Hong Kong's World-Beating Subway System - The MTR Reading Answers

May 19, 2025

Hong Kong's World-Beating Subway System - The MTR Reading Answers is an academic reading answer topic. Hong Kong's World-Beating Subway System - The MTR Reading Answers has a total of 13 IELTS questions in total. In the first question set, you have to choose the appropriate letters. In the next question set given, you have to state whether the statement is true, false or not given with the information given in the text. In the last question set, you have to complete each of the following statements using words from the box (A-H).

The IELTS Reading Section assesses the candidate's skills in understanding and analysing academic and general texts. Practicing with IELTS Reading Practice Questions can help you get accustomed to different question formats in reading tasks, improve your vocabulary, and enhance your critical reading abilities. Additionally, practicing improves vocabulary and strengthens vital reading skills, which are essential for success. To achieve high band scores, it is important to understand the instructions for each question type and develop effective time management strategies.

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

Section 1 HONG KONG'S WORLD-BEATING SUBWAY SYSTEM - THE MTR

Everywhere around the world, in many major urban centres, subway systems are struggling to cover costs, to invest capital in maintenance systems and expensive upgrades, and to attract passengers. Metro systems go cap-in-hand to central and municipal governments seeking funds and guarantees of continued existence, while plans of development and extension of lines and services are often shelved. In New York, for example, fares cover only 45% Of operating costs, which means transport taxes and government grants are required to keep the trains operating, and the transit system must go into debt if it considers upgrades or expansion, and, worryingly, often just to keep trains rolling with repairs and maintenance. However, one system, in one major metropolitan centre, has bucked the trend, and is operating not only at a profit, but at a standard so high that other cities can only look on with envy. Hong Kong's 'fare box recovery ratio' - the percentage of operating costs covered by fares - is at an astonishingly high level of 185%. The next highest urban ratio, that of Singapore, is healthy, but, next to Hong Kong, it has a ways to go, at 125%.

Hong Kong's Mass Transit Railway Corporation, which manages the MTR and the bus system, is acknowledged to have set the benchmark for transit management worldwide, and in 2012, the MTR generated revenue of 36 billion Hong Kong dollars - roughly USD5 billion - and that included a profit of HKD2 billion. How do they do it, and with a system that is so advanced that it is a model for many other cities, when so many other mass transit systems struggle? The answer is not an easy formula, but a complex arrangement of business acumen, wise investment, tough management and innovative concepts. The history of Hong Kong's MTR is relatively short when compared with London or Paris or other large urban centres. In the 1960s, the then Hong Kong government commissioned a study on finding solutions to the worrying road congestion which accompanied Hong Kong's growing economic status as a regional, and increasingly global, industrial and commercial hub. Construction began on rapid transit after the study was tabled in 1967, and the first line, running from Shek Kip Mei Station to Kwun Tong Station, began carrying passengers in 1979 and 1980, the first harbour crossing was undertaken to Chater Station, now called Central Station. The system was an instant success, and trains were immediately upgraded to six carriages to accommodate the increased passenger numbers and the plans for extension, which had been drawn up along with the original proposals, were soon actioned with further construction undertaken. In the early 1980s, further plans for construction were put in place, and then begun, for tunnels to be built connecting mainland Kowloon with Hong Kong Island. With the planned move of Hong Kong's International Airport, Kai Tak International, to Lantau Island, it was recognized that mass transit was necessary for the movement of people to make the airport viable. Both the new Chek Lap Kok International Airport and the new Lantau Airport Railway opened in July 1998.

