# The Rise of Rooftop Farms

IELTS Academic Reading - 13 questions - 20 minutes - Matching headings, True / False / Not Given, Note completion, Multiple choice (choose more than one)

Source: Written by Testmigo.

## The passage

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1-13, which are based on the passage below.

**A** Cities have always imported almost all of their food from the countryside. Over the past two decades, however, a growing number of urban growers have begun turning flat roofs into productive farms. In New York, Montreal and Singapore, commercial rooftop farms now supply restaurants and grocery shops located only a few streets away.

**B** Supporters point to several benefits. Food that travels a short distance reaches customers fresher, and fewer delivery lorries are needed to move it. A planted roof also absorbs rainwater that would otherwise flood drains during heavy storms, and the layer of soil helps keep the building below cooler in summer, reducing the demand for air conditioning.

**C** However, the obstacles are considerable. Before any soil can be laid, engineers must confirm that the roof can carry the extra weight, which may exceed 500 kilograms per square metre when the soil is wet. Older buildings frequently fail this test, and strengthening them is expensive. Wind is another problem: on exposed roofs, young plants can be damaged within hours.

**D** To reduce weight, many growers have abandoned soil altogether. In hydroponic systems, plants grow in channels of water enriched with nutrients, and their roots are held in place by light materials such as coconut fibre. One Montreal company reports that its hydroponic greenhouse produces about ten times more lettuce per square metre than a field farm, partly because crops can be harvested all year round.

**E** The economics remain uncertain. Rooftop produce usually sells at higher prices than supermarket vegetables, and most farms depend on customers willing to pay extra for local food. Several well-known projects have closed after only a few seasons, typically because rent and energy bills rose faster than sales.

**F** Researchers argue that rooftop farms should not be judged on food output alone. Surveys of residents living near community roof gardens show that the gardens are valued as places to meet neighbours and to teach children where food comes from. For city planners, these social benefits may prove to be as important as the harvest itself.

## Questions

### Questions 1-4: Matching headings

The passage has six paragraphs, A-F. Choose the correct heading for paragraphs B-E from the list of headings.

- **i** Growing without soil
- **ii** An idea spreading across cities
- **iii** Weighing the practical difficulties
- **iv** Advantages for people and buildings
- **v** A business that is still unproven
- **vi** Government support for urban growers
- **vii** The early history of roof gardens

1. Paragraph B

2. Paragraph C

3. Paragraph D

4. Paragraph E

### Questions 5-8: True / False / Not Given

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the passage? Choose TRUE if the statement agrees with the information, FALSE if the statement contradicts the information, or NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this.

5. Rooftop farms in Singapore sell food to businesses close to the farm.

6. Planted roofs make the buildings beneath them warmer in summer.

7. Rooftop farms receive financial help from city governments.

8. Hydroponic crops grown by the Montreal company can be harvested in every season.

### Questions 9-11: Note completion

Complete the notes below. Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.

Problems and solutions
Wet soil can weigh over 500 kg per square metre, so engineers first check the **(9)** _____.
On exposed roofs, **(10)** _____ can damage young plants within hours.
In hydroponic systems, roots are held by light materials such as coconut **(11)** _____.

### Questions 12-13: Multiple choice (choose more than one)

Choose TWO letters, A-E. Which TWO reasons does the writer give for rooftop farms closing?

- **A** rising rent
- **B** damage from storms
- **C** higher energy bills
- **D** competition from supermarkets
- **E** problems with the soil

[Practice online with a timer and instant marking](https://testmigo.com/ielts/reading/the-rise-of-rooftop-farms) - [Answers and explanations](https://testmigo.com/ielts/reading/the-rise-of-rooftop-farms/answers)