Cambridge IELTS 8 Test 3 Reading Passage 1 Striking Back at Lightning with Lasers, Solution With Answer Key

IELTS Reading Passage Solution with Answer Keys. Cambridge IELTS 8 Test 3 Passage 1 Striking Back at Lightning with Lasers step by step Explanation of all the questions with Tips and Strategies. This post is for educational purpose only. If you find difficulties in reading passage to find the right answer in the exam, just read the post carefully. Tips and strategies will help you find the right answer.

Cambridge IELTS 8 Test 3 Reading Passage 1 Striking Back at Lightning with Lasers – Explanation

Detail Explanation of IELTS Cambridge 8 Test 3  Academic Reading Module, Reading Passage 1

PASSAGE 3: Striking Back at Lightning with Lasers (View Full Passage Here

Questions 1-5: Multiple choice questions

** Tips (link details): How To Solve Multiple Choice Questions in IELTS Reading Module?

Question 1: The main topic discussed in the text is –
Keywords: main topic,

(Special tips: As the question asks to find out the main topic of the passage, this question should be answered after all the 12 questions of this passage.)
A very quick reading (skimming) of the passage will let us know about the following facts:
Paragraph no. 1: Lightning and its adverse effects
Paragraph no. 2: Researchers has found a way to control lightning’s effects with laser
Paragraph no. 3: A project to strike back at lightning survived
Paragraph no. 4: Lightning may change its own course and hit somewhere else
Paragraph no. 5: Research needs to be risk-free
Paragraph no. 6: How the new research idea may work and be used in events
Paragraph no. 7: The mammoth size of the laser
Paragraph no. 8: The much needed money for producing the laser at a cheaper price
Paragraph no. 9: The project can be helpful for other scientists and experts
Paragraph no. 10: The laser has a good chance to work against hailstorms
Now, we will use PoE (Process of Elimination) method to answer this question. we can decide that option A is not a match because this passage is not about the damage lightning does to US golf course and players; option B is not a match because the passage does not talk about supplying power to US and Japan; and option C is not a match because we find only one way of trying to
control lightning strikes.
Option D is our answer as the main topic is ‘A laser technique that may work to control lightning strikes.
Answer: D (a laser technique used in trying to control lightning strikes.)

Question 2: According to the text, every year lightning –
Keywords: every year, lightning,
Now, in the last lines of paragraph A, “. . .. And there is damage to property too. Lightning damage costs American power companies more than $100 million a year.” This means that every year lightning causes a great amount of damages to buildings.
Here, damage to property = damage to buildings, a year = every year,
Answer: A (does considerable damage to buildings during thunderstorms.)

Question 3: Researchers at the University of Florida and at the University of New Mexico –
Keywords: Researchers, University of Florida, University of New Mexico,
Now, the answer can be found in two paragraphs.
First take a look at lines 3-5 of paragraph no. 3, “The technique survives to this day at a test site in Florida run by the University of Florida, with support from the Electrical Power Research Institute (EPRI), based in California.” So, Researchers at the University of Florida receive funds from EPRI.
Now, go to paragraph no. 5 and look at lines 2-3, “. . . points out Jean-Claude Diels of the University of New Mexico. Diels is leading a project, which is backed by EPRI,. .. .” So, researchers at the University of New Mexico also receive funds from EPRI.
Answer: A (receive funds from the same source.)

Questions 4-6: (Completing sentences with NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS)

** Tips (link details): How to Solve Sentence Completion Questions in IELTS Reading Module?

Question 4: EPRI receives financial support from ______________.
Keywords: EPRI receives, financial supports,
Now, in paragraph no. 3, lines 5-6, “. . . .. with support from the Electrical Power Research Institute (EPRI), based in California. EPRI, which is funded by power companies, . . .. .”
Here, funded by means receives financial support from,
Answer: power companies

Question 5: The advantage of the technique being developed by Diels is that it can be used ____________.
Keywords: advantage, technique, Diels, can be used,
Now, in paragraph 5, lines 2-4, “. …. .. points out Jean-Claude Diels of the University of New Mexico. Diels is leading a project, which is backed by EPRI, to try to use lasers to discharge lightning safely- and safety is a basic requirement since no one wants to put themselves or their expensive equipment at risk.”
Answer: safely (you must use the adverb form of the noun ‘safety’)

