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IELTS Reading Passage 3 with Answers
Enhance your Reading skills with a medium-level passage. Learn skimming, scanning, and timing strategies. This passage includes more complex vocabulary and ideas. Practice identifying main ideas, supporting details, and author's viewpoint.
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The Impact of Urban Green Spaces on Mental Health
Urban green spaces provide essential mental health benefits to city dwellers
Paragraph A
In recent decades, rapid urbanization has transformed the landscape of modern living, with more than half of the global population now residing in cities. This demographic shift has raised concerns about the psychological well-being of urban residents, particularly regarding the lack of access to natural environments. Urban green spaces—including parks, community gardens, tree-lined streets, and green roofs—have emerged as critical components of city planning, not merely for aesthetic purposes but for their profound impact on mental health.
Paragraph B
Numerous scientific studies have demonstrated a strong correlation between exposure to green spaces and reduced levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. A groundbreaking longitudinal study conducted in Denmark tracked over 900,000 children born between 1985 and 2003, revealing that those who grew up with limited access to green spaces had up to 55% higher risk of developing psychiatric disorders later in life. The research controlled for other risk factors such as socioeconomic status, urbanization, and family history of mental illness, suggesting that the relationship between green space exposure and mental health is both significant and independent.
Physical activity in green spaces amplifies mental health benefits
Paragraph C
The mechanisms underlying these benefits are multifaceted. First, green spaces encourage physical activity, which is independently associated with improved mental health outcomes. Walking, jogging, or simply spending time in nature triggers the release of endorphins and reduces cortisol levels, the body's primary stress hormone. Second, natural environments facilitate social interaction and community cohesion, combating the isolation and loneliness that often characterize urban living. Community gardens, for instance, serve as social hubs where residents collaborate, share knowledge, and build meaningful relationships.
Paragraph D
Third, and perhaps most intriguingly, researchers propose the "biophilia hypothesis," which suggests that humans possess an innate tendency to seek connections with nature and other forms of life. According to this theory, our evolutionary history in natural environments has hardwired our brains to respond positively to green spaces. Functional MRI studies have shown that viewing natural scenes activates brain regions associated with positive emotions and empathy, while simultaneously deactivating areas linked to worry and rumination—patterns commonly observed in anxiety and depression.
Longitudinal study: Research conducted over an extended period
Cortisol: A hormone released in response to stress
Biophilia hypothesis: Theory that humans have an innate connection to nature
Rumination: Repetitive thinking about negative experiences
Paragraph E
Despite these compelling findings, access to green spaces remains inequitably distributed across urban areas. Lower-income neighborhoods and communities of color frequently have significantly less access to parks and tree coverage compared to affluent areas—a phenomenon known as "green gentrification." This disparity exacerbates existing health inequalities, as those who could benefit most from green space exposure are often the least likely to have it. Urban planners and policymakers increasingly recognize the need to address this environmental injustice through targeted interventions, such as creating pocket parks in densely populated areas, implementing green infrastructure projects, and protecting existing natural spaces from development.
Paragraph F
Looking forward, the integration of green spaces into urban design represents more than a trend; it constitutes a fundamental reimagining of how cities can support human flourishing. As climate change intensifies and urban populations continue to grow, the dual benefits of green spaces—for both mental health and environmental sustainability—will become increasingly vital. Cities like Singapore, with its "Garden City" vision, and Copenhagen, with its extensive network of green corridors, demonstrate that urban development and ecological preservation are not mutually exclusive but rather complementary goals. The challenge for future urban planning lies in ensuring that these benefits are accessible to all residents, regardless of socioeconomic status, thereby creating truly equitable and healthy urban environments.
Questions 1-5: Matching Headings
Choose the correct heading for paragraphs B-F from the list of headings below. Write the correct number (i-viii) in boxes 1-5.
i. The role of physical exercise in mental wellness
ii. Addressing inequality in green space distribution
iii. A long-term study revealing childhood exposure effects
iv. Future directions for sustainable urban planning
v. The economic benefits of urban parks
vi. Multiple pathways through which nature improves mental health
vii. Historical perspectives on urban development
viii. The brain's natural response to natural environments
Questions 6-9: True/False/Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the passage? Write:
- TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
- FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
- NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this
Questions 10-13: Summary Completion
Complete the summary below. Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
Research indicates that green spaces benefit mental health through several mechanisms. Firstly, they promote (10) __________, which releases beneficial chemicals in the body. Secondly, they help reduce (11) __________ by providing opportunities for people to connect. Thirdly, the (12) __________ suggests humans have an evolutionary connection to nature. However, there are concerns about (13) __________, as disadvantaged communities often have less access to green areas.
Answer Key
Questions 1-5: Matching Headings
Questions 6-9: True/False/Not Given
Questions 10-13: Summary Completion
🎯 Strategies for Reading Passage 3
- Skim first: Read the title, first sentence of each paragraph, and any images/captions
- Identify paragraph purposes: Note whether each paragraph introduces, explains, provides examples, or concludes
- Underline keywords: Mark names, dates, numbers, and technical terms
- Watch for qualifiers: Words like "some," "many," "most," "all" change meaning significantly
- Manageli>Mechanism (n.) - a process or system
- Cohesion (n.) - unity, sticking together
- Innate (adj.) - inborn, natural
- Inequitably (adv.) - unfairly, unequally
- Exacerbate (v.) - make worse
- Interventions (n.) - actions taken to improve a situation
- Flourishing (n.) - thriving, prospering
- Complementary (adj.) - combining to enhance each other
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