Moles Happy As Homes Go Underground — IELTS Reading Answers

Paragraph B

“The foundations had yet to be dug, but customers queued up to buy the unusual partsubmerged houses, whose back wall consists of a grassy mound and whose front is a long glass gallery”

Paragraph B says customers queued up to buy the unusual part-submerged houses before the foundations were dug, showing strong demand.

Paragraph C

“Growing numbers of Europeans are burrowing below ground to create houses, offices, discos and shopping malls. It is already proving a way of life in extreme climates; in winter months in Montreal, Canada, for instance, citizens can escape the cold in an underground complex complete with shops and even health clinics.”

Paragraph C describes growing numbers burrowing underground and gives Montreal, Tokyo and Japan examples, showing a worldwide trend.

Paragraph D

“Indeed many of the buildings which consume most land such as cinemas, supermarkets, theatres, warehouses or libraries have no need to be on the surface since they do not need windows”

Paragraph D notes that buildings consuming most land, such as cinemas and supermarkets, need no windows and can go underground.

Paragraph E

“A development of 194 houses which would take up 14 hectares of land above ground would occupy 2.7 hectares below it, while the number of roads would be halved An underground dweller himself, Carpenter has never paid a heating bill, thanks to solar panels and natural insulation”

Paragraph E compares land use, 14 hectares above ground against 2.7 below, and notes Carpenter pays no heating bills, showing advantages.

Paragraph F

“It was the Tilburg architect Jo Hurkmans who hit on the idea of making use of noise embankments on main roads. His two-floored, four-bedroomed, two-bathroomed detached homes are now taking shape. "They are not so much below the earth as in it," he says.”

Paragraph F describes Jo Hurkmans using noise embankments on main roads to build detached homes, an innovative design solution.

Paragraph G

“In the US, where energy-efficient homes became popular after the oil crisis of 1973, 10,000 underground houses have been built. A terrace of five homes, Britain's first subterranean development, is under way in Nottinghamshire.”

Paragraph G gives examples from the US, Britain and Italy, showing the international spread of subterranean building.

Paragraph H

“Not everyone adapts so well, and in Japan scientists at the Shimizu Corporation have developed "space creation" systems which mix light, sounds, breezes and scents to stimulate people who spend long periods below ground”

Paragraph H says not everyone adapts well and describes Japanese space creation systems to stimulate people underground, addressing wellbeing problems.

Paragraph I

“Their home evolved when he dug a cool room for his bakery business in a hill he had created. During a heatwave they took to sleeping there. "We felt at peace and so close to nature," he says. "Gradually I began adding to the rooms”

Paragraph I tells how a home evolved from a cool room dug for a bakery business, an example of gradual adaptation.

“In Europe the obstacle has been conservative local authorities and developers who prefer to ensure quick sales with conventional mass produced housing”

The gap needs what developers prefer to secure; the text says they prefer to ensure quick sales with conventional mass-produced housing.

“But the Dutch development was greeted with undisguised relief by South Limburg planners because of Holland's chronic shortage of land”

The gap needs who welcomed the Dutch development; South Limburg planners were relieved because of Holland's chronic shortage of land.

“It was the Tilburg architect Jo Hurkmans who hit on the idea of making use of noise embankments on main roads”

The gap needs what the Tilburg architect made use of; the text says he used noise embankments on main roads.

“Commissioned by Roberto Olivetti in 1969, it comprises 82 one-bedroomed apartments and 12 maisonettes and forms a house/hotel for Olivetti employees”

The gap needs who the Olivetti centre houses; it forms a house and hotel for Olivetti employees.

“Not everyone adapts so well, and in Japan scientists at the Shimizu Corporation have developed "space creation" systems which mix light, sounds, breezes and scents to stimulate people who spend long periods below ground”

The gap needs what not everyone manages to do so well; the text says not everyone adapts so well.

“Their home evolved when he dug a cool room for his bakery business in a hill he had created”

The gap needs what the cool room was originally dug for; the text says he dug it for his bakery business.