This Academic IELTS Reading post focuses on solutions to IELTS Cambridge 6 Reading Test 2 Reading Passage 1 entitled ‘Advantages of public transport’. 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 6 Test 2: AC Reading Module

Reading Passage 1: Questions 1-13

The headline of the passage: Advantages of public transport

Questions 1-5: List of headings

[In this question type, IELTS candidates are provided with a list of headings, usually identified with lower-case Roman numerals (i, ii, iii, etc,). A heading will refer to the main idea of the paragraph or section of the text. Candidates must find out the equivalent heading to the correct paragraphs or sections, which are marked with alphabets A, B, C and so forth. Candidates need to write the appropriate Roman numerals in the boxes on their answer sheets. There will always be two or three more headings than there are paragraphs or sections. So, some of the headings will not be used. It is also likely that some paragraphs or sections may not be included in the task. Generally, the first paragraph is an example paragraph which will be done for the candidates for their understanding of the task.

TIPS: Skimming is the best reading technique. You need not understand every word here. Just try to gather the gist of the sentences. That’s all. Read quickly and don’t stop until you finish each sentence.]

N.B.: This passage has 12 paragraphs and the last 5 paragraphs are marked as A, B, C, D & E. You need to find out answers for the last 5 marked paragraphs for this question type.

Question no. 1: Paragraph A

The first lines talk about politics (people power), “In fact, Newman believes the main reason for adopting one sort of transport over another is politics: ‘The more democratic the process, the more public transport is favored.’ .. .”

Then the writer explains how a project became successful due to politics, “ . .. . Some years ago, federal money was granted to build a new road. However, local pressure groups forced a referendum over whether to spend the money on light rail instead. The rail proposal won and the railway worked spectacularly well.”

Here, politics & democratic process indicates to people power.  

So, the answer is: ii (A successful exercise in people power)

Question no. 2: Paragraph B

The answer can be found in the first and last lines of paragraph B.

At the beginning the writer says in line no. 1, “In the UK, travel times to work had been stable for at least six centuries, .. .. .”

Then, in the last lines the writer says, “ .. . .. However, public infrastructure did not keep pace with urban sprawl, causing massive congestion problems which now make commuting times far higher.”

Here, commuting times far higher = an increase in travelling time.

So, the answer is: vii (Increases in travelling time)

Question no. 3: Paragraph C

The answer can be found in lines 1-3 of paragraph C. The author mentions here, “There is a widespread belief that increasing wealth encourages people to live farther out where cars are the only viable transport. The example of European cities refutes that. They are often wealthier than their American counterparts but have not generated the same level of car use.”

Here, refutes = the example directly contradicts the previous statement / Higher incomes need not mean more cars

So, the answer is: iv (Higher incomes need not mean more cars)

Question no. 4: Paragraph D

The answer can be found in lines 2-3 of paragraph D. The writer says here, “. .. . which used Melbourne as an example. It found that pushing everyone into the city centre was not the best approach. . .. ..”

Here, pushing everyone into the city centre was not the best approach = Avoiding an overcrowded centre,

So, the answer is: i (Avoiding an overcrowded centre)

Question no. 5: Paragraph E

The answer can be found in lines 4-6 of paragraph E. The author says here, “. . .. . The explanation for this seems to be that it is valuable to place people working in related fields together. ‘The new world will largely depend on human creativity, and creativity flourishes where people come together face-to-face.’”

Here, valuable to place people working in related fields together = benefits of working together in cities,

So, the answer is: iii (The benefits of working together in cities)

Question 6-10: 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. 6: The ISTP study examined public and private systems in every city in the world.

Keywords for the question: ISTP study, examined, public and private systems, every city in the world,  

The answer can be traced in lines 1-3 of paragraph no. 1, “A new study conducted for the World Bank by Murdoch University’s Institute for Science and Technology Policy (ISTP) has demonstrated that public transport is more efficient than cars. The study compared the proportion of wealth poured into transport by thirty-seven cities around the world. . . .. ”

Here, the lines suggest that the study compared public and private systems in 37 countries, not every city in the world. 

