The Igloo – IELTS Reading Answers

IELTS Academic Reading has 40 questions in total, which are divided into three passages, like The Igloo Reading Answers. Some candidates find it difficult to complete within 60 minutes. Therefore, you should begin practising IELTS Reading passages like The Igloo or The Snow Shelter regularly to master this section.

The Academic passage, The Igloo Reading Answers, is a reading passage that appeared in an IELTS Test. Since questions get repeated in the IELTS exam, these passages are ideal for practice. If you want more practice, try taking an IELTS reading practice test.

The passage, The Igloo Reading Answers, is an IELTS Academic reading passage that consists of 13 questions.

The question types found in The Igloo IELTS Reading Answers are:

• True/False/Not Given (Q.1-3)
• Flowchart Completion (Q. 4-10)
• Summary Completion (Q. 11-13)

Reading Passage

The Igloo

The igloo is the traditional shelter of Inuit living in the far northern regions. They are built of blocks of snow in a circular shape, in which the walls curve inward towards the top to form a snow vault with a self-supporting arched ceiling. An outstanding example of human ingenuity and adaptability to the environment, the igloo retains heat and protects against the cold, since snow and ice act as excellent insulation. The design includes a tunnel entrance that forms a cold trap to preserve heat inside. The sleeping and sitting areas are raised above this and so maintain a higher temperature.

A similar construction is the ‘quinzhee’, which is a shelter made by hollowing out a pile of settled snow, and is only for temporary use. In contemporary times, this type of snow shelter has become popular among those who enjoy winter camping, as well as in survival situations. Some contemporary Inuit though continue to use igloos, especially as temporary shelters while hunting.

However, the warming climate of the early twenty-first century has reduced the availability of appropriate snow for igloo construction. Although the traditional art of igloo construction by Inuit natives may have declined, the igloo and variations upon it, such as ice hotels, have gained in popularity among those who enjoy the winter experience.

An igloo in the Inuit language simply means house and the Inuit do not restrict the use of this term exclusively to snow houses, but include traditional tents, sod houses, homes constructed of driftwood, and modern buildings. Although the origin of the igloo may have been lost in antiquity, it is known that Inuit have constructed snow igloos for hundreds of years.

Living in an area where snow and ice predominate, particularly in the long dark winter above the Arctic Circle, the igloo is the perfect shelter. Snow is used because the air pockets trapped in it make it an excellent insulator.

Outside, temperatures may be as low as minus 45 degrees Celsius, but inside an igloo, the temperature may range from minus 7 degrees Celsius to 16 degrees Celsius when warmed by body heat alone. A highly functional shelter, the igloo is also aesthetically pleasing, with its shape being both strong and beautiful.

In order to build an igloo, there is a fairly standard procedure. The first thing to do is to find a good spot. It is vital to choose a safe location away from avalanche prone slopes. Next, mark a circle in the snow. For two people, a circle of around two metres diameter is needed, and for four people, around four metres. The igloo body is the next step.

Shovel a pile of snow into a large, reasonably steep mound and try to keep the sloping sides at an angle of around 35 degrees or higher, which is best for stability. Wide, short snow shelters are more prone to collapse. If possible, mix snow of different temperatures to help it to harden. The entrance is done by digging a trench downwards into the snow towards the mound. This should be on the downhill side and out of the wind.

The snow that is being removed from the trench should be placed on top of the mound. In these conditions, make the trench as deep as a standing man. Then, leave everything for about 90 minutes if possible. Next, finish the tunnel entrance. Make the tunnel slightly wider than a body’s width and dig at a slightly upward angle. Ideally, the floor of the snow shelter should be at least 30 centimetres above the entrance, which will help prevent warm air from escaping the shelter. After the initial entrance is made, it is easier to hollow the inside from the top down.

The walls should be thirty to sixty centimetres thick, and if the inside walls are smoothed, this will help prevent dripping. Leave an elevated platform for sleeping on. As heat rises, the occupants will be in the warmest part of the igloo for sleeping. A very important point is to make an air vent in the wall of the shelter, which will prevent the occupants from suffocating in the night. Finally, block the entrance with a block of snow or a rucksack.

