Cambridge IELTS 20 · Academic · Test 2 · Passage 3
Invasion Of The Robot Umpires — IELTS Reading Answers
All 14 answers for Invasion Of The Robot Umpires, Cambridge IELTS 20 Academic Reading Test 2 Passage 3, with the passage evidence and an explanation for each.
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Invasion Of The Robot Umpires answer key at a glance
Questions 27–40. Tap an answer to see the evidence.
What this passage tests
This passage is tested with Yes / No / Not Given (Q27–32), Summary Completion (Q33–37), One Choice (Q38–40). Each section below gives the strategy for that question type, the answers, and the sentence that proves them.
Questions 27–32: Yes / No / Not Given
Strategy: These test the writer's opinions, not facts. Look for evaluative language, and treat 'may' or 'could' as weaker than the question's claim.
When DeJesus first used ABS, he shared decision-making about strikes with it.
“DeJesus had decisions fed to him through an earpiece”
DeJesus 'had decisions fed to him through an earpiece', so he simply received calls rather than sharing decision-making with ABS.
MLB considered it necessary to amend the size of the strike zone when criticisms were received from players.
“In response, MLB decided to tweak the dimensions of the zone”
After criticism 'MLB decided to tweak the dimensions of the zone', showing it thought a change was necessary.
MLB is keen to justify the money spent on improving the accuracy of ABS’s calculations.
“But the question is whether controversy is worth reducing, or whether it is the sign of a human hand”
The passage questions whether reduced controversy is worthwhile but never mentions justifying money spent on accuracy.
The hundred-mile-an-hour fastball led to a more exciting style of play.
“a type of play lacking much action”
The hundred-mile-an-hour fastball is linked to 'a type of play lacking much action', not to a more exciting style.
The differing proposals for alterations to the baseball bat led to fierce debate on Sword’s team.
“Sword's team brainstormed potential fixes. Any rule that existed, they talked about changing - from changing the bats to changing the geometry of the field. But while all of these were ruled out as potential fixes, ABS was seen as a perfect vehicle for change”
Sword's team brainstormed changes to bats and field geometry, but no fierce internal debate is described.
ABS makes changes to the shape of the strike zone feasible.
“According to Sword, once you get the technology right, you can load any strike zone you want into the system. "It might be a triangle, or a blob, or something shaped like Texas. Over time, as baseball evolves, ABS can allow the zone to change with it."”
Sword says 'you can load any strike zone you want into the system', even a triangle, a blob or something shaped like Texas.
Questions 33–37: 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.
“Major League Baseball (MLB), who had commissioned the system, wanted human umpires to announce the calls, just as they would have done in the past”
MLB 'wanted human umpires to announce the calls', so option F expresses the requirement the gap records.
“Previously, calling a strike was a judgment call on the part of the umpire”
Previously 'calling a strike was a judgment call on the part of the umpire', which is the contrast option D carries.
“a pitch that passes through the 'strike zone' (an imaginary zone about seventeen inches wide, stretching from the batter's knees to the middle of his chest) is considered a strike”
The strike zone is defined as 'an imaginary zone about seventeen inches wide', so option H matches this description.
“For a hundred and fifty years or so, the strike zone has been the game's animating force-countless arguments between a team's manager and the umpire have taken place over its boundaries”
The zone has been 'the game's animating force' for a hundred and fifty years, generating 'countless arguments', which option B conveys.
“During that first game, when DeJesus announced calls, there was no heckling and no shouted disagreement. Nobody said a word”
At the first game 'there was no heckling and no shouted disagreement. Nobody said a word', the silence option G describes.
Questions 38–40: One Choice
Strategy: Read the question stem and predict the answer before looking at the options. Wrong options often repeat passage words while the correct one paraphrases them.
What does the writer suggest about ABS in the fifth paragraph?
- AIt is bound to make key decisions that are wrong.
- BIt may reduce some of the appeal of the game.correct
- CIt will lead to the disappearance of human umpires.
- DIt may increase calls for the rules of baseball to be changed.
“When he was pitching, he explained, umpires rewarded skill. “Throw it where you aimed, and it would be a strike, even if it was an inch or two outside. There was a dialogue between pitcher and umpire.””
A former pitcher recalls umpires 'rewarded skill' and there was 'a dialogue between pitcher and umpire', a human element ABS removes.
Morgan Sword says that the introduction of ABS
- Awas regarded as an experiment without a guaranteed outcome.
- Bwas intended to keep up with developments in other sports.
- Cwas a response to changing attitudes about the role of sport.
- Dwas an attempt to ensure baseball retained a young audience.correct
“According to Sword, ABS was part of a larger project to make baseball more exciting since executives are terrified of losing younger fans”
ABS was 'part of a larger project to make baseball more exciting since executives are terrified of losing younger fans'.
Why does the writer include the views of Noe and Russo?
- Ato show that attitudes to technology vary widely
- Bto argue that people have unrealistic expectations of sport
- Cto indicate that accuracy is not the same thing as enjoymentcorrect
- Dto suggest that the number of baseball fans needs to increase
“Some players I have met take a dissenting stance toward the robots too, believing that accuracy is not the answer”
Noe and Russo dissent because they 'believe that accuracy is not the answer', showing accuracy differs from enjoyment.
Learn the question types in this passage
Frequently asked questions
Where does the Invasion Of The Robot Umpires passage come from?
It is Passage 3 of Cambridge IELTS 20 Academic Reading Test 2, and it covers Questions 27–40.
What question types appear in Invasion Of The Robot Umpires?
The passage is tested with Yes / No / Not Given, Summary Completion, One Choice. 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.