This cheap 3D-printed home is a start for the 1 billion who lack shelter

Food, water, and shelter are basic human needs, but 1.2 billion people in the world live without adequate housing. Now at SXSW, an Austin-based recent business will unveil its approach to combat that deficiency by using low-cost 3D printing as a potential solution.

ICON has developed a method for printing a single-story 650-square-foot house out of cement in only 12 to 24 hours, a fraction of the time it takes for new construction. If all goes according to plan, a community made up of about 100 homes will be constructed for residents in El Salvador next year. The company has partnered with New Story, a nonprofit that is interested in international housing solutions. They have been building homes for communities in Haiti, El Salvador, and Bolivia.

The first model, scheduled to be unveiled in Austin, is a step toward providing shelter to those in underserved communities. Jason Ballard, one of ICON’s three founders, says he is going to trial the model as an office to test out their practical use. “We are going to install air quality monitors. How does it look, and how does it smell?”

The model has a living room, bedroom, bathroom, and a curved porch. “There are a few other companies that have printed homes and structures,” Ballard says. “But they are printed in a warehouse, or they look like Yoda huts. For this venture to succeed, they have to be the best houses.” The use of cement as a common material will help normalize the process for potential tenants that question the sturdiness of the structure. “I think if we were printing in plastic we would encounter some issues.”

  

Question 1. Say whether the following statements are true or false. Give evidence from the text.

1.     1.2 billion do not have food or water.

2.     New Story is making money by giving homes to people in need.

3.     The model won't be used as a home.

4.     Ballard wants good quality houses.

5.     Using platic instead of cement would cause some problems.

Question 3. Find words and expressions which mean the same as:

1.     acceptable

2.     residence

3.     make known

4.     as expected

5.     associate

6.     charitable

7.     give

8.     poor

9.     shed

10.  firmness, strength

KEY

Question 1

1.     False.” Food, water and shelter are basic human needs, but 1.2 billion live without adequate housing.”

2.     False. “ New Story, a nonprofit that is interested in international housing solutions.”

3.     True. “ Jason Ballard, one of ICON's three founders, says he is going to trial he model as an office to test out their practical use.”

4.     True. “For this venture to succeed , they have to be the best houses”

5.     True.” I think if we were printing in plastic, we would encounter some issues.”

Question 3

     1. adequate        2. housing          3. to unveil       4. according to plan      
      5. partnered / to partner         6. nonprofit         7. providing / to provide                       8. underserved                       9. huts              10. sturdiness