As governments race to cut emissions, earth houses are moving from a niche idea to a practical type of climate housing in parts of Europe, North America, and the Global South. This change is supported by clear data: in 2022, buildings used about 34% of the world’s energy and produced about 37% of energy – and process – related CO₂ emissions. At the same time, the long – term trend is still worrying—IPCC reports show building – related CO₂ emissions have risen strongly over recent decades—so many cities now see housing as part of their climate plan, not only real estate. [I] Developers are using earth – sheltered designs—homes built into slopes or with soil piled against the walls—because the ground helps keep indoor temperatures more stable. U.S. [II] Energy Saver guidance says these homes can be comfortable and weather – resistant if they are designed well. [III] New projects combine thick walls (thermal mass) with good insulation, drainage layers, and smart building direction to reduce cooling needs during heatwaves. [IV] At the same time, more builders are returning to earthen materials like rammed earth, adobe, and compressed earth blocks as cities and buyers take a closer look at embodied carbon. Reviews of recent research suggest these materials can reduce environmental impact compared with common building materials, while still offering good heat control and strength. However, life – cycle studies warn that results depend on choices like how much cement is added and how far materials are transported—so teams often stick with local sourcing and keep clear records to stay on the right side of building rules. In practice, the biggest reason is resilience. Cities are setting stricter requirements for waterproofing and drainage; insurers are keeping an eye on how these homes perform in floods and heatwaves; and builders are training workers to control moisture and pack the material correctly. For many cities, earth houses are becoming a credible way to protect the environment, rather than an idea that only a few people go for. Question 31: Where in paragraph [] does the following sentence best fit? Experts also note that shifting energy use (for example, pre – cooling) works best in well – insulated homes, so passive design can also be a grid – friendly choice. A. [I] B. [II] C. [III] D. [IV] Question 32: The phrase "take a closer look at" in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to __________. A. shift the focus away from B. turn a blind eye to C. study in more detail D. accept without question Question 33: The word "they" in paragraph 2 refers to __________. A. slopes B. walls C. designs D. homes Question 34: Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a technical element combined in modern earth – sheltered projects? A. Integrating drainage layers to manage water. B. Constructing thick walls to utilize thermal mass. C. Utilizing smart building direction for efficiency. D. Installing solar panels to generate green electricity. Question 35: Which of the following best summarises the main idea of paragraph 2? A. The U.S. Energy Saver guidance provides the only reliable standards for building earth – sheltered homes today. B. Earth – sheltered designs utilize natural ground properties and strategic engineering to enhance indoor thermal stability. C. High indoor temperatures during heatwaves are the primary reason why developers prefer building homes into slopes. D. Passive design is becoming the most grid – friendly choice for cities that are struggling with electricity system pressure. Question 36: The word "credible" in paragraph 4 is OPPOSITE in meaning to __________. A. plausible B. reliable C. dubious D. feasible Question 37: According to paragraph 3, what factor can significantly influence the environmental benefits of using earthen materials? A. The specific color and aesthetic appeal of the compressed earth blocks used in construction. B. The total amount of cement included and the distance over which the materials are moved. C. The historical popularity of adobe and rammed earth in different regions of the Global South. D. The number of researchers involved in reviewing the life – cycle studies of common building materials. Question 38: Which of the following best paraphrases the sentence: "many cities now see housing as part of their climate plan, not only real estate."? A. Cities are prioritizing the profit from real estate over the long – term goals of their environmental strategies. B. Urban authorities have started integrating residential development into their broader strategies for climate change mitigation. C. Real estate markets are currently the only sector capable of meeting the strict CO₂ emission targets set by the IPCC. D. The IPCC reports suggest that climate plans should focus exclusively on industrial emissions rather than housing projects. Question 39: Which of the following can most likely be inferred from the passage? A. Conventional building materials will soon be completely replaced by earth blocks in major European cities. B. The transition to earth houses is driven more by practical necessity and resilience than by mere aesthetic trends. C. Building regulations are becoming more relaxed to encourage more people to adopt niche architectural ideas. D. Air – conditioning systems will become obsolete once all homes are designed according to passive building principles. Question 40: Which of the following best summarises the passage? A. The technical challenges of training workers to handle moisture and waterproofing in modern earth – sheltered housing. B. The statistical analysis of global energy consumption and CO₂ emissions produced by the building sector in 2022. C. The evolution of earth houses from a niche concept to a legitimate solution for climate resilience and sustainability. D. The comparative strength and heat control properties of ancient materials like adobe versus modern high – carbon cement. |