IELTS Reading #81: The steam car

Questions 1–7: Matching Headings

Choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list of headings below.
Write the correct number i–viii in boxes 1–7.

List of Headings

i. A period in cold conditions before the technology is assessed
ii. Marketing issues lead to failure
iii. Good and bad aspects of steam technology are passed on
iv. A possible solution to the issues of today
v. Further improvements lead to commercial orders
vi. Positive publicity at last for this quiet, clean, fast vehicle
vii. A disappointing outcome for customers
viii. A better option than the steam car arises

1. Paragraph A	i	ii	iii	iv	v	vi	vii	viii
2. Paragraph B	i	ii	iii	iv	v	vi	vii	viii
3. Paragraph C	i	ii	iii	iv	v	vi	vii	viii
4. Paragraph D	i	ii	iii	iv	v	vi	vii	viii
5. Paragraph E	i	ii	iii	iv	v	vi	vii	viii
6. Paragraph F	i	ii	iii	iv	v	vi	vii	viii
7. Paragraph G	i	ii	iii	iv	v	vi	vii	viii

Questions 8–10: Multiple Choice

Choose the correct letter A, B, C or D.

8. What point does the writer make about the steam car in Paragraph B?

A) Its success was short-lived. B) Not enough cars were made. C) Car companies found them hard to sell. D) People found them hard to drive.

9. When building their first steam car, the Doble brothers

A) constructed all the parts themselves. B) made written notes at each stage of the construction. C) needed several attempts to achieve a competitive model. D) sought the advice of experienced people in the car industry.

10. In order to produce the Model C, the Doble brothers

A) moved production to a different city. B) raised financial capital. C) employed an additional worker. D) abandoned their earlier designs.

Questions 11–13: Summary Completion

Complete the summary below.
Write the answer in ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 11–13.

The Model E

The Model E was road-tested in 1924 by the Automobile Club of America. They found it easy to drive, despite its weight, and it impressed the spectators. A later version of the Model E raised its 11. , while keeping its emissions extremely low.

The steam car was too expensive for many people and its design was constantly being altered. Under 12. cars were produced before the company went out of business. However, even today, there are Model Es on the road in the US. They are straightforward to maintain, and they satisfy California’s 13. emissions laws. Perhaps today’s technology and materials would help us revive the steam car.

IELTS Reading Practice Test: The steam car

Reading Passage Content Summary

Question Types Included

Test Information

Reading Passage Content

Questions 1–7: Matching Headings

List of Headings

Questions 8–10: Multiple Choice

Questions 11–13: Summary Completion

The Model E

Reading Passage Content

Questions 1–7: Matching Headings

List of Headings

Questions 8–10: Multiple Choice

Questions 11–13: Summary Completion

The Model E