The time it takes for worms to break down waste depends on factors such as the type and quantity of waste, temperature, and worm population. Generally, it can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months for worms to break down a given amount of waste.
The text explicitly states: "Conventional engineering solutions to land contamination require massive financial investment, often making reclamation economically unviable." "Economically unviable" directly translates to "too expensive." Why Question 11 is FALSE
Industrialization has left a legacy of brownfield sites—abandoned factories, chemical plants, and slag heaps. This land is typically contaminated with: Heavy metals (lead, cadmium, arsenic) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) Severely compacted, nutrient-depleted soil structures
✅ (if using one). ✅ Search "Worms Put New Life into Derelict Site IELTS reading answers" on:
Answer: Park/Garden/Green space Key Vocabulary for the Passage
Explanation: Paragraph 7 indicates the selected worms would convert contaminated soil more rapidly than "the natural processes".
While the text mentions successful trials and future potential, it does not provide information regarding immediate official approvals from local authorities. 2. Summary Completion (Fill in the Blanks)
Bioremediation and Urban Renewal: Analyzing the Role of Vermiculture in Revitalizing Derelict Sites
TRUE — The text explicitly states that previous traditional methods failed to clear the site safely.
[Contaminated, Compacted Soil] │ ▼ + Add Organic Waste & Earthworms [Worms Tunnel & Eat Soil] ──► (Improves Aeration & Drainage) │ ▼ + Microbes in Worm Gut Break Down Toxins [Nutrient-Rich Castings] ──► (Restores Soil Fertility & Plant Life) How Worms Revitalize the Earth
Due to extensive industrial use, the ground was deemed unusable for construction .
Paragraph B — Identifies the researchers, universities, and specific institutions involved in the study. Questions 6–10: True, False, Not Given
The passage details a pioneering project where scientists harnessed the natural biological processes of earthworms to regenerate a derelict site. This branch of biotechnology is known as .
Look for keywords like ingest, excrete, chemical breakdown, and soil structure . The paragraph focuses entirely on how the worms alter the soil chemistry.
