An Aviation Wonder and Its Creator Reading Answer

Dec 9, 2022

An Aviation Wonder and Its Creator Reading Answers has 14 questions that need to be answered in 20 minutes. An Aviation Wonder and Its Creator Reading Answers comprises three types of questions, namely- complete the flowchart, classify the information and write the correct letter. Candidates are required to complete the flowchart using no more than two words. Candidates must read the IELTS reading passage and understand the given information and classify it by choosing the correct option. Candidates must read the IELTS Reading passage, and answer which paragraph talks about the given statement. Candidates can undertake IELTS Reading practice papers to practise more on different topics.

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Reading Passage Questions

The Supermarine Spitfire was a single-seater fighter plane used by the British Royal Airforce and pilots from a number of the country’s allies during the Second World War. The first flight of a Spitfire prototype was on 5 March 1936 and usage of the plane continued until the 1950s. It was said to be one of the most effective fighter planes available during that period and was produced by Vickers-Armstrongs, a British engineering corporation which was formed in 1927 as a result of the merger of Vickers Limited and Sir W G Armstrong Whitworth & Company.
The Spitfire was designed by aeronautical engineer Reginald Joseph Mitchell. His career began when he joined a locomotive engineering company in 1911 at the age of 16. However, in 1917 he moved from his hometown to join the Supermarine Aviation works in Southampton and was promoted to Chief Designer within his first year of employment. By the time the company was taken over by Vickers-Armstrongs in 1928, Mitchell had held the post of Technical Director for a year; and his capabilities and contributions were deemed so significant Vickers-Armstrong made his continual employment for a five year period a condition of the purchase of the company.
In the fifteen years prior to 1936 Mitchell designed 24 aircraft of different categories including fighter planes, bombers and seaplanes. The first predecessor of the Spitfire in the fighter plane category to gain him national acclaim was the Supermarine S.B for which he won the Schneider Trophy (a cup and monetary award for technical advances in aviation which came to focus mainly on speed) in 1931. Despite the withdrawal of financial support from the British Government that year, the Supermarine S.B. was able to compete for the Schneider Trophy as a result of a private donation of 100,000 pounds. Mitchell’s team won outright on September 13th their aircraft achieving a new world speed record of 606 km/h; within days the Supermarine S.B. went on to break its own newly achieved record when on the 29th of the same month it became the first aircraft ever to achieve speeds of over 400 miles per hour (640 kilometres) when it reached 407.5 mph (640 kilometres per hour).
Reginald Joseph Mitchell was awarded a CBE in 1932 for his contributions to high-speed flight. CBEs are awarded by the British Monarch and reserved to recognise individuals who have ‘fulfilled a conspicuous leading role in regional affairs, through achievement or service to the community, or making a highly distinguished, innovative contribution in his or her area of activity’. Mitchell’s achievements with the Supermarine S.B. also prompted the Air Ministry to contract his company for the design of a new fighter aircraft, despite the organisation’s reputation being built predominantly on sea-plane and not fighter plane manufacturing.
The first type, the 224, was to prove unsuccessful and it was eventually rejected by the Royal Air Force due to unsatisfactory performance; however, private sponsorship enabled research, development and modifications which led to the creation of the Type 300 which would eventually become the Spitfire. Soon after the first flight of the Spitfire prototype (trial version) and prior to completion of all stages of its official trials, convinced by its potential, the British Royal Air Force ordered 310 models. With its smooth lines, load-bearing metal shell, and a heavy eight-machine gun armament, the Spitfire was considered revolutionary. In 1938, the aircraft was first put into official service; however, Mitchell, who died from cancer in 1937 at the age of 42, was not to witness this or the extensive impact and longevity of use the aircraft would have. In total 20,351 spitfires of different versions were produced making it the most produced British aircraft of the Second World War.
After Mitchell’s death, his former Chief Draughtsman Joe Smith took over the position of Technical Director and led the subsequent development of the Spitfire which would keep it at the forefront of aircraft technology while many other designs quickly became obsolete; 24 models of spitfire were designed along with many sub-variants containing different engine types and possessing different wing configurations; the most widely used being the Spitfire Mark V, of which 6,479 were built. The original version first used for active service in 1938 had a top speed of approximately 580 km per hour; while one of the last models used in the later stages of the Second World War – the Spitfire XIV – had a top speed capability of 710 km per hour. Spitfires were used continually by the Royal Air Force, later purely as surveillance planes (to monitor activity overhead though carrying no armament), until 1954 when the last model was retired.
In his hometown, Reginald Joseph Mitchell C.B.E. is today remembered in a number of ways. A combined theatre and education centre ‘The Mitchell Memorial Theatre’ bears his name, and the city museum, at the entrance of which stands a bronze statue of Mitchell, displays an authentic and complete Spitfire as part of its collection. In addition, a local high school is named after him; as is a major roadway and he is locally recognised as one of the most significant historical sons of the town.