Hong Kong's MTR's success has been carefully built on a series of successful business innovations which have all contributed to the remarkable return on investment, the successful integration of the transport system into the day-to-day functioning of the city, and the long-term involvement of the system in the projected growth of the district. Examples of this are the low fares, the multiple-fare system, the use of the Octopus Card and its ultra-modern ‘wave-and-go' technology, modern rolling stock (carriages and engines), and high-level, and highly publicized, on-time achievement rates. The MTR has consistently reached a 99.9% on-time rate, one of the highest for major metropolitan centres, and this concept is taken so seriously that the corporation is penalized if it fails to meet pre-determined targets. Other areas that the MTR has targeted to encourage patronage have included the promotion of Art projects, including live performances and art exhibitions, by students and emerging and established artists, and open galleries. Modernisation goals have seen the introduction of PSDs, Platform Screen Doors, to control air conditioning, and for platform security, and visual identity systems for logos, signage and delivery systems for service vehicles, and for passenger information. However, the area of greatest commercial growth has been in what has been termed 'Value Capture'. The MTR has recognized that it is part of an urban environment, with its own unique dynamic window, its requirements, opportunities and growth possibilities. Being part of one of the world's most densely-populated urban environments, and being a relatively new transit system, with a modern outlook, has given the MTR the chance to capitalize on a constantly changing, and growing, transportation environment which is increasingly recognized as essential in a functioning urban location. 'Value Capture' has been most noticeably recognized in the concept of the MTR working with separate business entities, such as shopping malls, as part of an integrated business entity, that is, metro lines have been designed to work with, and be placed in conjunction with, shopping malls, office towers and business properties, some of which the MTR even owns. In other words, the MTR has a direct interest in not only controlling the means of how passengers travel but also recognizing the destinations to which they travel.

Further, many of the MTR's stations located within Hong Kong central itself have multi-storey shopping complexes, again, a draw, and a means of transport, for consumers and passengers. It is interesting to note that the rules have changed, and Hong Kong's MTR is one of the game changers. From being an urban transit system, the corporation has moved beyond a metropolitan environment to embrace a global business plan and beyond. The urban rail corporation is now running Australia's Melbourne rail system, Sweden's Stockholm rail system, it has controlling interests in lines on the London Underground, and its planning department is contracted to design and run light rail systems in mainland China. Property management is another key development area, as it was recognized earlier that carrying passengers is only one aspect of a transit system—the other being the recognition of the destination, which helps determine the placement of lines and purposes. Carrying nine million passengers daily, just below Tokyo's record-setting tallies, Hong Kong's Mass Transit Railway is a model for the present and, with continued good business direction, for the future as well.

Questions 1-3

Choose the appropriate letters.

1. Many subway systems in major cities

A. plan extensively for upgrades and expansions.

B. attract passengers by investing in maintenance and improvements.

C. rely on government assistance to continue operating

D. are the dominant form of public transportation.

Answer: C

Supporting statement: Metro systems go cap-in-hand to central and municipal governments seeking funds

Keywords: Metro, governments

Keyword Location: Para 1, Line 3

Explanation: Subway systems in many large cities are facing troubles in maintaining and running their subway systems. So, they reach out to national and regional governments for financing and security to continue operating.

2. The subway systems of Singapore and Hong Kong

A. are considered to be better than New York's rail system.

B. recover more money in fares than they spend to operate.

C. must go into debt when expanding or undergoing maintenance.

D. operate both rail and bus systems.

Answer: B

Supporting statement: one system, in one major metropolitan centre, has bucked the trend, and is operating not only at a profit,

Keywords: one, metropolitan

Keyword Location: Para 1, Lines 8-9

Explanation: The Subway system of Singapore and Hong Kong not only operates but also earns a lot more profit compared to the amount they spend on operating the system, that to such a high standard that other cities can only dream of.

3. Hong Kong's MTR system is also involved in

A. constructing housing and office premises.

B. building light rail systems in mainland China.

C. managing rail systems in other cities.

D. designing extensions for Tokyo's rail system.

Answer: C

Supporting statement: The urban rail corporation is now running Australia's Melbourne rail system, Sweden's Stockholm rail system,

Keywords: rail, system

Keyword Location: Para 4, Lines 5-6

Explanation: The Hong Kong MTR system does not only operate in the metropolitan environment but also controls rail systems in other cities such as the Australia Melbourne rail system, Sweden’s Stockholm rail system, it also has control in power in the London Underground lines and the planning the department to run and design and run light rail system in Mainland China.

Questions 4–8

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage I?

