Staying Cool Naturally Ielts Reading Answers May 2026

One of the most effective passive cooling strategies is the use of thermal mass . Materials such as stone, adobe, and concrete have a high specific heat capacity, meaning they absorb heat during the day and release it slowly at night when temperatures drop. In the ancient city of Yazd in central Iran, buildings constructed from thick mud-brick remain cool during scorching summer days. Similarly, the stepwells of India — deep, multi-storey structures carved into the earth — maintain consistently low temperatures because the surrounding ground acts as an enormous heat sink.

In hot, dry climates, buildings made from materials with high ___________ absorb heat by day and release it at night. The Persians invented 7 ___________, which are tall structures that direct wind downwards, sometimes over water for extra cooling. In humid regions, houses on 8 ___________ allow air to flow underneath, and courtyards help regulate temperature. A more recent discovery is radiative cooling, where special white paints reflect sunlight and emit heat through 9 ___________ radiation at night. Questions 10–13: Matching Features Match each feature (A–E) with the correct description (10–13) below. Staying Cool Naturally Ielts Reading Answers

Despite their efficacy, natural cooling methods have limitations. They require careful building orientation, local climate analysis, and often, larger land areas than modern high-rise construction permits. Nevertheless, a hybrid approach is emerging: ‘active’ cooling systems that work with passive designs, rather than against them. For instance, a building with high thermal mass can be mechanically ventilated at night to ‘charge’ the coolth, then sealed during the day. As the world seeks to decarbonise, these time-tested strategies are no longer a curiosity — they are a necessity. IELTS READING QUESTIONS Questions 1–5: True / False / Not Given Do the following statements agree with the information in the reading passage? One of the most effective passive cooling strategies