The Water Crisis Reading Answers for IELTS General

IELTS candidates who persistently practise can achieve the maximum scores on the IELTS General Reading module, which is easier than the IELTS Reading Academic. To do so successfully, all you need is to be able to approach and respond to various question kinds, like those in The Water Crisis Reading Answers in Cambridge 6 Test A.

The General passage, The Water Crisis Reading Answers, is a reading passage that appeared in an IELTS Test. Ideally, you should not spend more than 20 minutes on a passage. Let’s see how easy this passage is for you and if you’re able to make it in 20 minutes. If not, try more IELTS reading practice tests from IELTSMaterial.com.

There are 13 questions in total in The Water Crisis Reading Answers. You must understand the subject, look up key terms in the IELTS reading passages, and then respond in line with the instructions.

The question types found in this passage are:

• Matching Headings (Q. 1-7)
• Summary Completion (Q. 8-13)

Reading Passage 

The Water Crisis 

Greater efficiency in water use is needed to meet the growing demands of a changing world.

A Per capita water usage has been on an upward trend for many years. As countries industrialise and their citizens become more prosperous, their individual water usage increases rapidly. Annual per capita water withdrawals in the USA, for example, are about 1,700 cubic metres, four times the level in China and fifty times the level in Ethiopia. In the 21st century, the world’s limited supply of renewable fresh water is having to meet demands of both larger total population and increased per capita consumption. The only practical ways to resolve this problem in the longer term are economic pricing in conjunction with conservation measures.

B Agriculture consumes about 70% of the world’s fresh water, so improvements in irrigation can make the greatest impact. At present, average efficiency in the use of irrigated water in agriculture may be as low as 50%. Simple changes could improve the rate substantially, though it is unrealistic to expect very high levels of water-use efficiency in many developing countries, faced as they are with a chronic lack of capital and a largely untrained rural workforce. After agriculture, the industry is the second biggest user of water and, in terms of value added per litre used, is sixty times more productive than agriculture. However, some industrial processes use vast amounts of water. For example, production of 1 kg of aluminium might require 1,500 litres of water. Paper production too is often very water-intensive. Though new processes have greatly reduced consumption, there is still plenty of room for big savings in industrial uses of water.

C In rich countries, water consumption has gradually been slowed down by price increases and the use of modern technology and recycling. In the USA, industrial production has risen fourfold since 1950, while water consumption has fallen by more than a third. Japan and Germany have similarly improved their use of water in manufacturing processes. Japanese industry, for example, now recycles more than 75% of process water. However, industrial water consumption is continuing to increase sharply in developing countries. With domestic and agricultural demands also increasing, the capacity of water supply systems is under growing strain.

D Many experts believe that the best way to counter this trend is to impose water charges based on the real cost of supplies. This would provide a powerful incentive for consumers to introduce water-saving processes and recycling. Few governments charge realistic prices for water, especially to farmers. Even in rich California, farmers get water for less than a tenth of the cost of supply. In many developing countries there is virtually no charge for irrigation water, while energy prices are heavily subsidised too (which means that farmers can afford to run water pumps day and night). Water, which was once regarded as a free gift from heaven, is becoming a commodity which must be bought and sold on the open market just like oil. In the oil industry, the price increases which hit the market in the 1970s, coupled with concerns that supplies were running low, led to new energy conservation measures all over the world. It was realised that investing in new sources was a far more costly option than improving the efficiency of use. A similar emphasis on conservation will be the best and cheapest option for bridging the gap between water supply and demand.

E One way to cut back on water consumption is simply to prevent leaks. It is estimated that in some of the biggest cities of the Third World, more than half of the water entering the system is lost through leaks in pipes, dripping taps and broken installations. Even in the UK, losses were estimated at 25% in the early 1990s because of the failure to maintain the antiquated water supply infrastructure. In addition, huge quantities of water are consumed because used water from sewage pipes, storm drains and factories is merely flushed away and discharged into rivers or the sea. The modern approach, however, is to see used water as a resource which can be put to good use – either in irrigation or, after careful treatment, as recycled domestic water. Israel, for instance, has spent heavily on used water treatment. Soon, treated, recycled water will account for most farm irrigation there. There are other examples in cities such as St. Petersburg, Florida, where all municipal water is recycled back into domestic systems.

