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Driverless Cars Reading Answers: IELTS Reading Practice Test

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Updated on Jul 02, 2024, 11:57

The IELTS Reading section is designed to assess a wide range of reading skills, including your ability to understand the main ideas, locate specific information, recognise writers' opinions, attitudes, and purpose, and follow the development of an argument. This section consists of 40 questions that you must answer within 60 minutes. You will encounter three long reading passages with a variety of question types.

 

The passage about "Driverless Cars" explores the advancements in autonomous vehicle technology, the potential benefits and challenges, and the societal implications of adopting driverless cars.

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1. Driverless Cars Reading Passage

You should spend approximately 20 minutes answering Questions 1 - 14 based on the Reading Passage below. This approach can help manage time effectively during a reading comprehension activity or exam. 

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2. Driverless Cars Reading Question & Answers

Discover exciting and informative IELTS reading answers about Driverless Cars

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1.

Driverless Cars Reading 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.

 

 

 

Driverless Cars Reading Passage


 

Paragraph A

The automotive industry is very used to adapting to automating manufacturing. Since the 1970s, the implementation of robotic car manufacturing has brought significant cost savings and improvements in the reliability and flexibility of mass production of vehicles. There is a new challenge to vehicle production on the horizon again and it comes from automation. But, this time it has nothing to do with the process of manufacturing, but with the vehicles themselves.

 

Paragraph B

Vehicle automation research is not new. For more than 50 years, vehicles with limited self-driving capabilities have been around, which contributed significantly towards driver assistance systems. Progress in this field has quickly gathered pace since Google announced that it had been trialling self-driving cars on the streets of California in 2010.

 

Paragraph C

Technology is advancing so fast for many reasons. The biggest reason is safety. UK’s Transport Research Laboratory’s Research has shown that more than 90% of road collisions occur due to human error, and it is the biggest cause of road accidents. Automating driving may help to reduce the occurrence of this.

 

Paragraph D

Another reason is to reduce the time people use to drive and make use of it for other purposes. It may be possible to socialise, be productive or relax if the vehicle can do some or all of the driving, while automation systems have all the responsibility for your safety. Those who are old or disabled may be able to travel alone if the vehicle can drive.

 

Paragraph E

We can look at the wider implications for transport and society apart from these direct benefits, and how manufacturing processes might need to change as a result. At present, the average car spends its life parked for more than 90% of its life. Initiatives for car-sharing become more possible through automation, especially in cities with more demand for vehicles. Mobility demand can be met by far fewer vehicles if a significant proportion of the population chooses to use shared automated vehicles.

 

Paragraph F

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology investigated automated mobility in Singapore and found that less than 30% of the vehicles used presently would be needed if automated car-sharing could be fully implemented. In that case, it can mean that we may need to produce far fewer vehicles to meet the demand. The number of trips being taken may increase because empty vehicles would have to be moved from one customer to the next.

 

Paragraph G

Modelling work at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute indicates that automated vehicles might reduce ownership of vehicles by 43%, but as a result the average annual mileage of vehicles doubles. As a result, the vehicles would be used more frequently and will require replacement sooner. Due to this fast turnover the vehicle production may not necessarily decrease.

 

Paragraph H

Automation may bring some other modifications in the manufacture of vehicles. If we move to a model where consumers don't own any vehicles but will get access to different vehicles through a mobility provider, drivers will choose to select the vehicle that best suits their needs for a particular journey, rather than compromising on all their requirements.

 

Paragraph I

Since most of the seats in most cars are unoccupied most of the time, it can increase the development of smaller and efficient vehicles that match the needs of individuals. For going on exceptional journeys like a family trip or to help children move to a university, specialised vehicles may be made available.

 

Paragraph J

We should overcome many obstacles before delivering automated vehicles to our roads. These include the technical difficulties in making sure that the vehicle is reliable in traffic, different climates, and multiple road situations it might experience; the regulatory challenges in understanding how liability and enforcement might need to change when drivers are not needed; and the societal changes that are to be brought in communities to accept and trust automated vehicles as being a valuable part of the mobility landscape.

