Reading Test: Short-answer Questions (IELTS Academic: Reading): Study Material
Short-answer questions: applying strategies & skills
What are short-answer questions?
In short-answer questions, you answer questions about factual information in the passage
In your answers, you have to use words and/or numbers taken from the text
These questions are often used with passages that present facts about a specific topic
They test your ability to locate and understand specific information
The questions usually follow the order of information in the passage
The instructions tell you the maximum number of words you can use (e.g. choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS)
Numbers can usually be written as figures (1,2, etc.) or words (one, two, etc.)
Hyphenated words (e.g. full-time) count as one word
You are not tested on contracted words, so you will not find questions that require you to write words like “they’re” or “it’s”
The answer should be copied in the same form as it appears in the passage
How to answer short-answer questions
Read the questions before you read the passage in detail, and think about the kind of information each question is asking for
Highlight the most important words in each question and use these keywords to help you find the relevant part of the text
Notice words that show the type of answer you need (do you need a name, for example?)
Go through the questions one by one and read the relevant section in the passage very carefully
Remember that the answers usually appear in the same order as the questions
When answers are nouns, pay attention to whether the word in the passage is singular or plural
The answer must come directly from the passage, so do not change the wording or put the answer into your own words
Check the spelling carefully; spelling mistakes lose marks
Do not choose the first word that looks possible without checking the full meaning
Follow the word limit in the instructions; if you write too many words or numbers, the answer is incorrect
No marks are taken off for wrong answers, so if you are not sure of an answer, write something anyway
Worked Example
Note: The following is a worked example, written to demonstrate the style and approach expected in the exam. A full exam question would typically be longer in scope.
Smart buildings and energy use
Modern cities contain a large number of buildings that depend heavily on electricity for lighting, heating, cooling, and security. As temperatures rise in many parts of the world, architects and engineers are under pressure to design buildings that use less energy while remaining comfortable for the people inside them. One solution is the development of so-called smart buildings, which use digital systems to control and reduce energy use.
A smart building is designed to monitor conditions inside and outside the structure and respond automatically. Sensors can detect temperature, light levels, movement, and air quality. This information is then used by computer systems to adjust heating, ventilation, lighting, and other services. For example, if a room is empty, the system may switch off the lights or reduce the level of air-conditioning. In this way, the building avoids wasting energy.
Some smart buildings also include materials and structural features that improve efficiency. Double-skinned facades, for instance, use two layers of glass with a space between them. This design can reduce heat gain in summer and heat loss in winter. Green roofs are another feature that is becoming more common. These roofs are partly covered with vegetation, which can help insulate the building and reduce the temperature of the surrounding area.
In addition to reducing energy consumption, smart buildings can improve maintenance and safety. Connected systems can identify faults in lifts, water systems, or electrical equipment before they become serious problems. Building managers can then deal with these issues more quickly. Some systems can also guide people to safety during emergencies by controlling alarms, doors, and digital signs.
However, smart buildings also present challenges. The technology can be expensive to install, and some people worry about privacy because sensors collect large amounts of data about how spaces are used. Even so, many experts believe that smart buildings will play an important role in creating more sustainable cities in the future.
Questions 1–7
Answer the questions below.
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.
What is the name given to buildings that use digital systems to control and reduce energy use?
What can sensors detect besides temperature, light levels and movement?
What may a smart building reduce if a room is unoccupied?
What can green roofs help do for a building?
Who can respond more quickly to faults in building systems?
What can some systems control during emergencies apart from alarms and doors?
What do some people worry sensors collect too much of?
Answers
smart buildings
air quality
air-conditioning
insulate the building
building managers
digital signs
data
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