So, the answer is: FALSE

Question no. 7: Efficient cities can improve the quality of life for their inhabitants.

Keywords for the question: efficient cities, can improve, quality of life, inhabitants,

The first last lines of paragraph no. 1 say, “ . .. .. Professor Peter Newman, ISTP Director, pointed out that these more efficient cities were able to put the difference into attracting industry and jobs or creating a better place to live.”

Here, creating a better place to live = improves the quality of life for their inhabitants,

So, the answer is: TRUE

Question no. 8: An inner-city tram network is dangerous for car drivers.

Keywords for the question: inner-city tram network, dangerous for, car drivers,  

In paragraph no. 3 we can see the mention of ‘inner-city tram network’ of Melbourne in line no. 3. However, no information can be found about whether an inner-city tram network is dangerous for car drivers or not.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question no. 9: In Melbourne, people prefer to live in the outer suburbs. 

Keywords for the question: Melbourne, people, prefer, live, outer suburbs,  

In paragraph no. 3, take a look at the last lines, “ .. . The explosion in demand for accommodation in the inner suburbs of Melbourne suggests a recent change in many people’s preferences as to where they live.”

Here, demand for accommodation in the inner suburbs = people prefer to live in the inner suburbs,

So, the answer is: FALSE

Question no. 10: Cities with high levels of bicycle usage can be efficient even when public transport is only averagely good. 

Keywords for the question: cities, high levels of bicycle usage, can be efficient, public transport, only averagely good,  

Take a close look at paragraph no. 5 as the author mentions in lines 1-3, “Bicycle use was not included in the study but Newman noted that the two most ‘bicycle friendly’ cities considered – Amsterdam and Copenhagen – were very efficient, even though their public transport systems were ‘reasonable but not special’.”

Here, ‘bicycle friendly’ cities = Cities with high levels of bicycle usage, public transport systems were ‘reasonable but not special’ = public transport is only averagely good,

So, the answer is: TRUE

Questions 11-13: Matching places/names from list of descriptions:

[The rules for finding answers to this sort of question are simple. Just find the name of the person/places, read around it carefully and try to match it with the given list of descriptions. Then, give a quick look to check whether there is another statement or idea provided by the same person in the text. If there is, check the reference carefully and decide your answer. Remember, the questions will not follow any sequential order. Do the reverse method when the statements are in question.]

Question no. 11: Perth

Keywords for the question: Perth,

Take a look at paragraph no. 2 where the writer mentions about Perth. Lines 1-3 say, “ . .. .. . Western Australian city of Perth is a good example of a city with minimal public transport. As a result, 17% of its wealth went into transport costs. Some European and Asian cities, on the other hand, spent as little as 5%. .. .”

Here, minimal public transport = limited public transport system, 17% of its wealth went into transport costs = inefficient,

So, the answer is: F (inefficient due to a limited public transport system)

Question no. 12: Auckland   

Keywords for the question: Auckland,  

In paragraph no. 7, the writer says in lines 2-3, “ . .. . Newman accepts it would be hard for a city as hilly as Auckland to develop a really good rail network.. .. .”

Here, it would be hard = inappropriate,  

So, the answer is: D (hilly and inappropriate for rail transport system)

Question no. 13: Portland

Keywords for the question: Portland,

Lines 2-5 in paragraph A says, “. … He considers Portland, Oregon, a perfect example of this. Some years ago, federal money was granted to build a new road. However, local pressure groups forced a referendum over whether to spend the money on light rail instead. The rail proposal won and the railway worked spectacularly well. . .. .”

Here, federal money was granted to build a new road = government wanted to build road,

local pressure groups forced a referendum over whether to spend the money on light rail instead = local people wanted rail road,

rail proposal won = move from road to light rail transport system, worked spectacularly well = profitable,

So, the answer is: C (profitably moved from road to light rail transport system)

Click here for solutions to Cambridge 6 AC Test 2 Reading Passage 2

Click here for solutions to Cambridge 6 AC Test 2 Reading Passage 3