Cambridge IELTS 11, Test 1, Reading Passage 2: The Falkirk Wheel, Solution With Answer Key

The Falkirk Wheel Passage Solution with Answer Key – Cambridge IELTS 11, Test 1: Reading Passage 2. Here we will discuss detailed explanation of all the questions of the passage. Here is step by step Solution with Tips and Strategies. This post is for educational purpose only. If you find difficulties in reading passage to find the right answer in the exam, just read the post carefully. Tips and strategies will help you find the right answer.

 

The Falkirk Wheel

IELTS Reading Passage Solution

 

IELTS Cambridge 11, Test 1  Academic Reading Module, Reading Passage 2

 

PASSAGE 2: The History of Glass (View Full Passage Here)

Questions 14-19 (TRUE/FALSE/NOT GIVEN):
** Tips(Link Details): How To Solve True, False, Not Given in IELTS Reading Module?

Question 14. The Falkirk wheel has linked the Forth and Clyde Canal with the Union Canal for the first time in history.
Keywords: linked, Forth and Clyde Canal, Union Canal, first time,
Now, in paragraph 2 lines 4-9 say, “….Historically, the two canals had been joined near the town of Falkirk by a sequence of 11 locks – enclosed sections of canal in which the water level could be raised or lowered- that stepped down across a distance of 1.5 km. This has been dismantled in 1933, .. … .” These lines mean that both the canals had been linked before, so this is not the first time.
Answer: FALSE

Question 15. There was some opposition to the design of the Falkirk Wheel at first.
Keywords: opposition, design, at first
Now, the keyword ‘opposition’, we need to find any word that relates to opposition. Apparently, there is no such
information in the text. According to paragraph 3, many ideas were submitted for the project but the writer does not show whether anyone
opposed the plan that was approved.

Answer: NOT GIVEN

Question 16. The Falkirk Wheel was initially put together at the location where its components were manufactured.
Keywords: initially, put together, location, components, manufactured
Now, As this question asks for the location of the wheel, we need to nd the information about the Wheel’s location. According to paragraph 4, lines 1-4, “The various parts of the Falkirk Wheel were all constructed and assembled at Butterfly Engineering’s Steelworks in Derbyshire…”. So the statement and the information in the text have the same meaning.
Answer: TRUE

Question 17. The Falkirk Wheel is the only boat lift in the world which has steel sections bolted together by hand.
Keywords: only boat lift, bolted together by hand
Now, at the end of paragraph 4, the writer says, “Over 45,000 bolt holes were matched with their bolts, and each bolt was hand-tightened.” So, the writer does mention about bolts being hand-tightened. But, we do not nd any information which confirms that it was the only boat with such unique feature.
Answer: NOT GIVEN

Question 18. The weight of the gondolas varies according to the size of boat being carried.
Keywords: weight, varies, size of boat
Now, the answer can be found in paragraph 5 lines 6-7. Here, the writer says, “….These gondolas always weigh the same, whether or not they are carrying boats.” It means that the weight is always the same.
Answer: FALSE

Question 19. The construction of the Falkirk Wheel site took into account the presence of a nearby ancient monument.

Keywords: construction, presence, ancient, monument
Now, in relation to the last paragraph, “the Wheel could not be constructed to elevate boats over the full 35-metre difference between the two canals, owing to the presence of historically important Antonine Wall”. Here, historically important means ancient. So, we can understand form here that the construction of the Wheel is influenced by the presence of an ancient monument.
Answer: TRUE

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Questions 20-26 (Labeling diagram)

** Tips (link details): How To Solve Notes, Table, Form, Summary, Flow Chart, Diagram in IELTS Reading

General Idea:  An interesting point about this type of question is that the answers for these
questions are generally found around one or two paragraphs. The picture or diagram can become useful because it may help a lot to find critical information.

Title of the diagram: How a boat is lifted on the Falkirk Wheel

Question 20. A pair of ______ are lifted in order to shut out water from canal basin.
Keywords: a pair, lifted, shut out water
Now, in lines 4-7 of paragraph 6, we can find, “Two hydraulic steel gates are raised, so as to seal the gondola off from the water in the canal basin”.
Here, a pair of = two;  lifted = raised; shut out water = seal off from water;
Answer: gates

 

Question 21. A _______ is taken out, enabling Wheel to rotate
Keywords: taken out, rotate
Now, the 4th sentence of paragraph 6, “A hydraulic clamp ______ , is removed, allowing the Wheel to turn”. We find some matches with
Here, taken out = removed; rotate = turn;
Answer: clamp

Question 22. Hydraulic motors drive_______
Keywords: drive
Now, in paragraph 6, line 11,12,13, “In the central machine room an array of ten hydraulic motors then begins to rotate the central axle“.
So it means that the hydraulic motors drive, or control the axle by rotating it.
Answer: axle

Question 23. A range of different-sized ________ ensures boat keeps upright.
Keywords: different-sized, upright
Now,  in paragraph 6, lines 16-21 say, “As the wheel rotates, the gondolas are kept in the upright position by a simple gearing system. Two eight-metre-wide cogs orbit a fixed inner cog of the same width connected by two smaller cogs…..” Here, the writer says that the writer illustrates the gearing system which comprises many cogs of different sizes. So, the word in the blank is cogs.
Answer: cogs

Question 24. Boat reaches top Wheel, then moves directly onto … . . . .
Keywords: moves directly onto

Now, at the end of paragraph 6, the author indicates, “When the gondola reaches the top, the boat passes straight onto the
aqueduct situated 24 metres above the canal basin”.

Here, move onto = pass onto,  directly = straight;
Answer: aqueduct

Question 25. Boat travels through tunnel beneath Roman __________
Keywords: beneath, Roman
Now, in the last lines of the last paragraph, the writer says, “Boats travel under this wall via a tunnel
…..”. “This wall” indicates to the wall built by the Romans in the 2nd century AD.

Here, under = beneath.
Answer: wall

Question 26. ________ raise boat 11m to level of Union Canal.
Keywords: raise, reach
Now, the final paragraph begins with a special information. “The remaining 11 metres of lift needed to reach the Union Canal is achieved by a pair of locks“. So, here it means that the locks actually lifts or raises boat.
Answer: locks

 

 

 

View Full Passage Here

 

 

Answer Key – The Falkirk Wheel

Cambridge IELTS 11 Test 1 Answer Key, Reading Passage 2

 

The Falkirk Wheel Reading Passage Answers Keys

Passage 2

 

 

 

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