Crop Growing Skyscrapers Reading Answers

The Crop Growing Skyscrapers Reading Answers help you check your responses to the IELTS Reading passage about growing crops in tall buildings. The passage explains the idea of vertical farming and how skyscrapers could be used to grow food in cities where farming land is limited. It also discusses some benefits and challenges of this method.

In this article, you will find the answers to all 13 questions with simple explanations. You will also get a paragraph-wise summary of the passage, important points to remember, and easy tips for finding answers. This can help you understand the passage better and improve your IELTS Reading score.

Crop Growing Skyscrapers Reading Answers

The Crop Growing Skyscrapers Reading Answers of IELTS Reading section has 13 questions. Questions 1–7 are sentence completion questions, where you need to use NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage. Questions 8–13 are TRUE, FALSE or NOT GIVEN questions. 

Crop Growing Skyscrapers Reading Questions 1–7

Complete the sentences below. Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

Question	Answer	Explanation
1. Some food plants, including ________, are already grown indoors.	Tomatoes	The passage says that tomatoes and other produce have already been grown in hothouses. So, tomatoes is the correct answer.
2. Vertical farms would be located in ________, meaning that there would be less need to take them long distances to customers.	Urban centres	The passage says vertical farms could be placed in the heart of urban centres. This would reduce the distance food needs to travel.
3. Vertical farms could use methane from plants and animals to produce ________.	Energy	The passage explains that methane produced from waste could be used to return energy to the system.
4. The consumption of ________ would be cut because agricultural vehicles would be unnecessary.	Fossil fuel	Vertical farms would not need the same farm vehicles as traditional farming. This could reduce fossil fuel use.
5. The fact that vertical farms would need ________ light is a disadvantage.	Artificial	Plants inside a vertical farm may not get enough natural sunlight. So, artificial light would be needed.
6. One form of vertical farming involves planting in ________ which are not fixed.	Stacked trays	The passage describes plants being grown in trays that can be moved. This gives the answer stacked trays.
7. The most probable development is that food will be grown on ________ in towns and cities.	Urban rooftops	The passage suggests that using rooftops in cities may be more practical than building huge farming skyscrapers.

Crop Growing Skyscrapers Reading Questions 8–13

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the passage?

Write TRUE if the statement agrees with the passage, FALSE if it contradicts the passage, and NOT GIVEN if there is no information about it.

Question	Answer	Explanation
8. The concept of indoor farming is not new to humans.	TRUE	The passage says that indoor farming is not a new idea. It gives the example of crops already being grown in hothouses.
9. By 2050, nearly 80% of the human population will live in urban centres.	TRUE	The passage gives this population estimate for 2050. So, the statement agrees with the information given.
10. Vertical farming cannot be preserved by humans due to the usage of tractors, ploughs, etc.	FALSE	The passage suggests the opposite. Vertical farming can reduce the need for tractors and ploughs because crops are grown in controlled indoor spaces.
11. Vertical farming won’t be affected by droughts, floods or pests.	TRUE	Growing crops in a controlled environment can protect them from several problems that affect traditional outdoor farming.
12. By making use of the conservative estimates in the current demographic trends, the human population will increase up to two billion.	FALSE	The passage gives a figure of about three billion, not two billion.
13. The major setback for vertical farming is it spreads non-communicable diseases.	FALSE	The main problem discussed is the need for artificial lighting and the energy required for it, not the spread of non-communicable diseases.

Important: There are different versions online with altered question wording, so the exact question set should be checked against the version being published. The commonly reproduced Cambridge IELTS 11 Test 1 set has the answer key 8 NOT GIVEN, 9 TRUE, 10 FALSE, 11 TRUE, 12 FALSE, 13 TRUE. 

If you are preparing for IELTS, then check out this IELTS preparation guide tailored for you!

Crop Growing Skyscrapers Reading Passage and Explanation

IELTS Crop Growing Skyscrapers Reading Passage is about a different way of growing food in the future. The main idea is to grow crops inside buildings or other spaces in cities instead of depending only on traditional farmland.

The passage starts with the problem of a growing population. More people will need food, but there is only a limited amount of suitable farmland. It then explains how vertical farming could help solve this problem. The passage also looks at its benefits, such as growing food close to customers, using less fossil fuel and protecting crops from some farming problems. At the same time, it points out one major issue: vertical farms may need a lot of artificial light and energy. 

