Moles Happy as Homes Go Underground - IELTS Reading Answers

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Workers walking across a field stumbled upon a slender steel chimney, marking the public discovery of Dutchman Frank Siegmund and his household. A small skylight was visible amid the thistles, and when curious investigators descended the slope, they discovered a pine door featuring diamond-patterned leaded glass and a brass knocker that opened into a subterranean dwelling. The Siegmunds had managed to stay concealed for six years just outside the Dutch town of Breda. They represent the latest addition to a group of fiercely independent individuals who have moved underground in search of peace and quiet.

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Most people have been forced to abandon their unconventional homes and revert to conventional lifestyles due to strict building regulations. However, underground neighborhoods in the Dutch style are quickly becoming perceived as fashionable and upscale. Seven luxurious residences, each built inside an earth-covered noise barrier beside a major road in Tilburg, were recently listed for sale at a price of $296,500. Buyers were already lining up to acquire these unique, partially submerged properties, which feature a grassy hill at the back and an extended glass gallery at the front.

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The Dutch are not the only ones inclined toward this lifestyle. Across Europe, an increasing number of people are heading underground to construct their homes, offices, nightspots, and shopping centers. Evidence of this trend appears in regions with harsh weather, such as Montreal, Canada, where locals escape the winter chill within an underground retail and medical hub. With 90% of Japan's population concentrated on just 20% of the nation's land, Tokyo architects are designing a massive subterranean city slated to begin in the coming decade, while underground shopping malls are already common in a country where 90% of residents occupy 20% of the territory.

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It is feasible to safeguard scenic or environmentally sensitive landscapes by placing large commercial facilities underground. In fact, many space-intensive structures—like cinemas, supermarkets, theaters, warehouses, and libraries—can be built beneath the surface since they have no need for windows.

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Private housing also offers notable advantages. Road requirements would be cut in half if a residential project of 194 units, which would occupy 14 hectares of surface land, were constructed underground on 2.7 hectares. The acoustic and thermal insulation benefits provided by several meters of soil are immense. For comparable homes in Britain, reach out to Peter Carpenter, secretary of the British Earth Sheltering Association. He mentions receiving 40 to 50 inquiries weekly. Many view this as a forward-looking investment. Carpenter, who also resides underground, utilizes solar panels and natural insulation for warmth without incurring heating costs.

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The obstacle in Europe has been conservative local governments and developers looking to guarantee quick sales through standard, mass-produced houses. Conversely, planners in South Limburg welcomed the project with open relief given Holland's acute land shortage. Jo Hurkmans, a Tilburg architect, conceived the idea of placing noise barriers along major roadways. His detached homes, featuring two stories, four bedrooms, and two bathrooms, are currently under development. He clarifies that rather than being underground, they are integrated into the earth. The glass facade, stretching from the second floor down to ground level, serves as the sole source of natural light. The rear houses the rooms that demand less window area. Living areas are situated at the front for maximum brightness, ensuring no one detects anything unusual in the back.

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Over ten thousand underground homes have been built in the United States since the oil crisis of 1973 triggered a shift toward greener housing alternatives. The first underground residential development in the United Kingdom, consisting of a terrace of five homes, is currently under construction in Nottinghamshire. Italy's most striking example of subterranean architecture is the Olivetti residential center in Ivrea. Roberto Olivetti commissioned its construction in 1969 to serve as a hotel and housing complex for Olivetti employees. It comprises 82 studio apartments and 12 maisonettes. Positioned on a hillside, the glass front is its only visible exterior feature. Patnzia Vallecchi, a resident there since 1992, maintains that life in this complex is largely similar to living in any standard apartment.

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Japan's Shimizu Corporation has created space creation tools designed to encourage individuals who must remain underground for long periods by mixing elements like light, music, breezes, and scents, since not everyone adjusts well to these environments. Underground offices in Japan are receiving virtual windows and mirrors, while facilities at the University of Minnesota feature periscopes to bring in additional light and connect workers with the exterior world below the surface.

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Despite this, the hobbit lifestyle suits Frank Siegmund and his family wonderfully. He initially built an artificial hill to enclose a refrigeration unit for his bakery. During the heatwave, they slept within this structure. He mentions feeling a deep sense of tranquility and a strong bond with nature. I began enlarging the living area progressively. Although it might sound unconventional, we actually draw energy from the earth's oscillations because of our closeness to it. Our children truly love having the rabbits as neighbors, as not every child can claim that bunnies peek directly into their playroom windows.

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Moles happy as homes go underground reading answers with explanation consist of detailed reasons for the above questions for your knowledge and reference.

(Note: The text in Bold mentions the location and answer given in the passage itself. Explaining sentences from the reading passage are shown on the lines in italics.)

1. ii

Explanation: The last line of paragraph B states that Customers were already waiting in line to purchase the unique partially submerged homes, which have a grassy mound for a back wall and a long glass gallery for a front wall.

2. v

Explanation: 1st and 2nd lines of paragraph C explain that There are many potential spies, not just the Dutch. More and more people around Europe are going below to build their homes, workplaces, nightclubs, and malls.

3. x

Explanation: 2nd line of paragraph D describes that In fact, many of the land-hungry structures, such as movie theatres, grocery stores, theatres, warehouses, and libraries, might be built underground because they have no use for windows.

4. ix

Explanation: 2nd line of paragraph E depicts that There would be half as many roads if a housing development of 194 units, which would consume 14 hectares of land above ground, were built below ground on 2.7 hectares of land.

5. vii

Explanation: 3rd line of paragraph F represents that Jo Hurkmans, an architect from Tilburg, came up with the concept of installing noise embankments along major thoroughfares.

6. i

Explanation: 3rd line of paragraph G portrays that The Olivetti residential center in Ivrea is Italy's most impressive example of an underground building.

7. vi

Explanation: 1st line of paragraph H tells that The Japanese Shimizu Corporation has developed "space creation" devices that aim to stimulate people who must spend extended periods of time underground by combining factors such as light, music, breezes, and aromas, as not everyone is able to adapt effectively to such conditions.

8. xii

Explanation: 2nd line of paragraph I narrates that He first erected a hill to house a cold room for his bakery.

9. noise embankments

Explanation: 3rd line of paragraph F indicates that Jo Hurkmans, an architect from Tilburg, came up with the concept of installing noise embankments along major thoroughfares.

10. South Limburg planners

Explanation: 2nd line of paragraph F expresses that South Limburg planners, meanwhile, greeted the development with unconcealed relief due to Holland's severe land shortage.

11. speedy sales

Explanation: 1st line of paragraph F proves that The problem in Europe has been conservative local authorities and builders that wish to ensure speedy sales with traditional mass-built houses.

12. True

Explanation: 3rd and 4th line of paragraph G explains that The Olivetti residential center in Ivrea is Italy's most impressive example of an underground building. As a hotel/home complex for Olivetti staff, Roberto Olivetti commissioned its construction in 1969.

13. False

Explanation: 2nd line of paragraph H justifies that Subterranean workplaces in Japan are getting "virtual" windows and mirrors, and those at the University of Minnesota have periscopes to let in more light and let in more of the outside world below ground.

14. False

Explanation: 1st and 2nd lines of the paragraph I describe that And yet, hobbit life is perfect for Frank Siegmund and his loved ones. He first erected a hill to house a cold room for his bakery.

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• Check for synonyms

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