A Brief History Of London Underground Reading Reading Answers: IELTS Reading Practice Test with Answers

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Updated on Apr 08, 2025, 07:47

In the  IELTS Reading section, you will read three academic or general interest passages and answer 40 questions in total that may include true/false/not given, multiple choice questions and sentence completion. You’ll have 60 minutes to complete the section, so it’s important to manage your time wisely and develop effective reading strategies like skimming and scanning.
 

A Brief History Of London Underground Reading passage explores the origins and development of the London Underground, the world’s first underground railway system. It highlights key milestones, engineering challenges, and the impact of this network on urban transport.


Let’s look at the A Brief History Of London Underground reading answer passages, questions, and answers with explanations.

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1. A Brief History Of London Underground Reading Answer Passage

You should spend approximately 20 minutes answering Questions 1 – 13 based on A Brief History Of London Underground Reading Answer Passage below.

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2. A Brief History Of London Underground Reading Answers with Sample Questions

Discover exciting and informative IELTS reading answers about A Brief History Of London Underground.

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3. Check Out Top 65+ IELTS Reading Practice Test Questions with Answers

Below are some top free IELTS Reading Practice test online questions with detailed answers to enhance your IELTS preparation online. 

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A Brief History Of London Underground Reading Answer Passage

General Information

  • Read Instructions: Understand each question before answering.
  • Manage Time: Spend about 20 minutes per passage.
  • Skim and Scan: Quickly get the main idea and find specific information.
  • Highlight Key Info: Underline essential words or phrases.
  • Answer All Questions: Attempt every question; no penalty for wrong answers.
  • Stay Focused: Avoid distractions and keep your attention on the task.
  • Check Spelling: Ensure correct spelling and grammar.
  • Transfer Answers Clearly: Write answers neatly on the answer sheet.
  • Don’t Dwell: Move on if stuck and return later.
  • Review: If time allows, review your answers.

 

 

A Brief History Of London Underground Reading Answer Passage

 

Paragraph A. It is a staple of not just the capital of the UK but of British culture in general. It is used by more than 1.3 billion people per year, and it is more than 400 kilometres long. It has survived fires, floods, terrorist attacks and two world wars, and it has been described as   “form of mild torture”, a “twopenny tube”, and a system of “padded cells”. It is the London Underground, and it has been around for more than 150 years. But how did it all start?

 

Paragraph B. The idea of an intricate train network running underneath a vibrant and heavily populated city like London might not be such a novelty in contemporary society, but it certainly was one back in the early 19th century when it was first conceived. In fact, the only reason such a notion-at the time described by The Times as an “insult to common sense” – was even entertained in the first place was pure desperation: during the Victorian era, London roads were insufferably overcrowded, and a Royal Commission of 1846 meant that central London was out of bounds for railway companies, whose mainline railways all had to stop just outside the City and West End. A way to connect Paddington, Euston and King’s Cross was, therefore, a necessity to relieve the congested streets, and Charles Pearson, the man who originally envisioned a Fleet Valley rail tunnel just fifteen years after the first steam passenger service was opened in 1830, couldn’t have come up with his plan for what was to become London Underground at a better time.

 

Paragraph C. And so the story begins, in 1863, with the opening of the Metropolitan Railway, which ran between Paddington (called Bishop’s Road at the time) and Farringdon, serving a total of eight stations. Five years later, in 1868, the first section of the Metropolitan District Railway (now incorporated into the District and Circle lines) followed, running from South Kensington to Westminster. Within the first fifty years, much of what is known as Zone 1 of the London Underground system today would be built, all funded by private developers. (Unfortunately for them, none would get the financial returns they had been promised.)

 

Paragraph D. People nowadays might complain about the atmosphere in the London Underground, particularly in the summer, but it is nothing compared to the conditions the Metropolitan Railway’s passengers had to weather during the first years of its operation. So foul was the smell in the tunnels that spread under the city that drivers were allowed to grow beards, in hopes that this would protect them from inhaling the billowing smokes. (According to the account of a civil servant from that time, the stink in the underground was comparable to that of a ‘crocodile’s breath’.) Nevertheless, the line was a smashing success from the very beginning, with more than 11 million passengers in just the first year.

 

Paragraph E. The second spate of construction works arrived with the development of electric traction at the end of the 19th century, which meant that trains no longer had to run through shallow tunnels to allow room for the steam produced by the engines to escape. Instead, new tunnels could now be dug, cutting deeper into the belly of the city. The first deep-level electric railway was opened in December 1890 by the City and South London Railway, connecting King William Street to Stockwell. In the following fifty years, the existing tube lines would systematically be extended, branching into London’s various suburbs. Surprisingly, it would take until 1968 for an entirely new line to open again: the Victoria Line (provisionally named the Viking Line), which was followed by the Jubilee Line eleven years later.