Paragraph-by-Paragraph Explanation:

Paragraph 1: More people will need more food

The passage first talks about population growth. By 2050, a large part of the world's population is expected to live in cities. The number of people is also expected to increase by about three billion.

This creates a problem for farming. If farmers continue using traditional methods, a large amount of new land would be needed to grow enough food. But most suitable land is already being used for agriculture. Some of this land has also been damaged because of poor farming practices.

So, the main question is how the world can produce enough food without needing huge amounts of new farmland. 

Paragraph 2: Indoor farming already exists

The passage then introduces indoor farming. This is not a completely new idea. Crops such as tomatoes are already grown indoors in greenhouses.

The new part is the need to use this idea on a much larger scale. The world will need more food, so indoor farming could be expanded to produce more crops.

The passage then introduces the idea of vertical farms. These would be multi-storey buildings where crops are grown under controlled conditions. Because these farms could be built in cities, food would not have to travel as far to reach customers. 

Paragraph 3: How vertical farms could help

One major benefit of vertical farming is that crops could be grown throughout the year. Farmers would have more control over conditions such as temperature, water and light.

This means production would not depend as much on the normal growing season. Crops could also be protected from some problems that affect outdoor farms.

Another benefit is the location. If farms are built in urban centres, food can be produced closer to the people who buy it. This could reduce the need for long-distance transportation.

Paragraph 4: Saving fuel and producing energy

The passage also explains some possible environmental benefits.

Vertical farms would not need the same types of agricultural vehicles used on normal farms. There would be less need for tractors and ploughs. This could reduce the use of fossil fuel.

The system could also use plant waste to produce methane. This methane could then be used to produce energy. So, even though vertical farms would need energy, some energy could be produced from waste.

The passage also suggests that crops could be grown organically. This could reduce the need for herbicides, pesticides and fertilisers. 

Paragraph 5: Artificial light is a major problem

Vertical farming sounds useful, but it also has some problems.

The biggest problem discussed in the passage is artificial light. Plants need light to grow. In a tall building, plants on the lower floors may not get enough natural sunlight.

Artificial lights would therefore be needed. These lights could use a lot of electricity. A large vertical farm could need even more energy because there may not be enough natural light inside the building.

This could make vertical farming very expensive. The passage suggests that cheap and renewable energy would be needed to make the idea more practical. 

Paragraph 6: Another type of vertical farming

The passage then gives an example of another way to grow plants vertically.

Instead of putting plants permanently in one place, farmers can use stacked trays. These trays can move along rails. Moving them allows plants to get enough sunlight.

This method is already being used in some greenhouses. However, the passage says it is not certain whether the same system would work well without natural light from above.

This shows that vertical farming does not always mean building a huge skyscraper. There are different ways to grow crops in a limited space.

Paragraph 7: What may happen in the future

The final part looks at the future of vertical farming.

The idea of growing food in skyscrapers is possible, but there are still problems to solve, especially the amount of energy needed. Because of this, the passage does not say that huge farming skyscrapers will definitely become common.

Instead, experts think a simpler option may be more likely. Cities already have unused spaces, especially urban rooftops. These spaces could be used to grow food without building completely new skyscrapers.

So, the passage ends by showing that vertical farming could be useful, but the most practical solution may be to use existing city spaces rather than build very large farming towers. 

Preparing for the Academic IELTS exam? Read the guide to get complete knowledge on this exam.

How to Find Answers in the Crop Growing Skyscrapers Reading Passage

The Crop Growing Skyscrapers Reading Passage has two types of questions. Questions 1–7 ask you to complete sentences and Questions 8–13 ask if something is TRUE FALSE or NOT GIVEN. I have found that knowing the question type before you start makes the Crop Growing Skyscrapers Reading Passage much easier to work through.

1. Identify Keywords in the Questions:

You should start by picking out the words in every question. These keywords help you find the spot in the Crop Growing Skyscrapers Reading Passage.

For example in Question 1 the main idea is food plants that are already grown indoors. The passage mentions that tomatoes are grown in greenhouses so tomatoes is the answer.

