Cambridge IELTS 10 · Academic · Test 1 · Passage 2
European Transport Systems 1990-2010 — IELTS Reading Answers
All 13 answers for European Transport Systems 1990-2010, Cambridge IELTS 10 Academic Reading Test 1 Passage 2, with the passage evidence and an explanation for each.
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European Transport Systems 1990-2010 answer key at a glance
Questions 14–26. Tap an answer to see the evidence.
What this passage tests
This passage is tested with Matching Headings (Q14–21), True / False / Not Given (Q22–26). Each section below gives the strategy for that question type, the answers, and the sentence that proves them.
Questions 14–21: Matching Headings
Strategy: Read the paragraph first and summarise its main idea in five words. Choose the heading that matches the whole paragraph, not a repeated keyword.
Paragraph A
“For passenger transport, the determining factor is the spectacular growth in car use.”
Paragraph A identifies car use as the determining factor, describing its spectacular growth, which is heading viii on the rise of car transport.
Paragraph B
“As far as goods transport is concerned, growth is due to a large extent to changes in the European economy and its system of production.”
Paragraph B ties goods transport growth to changes in the European economy and its system of production, matching heading iii.
Paragraph C
“The strong economic growth expected in countries which are candidates for entry to the EU will also increase transport flows, in particular road haulage traffic.”
Paragraph C predicts rising transport flows from strong economic growth expected in countries which are candidates for entry to the EU, which is heading xi.
Paragraph D
“The ambitious objective can only be fully achieved by 2020, but proposed measures are nonetheless a first essential step towards a sustainable transport system which will ideally be in place in 30 years’ time, that is by 2040.”
Paragraph D sets out an ambitious objective for 2020 and a sustainable system ideally in place by 2040, matching heading i on long-term objectives and deadlines.
Paragraph E
“In 1998, energy consumption in the transport sector was to blame for 28% of emissions of CO2, the leading greenhouse gas.”
Paragraph E blames transport energy consumption for 28 per cent of CO2 emissions, the leading greenhouse gas, matching the heading about transport's environmental impact, v.
Paragraph G
“The first approach would consist of focusing on road transport solely through pricing.”
Paragraph G describes an approach focusing on road transport solely through pricing, which is heading x on using charges alone.
Paragraph H
“The second approach also concentrates on road transport pricing but is accompanied by measures to increase the efficiency of the other modes (better quality of services, logistics, technology).”
Paragraph H pairs road transport pricing with measures to increase the efficiency of the other modes, which is heading ii.
Paragraph I
“This integrated approach would allow the market shares of the other modes to return to their 1998 levels and thus make a shift of balance.”
Paragraph I's integrated approach would let other modes return to their 1998 market shares and shift the balance, matching heading iv.
Questions 22–26: True / False / Not Given
Strategy: Judge the whole statement against the text. FALSE contradicts the passage; NOT GIVEN means the passage never addresses that specific claim.
The need for transport is growing, despite technological developments.
“Although modern information technologies can reduce the demand for physical transport by facilitating teleworking and teleservices, the requirement for transport continues to increase.”
Even though information technologies can reduce demand for physical transport, the requirement for transport continues to increase, confirming the statement.
To reduce production costs, some industries have been moved closer to their relevant consumers.
“This phenomenon has been emphasised by the relocation of some industries, particularly those which are labour intensive, to reduce production costs, even though the production site is hundreds or even thousands of kilometres away from the final assembly plant or away from users.”
Relocation to cut costs actually puts the production site hundreds or thousands of kilometres away from users, the opposite of moving closer.
Cars are prohibitively expensive in some EU candidate countries.
“The strong economic growth expected in countries which are candidates for entry to the EU will also increase transport flows, in particular road haulage traffic.”
The text mentions expected economic growth and higher road haulage traffic in candidate countries, but says nothing about car prices there.
The Gothenburg European Council was set up 30 years ago.
“The ambitious objective can only be fully achieved by 2020, but proposed measures are nonetheless a first essential step towards a sustainable transport system which will ideally be in place in 30 years’ time, that is by 2040.”
The thirty-year reference is a timetable for achieving a sustainable transport system by 2040, not the founding date of the Gothenburg European Council.
By the end of this decade, CO2 emissions from transport are predicted to reach 739 billion tonnes.
“CO2 emissions from transport can be expected to increase by around 50% to 1,113 billion tonnes by 2020, compared with the 739 billion tonnes recorded in 1990.”
The 739 billion tonnes figure was recorded in 1990; the 2020 prediction is 1,113 billion tonnes, so the two figures are swapped.
Learn the question types in this passage
Frequently asked questions
Where does the European Transport Systems 1990-2010 passage come from?
It is Passage 2 of Cambridge IELTS 10 Academic Reading Test 1, and it covers Questions 14–26.
What question types appear in European Transport Systems 1990-2010?
The passage is tested with Matching Headings, True / False / Not Given. 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.