Cambridge IELTS 15 · Academic · Test 3 · Passage 2
The Desolenator: Producing Clean Water — IELTS Reading Answers
All 13 answers for The Desolenator: Producing Clean Water, Cambridge IELTS 15 Academic Reading Test 3 Passage 2, with the passage evidence and an explanation for each.
← All Cambridge 15 Test 3 answers
The Desolenator: Producing Clean Water 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), Summary Completion (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.
Section A
“Two decades later Janssen developed that basic idea he saw in Southeast Asia into a portable device that uses the power from the sun to purify water”
iii: section A traces how Janssen turned an idea seen in Southeast Asia into 'a portable device that uses the power from the sun to purify water'.
Section B
“The Desolenator operates as a mobile desalination unit that can take water from different places, such as the sea, rivers, boreholes and rain, and purify it for human consumption.”
vi: section B explains the Desolenator 'operates as a mobile desalination unit' taking water from sea, rivers, boreholes and rain.
Section C
“Its main selling point is that unlike standard desalination techniques, it doesn’t require a generated power supply”
v: section C says its 'main selling point' is that 'it doesn't require a generated power supply', unlike standard desalination.
Section D
“A recent analysis found that at least two-thirds of the world’s population lives with severe water scarcity for at least a month every year”
x: section D cites analysis that 'at least two-thirds of the world's population lives with severe water scarcity', a global problem.
Section E
“The device is aimed at a wide variety of users – from homeowners in the developing world who do not have a constant supply of water to people living off the grid in rural parts of the US.”
iv: section E says the device is 'aimed at a wide variety of users', from developing-world homeowners to off-grid Americans.
Section F
“We are a venture with a social mission. We are aware that the product we have envisioned is mainly finding application in the developing world and humanitarian sector and that this is the way we will proceed”
viii: section F describes 'a venture with a social mission', focused on the developing world and humanitarian sector.
Section G
“It has raised £340,000 in funding so far”
i: section G reports the venture 'has raised £340,000 in funding so far', which is the funding heading.
Questions 21–26: 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.
“It measures 120 cm by 90 cm, and it easy to transport, thanks to its two wheels”
The device is easy to transport 'thanks to its two wheels', so wheels is what makes it mobile.
“Water enters through a pipe, and flows as a thin film between a sheet of double glazing and the surface of a solar panel”
Water 'flows as a thin film between a sheet of double glazing and the surface of a solar panel'.
“The device has a very simple filter to trap particles”
The device has 'a very simple filter to trap particles', so filter is the component named.
“There are two tubes for liquid coming out: one for the waste – salt from seawater, fluoride, etc. – and another for the distilled water”
One outlet tube is 'for the waste – salt from seawater, fluoride', so waste is what leaves.
“The performance of the unit is shown on an LCD screen”
The unit's 'performance' is displayed on an LCD screen, the information the summary mentions.
“transmitted to the company which provides servicing when necessary”
Data is transmitted to the company 'which provides servicing when necessary', so servicing is the service offered.
Learn the question types in this passage
Frequently asked questions
Where does the The Desolenator: Producing Clean Water passage come from?
It is Passage 2 of Cambridge IELTS 15 Academic Reading Test 3, and it covers Questions 14–26.
What question types appear in The Desolenator: Producing Clean Water?
The passage is tested with Matching Headings, Summary 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.