Answer Keys
IELTS Reading Part 1 — The History of Bicycle
1. hundred. ‘Nearly’ shouldn’t be used here as there is already a definite article that means certainty.
2. pedals. Make sure you use the word in plural.
3. toys. Last sentence of last paragraph. Again, if you don’t pluralise the word it won’t be scored as correct.
4. overseas. ‘Overseas’ is one word, not two.
5. hollow steel tubes. You can use up to three word for your answer.
6. axle. Word ‘rear’ helps find the answer in the seventh paragraph.
7. False. Inventors from Scotland and France are clearly mentioned.
8. True. Third paragraph, third sentence states that it was hard to move the bicycle forward due to its heavy weight.
9. Not given. Although it is clearly mentioned that the modifications made bicycles easier to use, there is nothing about the life of people becoming better or more comfortable.
10. True. First sentence of Paragraph Six confirms this. The sentences that follow explain in detail how the new modification helped to make pedalling more efficient.
11. size. The word ‘diameter’ would be wrong answer as you have to use words from the text, not your own. The word ‘size’ is mentioned in last but one paragraph.
12. foot levers. Paragraph Seven, fourth sentence. ‘Levers’ has to be plural.
13. chain. Last but one paragraph mentions this alteration.
IELTS Reading Part 2 — Segway into the Future
14. True. Second paragraph lists the main components of Segway’s frame. Although wheels are mentioned too, they are not part of the framework.
15. Not given. There is no information about how Segway turns. Only acceleration and stopping are mentioned.
16. Not given. No particular occupation is mentioned as focus customers for Segway. There are only examples of how Segway could make life easier for people of different professions. Moreover, students are not mentioned at all.
17. D. Answers A, B and C refer to shoppers, mailmen and farmers respectively. Second sentence of Paragraph Six has the answer.
18. B. Last but one paragraph lists all the fears that stop people from choosing Segway over the more conventional modes of transportation such as cars.
19. D. The way a person thinks nowadays doesn’t progress as rapidly as technology.
20. ordinary. Second paragraph, first sentence: “it looks very ordinary”.
21. steering wheel. Paragraph Two gives the list of what Segway doesn’t have in comparison to conventional vehicles. Steering wheel is the only one omitted.
22. platform. Paragraph Two mentions two wheels attached to the platform.
23. batteries. Paragraph Four states that Segway is powered by batteries.
24. police officers. Paragraph five enumerates people that stand to benefit from the use of Segway. Police officers (make sure to use the plural form) are the only one omitted from the task text.
25. age, injury/illness (in any order). Paragraph Five lists age and injury as reasons for some people to prefer Segway over the more conventional walking.
26. fear. Last but one paragraph, first sentence mentions “inherent fear of doing something new”.
27. mind-set. Last paragraph mentions mind-set that evolves slower in comparison to today’s rate of science. Although ‘mindset’ can be spelled without dash, in your answer you should stick to the spelling variant from the original text.
IELTS Reading Part 3 — The Meaning of Volunteering
28. I. This paragraph gives examples of ‘volunteering’ as means of punishing people. This contradicts the idea of volunteering as the help has to be provided willingly.
29. D. The paragraph lists the way how an individual can gain personal benefits from doing volunteer work.
30. G. Selflessness is mentioned at the beginning. Self-interest is the last word mentioned in this paragraph. Scan-reading help to greatly reduce the amount of time needed to find the answer here.
31. C. A number of different fields of volunteering is mentioned.
32. E. The paragraph starts with ‘young adults’ and continues to expand on the ways young people can benefit from volunteer work.
33. A. The first paragraph starts with a statement that many people believe to be true, but which is false. Then it goes on explaining why exactly it is not correct.
34. D. The survey took place to find out what kind of people take part in volunteering projects. ONS easily stands out from the text, being the most obvious keyword to use here.
35. B. The data from the Paragraph B makes it easier to answer this question.
36. C. Paragraph B suggests that rich tend to volunteer more than the poor because they have more free time on their hands. They don’t have to earn their living all the time, therefore they are more likely to volunteer.
37. A. Paragraph D mentions that skills and knowledge acquired during volunteering can help you understand how to function effectively in the system of society.
38. E. Paragraph G, second sentence mentions ability to understand how people think (end of the sentence).
39. C. Last sentence of Paragraph F says that volunteering can eventually help you get a job in the field you are interested in.
40. A. Paragraph F mentions how employers favour employees who have shown ability to work in a team.