IELTS Reading Practice Test 9 Printable

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Reading Passage 2

Segway into the Future

Will the electric vehicle known as the Segway alter the way individuals get around? Dean Kamer, the inventor of the Segway, believes that this revolutionary vehicle will someday oust bicycles and automobiles that now crowd our cities. When he introduced the Segway in 2001, he believed it would change our lives.

Although the Segway uses up-to-the-minute technology, it looks very ordinary. The metal framework of the Segway consists of a platform where an individual stands. Attached to the front of the platform is a tall post with handles for the driver to hold on to. On each side of the platform is a wide, rubber wheel. Except for these two wheels, there are no mechanical parts on the Segway. It has no engine, no brakes, no pedal power, no gears, and no steering wheel. Instead, it uses a computer system that imitates the ability of humans to keep their balance.

This system seems to move to the driver’s thoughts. For example, when the driver thinks “Go forward”, the Segway moves forwards, and when the driver thinks, “Stop”, it stops. The Segway is not really responding to the driver’s thoughts, but to the tiny changes in balance that the driver makes as he prepares his body to move forward or to stop. For example, when the driver thinks about moving forward, he actually leans slightly forward, and when he thinks of stopping or slowing, he leans slightly back.

The Segway is powered by batteries that allow it to travel about 17 miles on one battery charge. It is designed for short-range, low-speed operation. It has three speed settings. The slowest is the setting for learning, with speeds of up to 6 miles per hour. Next is the sidewalk setting, with speeds of up to 9 miles per hour. The highest setting allows the driver to travel up to 12.5 miles per hour in open, flat areas. At all three speed settings, the Segway can go wherever a person can walk, both indoors and outdoors.

Workers who must walk a lot in their jobs might be the primary users of Segways. For example, police officers could drive Segways to patrol city streets, and mail carriers could drive from house to house to deliver letters and packages. Farmers could quickly inspect distant fields and barns. Security guards could protect neighbourhoods or large buildings.

Any task requiring a lot of walking could be made easier. In cities, shoppers could leave their cars at home and ride Segway from store to store. Also, people who cannot comfortably walk due to age, illness, or injury could minimise their walking but still be able to go many places on a Segway.

Why is it, then, that our job sites, parks, and shopping centres have not been subsequently filled with Segways since they were introduced in 2001? Why hasn’t the expected revolution taken place? Studies have shown that Segways can help workers get more done in a shorter time. This saves money. Engineers admire Segways as a technological marvel.

Business, government agencies, and individuals, however, have been unwilling to accept the Segway. Yes, there have been some successes. In a few cities, for example, mail carriers drive Segway on their routes, and police officers patrol on Segways. San Francisco, California, and Florence, Italy, are among several cities in the world that offer tours on Segways for a small fee. Occasionally, you will see golfers riding Segways around golf courses. Throughout the world, more than 150 security agencies use Segways, and China has recently entered the overseas market. These examples are encouraging but can hardly be called a revolution.

The primary reason seems to be that people have an inherent fear of doing something new. They fear others will laugh at them for buying a “toy”. They fear losing control of the vehicle. They fear being injured. They fear not knowing the rules for using a Segway. They fear making people angry if they ride on the sidewalk. All these fears and others have kept sales low.

The inventor explained why people have been slow to accept the Segway. He said, “We didn’t realise that although technology moves very quickly, people’s mindset changes very slowly.” Perhaps a hundred years from now, millions of people around the world will be riding Segways.

Questions 14-16
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 2?

TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this

14 The Segway’s frame consists of a platform and a post with handles
15 The driver can alter the direction of the Segway by leaning to the left or right
16 The Segway was primarily designed for students to make their travel much more comfortable

Questions 17-19
Choose the correct letter, А , В, C or D.

17 Why the Segway has been accepted as the most comfortable vehicle for people with moving problems?
A they could leave their cars at home and ride Segway from store to store
В they could drive from house to house to deliver letters and packages
C they could quickly inspect distant fields and barns
D it could minimise their walking

18 Why have people been slow to accept the Segway?
A it wastes too much money
В people have various kinds of fears
C it is too hard to control
D people don’t want to replace the existing vehicles

19 According to the point of view of Dean Kamer, “although technology moves very quickly, people’s mindset changes very slowly”, what did he mean by this?
A people cannot accept the innovation at once
В because of people worldwide who ride bicycles for transportation, they cannot accept other kinds of vehicles
C people have fears and thus cannot get accustomed to new forms of transport
D the ideas and attitudes with which a person approaches a situation cannot be quickly altered

Questions 20-27
Complete the sentences. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.

Dean Kamer, the inventor of the Segway, believes that this revolutionary vehicle will replace all conveyances we use today, and in 2001 he presented his innovation to the public. Even though the Segway uses up the minimum energy, it has a very 20 _________ appearance. It has no engine, brakes, gears or even 21 _________, however, the attribute it does have is a 22 _________ with wide rubber wheels attached to it. Moreover, this invention is designed for short-term destinations and works with 23 _________. As it minimises the moving time or energy, the Segway particularly fits those people who have an active lifestyle, such as 24 _________, mail carriers, farmers, security guards and even those who have difficulties because of their 25 _________ or _________. However, the inventor explains why people have difficulties accepting the Segway. He believes that the main reason for this is that people have an innate 26 _________ of innovation and that’s why people’s 27 _________ always changes gradually; it is too hard to accept the new invention over a short time.

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