Light Pollution Reading Answers

Whitney Houston

5 min read

Updated On Aug 14, 2024

Light Pollution
Answers

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This article contains the Light Pollution reading answers.

Light Pollution is a real Reading test passage that appeared in the IELTS.

With diligent practice, the Reading Module can be the top-scoring category for IELTS Aspirants. To score well, you must understand how to approach and answer the different question types in the Reading Module.

By solving and reviewing Sample Reading Questions from past IELTS papers, you can ensure that your Reading skills are up to the mark. Take the practice test Light Pollution below and try more IELTS reading practice tests from IELTSMaterial.com.

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For more Matching Headings Questions practice, take a look at IELTS Reading Tips & Practice Test: Matching Headings to Paragraphs exercises!

Light Pollution

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1-13, which are based on the Reading Passage below. Find the practice test with the Light Pollution PDF here.

Answers

Question number	Answer	Explanation
1	viii	Paragraph B puts forward the idea that “light pollution is the artificial light that illuminates more than its intended target area.” Moreover, “In almost every town, big or small, street lights beam just as much light up and out as they do down, illuminating much more than just streets.” The phrase ‘illuminates much more than intended area’ refers to making the area brighter than necessary. Hence, the appropriate heading for this answer is “viii.”
2	vii	Paragraph C talks about “America and how it has become so bright that in a satellite image of the United States at night, the outline of the country.” Besides that, “McDonald Observatory in West Texa says that the very fact that city lights are visible from on high.” The words ‘visible from on high’ specifies that it can be seen from above. Hence, the appropriate heading for this answer is “vii.”
3	vi	Paragraph D discusses more light pollution in detail. “Elizebeth Alvarez of the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), a non-profit organization in Tucson, Arizona, says that overly bright security lights can actually force neighbours to close the shutters, which means if any criminal activity does occur on the street, no one will see it.” This line mentions the drawbacks of extra bright light and how a problem that light does not solve. Hence, the appropriate heading for this answer is “vi.”

4	iv	The Beginning of Paragraph E states that “for drivers, light can actually create a safety hazard. Glaring lights can temporarily blind drivers, increasing the likelihood of an accident. Moreover, a New Hampshire law forbids the use of any light along a highway so positioned to blind or dazzle the vision of travelers.” These lines point out how drivers are vulnerable to accidents due to bright lights. Hence, the appropriate heading for this answer is “iv.”
5	iii	As per Paragraph F, “badly designed lighting can pose a threat to wildlife as well as people. Moreover, migrating birds, confused by lights on skyscrapers, broadcast towers and lighthouses, are injured, sometimes fatally, after colliding with high, lighted structures. Also, light pollution harms air quality.” All these factors contribute to the environmental dangers. Hence, the appropriate heading for this answer is “iii.”
6	Deter crime	In Paragraph D, Elizabeth Alvarez of the International Dark Sky Association (IDA), a non-profit organisation in Tucson, Arizona, says that overly bright security lights can actually force neighbours to close the shutters, which means that if any criminal activity does occur on the street, no one will see it. Apart from that, the old assumption that bright lights deter crime appears to have been a false one. Hence, the correct answer is “deter crime.”
7	Air pollution	Paragraph F states that light pollution harms air quality as well: because most of the country’s power plants are still powered by fossil fuels (coal, gas, or oil), more light means more pollution. From this line we can infer that inefficient lighting increases air pollution. Hence, the correct answer is “air pollution”
8	Block light	The lines in Paragraph H, states that “now, after retrofitting inefficient mercury lighting with low-sodium lights that block light from ‘trespassing’ into unwanted areas like bedroom windows, and by doing away with some unnecessary lights altogether.” The phrase ‘lights that block light from ‘trespassing’ into unwanted areas’ implies that it blocks lights going into unwanted areas. Hence, the correct answer is “block light”
9	Education	In Paragraph J, there’s a line which states that “legislation isn’t the only answer to the light pollution problem. Rather, Brian Greer, Central Ohio representative for the Ohio Light Pollution Advisory Council, says that education is just as important, if not more so.” Therefore, the lines above confirm that education is as important as passing a new law. Hence, the correct answer is “education.”
10	True	In Paragraph D, “the light engineers, light pollution control advocates and astronomers is an emphatic ‘no.’” Moreover, in passage G, it is mentioned that Kitt Peak National Optical Astronomy Observatory has 24 telescopes aimed skyward around the city’s perimeter, and its cadre of astronomers need a dark sky to work with,” From these lines we can infer that astronomers belong to one group of scientists, who find it difficult to work in bright light. As the statement agrees with the information, the correct answer is “Yes.”
11	False	Paragraph I states that “wasted energy from inefficient lighting costs us between $1 and $2 billion a year, according to IDA. San Diego city, after passing a light pollution law in 1985, now saves about $3 million a year in energy costs.” We can infer that reducing light pollution is not expensive because San Diego was able to save millions when the pollution ordinance was passed. As the statement contradicts the information, the correct answer is “No.”
12	Not Given	In Paragraph I, we can find references of laws, which mentions light pollution legalising laws. Such as in San Diego city, after passing a light pollution law in 1985, it now saves about $3 million a year in energy costs. However, there is no explicit mention of many countries making light pollution illegal. Hence, the correct answer is ‘Not Given.’
13	True	The last lines of Paragraph J state that “simple actions like replacing old bulbs and fixtures with more efficient and better-designed ounces can make a big difference in preserving the night sky.” These lines confirm that old types of light bulbs cause more pollution and modern ones can. Hence, the correct answer is ‘Yes.’

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