Ancient Chinese Chariots, Saving the British Bitterns, E-training - IELTS Reading

Section 1

1 Answer: TRUE

Question Type: True/False/Not Given Questions

Answer location: Paragraph B, line 4

Answer explanation: In the said paragraph, you can refer to, “these grave goods are confirmed by the oracle texts, which constitute almost all of the first hand written record we possess of the Shang Dynasty.” This line confirms the information that the written records (hand-written records) of the grave goods proved to be accurate (confirmed) when the Tomb of Fu Hao was discovered.

2 Answer: FALSE

Question Type: True/False/Not Given Questions

Answer location: Paragraph B, line 5

Answer explanation: According to the information shared in paragraph B “below the corpse was a small pit holding the remains of six sacrificial dogs and along the edge lay the skeletons of human slaves, evidence of human sacrifice.” The given passage states that skeletons are of enslaved people; however, in the question, it is mentioned that human skeletons in the Anyang tomb were identified as soldiers, which is incorrect.

3 Answer: TRUE

Question Type: True/False/Not Given Questions

Answer location: Paragraph C, line 2

Answer explanation: In the said paragraph, you can point out that “the terracotta soldiers were accidentally discovered when a group of local farmers was digging a well during a drought around 1.6 km (1 mile) east of the Qin Emperors tomb around at Mount Li (Lishan), a region riddled with underground springs and watercourses.” Here, the term terracotta soldiers has been paraphrased to terracotta army, and it’s true that Terracotta Army was discovered by people lived nearby (group of local farmers) by chance (accidentaly).

4 Answer: NOT GIVEN

Question Type: True/False/Not Given Questions

Answer location: N/A

Answer explanation: None of the passage confirms or denies that the size of the King Tutankhamen’s tomb is bigger than that of Qin Emperors’ tomb.

5 Answer: elm

Question Type: Note Completion

Answer location: Paragraph D, line 2

Answer explanation: A line in the said paragraph infers that “wheels were constructed from a variety of woods: elm provided the hub, rose-wood the spokes and oak the felloes.” Since this passage puts forward the information about structure of ancient Chinese chariots, we can comprehend that the the hub is made of elm wood (tree).

6 Answer: oil

Question Type: Note Completion

Answer location: Paragraph D, line 3

Answer explanation: If you read thoroughly, a line in the passage specifies “the hub was drilled through to form an empty space into which the tampering axle was fitted, the whole being covered with leather to retain lubricating oil.” Thus, the room (empty space) through the hub was to put tempering axle in ( tampering axle was fitted) which is wrapped up (being covered) by leather aiming to retain lubricating oil.

7 Answer: 18 to 32

Question Type: Note Completion

Answer location: Paragraph D, line 4

Answer explanation: Paragraph D puts forward the information that “though the number of spokes varied, a wheel by the fourth century BC usually had eighteen to thirty-two of them.” This line confirms that number of spokes varied from eighteen (18) to thirty-two (32).

8 Answer: dish

Question Type: Note Completion

Answer location: Paragraph D, line 7

Answer explanation: If you read thoroughly, the author in the given paragraph mentions that “dishing refers to the dishlike shape of an advanced wooden wheel, which looks rather like a flat cone.” Hence we can infer that dishing is dishlike shape of an advanced wooden wheel. The wheel’s form resembles a flat cone, also described as a dish-like shape.

9 Answer: struts

Question Type: Note Completion

Answer location: Paragraph D, line 8

Answer explanation: If you read thoroughly, there’s a line that claims, “on occasion they chose to strengthen a dished wheel with a pair of struts running from rim to rim on each of the hub.” Hence, we can infer that pair (two) of struts was used to strengthen the wheel (strengthen a dished wheel).

10 Answer: bronze

Question Type: Note Completion

Answer location: Paragraph D, last line

Answer explanation: The answer is clearly mentioned in the said paragraph and line. In the passage, it is said that “as these extra supports were inserted separately into the felloes, they would have added even greater strength to the wheel. Leather wrapped up the edge of the wheel aimed to retain bronze.” Hence, we can deduce that the appropriate answer is bronze.

