Cambridge IELTS Academic 16 Reading Test 4 Answers with Explanation / IELTS Academic Reading: Roman tunnels , Changes in reading habits , Attitudes towards Artificial Intelligence

READING PASSAGE 1

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1-13, which are based on Reading Passage 1.

Roman tunnels

Label the Diagrams

The Persian Qanat Method

Question	Answer	Keywords	Location	Text
1	posts	tunneling, direct	First paragraph, 3rd line	"They introduced the qanat method of tunnel construction, which consisted of placing posts over a hill in a straight line, to ensure that the tunnel kept to its route."
2	canal	water runs, local people	First paragraph, 7th line	"Once the tunnel was completed, it allowed water to flow from top of a hillside down towards a canal, which supplied water for human use."
3	ventilation	vertical shafts, remove earth	First paragraph, 6th line	"The excavated soil was taken up to the surface using the shafts, which also provided ventilation."
4	lid	made of wood or stone	Second paragraph, 3rd line	"The shafts were equipped with handholds and footholds to help those climbing in and out of them and were covered with a wooden or stone lid."
5	weight	attached to plumb line	Second paragraph, 5th line	"Romans hung a plumb line from a rod placed across the top of each shaft and made sure that the weight at the end of it hung in the centre of the shaft."
6	climbing	handholds and footholds	Second paragraph, 3rd line	"The shafts were equipped with handholds and footholds to help those climbing in and out of them."
7	FALSE	counter-excavation method, replaced, 6th century BCE	Third paragraph, first 3 lines	"It was used to cut through high mountains when the qanat method was not practical alternative."
8	NOT GIVEN	experienced builders, counter-excavation method	Not Given	N/A
9	FALSE	problem, Saldae aqueduct system, ancient book	Third paragraph, last four lines	"Inscription was written on the side of 428-meter tunnel that describes how two teams of builders missed each other in the mountain."
10	TRUE	mistake, builders, Saldae aqueduct system, two parts of the tunnel failed to meet	Third paragraph, second-last line	"Teams of builders missed each other in the mountain and how the later construction of a lateral link between both corridors corrected the initial error."
11	gold	Dolaucothi mines, Wales, extract	Fourth paragraph, 6th line	"Traces of such tunnels used to mine gold can still be found at Dolaucothi mines in Wales."
12	(the) architect('s) (name)	patron, carved, tunnel	Last paragraph, 11th line	"Most tunnels had inscriptions showing the names of patrons who ordered construction and sometimes the name of the architect."
13	(the) harbour / harbor

READING PASSAGE 2

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 14–26, which are based on Reading Passage 2 .

Changes in reading habits

Question	Answer	Keywords	Location	Text
14	A - Our use of technology is having a hidden effect on us	writer's main point, first paragraph	First paragraph, lines 4 to 6	"The meaning of these lines is that neuronal circuit related to our reading ability is changing without everyone’s knowledge."
15	B - We should pay attention to what might be lost when innovation occurs	Sherry Turkle, main point, innovation	Third paragraph, line 2 to 5	"We do not err as a society when we innovate but when we ignore what we disrupt or diminish while innovating."
16	D - Some brain circuits adjust to whatever is required of them	writer's point, fourth paragraph	Fourth paragraph, line 2 to 6	"It will adapt to that environment’s requirements"
17	B - has influenced what they select to read	Mark Edmundson, attitude of college students	Fifth paragraph, line 3 to 5	"In these lines, Mark Edmundson said the students have attitude of no patience to read longer, denser, and more difficult text so they avoid (not select) classic literature of 19th and 20th century."
18	D - worrying	Studies on digital screen use, trends	Sixth paragraph, first two lines	"Troubling trends"
19	H - thorough	technique to find out, each group's understanding	Sixth paragraph, line 6 and 7	"Result indicated that who read on print were superior in their comprehension"
20	F - hard	finding the order of information, recall	Sixth paragraph, line 6 to 8	"Result indicated that students who read on print were superior in their comprehension to screen-reading peers, particularly in their ability to sequence detail and reconstruct the plot in chronological order."
21	B - isolated	tending to read, words and phrases	Seventh paragraph, line 3 to 4	"Many readers now use a pattern when reading in which they sample the first line and the word-spot through rest of the text."
22	C - emotional	superficial understanding, content of material	Seventh paragraph, last 2 lines	"In other words, we don’t have time to grasp complexity, to understand another’s feelings."
23	Yes	medium we use to read, affect our choice of reading content	Eighth paragraph, line 3 & 4	"It is about how all we have begun to read on various mediums and how that changes not only what we read, but also purposes for which we read."
24	No	Some age groups, lose complex reading skills	Eighth paragraph, line 4 & 5	"Nor is it only about the young. The subtle atrophy of critical analysis and empathy effects us all equally."
25	Not Given	False information, widespread in today's digital era	Eighth paragraph, line 5 to 8	"due to a lot of information, we go to familiar (known) information which is unchecked and receive and require no analysis."
26	Yes	opportunities to rectify problems, technology presenting	Last paragraph, line 3 & 4	"We possess both the science and the technology to identify and redress the changes how we read before they become entrenched."

