Hybrid Solar Lighting – IELTS Reading Answers

The Reading Module of the IELTS can be the top scoring category, with diligent practice. To achieve the best results in this section, you must understand how to approach and answer the different Question types in the Reading Module. By solving and reviewing Sample Reading Questions from past IELTS papers, you can ensure that your Reading skills are up to the mark.

Hybrid Solar Lighting

Reading Passage 1

Hybrid Solar Lighting 

—Light the Interiors of Buildings with Sunlight!

Questions 1-3

A hybrid solar lighting system has been developed that uses 1__________ to illuminate buildings. Numerous advantages have been described, such as a boost in 2 _____________and increased 3____________ and educational achievement amongst students.

Questions 4-8

Questions 9-13

• 127 fibres = 1 bundle
• 2 fibres = 60 Watt bulb
• A 9______________measures amount of light & a 10________—-mixes light from different sources to keep levels constant
• Higher % of natural light, more attractive and biologically advantageous—fluorescence contributes to feelings of 11___________whereas natural or hybrid light gives rise to more productivity (& the sale of more 12___________ in shops) because it helps workers (& shoppers) feel good and maintain biological rhythms.
• Plastic fibres are cheap but length from the 13______________ is a limiting factor.

Reading Answers

1 Answer: sunlight

Question type: Summary Completion

Answer location: Paragraph 1

Answer explanation: We can understand from the introductory line of the first paragraph that hybrid solar lighting is a system that captures sunlight on a rooftop and uses optical fibres to channel it directly into a building, which means that a hybrid solar lighting system has been developed using sunlight to illuminate buildings. Thus, the answer is Sunlight.

2 Answer: retail sales

Question type: Summary Completion

Answer location: Paragraph 2, line 3

Answer explanations: The 3rd line of 2nd paragraph states that initial reports declare that retail sales increase by as much as 40% when the switch is made from fluorescent lighting to hybrid solar. These lines suggest that there was a boost in the retail sales by 40% when the fluorescent lighting was switched to hybrid solar.

3 Answer: attention spans

Question type: Summary Completion

Answer location: Paragraph 2, line 6

Answer explanation: The 6th line of 2nd paragraph states, “Furthermore, there is a major improvement in the attention spans and academic attainment of undergraduates in the classrooms or lecture theatres lit by hybrid solar. These lines indicate that there was an increased attention span and academic attainment of undergraduates in the classrooms and lecture theatres lit by hybrid solar. Thus, the answer is attention spans.

4 Answer: Primary mirror

Question type: Summary Completion

Answer location: Paragraph 4

Answer explanation: We can find reference in the initial lines of paragraph 4, which reveals that a solar collector consisting of a 1.2 metre parabolic primary mirror concentrates the lights towards a secondary mirror. Thus, according to the diagram, the outer shield in the solar collector is the primary mirror that concentrates light towards the secondary mirror. So, the answer is primary mirror.

5 Answer: secondary mirror

Question type: Diagram Completion

Answer location: Paragraph 4, line 2

Answer explanation: The 2nd line of 4th paragraph states that the secondary mirror has a special multilayer coating that reflects only the visible wavelengths which effectively strip off the ultraviolet and infrared wavelengths from the reflected light. We can deduce that the multilayer coating in the diagram is the secondary mirror, which reflects visible wavelengths stripping off the ultraviolet and infrared wavelengths from the reflected light. Thus, the answer is secondary mirror.

6 Answer: receiver module

Question type: Diagram Completion

Answer location: Paragraph 4, line 5

Answer explanation: The 5th line of paragraph 4 illustrates that the visible light is focused from the secondary mirror towards a receiver module where it is homogenized to guarantee uniformity. These lines indicate that the visible light is concentrated from secondary light to the receiver module, where it is homogenized to assure uniformity. Thus, the answer is receiver module.

7 Answer: tracker / tracking mechanism / solar tracker

Question type: Diagram Completion

Answer location: Paragraph 5

Answer explanation: The initial lines of 5th paragraph that the solar tracker mechanism consists of two motors that are controlled by a GPS micro processor situated beneath it. These lines indicate that a part containing dual motors is known as a solar tracker mechanism, which is controlled by a GPS microprocessor located under it. So, the answer is Solar tracker.

8 Answer: exact position

Question type: Diagram Completion

Answer location: Paragraph 5, line 2

Answer explanation: Paragraph 5 explains about the solar tracker mechanism. Consisting of dual motors, it is controlled by a GPS microprocessor, which computes the exact position of the sun (based on the latitude and longitude, date and time) to within the point one degrees. We can deduce that the exact location of the sun depending upon longitude and latitude, date and time is calculated by the GPS microprocessor. Thus, the answer is exact position.

9 Answer: photo sensor

Question type: Sentence Completion

Answer location: Paragraph 5, line 7

Answer explanation: The 7th line of 5th paragraph states that a photo sensor in the room monitors the intensity and automatic adjustment are made in order to keep a constant level of illumination. These lines indicate that a photo sensor monitors the intensity and adjustments are automatically made to keep a constant illumination level, i.e, a photo sensor measures the amount of light. Thus, the answer is photo sensor.

10 Answer: hybrid luminaire

Question type: Sentence Completion

Answer location: Paragraph 5, line 6

Answer explanation: The 6th line of paragraph 5 reveals that the lighting fixtures combine the sunlight with the artificial light from fluorescent or incandescent lamps to create hybrid luminaire. We can understand that a hybrid luminaire is created by mixing light from different sources to keep a constant level. Thus, the answer is hybrid luminaire.

11 Answer: depression

Question type: Sentence Completion

Answer location: Paragraph 6, line 5

Answer explanation: The 5th line of paragraph 6 reveals that studies have shown that 20% of workers under artificial light suffer symptoms of depression from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). These lines indicate that 20% of workers working under artificial light experience depression. So, the answer is depression.

12 Answer: merchandise

Question type: Sentence Completion

Answer location: Paragraph 6, line 7

Answer explanation: In the 7th line of paragraph 6, it is mentioned that retail stores with natural lighting sold 40% more merchandise than stores with artificial light. These lines suggest that 40% more merchandise was sold by retail stores with natural lighting than the stores with artificial lighting. Thus, the answer is merchandise.

13 Answer: solar collectors

Question type: Sentence Completion

Answer location: Paragraph 7, line 2

Answer explanation: The 2nd line of paragraph 7 states that there is one limitation to the technology, that although plastic optical fibres are very low cost, they also have very low transmittance and extend for only 15 metres from the solar collector. These lines suggest that plastic fibres are cheap but length from the solar collector is a limiting factor. So, the answer is solar collector.

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