Worms Put New Life Into Derelict Site Reading Answers Jun 2026
Description of the long-term biological impact of earthworms →right arrow Paragraph E
Microorganisms — The stimulation of these organisms accelerates the natural decontamination process.
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 .
Earthworms ingest contaminated soil. Specialized microbes in their digestive tracts break down complex organic pollutants. Heavy metals are often locked away in the worms' tissues or excreted in safer, chelated forms within their castings (waste).
Unlike traditional clean-up methods that simply remove the soil, the worms process the contaminated earth and excrete it as a nutrient-rich material that can be sold to gardeners and farmers. This creates a from a waste product, effectively turning a liability into an asset. worms put new life into derelict site reading answers
Paragraph B — Identifies the researchers, universities, and specific institutions involved in the study. Questions 6–10: True, False, Not Given
: Soil corrupted by heavy metals.
To score highly on this passage, you must understand why these answers are correct based on textual clues. Locating Keywords
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 Description of the long-term biological impact of earthworms
For those studying the IELTS reading passage , here are the definitive answers to common questions: Question Topic Correct Answer Scottish Greenbelt and Types of worms being used Two types ( Lubricus terrestris Aporrectodea longa Expected time for soil regeneration Between 5 and 10 years Natural timeframe without worms Up to 60 years Worms put new life into derelict site Reading Answers
To maximise your learning, treat this passage as a diagnostic test. Read the passage once for general understanding (no more than 3–4 minutes). Then answer the 13 questions without looking at the answer key. Once complete, review your responses against the answer key and explanations provided above. For every incorrect answer, trace back to the passage line indicated and ask yourself: “Why did I miss this?” Common errors include misreading the question requirements (especially the “NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS” instruction), failing to notice paraphrasing, and spending too much time on a single question. By addressing these patterns, you will build the speed and accuracy needed for a high IELTS Reading band score.
TRUE — The text explicitly states that previous traditional methods failed to clear the site safely.
These live on the soil surface in the litter layer. They break down organic mulch rapidly but do not burrow deeply. Earthworms ingest contaminated soil
Feature: Consumes toxic leaf litter and accelerates topsoil decomposition. Part 2: Comprehensive Passage Analysis The Problem: The Crisis of Derelict Land
Worms are "self-impregnating" hermaphrodites that chew through a topping layer of colliery waste and sewage to create viable soil. They improve soil by it and adding
Passing contaminated dirt through their digestive tracts.