BEST IELTS Academic Reading Test 478

BEST IELTS Academic Reading Test 478

IELTS Academic Reading Test

Conflicting Demands on Rivers

A. Perhaps you can only understand the power of water when you’re stuck in the middle of the rapids, balanced on a rock with eight other white water rafters. We’re on the Yuvarlak Cay River in Turkey. Our boat is partially submerged and we are all clinging desperately to the part that is above water while our Turkish guide Ahmet tries to rescue our boat.

Although I’m tempted to wade to the side of the river, I don’t know how deep the water is and the force is so powerful that it’s likely to sweep me off my feet and dash me into the rocks. Thankfully, Ahmet is an experienced rafter and he soon has us on our way again, careening down the river.

B. It is the power of the water rushing between the rocks that is so attractive to white-water rafters like Ahmet. There is excitement in the uncertainty of whether or not you’ll stay on the boat although as he steers, he looks like a true professional. In fact, the sport is so seductive that rafters travel the world, from Nepal to Croatia, to ride the rivers. Or they have done up until recently. ‘But now all the best rivers are disappearing’, explains Ahmet. ‘All governments want to build [hydroelectric] dams for making power, so we’re losing some of the best rivers. It is so sad.’

IELTS Academic Reading Test

C. Harnessing the power of water is not a new idea. It’s thought that the Greeks were the first to use a water wheel over 2000 years ago. They realised that the power of water could be put to good use and developed a water wheel that could grind wheat into flour.

D. Hydroelectric plants have evolved from the original water wheel. The construction of most hydroelectric plants begins with the creation of a dam. A reservoir forms behind the dam as the water collects. In order to produce electricity, the gates are opened at the intake. The water pressure rises as it flows through a pipe called the penstock. This leads to the plant’s water wheel, or turbine. The turbine is attached to a generator, which is located in the powerhouse. This is where the electricity is generated. The water re-enters the river via the outflow after it has done its job of turning the turbine.

IELTS Academic Reading Test

E. Many governments around the world, anxious about how long energy supplies will last, seem to be building hydroelectric dams on any fast flowing river they can find. There are many contentious dams, such as one on the Nile in Uganda just below Bujagali Falls. The dam was built due to a chronic power shortage in the country – at the time the dam was built, only one in twenty homes had access to electricity.

F. However, there is much opposition to the dams for many different reasons. Although they don’t actually pollute rivers, many environmentalists, like Amanda Mallow, are opposed to them: ‘In many cases, the financial costs and costs to the environment outweigh the benefits,’ she says. And she can cite many examples of negative consequences of creating the dams.

IELTS Academic Reading Test

One of the main problems is that the creation of the reservoir behind the dam usually involves flooding a large area of land and this has often led to the displacement of thousands of people who had homes on that land. In addition, it changes the natural ecology of a river that was home to many aquatic animals and birds, such as otters and kingfishers. Fish are also affected. One in particular is the salmon that makes its way upstream to reproduce. They always return to the same place, but when a dam is built on the river they may be unable to do so.

G. Despite the problems, governments around the world extol the virtues of dams. Not only do they bring light and power to people, but the reservoir that is created may be used for recreational activities, such as picnicking, walking, sailing and kayaking. But for rafters like Ahmet, there is no consolation in a peaceful man-made lake. For him, the dams are literally cutting into the rivers and ending all the fun.

IELTS Academic Reading Test

H. This is all too apparent when we reach the end of our white water ride after just 7.5 kilometres. Following Ahmet’s instructions, we steer our boat toward the river bank. The fun is over. The ride has finished and as we get out of the boats, we can see why. Here is the Yuvarlak Cay dam that protesters fought hard against. It looks as though it’s still being built.

The reservoir isn’t full and the river bed at the bottom of the dam that was once a continuation of the exciting rapids is now just dry rocks. This dam has certainly put an end to our pleasure. Hopefully, the energy that it produces will compensate for all that has been lost.

Reading Passage 1 has eight paragraphs labelled A – H.

Which paragraph contains the following information?

Write the correct letter A – H.

1. the reason why the writer’s boat trip cannot continue further

2. a reference to what people will do in order to pursue a leisure activity

3. a description of the origin of using water to provide energy

4. a reference to how the building of a dam can create a centre for outdoor pursuits

5. an account of a potentially dangerous situation

IELTS Academic Reading Test

Do the following statements agree with the information in Reading Passage 1?

In boxes 6-9 on your answer sheet write

TRUE – if the statement agrees with the information

FALSE – if the statement contradicts the information

NOT GIVEN – if there is no information on this

6. The dam near the Bujagali Falls was built despite the fact that local people had enough power.

7. Dams are a big source of river pollution.

8. People who lose their homes when dams are built usually have little choice about the location of their new homes.

9. There is a simple solution to help salmon swim upstream.

IELTS Academic Reading Test

Choose ONE WORD ONLY for each answer.

IELTS Academic Reading Test

IELTS Academic Reading Test

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BEST IELTS Academic Reading Test 478

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IELTS Academic Reading Test

1. H

2. B

3. C

4. G

5. A

6. FALSE

7. NOT GIVEN

8. TRUE

9. NOT GIVEN

10. GATES

11. PRESSURE

12. POWERHOUSE

13. OUTFLOW

IELTS Academic Reading Test

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