Solar energy is not only an inevitable trend of the future but also a very familiar topic in IELTS tests. The reading passage “Photovoltaics on the rooftop” takes you from the earliest photovoltaic experiments in the US and Japan to global-scale environmental policies. Will complex science and energy terminology trip you up? Explore ECE English’s complete Vietnamese translation and detailed answer guide below to confidently ace this reading passage!
Reading Information & Questions
Reading Passage: PHOTOVOLTAICS ON THE ROOFTOP
A natural choice for powering the family home
A In the past, urban homeowners have not always had much choice in the way electricity is supplied to their homes. Now, however, there is a choice, and a rapidly increasing number of households worldwide are choosing the solar energy option. Solar energy, the conversion of sunlight into energy, is made possible through the use of ‘photovoltaics’, which are simple appliances that fit onto the roof of a house.
B The photovoltaics-powered home remains connected to the power lines, but no storage is required on-site, only a box of electronics (the inverter) to the interface between the photovoltaics and the grid network. Figure 1 illustrates the system. During the day, when the home may not be using much electricity, excess power from the solar array is fed back to the grid, to factories and offices that need daytime power. At night, power flows the opposite way. The grid network effectively provides storage. If the demand for electricity is well matched to when the sun shines, solar energy is especially valuable. This occurs in places like California in the US and Japan, where air-conditioning loads for offices and factories are large but heating loads for homes are small.
C The first systematic exploration of the use of photovoltaics on homes began in the US during the 1970s. A well-conceived program started with the sitting of a number of residential experiment stations at selected locations around the country, representing different climatic zones. These stations contained a number of ‘dummy’ houses, each with different solar-energy system design. Homes within the communities close to these stations were monitored to see how well their energy use matched the energy generated by the stations’ dummy roofs. A change in US government priorities in the early 1980s halted this program.
D With the US effort dropping away, the Japanese Sunshine Project came to the fore. A large residential test station was installed on Rokko Island beginning in 1986. This installation consists of 18 ‘dummy’ homes. Each equipped with its own 2-5 kilowatt photovoltaic system (about 20 – 50 square meters for each system). Some of these simulated homes have their own electrical appliances inside, such as TV sets, refrigerators and air conditioning units, which switch on and off under computer control providing a lavish lifestyle for the non-existent occupants. For the other systems, electronics simulate these household loads. This test station has allowed being explored in a systematic way, under well-controlled test conditions. With no insurmountable problems identified, the Japanese have used the experience gained from this station to begin their own massive residential photovoltaics campaign.
E Meanwhile, Germany began a very important ‘1,000 roof program’ in 1990, aimed at installing photovoltaics on the roofs of 1,000 private homes. Large federal and regional government subsidies were involved, accounting in most cases for 70% of the total system costs. The program proved immensely popular, forcing its extension to over 2,000 homes scattered across Germany. The success of this program stimulated other European countries to launch a similar program.
F Japan’s ‘one million roof program’ was prompted by the experience gained in the Rokko Island test site and the success of the German 1,000 roof program. The initially quoted aims of the Japanese New Energy Development Organization were to have 70,000 homes equipped with the photovoltaics by the year 2000, on the way to 1 million by 2010. The program made a modest start in 1994 when 539 systems were installed with a government subsidy of 50 percent. Under this program, entire new suburban developments are using photovoltaics.
G This is good news, not only for the photovoltaic industry but for everyone concerned with the environment. The use of fossil fuels to generate electricity is not only costly in financial terms but also in terms of environmental damage. Gases produced by the burning of fossil fuels in the production of electricity are a major contributor to the greenhouse effect. To deal with this problem, many governments are now proposing stringent targets on the amount of greenhouse gas emissions permitted. These targets mean that all sources of greenhouse gas emissions including residential electricity use will receive closer attention in the future.
H It is likely that in the future, governments will develop building codes that attempt to constrain the energy demands of new housing. For example, the use of photovoltaics or the equivalent may be stipulated to lessen demands on the grid network and hence reduce fossil fuel emissions. Approvals for building renovations may also be conditional upon taking such energy-saving measures. If this were to happen, everyone would benefit. Although there is an initial cost in attaching the system to the rooftop, the householder’s outlay is soon compensated with the savings on energy bills. In addition, everyone living on the planet stands to gain from the more benign environmental impact.
Questions
Questions 14-19 The Reading Passage has eight paragraphs A-H. Which paragraph contains the following information? Write the correct letter A-H, in boxes 14-19 on your answer sheet.
NB: You may use any letter more than once.
14. examples of countries where electricity use is greater during the day than at night
15. a detailed description of an experiment that led to photovoltaics being promoted throughout the country
16. the negative effects of using conventional means of generating electricity
17. an explanation of the photovoltaic system
18. the long-term benefits of using photovoltaics
19. a reference to wealthy countries being prepared to help less wealthy countries have access to photovoltaics
Questions 20-26 Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 2?
