Practise under exam conditions6 questions · 8 minutes. In the real test you have about 20 minutes per passage.
Summary completion gives you a short summary of part of the passage with gaps to fill. There are two versions: copy words from the passage, or choose from a box of words (A–J), where the options are usually paraphrases. This guide practises the box version, which candidates often find harder because several options fit the grammar but only one fits the meaning.
How to complete a summary#
- Read the summary first to understand what it is about, then find the section of the passage it covers. Summaries usually focus on one or two paragraphs.
- Predict the word type for each gap: noun, verb, adjective? Singular or plural? This often eliminates half the options in the box.
- Compare meaning, not words. The box contains paraphrases, so the correct option rarely appears in the passage in the same form.
- Watch for distractors that are the opposite of the right answer (e.g. increase / decrease) or that relate to another part of the passage.
- Read the completed summary once more. It should make sense and match the passage.
Practice: Green Roofs#
Read the passage, answer the 6 questions, then check your answers below. Suggested time: 8 minutes.
Green Roofs#
A green roof is a roof that is partly or completely covered with plants growing in a layer of soil, laid on top of a waterproof membrane. Although the idea is ancient, modern green roofs first became common in Germany in the 1970s, and they are now found on buildings from Singapore to Chicago.
Their most obvious benefit is environmental. Cities tend to be several degrees warmer than the surrounding countryside, because concrete and asphalt absorb heat during the day and release it at night. Plants help to cool the air around them, so a large number of green roofs can reduce this “urban heat island” effect. Green roofs also absorb rainwater, which slows the flow of water into drains during heavy storms and lowers the risk of flooding.
There are advantages for building owners too. The layer of soil and plants acts as insulation, keeping buildings warmer in winter and cooler in summer, which can lower energy bills. It also protects the waterproof membrane underneath from sunlight and extreme temperatures, so a green roof may last twice as long as a conventional one.
The main obstacle is cost. A green roof is considerably more expensive to install than an ordinary roof, and many older buildings cannot support the extra weight without being strengthened. For this reason, some cities offer grants to encourage owners to install them, and a few now require green roofs on all large new buildings.
Questions 1–6#
Complete the summary using the list of words, A–J, below.
Green roofs are covered with plants and became popular in Germany in the 1970s. Because cities are often (1) ________ than the countryside, green roofs can help by cooling the air. They also take in rainwater, which reduces the chance of (2) ________ during storms. For owners, the plants provide (3) ________, which can reduce energy costs, and they help the roof to last (4) ________. However, green roofs are (5) ________ to install, and older buildings may need to be (6) ________ before one can be added.
| A longer | B warmer | C flooding | D cheaper | E insulation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F expensive | G strengthened | H cooler | I drought | J replaced |
Check your answers
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Answer key with explanationsShowHide
- 1BParagraph 2: cities are “several degrees warmer than the surrounding countryside”. H (cooler) is the opposite.
- 2CParagraph 2: absorbing rainwater “lowers the risk of flooding”. I (drought) is a distractor.
- 3EParagraph 3: “The layer of soil and plants acts as insulation”.
- 4AParagraph 3: “a green roof may last twice as long”, so it lasts longer.
- 5FParagraph 4: “considerably more expensive to install”. D (cheaper) is the opposite.
- 6GParagraph 4: older buildings “cannot support the extra weight without being strengthened”. J (replaced) is not mentioned.
What this practice teaches#
- Gaps 1 and 5 have an opposite distractor in the box (cooler, cheaper). Always check direction.
- Gap 2: both “flooding” and “drought” are weather-related nouns. Only one matches the meaning.
- Gap 4 needs a comparative adverb after “last”: only “longer” fits the grammar.
Other IELTS Reading question types#
- True / False / Not Given
- Matching headings
- Multiple choice
- Table and note completion
- Short answer questions
See all IELTS Reading question types with tips, or take a full reading practice test to practise under exam conditions.