Talk Icon

Practice 100+ speaking topics!

Star rating icon

4.2

1M+ Installs

Get App

leap-scholar-logo
hamburger-menu

European Transport System Reading Answers: IELTS Reading Practice Test

updated at

Updated on Jul 02, 2024, 11:57

The IELTS Reading section is an important part of the exam, evaluating your ability to understand written English. You'll read passages from books, journals, and newspapers. You will have to answer 40 questions in 60 minutes based on the passages you receive.

 

Sounds challenging? It’s easy if you prepare well, and that’s what we’re here for! 

 

One of the passages you might encounter is a practical one about the European Transport System. This passage dives into the functioning of transportation in Europe, its real-world challenges, and its significant impact on society. 

 

It's a topic that's important not just for the exam but also for understanding how people and goods move around Europe.

 

Let’s look at the ‘European Transport System’ passage, questions, and answers with explanations. 

On this page

Arrow right
Slider image

1. European Transport System Reading Passage

You should spend approximately 20 minutes answering Questions 1 - 13 based on the Reading Passage below. This approach can help manage time effectively during a reading comprehension activity or exam. 

Slider image

2. European Transport System Reading Questions & Answers

Discover exciting and informative IELTS reading answers about European Transport System

More for you

Boost your IELTS Reading score

Book Free Reading class arrow right

See how to score 8+ in Speaking. 

Get proven strategies to ace your IELTS Speaking test.

Learn More arrow right
3/3
1.

European Transport System 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.

 

 

 

 

European Transport System Reading Passage


 

Paragraph A: It is hard to imagine serious economic development without an efficient transportation system. Although current information technologies can lower the need for physical transportation by facilitating teleworking and teleservices, the demand for transportation continues to grow. There are two main factors behind this trend. With regard to passenger transport, the decisive factor is the incredible growth in-car benefit. The number of cars on EU roads increased by three million cars each year from 1990 to 2010, and over the next decade, the EU will see further significant growth in its navy.

 

Paragraph B: As far as freight is concerned, development is largely due to changes in the European economy and its mode of production. Over the past 20 years, the EU has shifted from a “stock” economy to a “flow” economy as internal borders have been abolished. This event is highlighted by migrating some industries, especially labor-intensive ones, to lower production expenses, even if the production site is hundreds or thousands of kilometers away from the final assembly plant or away from users.

 

Paragraph C: Strong economic growth anticipated in countries that are candidates for entry into the EU will raise traffic flow, especially road traffic. In 1998, some of these countries already shipped twice as much as 1990 volumes and imported five times more than 1990 volumes. Although many candidate countries have inherited a rail-promoting mode of transport, the distribution between modes in favor of road transport has fallen sharply since the 1990s. Between 1990 and 1998, road traffic expanded by 19.4%, while rail traffic fell by 43.5%, although this would help the expanded EU, which is on average higher than existing member states.

 

Paragraph D: However, a new forced-sustainable growth offers the chance to change the EU's general transport policy. This goal, agreed by the Gothenburg European Council, must be attained by combining environmental considerations into social policies and shifting the balance between transportation systems at the center of its strategy. The ambitious goal can only be fully accomplished by 2020, although the proposed measures are the first important step toward a sustainable transport system, which will take effect in 30 years, by 2040.

 

Paragraph E: In 1998, energy consumption in the transportation sector accounted for 28% of CO2 emissions, the top greenhouse gas emissions. According to the latest estimates, CO2 emissions from transport are hoped to grow by 50% to 1,113 billion tonnes by 2020, compared to the 739 billion tonnes recorded in 1990, if nothing is done to reverse the development trend. Again, road traffic is the major culprit because it accounts for only 84% of the CO2 emissions that cause traffic. The use of alternative fuels and improving energy efficiency is an ecological need and a technical challenge.

 

Paragraph F: Meantime, more efforts must be made to complete a paradigm shift. With roads continuing to spoil for more than half a century, such a transformation cannot be accomplished overnight. It has reached a pitch where today, freight services face a margin of just 8% of the market share, and international freight trains are battling at an average speed of 18km / h. Three potential choices have emerged.

 

Paragraph G: The first method will concentrate on road traffic only via pricing. This choice is not compatible with other modes of transportation. In the short period, the growth of road traffic can be controlled by the optimal loading rate of lorries and occupation rates of passenger vehicles as an outcome of the growth in transportation costs. Yet, in the absence of measures to revive other modes of transport, more sustainable modes of transport are unlikely to take up the baton.