Question 6: The main difficulty associated with using the laser equipment is related to its ____________.
Keywords: main difficulty, using the laser equipment, related to,
Now, in paragraph 7, the writer talks about the main problem related to the laser equipment. “However, there is still a big stumbling block. The laser is no nifty portable: it’s a monster that takes up a whole room. Diels is trying to cut down the size and says that a laser around the size of a small table is in the offing.”
Here, big stumbling block = main difficulty, it’s a monster that takes up a whole room = size,
Answer: size

Questions 7-10: (Completing summary with list of words)
** Tips (link details): How To Solve Completing Summaries with and without a Wordlist in IELTS Reading Module?

Question 7: In this method, a laser is used to create a line of ionisation by removing electrons from __________.
Keywords: laser, used, create, a line of ionisation, removing electrons from,
Now, in paragraph 6, lines 1-4, “The idea began some 20 years ago, when high-powered lasers were revealing their ability to extract electrons out of atoms and create ions. If a laser could generate a line of ionisation. .. ..”
Here, generate a line of ionisation = create a line of ionisation, removing electrons from = extract electrons out of,
Answer: B (atoms)

Question 8 and 9: This laser is then directed at 8. __________ in order to control electrical charges, a method which is less dangerous than using 9. __________.
Keywords: laser, directed, control electrical charges, a method, less dangerous than,

Now, in paragraph6, lines 2-3, “If a laser could generate a line of ionisation in the air all the way up to a storm cloud, this conducting path could be used to guide lightning to Earth . … . ”
Now, paragraph no. 6 is an explanation of using lasers in a populated area by Jean-Claude Diels of the
University of New Mexico. If you take a look at the first line of paragraph no. 5, you’ll find the reason for
using lasers, “And anyway, who would want to fire streams of rockets in a populated area?”
This means lasers are less dangerous than rockets.
Answers:
8. C (storm clouds)
9. G (rockets)

Question 10: As a protection for the lasers, the beams are aimed firstly at __________.
Keywords: protection, for the lasers, beams, aimed firstly,
Now, in the lines 5-6 of paragraph 6, “. . .. To stop the laser itself being struck, it would not be pointed straight at the clouds. Instead it would be directed at a mirror and from there into the sky”.
So, mirrors will give the much needed protection for the lasers.
Here, directed at = aimed . . . at,
Answer: D (mirrors)

Questions 11-13: YES, NO, NOT GIVEN
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Question 11: Power companies have given Diels enough money to develop his laser.
Keywords: power companies, Diels, enough money, to develop his laser,
Now, in paragraph 8, lines 1-3, “Bernstein says that Diels’s system is attracting lots of interest from the power companies. But they have not yet come up with the 5 million dollars that EPRI says will be needed to develop a commercial system…”.

This means even though power companies are fascinated by Diels’s system, they have not yet provided him with the money that he needs.
Answer: NO

Question 12: Obtaining money to improve the lasers will depend on tests in real storms.
Keywords: obtaining money, improve the lasers, depend on, tests, real storm,
Now, in paragraph 8, lines 3-6, “He reckons that the forthcoming field test will be the turning point – and he’s hoping for good news. Bernstein predicts ‘an avalanche of interest and support’ if all goes well. He expects to see cloud – zappers eventually costing 50,000 dollars to 100,000 dollars each.”
Here, the forthcoming field test will be the turning point indicates that the coming tests in real storms will determine whether he will obtain the money or not.
Answer: YES

Question 13: Weather forecasters are intensely interested in Diels’s system.
Keywords: Weather forecasters, intensely interested, Diels’s system,
Now, we find the mention of ‘meteorology’ in both paragraph no. 9 and 10. However, neither of the paragraphs indicates anything about weather forecasters’ interest in Diels’s system.
Answer: NOT GIVEN

Cambridge IELTS 8 Test 3 Reading Passage 1 Answer Keys

Striking Back at Lightning with Lasers Reading Passage Answers Keys

Passage 1

1. D
2. A
3. A
4. power companies
5. safely
6. size
7. B
8. C
9. G
10. D
11. NO
12. YES
13. NOT GIVEN