 

Paragraph K

There is no doubt that many challenges need to be taken care of, but through targeted and robust research, these problems can be solved in the next 10 years. In the coming years, mobility will change in many ways and will be associated with so many other technological developments, such as telepresence and virtual reality, which makes proper predictions difficult. However, one thing is clear: change is for sure, and the flexibility to respond to this will be essential for those involved in manufacturing the vehicles that will implement future mobility.

2.

Driverless Cars Reading Question & Answers

Discover exciting and informative IELTS reading answers about Driverless Cars

Questions and Answers 1-5
  • The reading passage has eleven paragraphs: A-K.
  • Which paragraph contains the following information?
  • Write the correct letter, A - K, as your answer to each question.

 

 

1. Google announced that it had been trialling self-driving cars on the streets of California in 2010. 

 

2. University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute indicates that automated vehicles might reduce ownership of vehicles by 43%.
 

3. Automation can increase the development of smaller and more efficient vehicles that match the needs of individuals.
 

4. Those who are old or disabled may be able to travel alone if the vehicle can do the driving.
 

5.  Vehicles would be used more frequently and will require replacement sooner resulting in fast turnover the vehicle production may not necessarily decrease.


 

Driverless Cars Reading Answers with Explanations (1-5)

 

Type of question: Matching information

 

In this question type, you will be asked to match specific pieces of information, often dates, names, or events, from the reading passage with corresponding options provided in the question.

 

How to best answer: 


 

  • Read each statement carefully to understand the specific information being asked for.
  • Scan the passage for relevant dates or events in the reading passage that corresponds to each statement.
  • Eliminate incorrect options that do not match the information found in the passage.
  • Match the remaining options based on the information provided in the passage.
  • Verify your answers to ensure they match the information in the passage before finalising them.

 

 

1. Paragraph B

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph B: "Progress in this field has quickly gathered pace since Google announced that it had been trialling self-driving cars on the streets of California in 2010."

 

Explanation

The paragraph specifically mentions Google's 2010 announcement about trialling self-driving cars, highlighting a significant milestone in the development of vehicle automation.


 

2. Paragraph G

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph G:  "Modelling work at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute indicates that automated vehicles might reduce ownership of vehicles by 43%, but as a result, the average annual mileage of vehicles doubles."
 

Explanation

This paragraph discusses the findings from the University of Michigan regarding vehicle ownership and usage, directly matching the question about reduced vehicle ownership.


 

3. Paragraph I

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph I:  "Since, most of the seats in most cars are unoccupied most of the time, it can increase the development of smaller and efficient vehicles that match the needs of individuals."

 

Explanation

The paragraph addresses the potential for developing smaller, more efficient vehicles due to cars' typically low occupancy rate, aligning with the question's focus on vehicle development.


 

4. Paragraph D

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 2: "Those who are old or disabled may be able to travel alone if the vehicle can do the driving."
 

Explanation

This paragraph directly mentions the benefit of vehicle automation for the elderly and disabled, allowing them to travel independently.


 

5. Paragraph G

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 3: "As a result, the vehicles would be used more frequently and will require replacement sooner. Due to this fast turnover, the vehicle production may not necessarily decrease."

 

Explanation

This paragraph explains that increased vehicle usage due to automation will lead to faster replacement rates, which may counterbalance any potential decrease in vehicle production.

Questions and Answers 6-9
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the Reading Passage?
Based on your understanding of the passage, mark the statement:

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

 

 

6. Safety is the biggest reason for the advancement of driverless car technology.
7. The average car spends its life parked for more than 90% of its life. 
8. Modelling work at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute indicates that automated vehicles might increase ownership of vehicles.
9.  The flexibility to respond to this will be essential for those involved in manufacturing the vehicles that will implement future mobility.

 

Driverless Cars Answers with Explanations (6-9)

 

Type of question: 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.


 

6. True

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph C: "Technology is advancing so fast due to many reasons. The biggest reason is safety."
 

Explanation

This paragraph clearly states that safety is the primary reason for the advancement of driverless car technology.


 

7. True

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph E: "At present, the average car spends its life parked for more than 90% of its life."

 

Explanation

This paragraph explicitly mentions that cars are parked for the majority of their lifetime, supporting the statement.


 

8. False

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph G: "Modelling work at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute indicates that automated vehicles might reduce ownership of vehicles by 43%, but as a result, the average annual mileage of vehicles doubles."

