‘Materials to take us beyond concrete’ – Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 18
Here are explanations of the Questions of passage named ‘Materials to take us beyond concrete’, which is from the Cambridge 18 book. The Questions that have been asked are ‘finding information’, ‘Blanks’ and ‘Finding Researchers name’. You will find the locations of the Reading Answers, Keywords(highlighted and underlined) and justifications
Questions 1-4
Reading Passage 1 has eight sections, A-H.
Which section contains the following information?
Write the correct letter, A-H in boxes 1-4 on your answer sheet
1. an explanation of the Industrial processes that create potential raw materials for concrete
Location: G paragraph
Explanation: The location of the answer is in the first two lines of the paragraph. ‘Fly ash and slag from iron ore are possible alternatives to cement in a concrete mix. Fly ash, a byproduct of coal-burning power plants, can be incorporated into concrete mixes to make up as much as 15 to 30% of the cement, without harming the strength or durability of the resulting mix…’
Answer: G
‘Materials to take us beyond concrete’ – Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 18
2. a reference to the various locations where high-rise wooden buildings can be found
Location: D paragraph
Explanation: The main keyword is ‘locations’ and its reference is there in the second line of the paragraph. ‘Recent years have seen the emergence of tall buildings constructed almost entirely from timber. Vancouver, Vienna and Brumunddal in Norway are all home to constructed tall, wooden buildings…’ Here, ‘Vancouver, Vienna and Brumunddal refers to the locations. Moreover, ‘high-rise buildings’ and ‘tall buildings’ means the same. Thus, the answer is D.
Answer: D
3. an indication of how widely available the raw materials of concrete are
Location: C paragraph (First line)
Explanation: The writer says, ‘Not only are the ingredients of concrete relatively cheap and found in abundance in most places around the globe, the stuff itself has marvellous properties: Portland cement, the vital component of concrete…’ Here, ‘widely available’ and ‘found in abundance’ means the same. In addition, ‘ingredient’ and ‘raw material’ are synonyms.
Answer: C
‘Materials to take us beyond concrete’ – Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 18
4. the belief that more high-rise wooden buildings are needed before wood can be regarded as a viable construction material
Location: F paragraph
Explanation: The answer to this question is in the last line of the paragraph. ‘. But even treated wood has its limitations and only when a wider range of construction projects has been proven in practice will it be possible to see wood as a real alternative to concrete in constructing tall buildings…’ Here, ‘wider range of construction projects’ and ‘more high-rise wooden buildings are needed’ means the same. Viable= real, l ‘alternative to concrete in constructing tall buildings’ refers to ‘regarded as a viable construction material…’. Thus, the answer is clear.
Answer: F
Questions 5-8
Complete the summary below.
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer. Write your answers in boxes 5-8 on your answer sheet.
Making buildings with wood
Wood is a traditional building material, but current environmental concerns are encouraging 5…………… to use wood in modern construction projects. Using wood, however, has its challenges.
Location: D paragraph
Explanation: The main keyword is ‘environmental concern’ and its reference is there in the second line of the paragraph. ‘Making buildings from wood may seem like a rather medieval idea, but climate change is driving architects to turn to treated timber as a possible resource….’ Here, ‘climate change’ refers to the ‘environmental concerns’. Moreover, ‘encouraging’ and ‘driving’ are synonyms.
Answer: Architects
‘Materials to take us beyond concrete’ – Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 18
For example, as 6…………… in the atmosphere enters wood, it increases in size. In addition, wood is prone to pests and the risk of fire is greater.
Location: E paragraph
Explanation: The location of the answer is in the initial line of the paragraph. ‘Using wood to construct buildings, however, is not straightforward. Wood expands as it absorbs moisture from the air and is susceptible to pests, not to mention fire…’ Here, ‘atmosphere’ and ‘air’ are synonyms. ‘wood expands’ means ‘increase in size’. Moreover, ‘absorb moisture’ and ‘moisture enters wood’ means the same.
