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Mapping Reading Answers: IELTS Reading Practice Test

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Updated on Jul 02, 2024, 11:57

The IELTS Reading test plays a crucial role in achieving academic and career goals while enhancing language skills. This section of IELTS is designed to assess your proficiency in understanding and analysing texts commonly found in academic and professional settings. 

 

It includes three passages and 40 questions, all of which must be completed within a 60-minute. A high score in this section demonstrates your language proficiency and can be beneficial for visa applications and career advancement.

 

Preparing for the IELTS Reading test is a journey, and like any journey, it requires consistent effort. Regular practice with reading passages is the key to improving your comprehension skills and boosting your performance on the exam. Remember, the more you practice, the more confident you'll feel on the test day.

 

Today, we’re going to dive into an IELTS reading passage called ‘Mapping.’ The passage provides an overview of the evolution of mapmaking, highlighting advancements from ancient to modern times. 

 

It begins by discussing contemporary techniques, such as radar and satellites, which have revolutionised the creation of maps by allowing views from orbital altitudes and enabling mapping through dense jungles and even other planets. 

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1. Mapping 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.

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2. Mapping Reading Questions and Answers

Discover exciting and informative IELTS reading answers about Mapping Reading Questions and Answers

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1.

Mapping 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.

 

 

Mapping Reading Passage


Paragraph A: 

These days, a mapmaker's vision is not limited by what the eye can see. The crow's nest of the sailing ship, the mountain top, and the airplane have given way to new orbital altitudes as the perspective of mapmaking. Radar can see through dense jungle cover and has created the first maps of the mountains on Venus. Radar works by sending microwave radio waves to a surface and collecting photos of its shapes and textures. Additionally, charts of the seafloor are created using a mix of sonar and radar, which first places a large portion of Earth on a map. According to the opinion of Joel Morrison who is the chief of geography at the U.S. Bureau of the Census, "Suddenly it's a totally different universe for us." Even in five years, "our future as mapmakers is dubious."
 

Paragraph B: 

The basement of the Congress Library in Washington, D.C. houses the biggest collection of maps in the world. Up to 4.6 million map sheets and 63,000 atlases make up the collection, which also contains stunning bound collections of intricate maps from the Dutch cartography's heyday. In the reading room, academics use magnifying lenses to study historic maps while donning thin cotton gloves to safeguard the delicate sheets. People are analysing the most recent maps while seated at their computers across the room. Computers can store information about people, places, and surroundings — the elements of maps — thanks to their enormous memories. Information is then presented on screens practically immediately in the proper geographic context, and with the touch of a button, a printout of the map is produced.
 

Paragraph C: 

The first significant step in scientific mapping was the measurement of the spherical Earth. The Greek astronomer Eratosthenes, a student at the renowned Alexandrian Library in Egypt in the third century BC, was the first to accomplish this. His estimate of 25,200 miles for the circumference of the Earth was amazingly accurate. We currently know the longitudinal circumference to be 24,860 miles.
 

Paragraph D: 

Ptolemy, an astronomer and geographer who lived in the second century AD, developed a system for arranging maps using latitude and longitude grids by building on the theories of his forebears. The reason for the width of current time zones is that meridians are typically spaced at intervals of 15 degrees and parallels are frequently spaced at intervals of 10 to 20 degrees. Ptolemy's suggestion to cartographers to produce scale-based maps is another one of his legacies. On modern maps, distance is shown as a percentage or ratio of the actual distance. However, Ptolemy's mapmakers lacked the geographic expertise necessary to uphold his scientific standards. Maps are not accurate representations of reality, even today, when surveyors can reach accuracy down to inches and satellites can plot probable missile targets down to feet.
 

Paragraph E: 

But just as the compass enhanced navigation and increased demand for practical charts, the printing press, which was developed in the 15th century, freed monks from producing maps, which had previously tended to represent religion rather than geography. Ocean-going ships ushered in an era of exploration by expanding the scope of what could and needed to be mapped and arousing a thirst for knowledge about the wider globe.
 