11 Answer: Neck

Question Type: Short Answer Questions

Answer location: Paragraph E, line 3

Answer explanation: Paragraph E puts forward the information that “because the shafts curved upwards, and the harness pressed against a horse’s shoulders, not his neck, the shaft chariot was incredibly efficient.” Since the harness pressed against a horse’s shoulders and not his neck, we can deduce that horse released the pressure from neck to the shoulder.

12 Answer: sand

Question Type: Short Answer Questions

Answer location: Paragraph E, line 6

Answer explanation: The answer is clearly mentioned in the said paragraph and line. In the passage, it is said that “the speed of chariot which was tested on the sand was quite fast. At speed these passes were very dangerous for the crews of both chariots.” Hence, the kind of road surface the researchers used to measure the speed of the chariot is sand.

13 Answer: tomb complex

Question Type: Short Answer Questions

Answer location: Paragraph F, line 3

Answer explanation: According to paragraph F,“Qin Shi Huang was buried in the most opulent tomb complex ever constructed in China, a sprawling, city-size collection of underground caverns containing everything the emperor would need for the afterlife.” Therefore, Emperor Qin Shi Huang was buried in the most opulent tomb complex.

Section 2

14 Answer: ii

Question Type: Matching Headings

Answer location: Paragraph A, line 1

Answer explanation: Paragraph A provides the information that “breeding bitterns became extinct in the UK by 1886 but, following re-colonisation early last century, numbers rose to a peak of about 70 booming (singing) males in the 1950s, falling to fewer than 20 by the 1990s.” The term fluctuates means to change frequently from one thing to another. Hence, from 1886 to the late 1990s the population growth of the bitterns kept fluctuating.

15 Answer: v

Question Type: Matching Headings

Answer location: Paragraph B, line 1

Answer explanation: According to paragraph B “our first challenge was to develop standard methods to monitor their numbers.” The challenge was counting/calculating the actual numbers of bitterns that were present.

16 Answer: i

Question Type: Matching Headings

Answer location: Paragraph C, line 2

Answer explanation: In the said paragraph, you can find that “this research showed that bitterns had been retained in reedbeds where the natural process of succession, or drying out, had been slowed through management. Based on this work, broad recommendations on how to manage and rehabilitate reedbeds for bitterns were made, and funding was provided.” Here, we can observe that a study/research of bittern habitats was carried out, and judgments/decisions were made based on the findings.

17 Answer: viii

Question Type: Matching Headings

Answer location: Paragraph D, line 1

Answer explanation: If you read thoroughly, a line claims that “to refine these recommendations and provide fine-scale, quantitative habitat prescriptions on the bitterns’ preferred feeding habitat, we radio-tracked male bitterns on the RSPB’s Minsmere and Leighton Moss reserves.” From this information, we can deduce that large-scale research was done on the reedbed vegetation.

18 Answer: vii

Question Type: Matching Headings

Answer location: Paragraph E, line 1

Answer explanation: If you read thoroughly, there’s a line in the said paragraph that describes “the success of the habitat prescriptions developed from this research has been spectacular.” Since it is given that prescriptions from this research has been spectacular we can deduce that research was successful.

19 Answer: vi

Question Type: Matching Headings

Answer location: Paragraph F, line 1

Answer explanation: The answer is clearly mentioned in the said paragraph and line. In the passage, it is said that “the final phase of the research involved understanding the diet, survival, and dispersal of bittern chicks.” From the given information, we can deduce that the author states that the final phase of the research about bitterns involved research on understanding the link between food and the sustainability of the bitterns.

20 Answer: iii

Question Type: Matching Headings

Answer location: Paragraph G, line 1

Answer explanation: In the said paragraph, you can refer to, “once independent, radio-tagged young bitterns were found to seek out new sites during their first winter; a proportion of these would remain on new sites to breed if the conditions were suitable.” The author informs that researchers have tagged radios on young bitterns to track their locations and observe the conditions of the new sites that are suitable for their breeding. Hence, researchers are working for the protection of young bitterns.