TRUE if the statement is true
FALSE if the statement is false
NOT GIVEN if the information is not given in the passage
20. Photovoltaics are used to store electricity.
21. Since the 1970s, the US government has provided continuous support for the use of photovoltaics on homes.
22. The solar-powered house on Rokko Island is uninhabited.
23. In 1994, the Japanese government was providing half the money required for installing photovoltaics on homes.
24. Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Australia all have strict goals with regard to greenhouse gas emissions.
25. Residential electricity use is the major source of greenhouse gas emission.
26. Energy-saving measures must now be included in the design of all new homes and improvements to buildings.
Detailed Vietnamese Translation of the Reading Passage
Photovoltaics on the Rooftop
A natural choice for powering the family home
A. In the past, urban homeowners have not always had much choice in the way electricity is supplied to their homes. Now, however, there is a choice, and a rapidly increasing number of households worldwide are choosing the solar energy option. Solar energy, the conversion of sunlight into energy, is made possible through the use of ‘photovoltaics’, which are simple appliances that fit onto the roof of a house.
B. The photovoltaics-powered home remains connected to the power lines, but no storage is required on-site, only a box of electronics (the inverter) to the interface between the photovoltaics and the grid network. Figure 1 illustrates the system. During the day, when the home may not be using much electricity, excess power from the solar array is fed back to the grid, to factories and offices that need daytime power. At night, power flows the opposite way. The grid network effectively provides storage. If the demand for electricity is well matched to when the sun shines, solar energy is especially valuable. This occurs in places like California in the US and Japan, where air-conditioning loads for offices and factories are large but heating loads for homes are small.
C. The first systematic exploration of the use of photovoltaics on homes began in the US during the 1970s. A well-conceived program started with the siting of a number of residential experiment stations at selected locations around the country, representing different climatic zones. These stations contained a number of ‘dummy’ houses, each with a different solar-energy system design. Homes within the communities close to these stations were monitored to see how well their energy use matched the energy generated by the stations’ dummy roofs. However, a change in US government priorities in the early 1980s halted this program.
D. As the US effort faded away, the Japanese Sunshine Project came to the fore. A large residential test station was installed on Rokko Island starting in 1986. This installation consists of 18 ‘dummy’ homes, each equipped with its own 2-5 kilowatt photovoltaic system (about 20 – 50 square meters for each system). Some of these simulated homes have their own electrical appliances inside, such as TVs, refrigerators, and air conditioning units, which switch on and off under computer control to simulate a lavish lifestyle for non-existent occupants. For other systems, electronics simulate these household loads. This test station has allowed investigations to be carried out systematically under well-controlled test conditions. With no insurmountable problems identified, the Japanese have used the experience gained from this station to launch their own massive residential photovoltaics campaign.
E. Meanwhile, Germany launched a very important ‘1,000 roof program’ in 1990, aiming to install photovoltaics on the roofs of 1,000 private homes. Substantial federal and regional government subsidies were involved, in most cases covering up to 70% of the total system costs. The program proved immensely popular, forcing its expansion to over 2,000 homes scattered across Germany. The success of this program stimulated other European countries to launch similar initiatives.
F. Japan’s ‘one million roof program’ was prompted by the experience gained at the Rokko Island test site and the success of the German 1,000 roof program. The initially quoted aims of the Japanese New Energy Development Organization were to have 70,000 homes equipped with photovoltaics by the year 2000, on the way to 1 million by 2010. The program made a modest start in 1994 when 539 systems were installed with a 50 percent government subsidy. Under this program, entire new suburban developments are using photovoltaics.
G. This is good news, not only for the photovoltaic industry but for everyone concerned with the environment. Using fossil fuels to generate electricity is not only costly in financial terms but also causes environmental damage. Gases produced by burning fossil fuels to generate electricity are a major contributor to the greenhouse effect. To address this problem, many governments are now proposing stringent targets on permitted greenhouse gas emissions. These targets mean that all sources of greenhouse gas emissions, including residential electricity use, will receive closer attention in the future.
H. It is likely that in the future, governments will develop building codes aimed at constraining the energy demands of new housing. For example, the use of photovoltaics or equivalents may be stipulated to reduce demands on the grid network and consequently lower fossil fuel emissions. Approvals for building renovations may also be conditional upon adopting such energy-saving measures. If this happens, everyone will benefit. Although there is an initial cost in mounting the system on the rooftop, the householder’s outlay is soon compensated by savings on energy bills. Furthermore, everyone living on the planet stands to gain from a more benign environmental impact.
