This IELTS Reading post deals with a total solution package for IELTS Cambridge 10 Reading Test 1 Passage 2 entitled European Transport System 1990-2010. This is a targeted post for candidates who have big difficulties in finding Reading Answers. This kind of post can direct you the best to understand every Reading answer easily. Finding IELTS Reading answers is a gradual process and I hope this post can help you in this respect. You need to practice the answers using the Cambridge 10 book.

IELTS Cambridge 10 Test 1: AC Reading Module

Reading Passage 1:

The headline of the passage: European Transport System 1990-2010

Questions 14-18: (List of headings)

[To find answers for List of Headings, check the first and (occasionally) the last few lines of each paragraph. Most of the time, the answer is there for you containing some synonymous words, which have a match with the lists of headings. If you cannot find the answers in the first and last few lines, you may need to check the middle of the paragraphs. This we did in other tests too.]

Question 14: Paragraph A

In  paragraph  A,  the  author  states in lines 2-4  “Although  modern  information  technologies  can  reduce  the demand   for   physical   transport   by  facilitating   teleworking   and   teleservices,   the   requirement   for transport  continues  to  increase.”  Also in lines 6-7, the author says, “The number of cars on European Union (EU) roads saw an increase of three million cars each year from 1990 to 2010, … .. . ..” This means that the requirement  for  vehicles  continues  to  rise.

So, the answer is: viii (The rapid growth of private transport)

Question 15: Paragraph B

In  paragraph  B,  the  first  sentence  gives us  the  main  clue  “As  far  as  goods  transport  is  concerned, growth  is  due  to  a  large  extent  to  changes  in  the  European  economy  and  its  system  of  production.” Right after that,  the  author  also suggests that these  changes  are the reason of  some  production  sites  to  be  shifted  far  away from  the  final  assembly  plant  or  away  from  users, “ –even though the production site is hundreds  or  even  thousands  of kilometres away… ..”. These lines means that these changes clearly affect the transport distances.

So, the answer is: iii (Changes affecting the distances goods may be transported)

Question 16: Paragraph C

In paragraph C, some important transport statistics is provided by the author, in some nations which wish to enter the EU,  “….candidates  for  entry  to  the  EU”.   The  statistics show  a clear  increase  in  road  transport  and  a decrease in  rail  transport.

So, the answer is: xi (Transport trends in the countries awaiting EU admission)

Question 17: Paragraph D

In paragraph D, after the first line “A new imperative – sustainable development- offers an opportunity for adapting the  EU’s  common  transport  policy.. .. ”, we find the word objective. And in the last line we find the time needed to implement the objective “… in 30 years’ time.”

• Objective = goal
• In 30 years’ time = long-term

So, the answer is: i (A fresh and important long-term goal)

Question 18: Paragraph E

In  paragraph  E,  we can see the mention of the  effect  of  energy  consumption  in  the  transport  sector  on  the  environment. This is specified by the statistic provided on CO₂ (carbon-di-oxide). The paragraph says that CO₂ emissions are projected to rise by 50% by 2020 because of the increase in traffic. So, the environment is paying heavily for the increase of CO₂.

So, the answer is: v (The environmental cost of road transport)

Question 19: Paragraph G

Paragraph  G  proposes a  solution  that  concentrates  on  road  transport  only through  pricing. This is because the previous paragraph (paragraph E) talks about transport rebalance.

• charging=pricing
• alone=solely
• restrict=curb

So, the answer is: x (Restricting road use through charging policies alone)

Question 20: Paragraph H

Paragraph H is also about another solution to achieve transport balance. Here, the approach is to concentrate “… .. .on road transport pricing but is accompanied by measures to increase the efficiency of the other modes (better quality of services, logistics, technology.)”.

Here, other modes mean other transport methods.

So, the answer is: ii (Charging for roads and improving other transport methods)

Question 21: Paragraph I

Paragraph I specifically talks about the change needed to restructure the modes of transport and the transport network. Look at the first two lines “the  third  approach  comprises  a  series  of  measures  ranging  from  pricing  to revitalising  alternative  modes  of  transport  and  targeting  investment  in  the  trans-European  network… … ”

So, the answer is: iv (Taking all the steps necessary to change transport patterns)

Question 22-26: (TRUE/FALSE/NOT GIVEN)

In this type of question, candidates are asked to find out whether:

The statement in the question matches with the account in the text- TRUE
The statement in the question contradicts with the account in the text- FALSE
The statement in the question has no clear connection with the account in the text- NOT GIVEN

Question 22: The need for transport is growing, despite technological developments.

Keywords for this answer: growing, technological developments,

In paragraph A, look at these lines, “Although modern information technologies can reduce the demand for physical transport by facilitating teleworking and teleservices, the requirement for transport continues to rise.” So, the main indication here is “the requirement or need for transport is rising”.

In this paragraph,

• requirement means need
• rise means grow
• information technologies means technological developments

So, the answer is: TRUE

Question 23: To reduce production costs, some industries have been moved closer to their relevant customers.

Keywords for this answer: reduce production costs, closer to customers

The answer is found in paragraph B.  “This  phenomenon  has  been  emphasized  by  the  relocation  of  some  industries, particularly those which are labour intensive, to reduce production costs, even though the production site  is  hundreds  or  even  thousands  of  kilometres  away  from  the  final  assembly  or  away  from users.”

This means that some industries are moved much far away from their relevant customers, not moved closer.

So, the answer is: FALSE

Question 24: Cars are prohibitively expensive in some EU candidate countries.

Keywords for this answer: prohibitively expensive, candidate countries.

The phrase “EU candidate countries” is mentioned in paragraph C. However, there is no mention of any information about the price of EU countries’ cars or any indication of whether they are expensive or not.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question 25: The Gothenburg European Council was set up 30 years ago.

Keywords for this answer: The Gothenburg Council, 30 years ago

In Paragraph D, we find the mention of The Gothenburg Council. However, there is no information about the founding time of the Gothenburg Council in this paragraph or the following paragraph.

Don’t be fooled by the mention of ’30 years’ at the end of paragraph D. It indicates to the time needed to complete the objective of sustainable development.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question 26: By the end of this decade, CO₂ emissions from transport are predicted to reach 739 billion tonnes.

Keywords for this answer: the end of this decade, 739 billion tonnes,

In  paragraph  E,  the  writer  argues  that  “… ..  CO₂  emissions  from  transport  can  be  expected  to increase by 50% to 1,113 billion tonnes, compared with the 739 billion tonnes recorded in 1990.” This means that 739 billion tonnes is the figure or CO₂ emissions in 1990, not “by the end of this decade”.

So, the answer is: FALSE

Click here for solutions to Cambridge 10 Test 1 Reading Passage 1

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