21 Answer: 1950s

Question Type: Short Answer Questions

Answer location: Paragraph A, line 1

Answer explanation: The opening line of paragraph A puts forward the information that “breeding bitterns became extinct in the UK by 1886 but, following re-colonization early last century, numbers rose to a peak of about 70 booming (singing) males in the 1950s, falling to fewer than 20 by the 1990s.” From this line, we can deduce that the breeding reached its peak in the 1950s.

22 Answer: shy

Question Type: Short Answer Questions

Answer location: Paragraph B, line 1

Answer explanation: In the said paragraph, you can point out that “bitterns have cryptic plumage and a shy nature, usually remaining hidden within the cover of reedbed vegetation.” Hence, one of the characteristics of bittern birds is that have a shy nature.

23 Answer: starvation

Question Type: Short Answer Questions

Answer location: Paragraph F, line 3

Answer explanation: If you read thoroughly, a line in the passage specifies that “many chicks did not survive to fledging and starvation was found to be the most likely reason for their demise.” The term demise means death and according to this line, the main reason behind many chick’s death/demise is starvation.

24 Answer: fish prey

Question Type: Short Answer Questions

Answer location: Paragraph F, line 4

Answer explanation: If you observe, in the said paragraph to the fact that “the fish prey fed to chicks was dominated by those species penetrating into the reed edge.” We can infer that the main food for chick bitterns was fish prey, as it was fed to chicks in more numbers.

25 Answer: partnership project/partnership project network

Question Type: Short Answer Questions

Answer location: Paragraph G, last line

Answer explanation: If you read thoroughly, there’s a line in the said paragraph that describes “a network of 19 sites developed through this partnership project will secure a more sustainable UK bittern population with successful breeding outside of the core area, less vulnerable to chance events and sea-level rise.” Thus, the network of 19 sites developed through partnership projects secures stability for the bittern’s population.

26 Answer: otter

Question Type: Short Answer Questions

Answer location: Paragraph I, last line

Answer explanation: The last line of paragraph I claims that “otter and brown-hare occur on the site as does the rare plant, pillwort.” From this information, we can infer that besides bittern and brown hare, otter benefits from the protection plan.

27 Answer: B

Question Type: Multiple Choice Questions

Answer location: Complete Paragraph

Answer explanation: The purpose of this passage is to convey that the cooperation of people irrespective of their countries can help them protect an endangered species (bitters).

Section 3

28 Answer: i

Question Type: Matching Headings

Answer location: Paragraph A, line 3

Answer explanation: Paragraph A brings forth the author’s attitude towards e-learning as “cutting the travel expenses required to bring employees and instructors to central classroom accounts for the lion’s share of the savings. With an online course, employees can learn from any Internet-connected PC, anywhere in the world.” Here, we can observe that author lists various benefits for the application of E-training, such as cuts in travel expenses, learning taking place from anywhere in the world, and many more.

29 Answer: ix

Question Type: Matching Headings

Answer location: Paragraph B, line 1

Answer explanation: If you read thoroughly, there’s a line that claims, “in addition to generally positive economic benefits, other advantages such as convenience, standardized delivery, self-paced learning, and a variety of available content, have made e-learning a high priority for many corporations.” This passage discusses the other advantages of e-learning besides economic benefits.

30 Answer: iv

Question Type: Matching Headings

Answer location: Paragraph C, 2nd last line

Answer explanation: The answer is clearly mentioned in the said paragraph and line. In the passage, it is said that “e-training promises more effective teaching techniques by integrating audio, video, animation, text and interactive materials with the intent of teaching each student at his or her own pace. In addition to higher performance results, there are other immediate benefits to students such as increased time on task, higher levels of motivation, and reduced test anxiety for many learners.” There are two benefits of e-learning getting effective teaching techniques through advanced teaching materials and higher performance results.

