Cambridge ielts 1-15 series reading answers explained

CAMBRIDGE IELTS 7 – TEST 2 – PASSAGE 2
THE TRUE COST OF FOOD 

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MAKETE INTEGRATED RURAL TRANSPORT PROJECT 
QUESTIONS 27-30 CHOOSE THE CORRECT HEADING 
27. SECTION B 
This section consists of 2 small paragraphs.In the first sentence of paragraph 1, the writer states: ” 
When the project began, Makete District was virtually totally isolated during the rainy season” then he 
lists several problems. In the first sentence of paragraph 2, he says: ” Before solutions could be 
proposed, the problems had to be understood.” So we can infer that in this section, the writer is going 
to deal with finding what is the problem with transport. Therefore, the most suitable heading should be 

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ii, identifying the main transport problems 
+ identify the problem = understand the problem 
=> ANSWER: ii:identifying the main transport problems 
28. SECTION C 
In the first sentence of this section, the writer says: “Having determined the main transport need, 
possible solutions were identified which might reduce the time and burden.” So we could guess that 
this section is about solutions. Then, in the following sentences, he goes into more detail about the 
“solutions”. During Phase II, from January to February 1991, a number of approaches were 
implemented in an effort to improve mobility and access to transport.” In paragraph 4 of Section C, the 
writer refers to various “means of transport” and the plan to use more donkeys and locally-made 
wheelbarrows. Looking back at the heading list, it can be seen that heading v contains keywords like: 
„improvement, mobility, transport‟, and its content matches the section‟s as well: “Initial 
improvements in mobility and transport modes” 
transport mode = means of transport 
=> ANSWER: v: initial improvements in mobility and transport modes 
29. SECTION E 
In the first sentence of the section the writer argues : “It would have been easy to criticise the MIRTP 
for using in the early phases a top-down approach… but it was necessary to start the process from the 
level of the governmental authorities of the district.” 
Here we have quite a long sentence and it is better to focus on the main clause. The author indicates 
that the process needs governmental authorities of the district to be involved from the beginning. 
Looking back at the heading list, the possible answers that contain keywords are 
iv. Government authorities‟s instructions 
x. Cooperation of district officials 
However, heading iv deals with “instructions”, while in the text the author mentions nothing relating 
to instructions. On the other hand, heading x deals with “the cooperation” of district officials, which 
matches the content of the text: “It would have been difficult to respond to the requests of villagers 
and other rural inhabitants without the support and understanding of district authorities.” 
+ cooperation = support and understanding 
+ officials = authorities 
+ district officials = governmental authorities of the district 
=> ANSWER: x: cooperation of district officials 
30. SECTION F 
This section consists of 2 small paragraphs. In the first paragraph,we can infer that it deals with the 
success of MIRTP through the keywords : ” result of dedicated work”. Then, in the second paragraph, 
the writer says: “The experiences from Makete will help this initiative, and Makete District will act as 
a reference for future work.” So it can be concluded that the writer implies that, due to its success, 
MIRTP could be a model for future work. The most suitable heading should be i. MIRTP as a future 
model 
+ model =reference = something to look for information/ advice or to follow 
+ a future model = a reference for future work 
=> ANSWER: i: MIRTP as a future model 
QUESTIONS 31-35 YES, NO, NOT GIVEN 
31. MIRTP WAS DIVIDED INTO FIVE PHASES. 

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Keywords: MIRTP, five phases 
Skimming through the passages, it can be seen that there are only 3 phases mentioned when talking 
about the MIRTP. Phase I is mentioned in Section B; Phase II in Sections C and D; Phase III is 
referred to in Section D. The answer is, therefore, NO. 
=> ANSWER: NO 
32. PRIOR TO THE START OF MIRTP THE MAKETE DISTRICT WAS 
ALMOST IN ACCESIBLE DURING THE RAINY SEASON 
Keywords: prior to, Makete, inaccessible, rainy season 
In the first sentence of Section B, the writer says: “When the project began, Makete district was 
virtually totally isolated during the rainy season. The regional road was in such bad shape that access 
to the main towns was almost impossible for about three months of the year.” 
+ almost = virtually 
+isolated = inaccessible = without much contact with other places/people; difficult to reach 
=> ANSWER: YES 
33.PHASE I OF MIRTP CONSISTED OF A SURVEY OF HOUSEHOLD 
EXPENDITURE ON TRANSPORT. 
Keywords: Phase I, survey, household expenditure, transport 
From the keyword ” phase I”, we can easily identify that the information needs to be found in 
paragraph 2 of Section B, where the writer says: “The socio-economic survey of more than 400 
households in the district indicated that a household in Makete spent on average, seven hours a day on 
transporting themselves and their goods, a figure which seemed…Africa.” So this means that the 
survey is on the daily hours spent on transport by each household.The survey, therefore, was a survey 
of time expended – 7 hours per day – and not of money spent by each household. 
+ expenditure on = spent on 
=> ANSWER: NO 
34. THE SURVEY CONCLUDED THAT ONE-FIFTH OR 20% OF THE 
HOUSEHOLD TRANSPORT REQUIREMENT AS OUTSIDE THE LOCAL 
AREA. 
Keywords: 20%, transport requirement, outside, local 
In paragraph 2 of Section B, the writer says : “Interesting facts regarding transport were found: 95% 
was on foot; 80% was within the locality…” 80% was within the locality, which means that the other 
20 % was out of the local area, in other words: 20% of transport was outside the local area. 
+ local area = locality 
=> ANSWER: YES 
35. MIRTP HOPED TO IMPROVE THE MOVEMENT OF GOODS FROM 
MAKETE DISTRICT TO THE COUNTRY‟S CAPITAL. 
Keywords: MIRTP, improve, movement of goods, capital 
In section C,the writer argues: “However, the difference from the conventional approach was that this 
time consideration was given to local transport needs outside the road network. This means that the 
aim of MIRTP is to make the transport of goods safer and less arduous by improving the paths, or in 
other words improve the movement of goods – their import and export – from Makete district. But the 
author does not mention where the goods will be transported to, and the capital of the country 
is nowhere referred to in the text . 

