This Academic IELTS Reading post focuses on solutions to IELTS Cambridge Official Guide to IELTS Test 3 Reading Passage 2 which is titled ‘High Speed, High Rise’. 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.

Cambridge Official Guide to IELTS Test 3: AC Reading Module

Reading Passage 2: Questions 14-26

The headline of the passage: High Speed, High Rise

Questions 14-18: 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.

Question no. 14: Paragraph A  

The writer describes the uniqueness of the building that was constructed by Broad in line no. 9 of paragraph A, “ . . .What it is selling is the world’s first standardized skyscraper and . .. ..” 

Here, the world’s first standardized skyscraper = A building like no other,

So, the answer is: iv (A building like no other)

Question no. 15: Paragraph B

Paragraph B discusses what happens from factory to building sites. Take a look at lines 3-10, “ .. .. .  The floors and ceilings of the skyscrapers are built in sections, each measuring 15.6 by 3.9 meters with a depth of 45 centimeters. Pipes and ducts for electricity, water and waste are threaded through each floor module while it is still in the factory. The client’s choice of flooring is also pre-installed on top. Standardized truckloads carry two modules each to the site with the necessary columns, bolts and tools to connect them stacked n top of each other. Once they arrive at the location, each section is lifted by crane directly to the top of the building, which is assembled like toy Lego bricks. .. ..”   

So, these lines clearly indicate what is happening in the factory and what is happening after the materials reach the building sites.

So, the answer is: viii (From factory to building site)

Question no. 16: Paragraph C

Take a close look at lines 3-4, “ . .. . The company started out as a maker of non-pressurized boilers. . . .. …   ‘He made his fortune on boilers. . . .. . . ”

And then, in lines 8-11, the writer says more, “ .. . .. . Large air-conditioning (AC) units fueled by natural gas could help companies ease their electricity load, reduce overheads, and enjoy more reliable climate control into the bargain. Today, Broad has units operating in more than 70 countries, .. . ..

Here, made his fortune on boilers & Large air-conditioning (AC) units = Other engineering achievements,

So, the answer is: ii (Other engineering achievements)

Question no. 17: Paragraph D

Take a look at the first lines of paragraph D, “ . .. . For two decades, Zhang’s AC business boomed. But a couple of events conspired to change his course. .. .. .”

Here, to change his course = change of direction,

So, the answer is: vi (A change of direction)

Question no. 18: Paragraph E

The final lines of paragraph E give us the answer, “ . . .. According to Zhang, his buildings will solve the many problems of the construction industry and what’s more, they will be quicker and cheaper to build.”

Here, the lines suggest that the overall benefits are that Zhang’s idea is solving many problems of the construction industry and they will be quicker and cheaper than others.

So, the answer is: iii (Examining the overall benefits)

Questions 19-22: 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.]

Question no. 19: pipes and ducts installed while in _________

Keywords for the question: pipes and ducts, installed, while,

Take a look at lines 4-6 of paragraph B, “ . .. . Pipes and ducts for electricity, water and waste are threaded through each floor module while it is still in the factory. … … .”

Here, threaded through each floor module = installed,

So, the answer is: factory

Question no. 20: ______ chosen by customer

Keywords for the question: chosen, by customer,

In lines 6-7 of paragraph B, the writer says, “ . .. . The client’s choice of flooring is also pre-installed on top. . .. ..”

Here, The client’s choice = chosen by customer,

So, the answer is: floor/ flooring

Question no. 21: diagonal bracing at top and bottom of __________  

Keywords for the question: diagonal bracing, top and bottom of,   

In paragraph B, lines 11-12 say, “ ..  .. The unique column design has diagonal bracing at each end and tabs that bolt into the floors above and below. .. ..”

Here, at each end .. . . above and below = at top and bottom of,

So, the answer is: column(s)

Question no. 22: section contains less _________ than conventional buildings  

Keywords for the question: section contains, less, than conventional buildings,

In the final lines of Paragraph D, the writer says, “. .. .. To reduce the overall weight of the building, it used less concrete in the floors; that in turn enabled it to cut down on structural steel… . .. .”    

Here, the floors = sections,

So, the answer is: concrete

Questions 24-26: Completing sentences with NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS

In this type of question, candidates are asked to write maximum two words to complete sentences on the given topic. 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 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.]

Question no. 23: Zhang refers to his business as a ________.  

Keywords for the question: Zhang, refers to, his business, as,

Take a close look at the final lines of paragraph A where we find a comment made by Zhang Yue, the founder and chairman of Broad, “ . . .. . When asked why he decided to start a construction company, Zhang replies, “It’s not a construction company. It’s a structural revolution.”  

So, the answer is: structural revolution

Question no. 24: The first products Broad manufactured were ________

Keywords for the question: first products, Broad, manufactured,

Paragraph C talks about the initial works of Broad. Lines 2-4 say, “ .. . . .. He started out as an art student in the 1980s, but in 1988, Zhang left the art world to found Broad. The company started out as a maker of non-pressurized boilers. . .. .”

Here, The company started out as a maker = the first products Broad manufactured,

So, the answer is: (non-pressurized) boilers  

Question no. 25: In the late eighties, ________ were holding back industrial progress in China.

Keywords for the question: late eighties, holding back, industrial progress, China,  

Lines 6-8 of paragraph C say, “. . . . .. Towards the end of the decade, China’s economy was expanding past the capacity of the nation’s electricity grid, she explains. Power shortages were becoming a serious obstacle to growth. .. . .”

Here, were becoming a serious obstacle = were holding back, growth = industrial progress,

So, the answer is: power shortages  

Question no. 26: In addition to power and cost benefits, Broad’s AC units improve ________.

Keywords for the question: in addition to, power and cost benefits, Broad’s AC units, improve,  

The answers to these questions can be found in paragraph C, in lines 8-10, “ .. . . . Large air-conditioning (AC) units fueled by natural gas could help companies ease their electricity load, reduce overheads, and enjoy more reliable climate control into the bargain. .. … ..”

Here, Large air-conditioning (AC) units = Broad’s AC units,

ease their electricity load, reduce overheads  = power and cost benefits,

enjoy more reliable = improve,

So, the answer is: climate control  

Click here for solutions to Cambridge Official Guide to IELTS Test 3 Reading Passage 1

Click here for solutions to Cambridge Official Guide to IELTS Test 3 Reading Passage 3