This IELTS Reading post focuses on all the solutions for IELTS Cambridge 7 Test 2 Reading Passage 3, which is entitled ‘Makete Integrated Rural Transport Project’. This is an aimed post for IELTS candidates who have great problems in finding answers for the Academic Reading module. This post can lead you the best to comprehend each Reading answer without facing much difficulty. Finding IELTS Reading answers is a gradual process and I sincerely hope this post can help you in your IELTS Reading preparation.

IELTS Cambridge 7 Test 2: AC Reading Module

Reading Passage 3:

The headline of the passage: Makete Integrated Rural Transport Project

Questions 27-30: (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 that 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. ]

Question 27: Section B

Section B contains two paragraphs.

In paragraph no. 1, the existing communication situation of Makete district has been explained which shows the need for an integrated transport system.

Then paragraph no. 2 starts with these lines, “Before solutions could be proposed, the problems had to be understood. Little was known about the transport demands of the rural households, so Phase I, between December 1985 and December 1987, focused on research.” 

Here, the problems had to be understood = the problems had to understood/ identified,  

So, the answer is: ii (Identifying the main transport problems)

Question 28: Section C

Section C contains four paragraphs which mostly talk about the primary solutions to the problems related to building a proper transport system.

Take a look at paragraph no. 1 where the writer states, “Having determined the main transport needs, possible solutions were identified which might reduce the time and burden. During Phase II, from January to February 1991, a number of approaches were implemented in an effort to improve mobility and access to transport.”

Here, possible solutions were identified = initial solutions had been identified,

Then, in the following paragraphs, the writer describes the initial improvements that came about.

So, the answer is: v (Initial improvements in mobility and transport modes)

Question 29: Section E

Section E contains one paragraph only.

In the last lines of section E the writer says, “….. . . It would have been difficult to respond to the requests of villagers and other rural inhabitants without the support and understanding of district authorities.”

Here, district authorities = district officials,

This means the project became a success because villagers and other rural inhabitants got support (co-operation) from district officials.

So, the answer is: x (Co-operation of district officials)

Question 30: Section F

Section F contains two small paragraphs.

The first paragraph explains how important this MIRTP has been for the rural people of Makete district of south-western Tanzania.

Then, in the last lines of the final paragraph, the author explains, “. . . The experiences from Makete will help in this initiative, and Makete District will act as a reference for future work.”

Here, will act as a reference for future work = as a future model,

So, the answer is: i (MIRTP as a future model)

Questions 31-35: (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 31: MIRTP was divided into five phases.

Keywords for this question: MIRTP, divided into, five phases,  

If we skim all the sections of the passages, we can find only three phases in MIRTP.

Phase I is mentioned in Section B (line no. 6).

Phase II is mentioned in Section C (line no. 2).

Phase III is mentioned in Section D (line no. 2).

So, the answer is: NO

Question 32: Prior to the start of MIRTP, the Makete district was almost inaccessible during the rainy season.

Keywords for this question: prior to, start, MIRTP, Makete district, almost inaccessible, rainy season,

Take a close look at section B. In the first sentence the author states, “When the project began, Makete District was virtually totally isolated during the rainy season.”

Here, virtually totally isolated = almost inaccessible,

So, the answer is: YES

Question 33: Phase I of MIRTP consisted of a survey of household expenditure on transport.

Keywords for this question: Phase I, MIRTP, consisted of, survey, household expenditure, on transport,

The reference of the survey in Phase I is given in section B, paragraph no. 2. Here, in lines 3-4, the author mentions, “. .. . The socio-economic survey of more than 400 households in the district indicated that a household in Makete spent, on average, seven hours a day on transporting themselves and their goods, .. .. ..”

Therefore, the statement is a clear indication that the survey was on the time spent transporting the people of Makete and their goods, not on household expenditure on transport.

So, the answer is: NO

Question 34: The survey concluded that one-fifth or 20% of the household transport requirement as outside the local area.

Keywords for this question: survey, concluded, one-fifth, 20%, household transport requirement, outside the local area,  

In the last lines of section B paragraph no. 2, the author writes, “.. .. .. Interesting facts regarding transport were found: 95% was on foot; 80% was within the locality; and 70% was related to the collection of water and firewood and travelling to grinding mills.”