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+ movement =transport 
=> ANSWER: NOT GIVEN 
QUESTIONS 36-39 COMPLETE EACH SENTENCE WITH THE 
CORRECT ENDING 
36. CONSTRUCTION OF FOOTBRIDGES, STEPS AND HANDRAILS 
Keywords: footbridges, steps, handrails 
In Section C, the writer says : “Most goods were transported along the paths that provide short-cuts up 
and down the hillsides, but the paths were a real safety risk and made the journey on foot even more 
arduous. It made sense to improve the paths by building steps, handrails and footbridges.” On the other 
hand, skimming through the list given, it can be seen that D. “Improved paths used for transport up 
and down hillsides” consists of words in the above text :paths, handrails and footbridges, improve, up 
and down hillsides. In addition, its content matches the content of the text, in particular: construction = 
building 
=> ANSWER: D: improved paths used for transport up and down hillsides 
37. FREQUENT BREAKDOWN OF BUSES AND TRUCKS IN MAKETE 
Keywords: breakdown, buses, trucks 
In section D, the writer argues: ” The efforts to improve the efficiency of the existing transport services 
were not very successful because most of the motorised vehicles in the district broke down and there 
were no resources to repair them.” So it can be inferred that the clause after because corresponds to the 
given content . We need to find the content which matches one in the other clause of this 
text.Skimming through the list, it can be seen that I. Hindered attempts to make the existing transport 
services more efficient matches. 
+ motorised vehicles = buses and trucks 
+ attempt = effort 
+ make the existing transport services more efficient=improve the efficiency of the existing transport 
services 
=> ANSWER: I: hindered attempts to make the existing transport services more efficient 
38. THE IMPROVEMENT OF SECONDARY ROADS AND PATHS 
Keywords: improvement, secondary roads, paths 
In section D, the writer says: ” Paths and secondary roads were improvedonly at the request of 
communities who were willing to participate in construction and maintenance.” 
So we need to find the answer that matches the content of this sentence. The most suitable answer is G. 
„Was done only at the request of local people who were willing to lend a hand‟ 
+ local people = communities 
+ participate in = lend a hand 
=> ANSWER: G: was done only at the request of local people who were willing to lend a hand 
39. THE ISOLATION OF MAKETE FOR PART OF THE YEAR 
Keywords: isolation, part of the year 
The word “isolation” leads us to look at section B, where the writer explains:”When the project began, 
Makete district was virtually totally isolated during the rainy season. The regional road was in such 
bad shape that access to the main towns was impossible for about three months of the year” This 
means that the road was in such a bad condition (=shape) that Makete district was isolated for part of 
the year, specifically during the rainy season which lasts about 3 months. The results of improvements 

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are referred to in Section D. “The road improvements and accompanying maintenance system had 
helped make the district centre accessible throughout the year.” 
+ part of the year = rainy season/ three months of the year 
So the best answer to complete the sentence that matches the content of this text is E. 
=> ANSWER: E: was no longer a problem once the roads had been improved 
QUESTION 40.WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING PHRASES BEST 
DESCRIBES THE MAIN AIM OF READING PASSAGE 3? 
Reading though the passage and from the above answers, we can see that the passage deals with the 
whole process of MIRTP, from how it was implement and executed ( from section A-D) to the final 
positive result of it (Section E, F). So the best answer is B. To describe how MIRTP was implemented 
and how successful it was. A is not correct because although in section F, the writer considers MIRTP 
“as a reference for future work”, it doesn‟t mean MIRTP is needed in other countries. In fact, “future 
work” here refers to a transport program about to start in Tanzania: “The concept of intergrated rural 
transport is now well established in Tanzania, where a major program of rural transport is just about to 
start. This experiences from Makete will help this initiative,and Makete District will act as a reference 
for future work.” C is not correct because this the use of donkeys is just a small part of the content of 
the passage, not the main aim of the author D is not correct because clearly the author argues in 
Section F that MIRTP “will act as a reference for future work”, so it cannot have serious problems. 
=> ANSWER: B: To describe how MIRTP was implemented and how successful it was.