Crossing the Humber Estuary Reading Answers

Jan 19, 2023

Crossing the Humber Estuary Reading Answers contains a write up about the Humber and estuary. Crossing the Humber Estuary Reading Answers contains a total of 7 paragraphs. Related to the paragraphs are 13 questions. Candidates in this IELTS Section will be shown various question types with clear instructions. The paragraphs contain information about the Humber and its formation. Also, details about the increase of river routes for transportation and other various emerging ways of transportation have been mentioned.

Crossing the Humber Estuary Reading Answers is an IELTS Reading passage which comprises two types of questions: associate paragraph with headings and Complete the notes. The paragraphs must be read and interpreted separately. The paragraph’s details must be associated with the list of headings provided. Candidates must carefully as well as attentively read each paragraph. The response can only be up to one word. The paragraph must be referenced in the answers, which must also be based on the claims in the questions. To gain proficiency, candidates can practice from IELTS reading practice test.

Check: Get 10 Free IELTS Sample Papers
Check: Register for IELTS Coaching - Join for Free Trial Class Now

Section 1

Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions

Crossing the Humber Estuary Reading Answers

For thousands of years, the Humber an estuary formed where two major rivers, the Trent and the Ouse, meet- has been an obstacle to communications along the east coast of England, between the counties of Yorkshire to the north and Lincolnshire to the south. Before the arrival of the railways in the 19th century, water transportation was the most efficient means of moving heavy or bulk freight, and the Humber, situated at the heart of the waterway system associated with the two major rivers, was one of the chief highways of England its traffic brought prosperity to the settlements on its banks, particularly the city of Hull on its north bank, but the river itself tended to cut them off from some of their closest neighbors, as well as obstructing the progress of travelers moving north or south.
To cater for these local and, as time progressed, wider needs, ferries were provided across many of the streams flowing into the Humber, and in 1315, a ferry was established across the Humber itself between Hull and Lincolnshire. By 1800, this ferry had become fully integrated into the overland transport system, but the changes associated with the industrial revolution were soon to threaten its position, increased traffic encouraged speculators to establish rival ferries between Hull and Lincolnshire, notably a service between Hull and New Holland which opened in 1826. This crossing was considerably shorter than on the existing Hull to Barton service, which closed in 1851, unable to cope with the increased competition from the rival service.
The New Holland ferry service then grew into a major link between the north and south banks of the Humber, carrying passengers and cattle and goods bound for Hull Market. In 1968, there was briefly a ferry service from Grimsby to Hull involving Hovercrafts. This did not last long as the novercrafts could not cope with the demands of the River Humber. The ferry service between Hull and New Holland ended with the opening of the Humber Bridge in 1961.
The bridge was the outcome of over 100 years of campaigning by local interests for the construction of a bridge or funnel across the estuary. The first major crossing proposal was a tunnel scheme in 1872. This scheme was promoted by Hull merchants and businesses dissatisfied with the service provided by the New Holland ferry crossing .Over the next 100 years a variety of services were provided by the New Holland ferry crossing. Over the next 100 years, a variety of proposals were put forward in an effort to bridge the Humber, in 1928, a plan was drawn up by Hull City Council to build a multi-span bridge four miles west of Hull. However the scheme was dropped after being hit by the financial woes of the Great Depression of the late 1920s and early 1930s.
Government approval for the construction of a suspension bridge was finally granted in 1959, although it was not until 1973 that work finally began. The reasons why a suspension bridge was chosen were twofold. Firstly, the Humber has a shitting bed, and the navigable channel along which a craft can travel is always changing; a suspension bridge with no support piers in mid-stream would not obstruct the estuary. Secondly, because of the geology and topography of the area, the cost of constructing a tunnel would have been excessive.
Work on the construction proceeded for eight years, during which time many thousands of tonnes of steel and concrete were used and upwards of one thousand workers and staff were employed at times of peak activity. The designers had been responsible for two other major suspension bridges in Britain but, with a total span of 2.220 m, or almost a mile and a half, the Humber was going to be the longest suspension bridge in the world. Nowadays designers have computers, but back then everything was done with slide rules and calculators. The towers were concrete rather than the usual steel, since concrete was cheaper and would blend in better with the setting. The bridge was designed to stand for 120 years.
Malcolm Stockwell, the bridgemaster, recalls that when the bridge first opened, there wasn't a great deal of interest in it. Then children started visiting, and he remembers their astonishment at seeing the control room and all the lights. People who lived in towns on opposite banks a mile apart started crossing the river- a journey that previously might as well have been to the moon. The bridge brought them together.
The bridge opened up, both socially and economically, two previously remote and insular areas of England, and the improvement in communication enabled the area to realize its potential in commercial, industrial and tourist development. The bridge has saved many millions of vehicle miles and many valuable hours of drivers' and passengers' time - an important factor not only for the drivers and operators of commercial vehicles, but also for tourists and holidaymakers who would have had to travel around the estuary to reach destinations in the region. The words of Malcolm Stockwell,'Although it can't beat the Golden Gate Bridge San Francisco for setting, far outstrips it for sheer elegance and as a piece of engineering'.