Key Academic Vocabulary from the Reading Passage
Make sure to note down these highly valuable vocabulary words related to the Environment & Energy topic:
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Photovoltaics (n): A system of photovoltaic cells converting solar energy into electricity.
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Inverter (n): A power electronic device that converts DC to AC electricity.
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Grid network (n): An interconnected electricity transmission and distribution network.
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Insurmountable (adj): Impossible to overcome or solve (difficulties).
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Lavish (adj): Sumptuous, luxurious, or extravagant.
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Subsidy (n): Financial support or grant provided by the government.
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Stringent (adj): Strict, rigorous, or demanding (rules, standards).
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Stipulate (v): To demand or specify as a requirement.
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Outlay (n): Initial expenditure or investment of money.
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Benign (adj): Harmless, gentle, or favorable to the environment.
Detailed Answer Analysis & Explanations
Questions 14-19: Matching Information
14. B
Information: Examples of countries where electricity use is greater during the day than at night.
Explanation: The end of paragraph B mentions where electricity demand matches sunny periods: “This occurs in places like California in the US and Japan, where air-conditioning loads for offices and factories are large…”
15. D
Information: A detailed description of an experiment that led to photovoltaics being promoted nationwide.
Explanation: Paragraph D details the Rokko Island test station (18 dummy homes, computers controlling appliances to simulate lifestyles). The result: “…the Japanese have used the experience gained from this station to begin their own massive residential photovoltaics campaign.”
16. G (The original source key incorrectly listed H; the correct answer is G)
Information: The negative effects of using conventional means of generating electricity.
Explanation: Paragraph G clearly states: “The use of fossil fuels (conventional means) to generate electricity is not only costly… but also in terms of environmental damage… major contributor to the greenhouse effect.”
17. B
Information: An explanation of the photovoltaic system.
Explanation: The beginning of paragraph B explains the setup and mechanism: “…no storage is required on-site, only a box of electronics (the inverter) to the interface between the photovoltaics and the grid network.” Power flow during day and night is detailed immediately after.
18. H (The original source key incorrectly listed I, as the text only goes up to paragraph H)
Information: The long-term benefits of using photovoltaics.
Explanation: Paragraph H outlines long-term benefits: “…householder’s outlay is soon compensated with the savings on energy bills. In addition, everyone… stands to gain from the more benign environmental impact.”
NOT GIVEN (The original source key incorrectly listed E)
Information: A reference to wealthy countries being prepared to help less wealthy countries have access to photovoltaics.
Explanation: Reading through paragraphs A to H, there is NO mention of assistance provided between wealthy and less wealthy countries. Paragraph E only discusses Germany subsidizing its own citizens and inspiring other European countries to launch similar programs, not helping impoverished nations. This is a flawed question from the compiled practice test source.
Questions 20-26: TRUE / FALSE / NOT GIVEN
20. FALSE
Statement: Photovoltaics are used to store electricity.
Explanation: The opening sentence of paragraph B asserts: “…but no storage is required on-site” and “The grid network effectively provides storage.” Photovoltaics generate electricity rather than store it.
21. FALSE
Statement: Since the 1970s, the US government has provided continuous support for the use of photovoltaics on homes.
Explanation: The end of paragraph C clearly states: “A change in US government priorities in the early 1980s halted this program.” Therefore, support was not continuous.
22. TRUE
Statement: The solar-powered house on Rokko Island is uninhabited.
Explanation: Paragraph D describes these as dummy homes equipped with computers simulating lifestyles for “non-existent occupants.” This matches “uninhabited.”
23. TRUE
Statement: In 1994, the Japanese government was providing half the money required for installing photovoltaics on homes.
Explanation: Paragraph F notes regarding 1994: “…systems were installed with a government subsidy of 50 percent” (50% equals half).
NOT GIVEN
Statement: Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Australia all have strict goals with regard to greenhouse gas emissions.
Explanation: The passage mentions Germany, but does NOT mention Italy, the Netherlands, or Australia anywhere in the text. Thus, it cannot be verified.
NOT GIVEN
Statement: Residential electricity use is the major source of greenhouse gas emission.
Explanation: Paragraph G states that gases from burning fossil fuels are “a major contributor,” and that residential electricity is one source among others. However, the text does not claim that residential use is the *largest* source.
FALSE
Statement: Energy-saving measures must now be included in the design of all new homes and improvements to buildings.
Explanation: Paragraph H uses future tense and speculative language: “It is likely that in the future, governments will develop…” and approvals “may also be conditional…” This is not a current mandate (“must now”).
The reading passage “Photovoltaics on the rooftop” clearly demonstrates how mastering Energy & Environment terminology helps you tackle tricky questions with ease. In particular, review the True/False/Not Given explanations above to learn how to spot time-related and absolute traps. Good luck with your preparation, and may you achieve your target
Khai giảng Khóa học Hè cực HOT.
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