# Tidal Power: answers and explanations

Cambridge IELTS 9, Test 3, Reading Passage 2

Source: Passage, questions and answer key from Cambridge IELTS 9, Test 3, Reading Passage 2. © Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Used for educational practice. Explanations and evidence notes are written by Testmigo.

## Answer key

| Q | Answer | Proof |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 14 | C | The first station is expected to be installed off Lynmouth in Devon shortly to test the technology |
| 15 | E | most would be fed into the French Grid and be re-imported into Britain via the cable under the Channel |
| 16 | A | Unlike wind power, which Britain originally developed and then abandoned for 20 years |
| 17 | C | The technology for dealing with the hostile saline environment under the sea has been developed in the North Sea oil industry |
| 18 | A, D, E, F, J | unlike wind, the tides are predictable and the power input is constant ... The prospects for energy from tidal currents are far better than from wind because the flows of water are predictable and constant. |
| 19 | A, D, E, F, J | drastically reducing its carbon dioxide emissions |
| 20 | A, D, E, F, J | Britain would be able to close gas, coal and nuclear plants |
| 21 | A, D, E, F, J | undersea turbines could become a big export earner to island nations such as Japan and New Zealand |
| 22 | A, D, E, F, J | The best sites are between islands or around heavily indented coasts where there are strong tidal currents. |
| 23 | maintenance | designed to be lifted out of the water for maintenance |
| 24 | slow | Fish and other creatures are thought unlikely to be at risk from the relatively slow-turning blades. |
| 25 | low pressure | where low pressure behind a turning blade causes air bubbles |
| 26 | cavitation | One technical difficulty is cavitation |

## Why these answers are right

**14. C.** You need the paragraph naming the location of the first test site. Paragraph C says the first station is expected to be installed off Lynmouth in Devon to test the technology. Paragraph B lists many promising sites but never says which one comes first.

**15. E.** The item describes a way of bringing power from one site back to Britain. Paragraph E explains that most power from the Alderney farm would go into the French grid and then be re-imported into Britain through the cable under the Channel, so E.

**16. A.** The item refers to an earlier British attempt at alternative energy. Paragraph A mentions wind power, which Britain first developed and then abandoned for 20 years, letting the Dutch turn it into a major industry. That past effort is the previous attempt, so A.

The why and the trap for questions 17 onwards are free with an account on the [answers page](https://testmigo.com/ielts/reading/tidal-power/answers).

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