 

Paragraph H: The second method focuses on road transport pricing but with measures to improve the effectiveness of other methods. Nevertheless, this technique does not involve investments in new infrastructure or ensure better regional integration. This will help attain greater segregation than the first method but will continue to focus on saturated arteries despite having the lion’s share of the road transport market and most polluting systems. It is, therefore not sufficient to ensure the required change in the balance.

 

Paragraph I: The third method, which is not new, involves a series of steps ranging from pricing to refreshing alternative ways of transportation and targeting investment in the Trans-European network. This integrated method will permit the market share of other systems to return to their 1998 levels, thus changing the equilibrium. Given the historical inequality in favour of roads over the past fifty years, it is far more ambitious than it looks to see a significant gap in the link between road traffic growth and economic growth without restrictions on the movement of people and goods.

2.

European Transport System Reading Questions & Answers

Discover exciting and informative IELTS reading answers about European Transport System

Questions and Answers 1-5
  • This reading passage has nine paragraphs, A–I.
  • Find out which paragraph contains the following information.
  • Write the correct letter, A-I, as your answer to each question.

Note:You may use any letter more than once.

 

 

1. The decisive factor is the incredible growth in-car benefit. 

 

2. Many candidate countries have inherited a rail-promoting mode of transport.

 

3. Development is largely due to changes in the European economy and its mode of production.
 

4. Some of these countries already shipped twice as much as 1990 volumes and imported five times more than 1990 volumes. 
 

5. The number of cars on EU roads increased by three million cars each year.

 

 

European Transport System Reading Answers with Explanations (1- 5)

 

 

Type of Question: Matching Information
 

Match specific pieces of information to the correct paragraphs in the passage. You must identify which paragraph contains the given information or idea.
 

 

How to best answer:

 

  • Quickly read through the passage to understand the main ideas and overall structure.
  • Highlight or underline keywords in the statements and look for these keywords or their synonyms in the paragraphs.
  • Focus on finding the paragraph that includes the exact information or idea from the statement.
  • Group similar types of information together and match them to the relevant paragraphs based on context.
  • Ensure that the information in the statement precisely matches the information in the paragraph to avoid errors.

 

 

1. Paragraph A

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph A, "The decisive factor is the incredible growth in-car benefit." 

 

Explanation: This paragraph discusses the factors driving the growth in transportation demand, specifically highlighting the significant increase in the number of cars on EU roads.


 

2. Paragraph C

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph C, "Many candidate countries have inherited a rail-promoting mode of transport." 

 

Explanation: This paragraph talks about the transportation trends in candidate countries joining the EU, focusing on the shift in preference from rail to road transport.


 

3. Paragraph B

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph B, "Development is largely due to changes in the European economy and its mode of production." 

 

Explanation: This paragraph explains how European economic changes and production methods have influenced transportation development.


 

4. Paragraph C

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph C, "Some of these countries already shipped twice as much as 1990 volumes and imported five times more than 1990 volumes." 

 

Explanation: This paragraph provides data on the significant increase in shipping volumes in certain countries, emphasising the growth in transportation demand.


 

5. Paragraph A

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph A, "The number of cars on EU roads increased by three million cars each year." 

 

Explanation: This paragraph presents statistics regarding the annual increase in the number of cars on EU roads, reflecting the growth in car ownership and its impact on transportation.

Questions and Answers 6-9
  • Look at the following questions 6 - 9 and match each statement with the correct option given.
  • Write the correct letter A-C with the answer on your answer sheet.

Note:You may use any option more than once.

 

 

A. 1990

 

B. 1998
 

C. 2020

 

6. Some of these countries already shipped twice as much as 1990 volumes and imported five times more than 1990 volumes.
 

7. The ambitious goal can only be fully accomplished.
 

8. The distribution between modes in favor of road transport has fallen sharply.
 

9. Energy consumption in the transportation sector accounted for 28% of CO2 emissions, the top greenhouse gas emissions. 

 

 

European Transport System Reading Answers with Explanations (6- 9)

 

Type of Question: Matching Features 

 

Identify which paragraph contains specific information or matches a list of statements with options from the text.

 

How to best answer: 

 

  • Quickly read through the passage to understand the main ideas and structure.
  • Highlight key terms in the statements and the text to make matching easier.
  • Use the keywords to find the relevant section in the passage.
  • Carefully compare details between the statements and the text to ensure accurate matching.
  • Keep track of matched features to avoid confusion and ensure all options are used correctly.


 

6. B 1998

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph C, "In 1998, some of these countries already shipped twice as much as 1990 volumes and imported five times more than 1990 volumes."