Write

TRUE if the statement agrees with the information

FALSE if the statement contradicts the information

NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this

4. Because of Hong Kong's growth, plans were developed to introduce a rapid-transit rail system.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: Construction began on rapid transit after the study was tabled in 1967, and the first line,

Keywords: rapid, 1967

Keyword Location: Para 2, Lines 11-12

Explanation: Construction for a rapid transit system began in 1967 from Shek Kip Mei Station to Kwun Tong Station after Hong Kong's economic growth as a regional, global, industrial and commercial hub.

5. Initial reaction to the new rail lines was slow.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: The system was an instant success,

Keywords: instant, success

Keyword Location: Para 2, Line 14

Explanation: According to the text, the new rail system was an instant success, resulting in the upgrade of the carriages to six in total to accommodate the increased number of people travelling through the rail lines.

6. Future growth was anticipated, with strategies outlined in the original proposal.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: which had been drawn up along with the original proposals,

Keywords: drawn, proposals

Keyword Location: Para 2, Lines 16-17

Explanation: The text mentions that the strategy for extension was already outlined in the original proposal, as future growth was already anticipated.

7. The tunnels connecting Kowloon and Hong Kong were designed to carry both rail and vehicle traffic.

Answer: NOT GIVEN

Explanation: No information is given in the text that mentions tunnels connecting Kowloon and Hong Kong being able to carry both rail and vehicle traffic.

8. The new airport was reliant on new rail links being developed.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: it was necessary for the movement of people to make the airport viable.

Keywords: necessary, airport

Keyword Location: Para 2, Line 21

Explanation: With the construction of the new airport, it was already recognised that the need for mass transit was important to allow people to commute easily; hence, a new railway line was constructed, keeping in mind to offer more access to different destinations.

Questions 9–13

Complete each of the following statements (Questions 9–13) using words from the box.

Write the appropriate letter A-H.

9. The success of the MTR is due mainly to...

Answer: E

Supporting statement: Hong Kong's MTR's success has been carefully built on a series of successful business innovations

Keywords: success, innovations

Keyword Location: Para 3, Line 1

Explanation: The text States that the success of the Hong Kong MTR is mainly because of the innovative business ideas that were used while constructing the Subway system.

10. Transit times are important, so the MTR can be fined if it does not reach.„

Answer: B

Supporting statement: this concept is taken so seriously that the corporation is penalized if it fails to meet predetermined targets.

Keywords: corporation, penalized

Keyword Location: Para 3, Line 9

Explanation: The MTR has reached a 99.9% on-time rate due to the implementation of the fine it will have to pay if it fails to meet the pre-set goals.

11. Value Capture means that the MTR recognizes that it must work in conjunction with...

Answer: F

Supporting statement: 'Value Capture' has been most noticeably recognized in the concept of the MTR working with separate business entities,

Keywords: Value Capture, concept

Keyword Location: Para 3, Line 21

Explanation: The MTR recognizes value capture as a concept of working with separate business entities. They do this by constructing rail lines in conjunction with shopping malls, office towers and business properties.

12. Like other urban rail systems, Hong Kong realizes that it is important to understand their travelers ...

Answer: G

Supporting statement: aspect of a transit system—the other being the recognition of the destination,

Keywords: transit system, destination

Keyword Location: Para 4, Line 10

Explanation: The Hong Kong MTR realized early that carrying passengers is only one aspect of the transit system, with the other being the destination, as it is the most important aspect of rail system placement of lines and purposes, which is to make commuting for its travellers easy and accessible.

13. One feature of the subway system to attract passengers is to assist local….

Answer: C

Supporting statement: Other areas that the MTR has targeted to encourage patronage have included the promotion of Art projects, including live performances and art exhibitions,

Keywords: MTR, Art

Keyword Location: Para 3, Lines 9-10

Explanation: The MTR subway system includes artistic endeavours such as live performances and art exhibitions by students and emerging and established artists, and open galleries to attract passengers.

A. Key targets

B. set goals

C. artistic endeavours

D. international systems

E. new business concepts

F. the local economic environment

G. destinations

H. requirements and goals

Read More IELTS Reading Related Samples