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The Falkirk Wheel Reading Answers: IELTS Reading Practice Test

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Updated on Jul 02, 2024, 11:57

The Falkirk Wheel is a remarkable engineering feat in central Scotland that connects the Union Canal and the Forth and Clyde Canal. It is the world's only rotating boat lift and was created to replace a series of 11 locks dismantled in the 1930s. 

 

The Falkirk Wheel is an impressive example of modern engineering and attracts thousands of visitors annually. In this IELTS Reading Practice Test taken from Cambridge 11 Test 1, we will explore the history and design of this incredible structure.

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1. The Falkirk Wheel Reading Passage

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1-13 based on Reading Passage 1 below.

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2. The Falkirk Wheel Reading Question & Answers

Have you read the passage? Now, take the test and find The Falkirk Wheel Reading answers! Try to answer these questions by yourself before you sneak a peek at the answers given below. 

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1.

The Falkirk Wheel Reading Passage

General Instructions to Follow During the IELTS Reading Test

The following instructions will help you save time and improve your scores in The Falkirk Wheel reading questions and answers.

  • Pay attention to the instructions given before the questions. Read it carefully and understand what’s being asked of you.
  • The reading passages are typically ordered with slightly increasing difficulty levels. To save time, try to answer the most challenging parts first.
  • Keep an eye on the clock. Every IELTS Exam centre has a clock on the wall. Watch it to stay ahead of your time limit.
  • Use skimming and scanning techniques and scan for keywords to answer questions.

 

 

 

 

The Falkirk Wheel Reading Passage

 

 

Paragraph 1

The Falkirk Wheel in Scotland is the world's first and only rotating boat lift. Opened in 2002, it is central to the ambitious £84.5m Millennium Link project to restore navigability across Scotland by reconnecting the historic waterways of the Forth & Clyde and Union Canals.
 

Paragraph 2

The major challenge of the project lays in the fact that the Forth & Clyde Canal is situated 35 metres below the level of the Union Canal. Historically, the two canals had been joined near the town of Falkirk by a sequence of 11 locks - enclosed sections of canal in which the water level could be raised or lowered - that stepped down across a distance of 1.5 km. This had been dismantled in 1933, thereby breaking the link. 

 

Paragraph 3

When the project was launched in 1994, the British Waterways authority were keen to create a dramatic twenty-first-century landmark which would not only be a fitting commemoration of the Millennium, but also a lasting symbol of the economic regeneration of the region.

Numerous ideas were submitted for the project, including concepts ranging from rolling eggs to tilting tanks, from giant seesaws to overhead monorails. The eventual winner was a plan for the huge rotating steel boat lift which was to become The Falkirk Wheel. The unique shape of the structure is claimed to have been inspired by various sources, both manmade and natural, most notably a Celtic double headed axe, but also the vast turning propeller of a ship, the ribcage of a whale or the spine of a fish.

 

Paragraph 4

The various parts of The Falkirk Wheel were all constructed and assembled, like one giant toy building set, at Butterley Engineering's Steelworks in Derbyshire, some 400 km from Falkirk. 

 

Paragraph 5

A team there carefully assembled the 1,200 tonnes of steel, painstakingly fitting the pieces together to an accuracy of just 10 mm to ensure a perfect final fit. In the summer of 2001, the structure was then dismantled and transported on 35 lorries to Falkirk, before all being bolted back together again on the ground, and finally lifted into position in five large sections by crane. The Wheel would need to withstand immense and constantly changing stresses as it rotated, so to make the structure more robust, the steel sections were bolted rather than welded together. Over 45,000 bolt holes were matched with their bolts, and each bolt was hand-tightened.
 

Paragraph 6

The Wheel consists of two sets of opposing axe-shaped arms, attached about 25 metres apart to a fixed central spine.
 

Paragraph 7

Two diametrically opposed water-filled 'gondolas', each with a capacity of 360,000 litres, are fitted between the ends of the arms. These gondolas always weigh the same, whether or not they are carrying boats. 

 

Paragraph 8

This is because, according to Archimedes' principle of displacement, floating objects displace their own weight in water. So when a boat enters a gondola, the amount of water leaving the gondola weighs exactly the same as the boat. This keeps the Wheel balanced and so, despite its enormous mass, it rotates through 180° in five and a half minutes while using very little power. It takes just 1.5 kilowatt-hours (5.4 MJ) of energy to rotate the Wheel -roughly the same as boiling eight small domestic kettles of water.

 

Paragraph 9

Boats needing to be lifted up enter the canal basin at the level of the Forth & Clyde Canal and then enter the lower gondola of the Wheel. Two hydraulic steel gates are raised, so as to seal the gondola off from the water in the canal basin. The water between the gates is then pumped out. A hydraulic clamp, which prevents the arms of the Wheel moving while the gondola is docked, is removed, allowing the Wheel to turn. In the central machine room an array of ten hydraulic motors then begins to rotate the central axle. The axle connects to the outer arms of the Wheel, which begin to rotate at a speed of 1/8 of a revolution per minute. As the wheel rotates, the gondolas are kept in the upright position by a simple gearing system. Two eight-metre-wide cogs orbit a fixed inner cog of the same width, connected by two smaller cogs travelling in the opposite direction to the outer cogs - so ensuring that the gondolas always remain level. When the gondola reaches the top, the boat passes straight onto the aqueduct situated 24 metres above the canal basin.
 

