This Academic IELTS Reading post focuses on solutions to IELTS Reading Test 4 Reading Passage 1 titled ‘Roman tunnels’. This is a target post for IELTS candidates who have huge problems finding out and understanding Reading Answers in the AC module. This post can help you the best to comprehend every Reading answer very easily. Finding out IELTS Reading answers is a steady process, and this post will assist you in this respect.

AC IELTS Reading Module: Test 4

Reading Passage 1: Questions 1-13

The headline of the passage: Roman tunnels

Questions 1-6: Labeling a diagram:

[In this type of question, candidates are asked to label a diagram with ONE WORD ONLY from the passage. Keywords are important to find answers correctly. Generally, this type of question maintains a sequence. However, we should not be surprised if the sequence is not maintained. Find the keywords in the passage and you are most likely to find the answers.]

Title of the first diagram: The Persian Qanat Method

Question no. 1: ________ to direct the tunnelling   

Keywords for the question: Persian Qanat Method, direct, the tunnelling,   

The first paragraph introduces us to the Persian Qanat Method. Here, take a close look at lines 2-5, “ . .. . In the early first millennium BCE, they introduced the qanat method of tunnel construction, which consisted of placing posts over a hill in a straight line, to ensure that the tunnel kept to its route, and then digging vertical shafts down into the ground at regular intervals. . .. .”

Here, ensure that the tunnel kept to its route = to direct the tunnelling,

So, the answer is: posts

Question no. 2: water runs into a _______ used by local people  

Keywords for the question: water, runs into, used by local people,     

In paragraph no. 1, the writer of the passage says in lines 7-9, “ . .. Once the tunnel was completed, it allowed water to flow from the top of a hillside down towards a canal, which supplied water for human use. .. ..”

Here, water to flow from the top of a hillside down towards = water runs into, supplied water for human use = used by local people,

So, the answer is: canal  

Question no. 3: vertical shafts to remove earth and for ________

Keywords for the question: vertical shafts, remove earth,  

In lines 6-7 of paragraph no. 1, the writer says, “ . .. . The excavated soil was taken up to the surface using the shafts, which also provided ventilation during the work. . .”

Here, The excavated soil was taken up to the surface = to remove earth, the shafts = vertical shafts, also = and,

So, the answer is: ventilation  

Title of the second diagram: Cross-section of a Roman Qanat Shaft

Question no. 4: ________ made of wood or stone

Keywords for the question: cross-section, Roman Qanat Shaft, made of, wood, stone,  

In lines 3-5 of paragraph no. 2, the writer says, “ . .. . The shafts were equipped with handholds and footholds to help those climbing in and out of them and were covered with a wooden or stone lid. . .” 

Here, wooden or stone lid = lid made of wood or stone,

So, the answer is: lid   

Question no. 5: _______ attached to the plumb line

Keywords for the question: attached to, plumb line,  

Lines 5-7 of paragraph no. 2 say, “ . .. .. To ensure that the shafts were vertical, Romans hung a plumb line from a rod placed across the top of each shaft and made sure that the weight at the end of it hung in the center of the shaft. … .”

Here, at the end of it hung in the center of the shaft = attached to the plumb line,

So, the answer is: weight  

Question no. 6: handholds and footholds used for ____________

Keywords for the question: handholds, footholds, used for,  

Again, in lines 3-4 of paragraph no. 2, the writer says, “ . .. . The shafts were equipped with handholds and footholds to help those climbing in and out of them . … .”

So, the answer is: climbing   

Question 7-10: TRUE, FALSE, NOT GIVEN

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

The statement in the question agrees with the information in the passage – TRUE
The statement in the question contradicts the information in the passage – FALSE
If there is no information on this – NOT GIVEN

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

Question no. 7: The counter-excavation method completely replaced the qanat method in the 6^th century BCE.

