Keeping Cut Flowers - IELTS Reading Answers

Regular practice with passages like ‘Keeping Cut Flowers’ is of utmost importance to elevate your band scores. It is necessary to note down the areas of improvement consistently to check your progress level. This passage will also help you test your skills in terms of understanding the main ideas, ability to manage difficult questions, getting familiar with your reading speed and accuracy. Eventually, you will be able to hone the IELTS Reading skills and approach the final exam with clarity, control, and a higher probability of getting a band score of 8+.

Types of Questions in IELTS Reading Passage ‘Keeping Cut Flowers’

Reading the entire passage at once is a mistake that you might make which can leave you in confusion. Therefore, you must first start with knowing the question types before trying to answer. Each question type is meant to test a certain skill for which you would require a specific strategy to approach them. Below are the types of questions in the passage, ‘Keeping Cut Flowers’.

• IELTS Reading Short Answer Questions [Q.1-Q.4]
• IELTS Reading Flowchart Completion [Q.5-Q.8]
• IELTS Reading Sentence Completion [Q.9-Q.13]

How to Read the Passage ‘Keeping Cut Flowers’ for a Band 8+?

In order to get a band 8+ score, it is necessary to read the passage strategically. Remember to have a plan in mind which will save time so that your reading accuracy will be improved. By getting familiar with how to point out the main idea of each paragraph and locating relevant details quickly. With the following IELTS Exam Preparation Tips for Band Score of 8+, you can answer even the most difficult questions with ease within the given time frame.

Step 1: Skim the Paragraphs

• Get a gist of the passage by just looking at the first sentence of each paragraph. 
• Very quick comprehension of the passage that will help you with the flow of information.
• Mention the main topic of each paragraph which makes it easier to match headings and find the answers quickly.

Step 2: Keyword Awareness

• Note the terms that are the most important. 
• Such keywords will make the scanning process quicker when answering questions.

Step 3: Recognise Paraphrasing

• Focus on the synonyms and the rephrased ideas instead of the exact words from the questions. 
• This strategy will help you avoid confusion and save time.
• Keep up with your speed so that you can find the answers effectively.

Step 4: Link Questions to Paragraphs

• When reading the question, try to point out the keywords that will help you find the right paragraph before reading through it in detail. 
• This will increase your accuracy which will help you to manage your time better.
• Quickly verify your answers and minimize the mistakes as well as increase your confidence.

Curious to learn how to improve your reading skills to get a band 9? Check out the video below!

IELTS Reading Passage on ‘Keeping Cut Flowers’

Keeping Cut Flowers

1 Although everyone adores having fresh-cut flowers in their homes, few individuals know how to preserve them for as long as possible. This may be performed by memorising a few basic facts.

2 Cut flowers are sensitive to temperature, and it’s a significant consideration to remember. Studies have shown, for instance, that cut carnations keep their freshness 8 times longer at 12°C than at 26°C. And the most crucial component of flower maintenance is maintaining the proper temperature for freshly cut flowers.

3 Flowers are not supposed to exist for very long by nature. Their natural purpose is simply to attract pollinating birds or insects, such as bees. They die shortly afterwards. This process, known as respiration, involves the consumption of oxygen, the emission of carbon dioxide, and the production of the energy the flower needs to maintain its shape and colour. This energy is also required for the production of seeds. Even though all living things respire, flower respiration is especially high. Because of the heating, respiration occurred, and for flowers, incredibly high heat levels compared to the flower's mass. Respiration ultimately results in the flower's destruction, hence the higher the degree of respiration, the sooner the flower dies.

4 How, therefore, can the death rate of flowers be slowed? By controlling respiration function. How can respiration be controlled? By regulating the temperature. We all are aware about the fact that respiration produces heat, but the reverse is also true. Therefore, by maintaining low temperatures, respiration is reduced, and the cut flower ages more slowly. (The exception to this rule is tropical flowers, which prefer higher temperatures.)

5 Cooler temperatures provide the additional advantage of retaining the flower's water content, which helps to slow down the ageing process. Humidity introduces us to another crucial part of cut flower care. The typical air-conditioned room has a relative humidity of 65%, which causes the bloom to lose more water. If humidity levels are high, it is less likely that flowers would dry up, but unless you dwell in the tropics or subtropics, this may not be possible.

6 The quality of the water in which cut flowers are put is another major element of their care. Polluted or otherwise tainted water is difficult for flowers to "drink." Water certainly contains bacteria and fungi which is endanger for flowers, even when it looks and smells clean. To remove these undesirable organisms from the water, a tiny amount of home chlorine bleach may be utilised. It is advised that 15 drops of chlorine bleach (4 percent solution) be applied to every litre of water. Daily refilling of the water and solution is also mandatory.

7 Look for cut flowers that are not kept in direct sunlight or strong wind by the flower shop while purchasing them. If the flowers are not recently harvested, inquire as to whether they were preserved in a cool place. 

Questions 1-4

1 The author highlights two components of nature that florists should remove from flowers. Identify one of these.

2 What product does the author recommend using to preserve cut flowers?

3 According to the author of 'Keeping Cut Flowers,' flower care is determined by three primary elements. Temperature is one of them. What are the remaining two?

4 What temperature is best to preserve the cut flowers?

Questions 5-8

Questions 9-13

9 A difference of 14°C can extend the life of carnations by up to………………………….. times.

10 This process, named………………………….. , requires oxygen intake.

11 Respiration is also necessary for the flowers to produce…………………………..

12 …………………………..  and…………………………..  are two aspects of a flower's appearance that depend on respiration.

13 The average room with air conditioning has a relative humidity of ………………………….. 

Answer with Explanation for ‘Keeping Cut Flowers’

Let’s check your answer with the correct ones. Remember that each answer is explained to show the keywords and its location. In this way, your ability to comprehend the reasoning process will be improved along with the accuracy and confidence. Such analysis will help you to use the specific approach to the similar question types in the actual examination and improve your IELTS Band Score. The answers to questions 1-10 are given below along with their explanations.

Success in the IELTS Reading test would depend on your preparation level. By practising with different question types, you will be able to answer within the given time frame. To get a band 8+, you must know how to spot the keywords and understand paraphrased information instead of repeatedly reading the passage consistently. With regular practice of the analysis of the answers to passages and strategic development, you can reduce the number of errors, while increasing accuracy and comprehension skills.

Check More IELTS Reading Answers

Also check :

• IELTS Reading Recent Actual Tests 2025
• IELTS Reading Tips And Techniques To Increase Your Reading Speed
• 101 IELTS Academic Reading Past Test Papers with Answers PDF Download
• How to Complete IELTS Reading in Less than an Hour?
• IELTS Reading: Previous Year Actual Tests with Answers PDF 2025