Solution and Explanation

Questions 1 to 6:
Complete the flowchart below.Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in the blank spaces next to 12 and 17 on your answer sheet.

Question 1:

Answer: Supermarine S.B.
Supporting Sentence: The first predecessor of the Spitfire in the fighter plane category to gain him national acclaim was the Supermarine S.B
Keywords: Spitfire, plane
Keyword location: In Paragraph C. line 2
Explanation: It is stated in the second sentence of Paragraph C that Mitchell has designed numerous aeroplanes over his career. However, the Supermarine S.B was the spitfire's initial forerunner in the fighter plane that made him famous in his country.

Question 2:

Answer: 224
Supporting Sentence:The first type, the 224, was to prove unsuccessful and it was eventually rejected by the Royal Air Force due to unsatisfactory performance
Keywords: unsuccessful, rejected
Keyword location: Paragraph E, line 1
Explanation: The reader is informed about the 224 and that the Royal Air Force rejected it in the first sentence of Paragraph E. Due to its inadequate performance, it was determined to be a failure.

Question 3:

Answer: private sponsorship
Supporting Sentence: private sponsorship enabled research, development and modifications which led to the creation of the Type 300.
Keywords: research, development, modifications
Keyword location: Paragraph E, line 2 & 3
Explanation: The second and third lines of Paragraph E explain that changes and advancements were made following the 224's failure. The result was the development of the Type 300. It also eventually evolved into Spitfire.

Question 4:

Answer: 1938
Supporting Sentence: The British Royal Air Force ordered 310 models … In 1938, the aircraft was first put into official service.
Keywords: models, service
Keyword location: Paragraph E, line 6 & 8
Explanation: The information on the 310 models that the British Royal Air Force ordered is covered in lines 6 and 8 of paragraph E. It also informs us that this aircraft entered official service for the first time in 1938.

Question 5:

Answer: 20,351 Spitfires (17 types)
Supporting Sentence: In total 20,351 spitfires of different versions were produced making it the most produced British aircraft of the Second World War.
Keywords: versions, aircraft
Keyword location: Paragraph E, line 10
Explanation: The tenth line of sentence E informs us about the different aeroplane versions that were produced during that year. A total of 20,351 Spitfires were produced, making it the most produced British aircraft during World War II.

Question 6:

Answer: surveillance
Supporting Sentence: Spitfires were used continually by the Royal Air Force, later purely as surveillance planes (to monitor activity overhead though carrying no armament), until 1954
Keywords: planes , armament
Keyword location: Paragraph F, line 9 & 10
Explanation: Spitfires were continuously used by the Royal Air Force, as stated in the last line of paragraph F. Later, until 1954, when the last model was retired, they were used only as surveillance planes (to keep an eye on activity despite carrying no weapons).

Questions 7 – 9

According to the information in the passage, classify the following information as relating to:

the Supermarine SB
the Spitfire
neither the Supermarine SB or the Spitfire
both the Supermarine SB and the Spitfire

Write the correct letter, A, B, C or D in boxes 7-9 on your answer sheet.

7) Its development was commissioned by the Air Ministry
8) Mitchell was awarded the CBE due to its development.
9) It was innovative for its time.

Question 7:

Answer: C
Supporting Sentence: The Air Ministry sponsored development of an aircraft after the Supermarine SB and before the Spitfire. They sponsored the 224, which was unsuccessful so the Spitfire was developed but with private sponsorship.
Keywords: fighter aircraft, unsuccessful
Keyword location: In Paragraphs D and E
Explanation: The most appropriate response to question 7 is Option C. This is so that it is evident from paragraph D that the Air Ministry hired Mitchell's firm to design a new fighter aircraft. Despite the fact that they were aware that they were not a firm that made fighter aircraft.

