# Green roofs: answers and explanations

Cambridge IELTS 18, Test 4, Reading Passage 1

Source: Passage, questions and answer key from Cambridge IELTS 18, Test 4, Reading Passage 1. © Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Used for educational practice. Explanations and evidence notes are written by Testmigo.

## Answer key

| Q | Answer | Proof |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | D | Other considerations include installing drainage paths, meeting health and safety requirements |
| 2 | C | Toronto, Canada, has policies dating from the 1990s |
| 3 | E | The success stories need to be studied and replicated elsewhere |
| 4 | B | green roofs in cities can integrate with 'living walls' ... can be integrated with drainage systems on the ground, such as street trees |
| 5 | D | To convince investors and developers that installing green roofs is worthwhile, economic arguments are still the most important. |
| 6 | energy | Among the benefits are saving on energy costs |
| 7 | food | tackling air pollution and even growing food. |
| 8 | gardening | Doctors are increasingly prescribing time spent gardening outdoors for patients dealing with anxiety and depression. |
| 9 | obesity | And research has found that access to even the most basic green spaces can provide a better quality of life for dementia sufferers and help people avoid obesity. |
| 10 | C, D | Being able to keep enough water at roof height and distribute it right across the rooftop is crucial ... newer buildings, which can typically hold greater weight |
| 11 | C, D | Having a stronger roof also makes it easier to grow a greater variety of plants, since the soil can be deeper. |
| 12 | A, D | 'brown roofs' which are wilder in nature and maximise biodiversity |
| 13 | A, D | There are also combinations of green roofs with solar panels |

## Why these answers are right

**1. D.** Paragraph D lists what must be dealt with before green roofs become normal: new skills for building staff, volunteers, drainage paths, health and safety requirements, public access, planning restrictions and disruption during installation. These are the several challenges, so the answer is D.

**2. C.** Paragraph C says Toronto has had policies since the 1990s encouraging urban farms on rooftops. Policies dating back decades show the city has promoted green roofs for many years, so the reference is in paragraph C.

**3. E.** The final sentence of paragraph E says the success stories need to be studied and replicated elsewhere. Successful existing roofs being copied in new places means they serve as a model, so the answer is E.

The why and the trap for questions 4 onwards are free with an account on the [answers page](https://testmigo.com/ielts/reading/green-roofs/answers).

[Practice Green roofs](https://testmigo.com/ielts/reading/green-roofs)