Cambridge IELTS 7 · Academic · Test 1 · Passage 2
Making Every Drop Count — IELTS Reading Answers
All 13 answers for Making Every Drop Count, Cambridge IELTS 7 Academic Reading Test 1 Passage 2, with the passage evidence and an explanation for each.
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Making Every Drop Count 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 (Q14–20), Yes / No / Not Given (Q21–26). Each section below gives the strategy for that question type, the answers, and the sentence that proves them.
Questions 14–20: 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
“At the height of the Roman Empire, nine major systems, with an innovative layout of pipes and well-built sewers, supplied the occupants of Rome with as much water per person as is provided in many parts of the industrial world today”
Paragraph A describes Rome's nine aqueduct systems and well-built sewers supplying water comparable to modern industrial cities — the heading on ancient water supply.
Paragraph C
“Preventable water-related diseases kill an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 children every day, and the latest evidence suggests that we are falling behind in efforts to solve these problems”
Paragraph C reports that preventable water-related diseases 'kill an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 children every day', the heading on the scale of the water crisis.
Paragraph D
“More than 20 % of all freshwater fish species are now threatened or endangered because dams and water withdrawals have destroyed the free-flowing river ecosystems where they thrive”
Paragraph D warns that over 20 per cent of freshwater fish are threatened because 'dams and water withdrawals have destroyed' river ecosystems, a heading on environmental harm.
Paragraph E
“Some water experts are now demanding that existing infrastructure be used in smarter ways rather than building new facilities, which is increasingly considered the option of last, not first, resort”
Paragraph E says experts demand existing infrastructure 'be used in smarter ways rather than building new facilities', a heading on rethinking infrastructure.
Paragraph F
“Fortunately - and unexpectedly - the demand for water is not rising as rapidly as some predicted And in a few parts of the world, demand has actually fallen”
Paragraph F reports that 'the demand for water is not rising as rapidly as some predicted' and has fallen in places, a heading on declining demand.
Paragraph G
“What explains this remarkable turn of events? Two factors: people have figured out how to use water more efficiently, and communities are rethinking their priorities for water use”
Paragraph G attributes the change to 'two factors': people using water 'more efficiently' and communities 'rethinking their priorities', a heading on reasons for the fall.
Paragraph H
“But such projects must be built to higher specifications and with more accountability to local people and their environment than in the past”
Paragraph H insists projects 'must be built to higher specifications and with more accountability to local people and their environment', a heading on better future projects.
Questions 21–26: 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.
Water use per person is higher in the industrial world than it was in Ancient Rome.
“At the height of the Roman Empire, nine major systems, with an innovative layout of pipes and well-built sewers, supplied the occupants of Rome with as much water per person as is provided in many parts of the industrial world today”
Rome supplied 'as much water per person as is provided in many parts of the industrial world today', so modern use is comparable, not higher. NO.
Feeding increasing populations is possible due primarily to improved irrigation systems.
“Food production has kept pace with soaring populations mainly because of the expansion of artificial irrigation systems that make possible the growth of 40 % of the world's food”
'Kept pace... mainly because of the expansion of artificial irrigation systems' confirms irrigation was the primary reason food supply matched population growth.
Modern water systems imitate those of the ancient Greeks and Romans.
“At the height of the Roman Empire, nine major systems, with an innovative layout of pipes and well-built sewers, supplied the occupants of Rome with as much water per person as is provided in many parts of the industrial world today half of the world's population still suffers,”
The text compares half the world's population to the Greeks and Romans only to say their water services are inferior; whether modern systems copy ancient designs is never discussed.
Industrial growth is increasing the overall demand for water.
“Although population, industrial output and economic productivity have continued to soar in developed nations, the rate at which people withdraw water from aquifers, rivers and lakes has slowed. And in a few parts of the world, demand has actually fallen”
Despite industrial output soaring, withdrawal rates 'have slowed' and demand 'has actually fallen' in places, contradicting the claim that industrial growth raises overall demand.
Modern technologies have led to a reduction in domestic water consumption.
“But since 1980, the amount of water consumed per person has actually decreased, thanks to a range of new technologies that help to conserve water in homes and industry”
'Decreased, thanks to a range of new technologies' — including in homes — confirms technology cut domestic consumption. YES.
In the future, governments should maintain ownership of water infrastructures.
“On the other hand, dams, aqueducts and other kinds of infrastructure will still have to be built, particularly in developing countries where basic human needs have not been met. But such projects must be built to higher specifications and with more accountability to local people and their environment than in the past”
The passage says future projects need 'higher specifications and... more accountability', but never states who should own water infrastructure, so the recommendation is absent.
Learn the question types in this passage
Frequently asked questions
Where does the Making Every Drop Count passage come from?
It is Passage 2 of Cambridge IELTS 7 Academic Reading Test 1, and it covers Questions 14–26.
What question types appear in Making Every Drop Count?
The passage is tested with Matching Headings, Yes / No / 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.