Here, 80% was within the locality = 20% was outside the locality,

So, the answer is: YES

Question 35: MIRTP hoped to improve the movement of goods from Makete district to the country’s capital.

Keywords for this question: MIRTP, hoped to, improved, movement of goods, Makete, country’s capital,

At first glance, it may seem that the answer might be in Section C.

However, in section C, the author says in the second paragraph, “However the difference from the conventional approach was that this time consideration was given to local transport needs outside the road network.”

The lines show the purpose of the MIRTP which is to make transportation of goods riskless and safer by improving the roads. However, there is no mention of hoping to improve to movement of goods from Makete to the capital of Tanzania, Dodoma.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Questions 36-39 (Completing sentences with correct endings)

[For this type of question, candidates need to match the beginning and ending of sentences. Candidates need to look for keywords in the sentence-beginnings and find the relative paragraphs and then sentences in the passage. Skimming and scanning, both reading skills are essential for this question-type.]

Question 36: Construction of footbridges, steps and handrails –

Keywords for this question: construction, footbridges, steps, handrails,

In section C, the author says in paragraph no. 3, “Most goods were transported along the paths that provide short-cuts up and down the hillsides, but the paths were a real safety risk and made the journey on foot even more arduous. It made sense to improve the paths by building steps, handrails and footbridges.”

Therefore, the sentences indicate that by constructing footbridges, steps and handrails, transportation up and down hillsides became easier using the improved paths.

So, the answer is: D (improved paths used for transport up and down hillsides.)

Question 37: Frequent breakdown of buses and trucks in Makete –

Keywords for this question: frequent, breakdown, buses and trucks,

Have a close look and Section D paragraph no. 4 where you will find the keywords ‘breakdown’ and ‘buses and trucks’. In lines 1-2 the writer mentions, “The efforts to improve the efficiency of the existing transport services were not very successful because most of the motorised vehicles in the district broke down and there were no resources to repair them.”

Here, were not very successful means the breaking down of vehicles hindered/hampered the attempts to make the prevailing transport services more efficient.

So, the answer is: I (hindered attempts to make the existing transport services more efficient.)

Question 38: The improvement of secondary roads and paths –

Keywords for this question: improvement, secondary roads, paths,

In section D, in paragraph no. 3, the author says, “Paths and secondary roads were improved only at the request of communities who were willing to participate in construction and maintenance.”

Here, willing to participate in construction and maintenance = willing to lend a hand / willing to co-operate.

So, the answer is: G (was done only at the request of local people who were willing to lend a hand.)

Question 39: The isolation of Makete for part of the year –

Keywords for this question: isolation, Makete, for part of the year,

In section D, paragraph no. 2, the writer says, “The road improvements and accompanying maintenance system had helped make the district centre accessible throughout the year.”

The lines suggest that road improvements have made it possible to access Makete in particular months of the year. So, it was no problem to go to Makete during the rainy season, thanks to the road improvements.

So, the answer is: E (was no longer a problem once the roads had been improved.)

Question 40: Multiple choice questions (Identifying the main purpose/aim of the passage)

[This type of question asks you to choose a suitable answer from the options that shows the main aim/purpose 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 to previous questions gives you a good idea about the title.]

Which of the following phrases best describes the main aim of Reading Passage?

Keywords for this question: best describes, the main aim,  

Having a look at the different sections of the passage for all the questions (27-39), it is clear that the passage talks about Makete Integrated Rural Transport Project or MIRTP. The sections deal with the history behind the projects, the problems related to successfully execute the project, the importance of road improvements for Makete and the successful implementation and outcomes of the projects.

Therefore, the main aim of the passage is to show how MIRTP was implemented and how successful it was to change the lifestyle of the people of Makete.   

So, the answer is: B (to describe how MIRTP was implemented and how successful it was)

Click here for solutions to Cambridge 7 Test 2 Reading Passage 1

Click here for solutions to Cambridge 7 Test 2 Reading Passage 2