PASSWORD AND ANSWERS AT LAST OF THIS BLOG
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🚀 Start your free practice now at ieltsonestopcbt.com and experience the real IELTS test environment before your exam day! READING PASSAGE 2
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 14-26,
which are based on Reading Passage 2 below.
Urban Regeneration: an award-winning redevelopment
project in Berlin
A. Just over a kilometre south of Berlin’s Potsdamer
Platz, near the left bank of the Landwehr Canal, an extensive, triangular-shaped
area of waste ground once separated the neighbourhoods of Kreuzberg to the east
and Schöneberg to the west. Known as Gleisdreieck, meaning ‘triangle of rails’,
it was formed by the intersection of different railway lines built in the mid-nineteenth
century that entered Berlin from the south. Tracks, sheds and warehouses
belonging to three old railway stations – Dresdner Bahnhof (1875–1882),
Potsdamer Bahnhof (1838–1944) and Anhalter Bahnhof (1839–1952) – are situated
on a raised area some twenty hectares in size, at a height of four metres above
the surrounding ground level.
B. As the railway infrastructure gradually ceased to be
used, the whole area of Gleisdreieck became increasingly run down and
abandoned, to the point of being used as a rubbish tip after 1945. Meanwhile,
vegetation took over, turning it into a surprising, natural haven in the middle
of built-up areas. The closeness of the wall which divided the city of Berlin
between 1961 and 1990 also contributed to the fact that Gleisdreieck was for
decades clearly identified as no-man’s-land. Only a station of the same name in
Berlin’s underground railway system testified to its existence. Shortly before
the fall of the Berlin Wall, however, the German Museum of Technology was
established there, attracting large numbers of visitors and giving visibility
to the site. More importantly, the unification of the formerly divided city
gave the location more centrality, at which point it became imperative to
identify a purpose for it.
C. After 2006, the State of Berlin put forward the
proposal of converting Gleisdreieck into a large urban park that would
integrate the different urban zones which converged there. The decades-long
isolation of the site, which had formerly presented a problem, now represented
an opportunity for joining the southern area of Potsdamer Platz with Kreuzberg
and Schöneberg. The creation of the park would trigger one of the biggest urban
expansions inside Berlin, all within a framework of multiple uses, and social
characteristics. It was necessary to stimulate the development of sixteen new
hectares of local amenities that would be capable of integrating different
generations and social groups in a sustainable way, and in harmony with nature.
Following intense discussion with local proprietors and residents, the need to
reconcile these goals with the conservation of railway heritage also emerged.
D. Once the area had been subjected to a process of
undergrowth clearance and decontamination, it was then organized around a
combination of existing and added elements. The project as a whole was planned
around a large central meadow, intersected from east to west by a concrete
footpath, and from north to the south by a pair of railway lines. Once a month,
a train slowly travels along these lines from its parking shed to the German
Museum of Technology. The concrete footpath, which is a continuation of one of
the main Kreuzberg boulevards, starts in the east, bridges the four-metre
difference in ground level by means of a stairway, and suddenly ends in the
west on reaching the underground lines.
E. North of the meadow, there is a large concrete slab
with rounded edges. Being south-facing, this functions as a big sunny terrace,
full of benches complete with footrests. In the south, the meadow overlooks
Yorckstrasse, an underpass crossed by more than fifteen former railway bridges.
To the east of the meadow there is quite a dense forest of pre-existing maples,
oaks and birches, as well as newly planted trees of the same species. In this
area, a couple of large metal frames each hold two swings. The edges of the
park are finished with a collection of distinctive, functional spaces, for
example a nursery, sports fields, concave surfaces for skateboards, stages for
dancing, community gardens, or simply areas covered in gravel obtained from the
site itself.
F. Although initially the regeneration of Gleisdreieck
Park was the subject of disagreement between those who were in favour of
safeguarding the railway heritage, and those who wanted to regenerate the
adjacent neighbourhoods, it was opened to the public in September 2011. The
heart of Berlin now has a new green lung, in which the atmosphere of various
small, very different corners fit neatly into a large-scale, wide-ranging and
robust general order. This has been possible precisely because the intervention
was not limited to conserving industrial remains in order to promote railway
history. And as a reminder of the six decades of human absence, during which
nature took over, the park has been able to conserve to some extent the spirit
of the non-place that preceded it.
