Cambridge IELTS 18 · General Training · Test 3 · Section 3
Roman Roads — IELTS Reading Answers
All 13 answers for Roman Roads, Cambridge IELTS 18 General Training Reading Test 3 Section 3, with the passage evidence and an explanation for each.
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Roman Roads answer key at a glance
Questions 28–40. Tap an answer to see the evidence.
What this section tests
This section is tested with Matching Information (Q28–33), One Choice (Q34–37), Diagram Labeling (Q38–40). Each section below gives the strategy for that question type, the answers, and the sentence that proves them.
Questions 28–33: 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.
the various functions of Roman roads
“Besides permitting the rapid deployment of troops and more importantly the wheeled vehicles which supplied them with food and equipment, Roman roads allowed for an increase in trade and cultural exchange. Roads were also one of the ways Rome could demonstrate its authority.”
Paragraph C lists roads allowing troop deployment, trade, cultural exchange and a display of authority — several different functions.
reference to some current remains of Roman road building
“Such was the engineering and surveying skill of the Romans that many of their roads have provided the basis for hundreds of today's routes across Europe and the Middle East.”
Paragraph F says many Roman roads 'have provided the basis for hundreds of today's routes', so remains still exist.
a description of preparations for building a road
“To achieve the objective of constructing the shortest routes possible between two points, all manner of engineering difficulties had to be overcome. Once extensive surveying had been carried out, to ensure the proposed route was actually straight and to determine what various engineering methods were needed,”
Paragraph D describes what happened 'once extensive surveying had been carried out': marshes drained, forests cut, creeks diverted, all before building.
the period in history when road building began
“The Romans did not invent roads, but as in so many other areas, they took an idea which went back as far as the Bronze Age”
Paragraph B traces roads back 'as far as the Bronze Age', identifying the historical period when road building began.
the consequence of damage caused by a natural disaster
“Recently hit by earthquakes, it is now having to undergo restoration work to repair the effects.”
Paragraph F mentions a road 'recently hit by earthquakes' now undergoing 'restoration work to repair the effects'.
the total distance once crossed by Roman roads
“The network of public Roman roads covered over 120,000 kilometers.”
Paragraph C gives the figure: 'the network of public Roman roads covered over 120,000 kilometers'.
Questions 34–37: 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.
Which aspect of Roman road building does the writer mention in Section A?
- Athe strength and permanence of the roads
- Bthe magnificence and practicality of the roadscorrect
- Cthe number of people involved in building
- Dthe powerful people who financed the roads
“Consequently roads required bridges, tunnels, viaducts and many other architectural and engineering features to create a series of breathtaking but highly useful monuments”
Option B: roads became 'a series of breathtaking but highly useful monuments', combining magnificence with practical value.
The writer compares the Appian Way to a modern highway because
- Ait was lengthened over time.
- Bit took a long time to construct.
- CIt was used by a large number of travellers.
- Dit was designed to avoid certain areas.correct
“Much like a modern highway it bypassed small towns along the way and it largely ignored geographical obstacles.”
Option D: the Appian Way 'bypassed small towns along the way' and 'largely ignored geographical obstacles', like a motorway.
According to the writer, the purpose of the triumphal arches was to
- Adisplay the power of Rome.correct
- Bcelebrate the opening of a road.
- Cshow the name of important roads.
- Dprovide access for important officials.
“For this reason, many roads began and ended in a triumphal arch, and the imperial prestige associated with a road project was demonstrated”
Option A: roads began and ended in triumphal arches, where 'imperial prestige associated with a road project was demonstrated'.
What common use of a milestone is mentioned in Section E?
- Aindicating to travellers the total length of the road
- Bhighlighting areas of the road that needed repair
- Cnoting details regarding the maintenance of the roadcorrect
- Dmarking rest places along the road for travellers and their animals
“Milestones were also set up at regular intervals along the road and these often recorded who was responsible for the upkeep of that stretch of the road and what repairs had been made.”
Option C: milestones 'recorded who was responsible for the upkeep of that stretch' and 'what repairs had been made'.
Questions 38–40: Diagram Labeling
Strategy: Locate the labelled part on the diagram, then find the matching description in the passage. Answers are usually concrete nouns.
“This was followed by a substantial deposit of smaller broken materials – often crushed brick was used for this purpose, and on top of this, a layer of fine gravel was added.”
The gap names a top layer; above crushed brick 'a layer of fine gravel was added'.
“Mountain roads might also have ridges running across the surface of the slabs, to give animals better grip”
The gap names who needed grip; ridges on mountain slabs gave 'animals better grip'.
“This was followed by a substantial deposit of smaller broken materials – often crushed brick was used for this purpose”
The gap names a material in the base layers; 'often crushed brick was used for this purpose'.
Learn the question types in this section
Frequently asked questions
Where does the Roman Roads passage come from?
It is Section 3 of Cambridge IELTS 18 General Training Reading Test 3, and it covers Questions 28–40.
What question types appear in Roman Roads?
The section is tested with Matching Information, One Choice, Diagram Labeling. 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.