This Academic IELTS Reading post focuses on solutions to IELTS Cambridge 5 Reading Test 2 Reading Passage 1 entitled ‘BAKELITE’. 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 5 Test 2: AC Reading Module 

Reading Passage 1: Questions 1-13

The headline of the passage: BAKELITE

Questions 1-3: Summary completion:

[In this kind of question candidates are given a summary for one, two or three paragraphs with some fill in the blanks questions. Candidates need to find out the related paragraphs by correctly studying the keywords form the questions. Then, they should follow the steps of finding answers to fill in the gaps.]

Question no. 1: Some plastics behave in a similar way to ________. In that they melt under heat and can be moulded into new forms.

Keywords for the question: some plastics, behave, similar way, melt, under heat, can be moulded, new forms,

The answer can be found in lines 4-5 paragraph no. 2, “ . .. . Some are ‘thermoplastic’, which means that, like candlewax, they melt when heated and can then be reshaped. … . .”

Here, like = in a similar way, they melt when heated = they melt under heat, reshaped = moulded into new forms,

So, the answer is: candlewax

Question no. 2: Bakelite was unique because it was the first material to be both entirely ________ in origin, and thermosetting.

Keywords for the question: Bakelite, unique, first material, both, entirely, in origin, thermosetting,

The answer can be found in lines 5-7 in paragraph no. 2. The author says here, “Others are ‘thermosetting’: like eggs, they cannot revert to their original viscous state, and their shape is thus fixed for ever Bakelite had the distinction of being the first totally synthetic thermosetting plastic..”

Here, distinction = unique, totally = entirely,

So, the answer is: synthetic

Question no. 3: There were several reasons for the research into plastics in the nineteenth century, among them the great advances that had been made in the field of _________ and the search for alternatives to natural resources like ivory.

Keywords for the question: several reasons, research into plastics, nineteenth century, great advances, in the field of, search for alternatives, natural resources, ivory,

Paragraph no. 3 gives us the answer to this question. The writer says here, “The history of today’s plastics begins with the discovery of a series of semi-synthetic thermoplastic materials in the mid-nineteenth century. The impetus behind the development of these early plastics was generated by a number of factors – immense technological progress in the domain of chemistry, coupled with wider cultural changes, and the pragmatic need to find acceptable substitutes for dwindling supplies of ‘luxury’ materials such as tortoiseshell and ivory.”

Here, mid-nineteenth century = nineteenth century, immense technological progress = great advances, the domain of = the field of, acceptable substitutes = alternatives, 

So, the answer is: chemistry

Questions 4-8: Completing FLOW-CHART with ONE WORD ONLY

In this type of question, candidates are asked to write ONE WORD ONLY to complete some notes on the given flow-chart. For this type of question, first, skim the passage to find the keywords in the paragraph concerned with the answer, and then scan to find the exact word.

[TIPS: Here, the scanning technique will come in handy. Target the keywords of the questions to find the answers. Remember to focus on Proper nouns, random Capital letters, numbers, special characters of text etc.]

N.B.: All the answers for this flow-chart can be found in paragraph no. 5 as this paragraph describes the ‘production of bakelite’.

Question no. 4: stage one resin, called _________

Keywords for the question: phenol, formaldehyde, combine, vaccum, stage one resin, called,

The answer can be found in lines 1-3 of paragraph no. 5. The writer says here, “The original patent outlined a three-stage process, in which phenol and formaldehyde (from wood or coal) were initially combined under vacuum inside a large egg-shaped kettle. The result was a resin known as Novalak, which became soluble and malleable when heated. .. ..”

Here, The result was a resin = stage one resin, known as = called,

So, the answer is: Novalak

Question no. 5: __________ (e.g. cotton, asbestos)

Keywords for the question: e.g. cotton, asbestos, catalysts,

The answer can be found in lines 5-6 of paragraph no. 5. The author says here, “. . .. . Other substances were then introduced: including fillers, such as woodflour, asbestos or cotton, which increase strength and moisture resistance, catalysts .. .. .. ”

Here, such as woodflour, asbestos or cotton = e.g. cotton, asbestos,  

So, the answer is: fillers

Question no. 6: ___________

Keywords for the question: ammonia, formaldehyde,

The answer can be found in line no. 8 of paragraph no. 5. The author states here, “. . .. . hexa, a compound of ammonia and formaldehyde which supplied the additional .. … .. ”

So, the answer is: hexa

Question no. 7: ________ Bakelite

Keywords for the question: stage two resin, cool until hardened, break up, grind, powder,

The answer can be found in lines 8-10 of paragraph no. 5. The author says here, “. . .. . supplied the additional formaldehyde necessary to form a thermosetting resin. This resin was then left to cool and harden, and ground up a second time. The resulting granular powder was raw Bakelite, … . .”