Questions 14–19
Reading Passage 2 has six paragraphs, A–F.
Choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the
list of headings below.
Write the correct number, i–viii, in boxes 14–19 on
your answer sheet.
|
List of Headings i. Objectives of the regeneration project ii. Architectural details of the station buildings iii. Features and facilities of the completed development iv. The remains of a railway system v. A positive evaluation of the finished project vi. A way of controlling development costs vii. Ways of crossing the site viii. Reasons why the area had become neglected |
14 Paragraph A
15 Paragraph B
16 Paragraph C
17 Paragraph D
18 Paragraph E
19
Paragraph F
Questions 20 and 21
Choose TWO letters, A–E.
Which TWO reasons are given for the choice of
Gleisdreieck as a site for a park?
Write the correct letters, A–E, in boxes 20 and 21 on
your answer sheet.
A It was a habitat for some rare wildlife species.
B It contained a particular tourist attraction.
C It lay at the heart of the reunited city.
D It was served by a major rail network.
E It contained buildings which could be easily converted.
Questions 22 and 23
Choose TWO letters, A–E.
The list below identifies some of the possible aims of
urban redevelopment projects.
Which TWO things did the State of Berlin hope to
achieve with the Gleisdreieck
development?
Write the correct letters, A–E, in boxes 22 and 23 on
your answer sheet.
A to bring people of different ages together.
B to encourage tourism.
C to improve transport links.
D to preserve industrial remains.
E to generate income for the city.
✅ ANSWERS + LOCATIONS
Questions 14–19 (Headings)
14. Paragraph A → iv. The remains of a railway system
Location line:
“…an extensive… area… formed by the intersection of different railway lines… Tracks, sheds and warehouses belonging to three old railway stations…”
→ Focus is railway remains.
15. Paragraph B → viii. Reasons why the area had become neglected
Location line:
“…the whole area… became increasingly run down and abandoned… used as a rubbish tip… closeness of the wall… clearly identified as no-man’s-land.”
16. Paragraph C → i. Objectives of the regeneration project
Location line:
“…proposal of converting Gleisdreieck into a large urban park… integrate different urban zones… development of sixteen new hectares of local amenities… integrating different generations and social groups… sustainable way…”
17. Paragraph D → vii. Ways of crossing the site
Location line:
“…planned around a large central meadow, intersected from east to west by a concrete footpath, and from north to south by a pair of railway lines.”
18. Paragraph E → iii. Features and facilities of the completed development
Location line:
“…a large concrete slab… benches… a dense forest… swings… nursery, sports fields, skateboarding surfaces, stages for dancing, community gardens…”
19. Paragraph F → v. A positive evaluation of the finished project
Location line:
“…the heart of Berlin now has a new green lung… atmosphere… fit neatly… Because the intervention… conserved… the spirit of the non-place…”
✅ Questions 20–21 (TWO reasons for choosing the site)
Correct Answers: B & C
B. It contained a particular tourist attraction.
Location line:
“…the German Museum of Technology was established there, attracting large numbers of visitors…”
C. It lay at the heart of the reunited city.
Location line:
“…the unification of the formerly divided city gave the location more centrality…”
❌ Why not the others?
-
A: No mention of rare wildlife.
-
D: The railway network was abandoned, not active.
-
E: Buildings needing conversion are NOT mentioned as suitable.
✅ Questions 22–23 (Aims of redevelopment)
Correct Answers: A & D
A. to bring people of different ages together.
Location line:
“…local amenities capable of integrating different generations and social groups…”
D. to preserve industrial remains.
Location line:
“…need to reconcile these goals with the conservation of railway heritage…”
❌ Why not the others?
-
B: Tourism is not stated as an aim.
-
C: No transport improvements mentioned.
-
E: No mention of revenue generation.
🎯 FINAL ANSWER KEY
| Q | Answer |
|---|---|
| 14 | iv |
| 15 | viii |
| 16 | i |
| 17 | vii |
| 18 | iii |
| 19 | v |
| 20 | B |
| 21 | C |
| 22 | A |
| 23 | D |
PASSWORD: IELTS3
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