Driverless Cars Reading Answers

Jan 2, 2023

Driverless Cars Reading Answers contains sample answers about. Driverless Cars Reading Answers comprising 13 different types of questions. IELTS Driverless Cars Reading Answers contains three types of questions: write the correct letter, complete the summary, and choose the correct letters. The IELTS Reading passage has seven sections, candidates need to thoroughly go through each passage and write the correct letter of the heading that contains the given information. For completing the summary, candidates are required to choose no more than two words for each answer from the passage. For the last 4 questions, candidates are required to choose two benefits and two challenges from the given option, to answer the questions separately. IELTS Reading practice papers can help candidates gain proficiency on diverse topics.

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Section 1

Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions

Driverless Cars Reading Answers

The automotive sector is well used to adapting to automation in manufacturing. The implementation of robotic car manufacture from the 1970s onwards led to significant cost savings and improvements in the reliability and flexibility of vehicle mass production. A new challenge to vehicle production is now on the horizon and, again, it comes from automation. However, this time it is not to do with the manufacturing process, but with the vehicles themselves.
Research projects on vehicle automation are not new. Vehicles with limited self-driving capabilities have been around for more than 50 years, resulting in significant contributions towards driver assistance systems. But since Google announced in 2010 that it had been trialling self-driving cars on the streets of California, progress in this field has quickly gathered pace.
There are many reasons why technology is advancing so fast. One frequently cited motive is safety; indeed, research at the UK’s Transport Research Laboratory has demonstrated that more than 90 percent of road collisions involve human error as a contributory factor, and it is the primary cause in the vast majority. Automation may help to reduce the incidence of this.
Another aim is to free the time people spend driving for other purposes. If the vehicle can do some or all of the driving, it may be possible to be productive, to socialise or simply to relax while automation systems have responsibility for safe control of the vehicle. If the vehicle can do the driving, those who are challenged by existing mobility models – such as older or disabled travellers – may be able to enjoy significantly greater travel autonomy.
Beyond these direct benefits, we can consider the wider implications for transport and society, and how manufacturing processes might need to respond as a result. At present, the average car spends more than 90 percent of its life parked. Automation means that initiatives for car-sharing become much more viable, particularly in urban areas with significant travel demand. If a significant proportion of the population choose to use shared automated vehicles, mobility demand can be met by far fewer vehicles.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology investigated automated mobility in Singapore, finding that fewer than 30 percent of the vehicles currently used would be required if fully automated car sharing could be implemented. If this is the case, it might mean that we need to manufacture far fewer vehicles to meet demand. However, the number of trips being taken would probably increase, partly because empty vehicles would have to be moved from one customer to the next.
Modelling work by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute suggests automated vehicles might reduce vehicle ownership by 43 percent, but that vehicles’ average annual mileage double as a result. As a consequence, each vehicle would be used more intensively, and might need replacing sooner. This faster rate of turnover may mean that vehicle production will not necessarily decrease
Automation may prompt other changes in vehicle manufacture. If we move to a model where consumers are tending not to own a single vehicle but to purchase access to a range of vehicle through a mobility provider, drivers will have the freedom to select one that best suits their needs for a particular journey, rather than making a compromise across all their requirements.
Since, for most of the time, most of the seats in most cars are unoccupied, this may boost production of a smaller, more efficient range of vehicles that suit the needs of individuals. Specialised vehicles may then be available for exceptional journeys, such as going on a family camping trip or helping a son or daughter move to university.
There are a number of hurdles to overcome in delivering automated vehicles to our roads. These include the technical difficulties in ensuring that the vehicle works reliably in the infinite range of traffic, weather and road situations it might encounter; the regulatory challenges in understanding how liability and enforcement might change when drivers are no longer essential for vehicle operation; and the societal changes that may be required for communities to trust and accept automated vehicles as being a valuable part of the mobility landscape.
It’s clear that there are many challenges that need to be addressed but, through robust and targeted research, these can most probably be conquered within the next 10 years. Mobility will change in such potentially significant ways and in association with so many other technological developments, such as telepresence and virtual reality, that it is hard to make concrete predictions about the future. However, one thing is certain: change is coming, and the need to be flexible in response to this will be vital for those involved in manufacturing the vehicles that will deliver future mobility.

