ĐÁP ÁN VÀ GIẢI CHI TIẾT CAMBRIDGE IELTS 18 – TEST 3 – PASSAGE 2 – THE STEAM CAR

Cùng IELTSITY tham khảo đáp án để hoàn thành đề bài Cambridge IELTS 18 – Test 3 – Passage 2 – The Steam Car nhé!

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 14-26, which are based on Reading Passage 2 on pages 66 and 67.

Questions 14-20

Reading Passage 2 has seven paragraphs, A-G.

Choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list of headings below. Write the correct number, i-viii, in boxes 14-20 on your answer sheet.

List of Headings

14. A period in cold conditions before the technology is assessed
15. Marketing issues lead to failure
16. Good and bad aspects of steam technology are passed on
17. A possible solution to the issues of today
18. Further improvements lead to commercial orders
19. Positive publicity at last for this quiet, clean, fast vehicle
20. A disappointing outcome for customers
21. A better option than the steam car arises
    
22. Paragraph A
23. Paragraph B
24. Paragraph C
25. Paragraph D
26. Paragraph E
27. Paragraph F
28. Paragraph G
    

The steam car

The successes and failures of the Doble brothers and their steam cars

A. When primitive automobiles first began to appear in the 1800s, their engines were based on steam power. Steam had already enjoyed a long and successful career in the railways, so it was only natural that the technology evolved into a miniaturized version which was separate from the trains. But these early cars inherited steam’s weaknesses along with its strengths. (Q14) The boilers had to be lit by hand, and they required about twenty minutes to build up pressure before they could be driven. Furthermore, their water reservoirs only lasted for about thirty miles before needing replenishment. Despite such shortcomings, these newly designed self-propelled carriages offered quick transportation, and by the early 1900s, it was not uncommon to see such machines shuttling wealthy citizens around town.

B. But the glory days of steam cars were few(Q21). A new technology called the Internal Combustion Engine soon appeared(Q15), which offered the ability to drive down the road just moments after starting up. At first, these noisy gasoline cars were unpopular because they were more complicated to operate and they had difficult hand-crank starters, which were known to break arms when the engines backfired. But in 1912 General Motors introduced the electric starter, and over the following few years steam power was gradually phased out.

C. Even as the market was declining, four brothers made one last effort to rekindle the technology. Between 1906 and 1909, while still attending high school, Abner Doble and his three brothers built their first steam car in their parents’ basement. It comprised parts taken from a wrecked early steam car but reconfigured to drive an engine of their own design. Though it did not run well, the Doble brothers went on to build a second and third prototype in the following years (Q22). Though the Doble boys’ third prototype, nicknamed the Model B, still lacked the convenience of an internal combustion engine, it drew the attention of automobile trade magazines due to its numerous improvements over previous steam cars. The Model B proved to be superior to gasoline automobiles in many ways. (Q16) Its high-pressure steam drove the engine pistons in virtual silence, in contrast to clattering gas engines which emitted the aroma of burned hydrocarbons. Perhaps most impressively, the Model B was amazingly swift. It could accelerate from zero to sixty miles per hour in just fifteen seconds, a feat described as ‘remarkable acceleration’ by Automobile magazine in 1914.

D. The following year Abner Doble drove the Model B from Massachusetts to Detroit in order to seek investment in his automobile design (Q23), which he used to open the General Engineering Company. He and his brothers immediately began working on the Model C, which was intended to expand upon the innovations of the Model B. The brothers added features such as a key-based ignition in the cabin, eliminating the need for the operator to manually ignite the boiler. With these enhancements, the Dobles’ new car company promised a steam vehicle which would provide all of the convenience of a gasoline car, but with much greater speed, much simpler driving controls, and a virtually silent power plant. By the following April, the General Engineering Company had received 5,390 deposits for Doble Detroit, which were scheduled for delivery in early 1918. (Q17)

E. Later that year Abner Doble delivered unhappy news to those eagerly awaiting the delivery of their modem new cars. Those buyers who received the handful of completed cars complained that the vehicles were sluggish and erratic (Q18), sometimes going in reverse when they should go forward. The new engine design, though innovative, was still plagued with serious glitches.