 

Explanation

The paragraph indicates a reduction, not an increase, in vehicle ownership due to automation.


 

9. True

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph K: "The flexibility to respond to this will be essential for those involved in manufacturing the vehicles that will implement future mobility."
 

Explanation

This paragraph stresses the importance of flexibility for manufacturers in adapting to future mobility changes.

Questions and Answers 10-14
  • Complete the summary below.
  • Write the answer in NOT MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.

 

 

From the 1970s, the implementation of 10) _______ manufacture brought significant cost savings and improvements in the reliability and flexibility of mass production of vehicles. For more than 50 years, vehicles with limited 11) ________ capabilities have been around, which contributed significantly towards driver assistance systems. More than 90% of road collisions occur due to human error, and it is the biggest cause of 12) ________. Automating driving may help to reduce the occurrence of this. One thing is clear: change is for sure, and the 13) ______ to respond to this will be essential for those involved in manufacturing the vehicles that will implement future mobility. There is no doubt that many challenges need to be taken care of, but through targeted and 14) ________, these problems can be solved in the next 10 years.


 

Driverless Cars Answers with Explanations (10-14)

 

Type of question: Summary completion

 

Under this task, you will be given a summary with incomplete sentences. However, you will not be given any list of words/phrases to choose the missing information. You must refer to the main passage to fill in the missing information. 

 

How to answer: 

 

  • Read the summary to understand what information it’s missing
  • Identify keywords and locate them in the main passage to find missing words 
  • Review the context of the words you’ve chosen to match the summary
  • Finalise your answers 

 

 

10. robotic car

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph A: "Since the 1970s, the implementation of robotic car manufacturing has brought significant cost savings and improvements in the reliability and flexibility of mass production of vehicles."

 

Explanation

The paragraph highlights how robotic car manufacturing, starting from the 1970s, led to cost savings and improvements, directly matching the summary requirement.


 

11. Self-driving

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph B: "For more than 50 years, vehicles with limited self-driving capabilities have been around, which contributed significantly towards driver assistance systems."
 

Explanation

This paragraph mentions the existence of vehicles with limited self-driving capabilities for over 50 years, aligning perfectly with the summary.


 

12. road accidents

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 7: "UK’s Transport Research Laboratory’s Research has shown that more than 90% of road collisions occur due to human error, and it is the biggest cause of road accidents."
 

Explanation

The paragraph explicitly states that human error is the major cause of road accidents, fulfilling the summary's requirement.

 

 

13. flexibility

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph K: "However, One thing is clear: change is for sure, and the flexibility to respond to this will be essential for those involved in manufacturing the vehicles that will implement future mobility."
 

Explanation

This paragraph emphasises the need for flexibility in responding to changes, which is crucial for future vehicle manufacturing, as noted in the summary.


 

14. robust research

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph K: "There is no doubt that many challenges need to be taken care of, but through targeted and robust research, these problems can be solved in the next 10 years."
 

Explanation

The paragraph suggests that robust research is essential for overcoming challenges in the next decade, directly corresponding to the summary statement.

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FAQs

Q. How can I stay calm and focused during the IELTS Reading test?

Ans. In order to stay calm and focused during the IELTS Reading test, it's helpful to practise mindfulness exercises, manage your time effectively, stay properly hydrated, remain relaxed, review the questions carefully, and adopt a positive mindset. By following these suggestions, you can maximise your performance during the test.

Q. What is the band score range for the IELTS Reading module?

Ans. The score range for the IELTS Reading module is from 0 to 9. This score is determined based on the number of correct responses and is calculated using a conversion table. The final score is rounded to the nearest half-band and is presented as a whole or half-band. A score of 9 indicates expert proficiency, while 0 indicates non-user proficiency. The specific score requirements may vary based on the institution or organisation requesting the test.

Q. How can I improve my reading speed for the IELTS Reading test?

Ans. The best way to improve your reading speed is to practise reading quickly to understand the main ideas of passages. It also helps to read a variety of materials such as blogs, stories, and novels to expand your vocabulary. Concentrating without distractions is important, and it's a good idea to first read and understand the questions before quickly finding the answers in the paragraphs.