read and help you identify relevant information more efficiently.
2. Skim the passage: Begin by skimming the passage to get a general idea of the content. Pay attention to headings, subheadings, and any formatting features that might signal the location of the answer.
3. Eliminate wrong answers: Use the process of elimination to eliminate answer choices that are clearly incorrect. This can often be done by matching keywords from the question to the passage.
4. Pay attention to synonyms and paraphrasing: The answer choices may not use the exact same words as the passage but rather synonyms or paraphrases. Be on the lookout for these and be prepared to recognize them.
5. Don’t spend too much time on one question: If you’re struggling with a multiple-choice question, move on and come back to it later. It’s important to manage your time effectively to answer all questions within the allotted time.

True/False/Not Given

1. Read the instructions carefully: Understand the difference between “True,” “False,” and “Not Given.” “True” means the information is directly stated in the passage, “False” means it contradicts the information in the passage, and “Not Given” means the information isn’t mentioned in the passage.
2. Refer to the passage: For each statement, go back to the passage and carefully locate the relevant information. Pay close attention to the wording of the statement and compare it to the information in the passage.
3. Beware of paraphrasing: Sometimes, the statement is paraphrased in the passage, so be vigilant about synonyms and rephrased sentences.
4. Focus on keywords: Identify the keywords in the statement and look for those exact words or synonyms in the passage.
5. Watch out for distractors: The passage may contain information that seems related to the statement but isn’t directly addressing it. Don’t be tricked by these distractors; the answer should directly match the statement.

Matching Sentence Completion

1. Read the instructions: Understand the task at hand. In matching sentence completion, you’re usually required to complete sentences with information from the passage.
2. Skim the sentences: Quickly skim through the sentences that need to be completed. This will give you a sense of the type of information you’re looking for.
3. Focus on the context: Pay attention to the context of the sentence. This can help you predict what type of information should logically complete the sentence.
4. Scan for keywords: Go back to the passage and scan for keywords or phrases from the incomplete sentences. Look for sentences that provide the missing information.
5. Check for grammar and coherence: Ensure that the completed sentence makes grammatical sense and is coherent within the context of the passage. Sometimes, the answer may be grammatically incorrect, which can help you eliminate incorrect choices.

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