Section 2

Solution With Explanation

Questions 14–18:
The Reading Passage has seven sections, A-G.
Which section contains the following information?
Write the correct letter, A-G, in boxes 14-18 on your answer sheet.

reference to the amount of time when a car is not in use.

Answer: C
Supporting Sentence: At present, the average car spends more than 90 percent of its life parked.
Keywords: average, car, percent, parked
Keywords Location: Paragraph C, 2-3 lines
Explanation: We notice a reference to the duration of a car's inactivity in lines 2 and 3 of paragraph C. According to this, an average car parks for more than 90% of its lifetime. Therefore, C is the correct answer.

mention of several advantages of driverless vehicles for individual road-users.

Answer: B
Supporting Sentence: Another aim is to free the time people spend driving for other purposes.
Keywords: free time, purposes, aim
Keywords Location: Paragraph B, line 6
Explanation: Driverless cars have a number of benefits, as stated in paragraph B. Automation, according to this, could aid to lower this frequency. The time individuals spend driving should be freed up for other activities, as well. According to this, paragraph B is the correct answer.

reference to the opportunity of choosing the most appropriate vehicle for each trip.

Answer: E
Supporting Sentence: Specialised vehicles may then be available for exceptional journeys, such as going on a family camping trip or helping a son or daughter move to university.
Keywords: specialised, exceptional, camping, university
Keywords Location: Paragraph E, last line
Explanation: The option of selecting the best vehicle for each journey is mentioned in paragraph E. Specialized cars might then be offered for extraordinary excursions, according to the statement. For instance, helping a son or daughter go to college or going camping as a family. Therefore, E is the appropriate answer.

an estimate of how long it will take to overcome a number of problems

Answer: G
Supporting Sentence: It’s clear that there are many challenges that need to be addressed. But, through robust and targeted research, these can most probably be conquered within the next 10 years.
Keywords: challenges, research, 10 years
Keywords Location: Paragraph G, line 1
Explanation: The length of time needed to resolve various issues is stated in paragraph G. It indicates that there are numerous issues that must be resolved. However, these can most likely be overcome within the next 10 years by thorough and focused research. So, G is the appropriate answer.

a suggestion that the use of driverless cars may have no effect on the number of vehicles manufactured.

Answer: D
Supporting Sentence: automated vehicles might reduce vehicle ownership by 43 percent, but that vehicles’ average annual mileage double as a result
Keywords: definition, reflect, endeavour, pioneer
Keywords Location: paragraph D, line 7
Explanation: In paragraph D, it is suggested that the usage of autonomous cars might not have any impact on the total number of vehicles produced. According to this, 43 percent less people may own cars as a result of automated vehicles. However, as a result, that vehicles' annual mileage has doubled.

Questions 19–22:
Complete the summary below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 19-22 on your answer sheet.

The impact of driverless cars

Figures from the Transport Research Laboratory indicate that most motor accidents are partly due to 19 ..................., so the introduction of driverless vehicles will result in greater safety. In addition to the direct benefits of automation, it may bring other advantages. For example, schemes for 20 ................... will be more workable, especially in towns and cities, resulting in fewer cars on the road.

According to the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, there could be a 43 percent drop in 21 ................... of cars. However, this would mean that the yearly 22 ...................of each car would, on average, be twice as high as it currently is. This would lead to a higher turnover of vehicles, and therefore no reduction in automotive manufacturing.

Question 19:

Answer: Human error
Supporting Sentence: more than 90 percent of road collisions involve human error as a contributory factor,
Keywords: road, collisions, contributory, factor
Keywords Location: Paragraph B, 3rd line
Explanation: There are numerous explanations for why technology is developing so quickly, according to paragraph B. It states that human error is a contributing element in more than 90% of traffic collisions and that in the vast majority of cases, it is the root cause. Therefore, human error is the correct answer.

Question 20:

Answer: car-sharing
Supporting Sentence: Automation means that initiatives for car-sharing become much more viable, particularly in urban areas with significant travel demand.
Keywords: initiatives, viable, urban areas, travel demand
Keywords Location: Paragraph C, 3rd line
Explanation: The broader consequences for society and transportation are discussed in paragraph C, along with any potential repercussions for manufacturing processes. Specifically in urban locations with high travel demand, it notes how automation makes initiatives for car-sharing much more realistic. Thus, car sharing is the right answer.

