Reading Passage Content
This page contains IELTS reading practice materials with comprehensive questions and explanations.
IELTS Reading Practice Test: Materials to take us beyond concrete
Practice your IELTS reading skills with this comprehensive 13-question test. Time limit: 20 minutes.
Reading Passage Content Summary
## Materials to take us beyond concrete Concrete is everywhere, but it’s bad for the planet, generating large amounts of carbon dioxide – alternatives are being developed **A** Concrete is the second most used substance in the global economy, after water – and one of the world’s biggest single sou...
Question Types Included
- matching-information (4 questions)
- summary-completion (4 questions)
- matching-features (5 questions)
Test Information
- Total Questions: 13
- Time Limit: 20 minutes
- Level: Intermediate to Advanced
- Format: IELTS Academic Reading
Reading Comprehension Questions
Questions 1–4: Matching Information
Which paragraph contains the following information?
Write the correct letter, A–H, in boxes 1–4.
| 1. An explanation of the industrial processes that create potential raw materials for concrete | ||||||||
| 2. a reference to the various locations where high-rise wooden buildings can be found | ||||||||
| 3. an indication of how widely available the raw materials of concrete are | ||||||||
| 4. the belief that more high-rise wooden buildings are needed before wood can be regarded as a viable construction material |
Questions 5–8: Summary Completion
Complete the summary below.
Choose NO MORE THAN ONE WORD from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 5–8.
Wood is a traditional building material, but current environmental concerns are encouraging 5. to use wood in modern construction projects. Using wood, however, has its challenges. For example, as 6. in the atmosphere enters wood, it increases in size. In addition, wood is prone to pests and the risk of fire is greater. However, wood can be turned into a better construction material if it is treated and combined with other materials. In one process, 7. of solid wood are glued together to create building blocks. These blocks are lighter than concrete and steel but equal them in strength. Experts say that wooden buildings are an improvement on those made of concrete and steel in terms of the 8. with which they can be constructed and how much noise is generated by the process.
Questions 9–13: Matching Features
Match each country/region with the correct renewable energy characteristic.
Write the correct letter, A–D, in boxes 9–13.
NB You may use any letter more than once.
List of People
- A. Chris Cheeseman
- B. Markus Mannstrom
- C. Anna Surgenor
- D. Felix Preston and Johanna Lehne
| 9. The environmental advantage of cement alternatives may not be as great as initially assumed. | ||||
| 10. It would be hard to create a construction alternative to concrete that offers so many comparable benefits. | ||||
| 11. Worries about the environment have led to increased interest in wood as a construction material. | ||||
| 12. Expense has been a factor in the negative response to the development of new cements. | ||||
| 13. The environmental damage caused by concrete is due to it being produced in large quantities. |
Ready to Start?
Customize your exam settings and begin your reading test
Exam Duration:
min
Standard test • Range: 5-180 minutes
20 min
13 questions
Materials to take us beyond concrete
Reading Passage Content
This page contains IELTS reading practice materials with comprehensive questions and explanations.
Reading Comprehension Questions
Questions 1–4: Matching Information
Which paragraph contains the following information?
Write the correct letter, A–H, in boxes 1–4.
| 1. An explanation of the industrial processes that create potential raw materials for concrete | ||||||||
| 2. a reference to the various locations where high-rise wooden buildings can be found | ||||||||
| 3. an indication of how widely available the raw materials of concrete are | ||||||||
| 4. the belief that more high-rise wooden buildings are needed before wood can be regarded as a viable construction material |
Questions 5–8: Summary Completion
Complete the summary below.
Choose NO MORE THAN ONE WORD from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 5–8.
Wood is a traditional building material, but current environmental concerns are encouraging 5. to use wood in modern construction projects. Using wood, however, has its challenges. For example, as 6. in the atmosphere enters wood, it increases in size. In addition, wood is prone to pests and the risk of fire is greater. However, wood can be turned into a better construction material if it is treated and combined with other materials. In one process, 7. of solid wood are glued together to create building blocks. These blocks are lighter than concrete and steel but equal them in strength. Experts say that wooden buildings are an improvement on those made of concrete and steel in terms of the 8. with which they can be constructed and how much noise is generated by the process.
Questions 9–13: Matching Features
Match each country/region with the correct renewable energy characteristic.
Write the correct letter, A–D, in boxes 9–13.
NB You may use any letter more than once.
List of People
- A. Chris Cheeseman
- B. Markus Mannstrom
- C. Anna Surgenor
- D. Felix Preston and Johanna Lehne
| 9. The environmental advantage of cement alternatives may not be as great as initially assumed. | ||||
| 10. It would be hard to create a construction alternative to concrete that offers so many comparable benefits. | ||||
| 11. Worries about the environment have led to increased interest in wood as a construction material. | ||||
| 12. Expense has been a factor in the negative response to the development of new cements. | ||||
| 13. The environmental damage caused by concrete is due to it being produced in large quantities. |
Ready to Start?
Customize your exam settings and begin your reading test
Exam Duration:
min
Standard test • Range: 5-180 minutes
20 min
13 questions