This Academic IELTS Reading post focuses on solutions to IELTS Cambridge 4 Reading Test 3 Reading Passage 2 titled ‘THE MOTOR CAR’. This is a targeted post for IELTS candidates who have big problems finding out and understanding Reading Answers in the AC module. This post can guide you the best to understand every Reading answer without much trouble. Finding out IELTS Reading answers is a steady process, and this post will assist you in this respect.

IELTS Cambridge 2 Test 3: AC Reading Module

Reading Passage 2: Questions 14-26

The headline of the passage: THE MOTOR CAR

Questions 14-19: Identifying information

[This question asks you to find information from the passage and write the number of the paragraph (A, B, C or D … .. ) in the answer sheet. Now, if the question is given in the very first part of the question set, I’d request you not to answer them. It’s mainly because this question will not follow any sequence, and so it will surely kill your time. Rather, you should answer all the other questions first. And just like List of Headings, only read the first two lines or last two lines of the expected paragraph initially. If you find the answers, you need not read the middle part. If you don’t find answers yet, you can skim the middle part of the paragraph. Keywords will be a useful matter here.]

Question no. 14: a comparison of past and present transportation methods

Keywords for the question: comparison, past, present, transportation methods,

In paragraph C, the writer says in the beginning, “Until a hundred years ago, most journeys were in the 20 km range, the distance conveniently accessible by horse. Heavy freight could only be carried by water or rail. .. .. .”

Here, Until a hundred years ago = past transportation methods,

Then, in lines 9-11, the writer says again, “ . .. .  Today about 90 per cent of inland freight in the United Kingdom is carried by road. .. .. .”

Here, Today = present transportation methods,

So, the answer is: C

Question no. 15: how driving habits contribute to road problems

Keywords for the question: driving habits, contribute, road problems,  

The answer can be found in paragraph F. Here, the writer says in lines 7-9, “ . . … .. Many people buy larger cars than they need for daily purposes or waste fuel by driving aggressively. .. .. ..”

Here, waste fuel = road problems, driving aggressively = driving habits,

So, the answer is: F

Question no. 16: the relative merits of cars and public transport

Keywords for the question: relative merits, cars, public transport,  

In paragraph E, the writer says, “A 1993 study by the European Federation for Transport and

Environment found that car transport is seven times as costly as rail travel in terms of the external social costs it entails such as congestion, accidents, pollution, loss of cropland and natural habitats, depletion of oil resources, and so on. Yet cars easily surpass trains or buses as a flexible and convenient mode of personal transport. .. .. . . .”

Here, car transport is seven times as costly as rail travel = merit of rail travel (public transport),

cars easily surpass trains or buses = merit of cars,

So, the answer is: E

Question no. 17: the writer’s own prediction of future solutions

Keywords for the question: writer’s own prediction, future solutions,  

Paragraph H says, “A more likely scenario seems to be a combination of mass transit systems for travel into and around cities, with small ‘low emission’ cars for urban use and larger hybrid or lean burn cars for use elsewhere. Electronically tolled highways might be used to ensure that drivers pay charges geared to actual road use. Better integration of transport systems is also highly desirable – . .. .”

Here, A more likely scenario seems to be = writer’s prediction of future solutions,

might be used & highly desirable = future solutions,

So, the answer is: H

Question no. 18: the increasing use of motor vehicles

Keywords for the question: increasing use, motor vehicles,

The very first lines of paragraph A says, “There are now over 700 million motor vehicles in the world – and the number is rising by more than 40 million each year. .. .. .”

Here, the number is rising by more than 40 million each year = increasing use of motor vehicles,

So, the answer is: A

Question no. 19: the impact of the car on city development

Keywords for the question: impact of the car, city development,  

The answer lies in paragraph D as the writer says here in the beginning, “In Europe most cities are still designed for the old modes of transport. Adaptation to the motor car has involved adding ring roads, one-way systems and parking lots. .. .. .”

Here, Adaptation to the motor car = impact of the car, adding ring roads, one-way systems and parking lots = city development,

So, the answer is: D

Questions 20-26: YES, NO, NOT GIVEN

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

The statement in the question matches with the claim of the writer in the text- YES
The statement in the question contradicts with the claim of the writer in the text- NO
The statement in the question has no clear connection with the account in the text- NOT GIVEN

[TIPS: For this type of question, you can divide each statement into three independent pieces and make your way through with the answer.]

Question no. 20: Vehicle pollution is worse in European cities than anywhere else.

Keywords for the question: vehicle pollution, worse, European cities, than anywhere else,     

We find about ‘vehicle pollution’ in paragraph B. However, there is NO INFORMATION on whether vehicle pollution is better or worse in European cities than anywhere else.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question no. 21: Transport by horse would be a useful alternative to motor vehicles.

Keywords for the question: transport by horse, useful alternative, motor vehicles,  

Take a close look at Paragraph C. First, the writer says, “Until a hundred years ago, most journeys were in the 20 km range, the distance conveniently accessible by horse. . . … .”

Here, the writer says that people in the past could travel only 20 kilometres by horse.

Then, take a look at lines 11-13, “. . . .. Clearly the world cannot revert to the horse-drawn wagon. .. .. ..”

Here, these lines suggest that transport by horse can NEVER be a useful alternative to motor vehicles.

So, the answer is: NO

Question no. 22: Nowadays freight is not carried by water in the United Kingdom.

Keywords for the question: Nowadays, freight, not carried by water, United Kingdom,  

We find discussion about ‘freight use in the United Kingdom’ in paragraph C. However, there is NO INFORMATION regarding the present use of ‘water freight’ here.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN  

Question no. 23: Most European cities were still designed for the old modes of transport.

Keywords for the question: Most European cities, not designed, motor vehicles,  

The first lines in paragraph D says, “In Europe most cities are still designed for the old modes of transport. . .. … .”

Here, In Europe most cities = Most European cities, still designed for the old modes of transport = still designed for the old modes of transport,

So, the answer is: YES

Question no. 24: Technology alone cannot solve the problem of vehicle pollution.

Keywords for the question: technology alone, cannot solve, vehicle pollution,   

The first half of paragraph F says, “Technical solutions can reduce the pollution problem and increase the fuel efficiency of engines. But fuel consumption and exhaust emissions depend on which cars are preferred by customers and how they are driven. .. .. ..”

Here, these lines suggest that technology can solve the vehicle pollution but if driving habits do not change among car users, the problem cannot be solved.

So, the answer is: YES

Questions no. 25: People’s choice of car and attitude to driving is a factor in the pollution problem.

Keywords for the question: people’s choice of car, attitudes to driving, factor, pollution problem,    

Again, take a look at paragraph F where the writer says, “ . . …  .. But fuel consumption and exhaust emissions depend on which cars are preferred by customers and how they are driven. Many people buy larger cars than they need for daily purposes or waste fuel by driving aggressively. .. .. .”

Here, Many people buy larger cars than they need = people’s choice of car, driving aggressively = attitude to driving, waste fuel = pollution problem,

So, the answer is: YES

Questions no. 26: Redesigning cities would be a short-term solution.

Keywords for the question: redesigning cities, would be, short-term solution,  

In paragraph G, take a look again at the first few lines, “One solution that has been put forward is the long-term solution of designing cities and neighbourhoods so that car journeys are not necessary. .. ..”

Here, designing cities and neighbourhoods so that car journeys are not necessary = redesigning cities,

So, the answer is: NO

Click here for solutions to Cambridge 2 Test 3 Reading passage 1

Click here for solutions to Cambridge 2 Test 3 Reading passage 3