Simple Ways to Save Energy at Home: Reading Answers & Explanations
IELTS Reading practice test · 10 questionsGeneral Trainingeasy
Haven't taken this test yet?
Looking at the answers first spoils the practice — you only get one honest first attempt at a passage. Take the test with the 20-minute timer, get an instant score and estimated band, then come back here to study every answer.
About this passage
The passage opens: “Most households use far more energy than they realise, and a great deal of it is quietly wasted. Reducing that waste is one of the easiest ways to cut monthly bills and to lighten the strain we place on the planet.”
- Passage length: about 458 words
- Questions: 10
- Question types: Yes / No / Not Given, Multiple Choice
“Simple Ways to Save Energy at Home” is an original IELTS-style practice passage written by IELTS-Bank. It is not taken from an official IELTS or Cambridge test, so these answers only apply to our version.
Answer key at a glance
Simple Ways to Save Energy at Home answers with explanations
Questions 1–6: Yes / No / Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the views/claims of the writer? Write YES if the statement agrees with the views of the writer, NO if it contradicts, or NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks.
- 1
Saving energy usually means giving up comfort.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: NO
Why: The writer's view here contradicts the statement, so the answer is NO.
Evidence · Paragraph 1 “The best part is that saving energy rarely means going without comfort.”
- 2
Draught-proofing is a worthwhile use of money.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: YES
Why: The writer's view here agrees with the statement, so the answer is YES.
Evidence · Paragraph 2 “I firmly believe that draught-proofing is money well spent, because sealing the gaps around doors and windows stops warm air escaping and keeps cold air out.”
- 3
Switching to LED lighting is one of the smartest decisions a household can make.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: YES
Why: The writer's view here agrees with the statement, so the answer is YES.
Evidence · Paragraph 3 “Switching to LED lighting throughout the house is, to my mind, one of the smartest decisions a household can make.”
- 4
Solar panels are the best long-term investment for a home.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: NOT GIVEN
Why: The statement claims solar panels are the best long-term investment for a home, but the passage never confirms or denies this, as it focuses on energy-saving habits and improvements like insulation and upgrading boilers.
Closest related text · Paragraph 6 “Adding insulation to a loft, fitting thicker curtains, or upgrading an old boiler can reduce energy use for many years to come.”
- 5
The electricity used by devices on standby is a necessary cost.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: NO
Why: The writer's view here contradicts the statement, so the answer is NO.
Evidence · Paragraph 4 “Televisions, chargers and games consoles left on standby quietly consume electricity around the clock, and this hidden waste is entirely unnecessary.”
- 6
A home that wastes less energy is more comfortable to live in.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: YES
Why: The writer's view here agrees with the statement, so the answer is YES.
Evidence · Paragraph 6 “I am convinced that a home which wastes less energy is not only cheaper to run but also a more comfortable and responsible place to live.”
Question 7: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
- A. In lighting
- B. In washing clothes
- C. In charging devices
- D. In heating and cooling
- 7
According to the writer, where can the biggest energy savings be found?
Show answerHide answer
Answer: D — In heating and cooling
Why: This is the part of the passage that supports D — In heating and cooling.
Evidence · Paragraph 2 “Heating and cooling usually account for the largest share of a home's energy use, so this is where the biggest savings can be found.”
Question 8: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
- A. They produce more light than LED bulbs.
- B. They waste much of their energy as heat.
- C. They are cheaper to run than LED bulbs.
- D. They should be left on to save power.
- 8
What does the writer say about older light bulbs?
Show answerHide answer
Answer: B — They waste much of their energy as heat.
Why: This is the part of the passage that supports B — They waste much of their energy as heat..
Evidence · Paragraph 3 “Older bulbs waste much of their energy as heat rather than light, whereas modern LED bulbs produce the same brightness while using only a fraction of the power.”
Question 9: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
- A. Hot water is always necessary for clean clothes.
- B. Clothes should be washed one item at a time.
- C. A lower temperature cleans most laundry well while using less energy.
- D. The dishwasher should be run half full.
- 9
What does the writer suggest about washing clothes?
Show answerHide answer
Answer: C — A lower temperature cleans most laundry well while using less energy.
Why: This is the part of the passage that supports C — A lower temperature cleans most laundry well while using less energy..
Evidence · Paragraph 5 “Washing clothes at a lower temperature cleans most laundry perfectly well while using less energy to heat the water.”
Question 10: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
- A. They rarely make any difference to energy use.
- B. They cost money at first but usually pay for themselves in time.
- C. They are cheaper than switching off standby devices.
- D. They should only be done by people who enjoy comfort.
- 10
What does the writer say about larger improvements such as loft insulation?
Show answerHide answer
Answer: B — They cost money at first but usually pay for themselves in time.
Why: This is the part of the passage that supports B — They cost money at first but usually pay for themselves in time..
Evidence · Paragraph 6 “Such measures cost money at the outset, but they usually pay for themselves in time.”
Estimated band score for this test
Your raw score out of 10 scaled to the 40-question IELTS Reading (General Training) conversion table. This is the same estimate the practice page shows after you submit. A single passage is a small sample, so treat it as a guide.
| Correct answers | Estimated band |
|---|---|
| 10 / 10 | 9.0 |
| 9 / 10 | 7.5 |
| 8 / 10 | 6.5 |
| 7 / 10 | 5.5 |
| 6 / 10 | 5.0 |
| 5 / 10 | 4.5 |
| 4 / 10 | 4.0 |
| 3 / 10 | 3.5 |
| 2 / 10 | 2.5 |
| 1 / 10 | 2.0 |
| 0 / 10 | 0.0 |
Full-test score? Use the IELTS band calculator.
Tips for the question types in this test
Yes / No / Not Given
- Identify the claim in the statement and, crucially, whose opinion it represents — these passages often quote several people, so track who is speaking.
- Scan the passage for opinion signals: verbs like "argues", "believes", "suggests", "claims", and phrases such as "in the author’s view".
Common trap: Treating a reported opinion (someone else’s view mentioned by the writer) as the writer’s own conclusion.
Full Yes / No / Not Given strategyMultiple Choice
- Read the question stem carefully before the options so you know exactly what is being asked.
- Because multiple-choice questions follow passage order, locate the relevant section and read it in full — the answer usually depends on more than one sentence.
Common trap: Distractors that use exact words from the passage but distort the meaning.
Full Multiple Choice strategyPractise “Simple Ways to Save Energy at Home” under exam conditions
Free, auto-marked, with the 20-minute timer and an instant band estimate.
Take this test first (timed)More IELTS Reading tests with answers
The Garden City Movement
medium
The Global Journey of Coffee
medium
The Global Spread of the Chilli
medium
The Global Spread of the Potato
medium
The Great Library of Alexandria and the Loss of Ancient Knowledge
easy
The Hanseatic League and Medieval Trade
medium