Cambridge IELTS 15 · Academic · Test 1 · Passage 2
Driverless Cars — IELTS Reading Answers
All 11 answers for Driverless Cars, Cambridge IELTS 15 Academic Reading Test 1 Passage 2, with the passage evidence and an explanation for each.
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Driverless Cars answer key at a glance
Questions 14–25. Tap an answer to see the evidence.
What this passage tests
This passage is tested with Matching Information (Q14–18), Summary Completion (Q19–22), Two Choices (Q23–24), Two Choices (Q25–26). Each section below gives the strategy for that question type, the answers, and the sentence that proves them.
Questions 14–18: Matching Information
Strategy: Scan for the idea, not the exact words. The answer is a paragraph letter, and one paragraph may be used more than once unless the instructions say otherwise.
reference to the amount of time when a car is not in use
“At present, the average car spends more than 90 percent of its life parked”
C: paragraph C states 'the average car spends more than 90 percent of its life parked', the unused time described.
mention of several advantages of driverless vehicles for individual road-users
“Another aim is to free the time people spend driving for other purposes”
B: paragraph B says an aim 'is to free the time people spend driving for other purposes', a benefit for individual road-users.
reference to the opportunity of choosing the most appropriate vehicle for each trip
“drivers will have the freedom to select one that best suits their needs for a particular journey”
E: paragraph E says drivers 'will have the freedom to select one that best suits their needs for a particular journey'.
an estimate of how long it will take to overcome a number of problems
“It’s clear that there are many challenges that need to be addressed but, through robust and targeted research, these can most probably be conquered within the next 10 years”
G: paragraph G predicts challenges 'can most probably be conquered within the next 10 years', an estimate of time.
a suggestion that the use of driverless cars may have no effect on the number of vehicles manufactured
“This faster rate of turnover may mean that vehicle production will not necessarily decrease”
D: paragraph D says 'vehicle production will not necessarily decrease', implying little change in manufacturing numbers.
Questions 19–22: Summary Completion
Strategy: Read the summary as a paragraph first to establish the logic, then locate the missing idea in the passage. With a lettered list, confirm the grammar fits.
“research at the UK’s Transport Research Laboratory has demonstrated that more than 90 percent of road collisions involve human error as a contributory factor”
Over 90 percent of collisions 'involve human error as a contributory factor', so human error is the cause.
“Automation means that initiatives for car-sharing become much more viable, particularly in urban areas with significant travel demand”
Automation makes 'initiatives for car-sharing become much more viable', the practice the summary names.
“Modelling work by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute suggests automated vehicles might reduce vehicle ownership by 43 percent”
Modelling suggests automated vehicles 'might reduce vehicle ownership by 43 percent', so ownership is what falls.
“but that vehicles’ average annual mileage double as a result”
The same model says 'vehicles' average annual mileage double', the quantity that rises.
Questions 23–24: Two Choices
Strategy: Both answers must be supported by the passage. Check each option independently; order does not usually matter.
“If the vehicle can do some or all of the driving, it may be possible to be productive, to socialise or simply to relax while automation systems have responsibility for safe control of the vehicle those who are challenged by existing mobility models – such as older or disabled travellers – may be able to enjoy...”
C fits because automation lets travellers 'be productive, to socialise or simply to relax'; D because older or disabled travellers gain 'significantly greater travel autonomy'.
Questions 25–26: Two Choices
Strategy: Both answers must be supported by the passage. Check each option independently; order does not usually matter.
“the societal changes that may be required for communities to trust and accept automated vehicles as being a valuable part of the mobility landscape These include the technical difficulties in ensuring that the vehicle works reliably in the infinite range of traffic, weather and road situations it might encounter”
A fits because communities must learn to 'trust and accept' the vehicles; E because reliability across 'the infinite range of traffic, weather and road situations' is difficult.
Learn the question types in this passage
Frequently asked questions
Where does the Driverless Cars passage come from?
It is Passage 2 of Cambridge IELTS 15 Academic Reading Test 1, and it covers Questions 14–25.
What question types appear in Driverless Cars?
The passage is tested with Matching Information, Summary Completion, Two Choices, Two Choices. Each type is explained on this page, alongside the answers.
Are these reading answers reliable?
Every answer is paired with the sentence that proves it, so you can check each one against the passage yourself. Use the page after a timed attempt, not instead of one.
Cambridge IELTS is published by Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Band9Prep is not affiliated with Cambridge. This page is an independent study aid: it gives the answer key, the passage evidence and an explanation so you can review an attempt you have already made.