Bioremediation Reading Answers

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Bioremediation Reading Answers is an IELTS academic reading topic. There are thirteen questions included in this short passage. Bioremediation Reading Answers has been taken from the book E-ENG-school IELTS Reading Test With Answers Key. This IELTS Reading passage talks about energy and bioremediation. There are three types of questions match the heading, match the plant and select the correct option. .

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Section 1

Read the passage to answer the following questions

Bioremediation Reading Answers

Global energy need; will probably increase by 30% over the next ten years and at present, 40% of the world's energy is consumed by buildings. One way to make buildings more energy efficient is to insulate them and minimise fresh air exchange. However, reduced air circulation causes a phenomenon known as Sick Building Syndrome when combined with the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by modem materials used in of blocks, furnishings and high-tech equipment, along with human bio-effluents.
Eye irritations, skin rashes, sinus and respiratory problems, headaches and drowsiness are common symptoms. The VOCs are not only noxious but carcinogenic, with long-term exposure heightening one's risk of cancer.
An environmental scientist, Dr Bill Wolverton, working for The National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA), came up with a solution: "if man is to move into closed environments, on Earth or in space, he must take along nature's life support system". In other words, plants. Early experiments were conducted in the BioHome, an airtight habitat constructed entirely of synthetic materials, designed for one person to live in. Before Wolverton introduced houseplants into the environment, it was uninhabitable because of the poor air quality - anyone entering suffered burning eves and breathing difficulties.
Wolverton found that, apart from absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen as all plants do, some plants are able to remove considerable amounts of VOCs. They do this by absorption through tiny openings (stomata) on their leaves, but roots and microorganisms living in the potting soil or other growing medium are also important in the removal of toxins from the air.
Most of the plants used by Wolverton originated in the understory of subtropical or tropical forests, with their particular leaf composition enabling them to photosynthesise in reduced sunlight. This ability is what allows them to thrive indoors away from direct sunshine. One largish plant for approximately every ten square metres of home or office space is suggested as an operational ratio.
The strategy of using indoor plants as air purifiers has not been widely endorsed because of a lack of quantifiable outcomes. This could be changing, however. Recent studies at the University of Technology in Sydney have shown that certain plants on Wolverton's list, namely Dracaena deremensis 'Janet Craig' and the peace lily Spathiphyllum wallisii, reduced pollution levels to negligible levels when placed in offices with high quantities of VOC's.
Building on the NASA experiments and with the help of the Indian Institutes of Technology and The Energy and Resources Institute, Kamal Meattle of New Delhi has trialed several of Wolverton's recommended plant species at his workplace. He used 1,200 plants for 300 occupants (four waist - to shoulder-high plants per person) in a twenty years old building measuring some 4,600 square metres.
Results of this experiment showed elevated blood oxygen levels in the occupants and reduced incidences of eye irritation as well as a marked reduction in respiratory system disorders and headaches. Since the installation of the plants, the labour force has increased productivity by over 20% and energy requirements for the building have been reduced by 15 per cent. For his study, he used the areca palm, the snake plant (or mother- in-law's tongue) and the money plant (golden pathos).
The areca palm (Chrysandocarpus lutescens), native to the island of Madagascar, has a smooth silver-green trunk and feathery-shaped fronds. A sensitive plant, it needs year round care with the right amount of bright but indirect light. The soil should be kept a little moist in spring and summer but allowed to thy slightly in autumn and winter. The areca favours a snug container - the crowded root system will limit the size of the palm, if unrestricted, it may grow as tall as six metres. The areca palm has been proven effective in the removal of toluene (in new carpet, paints and varnishes) and xylem (a potent neurotoxin found in marker pens, paints and varnishes).
The snake plant (Sansevieria trsfasciata) is an evergreen perennial species, originally a resident of tropical West Africa. Its stiff vertical leaves extend up to a metre in length. It is more tolerant of irregular watering and low light levels than the areca palm. Meattle notes that it would be ideally placed in bedrooms because it is a nocturnal oxygenator.
It also does a good job of absorbing benzene (a commonly used solvent in oils, paints, plastics and rubber), trichloroeihylene (a commercial product with a wide variety of uses including inks, paints, adhesives) and formaldehyde. in addition to toluene and xylem. Formaldehyde is a pervasive and abundant chemical found in numerous paper products, particleboard, plywood synthetic fabrics, carpet, cigarette smoke and heating and cooking fuels.
The money plant (Eppreinnum aureson), is indigenous to French Polynesia. This evergreen vine is a very hardy plant, but highly invasive if it takes root out of doors. It is an easy and undemanding plant to care for, equally comfortable in bright or low light, nutrient-poor or nutrient-rich soil - it can even be grown in a jar of water. Unfortunately, its leaves are poisonous to cats, dogs and children and even the sap from the plant may cause a rash in people with sensitive skin. However, it is extremely efficient at filtering all the same pollutants as the snake plant, except for trichloroethylene.
Popular minimalist architecture mostly did away with indoor plants but, as a result of research by Dr Wolverton and others, they are making a comeback. After all, in the words of Margaret Burchett of the University of Technology in Sydney: "Potted plants can provide an efficient, self-regulating, low-cost, sustainable bioremediation system for indoor air pollution". Plants have even more in their favour: they balance indoor humidity, are pleasing on the eye and, according to a recently published article: "plants relieve physiological stress and negative psychological symptoms".