Paragraph 10

The remaining 11 metres of lift needed to reach the Union Canal is achieved by means of a pair of locks. The Wheel could not be constructed to elevate boats over the full 35-metre difference between the two canals, owing to the presence of the historically important Antonine Wall, which was built by the Romans in the second century AD.
 

Paragraph 11

Boats travel under this wall via a tunnel, then through the locks, and finally on to the Union Canal.

2.

The Falkirk Wheel Reading Question & Answers

Have you read the passage? Now, take the test and find The Falkirk Wheel Reading answers! 
 

Leap to Learn: Tip of the Moment!

Remember, most of these questions follow the order of the passage, so it’s easy to trace back if you look through the paragraphs sequentially.

 

Try to answer these questions by yourself before you sneak a peek at the answers given below. 
 

Good luck!

Questions and Answers 1-6
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1?
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 on this

 

1. The Falkirk Wheel has linked the Forth & Clyde Canal with the Union Canal for the first time in their history.
2. There was some opposition to the design of the Falkirk Wheel at first.
3. The Falkirk Wheel was initially put together at the location where its components were manufactured.
4. The Falkirk Wheel is the only boat lift in the world which has steel sections bolted together by hand.
5. The weight of the gondolas varies according to the size of boat being carried.
6. The construction of the Falkirk Wheel site took into account the presence of a nearby ancient monument.

 

The Falkirk Wheel Reading Answers with Explanation (1-6)

 

Type of question: True/ False/ Not Given

 

In this task, you are given a set of statements. Based on your understanding of the passage, you aim to identify the nature of the given statement and write the correct answer. 
 

The statement is 
 

TRUE               if the statement agrees with the information

FALSE              if the statement contradicts the information

NOT GIVEN    if there is no information on this

 

How to best answer:
 

  • Read the given statements carefully and memorise the keywords
  • With the keywords help, find the passage's references, which will help you decide whether the given statement is true or false
  • If the information is not there in the passage, then your answer will be not given

 

1. False

 

Reference

 

From paragraph 2: ‘Historically, the two canals had been joined near the town of Falkirk by a sequence of 11 locks - enclosed sections of canal in which the water level could be raised or lowered - that stepped down across a distance of 1.5 km.’

 

Keywords

11 locks, sequence, canal, 1.5 km
 

Explanation

The answer is false, as the canals were linked by a series of 11 locks dismantled in 1933, breaking the link between the two canals. The Falkirk Wheel was created to replace the dismantled locks and reconnect the historic waterways of the Forth & Clyde and Union Canals. The Falkirk Wheel was opened in 2002.

 

2. Not Given

 

Reference

 

From paragraphs 1 to 11: ‘The Falkirk Wheel in Scotland is the world's first and only rotating……. then through the locks, and finally on to the Union Canal.’
 

Keywords

Union Canal, Scotland, The Falkirk Wheel
 

Explanation

The answer is not given because there is no information in the passage regarding the opposition to the design of the Falkirk Wheel.
 

3. True

 

Reference

 

From paragraph 4: ‘The various parts of The Falkirk Wheel were all constructed and assembled, like one giant toy building set, at Butterley Engineering's Steelworks in Derbyshire, some 400 km from Falkirk.’
 

Keywords

The Falkirk Wheel, Butterley Engineering Steelworks, 400 km
 

Explanation

The answer is trueas the various parts of the Falkirk Wheel were constructed and assembled at Butterley Engineering's Steelworks in Derbyshire, which is located 400 km away from Falkirk. The parts were then transported to Falkirk and assembled on-site before being lifted into position. The process of assembling the parts was compared to building a giant toy set, implying that it was a complex but precise process.

 

4. Not Given

 

Reference

 

From paragraphs 1 to 11: ‘The Falkirk Wheel in Scotland is the world's first and only rotating……. then through the locks, and finally on to the Union Canal.’
 

Keywords

Union Canal, Scotland, The Falkirk Wheel
 

Explanation

The answer is not given, as there is no context regarding the Falkirk Wheel being the only boat with steel sections bolted together by hand in the passage above. 

 

5. False

 

Reference

 

From paragraph 7: ‘Two diametrically opposed water-filled 'gondolas', each with a capacity of 360,000 litres, are fitted between the ends of the arms.’
 

Keywords

Two, gondolas, 360,000 liters, arms
 

Explanation

"These gondolas always weigh the same, whether or not they are carrying boats" is false. The gondolas weigh the same only when they carry boats, as the boat's weight and the water displaced by it are equal to the weight of the empty gondola. When the gondolas are empty, they weigh less than when they carry boats.