READING PASSAGE 3

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 27–40, which are based on Reading Passage 3 .

Attitudes towards Artificial Intelligence

Question	Answer	Keywords	Location	Text
27	iii - The superiority of AI projections over those made by humans	Section A, AI predictions	Section A, first part, second part's first line	"AI is almost always better at forecasting than we are."
28	vi - Widespread distrust of an AI innovation	Section B, distrust of Watson	Section B, first part, line 6 to 9, second part, lines 1 & 2	"If Watson gives opinion about treatment that doctors already know, then doctors do not see it with much value. If Watson recommends something opposite of expert’s opinion, doctors think Watson is not smart enough."
29	ii - Reasons why we have more faith in human judgement than in AI	Section C, trust in humans	Section C, lines 1 to 5	"we trust in human more because we understand how others think and our trust on them was right so we feel safe. But we do not know much about AI, so we do not faith them."
30	i - An increasing divergence of attitudes towards AI	Section D, divergence in attitudes	Section D, second part, 3rd & 4th line	"As AI is represented more and more in media and entertainment, it could lead to society split between those who benefit and those who reject it."
31	vii - Encouraging openness about how AI functions	Section E, openness about algorithms	Section E, second part	"showing more about how algorithms work and for what they work will improve the trust in AI."
32	v - The advantages of involving users in AI processes	Section F, involving users in decision-making	Section F, first line	"Allowing people’s control over AI decision-making could also improve trust."
33	C - highlighting the existence of a problem	Section A, lack of confidence in AI predictions	Section A, second part, line 2 & 3	"The problem is the lack of confidence in AI predictions."
34	B - its complexity makes them feel they are at a disadvantage	Section C, reluctance to accept AI	Section C, first part, last three lines	"A sense of losing control is the disadvantage that the writer talked about. Complexity makes them feel at a disadvantage."
35	A - It leads the public to be mistrustful of AI	Section C, media's impact on trust	Section C, second part, lines 3 to 5	"Embarrassing AI failures receive a disproportionate amount of media attention, emphasizing the massage that we cannot rely on technology."
36	No	Subjective depictions of AI in sci-fi films	Section D, first part, lines 3 to 7	"optimists became more extreme in their enthusiasm for AI and skeptics became even more guarded."
37	Not Given	Portrayals of AI in media and entertainment	Section D	No information given about whether portrayals will become more positive.
38	Yes	Rejection of the possibilities of AI	Section D, rejection's effect on people's lives	Section D, second part, last 2 lines
39	No	Familiarity with AI	Section E, impact of familiarity on attitude	Section E, first part, lines 2 to 4
40	Yes	AI applications that users can modify	Section F, users modifying algorithms	Section F, first part, lines 3 & 4