Cambridge IELTS 14, Test 1, Reading Passage 2: The growth of bike-sharing schemes around the world; Solution with Answer Key

Cambridge IELTS solution “The growth of bike-sharing schemes around the world” with answer explanation. Cambridge 14 Reading Test 1 passage 2 Step by Step Solution. IELTS reading passage solution, tips and tricks with answer key.

 

The growth of bike-sharing schemes around the world

 

Questions 14-18 ( information Matching):

Tips:  How To Solve Information Matching Question In IELTS Reading Module?

Question 14: a description of how people misused a bike-sharing scheme.

Solution: Keywords: misused, bike-sharing
Now, In paragraph (P) E, Line (L) 4, “The system, however, was prone to vandalism and theft. ‘After every weekend there would always be couple of bikes missing,’ Molenaar says, ‘I really have no idea what people did with them, . .. .”

Key Note: Vandalism and theft, bikes missing = misused a bike sharing scheme.

So, Answer: E

 

Question 15: an explanation of why a proposed bike-sharing scheme was turned down.

Solution:  Keywords:  proposed, bike-sharing scheme, turned down
Now, in paragraph C, lines 6-7,  Nevertheless, the the council unanimously rejected the plan, ‘They said that the bicycle belongs to the past. They saw a glorious future for the car… .”
Key Note: rejected = was turned down

So, answer: C

 

Question 16: a reference to a person being unable to profit from their work.

Solution: Keywords: person being unable, profit.

Now, in paragraph F, Last line  –  “But financially I didn’t really benefit from it, because I never filed for a patent.”

Key Note:  financially didn’t benefit= unable to profit.

So, answer: F

 

Question 17: an explanation of the potential savings a bike-sharing scheme would bring

Solution:  Keywords: potential savings
Now, in paragraph C – Schimmelpennink explained his idea to the city council. It turned out that a white bicycle – per person, per kilometre – would cost the municipality only 10% of what it contributed to public transport per person, per kilometre.’.. .”
Key Note: would cost the municipality only 10% = potential savings.
So, answer: C

Question 18: a reference to the problems a bike-sharing scheme was intended to solve.

Solution:  Keywords: for this question: problems, intended to solve.

Now, in paragraph A, Lines 3-5, – They believed the scheme, which was known as the Witte Fietsenplan, was an answer to the perceived threats of air pollution and consumerism.
Key Note:  was an answer to the perceived threats of air pollution and consumerism = the problems  … intended to solve.
So, answer: A

 

Questions 19-22 (Multiple choice questions – choosing two from five options)

Tips:   How To Solve Multiple Choice Questions in IELTS Reading Module?

Question 19 and 20: Which TWO of the following statements are made in the text about the Amsterdam bike-sharing scheme of 1999?

Solution: Keywords: Amsterdam bike-sharing scheme, 1999.

Now, in paragraph D, Line 7-9, ‘Times had changed,” he recalls. ‘People had become more environmentally conscious, and the Danish experiment had proved that bike-sharing was a real possibility. A new Witte Fietsenplan was launched in 1999 in Amsterdam.”
So, this means the Amsterdam bike-sharing scheme of 1999 started (launched) because people’s attitude towards environment was positive. (Answer: D)

Again, in paragraph E, Line 7-8 , – But the biggest blow came when Postbank decided to abolish the chip card, because it wasn’t profitable.. .. . .” This means the partner (Postbank withdrew its support for the scheme). (Answer: B)
So, answers are (in any order):
B (It failed when a partner in the scheme withdraw support.)
D (It was made possible by a chance in people’s attitudes.)

 

Question 21 and 22: Which TWO of the following statements are made in the text about Amsterdam today?

Solution: Keywords: Amsterdam today.
Now,  in paragraph G,  Line1-3.  the paragraph starts with “In Amsterdam today.. . . it is regarded as one of the two most cycle-friendly capitals in the world – … .” (Answer E)

Again,  in same paragraph, line 6-7, – People who travel on the underground don’t carry their bikes around. But often they need additional transport to reach their final destination.”
Key Note:  bike-sharing scheme is very important for people who use underground tubes, because they need additional transport (bikes) to get to their expected destination. (Answer D)

So, answers are (in any order):
D (A bike-sharing scheme would benefit residents who use public transport.)
E (The city has a reputation as a place that welcomes cyclists.)

 

Question 23-26: (Completing summary with ONE WORD ONLY):

Tips: Completing summaries with and without a wordlist in IELTS Reading Module

Title of the summary: The first urban bike-sharing scheme

Question 23: The first bike-sharing scheme was the idea of the Dutch group Provo. The people who belonged to this group were __________.

Solution: Keywords: idea, Dutch group Provo, people, belonged to this group.
Now, in paragraph A, Line 2-3, – Provo, the organisation that came up with the idea, was a group of Dutch activists who wanted to change society.
Answer:  activists

Question 24: They were concerned about damage to the environment and about __________, and believed that the bike-sharing scheme would draw attention to these issues.

Solution: Keywords: concerned about, damage to the environment.

Now, in paragraph A, Lines 3-5 – They believed the scheme, which . …. . ., was an answer to the perceived threats of air pollution and consumerism.”
Key Note:  air pollution = damage to the environment.
Answer: consumerism

Question 25: As well as painting some bikes white, they handed out _______ that condemned the use of cars.

Solution: Keywords: painting, white, condemned, use of cars.
Now, in  paragraph A, Lines 5-7, – In the centre of Amsterdam, they painted a small number of used bikes white. They also distributed leaflets describing the dangers of cars — white bike.
Key Note:  distributed = handed out, describing the dangers of cars = condemned the use of cars
Answer: leaflets

Question 26: However, the scheme was not a great success; almost as quickly as Provo left the bikes around the city, the __________ took them away. According to —–

Solution: Keywords: not a great success, Provo left the bikes around the city, took them away.
Now, in paragraph B, Line 4-6, – The police were opposed to Provo’s initiatives and almost as soon as soon as the white bikes were distributed around the city, they removed them.”
Key Note:  left the bikes around the city = bikes were distributed, took them away = removed them.
Answer: police

 

 

Full Reading Test

Answer Key