Cambridge IELTS 20 · General Training · Test 3 · Section 3
Wind Power – a Turn for the Better — IELTS Reading Answers
All 13 answers for Wind Power – a Turn for the Better, Cambridge IELTS 20 General Training Reading Test 3 Section 3, with the passage evidence and an explanation for each.
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Wind Power – a Turn for the Better answer key at a glance
Questions 28–40. Tap an answer to see the evidence.
What this section tests
This section is tested with Matching Information (Q28–34), Matching Features (Q35–40). Each section below gives the strategy for that question type, the answers, and the sentence that proves them.
Questions 28–34: Matching Information
Strategy: Scan for the idea, not the exact words. The answer is a paragraph letter, and one paragraph may be used more than once unless the instructions say otherwise.
a comparison between new and traditional turbine designs
“While conventional turbines rotate on a horizontal axis, the tall, V-shaped Aerogenerator spins on a vertical axis, like a record. Unlike horizontal-axis designs, vertical-axis turbines can harness wind energy from any direction, and because the moving parts and the generator are at ground level,”
Paragraph C contrasts 'conventional turbines' on a horizontal axis with the V-shaped Aerogenerator spinning vertically, a new-versus-traditional comparison.
two unsatisfactory attempts to include wind turbines in buildings
“The architect Richard Rogers proposed an integral turbine for the Tomigaya Tower in Tokyo in 1993, but his plan was turned down. In more recent efforts, such as William Pedersen's sports centre in New York, wind turbines seem to be environmentally friendly but do not provide a real solution to energy requirements”
Paragraph F gives two unsatisfactory attempts: Richard Rogers' rejected Tomigaya Tower plan and William Pedersen's sports centre, which 'do not provide a real solution'.
an official policy relating to energy production
“In the UK, with plans for new wind farms proceeding apace in an effort to meet the government's interim target for renewable-sourced energy, the debate has reached crisis point”
Paragraph B mentions plans to meet 'the government's interim target for renewable-sourced energy', an official energy policy.
disappointing modifications to plans for an innovative corporate building
“A project that came closer to realisation was the controversial Freedom Tower in New York. At the top of this enormous tower, architects intended to create a 150 m-high open cage structure containing a wind turbine.”
Paragraph H describes the Freedom Tower's wind-turbine design being dropped, so it 'became a rather ordinary office block', a disappointing modification.
a claim that changes in building design will impact the way urban areas look
“It's a whole different layer of architecture coming through that will begin to change the face of our cities.”
Paragraph I says the new architecture 'will begin to change the face of our cities', a claim about urban appearance.
wind farms in urban areas as one solution to the problem of appearance
“Beyond making more attractive wind farms, there is also potential for integrating turbines directly into buildings. After all, if nobody wants wind turbines in the countryside,”
Paragraph E suggests that if nobody wants turbines in the countryside, 'why not put them in the cities?', urban wind farms as a visual solution.
a source of finance for the development of a new turbine for an offshore project
“'Our engineer thought about the problems with traditional turbines and developed a new design,' says Theo Bird, founder of Windpower Ltd., who is funding this new Aerogenerator project through a combination of a government grant and the money he was saving to buy a new house.”
Paragraph D says Theo Bird funds the project through 'a government grant and the money he was saving to buy a new house', finance for an offshore turbine.
Questions 35–40: Matching Features
Strategy: Match the statement to the named person or thing. Names can repeat, so check each option against what that person actually says.
Options for Questions 35–40
- ATheo Bird
- BRichard Rogers
- CWilliam Pedersen
- DSinisa Stankovic
- EGuy Battle
an ambitious design which resulted in a boring building
“A project that came closer to realisation was the controversial Freedom Tower in New York. At the top of this enormous tower, architects intended to create a 150 m-high open cage structure containing a wind turbine.”
Guy Battle (E) was consulting engineer on the Freedom Tower, where an ambitious design ended as 'a rather ordinary office block'.
a venture partially financed by personal wealth
“'Our engineer thought about the problems with traditional turbines and developed a new design,' says Theo Bird, founder of Windpower Ltd., who is funding this new Aerogenerator project through a combination of a government grant and the money he was saving to buy a new house”
Theo Bird (A) partly finances the Aerogenerator with 'the money he was saving to buy a new house', personal wealth.
a building designed for leisure activities
“In more recent efforts, such as William Pedersen's sports centre in New York, wind turbines seem to be environmentally friendly but do not provide a real solution to energy requirements”
William Pedersen (C) designed a 'sports centre in New York', a leisure building.
a design for a building capable of producing virtually all its own energy
“According to Project WEB's environmental engineer, Sinisa Stankovic, under the right circumstances such a building could generate nearly all of its own energy needs”
Sinisa Stankovic (D) says such a building 'could generate nearly all of its own energy needs', virtually all its energy.
a project supported by a group of countries
“several years ago a European Commission-sponsored organisation named Project WEB (Wind Energy for the Built Environment) investigated in detail the possibility of constructing a purpose-built wind-powered skyscraper.”
Project WEB (D) was 'European Commission-sponsored', meaning support from a group of countries.
a structure that may make use of more than one natural energy source
“'By making our turbine so large, we can build offshore, where there's more wind. It's got to be something strong and simple to work at sea. And in the future, you could possibly double the power from each turbine by harnessing tidal power beneath the surface of the sea.'”
Theo Bird (A) suggests doubling power 'by harnessing tidal power beneath the surface of the sea', a second natural source.
Learn the question types in this section
Frequently asked questions
Where does the Wind Power – a Turn for the Better passage come from?
It is Section 3 of Cambridge IELTS 20 General Training Reading Test 3, and it covers Questions 28–40.
What question types appear in Wind Power – a Turn for the Better?
The section is tested with Matching Information, Matching Features. Each type is explained on this page, alongside the answers.
Are these reading answers reliable?
Every answer is paired with the sentence that proves it, so you can check each one against the passage yourself. Use the page after a timed attempt, not instead of one.
Cambridge IELTS is published by Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Band9Prep is not affiliated with Cambridge. This page is an independent study aid: it gives the answer key, the passage evidence and an explanation so you can review an attempt you have already made.