 

Paragraph F. As I mentioned above, London Underground’s first lines were built by private developers, meaning that each line was owned by different companies. This changed in 1933 when all of those companies were nationalised and merged to form the London Passenger Transport Board, which controlled London’s railway, tram, trolleybus, bus and coach services. (Coincidentally, 1933 was also the year the first diagram of the iconic Underground map was first presented by Harry Beck.) The London Passenger Transport Board itself was nationalised in 1948.

 

Paragraph G. The next wave of changes came at the turn of the 21st century and has continued to unfold well into its second decade: in 2003, the famous Oyster card was introduced, a wireless travel card that can be charged up with money to be used for single fares or weekly, monthly, and yearly travel tickets. Busking was also legalised the same year. In 2007, London Underground achieved its next important milestone, reaching 1 billion passengers per year, and in 2009, it was named the best Metro system in Europe. In early 2016, a new Crossrail line named after Queen Elizabeth II was announced, which is due to open in late 2018. This will be the first new line in nearly forty years. And the story goes on.

 

Paragraph H. So, there you have it. The underground system that every Londoner loves to hate, but without which London never would have become the sort of financial hub and melting pot it is today. A history spanning across three centuries, all of which contributed to the creation of not just a transport system but a unique, daring brand and a cultural phenomenon the likes of which the world had never seen before. Perhaps it is, as its critics contend, too busy, too hot, too pricey and too grimy. But it is also a remarkable achievement for Londoners and non-Londoners alike, and it should be treasured regardless of its shortcomings.

 

Let’s explore the questions and answers of A Brief History Of London Underground reading answer passage.

2.

A Brief History Of London Underground Reading Answers with Sample Questions

Have you read the passage? Now, take the test and find A Brief History Of London Underground Reading answers! Try to answer these questions by yourself before you sneak a peek at the answers given below.

Questions and Answers 1-6
Do the following statements agree with the information given in A Brief History Of London Underground Reading Answers Passage?
In boxes 1-6 on your answer sheet, write
  • TRUE if the statement agrees with the information.
  • FALSE if the statement contradicts the information.
  • NOT GIVEN if there is no information about this.

 

1.   More than a billion commuters use the London Underground every day.

2.   London Underground would not be considered a unique concept were it to be build today.

3.   In the 19th century, railway companies were not allowed to build stations within Central London.

4.   Charles Pearson’s London Underground plan was a precursor of his Fleet Valley rail tunnel idea.

5.   The first section of the Metropolitan District Railway, opened in 1868, took five years to complete.

6.   The British government promised great financial returns to private investors to convince them to fund London Underground.
 

A Brief History Of London Underground Reading Answers with Explanations (1-6)

 

Type of question: Yes/No/Not Given(True/False/Not Given)

 

In this question type, you are required to determine whether the statements provided agree with, contradict, or are not mentioned in the reading passage. 

 

How to best answer: 
 

  • Understand what information is being presented and what is being asked.
  • Find relevant information in the reading passage that relates to the statement.
  • Determine if the statement agrees with, contradicts, or is not mentioned in the passage.
  • If the information is not explicitly provided in the passage, select 'Not Given' rather than making assumptions.
  • Base your answers solely on the information presented in the passage, avoiding personal opinions or outside knowledge.

 

1. False

 

Reference: From Paragraph G: “In 2007, London Underground achieved its next important milestone, reaching 1 billion passengers per year, and in 2009, it was named the best Metro system in Europe.”

 

Explanation: This line confirms that 1 billion passengers use the London Underground per year, not per day, as the question claims. Since the statement greatly overstates daily usage, it is inaccurate and, therefore, false.

 

2. True

 

Reference: From Paragraph B: “The idea of an intricate train network running underneath a vibrant and heavily populated city like London might not be such a novelty in contemporary society, but it certainly was one back in the early 19th century when it was first conceived”.

 

Explanation: The passage highlights that while underground rail systems are common today, they were considered unusual in the 19th century. This supports the idea that such a project wouldn’t be considered unique if proposed in modern times.

 

3. True

 

Reference: From Paragraph F: “This changed in 1933 when all of those companies were nationalised and merged to form the London Passenger Transport Board, which controlled London’s railway, tram, trolleybus, bus and coach services”.

 

Explanation: This sentence directly confirms that railway companies were not permitted to build stations in central London due to a Royal Commission. It validates the statement that such restrictions existed in the 19th century.