Igloo hotels are a new variation on the traditional igloo. In several winter destinations, villages of igloos are built for tourists, where the guests use sleeping bags that sit on top of reindeer hides in overnight stays. Ice hotels are found in many places in Norway, Finland, and Sweden, and are constructed each winter and melt in the spring.

The Ice Hotel in the village of Jukkasjarvi, located next to the town of Kiruna in Sweden, is a famous attraction. Originally, the creators started out building a simple igloo, which later turned into the elaborate and now famous ‘hotel’. It is made from the waters of the adjacent river Torne, the pure waters of which produce beautiful clear ice used to create interior decorations, which are made entirely of snow and ice.

The igloo is a subject that has fascinated people from all over the world. Although the traditional art of igloo construction by Inuit natives may have declined, the igloo and variations on it have gained in popularity among those who enjoy the novelty and winter experience.

Questions 1- 3

1 The quinzhee is constructed for living in long-term.

2 The Canadian government has allocated grants to keep the art of building igloos alive.

3 Although relatively warm, the temperature inside an igloo in winter Arctic conditions will never rise above freezing.

Questions 4- 10

Building an Igloo

Choose a good spot, away from places with 4………………… potential.

⬇

Mark a circle in the snow (2m diameter for 2 people and 4m for 4 people)

⬇

Create a large mound of snow with 35-degree side angles for robust 5………………… Use snow with various 6………………… to help it set.

⬇

Dig an entrance tunnel on the downhill side and away from the wind. Place dug snow on top of the mound – leave everything for 90 minutes.

⬇

Continue and finish the entrance tunnel – wider than a body and slightly upwards, as the igloo floor should be approx. 30cm higher than the entrance to keep the 7………………… in.

⬇

Hollow the igloo from the inside – the walls should be 30-60 cm thick.

⬇

Smooth the inside walls to stop 8…………………; the sleeping area should be 9…………………; it is vital to make a 10…………………; block the entrance with snow or a rucksack.

Questions 11- 13

The Jukkasjarvi Ice Hotel

Igloo hotels are popular novelties, where guests can sleep in sleeping bags on 11………………… These hotels (in northern countries) are built every year and 12………………… when it warms. The famous Jukkasjarvi Ice Hotel is completely made from nearby river water – even the 13…………………

The Igloo Reading Answers With Location and Explanation

1 Answer: False

Question type: True/False/Not Given

Answer location: Paragraph 2, line 1

Answer explanation: In the mentioned location, it is stated that “A similar construction is the ‘quinzhee’, which is a shelter made by hollowing out a pile of settled snow, and is only for temporary use.”. In the given reference, it is clearly given that the quinzhee is a temporary structure for shelter that is created by hollowing a pile of snow. As the statement contradicts the information, the answer is False.

2 Answer: Not Given

Question type: True/False/Not Given

Answer location: N.A.

Answer explanation: As there is no reference to governments, especially the Canadian government, allocating grants to keep the art of building igloos alive, the answer is Not Given.

3 Answer: False

Question type: True/False/Not Given

Answer location: Paragraph 6, line 1

Answer explanation: In the specified line, it is given that “Outside, temperatures may be as low as minus 45 degrees Celsius, but inside an igloo, the temperature may range from minus 7 degrees Celsius to 16 degrees Celsius when warmed by body heat alone.”. In other words, even though the temperature inside is comparatively warmer than the outside, it ranges between minus 7 degrees Celsius to 16 degrees Celsius, the maximum of which (16 degrees Celsius) is above the freezing point (0 degrees Celsius). As the statement contradicts the information, the answer is False.

4 Answer: avalanche

Question type: Flowchart Completion

Answer location: Paragraph 7, line 2

Answer explanation: In the seventh paragraph, it is stated that “The first thing to do is to find a good spot. It is vital to choose a safe location away from avalanche prone slopes.”. Here, it is clear that as per the flowchart, the first step to take is to choose a good spot which is away from places where avalanches are common (avalanche prone slopes). Hence, the answer is ‘avalanche’.