F Another way of conserving water resources involves better management of the environment generally. Interference with the ecosystem can have a severe effect on both local rainfall patterns and water run-off. Forest clearings associated with India’s Kabini dam project reduced local rainfall by 25%, a phenomenon observed in various other parts of the world where large-scale deforestation has taken place. Grass and other vegetation act as a sponge which absorbs rainfall both in the plants and in the ground. Removal of the vegetation means that rainfall runs off the top of the land, accelerating erosion instead of being gradually fed into the soil to renew groundwater.

G Global warming is bound to affect rainfall patterns, though there is considerable disagreement about its precise effects. But it is likely that, as sea levels rise, countries in low-lying coastal areas will be hit by seawater penetration of groundwater. Other countries will experience changes in rainfall which could have a major impact on agricultural yield – either for better or for worse. In broad terms, it is thought that rainfall zones will shift northwards, adding to the water deficit in Africa, the Middle East and the Mediterranean – a grim prospect indeed.

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Questions 1-7

List of Headings

i. American water withdrawal
ii. Economic pricing
iii. What the future holds
iv. Successful measures taken by some
v. The role of research
vi. The thirsty sectors
vii. Ways of reducing waste
viii. Interdependence of natural resources
ix. The demands of development
x. The consequences for agriculture

1 Paragraph A
2 Paragraph B
3 Paragraph C
4 Paragraph D
5 Paragraph E
6 Paragraph F
7 Paragraph G

Questions 8-13

Individual water usage is rising dramatically as people living in industrialised countries become increasingly 8…………………. . As well as increased consumption per capita, the growing demand for fresh water is due to a bigger global 9…………………. than in the past. The only way to control this increase in demand is to charge high prices for water while also promoting conservation measures. Improvements in irrigation systems and industrial processes could dramatically increase the efficiency of water use. There are examples of industries in some rich countries that have reduced their consumption rates through price increases, the application of 10…………………. and recycling. But in agricultural and domestic sectors, the price of water is still subsidised so it is not regarded as a commodity that people need to pay a realistic price for.

Other ways of protecting supplies are to reduce water loss resulting from 11…………………. in the supply systems and to find ways of utilising used water.

Longer term measures, such as improved environmental 12…………………. . would protect the ecosystem and ensure the replenishment of groundwater for future generations. Without such measures, future supplies are uncertain, especially when global warming is expected to interfere with rainfall patterns and to worsen the 13…………………. already suffered by many countries today.

Answers for The Water Crisis Reading Answers with Location 

1 Answer: ix

Question type: Matching Headings

Answer location: Paragraph A, Line 2

Answer explanation: In the given location, it is mentioned that “As countries industrialise and their citizens become more prosperous, their individual water usage increases rapidly.”. This means that the first paragraph discusses how development (industrialise…prosperous) is affecting the water level as its usage is increasing, using the reference to the USA, China and Ethiopia. Hence, the answer is ix (The demands of development).

2 Answer: vi

Question type: Matching Headings

Answer location: Paragraph B, Line 1 & Line 3

Answer explanation: In the mentioned lines, it is given that “Agriculture consumes about 70% of the world’s fresh water, so improvements in irrigation can make the greatest impact…After agriculture, the industry is the second biggest user of water and, in terms of value added per litre used, is sixty times more productive than agriculture.”. In other words, sectors like agriculture and industry use a vast amount of water and, therefore, are the ‘thirsty sectors’. Hence, the answer is vi (The thirsty sectors).

3 Answer: iv

Question type: Matching Headings

Answer location: Paragraph C, Line 1

Answer explanation: In the cited location, it is stated that “In rich countries, water consumption has gradually been slowed down by price increases and the use of modern technology and recycling.”. It can be concluded that the use of modern technology, recycling and the increase in price are the successful measures taken by rich countries (some) which have reduced water consumption to an extent. Hence, the answer is iv (Successful measures taken by some).

