IELTS Academic Reading ‘The Falkirk Wheel’ Answers

Courtney Miller

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Updated On Aug 14, 2024

The Falkirk Wheel
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The IELTS Academic Reading: Cambridge Reading Sample; ‘The Falkirk wheel’ with answers. The post will discuss the answers to questions 14-26. The headline of the passage is ‘The Falkirk wheel’

The Falkirk Wheel

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The answers with explanations are given below

Question Number	Answer	Explanation
14	FALSE	In the third line of the 2nd Paragraph, it is mentioned that 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. Somehow, it was dismantled in 1933. From these lines, it is indicated that both the canals had already been linked before, and it is not the first time in history. Thus, the statement doesn’t match the information. As a result, the answer is False.
15	NOT GIVEN	The question states that there was some opposition to the design of the Falkirk wheel at first. But apparently, no such information related to the question is mentioned in the. Paragraphs. But in the third Paragraph, it is narrated that numerous ideas were submitted for the Falkirk wheel project. Consequently, the answer is NOT GIVEN.
16	TRUE	The information related to the question can be found in the fourth Paragraph. It is described that the various parts of the Falkirk wheel were all constructed and assembled like one giant toy building set at Butterley Engineering’s Steelworks in Derbyshire. Therefore, the statement which states that the Falkirk Wheel was initially put together at the location where its components were manufactured agrees with the information in the Paragraph. Here, put together means assembled. So, the answer is True.

17	NOT GIVEN	In the fourth Paragraph’s conclusion, it is mentioned that over 45,000 bolt holes were matched with their bolts and each bolt was hand-tightened. We understand that each bolt was hand-tightened. But according to the question, it is not mentioned anywhere in the Paragraph that the Falkirk wheel is the only boat lift in the world with steel sections bolted together by hand. So, the answer is NOT GIVEN.
18	FALSE	The answer to the question can be traced in paragraph 5, where it is mentioned that these gondolas always weigh the same, whether or not they are carrying the boats. This means their weight doesn’t vary, and it remains the same irrespective of the size of the boat being carried. So, the answer is False.
19	TRUE	The answer to the question can be located in the last Paragraph, where it is stated that the wheel could not be constructed to elevator boats over the full 35-meter difference between the two canals, owing to the presence of the historically important Antonine Wall. Now, according to the question, “ancient” refers to being historically important. So, it is clear that the construction of the Falkirk wheel site took into account a nearby ancient monument. Here, ancient monuments mean the Antonine Wall. So, the answer is True.
20	Gates	The answer to the question can be found in the third sentence of the 6th Paragraph, where it is mentioned that two hydraulic steel gates are raised to seal the gondola off from the water in the canal basin. According to the question, pair of means two, lifted means to raise and to shut out refers to seal off from the water. So, the answer is Gates. (A pair of Gates are lifted in order to shut out water from the canal basin).
21	Clamp	From the fifth line in the 6th Paragraph, it is described that a hydraulic clamp is used to prevent the arms of the wheel from moving while the gondola is docked and is removed, allowing the wheel to turn. So, according to the question, something which is taken out to enable the wheels to rotate is the hydraulic Clamp. Here, removed refers to taken out and turn refers to rotate. So, the answer is Clamp. (A hydraulic clamp is taken out, enabling the wheel to rotate).
22	Axle	In the last line in the 6th Paragraph, it is mentioned that in the central machine room, an array of ten hydraulic motors begins to rotate the central Axle, which is then connected to the outer arms of the wheel. So, we understand that the hydraulic motors either drive or control the Axle by rotating it. Thus, the answer is Axle. (Hydraulic motors drive Axle).
23	Cogs	In the 6th Paragraph, it is narrated that when the wheel rotates, the gondolas are kept upright by a simple gearing system. Two eight-meter wide Cogs orbit a fixed inner cog of the same width, connected by two smaller Cogs travelling in the opposite direction. According to the question, the above lines indicate the different sizes of cogs, ensuring the boats are upright. So, the answer is Cogs. (A range of different sized cogs ensure the boat keeps upright).
24	Aqueduct	Paragraph 6 indicates that when the gondola reaches the top, the boat passes straight onto the Aqueduct situated 24 meters above the canal basin. As per the question, “moving directly onto” means “passing straight onto”. Thus, the answer is Aqueduct. (Boat reaches top wheel, then moves directly onto the Aqueduct)
25	Wall	In the last paragraph of the passage, it is mentioned that boats travel under the Antonine Wall, built by Romans via a tunnel, then through the rocks, and finally on to the Union canal. Now, as per the question, the answer is Wall. (Boat travels through a tunnel beneath Roman Wall). Here, under means beneath and via means through.
26	Locks	In the last paragraph, it is described that the remaining 11 meters of lift needed to reach the Union Canal is achieved by means of a pair of locks. As per the question, locks are used to raise or lift the boats 11m to the level of the Union canal. So, the answer is locks. (Locks raise boat 11m to the level of Union Canal).

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