Question 21:

Answer: ownership
Supporting Sentence: automated vehicles might reduce vehicle ownership by 43 percent, but that vehicles’ average annual mileage doubles as a result.
Keywords: automated vehicle, average, annual mileage
Keywords Location: Paragraph D, line 7
Explanation: According to paragraph D University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute model-building work was completed. According to the report, automated vehicles might cut down on vehicle ownership by 43%. However, as a result, the average yearly mileage of those vehicles doubles. So ownership is the answer.

Question 22:

Answer: mileage
Supporting Sentence: automated vehicles might reduce vehicle ownership by 43 percent, but that vehicles’ average annual mileage doubles as a result.
Keywords: automated vehicle, average, annual mileage
Keywords Location: Paragraph D, line 7
Explanation: According to paragraph D University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute model-building work was completed. According to the report, automated vehicles might cut down on vehicle ownership by 43%. However, as a result, the average yearly mileage of those vehicles doubles. So, the correct answer is mileage.

Questions 23 and 24:
Choose TWO letters, A-E.
Write the correct letters in boxes 23 and 24 on your answer sheet.

Which TWO benefits of automated vehicles does the writer mention?

Car travellers could enjoy considerable cost savings.
It would be easier to find parking spaces in urban areas.
Travellers could spend journeys doing something other than driving.
People who find driving physically difficult could travel independently.
A reduction in the number of cars would mean a reduction in pollution.

Question 23:

Answer: C
Supporting Sentence: If the vehicle can do some or all of the driving, it may be possible to be productive, to socialise or simply to relax while automation systems have responsibility for safe control of the vehicle.
Keywords: vehicle, driving, productive, automation systems
Keywords Location: Paragraph B, line 6
Explanation: Another goal is to allow people to use the time they would otherwise spend driving for other things, according to paragraph B. Being productive might be conceivable if the car could handle all or part of the driving. Whilst automation systems are in charge of the vehicle's safe control, to interact with others or just to unwind. Therefore, C is the correct answer.

Question 24:

Answer: D
Supporting Sentence: If the vehicle can do the driving, those who are challenged by existing mobility models. Such as older or disabled travellers may be able to enjoy significantly greater travel autonomy.
Keywords: vehicle, driving, mobility, travellers, autonomy
Keywords Location: Paragraph B, 8th line
Explanation: The ability to use the time that people would otherwise spend driving for other purposes is another objective, as stated in paragraph B. Those whose movement is restricted by current mobility models may benefit if the car can drive itself. Travelers who are elderly or disabled might benefit from having a lot more liberty when they are on the road.

Questions 25 and 26:
Choose TWO letters, A-E.
Write the correct letters in boxes 25 and 26 on your answer sheet.

Which TWO challenges to automated vehicle development does the writer mention?

making sure the general public has confidence in automated vehicles
managing the pace of transition from conventional to automated vehicles
deciding how to compensate professional drivers who become redundant
setting up the infrastructure to make roads suitable for automated vehicles
getting automated vehicles to adapt to various different driving conditions

Question 25:

Answer: A
Supporting Sentence: There are a number of hurdles to overcome in delivering automated vehicles to our roads.
Keywords: hurdles, overcome, automated vehicle
Keywords Location: Paragraph F, line 1
Explanation: The question instructs us to select the sentences that reflect challenges. There are several obstacles to overcome before autonomous vehicles can be used on our roads, as stated in the first line of paragraph
F. Therefore, option A is the appropriate answer.

Question 26:

Answer: E
Supporting Sentence: and the societal changes that may be required for communities to trust and accept automated vehicles as being a valuable part of the mobility landscape.
Keywords: societal changes, communities, automated vehicles, mobility
Keywords Location: Paragraph F, last line
Explanation: The question asks us to choose the sentences that accurately describe difficulties. In the final sentence of paragraph F, it is noted that possible societal reforms may be vital before communities can trust and embrace automated vehicles. The answer is therefore E.