Section 2

Solution and Explanation

Questions 28-34

The text has seven sections, A-G. Choose the correct heading for each section from the list of headings below. Write the correct number, i-ix, in boxes 28-34 on your answer sheet.

List of Headings

Why the ferry crossing has always been difficult
Building the bridge
An advantage of the design for the bridge
The growing popularity of the bridge
Opposition to building a bridge
Benefits and disadvantages the Humber has brought
Proposed alternatives to ferry services
How the bridge has contributed to the region's
Rising demand for river transport

Section A

Answer: vi
Supporting Statement: Before the arrival of the railways in the 19th century, water transportation was the most efficient means of moving heavy or bulk freight, and the Humber, situated at the heart of the waterway system associated with the two major rivers, was one of the chief highways of England. Its traffic brought prosperity to the settlements on its banks, particularly the city of Hull on its north bank, but the river itself tended to cut them off from some of their closest neighbors, as well as obstructing the progress of travelers moving north or south.
Keywords: Traffic, closest neighbors
Keyword Location: Paragraph A
Explanation: As per paragraph A, the Humber, located at the center of the waterway system connected to the two major rivers, was one of England's main thoroughfares. Its traffic brought prosperity to the settlements on its banks, but the river itself tended to cut them off from some of their closest neighbors, a problem that was exacerbated by the arrival of the railways in the 19th century. So, the correct answer is vi.

Section B

Answer: ix
Supporting Statement: By 1800, this ferry had become fully integrated into the overland transport system, but the changes associated with the industrial revolution were soon to threaten its position, increased traffic encouraged speculators to establish rival ferries between Hull and Lincolnshire, notably a service between Hull and New Holland which opened in 1826.
Keywords: industrial revolution, increased traffic
Keyword Location: Paragraph B
Explanation: As per paragraph B, by 1800, this ferry was completely incorporated into the overland transportation network, but the Industrial Revolution's developments soon threatened to undermine its status. Increasing traffic prompted entrepreneurs to build competing ferries between Hull and Lincolnshire. So, the correct answer is ix.

Section C

Answer: vii
Supporting Statement: Over the next 100 years a variety of services were provided by the New Holland ferry crossing. Over the next 100 years, a variety of proposals were put forward in an effort to bridge the Humber, in 1928, a plan was drawn up by Hull City Council to build a multi-span bridge four miles west of Hull
Keywords: Variety of services
Keyword Location: Paragraph C
Explanation: As per paragraph C, it has been stated that following a century of several ideas to cross the Humber, the Hull City Council developed a plan in 1928 to construct a multi-span bridge four miles west of Hull. So, the correct answer is vii.

Section D

Answer: iii
Supporting Statement: The reasons why a suspension bridge was chosen were twofold. Firstly, the Humber has a shitting bed, and the navigable channel along which a craft can travel is always changing; a suspension
bridge with no support piers in mid-stream would not obstruct the estuary. Secondly, because of the geology and topography of the area, the cost of constructing a tunnel would have been excessive
Keywords: Reasons, suspension bridge
Keyword Location: Paragraph D
Explanation: As per paragraph D, there were two factors that led to the decision to use a suspension bridge. First of all, the Humber has a terrible bed, and the navigable channel along which a vessel can go is constantly shifting; a suspension bridge in the middle of the estuary would not hinder it because it would not have support piers. Second, building a tunnel would have been quite expensive due to the local geology and topography. So, the correct answer is iii.

Section E

Answer: ii
Supporting Statement: Work on the construction proceeded for eight years, during which time many thousands of tonnes of steel and concrete were used and upwards of one thousand workers and staff were employed at times of peak activity.
Keywords: Construction, workers.
Keyword Location: Paragraph E
Explanation: As per paragraph E, it has been mentioned that thousands of tonnes of steel and concrete were utilized in the construction during the course of the project's eight-year duration, and at its busiest points, over a thousand workers and staff members were employed. So, the correct answer is ii.

Section F

Answer: iv
Supporting Statement: Malcolm Stockwell, the bridgemaster, recalls that when the bridge first opened, there wasn't a great deal of interest in it. Then children started visiting, and he remembers their astonishment at seeing the control room and all the lights.
Keywords: Bridgemaster, visiting
Keyword Location: Paragraph F
Explanation: As per paragraph F, it has been stated that the bridgemaster, Malcolm Stockwell, remembers that there wasn't much interest in the bridge when it initially opened. Afterwards, kids started coming over, and he recalls their shock at seeing the control room and all the lights. So, the correct answer is iv.