Keywords for the question: counter-excavation method, completely replaced, qanat method, 6^th century BCE,

In paragraph no. 3, lines 1-3 say, “By the 6^th century BCE, a second method of tunnel construction appeared called the counter-excavation method, in which the tunnel was constructed from both ends. It was used to cut through high mountains when the qanat method was not a practical alternative. .. .”

Here, her when the qanat method was not a practical alternative = the counter-excavation method was used only when the qanat method did not work; which means the counter-excavation method did not completely replace the qanat method at that time.

So, the answer is: FALSE

Question no. 8: Only experienced builders were employed to construct a tunnel using the counter-excavation method.

Keywords for the question: experienced builders, employed to construct, tunnel, counter-excavation method,

In paragraphs no. 3 and 4, we find details about the counter-excavation method of tunnelling. However, we DO NOT FIND ANY INFORMATION on whether only experienced builders were employed to construct a tunnel using this particular method or not.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN  

Question no. 9: The information about a problem that occurred during the construction of the Saldae aqueduct system was found in an ancient book.   

Keywords for the question: information, problem, occurred, construction, Saldae aqueduct system, found, ancient book,

In paragraph no. 3, lines 10-13 say, “ . . . .. An inscription written on the side of a 428-meter tunnel, built by the Romans as part of the Saldae aqueduct system in modern-day Algeria, describes how the two teams of builders missed each other in the mountain and how the later construction of a lateral link between both corridors corrected the initial error.” 

Here, An inscription written = the information about a problem …. was found as a written document,  modern-day Algeria = NOT in an ancient book, the initial error = the problem,

So, the answer is: FALSE

Question no. 10: The mistake made by the builders of the Saldae aqueduct system was that the two parts of the tunnel failed to meet.   

Keywords for the question: mistake, mad by, builders, Saldae aqueduct system, two parts, tunnel, failed to meet,  

Let’s take a look at paragraph no. 3, in lines 10-13 again. The writer says here, “ . . . .. An inscription written on the side of a 428-meter tunnel, built by the Romans as part of the Saldae aqueduct system in modern-day Algeria, describes how the two teams of builders missed each other in the mountain and how the later construction of a lateral link between both corridors corrected the initial error.” 

Here, how the two teams of builders missed each other in the mountain = the two parts of the tunnel failed to meet,

So, the answer is: TRUE

Questions 11-13: Short answer to open questions (NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS)

[In this kind of questions candidates have to answer some questions, only with some conditions like NO MORE THAN THREE/TWO WORDS and/or A NUMBER or, ONE WORD ONLY. Each question has keywords which will lead to the answer. This question type generally follows a sequence.]

Question no. 11: What type of mineral were the Dolaucothi mines in Wales built to extract?   

 Keywords for the question: type of mineral, Dolaucothi mines, Wales, built to extract,  

In paragraph no. 4, lines 6-7 the writer says, “ . . .. . Traces of such tunnels used to mine gold can still be found at the Dolaucothi mines in Wales. …”

So, the answer is: gold  

Question no. 12: In addition to the patron, whose name might be carved onto a tunnel?  

Keywords for the question: In addition to, patron, name, might be carved, onto, tunnel,   

In paragraph no. 5, have a close look at lines 11-12, “. ..  . Most tunnels had inscriptions showing the names of patrons who ordered construction and sometimes the name of the architect. . . .”

Here, inscriptions = names . .. .carved,

So, the answer is: (the) architect(’s) (name)

Question no. 13: What part of Seleuceia Pieria was the Çevik Tunnel built to Protect?

Keywords for the question: part, Seleuceia Pieria, Çevik Tunnel, built to protect,                     

In the final paragraph (paragraph no. 5), lines 13-14 say, “. . . For example, the 1.4-kilometer Çevik tunnel in Turkey, built to divert the floodwater threatening the harbor of the ancient city of Seleuceia Pieria, … .. . .” 

Here, to divert the floodwater = to protect,

So, the answer is: (the) harbour/ harbor

Click here for solutions to Test 4 Passage 2: Changes in reading habits

Click here for solutions to Test 4 Passage 3: Attitudes towards Artificial Intelligence