Cambridge IELTS 9 · General Training · Test 2 · Section 3
The Birdmen — IELTS Reading Answers
All 13 answers for The Birdmen, Cambridge IELTS 9 General Training Reading Test 2 Section 3, with the passage evidence and an explanation for each.
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The Birdmen answer key at a glance
Questions 28–40. Tap an answer to see the evidence.
What this section tests
This section is tested with One Choice (Q28–30), Summary Completion (Q31–35), Matching Features (Q36–40). Each section below gives the strategy for that question type, the answers, and the sentence that proves them.
Questions 28–30: 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 information is given about Vandenbulcke in paragraph 3?
- AHe narrowly avoided a dangerous situation.correct
- BHe did not understand the equipment he was using.
- CHe did not react fast enough to the situation.
- DHe was fortunate to get the help he needed.
“Another keen paramotorist recently experienced a close call when in the air. 'I started to get a warm feeling in my back,' says Patrick Vandenbulcke. 'I thought I was just sweating. But then I started to feel burning and I realized I had to get to the ground fast.”
Option A: Vandenbulcke 'experienced a close call' when the exhaust moved and his harness began melting, so he narrowly avoided danger.
When the writer refers to some second-hand paramotoring equipment which was for sale, he is emphasising that
- Aparamotoring equipment is in short supply.
- Bparamotoring equipment needs to be carefully tested.
- Cparamotoring is a very expensive hobby.
- Dparamotoring can be a dangerous pastime.correct
“There was one pre-used kit advertised on a website, with a bit of damage to the cage and tips of the propellers due to a rough landing. 'Scared myself to death,' the seller reported, 'hence the reason for this sale.'”
Option D: the kit shows 'damage... due to a rough landing', and the seller says 'Scared myself to death', stressing the danger.
The description of what happened at Lake Geneva is given to suggest that Rossy
- Afrequently changes his plans.
- Blikes to do what appears impossible.correct
- Cis an excellent overall sportsman.
- Dknows the area very thoroughly.
“He has always enjoyed being a daredevil showman. He once parachuted from a plane above Lake Geneva and, intentionally skimming the top of a fountain as he landed, he descended to the lake where he grabbed some water ski equipment and started waterskiing while the crowd watched open-mouthed”
Option B: the Lake Geneva stunt - parachuting, skimming a fountain, then waterskiing - shows a 'daredevil showman' doing the seemingly impossible.
Questions 31–35: 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.
“After flying planes for the air force from the ages of 20 to 28, he went on to do a job as a pilot with a commercial airline from 1988 to 2000”
An adjective before 'airline': after the air force he flew for 'a commercial airline from 1988 to 2000'.
“Initially he had approached a company called Jet-Kit which specialised in miniature planes, but the wings they made for him weren't rigid enough to support the weight of the engines”
An adjective before 'planes': Jet-Kit 'specialised in miniature planes', though its wings proved too flexible.
“Initially he had approached a company called Jet-Kit which specialised in miniature planes, but the wings they made for him weren't rigid enough to support the weight of the engines”
A plural noun as subject: 'the wings they made for him weren't rigid enough' to carry the engines.
“Within seconds he was soaring and diving at over 290 kph, at one point reaching 300 kph, about 104 kph faster than the typical falling skydiver”
A speed: he reached '300 kph', 'about 104 kph faster than the typical falling skydiver'.
“Within seconds he was soaring and diving at over 290 kph, at one point reaching 300 kph, about 104 kph faster than the typical falling skydiver”
A singular noun after 'falling': the comparison is with 'the typical falling skydiver'.
Questions 36–40: Matching Features
Strategy: Match the statement to the named person or thing. Names can repeat, so check each option against what that person actually says.
Options for Questions 36–40
- AEric Scott
- BChris Clarke
- CPatrick Vandenbulcke
- DYves Rossy
He acknowledges the role of his equipment in enabling him to set a flying record.
“Rossy says he has become 'the first person to maintain a stable horizontal flight, thanks to aerodynamic carbon foldable wings.' Without these special wings, it is doubtful he would have managed to do this”
Yves Rossy (D) credits 'aerodynamic carbon foldable wings' for making him 'the first person to maintain a stable horizontal flight'.
He explains how he uses his flying expertise to promote a product.
“Now he works for an energy-drink company that pays him to travel around the world with his jet pack. As Scott says: 'I get to do what I love and wherever I go I advertise Go Fast drinks”
Eric Scott (A) is paid by an energy-drink company and says 'wherever I go I advertise Go Fast drinks'.
He explains what led him to experiment with different ways of flying.
“'The cockpit of a plane is the most beautiful office in the world,' he says, 'but I didn't have any contact with the air around me. It was a bit like being in a box or a submarine under water.' From then on, he therefore concentrated on becoming the first jet-powered flying man”
Yves Rossy (D) found the cockpit cut him off from 'the air around me', which led him to pursue jet-powered flight.
He describes a mistake some beginners might make.
“However he warns: 'Although it seems cheaper to try to teach yourself, you will regret it later as you won't have a good technique.'”
Patrick Vandenbulcke (C) warns that self-teaching 'seems cheaper' but leaves you without 'a good technique' - a beginner's mistake.
He mentions circumstances which prevent you from leaving the ground.
“The trouble is that paramotoring is ill-suited to commuting because of the impossibility of taking off in strong winds,' says Clarke”
Chris Clarke (B) notes 'the impossibility of taking off in strong winds', a condition that keeps you grounded.
Learn the question types in this section
Frequently asked questions
Where does the The Birdmen passage come from?
It is Section 3 of Cambridge IELTS 9 General Training Reading Test 2, and it covers Questions 28–40.
What question types appear in The Birdmen?
The section is tested with One Choice, Summary Completion, Matching Features. 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.