31 Answer: vii

Question Type: Matching Headings

Answer location: Paragraph D, line 1

Answer explanation: If you read thoroughly, the author in the given paragraph mentions that “on the other hand, nobody said E-training technology would be cheap. E-training service providers, on average, charge from $10,000 to $60,000 to develop one hour of online instruction.” Since it is given that technology is not cheap and it charges around $10,000 to $60,000 to develop one hour of online instruction, we can infer that technology can be a huge financial burden for companies.

32 Answer: v

Question Type: Matching Headings

Answer location: Paragraph E, line 2

Answer explanation: In the said paragraph, refer that, “furthermore, e-training isn,t suited to every mode of instruction or topic. For instance, it’s rather ineffective imparting cultural values or building teams.” This passage compares e-learning with traditional classroom training and points out the limitation of e-learning such as the inability to impart cultural values and team spirit.

33 Answer: iii

Question Type: Matching Headings

Answer location: Paragraph F, line 1

Answer explanation: According to the author in paragraph F, “while few people debate the obvious advantages of e-learning, systematic research is needed to confirm that learners are actually acquiring and using the skills that are being taught online, and that e-learning is the best way to achieve the outcomes in a corporate environment.” Here, the author says that in the future systematic research is needed to ensure learners are acquiring new skills through the new style of teaching.

34 Answer: A

Question Type: Matching Information

Answer location: Paragraph A, line 2

Answer explanation: The answer is clearly mentioned in the said paragraph and line. In the passage, it is said that “IBM, for instance, claims that the institution of its e-training program, Basic Blue, whose purpose is to train new managers, saved the company in the range of $200 million in 1999.” Since IBM saved $200 million through the basic blue project, it implies that this project helped IBM achieve great success.

35 Answer: B

Question Type: Matching Information

Answer location: Paragraph B, line 2

Answer explanation: In the reference paragraph, the author mentions that “E-learning is widely believed to offer flexible “any time, any place” learning.” Many corporations prefer e-learning as a high priority because it is believed to offer flexibility.

36 Answer: F

Question Type: Matching Information

Answer location: Paragraph F, line 2

Answer explanation: Paragraph F puts forward the information that “nowadays, a go-between style of Blended learning, which refers to a mixing of different learning environments, is gaining popularity. It combines traditional face-to-face classroom methods with more modem computer-mediated activities.” From the term blended learning we can infer that author is talking about the combination of traditional and e-training environments.

37 Answer: D

Question Type: Matching Information

Answer location: Paragraph D, last line

Answer explanation: In the said paragraph, you can find out that “today, over half of the 400-plus courses that Rockwell Collins offers are delivered instantly to its clients in an e-leaming format, a change that has reduced its annual training costs by 40%. Many other success stories exist.” The term delivered instantly has been paraphrased to fast electronic delivery. Thus, Rockwell Collins is the perfect example of fast electronic delivery for a company’s products to its customers.

38 Answer: B (B, C, E: in any order)

Question Type: Multiple choice Questions

Answer location: Paragraph E, line 2

Answer explanation: If you read thoroughly, a line in the said paragraph discusses that “for one thing, bandwidth limitations are still an issue in presenting multimedia over the Internet.” Hence, one of the limitations of e-learning is presenting multimedia (restricted due to the bandwidth limit).

39 Answer: C (B, C, E: in any order)

Question Type: Multiple choice Questions

Answer location: Paragraph E, line 4

Answer explanation: A line in the given paragraph suggests that “for instance, it’s rather ineffective imparting cultural values or building teams.” Another limitation of e-learning is that it is ineffective in imparting cultural values to fresh employees.

40 Answer: E (B, C, E: in any order)

Question Type: Multiple choice Questions

Answer location: Paragraph E, line 5

Answer explanation: The answer is clearly mentioned in the said paragraph and line. You must note the paraphrasing here. In the passage, it is said that “In addition, there is a perceived loss of research time because of the work involved in developing and teaching online classes” In order to keep the course at a suitable level company has to prepare the online courses, which require more attention because of their complexity than a traditional course. Hence, it requires more preparation time.