Indoor Pollution Reading Answers

This article contains the Indoor Pollution reading answers.

Indoor Pollution is a real Reading test passage that appeared in the IELTS.

With diligent practice, the Reading Module can be the top-scoring category for IELTS Aspirants. To score well, 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. Take the practice test Indoor Pollution below and try more IELTS reading practice tests from IELTSMaterial.com.

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For more Multiple Choice Questions practice, take a look at IELTS Reading Multiple Choice Example 1!

The question types found in this passage are:

Multiple Choice Question 

The multiple-choice questions in the IELTS reading test require the test-taker to choose the correct answer out of 3 or 4 proposed options. This question type requires scanning for specific information and understanding information in the passage. The primary aim of MCQs is to determine the efficiency of the test-taker to comprehend the central idea of the passage.

Matching Features 

The matching features type of questions in the IELTS reading test is one of the trickiest question types, which requires the test-taker to match a list of options with the relevant set of statements. These options will be given in a box, which is either features or some names, that are mentioned in the reading passage. Unlike the given text, statements will not be in order. Along with that, statements will be paraphrased information as compared to the text. 

Indoor Pollution

Answers

1 Answer: D

Question type: Multiple Choice Question 

Answer locations: Paragraph A

Answer explanations: Paragraph A indicates that large-scale environmental pollution is mostly the result of (caused by) poor government planning in many developing nations or the short-sighted, selfish policies of the already industrialised countries (both are examples of human self-interest) which encourage a minority of the world’s population to squander the majority of its natural resources. Hence, the answer is D (is caused by human self-interest).

2 Answer: B

Question type: Multiple Choice Question 

Answer locations: Paragraph B 

Answer explanations: Paragraph B brings forward the fact that the recent spillage of crude oil from an oil tanker accidentally led to pumping of oil into Sydney Harbour (the sea). It not only caused serious damage to the harbour foreshores but also created severely toxic fumes which hung over the suburbs for days. Hence, the answer is B (tanker pumping oil into the sea).

3 Answer: D

Question type: Multiple Choice Question 

Answer locations: Paragraph C

Answer explanations: Paragraph C mentions that avoiding pollution can be a full­time job. Some of the ways that the author has listed to avoid city pollution are – trying not to inhale traffic fumes, keeping away from chemical plants and building-sites and wearing a mask when cycling. Hence, the answer is D (there are several ways to avoid city pollution).

4 Answer: B

Question type: Multiple Choice Question 

Answer locations: Paragraph D

Answer explanations: Paragraph D explains that Richard Corsi and Cynthia Howard-Reed, of the University of Texas in Austin (Corsi research team) suggests (hypothesised) that it is the process of keeping clean that may be making indoor pollution worse. The researchers found that baths, showers, dishwashers and washing machines can all be significant sources of indoor pollution, because they extract trace amounts of chemicals from the water that they use and transfer them to the air. So, it can be said that dishwashers and baths are some of the reasons for indoor pollution. Hence, the answer is B (pollution is caused by dishwashers and baths).

5 Answer: C 

Question type: Multiple Choice Question 

Answer locations: Paragraph H

Answer explanations: Paragraph H points out that according to Dr Corsi, disproportionate effort is wasted campaigning against certain forms of outdoor pollution, when there is as much or more cause for concern indoors, right under people’s noses. From this, we can conclude that the increase in indoor pollution remains unnoticed but it can easily compete with the outdoor pollution which gets all the attention. Hence, the answer is C (indoor pollution rivals outdoor pollution).

6 Answer: A 

Question type: Multiple Choice Question 

Answer locations: Paragraph J

Answer explanations: Paragraph J states that the implications of indoor pollution (dangers of pollution) for health are unclear. But before worrying about the problems caused by large-scale industry, it makes sense to consider small-scale pollution at home and welcome international debate about this. So, in spite of panicking from the beginning, there is a need for rational discussion, both at home and on an international basis. Hence, the answer is A (there is a need for rational discussion).

7 Answer: C

Question type: Matching Features 

Answer locations: Paragraph A 

Answer explanations: Paragraph A lets out the fact that pollution is the result of poor government planning in many developing nations or the short-sighted, selfish policies of the already industrialised countries which encourage a minority of the world’s population to squander the majority of its natural resources. Majority nations are using their resources for their industries and the government is not taking proper steps to control them. Moreover, many countries have already become industrialised by using their resources. But the minor populations have not become industrialised as they have less  resources and are being encouraged to squander whatever resources they have. So, we can conclude that the industrialised nations have more resources (and so they are ‘already’ industrialised) and the smaller countries have less resources which creates an unequal sharing of resources among the countries. Hence, the answer is C (The world’s natural resources are unequally shared).

8 Answer: D 

Question type: Matching Features 

Answer locations: Paragraph B

Answer explanations: Paragraph B informs about the recent spillage of crude oil from an oil tanker accidentally discharging its cargo straight into Sydney Harbour. This has left the angry residents (people) wondering how such a disaster could have been allowed to happen and demanding an explanation of the cause and effects of the oil spill. Hence, the answer is D (People demand an explanation).

9 Answer: A

Question type: Matching Features 

Answer locations: Paragraph D

Answer explanations: Paragraph D deals with the fact that the latest study was conducted by two environmental engineers, Richard Corsi and Cynthia Howard-Reed, of the University of Texas in Austin and published their findings in Environmental Science and Technology. It suggests that it is the process of keeping clean that may be making indoor pollution worse, that is, in the process of keeping our homes clean we are causing indoor pollution. Hence, the answer is A (The focus of pollution moves to the home).

10 Answer: F 

Question type: Matching Features 

Answer locations: Paragraph F 

Answer explanations: Paragraph F relates that dishwashers were found to be particularly effective: the high-temperature spray (water is brought to a high temperature), splashing against the crockery and cutlery, results in a nasty plume of toxic chemicals that escapes (chemicals are removed or stripped from the water) when the door is opened at the end of the cycle. Hence, the answer is F (Chemicals are effectively stripped from the water).

11 Answer: H

Question type: Matching Features 

Answer locations: Paragraph G

Answer explanations: Paragraph G specifies that in many cases, the degree of exposure to toxic chemicals in tap water by inhalation is comparable to the exposure that would result from drinking the stuff. It is important because many people are so concerned about water-borne pollutants that they drink only bottled water which has resulted in worldwide sales of which are forecast to reach $72 billion by next year. So, the concern of pollutants in tap water has made people shift to the use of bottled water which has increased its sales. Hence, the answer is H (Sales of bottled water increase).

12 Answer: I

Question type: Matching Features 

Answer locations: Paragraph I

Answer explanations: Paragraph I make it known that overcrowded classrooms use ventilation systems which were designed for smaller numbers of children frequently contain levels of carbon dioxide that would be regarded as unacceptable on board a submarine. This helps us to conclude that the inadequacy of the air conditioning systems to handle the higher number of students in the classroom is causing a rise of carbon dioxide to a level that is unacceptable even in submarines. Hence, the answer is I (The levels of carbon dioxide rise).

13 Answer: G

Question type: Matching Features 

Answer locations: Paragraph I

Answer explanations: Paragraph I tells us that the ‘new car smell’ is the result of high levels of toxic chemicals (toxic chemicals are abundant in new cars.), not cleanliness. In reality, the odour, which we suppose is clean, from a new car is due to the presence of high levels of toxic chemicals. Hence, the answer is G (A clean odour is produced).

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