A Passive Cooling Design Explained

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Practice level

B2. Try this level if you can follow the instructions and understand most of the language; choose an earlier level if you need more support.

Question formats

Label the image

How to approach this practice

Read the passage for its main idea, then return to the relevant sentence or paragraph for each question. Base answers on the passage.

A Passive Cooling Design Explained

region-1 region-2 region-3 region-4 region-5 region-6

As global temperatures rise, architects and engineers are searching for ways to reduce energy use while keeping buildings comfortable. Passive cooling is one promising approach. Unlike air conditioning, which consumes a lot of electricity, passive cooling relies on the structure and materials of a building to regulate temperature. Let’s examine a specific passive cooling design used in a newly built community centre, highlighting its key features and how each part contributes to a cooler indoor environment. The building’s roof is one of the most important elements. At the upper left, the roof extends far beyond the walls, forming a wide overhang. This overhang shades the windows and walls below, blocking direct sunlight from entering the building during the hottest hours of the day. The upper centre section of the roof is covered with reflective white tiles. These tiles bounce sunlight away, so less heat is absorbed into the building. As a result, the interior stays cooler, especially during summer afternoons. Moving to the upper right, the building features a row of high, narrow windows known as clerestory windows. These windows allow natural light to enter, but their height ensures that sunlight does not fall directly onto people or surfaces inside. Instead, the light is diffused, reducing the need for electric lighting while minimizing heat gain. Additionally, these windows can be opened to let warm air escape, as hot air naturally rises towards the ceiling. On the lower left, the walls are built using thick, insulated materials. This thermal mass absorbs heat during the day and releases it slowly at night. Because of this, the inside temperature changes more gradually, preventing sudden spikes in heat. The thick walls also provide excellent insulation, further reducing the need for active cooling systems. At the lower centre, a shaded courtyard is integrated into the building’s design. Trees and plants are planted here, and the area is open to the sky above but protected from direct sun for most of the day. The greenery cools the air through a process called transpiration, where plants release water vapor that helps lower the surrounding temperature. The courtyard acts as a natural cooling zone, drawing cooler air into adjacent rooms. Finally, at the lower right, you’ll find specially designed floor vents. These vents are placed at ground level to bring in fresh outdoor air. When the clerestory windows above are open, a natural airflow is created: cool air enters through the floor vents, rises as it warms, and exits through the high windows. This continuous movement of air, known as cross-ventilation, helps to flush out heat and keep the building comfortable without mechanical fans or air conditioning. By combining these six features—overhanging roof, reflective tiles, clerestory windows, insulated walls, shaded courtyard, and floor vents—the community centre demonstrates how passive cooling can be achieved through thoughtful design. Each part plays a distinct role, but together they provide a sustainable solution to the challenge of keeping buildings cool in a warming world.

1. Question 1 · Label the image

   Match the labels to the marked regions of the image.

   Read the passage. Choose the correct label for each numbered part of the building diagram.

   Return to the passage, recording or visual

   Image labels

   Rainwater collection tank · Roof overhang · Reflective roof tiles · Clerestory windows · Insulated walls · Shaded courtyard · Floor vents · Solar panels

   Label regions region-1, region-2, region-3, region-4, region-5, region-6 marked on the image above.

   Check answers and explanations

   Region region-1

   Roof overhang

   Region region-2

   Reflective roof tiles

   Region region-3

   Clerestory windows

   Region region-4

   Insulated walls

   Region region-5

   Shaded courtyard

   Region region-6

   Floor vents

   Label 1: The upper-left feature is the roof overhang, which shades the windows and walls. Label 2: The upper-centre feature is the reflective roof tiles, which bounce sunlight away. Label 3: The upper-right feature is the clerestory windows, which let in light and allow warm air to escape. Label 4: The lower-left feature is the insulated walls, which slow temperature changes. Label 5: The lower-centre feature is the shaded courtyard, where plants cool the air. Label 6: The lower-right feature is the floor vents, which bring in fresh outdoor air and support cross-ventilation.

   At the upper left, the roof extends far beyond the walls, forming a wide overhang. This overhang shades the windows and walls below, blocking direct sunlight from entering the building during the hottest hours of the day

   The upper centre section of the roof is covered with reflective white tiles. These tiles bounce sunlight away, so less heat is absorbed into the building

   Moving to the upper right, the building features a row of high, narrow windows known as clerestory windows

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The library normally closes at six, but on Fridays it stays open until eight. When does it close on Friday?

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