 

6. True

 

Reference

 

From paragraph 10: ‘The Wheel could not be constructed to elevate boats over the full 35-metre difference between the two canals, owing to the presence of the historically important Antonine Wall, which was built by the Romans in the second century AD.’
 

Keywords

The Wheel, 35-metre, Antonine Wall, Romans
 

Explanation

The answer is true as the Wheel could not be constructed to elevate boats over the full 35-metre difference between the two canals due to the presence of the historically important Antonine Wall. This wall, built by the Romans in the second century AD, prevented the construction of the wheel to the full height required.

Questions and Answers 7-13
  • Label the diagram below.
  • Choose ONE WORD from the passage for each answer.
  • Write your answers in boxes 7-13 on your answer sheet.

 

 

 

 

The Falkirk Wheel Reading Answers with Explanation (7-13)


 

Type of question: Diagram Completion

 

Labelling diagram questions in IELTS Academic Reading involve matching labels or names to different parts or components of a diagram, chart, map or illustration presented in the reading passage.

 

How to best answer:

 

  • The instructions for the Labelling Diagram Questions should be read carefully and understood. You must know if you label a diagram, a map, a flowchart, or any other visual representation.
  • Take a look at the diagram or drawing before reading this passage. Make sure you understand the elements and their arrangement. 
  • Please check that the labels already given are correct.
  • Go through the passage to get a general understanding of what's going on here. Look for information that is consistent with the labels in this diagram

 

7. Gates

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 9: ‘Two hydraulic steel gates are raised, so as to seal the gondola off from the water in the canal basin.’
 

Keywords

Gates, Union Canal, Forth Canal, Clyde Canal, Canal Basin
 

Explanation

The Falkirk Wheel is a rotating boat lift in Scotland, connecting the Union Canal and the Forth and Clyde Canal. It replaced a series of 11 locks dismantled in the 1930s. Various sources, both manmade and natural, inspired the structure's unique design. Rotating the Wheel takes just 1.5 kilowatt-hours of energy, making it incredibly efficient and eco-friendly.

 

8. Clamp

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 9: ‘ A hydraulic clamp, which prevents the arms of the Wheel moving while the gondola is docked, is removed, allowing the Wheel to turn.’
 

Keywords

Clamp, gondola, wheel, docked
 

Explanation

The Falkirk Wheel is a stunning example of human ingenuity and innovation. As the world's only rotating boat lift, it is a must-see destination for anyone who appreciates cutting-edge design and engineering. The Wheel is incredibly efficient, taking just 1.5 kilowatt-hours of energy to rotate, and a hydraulic clamp ensures its seamless operation.

 

9. Axle

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 9: ‘In the central machine room an array of ten hydraulic motors then begins to rotate the central axle.’
 

Keywords

Axle, room, ten, hydraulic
 

Explanation

The hydraulic motors in the central machine room of The Falkirk Wheel rotate the central axle, ensuring the structure's safe and seamless operation.

 

10. Cogs

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 9: ‘As the wheel rotates, the gondolas are kept in the upright position by a simple gearing system. Two eight-metre-wide cogs orbit a fixed inner cog of the same width, connected by two smaller cogs travelling in the opposite direction to the outer cogs - so ensuring that the gondolas always remain level.’
 

Keywords

Cogs, Falkirk Wheel, rotates, design

 

Explanation

A simple gearing system consisting of cogs helps keep the gondolas upright as the Falkirk Wheel rotates. This ingenious design ensures the safety of passengers and adds to the overall efficiency of the structure.


 

11. Aqueduct

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 9: ‘ When the gondola reaches the top, the boat passes straight onto the aqueduct situated 24 metres above the canal basin.’

 

Keywords

Aqueduct, gondola, canal basin, 24 metres
 

Explanation

As the gondola reaches the top, the boat passes onto the aqueduct, which is situated 24 metres above the canal basin. The aqueduct offers passengers a breathtaking view of the surrounding landscape.

 

12. Wall

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 11: ‘Boats travel under this wall via a tunnel, then through the locks, and finally on to the Union Canal.’
 

Keywords

Wall, Union Canal, boat, journey, tunnel
 

Explanation

If you're looking for a unique and exciting way to explore the Union Canal, a boat journey through the locks is a must-try experience. The journey begins with a thrilling tunnel ride under the wall, followed by a smooth passage through the locks, and finally, you'll be able to enjoy the serene beauty of the Union Canal. 

 

13. Locks

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 10: ‘The remaining 11 metres of lift needed to reach the Union Canal is achieved by means of a pair of locks.’

 

Keywords

Locks, 11 metres, Union Canal, pair
 

Explanation

Two locks make up the remaining 11 meters of lift required to reach the Union Canal. These locks are crucial in ensuring a safe and comfortable journey for boats and are an essential part of any canal system.


 

This reading practice test will help you improve your reading section and vocabulary. The Falkirk Wheel is a remarkable engineering feat that connects two canals and commemorates the Millennium.
 

If you have any questions or concerns about the IELTS Reading Practice Test or any other aspect of the test, please feel free to contact the LeapScholar IELTS team.

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