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Roman Tunnels Reading Answers: IELTS Reading Practice Test

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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. 

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1. Roman Tunnels 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. Roman Tunnels Reading Question & Answers

Discover exciting and informative IELTS reading answers about Roman Tunnels

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1.

Roman Tunnels 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.

 

 

 

 

   Roman Tunnels
 


 

Paragraph 1

The tunnels were constructed by the Persians to provide a reliable water supply to the human settlements in the dry areas of present-day Iran. A quant method of tunnel construction was introduced in the early first millennium BCE, where the posts are placed in a straight line over the hill and vertical shafts are dug at regular intervals into the grounds, thus ensuring the route of the tunnel. The earth between the ends of the shaft was removed by the workers in the underground to create a tunnel. The shafts were also used to remove excavated soil and provide ventilation during construction. Once completed, the tunnel allowed water to flow from the top of a hillside down towards a canal, supplying water for human use. Remarkably, some qanats built by the Persians 2,700 years ago are still in use today.

 

Paragraph 2

The knowledge about the quant method of constructing tunnels for water supply for agriculture was transferred by the Persians to the Romans. Vertical shafts dug with 30 and 60-metre intervals were used in the Roman quant tunnels. To aid in moving in and out of the shafts, they are equipped with footholds and handholds, and wooden or stone lids are used to close them. Romans hung a plumb line at the top of the shaft with the help of the rod placed across it to check whether the shaft was vertical and ensure the weight was hanging in the middle of the shaft. It is also used to identify the tunnel slope and to determine the shaft depth. The Claudius tunnel was built in 41 CE to drain the Fucine Lake in Central Italy. It is 5-6 Kilometres long with a 122-metre deep shaft. It took approximately 30,000 employees to complete the tunnel in 11 years. Remarkably, the ancient roads are still used today for transportation. Mineral extraction tunnels were also built.

 

Paragraph 3

Counter-excavation tunnel construction was the second tunnel-building methodology, originated in the 6th century BCE, where tunnels were built from both ends. This method is adopted to cut through the mountains where quants implementation is not a practical alternative. As both ends of the tunnel have to meet at the centre of the mountain, a great plan and advanced planning are required to implement this method. Whenever there is a chance of geological problems or the paths have deviated, direction adjustments have to be made. The advancing direction of the tunnel is constantly checked; for example, light penetration from the mouth of the tunnel will be looked back, and if any deviations are found, corrections will be made. At times, there is a possibility of having large deviations, causing one end to be unused. The Saldae aqueduct system, located in modern-day Algeria, was built by the Romans and is 428 metres long, but the workers failed to meet the ends of the mountain. An inscription written on the tunnel explains how they missed it and how it was later altered using a lateral link between the corridors to rectify the error.

 

Paragraph 4

The Romans used the counter-excavation method to construct tunnels for roads in places where they encountered mountains and hills that were too high to cross. The 37-metre long and 6-metre high Furlo Pass tunnel in Italy, built in 69-79 CE, is an example of counter excavation roads. Once mineral veins are located, the miners pursue building a tunnel using the shafts underground. An example of this type of tunnel can be found at the Dolaucothi mines in Wales, which are used for mining gold. The construction planning is simple, and the routes will be determined only based on the mineral vein if the sole purpose of the tunnel is mineral extraction.

 

Paragraph 5

All the Roman tunnel constructions were carefully planned and executed well. The tunnel construction method and the type of rock in the excavation area will determine the length of time required to build the tunnel. As the quant construction method uses a straightforward approach, the work is faster than that of a counter-excavation method. This is because apart from excavating only from the tunnel mouth, even the shafts can be used for excavation. The construction time is also affected by the type of rock. The Romans employed a technique named fire quenching, where they would heat the rock and suddenly cool it with cool water to create a crack in the hard rocks. As the tunnel progression across the hard rocks requires a lot of time, the tunnel construction takes years to complete and sometimes a decade to build a tunnel. The rate of advance through the solid rock was only 30 centimetres per day, as indicated by the construction marks in the Roman tunnel of Bologna. In contrast, the rate of advancement in the Claudius tunnel is 1,4 metres per day. The names of the patrons who started the tunnel project and the architect names are inscribed in most of the tunnels. For example, you can still find the inscription in the 1.4-kilometer Cevlik tunnel in Turkey today. Here, the tunnel starting at 69 CE and the completed year at 81 CE will be found. The tunnel is built to divert the floodwater from flowing into the harbours of the ancient city of Seleucia Pieria.

2.

Roman Tunnels Reading Question & Answers

Discover exciting and informative IELTS reading answers about Roman Tunnels

Questions and Answers 1-5
  • Choose the correct letter, A - D

 

 

1. Some of the quants built by the Persians _____________ ago are still in use today. 
 

  1. 2800 years 
  2. 3000 years
  3. 2700 years
  4. 2400 years 

 

2. Counter-excavation tunnel construction was the ____________ tunnel construction methodology used by the Romans.
 

  1. Fifth
  2. Second
  3. First
  4. Third
     

3. Prior planning and construction strategy is required as the tunnel has to meet in the __________ of the mountain
 

  1. Top
  2. Bottom
  3. Centre
  4. None of the above

 

4. The Saldae aqueduct system is _____________ long
 

  1. 444 metres
  2. 428 metres
  3. 424 metres
  4. 448 metres
     

5. _______________ affects the construction time

 

  1. Nature of soil
  2. Nature of rocks
  3. Nature of mineral
  4. None of the above


 

Roman Tunnels Answers with Explanations (1-5)

 

Type of question: Multiple Choice Question

 

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.