Section G

Answer: vii
Supporting Statement: The bridge has saved many millions of vehicle miles and many valuable hours of drivers' and passengers' time - an important factor not only for the drivers and operators of commercial vehicles, but
also for tourists and holidaymakers who would have had to travel around the estuary to reach destinations in the region.
Keywords: Commercial vehicles, operators.
Keyword Location: Paragraph G
Explanation: As per paragraph G, it has been stated that he bridge has prevented many millions of miles of travel and countless hours of valuable driver and passenger time, which is significant not only for the operators and drivers of commercial vehicles but also for travelers who would otherwise have had to travel through the estuary to get to their destinations in the area. So, 5the correct answer is vii.

Questions 35-40

Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the text for each answer.
Crossing the Humber

The first ferry across the Humber started operating in 1315, and by 1800, this service had been (35)............... with other forms of transport. The mid 19th century saw greater (36) ……………In the provision of services. In 1968, an attempt to establish a service across the river using (37)............ failed. The Humber Bridge is a suspension bridge because the channel that ships travel along supporting a bridge would obstruct its A bridge rather than move, and (38) …………..than a (39)............ was chosen on the grounds of cost. This was also one reason why

(40).............. was used for the towers.

Question 35)

Answer: Integrated
Supporting Statement: To cater for these local and, as time progressed, wider needs, ferries were provided across many of the streams flowing into the Humber, and in 1315, a ferry was established across the Humber itself
between Hull and Lincolnshire. By 1800, this ferry had become fully integrated into the overland transport system
Keywords: Ferry, Hull and Lincolnshire
Keyword Location: Paragraph B
Explanation: As per paragraph B, Ferries were established across several of the streams that flowed into the Humber to meet these local and, over time, larger needs. In 1315, a ferry was established over the Humber River to connect Hull and Lincolnshire. This ferry was completely integrated into the overland transportation network by 1800. So, the correct answer is integrated.

Question 36)

Answer: Competition
Supporting Statement This crossing was considerably shorter than on the existing Hull to Barton service, which closed in 1851, unable to cope with the increased competition from the rival service.
Keywords: Hull Barton service, increased competition.
Keyword Location: Paragraph B
Explanation: As per paragraph B, the existing Hull to Barton route, which shut down in 1851 because it couldn't handle the heightened competition from the competing service, was much shorter than this crossing. So, the correct answer is competition.

Question 37)

Answer: Hovercrafts
Supporting Statement: The New Holland ferry service then grew into a major link between the north and south banks of the Humber, carrying passengers and cattle and goods bound for Hull Market. In 1968, there was
briefly a ferry service from Grimsby to Hull involving Hovercrafts.
Keywords: Passengers, hovercrafts
Keyword Location: Paragraph B
Explanation: As per paragraph B, it has been stated that when delivering passengers, cattle, and products to Hull Market, the New Holland ferry service developed into a significant link between the north and south banks of the Humber. Hovercrafts were used for a brief ferry service in 1968 that ran between Grimsby and Hull.So, the correct answer is hovercrafters.

Question 38)

Answer: Piers
Supporting Statement: The reasons why a suspension bridge was chosen were twofold. Firstly, the Humber has a shitting bed, and the navigable channel along which a craft can travel is always changing; a suspension
bridge with no support piers in mid-stream would not obstruct the estuary.
Keywords: Suspension bridge, navigable channel, piers.
Keyword Location: Paragraph D
Explanation: As per paragraph D, two factors led to the decision to use a suspension bridge. First of all, the Humber has a terrible bed, and the navigable channel along which a vessel can go is constantly shifting; a suspension bridge in the middle of the estuary would not hinder it because it would not have support piers. So, the correct answer is piers.

Question 39)

Answer: Tunnel
Supporting Statement: Secondly, because of the geology and topography of the area, the cost of constructing a tunnel would have been excessive.
Keywords: Geology and topography, tunnel
Keyword Location: Paragraph D
Explanation: As per paragraph D it has been mentioned that building a tunnel would have been quite expensive due to the local geology and topography. Soi, the correct answer is tunnel as per explanation provided.

Question 40)

Answer: Concrete
Supporting StatementWork on the construction proceeded for eight years, during which time many thousands of tonnes of steel and concrete were used and upwards of one thousand workers and staff were employed at times of peak activity.
Keywords: Construction, concrete and steel
Keyword Location: Paragraph E
Explanation: As per paragraph E, it has been mentioned that thousands of tonnes of steel and concrete were utilized in the construction during the course of the project's eight-year duration, and at its busiest points, over a
thousand workers and staff members were employed. So, the correct answer is concrete.

Read More IELTS Reading Related Samples