# BAKELITE: answers and explanations

Cambridge IELTS 5, Test 2, Reading Passage 1

Source: Passage, questions and answer key from Cambridge IELTS 5, 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 | candlewax | Some are 'thermoplastic', which means that, like candlewax, they melt when heated and can then be reshaped. |
| 2 | synthetic | Bakelite had the distinction of being the first totally synthetic thermosetting plastic. |
| 3 | chemistry | immense technological progress in the domain of chemistry |
| 4 | Novalak | The result was a resin known as Novalak |
| 5 | fillers | including fillers, such as woodflour, asbestos or cotton |
| 6 | hexa | and hexa, a compound of ammonia and formaldehyde |
| 7 | raw | The resulting granular powder was raw Bakelite |
| 8 | pressure | subjected to extreme heat and pressure |
| 9 | B, C | Moulds had to be carefully designed so that the molten Bakelite would flow evenly and completely into the mould. |
| 10 | B, C | The object could not be designed so that it was locked into the mould and therefore difficult to extract. |
| 11 | TRUE | the essential features of which are still in use today |
| 12 | FALSE | although treated with disdain in its early years |
| 13 | FALSE | consumers everywhere relished its dazzling array of shades |

## Why these answers are right

**1. candlewax.** The summary says some plastics behave like something because they melt under heat and can be reshaped. Paragraph B explains that thermoplastics, 'like candlewax', melt when heated and can then be reshaped, so candlewax is the comparison.

**2. synthetic.** Bakelite was unique because it was entirely something in origin and also thermosetting. Paragraph B calls it 'the first totally synthetic thermosetting plastic'; 'totally' matches 'entirely', so synthetic is the one word needed.

**3. chemistry.** The summary asks which field saw great advances that drove research into plastics in the nineteenth century. Paragraph C lists 'immense technological progress in the domain of chemistry' among the factors, so chemistry is the field.

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

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