Architecture – Reaching For The Sky — IELTS Reading Answers

“Instead of using timber, stone and traditional building techniques, architects began to explore ways of creating buildings by using the latest technology and materials such as steel, glass and concrete strengthened with steel bars, known as reinforced concrete”

The table needs materials architects stopped using; the text says instead of timber, stone and traditional techniques they turned to steel, glass and reinforced concrete.

“By the 1920s architects throughout Europe were reacting against the conditions created by industrialisation. A new style of architecture emerged to reflect more idealistic notions for the future. It was made possible by new materials and construction techniques and was known as Modernism”

The table needs the new style of the 1920s; the text says the style made possible by new materials was known as Modernism.

“By the 1930s many buildings emerging from this movement were designed in the International Style. This was largely characterised by the bold use of new materials and simple, geometric forms By the 1950s, the International Style had developed into a universal approach to building”

The table needs the style of the 1930s; the text says many buildings emerging from the movement were designed in the International Style.

“But this led to many badly designed buildings, which discredited the original aims of Modernism. Influenced by Le Corbusier’s ideas on town planning, every large British city built multi-storey housing estates in the 1960s.”

The table needs what discredited Modernism's original aims; the text says this led to many badly designed buildings.

“Preserving historic buildings or keeping only their facades (or fronts) grew common”

The table needs what grew common; the text says preserving historic buildings, or keeping only their facades, grew common.

“The architectural style usually referred to as High Tech was also emerging. It celebrated scientific and engineering achievements by openly parading the sophisticated techniques used in construction. Such buildings are commonly made of metal and glass”

The table needs the style celebrating engineering achievements; the text names High Tech, which openly paraded sophisticated construction techniques.

“By the 1980s the coexistence of different styles of architecture in the same building became known as Post Modern”

The table needs what the 1980s term described; the coexistence of different styles in the same building became known as Post Modern.

A rapid movement of people from rural areas to cities is triggered by technological advance.

“Technological advances also helped bring about the decline of rural industries and an increase in urban populations as people moved to the towns to work in the new factories. Such rapid and uncontrolled growth helped to turn parts of cities into slums”

Technological advance brought the decline of rural industries and migration to towns, and such rapid growth turned parts of cities into slums.

Buildings become simple and functional.

“These were stripped of unnecessary decoration that would detract from their primary purpose — to be used or lived in”

Buildings were stripped of unnecessary decoration that would detract from their primary purpose, to be used or lived in, leaving them simple and functional.

An economic depression and the second world war hit Europe.

“But the economic depression of the 1930s and the second world war (1939-45) prevented their ideas from being widely realised until the economic conditions improved and war-torn cities had to be rebuilt”

The 1930s economic depression and the second world war prevented modernist ideas from being widely realised until conditions improved and cities were rebuilt.

Multi-storey housing estates are built according to contemporary ideas on town planning.

“Influenced by Le Corbusier’s ideas on town planning, every large British city built multi-storey housing estates in the 1960s. Mass-produced, low-cost high-rises seemed to offer a solution to the problem of housing a growing inner-city population.”

British cities built multi-storey estates influenced by Le Corbusier, but many were poorly designed and constructed and have since been demolished.

Less land must be used for building.

“Twentieth century architecture will mainly be remembered for its tall buildings. They have been made possible by the development of light steel frames and safe passenger lifts. They originated in the US over a century ago to help meet the demand for more economical use of land”

Tall buildings were made possible by light steel frames and safe passenger lifts, developed to meet demand for more economical use of land.