Paragraph F: Mapmakers in the fifteenth century gradually replaced theology with knowledge of distant locales as recorded by travelling merchants like Marco Polo, who were inspired by the rediscovered Ptolemy, whose work had been conserved by Arabs after the destruction of the Alexandrian Library in AD 931.
 

Paragraph G: 

The most famous shipbuilder of the 16th century, Gerhardus Mercator, devised a method for positioning meridians and parallels that allowed navigators to draw straight lines between two sites and maintain a consistent compass course between them. The "Greenland issue" was established by this distortion formula on his world map from 1569. One of the numerous issues with trying to depict a round world on a flat piece of paper is that Greenland still appears to be as big as South America on some modern standard maps. But because the Mercator projection was so valuable, sailors continued to choose it.
 

Paragraph H: 

With the accomplishments of the Cassini family, including the father, son, grandson, and great-grandson, scientific mapping of the area came into its own. The system's creator, Jean-Dominique, who was born in Italy, developed a sophisticated way to calculate longitude based on observation of Jupiter's moons in the late 17th century. Surveyors were able to create an accurate map of France using this method. His great-grandson published their renowned Cassini map in 1793, during the French Revolution, while the family continued to explore the French countryside. Even while it might not have had the same visual appeal as earlier maps, this one served as a social and geographic map model, displaying highways, rivers, canals, cities, abbeys, vineyards, lakes, and even windmills. By accomplishing this feat, France became the first nation to be entirely mapped using scientific techniques.
 

Paragraph I: 

Since then, maps have advanced greatly. Today's surveyors hardly ever enter the field unconnected to navigation satellite systems. Surveyors are increasingly using the satellite system built and still run by the US Defense Department, whose hand-held receivers are the most well-known of the new mapping technologies. It can be used by regular hikers, sailors, and explorers to provide location information. They can be purchased in simplified civilian versions for a few hundred dollars, and they serve as the brains of some cars' electronic map displays. However, regardless of how far away "there" may be, cartography's goal has always been to convey a feeling of where "here" is with respect to that location. 

2.

Mapping Reading Questions and Answers

Discover exciting and informative IELTS reading answers about Mapping Reading Questions and Answers

Questions and Answers 1-5
  • Choose the correct letter A, B, C or D.
  • Write the correct letter in boxes 1-5 on your answer sheet.

 

  1. The opening paragraph claims that 21st-century mapmakers  

  1. combine methods to explore uncharted territory
  2. Rely still on being able to see the maps they create
  3. are now allowed to access the darkest jungle
  4. need advice from professionals in other domains
     

  2. The Library of Congress provides a chance to  

  1. Use their collection of Dutch maps as a resource.
  2. Learn how to preserve old, delicate maps.
  3. Enjoy the ambience of the reading room.
  4. Make customised computer maps for each customer
     

  3. Ptolemy made his contemporaries aware of the significance of 

  1. calculating the world's circumference
  2. arranging maps to represent precise distance ratios
  3. calculating the separation between parallels of latitude
  4. Precision and accuracy in mapping
     

  4. The printing press's creation 

  1. renewed enthusiasm for scientific knowledge
  2. made it possible for maps to be printed more affordably
  3. altered the way maps are made
  4. ensured that Ptolemy's work was carried on

 

  5.  The author states as a conclusion that 

  1. Making maps has become overly specialised.
  2. Conditions for cartographers are quite difficult.
  3. The primary objectives of mapping are still the same.
  4. The uses for satellite mapping are limitless.

 

Mapping Reading Answers with Explanations (1-5)

 

Type of question: Multiple Choice Questions  

Multiple-choice questions in the IELTS reading test present you with a question followed by a set of options from which you must choose the correct answer. Typically, there are three or four options to choose from. You must carefully read the question and each option before selecting the correct answer
 

How to best answer: 

  • Fully understand the passage to identify the most suitable option.
  • Use efficient skimming and scanning techniques to locate pertinent information swiftly.
  • Be aware that some options might be intended to confuse you, so rely on evidence from the passage to make your selection.
  • Managing time effectively is essential as dwelling on each option excessively can consume valuable time. Aim to complete all questions within the allocated time frame.
     