4 Answer: ii

Question type: Matching Headings

Answer location: Paragraph D, Line 1, Line 3 & Line 5

Answer explanation: In the quoted section, it is communicated that “Many experts believe that the best way to counter this trend is to impose water charges based on the real cost of supplies…Few governments charge realistic prices for water, especially to farmers…In many developing countries there is virtually no charge for irrigation water, while energy prices are heavily subsidised too (which means that farmers can afford to run water pumps day and night). ”. It indicates that Paragraph D deals with the information about economic pricing (cost) of water by different governments in various countries. Hence, the answer is ii (Economic pricing).

5 Answer: vii

Question type: Matching Headings

Answer location: Paragraph E, Line 1 & Line 5

Answer explanation: In the cited paragraph, it is given “One way to cut back on water consumption is simply to prevent leaks…The modern approach, however, is to see used water as a resource which can be put to good use – either in irrigation or, after careful treatment, as recycled domestic water.”. It can be deduced that the fifth paragraph refers to various ways in which different countries are reducing water waste (cut back on water consumption), like reducing leaks and recycling water for reuse. Hence, the answer is vii (Ways of reducing waste).

6 Answer: viii

Question type: Matching Headings

Answer location: Paragraph F, Line 1- Line 5

Answer explanation: From the specified lines, “Another way of conserving water resources involves better management of the environment generally…Removal of the vegetation means that rainfall runs off the top of the land, accelerating erosion instead of being gradually fed into the soil to renew groundwater.”, it can be concluded that the sixth paragraph explains how the natural resources are interdependent and harming or removing one of those elements can affect all the others. For example, removal of vegetation causes rainwater runoff, which leads to erosion rather than letting the water replenish the underground level. Hence, the answer is viii (Interdependence of natural resources).

7 Answer: iii

Question type: Matching Headings

Answer location: Paragraph G

Answer explanation: In the concluding paragraph, it is given that “Global warming is bound to affect rainfall patterns…as sea levels rise, countries in low-lying coastal areas will be hit by seawater penetration of groundwater. Other countries will experience changes in rainfall which could have a major impact on agricultural yield… rainfall zones will shift northwards, adding to the water deficit in Africa, the Middle East and the Mediterranean – a grim prospect indeed.”. Based on this reference, it can be said that in the last paragraph, the writer is informing us about what might happen in future as global warming affects the rainfall patterns. Hence, the answer is iii (What the future holds).

8 Answer: prosperous

Question type: Summary Completion

Answer location: Paragraph A, Line 2

Answer explanation: In the extracted line, it is mentioned that “As countries industrialise and their citizens become more prosperous, their individual water usage increases rapidly.”. This statement indicates that the usage of water is increasing in industrialised countries as people are becoming more prosperous. Hence, the answer is ‘prosperous’.

Check Out: IELTS General Reading Practice Test

Tips to Solve the Question Types in the Water Crisis IELTS Reading Answers

Since now you know the answers to the Water Crisis General Reading Answers with explanation, let us check out some quick tips to answer the two types of questions in the Reading Answers of the Water Crisis.

Matching Headings:

You must match the heading in this type of question to the appropriate paragraph or reading segment in the text. Your ability to figure out the paragraph’s key concept and its supporting ideas will be put to the test.

• Take your time to rephrase the potential headings’ keywords.
• Find the main idea by scanning and skimming the paragraphs. Sometimes the essential idea of the paragraph is expressed in the header.
• For clarification on the paragraph’s main idea, see the first and last sentences. Likewise, quickly scan the middle of the paragraph to make sure you comprehend it.
• Don’t try to match words. Your primary goal is to match a correct paragraph.
• Choose the heading that best fits the paragraph after reading it again if two seem to be appropriate.
• The number of headings will always be greater than the number of paragraphs or sections. Therefore, some headings will never be utilized.

Summary Completion: 

Summary Completion is a type of IELTS Reading question that requires you to fill in a gap in a paragraph with a word or phrase from the passage.

To answer summary completion questions, you can use the following strategies:

• Read the sentences carefully: This will give you an idea of the type of word or phrase that is missing.
• Scan the passage for the keywords: The keywords in the sentence can help you to identify the correct word or phrase.
• Read the sentence with the missing word or phrase: This will help you to see how the word or phrase fits into the sentence.
• Check your answer: Once you have filled in the gap, make sure that your answer makes sense in the context of the sentence.

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