Section 2

Solution and Explanation

Questions 28-32

The text has nine paragraphs A-I. Which paragraph mentions the following?

measurable effects of bioremediation on workers

Answer: E
Supporting Sentence: Since the installation of the plants, the labour force has increased productivity by over 20% and energy requirements for the building have been reduced by 15 per cent.
Keyword : labour force, productivity, 20%
Keyword Location: Paragraph E, 2nd last sentence
Explanation: The author mentions the details of bioremediation on the workers and labour force. As per the passage they could measure productivity due to the effect of bioremediation. Hence, E is the correct answer.

how plants cleanse the air

Answer: C
Supporting Sentence: Wolverton found that, apart from absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen as all plants do, some plants are able to remove considerable amounts of VOCs.
Keyword : plants, remove, VOC
Keyword Location: Paragraph C, 1st sentence
Explanation: The author in the 1st sentence of the third paragraph states that all plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. However, there are few plants that remove VOCs from air. Hence, they clean the air.

research which tested the bioremediation effects of two different plant species

Answer: D
Supporting Sentence: Recent studies at the University of Technology in Sydney have shown that certain plants on Wolverton's list, namely Dracaena deremensis 'Janet Craig' and the peace lily Spathiphyllum wallisii,
reduced pollution levels to negligible levels when placed in offices with high quantities of VOC's.
Keyword : studies, university
Keyword Location: paragraph D, last sentence
Explanation: The author talks about the study of two species Dracaena deremensis 'Janet Craig' and the peace lily Spathiphyllum wallisii. These plants reduced pollution levels to negligible levels when placed in offices with high quantities of VOC's. Hence D is the correct answer.

an experimental facility that was initially unfit to live in

Answer: B
Supporting Sentence: Before Wolverton introduced houseplants into the environment, it was uninhabitable because of the poor air quality - anyone entering suffered burning eves and breathing difficulties.
Keyword : uninhabitable, breathing difficulties
Keyword Location: Paragraph B, last sentence
Explanation: The author clearly states that the facility was not fit to live in. The person who entered suffered burning eyes and breathing difficulties. Hence, B is the correct answer.

Questions 33-39

Look at the following statements and list of plant species below.

Match each statement with the correct plant.

Areca plant
Snake plant
Money plant

it is robust

Answer: C
Supporting Sentence: This evergreen vine is a very hardy plant, but highly invasive if it takes root out of doors.
Keyword : Money, hard
Keyword Location: Paragraph H, 2nd sentence
Explanation: Robusts means healthy, sturdy and flavorful. As per the supporting sentence, this plant is very hard and evergreen. These are robusts features of the plant.

it prefers a tight-fitting pot

Answer: A
Supporting Sentence: The areca favours a snug container - the crowded root system will limit the size of the palm, if unrestricted, it may grow as tall as six metres.
Keyword : crowded, limit
Keyword Location: Paragraph F, 4th sentence
Explanation: The author says that the areca plant favors snug containers. The crowded root system limits the size. If it is not placed in a tight-fitting spot it might grow tall.

it easily overruns other plants in an outside environment

Answer: C
Supporting Sentence: It is an easy and undemanding plant to care for, equally comfortable in bright or low light, nutrient-poor or nutrient-rich soil - it can even be grown in a jar of water.
Keyword : undemanding, care, comfortable
Keyword Location: Paragraph H, 3rd sentence
Explanation: The author says that this plant is easy to grow outside and even in a jar. It runs every other plant in the outside environment.

it releases oxygen at night

Answer: B
Supporting Sentence: Meattle notes that it would be ideally placed in bedrooms because it is a nocturnal oxygenator.
Keyword : bedrooms, nocturnal oxygenator
Keyword Location: Paragraph G, 4th sentence
Explanation: The passage states that a money plant should be placed in the bedroom. This is because it is a nocturnal oxygenator. This means it leaves oxygen at night.

it is delicate

Answer: A
Supporting Sentence: A sensitive plant, it needs year round care with the right amount of bright but indirect light.
Keyword : sensitive
Keyword Location: Paragraph F, 2nd line
Explanation: As per the author Areca is a sensitive plant which means it is delicate. Hence, A is the correct answer.

it is harmful to infants and some adults

Answer: C
Supporting Sentence: Unfortunately, its leaves are poisonous to cats, dogs and children and even the sap from the plant may cause a rash in people with sensitive skin.
Keyword : leaves, poisonous, people
Keyword Location: Paragraph H, 4th sentence
Explanation: As per the author, the leaves are poisonous to cats, dogs and children. The sap from the plants may cause a rash with sensitive skin.

it has leaves that grow straight up

Answer: B
Supporting Sentence: Its stiff vertical leaves extend up to a metre in length.
Keyword : stiff, vertical
Keyword Location: Paragraph, 2nd sentence
Explanation: The author states that the leaves of the snake plant is vertical and they extend upto a meter in length. Hence, B is the correct answer.

Question 40

Choose the correct letter A, B, C or D.

Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the last paragraph of the passage?

indoor plants improve air quality
indoor plants need regular care

Answer: B
Supporting Sentence: Potted plants can provide an efficient, self-regulating, low-cost, sustainable bioremediation system for indoor air pollution
Keyword : indoor, air pollution
Keyword Location: Last paragraph, 2nd sentence
Explanation: As per the author, potted plants can provide self-regulating, low-cost, sustainable bioremediation systems for indoor air pollution. This means indoor plants improve air quality and not indoor plants need regular care. Hence, B is the correct answer.

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Bioremediation Reading Answers

Section 1

Bioremediation Reading Answers

Section 2

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