Cambridge IELTS 14 · General Training · Test 2 · Section 3
San Francisco’s Golden Gale Bridge — IELTS Reading Answers
All 13 answers for San Francisco’s Golden Gale Bridge, Cambridge IELTS 14 General Training Reading Test 2 Section 3, with the passage evidence and an explanation for each.
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San Francisco’s Golden Gale Bridge 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 (Q28–35), Sentence Completion (Q36–40). Each section below gives the strategy for that question type, the answers, and the sentence that proves them.
Questions 28–35: 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.
why it was easy to recruit workers to build the bridge
“The crew consisted of virtually anyone capable of withstanding the physical rigours of the job, as out-of-work cab drivers, farmers and clerks lined up for the chance to earn steady wages as ironworkers and cement mixers”
E: 'out-of-work cab drivers, farmers and clerks lined up for the chance to earn steady wages', making recruitment easy.
a change in the design of the bridge
“Meanwhile, Strauss's team scrapped their original plans in favour of a suspension span capable of moving more than two feet to each side: this would withstand strong wind far better than a rigid structure”
C: Strauss's team 'scrapped their original plans in favour of a suspension span', a change of design.
opposition to building the bridge
“Despite the economic benefits promised by its supporters, the project met fierce resistance from a number of businesses – particularly ferry companies – and civic leaders”
B: the project 'met fierce resistance from a number of businesses – particularly ferry companies – and civic leaders'.
why a bridge was desirable
“With population centres growing fast, there was severe traffic congestion at the ferry docks, and motor vehicle travel by ferry was fast exceeding capacity”
A: 'severe traffic congestion at the ferry docks' and ferry travel 'fast exceeding capacity' made a bridge desirable.
problems with raising funding for the bridge
“The District struggled to find a financial backer amid the difficulties of the Great Depression, a problem made worse by years of expensive legal proceedings”
D: the District 'struggled to find a financial backer amid the difficulties of the Great Depression', a funding problem.
permission being given to build the bridge
“In 1924, San Francisco and Marin counties applied for a permit to build a bridge, and after hearing overwhelming arguments in favour of the project, the Secretary of War agreed”
B: after applying 'for a permit to build a bridge', 'the Secretary of War agreed', giving permission.
which records the bridge broke
“The Golden Gate has endured as a marvel of modern engineering; its main span was the longest in the world for a suspension bridge until 1981, while its towers made it the tallest bridge of any type until 1993”
G: the main span was 'the longest in the world ... until 1981', and the towers made it 'the tallest bridge ... until 1993'.
the idea that building a bridge might be impossible
“Most doubted whether a bridge could be built at all, or estimated that it would cost $100 million”
A: 'Most doubted whether a bridge could be built at all', the idea that the project might be impossible.
Questions 36–40: Sentence Completion
Strategy: Find the stem's keyword in the passage, then complete the sentence with the exact words the grammar requires, within the word limit.
“In 1924, San Francisco and Marin counties applied for a permit to build a bridge”
In 1924 the counties 'applied for a permit to build a bridge', so permit is the noun.
“Not only would the bridge be an obstacle to shipping and spoil the bay's natural beauty, they argued, it wouldn't survive the sort of earthquake that had devastated the city in 1906”
Critics said the bridge 'wouldn't survive the sort of earthquake' that devastated the city in 1906.
“The framework was damaged when it was struck by a ship in August 1933 and again during a powerful storm later in the year, setting construction back five months”
The framework was damaged again 'during a powerful storm later in the year', so storm fits.
“The roadway was completed in April 1937, and the bridge officially opened to pedestrians the following month”
'The roadway was completed in April 1937', so roadway is the noun.
“The roadway was completed in April 1937, and the bridge officially opened to pedestrians the following month”
The bridge 'officially opened to pedestrians the following month', so pedestrians is the answer.
Learn the question types in this section
Frequently asked questions
Where does the San Francisco’s Golden Gale Bridge passage come from?
It is Section 3 of Cambridge IELTS 14 General Training Reading Test 2, and it covers Questions 28–40.
What question types appear in San Francisco’s Golden Gale Bridge?
The section is tested with Matching Information, Sentence Completion. 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.