1. A: Combine methods to explore uncharted territory


Reference: 

Paragraph A "Radar can see through dense jungle cover and has created the first maps of the mountains on Venus."

 

Explanation: This line highlights the use of advanced technology like radar to map previously inaccessible areas, illustrating the combination of methods to explore uncharted territory.
 

2. D: Learn how to preserve old, delicate maps.


Reference: 

Paragraph B "academics use magnifying lenses to study historic maps while donning thin cotton gloves to safeguard the delicate sheets."

 

Explanation: This line describes the practices used to protect old maps, indicating that the Library of Congress provides opportunities to learn about map preservation.
 

3. B: arranging maps to represent precise distance ratios

 

Reference: 

Paragraph D "Ptolemy's suggestion to cartographers to produce scale-based maps is another one of his legacies."

 

Explanation: This line emphasizes Ptolemy's contribution to using scales for accurate distance representation in maps, showing the significance of precise distance ratios.

 

4. C: altered the way maps are made


Reference: 

Paragraph E "The printing press, which was developed in the 15th century, freed monks from producing maps, which had previously tended to represent religion rather than geography."

 

Explanation: The introduction of the printing press shifted the focus of mapmaking from religious to geographical accuracy, fundamentally changing map production.
 

5. C: The primary objectives of mapping are still the same.


Reference: 

Paragraph I "cartography's goal has always been to convey a sense of where 'here' is with respect to that location."

 

Explanation: This line states that the main purpose of mapping—to provide spatial understanding—remains unchanged, even with advancements in technology.

Questions and Answers 6-8
  • Review the list of achievements below and match each one with the correct
    mapmaker, labeled A, B, C, or D
  •  

     6.  Established the basis for the current time zones

     7.  Produced maps displaying built-up areas

     8.  Very nearly measured the Earth's orbital distance precisely.   

    1. Ptolemy
    2. Cassini family
    3. Eratosthenes
    4. Mercator

     

    Mapping Reading Answers with Explanations (6-8) 

     

    Type of question: Matching Information 
     

    Matching Information questions in the IELTS Reading test require you to locate specific details in the passage and match them to paragraphs labeled A, B, C, etc. These questions test your ability to find and understand precise information quickly.

     

    How to best answer:  

    • Quickly skim the passage to grasp its main ideas and structure.
    • Focus on key terms in the statements provided.
    • Methodically match each statement with the paragraph where the information is located.
       
    6. A


    Reference: 

    Paragraph D "The reason for the width of current time zones is that meridians are typically spaced at intervals of 15 degrees and parallels are frequently spaced at intervals of 10 to 20 degrees."


    Explanation: According to Paragraph D, Ptolemy's work on arranging maps with latitude and longitude grids laid the foundation for the current time zone system, with specific spacing between meridians and parallels.
     

    7. B


    Reference: 

    Paragraph H "Even while it might not have had the same visual appeal as earlier maps, this one served as a social and geographic map model, displaying highways, rivers, canals, cities, abbeys, vineyards, lakes, and even windmills."


    Explanation: Paragraph H discusses the Cassini family's achievements in mapping, particularly their detailed maps that included built-up areas and various man-made landmarks.
     

    8. C


    Reference: 

    Paragraph C "His estimate of 25,200 miles for the circumference of the Earth was amazingly accurate."


    Explanation: Paragraph C describes Eratosthenes' remarkably accurate calculation of the Earth's circumference, which was very close to the actual value, thus highlighting his near-precise measurement of the Earth's orbital distance.