 

Explanation: This paragraph provides specific data on the shipping and importing volumes in 1998 compared to 1990, indicating the significant growth in transportation activities.


 

7. C 2020

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph D, "The ambitious goal can only be fully accomplished by 2020, although the proposed measures are the first important step toward a sustainable transport system, which will take effect in 30 years, by 2040."

 

Explanation: This paragraph discusses the timeline for achieving the EU's ambitious transportation goals, with a target set for full accomplishment by 2020.


 

8. A 1990

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph C, "Although many candidate countries have inherited a rail-promoting mode of transport, the distribution between modes in favor of road transport has fallen sharply since the 1990s."

 

Explanation: This paragraph highlights the shift in transportation modes from rail to road that started in the 1990s, indicating a significant change in distribution preferences.


 

9. B 1998

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph E, "In 1998, energy consumption in the transportation sector accounted for 28% of CO2 emissions, the top greenhouse gas emissions."

 

Explanation: This paragraph specifies the year 1998 when transportation energy consumption contributed significantly to CO2 emissions, highlighting the environmental impact of transport activities.

Questions and Answers 10-13
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

 

 

10. CO2 emissions from transport are hoped to grow by 50% to 1,113 billion tonnes by 2020 based on the latest estimates.
 

11. Road traffic is the major culprit because it accounts for only 84% of the CO2 emissions that cause traffic.
 

12. The second method focuses on road transport pricing but with measures to lower the effectiveness of other methods.
 

13. Cars are more pricey in some EU candidate countries.

 

 

European Transport System Reading Answers with Explanations (10- 13)

 

Type of Question: True, False, Not Given 

 

Determine if statements agree with the passage (True), contradict it (False), or if the information isn't provided (Not Given).
 

How to best answer:

 

  • Fully comprehend the statement before searching the passage.
  • Use keywords to locate the corresponding section in the passage.
  • Match the statement with the passage information precisely.
  • Ensure the statement completely matches or contradicts the passage; if neither, it's Not Given.
  • Base your answer only on the passage content, not on outside knowledge.

 

10. True

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph E, "According to the latest estimates, CO2 emissions from transport are hoped to grow by 50% to 1,113 billion tonnes by 2020, compared to the 739 billion tonnes recorded in 1990, if nothing is done to reverse the development trend." 

 

Explanation: This paragraph provides the exact figures and timeline related to the projected growth in CO2 emissions from transport.


 

11. True

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph E "Again, road traffic is the major culprit because it accounts for only 84% of the CO2 emissions that cause traffic." 

 

Explanation: This paragraph clearly states that road traffic is responsible for 84% of CO2 emissions, making it the major contributor.


 

12. False

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph H "The second method focuses on road transport pricing but with measures to improve the effectiveness of other methods." 

 

Explanation: This paragraph describes the second method as focusing on road transport pricing along with measures to enhance, not lower, the effectiveness of other transport methods.


 

13. Not Given

 

Reference:

 

The information about the price of cars in some EU candidate countries is not mentioned in any of the paragraphs. 

 

Explanation: The passage does not provide any information regarding the cost of cars in EU candidate countries.

ielts logo

Get the IELTS Prep App

Star rating icon

4.2

1M+ Installs

app download banner image

Get the app link on your phone

+91

Or download app from

google play storeapp store

Next Up

IELTS Reading Practice Test

Read Now Read now

IELTS Speaking Practice Test

Read Now Read now

IELTS Practice Test

Read Now Read now

IELTS Listening Practice Test

Read Now Read now

IELTS Writing Practice Test

Read Now Read now

Top Reading Samples with Answers

IELTS Important Information

Read More about IELTS Practice Test

IELTS Accepting Universities

IELTS Test Centre and Dates in India

IELTS Accepting Countries

FAQs

Q. What are some good sources for practice materials for the IELTS Reading test?

Ans. Some effective sources for IELTS reading practice materials include Cambridge IELTS books, official IELTS practice materials, IELTS preparation courses, online resources, and study groups. These resources offer practice tests, sample questions, and exercises to enhance reading skills.

Q. How can I improve my comprehension skills for the IELTS Reading test?

Ans. Improving your comprehension skills for the IELTS Reading test involves practicing reading regularly, paying attention to the context and meaning of words, identifying the main ideas and key supporting details, making connections, and using effective reading strategies. These tips can help you understand the passage and answer questions accurately.

Q. What are some good resources for improving my reading skills in general?

Ans. To improve your reading skills, you can join a book club, read books and online articles, practice reading comprehension exercises, and take speed reading courses. These resources can help enhance your reading speed, comprehension, and vocabulary.