 

 

1. 2700 years

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 1: "Remarkably, some qanats built by the Persians 2,700 years ago are still in use today."
 

Explanation

The Persians constructed some of the quants 2700 years ago, and these are still in use today, showcasing their enduring reliability and longevity in supplying water to human settlements.


 

2. second

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 3:  “Counter-excavation tunnel construction was the second tunnel-building methodology, originated in the 6th century BCE, where tunnels were built from both ends.”
 

Explanation

Counter-excavation tunnel construction was the second method utilised by the Romans, originating in the 6th century BCE, where tunnels were built from both ends, marking an evolution in tunnel engineering techniques.


 

3. centre

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 3:  "As both ends of the tunnel have to meet at the centre of the mountain, a great plan and advanced planning are required to implement this method."
 

Explanation

Advanced planning is crucial as the tunnel has to meet in the centre of the mountain, highlighting the precision required in implementing the counter-excavation method.


 

4. 428 metres

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 3: "The Saldae aqueduct system, located in modern-day Algeria, was built by the Romans and is 428 metres long, but the workers failed to meet the ends of the mountain."
 

Explanation

The Saldae aqueduct system, constructed by the Romans, is 428 metres long, demonstrating the scale of ancient engineering achievements despite occasional challenges in meeting the ends of mountains.


 

5. Nature of rocks

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 5: "The construction time is also affected by the type of rock."

 

Explanation

The nature of rocks significantly impacts construction time, as different methods like fire quenching are employed based on rock type, influencing the overall duration of tunnel construction projects.

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. The knowledge about the tunnel construction was transferred from Persians to Romans.
7. The roads constructed by counter-excavation methods are not used in today's modern transportation. 
8. Roman tunnel construction knowledge was spread worldwide.
9. Heating and sudden cooling of rocks are done, creating a crack in the rock.

 

Roman Tunnels 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 2: "The knowledge about the quant method of constructing tunnels for water supply for agriculture was transferred by the Persians to the Romans."
 

Explanation

The passage confirms that the Persians transferred the knowledge of tunnel construction methods to the Romans, validating the statement as true.


 

7. False

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 2: "Remarkably, the ancient roads are still used today for transportation."

 

Explanation

The statement contradicts the passage, as it explicitly mentions that ancient roads constructed using counter-excavation methods are still utilised in modern transportation.


 

8. Not Given

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph: Not applicable

 

Explanation

The passage does not provide information regarding the worldwide spread of Roman tunnel construction knowledge, making it impossible to determine if the statement is true or false.

 

 

9. True

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 5:  "The Romans employed a technique named fire quenching, where they would heat the rock and suddenly cool it with cool water to create a crack in the hard rocks."
 

Explanation

The passage confirms that the heating and sudden cooling of rocks were indeed employed by the Romans to create cracks in hard rocks, validating the statement as true.

Questions and Answers 10-13
  • Complete the summary below.
  • Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.

 

 

Tunnels were originally constructed by 10.  ____________ to supply water to the human settlements. Later, the knowledge about the 11 ________________________  of the tunnel was transferred to the Romans. After using the Shaft tunnel construction method, the Romans started using the 12. ____________ construction method. This method was used to build 13________ where crossing the mountains is difficult.

 

 

Roman Tunnels Answers with Explanations (10-13)

 

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. Persians

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 1: “The tunnels were constructed by the Persians to provide a reliable water supply to the human settlements in the dry areas of present-day Iran.”

 

Explanation

The Persians originally constructed tunnels to provide water to human settlements in dry areas.


 

11. Quant method

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 2: “The knowledge about the quant method of constructing tunnels for water supply for agriculture was transferred by the Persians to the Romans.”
 

Explanation

The Persians transferred knowledge about the quant method of tunnel construction to the Romans, emphasising the transfer of this specific method.


 

12. Counter excavation tunnel

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 3: “Counter-excavation tunnel construction was the second tunnel-building methodology, originated in the 6th century BCE, where tunnels were built from both ends.”
 

Explanation

The passage mentions that the Romans transitioned to the counter-excavation method, which originated as the second tunnel-building methodology, indicating a shift from the quant method.


 

13. Road

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 8: “The Romans used the counter-excavation method to construct tunnels for roads in places where they encountered mountains and hills that were too high to cross.”
 

Explanation

The Romans used the counter-excavation method specifically for constructing tunnels for roads in challenging terrain, such as mountains and hills.

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FAQs

Q. What are some tips to improve my IELTS Reading test score?

Ans. To enhance your performance on the IELTS reading exam, it's important to focus on managing your time effectively, practising skimming and scanning techniques, expanding your vocabulary, ensuring accuracy, practising with sample tests, and reading a variety of texts. Consistent and dedicated preparation is crucial for achieving a high score on the test.

Q. Is the IELTS Reading test challenging to score?

Ans. The difficulty of the IELTS reading test varies depending on your level of English proficiency and familiarity with the test format. The test can pose challenges due to the diverse range of texts and questions within a limited time. However, through consistent preparation and practice, it is possible to improve your skills and attain a high score on the test.

Q. How can I approach multiple-choice questions in the IELTS Reading test?

Ans. When tackling multiple-choice questions in the IELTS reading test, it's essential to carefully read the instructions and questions, swiftly skim the text to locate the relevant section, eliminate incorrect options, and make informed guesses if unsure. With practice and dedication, you can enhance your abilities and achieve a commendable score on the test.