F. The brothers made one final attempt to produce a viable steam automobile. In early 1924, the Doble brothers shipped a Model E to New York City to be road-tested by the Automobile Club of America. After sitting overnight in freezing temperatures, the car was pushed out into the road and left to sit for over an hour in the frosty incoming air. (Q19) At the tum of the key, the boiler lit and reached its operating pressure inside of forty seconds. As they drove the test vehicle further, they found that its evenly distributed weight lent it surprisingly good handling, even though it was so heavy. As the new Doble steamer was further developed and tested, its maximum speed Q24) was pushed to over a hundred miles per hour, and it achieved about fifteen miles per gallon of kerosene with negligible emissions.

G. Sadly, the Dobles’ brilliant steam car never was a financial success. Priced at around $18,000 in 1924, it was popular only among the very wealthy. Plus, it is said that no two Model Es were quite the same, because Abner Doble tinkered endlessly with the design. By the time the company folded in 1931, fewer than fifty (Q25) of the amazing Model E steam cars had been produced. For his whole career, until his death in 1961, Abner Doble remained adamant that steam-powered automobiles were at least equal to gasoline cars, if not superior. Given the evidence, he may have been right. Many of the Model E Dobles which have survived are still in good working condition, some having been driven over half a million miles with only normal maintenance. Astonishingly, an unmodified Doble Model E runs clean enough to pass the emissions laws in California today, and they are pretty strict (Q26). It is true that the technology poses some difficult problems, but you cannot help but wonder how efficient a steam car might be with the benefit of modem materials and computers. Under the current pressure to improve automotive performance and reduce emissions, it is not unthinkable that the steam car may rise again. (Q20)

Questions 21-23

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D. Write the correct Jetter in boxes 21-23 on your answer sheet.

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

1. Its success was short-lived.
2. Not enough cars were made.
3. Car companies found them hard to sell.
4. People found them hard to drive.

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

1. constructed all the parts themselves.
2. made written notes at each stage of the construction.
3. needed several attempts to achieve a competitive model.
4. sought the advice of experienced people in the car industry.

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

1. moved production to a different city.
2. raised financial capital.
3. employed an additional worker.
4. abandoned their earlier designs.

Questions 24-26

Complete the summary below. Choose ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage for each answer. Write your answers in boxes 24-26 on your answer sheet.

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 24___________, while keeping its emissions

extremely low.

The steam car was too expensive for many people and its design was constantly being altered. Under 25___________ 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 26___________ emissions laws. Perhaps today’s technology and materials would help us revive the steam car.

EXPLANATIONS

Q14

Từ khóa câu hỏi: Good and bad aspects of steam technology are passed on

Từ đồng nghĩa trong bài: These early cars inherited steam’s weaknesses along with its strengths.(Q14)

Giải thích: Các khi cạnh tốt và xấu của công nghệ hơi nước đều được truyền cho đời xe sau.

-> Đáp án là iii 

Q15

Từ khóa câu hỏi: A better option than the steam car arises

Từ đồng nghĩa trong bài: A new technology called the Internal Combustion Engine soon appeared(Q15)

Giải thích: 1 công nghệ mới mang tên Động Cơ Đốt Trong đuợc ra đời. 

-> Đáp án là viii

Q16

Từ khóa câu hỏi: Positive publicity at last for this quiet, clean, fast vehicle

Từ đồng nghĩa trong bài: it drew the attention of automobile trade magazines due to its numerous improvements over previous steam cars. The Model B proved to be superior to gasoline automobiles in many ways. (Q16)

Giải thích: Cuối cùng thì Xe Model B cũng nhận được sự chú ý tích cực từ công chúng. Chiếc xe này vượt bậc so với những chiếc xe chạy bằng gas. 

-> Đáp án là vi

Q17

Từ khóa câu hỏi: Further improvements lead to commercial orders

Từ đồng nghĩa trong bài: By the following April, the General Engineering Company had received 5,390 deposits for Doble Detroits, which were scheduled for delivery in early 1918. (Q17)

Giải thích: Sau những cải tiến liên tục thì đến năm 1918, đã có 5390 khách hàng đặt cọc chiếc xe chạy bằng hơi nước Doble Detroits. 

