Cambridge IELTS 21 · Academic · Test 3 · Passage 2
Getting Around Dar es Salaam — IELTS Reading Answers
All 13 answers for Getting Around Dar es Salaam, Cambridge IELTS 21 Academic Reading Test 3 Passage 2, with evidence and explanations.
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Getting Around Dar es Salaam answer key at a glance
Questions 14–26. Tap an answer to see the evidence.
What this passage tests
The passage examines how Dar es Salaam is trying to move its growing population using a bus rapid transit system instead of a metro. Questions 14-18 are True/False/Not Given on the city's growth. Questions 19-26 complete notes on how the DART system works and where it falls short.
Questions 14–18: True / False / Not Given
Strategy: Judge the whole statement against the text. FALSE contradicts the passage; NOT GIVEN means the passage never addresses that specific claim.
The population of Dar es Salaam is rising more rapidly than was previously predicted.
“United Nations projections anticipate it will become a megacity within seven years as its population passes 10 million, reaching 13.4 million by 2035. Daniel Hoornweg for the Global Cities Institute forecasts the city could be home to an incredible 73.7 million people by 2100”
NOT GIVEN: projections are given, but nothing says the rise is faster than previously predicted.
Most of the residents of Dar es Salaam live in high-rise blocks on the edge of the city.
“Today, four out of five of its people live in single-storey informal settlements on the spreading edges of the city”
FALSE: 'four out of five' people live in 'single-storey informal settlements', not high-rise blocks.
Residents have been consulted about their views on the suburban rail line in Dar es Salaam.
“A single suburban rail line serves residents in a few areas to the south but is tiny in the context of the wider city”
NOT GIVEN: the suburban rail line is described, but consultation with residents is never mentioned.
The majority of the present residential development in Dar es Salaam is unplanned.
“Nearly all the expansion is happening on the periphery, and nearly all takes place informally without any agreed strategy”
TRUE: 'nearly all takes place informally without any agreed strategy'.
Dar es Salaam's authorities have decided to follow the public transport plan adopted by a large number of African cities.
“Unlike many cities on the continent, Dar es Salaam isn't trying to build a metro. It has chosen a less exciting but cheaper and more achievable method: the bus”
FALSE: Dar es Salaam 'isn't trying to build a metro' and chose buses, unlike many African cities.
Questions 19–26: Note Completion
Strategy: Predict the word class from the note, find the paraphrase of the note's keyword in the passage, then copy the answer exactly within the word limit.
“The DART bus rapid transit (BRT) system runs on bus lanes separated from other traffic, mostly in the middle of the road to reduce stoppages”
The DART system runs on separated 'bus lanes', mostly in the middle of the road.
“Ticket purchase and control takes place at stations prior to boarding and the buses are step-free, which means the entire route is accessible to people using wheelchairs or who are travelling with baby buggies”
Tickets are bought at stations 'prior to boarding'.
“Ticket purchase and control takes place at stations prior to boarding and the buses are step-free, which means the entire route is accessible to people using wheelchairs or who are travelling with baby buggies”
The step-free route is accessible to people 'using wheelchairs' or travelling with buggies.
“He says it is not perfect, though, complaining that drivers often refuse to turn on the air conditioning to save fuel”
Drivers refuse to turn on the air conditioning 'to save fuel'.
“A shortage of buses after a serious flood at the main depot during the rainy season means the system is carrying 200,000 people a day - half the expected capacity”
A 'serious flood at the main depot' caused a bus shortage.
“Smartcards can't be used as the mechanical readers aren't working either, forcing passengers to buy individual paper tickets for every journey”
'Smartcards can't be used' because the mechanical readers are broken.
“Staff stand by the gates and tear tickets as people enter”
Staff 'stand by the gates and tear tickets' as people enter.
“As a result, queues are considerable at peak times”
As a result, 'queues are considerable at peak times'.
Learn the question types in this passage
Traps in this passage
- Questions 14 and 16 are NOT GIVEN because projections and descriptions are present, but the specific claims (faster than predicted, residents consulted) are not.
- Question 18 turns on a comparison with other African cities. Read the contrast sentence in full before deciding.
- The note completion answers are concrete nouns from the passage: lanes, boarding, wheelchairs, fuel, flood, smartcards, gates, queues.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the Getting Around Dar es Salaam passage come from?
It is Passage 2 of Cambridge IELTS 21 Academic Reading Test 3, and it covers Questions 14–26.
What question types appear in Getting Around Dar es Salaam?
The passage is tested with True / False / Not Given, Note 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.