Answer: Moisture
However, wood can be turned into a better construction material if it is treated and combined with other materials, in one process,7……………. of solid wood are glued together to create building blocks. Theseblocks are lighter than concrete and steel but equal them in strength.
Location: E paragraph
Explanation: The location of the answer is in the third line of the paragraph. ‘An adhesive is used to stick layers of solid-sawn timber together, crosswise, to form building blocks…’ Here, ‘stick’ and ‘glued’ are synonyms. ‘create’ and ‘form’ means the same. Thus, the answer is ‘Layers’.
Answer: Layers
‘Materials to take us beyond concrete’ – Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 18
Experts say that wooden buildings are an improvement on those made of concrete and steel in terms of the 8………………with which they can be constructed and how much noise is generated by the process.
Location: E paragraph
Explanation: The answer to this question is in the last line of the paragraph. ‘Construction experts say that wooden buildings can be constructed at a greater speed than ones of concrete and steel and the process, it seems, is quieter…’ This answer is easy to understand as the writer clearly states that wooden buildings are improved because of greater speed. Moreover, ‘it seems quieter’ means ‘there was not much noise generated’.
Answer: Speed
Questions 9-13
Look at the following statements (Questions 9-13) and the list of people below.
Match each statement with the correct person, A, B, C or D.
White the correct latter, A, B, C or D, in bares 9-13 on your answer sheet
NB You may use any letter more than once
9. The environmental advantage of cement alternatives may not be as great an initially assumed.
Location: G paragraph
Explanation: The writer says in the initial lines, ‘But Anna Surgenor, of the UK’s Green Building Council…. It’s possible to replace the cement content in concrete with waste products to lower the overall carbon impact… In the last line, ‘If they are transported over long distances, using fossil fuels, the use of alternative materials might not make sense from an overall carbon reduction perspective.”…’ Here, ‘lower the overall carbon impact’ refers to the environmental advantage. The writer explains in the last line it might not be great for carbon reduction. Thus, the answer is clear.
Answer: C
‘Materials to take us beyond concrete’ – Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 18
10. It would be hard to create a construction alternative to concrete that offers so many comparable benefits.
Location: B paragraph
Explanation: In the first line, ‘The problem with replacing concrete is that it is so very good at what it does Chris Cheeseman,…’ Also in last lines, ‘Concrete is not a high-carbon product. Cement is high carbon, but concrete is not. But it is the scale on which it is used that makes it high carbon. The sheer scale of manufacture is so huge, that is the issue…’ Here, ‘hard to create a construction alternative to concrete…’ has been written as ‘problem with replacing concrete…’ in the paragraph. Furthermore, the writer talks about the benefits of using concrete in last lines.
Answer: A
11. Worries about the environment have led to increased interest in wood as a construction material.
Location: F paragraph
Explanation: The location of the answer is in the first line of the paragraph, ‘president Markus Mannström reports that the company is seeing increasing demand globally for building in wood, with climate change concerns the key driver…’ Here, ‘climate change concerns’ refers to ‘worries about the environment’. In addition, ‘increasing demand globally’ means ‘increased interest’.
Answer: B
‘Materials to take us beyond concrete’ – Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 18
12. Expense has been a factor in the negative response to the development of new cements.
Location: H paragraph
Explanation: Felix Preston and Johanna Lehne say in the last line, ‘At present, these alternatives are rarely as cost-effective as conventional cement, and they face raw-material shortages and resistance from customers.” Here, ‘cost-effective’ means ‘expensive’. ‘Also, ‘resistance from customers’ refers to ‘negative response’.
Answer: D
13.The environmental damage caused by concrete is due to it being produced in large quantities.
Location: B paragraph
Explanation: The answer to this question is in the last line of the paragraph. ‘The sheer scale of manufacture is so huge, that is the issue…’ Here, this statement means concrete is manufactured in large quantities. That is the problem as it cause environmental damage. Thus, the answer is A.
Answer: A
List of People
A Chris Cheeseman
B Markus Mannströmn
C Anna Surgenor
D Felix Preston and Johanna Lehne
‘Materials to take us beyond concrete’ – Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 18
‘An ideal city’- Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 18