5 Answer: stability

Question type: Flowchart Completion

Answer location: Paragraph 8, line 1

Answer explanation: In the eighth paragraph, it is noted that “Shovel a pile of snow into a large, reasonably steep mound and try and keep the sloping sides at an angle of around 35 degrees or higher, which is best for stability.”. After a circle with a required diameter is made, one has to shovel a pile of snow to create a steep mound and keep the angle of the sloping side at 35 degrees or more for better (robust) stability. Hence, the answer is ‘stability’.

6 Answer: temperatures

Question type: Flowchart Completion

Answer location: Paragraph 8, line 3

Answer explanation: In the cited location, it is stated that “If possible, mix snow of different temperatures to help it to harden.”. Based on this statement, it can be commented that it is better to use a mix of snow at different temperatures to harden the pile of snow. Hence, the answer is ‘temperatures’.

7 Answer: warm air

Question type: Flowchart Completion

Answer location: Paragraph 9, line 5 -line 6

Answer explanation: In the indicated lines, it is given that “Make the tunnel slightly wider than a body’s width and dig at a slightly upward angle. Ideally, the floor of the snow shelter should be at least 30 centimetres above the entrance, which will help prevent warm air from escaping the shelter.”. It can be concluded from the quoted line that the entrance tunnel should be wider than the body of the igloo and dug at a slightly upward angle as the igloo floor should be approx. 30cm higher than the entrance to keep the warm air inside. Hence, the answer is ‘warm air’.

8 Answer: dripping

Question type: Flowchart Completion

Answer location: Paragraph 10, line 1

Answer explanation: In the specified location, it is noted that “The walls should be thirty to sixty centimetres thick, and if the inside walls are smoothed, this will help prevent dripping.”. This points out that the inside walls of the igloo should be smoothed to avoid (prevent) dripping. Hence, the answer is ‘dripping’.

Tips for Answering the Question Types in the Igloo IELTS Reading Answers

Since now you know the answers to The Igloo Reading Answers with explanations, let us check out some quick tips to answer the types of questions in the Igloo IELTS Reading passage.

True/False/Not Given:

In IELTS Reading, ‘True, False, Not Given’ questions are based on facts. Several factual statements will be provided to you, and it is up to you to determine whether or not they are accurate by reading the text.

To answer this type of question, you can use the following strategies:

• Read the question and look for the following keywords: Examine your list of True, False, and Not Given questions before beginning to read the text.
• Scan the passage for keywords’ synonyms or paraphrases: After you’ve highlighted the keywords, skim the text for paraphrases or synonyms.
• Match the highlighted words in the questions to their textual synonyms: When you’ve located both sets of terms, cross-reference them to obtain the answer.
• Determine the correct answer: If the facts match, the answer is TRUE; otherwise, the answer is FALSE. If you can’t find the solution or are doubtful, mark it NOT GIVEN.

Flowchart Completion: 

The flowchart summarizes the order of actions in a process. You need to recognise the sequence and complete the missing information by reading the text in the IELTS Academic Reading. Even though they are given rarely, you need to know that they might be in a table form (as in this passage) or an illustration (diagram).

Here are some strategies to help you solve this question type:

• Instructions are critical: Always double-check the word limit restrictions and rigorously adhere to them to prevent losing marks.
• First, look at the flowchart: Quickly go through the flowchart to understand the process and discover the keywords. The flowchart’s title will also assist you get an idea.
• Scanning the text: Scanning through the paragraph now, locate the process outlined in the flowchart.
• Choose the proper logical and linguistically correct answer: The word you chose from the passage should make sense in the context of the phrase and be grammatically correct.
• The flow of the graphic and the information may differ: While reading the paragraphs, keep in mind that the answers may not always appear in the same sequence as the flowchart. However, the word/answer will always be taken from the passage.

Summary Completion:

Summary Completion is a type of IELTS reading question that requires you to fill in a gap in a paragraph with a word or phrase from the passage.

To answer summary completion questions, you can use the following strategies:

• Read the sentences attentively to get a sense of the type of word or phrase that is lacking.
• Scan the passage for the following keywords: The keywords in the text can assist you in identifying the appropriate word or phrase.
• Read the sentence that contains the missing word or phrase: This will assist you in understanding how the word or phrase fits into the sentence.
• Examine your response: After you’ve filled in the blanks, check sure your response makes sense in the context of the statement.

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