 

4. False

 

Reference: From Paragraph B: “A way to connect Paddington, Euston, and King’s Cross was, therefore, a necessity to relieve the congested streets, and Charles Pearson, the man who originally envisioned a Fleet Valley rail tunnel just fifteen years after the first steam passenger service was opened in 1830, couldn’t have come up with his plan for what was to become London Underground at a better time.”

 

Explanation: The line shows that the idea of the Fleet Valley tunnel came before Pearson's London Underground plan. Since the statement in the question claims the opposite order, it is factually incorrect.

 

5. Not Given

 

Reference: N/A

 

Explanation: While the passage mentions that the first section of the Metropolitan District Railway opened in 1868, it provides no information about how long it took to complete. As a result, there is not enough evidence to say whether the statement is true or false.

 

6. Not Given

 

Reference: N/A

 

Explanation: The text states that private developers funded the early construction and didn’t receive the promised financial returns. However, there is no mention of the British government making such promises, so the information needed to confirm the statement is missing.

 

Also Read: 350+ English Vocabulary Words for IELTS

Questions and Answers 7-10
  • Choose the correct letter: A, B, C or D.
  • Write your answers in boxes 7-10 on your answer sheet.

 

7.   During the first year of its operation, the Metropolitan Railway
A.   encouraged passengers to grow beards to block the smell.
B.   was not particularly successful.
C.   had more than 11 million passengers.
D.   was as bad as it is nowadays during the summer months.
 

8.  At the end of the 19th century,
A.   London Underground stopped using shallow tunnels.
B.   a new London Underground line was completed.
C.   a new method of moving trains with electricity was invented.
D.  the City and South London Railway was established.
 

9.   The Victoria Line
A.   was originally named the Viking Line.
B.   was the first London Underground line to use electric traction.
C.   was the fourth London Underground line to be built.
D.   was built more than 70 years after its predecessor.
 

10.   The London Passenger Transport Board
A.   replaced the private companies that previously owned London Underground.
B.   released the first diagram of the Underground Map in 1933.
C.   was established by private developers.
D.   controlled most of London’s transport services.
 

A Brief History Of London Underground Reading Answers With Explanations (7-10)
 

Type of question: Multiple choice questions

 

In this question type, you are asked to answer the question followed by several options, typically lettered A, B, C, or D. The task is to select the correct answer from the given choices based on the information provided in the reading passage.

 

How to best answer: 
 

  • Read the question carefully and understand what it asks.
  • Pay attention to the keywords in the question.
  • Skim the passage quickly to locate relevant information.
  • Eliminate the clearly incorrect options.
  • Select the answer that best fits the information in the passage.

 

7. C - had more than 11 million passengers.

 

Reference: From Paragraph D: "Nevertheless, the line was a smashing success from the very beginning, with more than 11 million passengers in just the first year."

 

Explanation: This line clearly states that the Metropolitan Railway had over 11 million passengers in its first year of operation. This high number shows it was a great success from the beginning, making option C the correct answer.

 

8. B - a new London Underground line was completed

 

Reference: From Paragraph E: “The second spate of construction works arrived with the development of electric traction at the end of the 19th century, which meant that trains no longer had to run through shallow tunnels to allow room for the steam produced by the engines to escape”.

 

Explanation: This line indicates that thanks to electric traction, a new phase of construction began, making it possible to dig deeper tunnels. The development led to the completion of a new line—the City and South London Railway—at the end of the 19th century, supporting option B.

 

9. D - was built more than 70 years after its predecessor

 

Reference: From Paragraph E: “Surprisingly, it would take until 1968 for an entirely new line to open again: the Victoria Line (provisionally named the Viking Line), which was followed by the Jubilee Line eleven years later”.

 

Explanation: This line clearly states that no new line was built for decades until the Victoria Line opened in 1968. This long gap confirms that it was constructed over 70 years after its predecessor, making option D the right answer.

 

10. A - replaced the private companies that previously owned London Underground

 

Reference: From Paragraph F: “This changed in 1933 when all of those companies were nationalised and merged to form the London Passenger Transport Board, which controlled London’s railway, tram, trolleybus, bus and coach services. (Coincidentally, 1933 was also the year the first diagram of the iconic Underground map was first presented by Harry Beck.) The London Passenger Transport Board itself was nationalised in 1948”.

 

Explanation: The paragraph explains that in 1933, private companies were replaced by a single authority—the London Passenger Transport Board. This shows that ownership shifted from private to public, making option A the correct choice.