Here, form a thermosetting resin = stage two resin, left to cool and harden = cool until hardened, ground up a second time = grind, resulting granular powder = powder,

So, the answer is: raw

Question no. 8: apply intense heat and _________

Keywords for the question: heat, pour into mould, apply, intense heat,

The answer can be found in lines 11-13 of paragraph no. 5. The author says here, “. . .. . In the last stage, the heated Bakelite was poured into a hollow mould of the required shape and subjected to extreme heat and pressure, thereby ‘setting’ its form for life. .. .. .”

Here, heated Bakelite was poured into a hollow mould = heat, pour into mould, subjected to = apply, extreme = intense,

So, the answer is: pressure

Question 9-10: Multiple choice questions

[This type of question asks you to choose a suitable answer from the options using the knowledge you gained from the passage. Generally, this question is found as the last question so you should not worry much about it. Finding all the answers for previous questions gives you a good idea about the title.]

Question no. 9 & 10: Which TWO of the following factors influencing the design of Bakelite objects are mentioned in the text?

Keywords for the question: TWO, factors, influencing, design, Bakelite objects,

If we look at paragraph no. 6, we can see that the writer says in lines 5-8, “. .. .. . Moulds had to be carefully designed so that the molten Bakelite would flow evenly and completely into the mould. Sharp corners proved impractical and were thus avoided, giving rise to the smooth, ‘streamlined’ style popular in the 1930s. … . .”

Here, flow evenly and completely into the mould . .. . . giving rise to the smooth, ‘streamlined’ style = ease with which the resin could fill the mould,

So, one of the answers is B (the ease with which the resin could fill the mould)

Again, in lines 2-5 of the same paragraph, the writer says, “. . .. The object could not be designed so that it was locked into the mould and therefore difficult to extract. A common general rule was that objects should taper towards the deepest part of the mould, and if necessary the product was moulded in separate pieces. . .”

Here, could not be designed so that it was locked into the mould and therefore difficult to extract = problem about removing the object, objects should taper towards the deepest part of the mould = facility with which the object could be removed from the mould,

Therefore, another answer is C (the facility with which the object could be removed from the mould)

So, the answers are: (in any order)

B (the ease with which the resin could fill the mould)

C (the facility with which the object could be removed from the mould)

Questions 11-13: 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 with 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. 11: Modern-day plastic preparation is based on the same principles as that patented in 1907.

Keywords for the question: modern-day plastic preparation, based on, same principles, patented, 1907,

Take a look at the last lines of paragraph no. 4 where the author of the text writes, “ . .. On 13 July 1907, Baekeland took out his famous patent describing this preparation, the essential features of which are still in use today.”

Here, essential features = principles, still in use today = modern-day plastic preparation, On 13 July 1907, Baekeland took out his famous patent = patented in 1907,

So, the answer is: TRUE

Question no. 12: Bakelite was immediately welcomed as a practical and versatile material.   

Keywords for the question: Bakelite, immediately welcomed, practical, versatile material,

In paragraph no. 7, the writer says in the first line, “Baekeland’s invention, although treated with disdain in its early years, .. .. .”

Here, treated with disdain = was not welcomed, its early years = immediately,

So, the answer is: FALSE

Question no. 13:  Bakelite was only available in a limited range of colours.

Keywords for the question: Bakelite, only available, limited range of colours,

Line no. 6 in paragraph no. 7 says, “. … and consumers everywhere relished its dazzling array of shades, . .. .”

Here, dazzling array of shades = unlimited range of colours,

So, the answer is: FALSE

Click here for solutions to Cambridge 5 AC Test 2 Reading Passage 2

Click here for solutions to Cambridge 5 AC Test 2 Reading Passage 3