Question 8:

Answer: A
Supporting Sentence: their aircraft achieved a new world speed record of 606 km/h; within days the Supermarine S.B. went on to break its own newly achieved record when on the 29th of the same month it became the first aircraft ever to achieve speeds of over 400 miles per hour (640 kilometres) when it reached 407.5 mph (640 kilometres per hour). …Reginald Joseph Mitchell was awarded a CBE In 1932 for his contributions to high speed flight.’
Keywords: speed, awarded
Keyword location: Paragraphs C and D
Explanation: The appropriate answer is Option A. Reginald Joseph Mitchell's aircrafts have been a huge success and have accomplished incredible things. In 1932, it received the CBE. Many people were grateful for his contribution to high-speed aviation.

Question 9:

Answer: D
Supporting Sentence: The Supermarine SB: ‘…it became the first aircraft ever to achieve speeds of over 400 miles per hour1. The Spitfire: the Spitfire was considered revolutionary’
Keywords: innovative, revolutionary
Keyword location: Paragraphs C and E
Explanation:The spitfire became revolutionary after going through a lot of challenges and rejections, as stated in paragraphs C and E. The most avant-garde creations of that time period were the Supermarine SB and the Spitfire.

Questions 10 – 14
Reading Passage has seven paragraphs A-G.
Which paragraph contains the following information?
Write the correct letter A-G in boxes 10 – 14 on your answer sheet.

NB You may use any letter more than once.

10) where the Royal Air Force showed faith in Mitchell’s engineering capability without complete evidence
11) where Mitchell’s involvement influence a business purchase
12) how Mitchell has been honoured since his death
13) details of specific differences between spitfire models
14) details of what differentiated the Spitfire from other alternatives

Question 10:

Answer: E
Supporting Sentence: ‘Prior to completion of all stages of its official trials, convinced by its potential, The British Royal Air Force ordered 310 models.’
Keywords: stages, potential,
Keyword location: In paragraph E, line 5 & 6
Explanation: Lines 5 and 6 of paragraph E tell us that despite the failure of Mitchell's first spitfire, the Royal Air Force still had faith in Mitchell's design abilities.

Question 11:

Answer: B
Supporting Sentence: ‘and his capabilities and contributions were deemed so significant Vickers- Armstrong made his continual employment for a five year period a condition of the purchase of the company.’
Keywords: capabilities, significant
Keyword location: In paragraph B, line 6
Explanation: The sixth line of paragraph B demonstrates that the business had an impact on the transaction as a result of Mitchell's engagement. Vickers-Armstrong decided to enter into a five-year contract with Mitchell's company as a result of their evaluation of his abilities and contributions.

Question 12:

Answer: G
Supporting Sentence: ‘A combined theatre and education centre “The Mitchell Memorial Theatre’ bears his name; and the city museum, at the entrance of which stands a bronze statue of Mitchell, displays an authentic and complete Spitfire as part of its collection. In addition a local high school is named after him; as is a major roadway…’
Keywords: theatre, city museum, bronze statue
Keyword location: In paragraph G, line 2 & 3
Explanation: The second and third lines of paragraph G tell us that Mitchell was honoured for his contribution to the globe. His name is given to a theatre/educational complex called "The Mitchell Memorial Theatre." Additionally, the municipal museum has a bronze monument of Mitchell outside its doors, and among its collection is an actual, full Spitfire.

Question 13:

Answer: F
Supporting Sentence: ‘24 models of spitfire were designed along with many sub-variants containing different engine types and possessing different wing configurations’
Keywords: sub-variants, engine
Keyword location: in paragraph F, line 4
Explanation: The fourth line of paragraph F describes the various variants that were created, along with a number of sub-variants. They had several engine designs and setups.

Question 14:

Answer: E
Supporting Sentence: ‘With Its smooth lines, load-bearing metal shell, and heavy eight-machine gun armament, the Spitfire was considered revolutionary’
Keywords: smooth lines, metal shell
Keyword location: In paragraph E, line 6
Explanation: It is indicated in the sixth sentence of paragraph E that Mitchell's spitfire was revolutionary because of its extraordinary details.

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