 

To build a strong word bank that can help you approach the Reading section with clarity and confidence, go through the Dictation Words for IELTS!

Questions and Answers 11-13
  • Complete the sentences below.
  • Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from Reading Passage 2 for each answer.
  • Write your answers in boxes 11-13 on your answer sheet.

 

Since 2003, London commuters have been able to listen to (11) __________ in and outside London Underground stations.
 

London Underground not only attracted a lot of business to London but also helped it to become a (12) __________.
 

London Underground does have its (13) __________, but it’s still a unique an important cultural phenomenon.
 

A Brief History Of London Underground  Reading Answers With Explanations (11-13)
 

Type of question: Sentence Completion

 

In this question type, you are required to fill in the blanks in a given sentence with words or phrases taken directly from the passage. These questions test your ability to understand specific details and information presented in the text.

 

How to best answer: 

 

  • Read the sentence carefully to understand the context.
  • Identify keywords or clues that can help you find the answer in the passage.
  • Scan the passage for relevant information, focusing on the area around the blank.
  • Choose the answer that fits grammatically and contextually.
  • Verify your answers and finalise them.

 

11. Busking

 

Reference: From Paragraph G: “Busking was also legalised the same year”.

 

Explanation: This line clearly indicates that busking or performing music in public spaces was legalised in 2003. Since then, commuters have been able to enjoy live music performances inside and outside the Underground stations. Therefore, “busking” is the correct answer.

 

12. Melting Pot

 

Reference: From Paragraph H: “The underground system that every Londoner loves to hate, but without which London never would have become the sort of financial hub and melting pot it is today.”

 

Explanation: This line shows that the Underground played a crucial role in transforming London into a diverse and multicultural city. The term “melting pot” highlights the city's cultural blend, making it the appropriate answer to describe what London became.

 

13. Shortcomings

 

Reference: From Paragraph H: “But it is also a remarkable achievement, for Londoners and non-Londoners alike, and it should be treasured regardless of its shortcomings.”

 

Explanation: This line acknowledges that although the Underground may have flaws, it remains a valued part of London’s culture. The word “shortcomings” refers to those flaws, making it the correct answer in this context.
3.

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FAQs

Q. What are common keywords in A Brief History Of London Underground reading passage?

Ans. Common keywords include terms like "transport," "railway," "engineering," "expansion," "underground system," "construction," and specific dates or names like "Metropolitan Railway" and "Victorian era." These help in locating answers quickly in the text.

Q. How to answer matching headings questions in A Brief History Of London Underground reading passage?

Ans. Read each paragraph carefully and identify its main idea. Then, match it with the correct heading from the list. Focus on overall meaning rather than individual words, and avoid being misled by matching keywords alone.

Q. What is a challenging aspect of A Brief History Of London Underground reading passage?

Ans. A challenging aspect is understanding the sequence of historical events and distinguishing between similar developments over time. The passage contains a lot of factual details, which can make matching or locating specific information difficult.

Q. Are A Brief History Of London Underground passages part of the IELTS Academic or General Reading?

Ans. This type of passage is typically found in the IELTS Academic Reading test. It features complex vocabulary and a factual, informative tone suitable for assessing academic-level reading skills.

Q. Can I write my answers in capital letters?

Ans. Yes, you can write all your answers in capital letters on the IELTS Reading answer sheet. This can help avoid confusion over handwriting, especially for clarity in letters like "a" and "e."

Q. Is extra time given to transfer answers to the answer sheet?

Ans. In the IELTS Reading test, no extra time is given to transfer your answers. You must write your final answers directly on the answer sheet within the 60-minute test duration.

Q. Can I use a highlighter during the Reading test?

Ans. No, you're not allowed to use a highlighter in the IELTS Reading test. However, you can underline or circle keywords and phrases in the question paper using a pencil.

Q. Should I manage my time equally across all passages?

Ans. Ideally, you should aim to spend around 20 minutes on each passage. However, the third passage is usually the hardest, so you may want to leave a few extra minutes for it.

Q. Can I start with any section of the Reading test?

Ans. Yes, you can start with any passage you prefer. There’s no rule against this, but make sure you manage your time wisely and write answers in the correct boxes on the answer sheet.

Q. Are spelling mistakes penalised in the Reading test?

Ans. Yes, spelling mistakes are penalised in the IELTS Reading test. Even if your answer is correct in meaning, incorrect spelling will be marked as wrong.

Q. Do I need to include articles ('a', 'an', 'the') in my answers?

Ans. Yes, if the question requires a full phrase or sentence, including articles is important. For short answer questions, only include articles if they are part of the correct answer according to the passage.