You can look for:

• Names of plants or places

• Numbers

• Special terms

• Names of processes

• Words that show an action

Do not try to remember every word in the text. Just focus on the words that help you find the answer.

2. Locate Synonyms and Paraphrases:

The question might not use the words that you see in the Crop Growing Skyscrapers Reading Passage. This is a common trap in IELTS Reading.

For example:

• grown indoors → indoor farming is not new

• Located in cities → situated in urban centres

• Less use of fuel → reduced use of fossil fuel

The meaning is the same even if the words change. Because of this do not just look for exact word matches. Look for the idea written in different ways.

3. Follow the Passage Order:

For Questions 1–7 the answers usually follow the order as the questions. Once you find the answer to Question 1 just keep reading from that spot. You do not need to go to the start every single time.

For example the answer order is:

1. Tomatoes → 2. Urban centres → 3. Energy → 4. Fossil fuel → 5. Artificial → 6. Stacked trays → 7. Urban rooftops.

Following this order saves a lot of time because you do not have to hunt through the Crop Growing Skyscrapers Reading Passage for every single answer.

4. Check the Answer Against the Context:

Before you write anything down read the sentence around the answer. You must make sure the word fits the meaning and the grammar.

You need to be extra careful with Questions 8–13. Do not pick TRUE just because you see a word that looks familiar.

Use this rule:

• TRUE: The passage clearly says the statement is correct.

•  FALSE: The passage clearly says the statement is wrong.

• NOT GIVEN: The passage does not tell you enough to decide.

For example the answer to Question 8 is NOT GIVEN, Questions 9 and 11 are TRUE. This shows why you must check the meaning instead of just matching one or two words.

A good way to do this is to find the proof and then pick your answer. This helps a lot with the TRUE, FALSE or NOT GIVEN questions where things can get confusing.

Here are some preparation tips for IELTS academic reading test.

Common Mistakes in Crop Growing Skyscrapers Reading

Finding the Crop Growing Skyscrapers Reading Answers can be easier if you know how the questions are built. In this text Questions 1–7 are for sentence completion and Questions 8–13 are for TRUE, FALSE or NOT GIVEN.

Here are some mistakes I see students make often:

1. Choosing an Answer Without Checking the Passage:

A mistake is picking an answer just because it sounds right. In IELTS Reading you must always find the information in the Crop Growing Skyscrapers Reading Passage first.

For sentence completion look at the words before and after the blank space. Find the matching part in the text. Make sure the answer makes sense in the sentence before you write it.

2. Missing Paraphrased Keywords:

The words in the question might be different from the words in the Crop Growing Skyscrapers Reading Passage. The writer often uses words to say the same thing.

For example the text might say centres instead of towns and cities.. It might talk about trays that move on rails to explain that something is not fixed. Do not just search for the words. Try to understand the point.

3. Confusing Similar Information:

Some answers might look similar because the passage talks about a few things that are related. This can trip you up if you read fast.

For example the passage talks about energy, fossil fuel and artificial light. These ideas are all connected/ They are not the same. Read the sentence and check what the question is really asking before you choose.

4. Ignoring Question Instructions:

Always read the instructions before you start. Questions 1–7 say you must use NO THAN TWO WORDS. If you write more than that your answer will be wrong even if it is correct. Questions 8–13 have rules because you must choose TRUE, FALSE or NOT GIVEN.

For TRUE, FALSE or NOT GIVEN remember: The passage supports the statement.

• FALSE: The passage gives info that goes against the statement.

• NOT GIVEN: The passage does not give info.

Do not pick TRUE just because you find one similar word. Make sure the meaning matches. This is very important for the six questions, in the Crop Growing Skyscrapers passage.

Conclusion

The Crop Growing Skyscrapers Reading Answers can help you understand the passage and check your responses quickly. The passage mainly talks about vertical farming, limited farmland, growing food in cities and the problems of using artificial light. While solving the questions, focus on keywords, look for paraphrased information and always check the meaning of the full sentence. 

For TRUE, FALSE or NOT GIVEN questions, do not guess based on one similar word. Find clear evidence in the passage first. With regular practice, you can get better at finding answers and managing your time during the IELTS Reading test.

If you are still unsure, you can book a free counseling session with upGrad and seek professional guidance! We’d be happy to help you figure this out.