# Advantages of public transport: answers and explanations

Cambridge IELTS 6, Test 2, Reading Passage 1

Source: Passage, questions and answer key from Cambridge IELTS 6, Test 2, Reading Passage 1. © Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Used for educational practice. Explanations and evidence notes are written by Testmigo.

## Answer key

| Q | Answer | Proof |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | ii | local pressure groups forced a referendum over whether to spend the money on light rail instead |
| 2 | vii | causing massive congestion problems which now make commuting times far higher |
| 3 | iv | They are often wealthier than their American counterparts but have not generated the same level of car use. |
| 4 | i | It found that pushing everyone into the city centre was not the best approach. |
| 5 | iii | it is valuable to place people working in related fields together |
| 6 | FALSE | The study compared the proportion of wealth poured into transport by thirty-seven cities around the world. |
| 7 | TRUE | were able to put the difference into attracting industry and jobs or creating a better place to live |
| 8 | NOT GIVEN | Melbourne's large tram network has made car use in the inner city much lower |
| 9 | FALSE | The explosion in demand for accommodation in the inner suburbs of Melbourne |
| 10 | TRUE | were very efficient, even though their public transport systems were 'reasonable but not special' |
| 11 | F | the Western Australian city of Perth is a good example of a city with minimal public transport |
| 12 | D | it would be hard for a city as hilly as Auckland to develop a really good rail network |
| 13 | C | The rail proposal won and the railway worked spectacularly well. |

## Why these answers are right

**1. ii.** Paragraph A describes Portland, where local pressure groups forced a referendum on spending road money on light rail, and the rail proposal won and worked well. Ordinary people changing the decision is people power, so heading ii fits.

**2. vii.** Paragraph B explains that UK travel times to work were stable for centuries, but congestion from urban sprawl now makes commuting times far higher. The paragraph builds toward this rise in journey times, so heading vii, increases in travelling time, matches.

**3. iv.** Paragraph C rejects the belief that wealth pushes people into cars. European cities are wealthier than American ones but use cars less, and Stockholm's car use fell as it grew richer, so heading iv, higher incomes need not mean more cars, fits.

The why and the trap for questions 4 onwards are free with an account on the [answers page](https://testmigo.com/ielts/reading/advantages-of-public-transport/answers).

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