    Questions and Answers 9-13
    • Complete the summary below.
    • Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

     

    Maps from history help us understand how the world has come to make sense to us. The attitudes and knowledge of the time are also reflected in them. The earliest significant development in the art of mapmaking occurred in (9)...................................... in the third century BC. Work in this tradition continued until the second century AD but was then put on hold for more than a thousand years. During this time, (10)...................................... rather than scientists were responsible for creating maps. To their great luck, however, the writings of (11)................................................ had been retained, and interest in scientific mapmaking was resurrected as academics strove to construct maps based on the tales of travellers. These days, (12)........................................ are essential to the process of creating maps, and radar has made it possible for cartographers to map areas that extend beyond our local environment. In addition, this high-tech equipment is not only utilised for the mapping of remote locations but more cost-effective variants of it have also been developed for usage in (13)........................

     

    Mapping Reading Answers with Explanations (9-13)

     

    Type of Question: Summary Completion

    Complete the summary below by filling in the blanks with appropriate words or phrases from the passage:
     

    How to best answer: 

    • Skim through the passage to grasp its main ideas and structure quickly.
    • Focus on key terms in the summary and search for their synonyms or related terms in the passage.
    • Read the instructions carefully to understand any word limits or specific guidelines provided.
    • Locate the relevant part of the passage related to the summary by identifying keywords or phrases.
    • Ensure the chosen words fit grammatically and contextually within the summary.
    • After filling in the blanks, review the summary to verify coherence and adherence to the specified word 
    • limit.                     

     

    9. Egypt


    Reference: 

    Paragraph C "The Greek astronomer Eratosthenes, a student at the renowned Alexandrian Library in Egypt in the third century BC, was the first to accomplish this."


    Explanation: This line indicates that the first significant development in mapmaking occurred in Egypt in the third century BC.

     

    10. Monks


    Reference: 

    Paragraph E "The printing press, which was developed in the 15th century, freed monks from producing maps, which had previously tended to represent religion rather than geography."


    Explanation: This line shows that monks, rather than scientists, were responsible for creating maps during the period before the printing press.
     

    11. Ptolemy


    Reference: 

    Paragraph F "Mapmakers in the fifteenth century gradually replaced theology with knowledge of distant locales as recorded by travelling merchants like Marco Polo, who were inspired by the rediscovered Ptolemy, whose work had been conserved by Arabs after the destruction of the Alexandrian Library in AD 931."


    Explanation: This line explains that the writings of Ptolemy were retained and inspired the resurgence of interest in scientific mapmaking. 

     

    12. (Navigation) Satellites

     

    Reference: 

    Paragraph I "Today's surveyors hardly ever enter the field unconnected to navigation satellite systems."


    Explanation: This line indicates that navigation satellites are now essential to the mapmaking process.

     

    13. (Some) Cars

     

    Reference: 

    Paragraph I "They can be purchased in simplified civilian versions for a few hundred dollars, and they serve as the brains of some cars' electronic map displays."


    Explanation: This line explains that cost-effective versions of high-tech equipment are used in some cars for electronic map displays.

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    FAQs

    Q. How should I prepare for my IELTS Reading test?

    Ans.  The best way to prepare for your IELTS Reading test is through consistent practice. Engage in mock tests, practice questions, and sample tests regularly. Develop a routine reading habit across various types of texts, paying attention to language structures and grammar usage. Seek guidance if needed; Leap’s IELTS experts can provide professional IELTS Reading training.


     

    Q. Can I skip questions in my IELTS Reading test?

    Ans. Yes, you are permitted to skip questions during your IELTS Reading test; it is not mandatory to answer all questions. However, IELTS experts recommend attempting all questions as there is no negative marking. This approach can increase your chances of achieving a higher score. If unsure about an answer, consider making an informed guess.


     

    Q. What are some recommended books for IELTS Reading preparation?

    Ans. Here are some highly recommended books for preparing for the IELTS Reading test: 
     

    • Cambridge IELTS 16 Academic by Cambridge University Press
    • Focus on the IELTS Foundation
    • IELTS Superpack by Barron's Educational Series
    • Road to IELTS