-> Đáp án là v

Q18

Từ khóa câu hỏi: A disappointing outcome for customers

Từ đồng nghĩa trong bài: Those buyers who received the handful of completed cars complained that the vehicles were sluggish and erratic (Q18)

Giải thích: Kết quả của những người nhận xe đầu tiên là thất vọng, họ báo cáo về việc xe rất chậm chạp và hay thất thường

-> Đáp án là vii

Q19

Từ khóa câu hỏi: A period in cold conditions before the technology is assessed

Từ đồng nghĩa trong bài: After sitting overnight in freezing temperatures, the car was pushed out into the road and left to sit for over an hour in the frosty incoming air. (Q19)

Giải thích: Sau 1 đêm ngoài trời lạnh giá, xe chạy bằng hơi nước được đẩy ra ngoài đường để vận hành thử.

-> Đáp án là i

Q20

Từ khóa câu hỏi: A possible solution to the issues of today

Từ đồng nghĩa trong bài: Under the current pressure to improve automotive performance and reduce emissions, it is not unthinkable that the steam car may rise again.(Q20)

Giải thích: Xe chạy bằng hơi nước có thể quay lại thời hoàng kim khi mà ngày nay, xe chạy bằng xăng đang gây ra ô nhiễm môi trường 

-> Đáp án là iv

Q21

Từ khóa câu hỏi: Its success was short-lived.

Từ đồng nghĩa trong bài: But the glory days of steam cars were few (Q21)

Giải thích: Những ngày hoàng kim của xe hơi nước rất ngắn (vì sự ra đời của động cơ đốt trong)

-> Đáp án là A

Q22

Từ khóa câu hỏi: Needed several attempts to achieve a competitive model.

Từ đồng nghĩa trong bài: Though it did not run well, the Doble brothers went on to build a second and third prototype in the following years (Q22). 

Giải thích: Anh em nhà Doble thất bại với nhiều mẫu thử nghiệm trước khi làm được bản đủ cạnh tranh

-> Đáp án là C

Q23

Từ khóa câu hỏi: raised financial capital.

Từ đồng nghĩa trong bài: In order to seek investment in his automobile design (Q23)

Giải thích: Anh em nhà Doble đã kêu gọi vốn (đi tìm nguồn đầu tư tài chính)

-> Đáp án là B

Q24

Từ khóa câu hỏi: A later version of the Model E raised its 24___________, while keeping its emissions extremely low.

Từ đồng nghĩa trong bài: As the new Doble steamer was further developed and tested, its maximum speed (Q24) was pushed to over a hundred miles per hour and it achieved about fifteen miles per gallon of kerosene with negligible emissions.

Giải thích: Bản sau này của Model E cải thiện khả năng tăng tốc, đồng thời giảm tối đa khí thải. 

-> Đáp án là speed

Q25

Từ khóa câu hỏi: Under 25___________ cars were produced before the company went out of business.

Từ đồng nghĩa trong bài: By the time the company folded in 1931, fewer than fifty (Q25) of the amazing Model E steam cars had been produced. 

Giải thích: Vào thời điểm công ty đóng cửa vào năm 1931 thì mới chỉ có ít hơn 50 chiếc Model E được sản xuất

-> Đáp án là fifty/50

Q26

Từ khóa câu hỏi: They are straightforward to maintain, and they satisfy California’s 26___________ emissions laws.

Từ đồng nghĩa trong bài: Astonishingly, an unmodified Doble Model E runs clean enough to pass the emissions laws in California today, and they are pretty strict(Q26).

Giải thích: Điều đáng ngạc nhiên là, chiếc Model E chạy thân thiện với môi trường đến mức nó có thể vượt qua bài kiểm tra luật bang California ngày nay

-> Đáp án là strict

Hy vọng rằng bài viết này sẽ giúp bạn hiểu và hoàn thành bài THE STEAM CAR (CAMBRIDGE 18 – TEST 3 – PASSAGE 2). Chúc các bạn học tốt!

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