Makete Integrated Rural Transport Project IELTS Reading Answers
In the IELTS exam, reading skills play a vital role in scoring a high band. The IELTS Reading skills are checked through 40 questions that must be attempted by the candidates in 60 minutes. IELTS reading requires students to focus on a given passage based on which they need to respond to the corresponding questions. Students need to consider IELTS Reading practice papers as part of their preparation for this section. The solutions and explanations for the academic passage Makete Integrated Rural Transport Project IELTS Reading answers are discussed in this post. The types of questions asked in this passage are
- Matching Heading Questions
- YES/ NO/ NOT GIVEN Questions
- Sentence completion Questions
- Multiple Choice Question
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Section 1
Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions
Makete Integrated Rural Transport Project IELTS Reading Answers
Section A
The disappointing results of many conventional road transport projects in Africa led some experts to rethink the strategy by which rural transport problems were to be tackled at the beginning of the 1980s. A request for help in improving the availability of transport within the remote Makete District of south-western Tanzania presented the opportunity to try a new approach.
The concept of 'integrated rural transport' was adopted in the task of examining the transport needs of rural households in the district. The objective was to reduce the time and effort needed to obtain access to essential goods and services -through an improved rural transport system. The underlying assumption was that the time saved would be used instead for activities that would improve the social and economic development of the communities. The Makete Integrated Rural Transport - Project (MIRT-P) started in 1985 with financial support from the Swiss Development Corporation and was coordinated with the help of the Tanzanian government.
Section B
When the project began Makete District was virtually totally isolated during the rainy season. The regional road was in such bad shape that access to the main towns was impossible for about three months of the year. Road traffic was extremely rare within the district, and alternative means of transport were restricted to donkeys in the north of the district, people relied primarily on the paths, which were super and dangerous during the rains.
Before solutions could be proposed, the problems had to be understood. Little was known about the transport demands of the rural households, so Phase I, between December 1985 and December 1987, focused on research. The socio-economic survey of more than 400 households in the district indicates that a household in Makete spent, on average, seven hours a day on transporting themselves and their goods, a figure which seemed extreme but which has also been obtained in surveys in other rural areas in Africa. Interesting facts regarding transport were found- 95% was on foot, 80% was within the locality and 70% was related to the collection of water and firewood and travelling to running mills.
Section C
Having determined the main transport needs, possible solutions were identified which might reduce the time and burden During Phase II. From January to February 1991, a number of approaches were implemented in an effort to improve mobility and access to transport.
An improvement of the rotted network was considered necessary to ensure the import and export of goods to the district. These improvements were carried out using methods that were heavily dependent on labour. In addition to the improvement of roads, these methods provided training in the operation of a mechanical workshop and bus and truck services. However, the difference from the conventional approach was that this time consideration was given to local transport needs outside the road network.
Most goods were transported along the paths that provide shortcuts up and down the hillsides, but the paths were a real safety task and made the journey on foot even more arduous. It made sense to improve the paths by building steps, handrails and footbridges.
It was uncommon to fix the means of transport that were more efficient than walking but less technologically advanced than motor vehicles. The use of bicycles was constrained by their high cost and the lack of available spare parts. Oxen were not used at all but donkeys were used by a few households in the northern part of the district. MIRTP focused on what would be most appropriate for the inhabitants of Makete in terms of what was available, how much they could afford and what they are willing to accept. After careful consideration, the project chose the promotion of donkeys - a donkey costs less than a bicycle - and the introduction of a locally manufacturable wheelbarrow.
Section D
At the end of Phase II, it was clear that the selected approaches to Makete's transport problems had had different degrees of success. Phase III, from March 1991 to March 1993, focused on the refinement and most of these activities.
The road improvements and accompanying maintenance system had helped make the district centre accessible throughout the year. Essential goods from outside the district had become more readily available at the market and prices did not fluctuate as much as they had done before.
Paths and secondary roads were improved only at the request of communists who were willing to participate in construction and maintenance. However, the improved paths impressed the inhabitants, and requests for assistance greatly increased soon after only a few improvements had been completed.
The efforts to improve the efficiency of the existing transport services were not very successful because most of the motorised vehicles in the district broke down and there were no resources to repair them. Even the introduction of low-cost means of transport was difficult because of the general poverty of the district. The locally manufactured wheelbarrows were still too expensive for all but a few of the households. Modifications to the original design by local carpenters cut production time and costs. Other local carpenters have been trained in the new design So that they can respond to requests. Nevertheless, a locally produced wooden wheelbarrow which costs around 500QTanzanian shillings (less than US$20) in Makete, and is about one-quarter the cost of a metal wheelbarrow, is still too expensive for most people.
Donkeys, which were imported to the district have become more common and contribute, in particular, to the transportation of crops and goods to market. Those who have bought donkeys are mainly from richer households but with an increased supply through local breeding, donkeys should become more affordable. Meanwhile, local initiatives are promoting the renting out of the existing donkeys.
It should be noted, however, that a donkey, which at 20,000 Tanzanian shillings costs less than a bicycle, is still an investment equal to an average household's income over half a year. This dearly illustrates the need for supplementary measures if one wants to assist the rural poor.
Section E
It would have been easy to criticize the MIRTP for using in the early phases a top-down approach, in which decisions were made by experts and officials before being handed down to communities, but it was necessary to start the process from the level of the governmental authorities of the district. It would have been difficult to respond to the requests of villagers and other rural inhabitants without the support and understanding of district authorities.
Section F
Today, nobody in the district argues about the importance of improved paths and inexpensive means of transport. But this is the result of dedicated work over a long period particularly from the officers in charge of community development. They played an essential role in raising awareness and interest among the rural communities.
The concept of integrated rural transport is now well established in Tanzania, where a major program of rural transport is just about to start. The experiences from Makete will help in this initiative, and Makete District will act as a reference for future work.
Section 2
Solution and Explanation
Questions 27-30:
Reading Passage has six sections, A-F. Choose the correct heading for sections B, C, E and F from the list of headings below.
Write the correct number, i-xi, in boxes 27-30 on your answer sheet.
List of Headings:
- MIRTP as a future model
- Identifying the main transport problems
- Preference for motorised vehicles
- Government Authorities' instructions
- Initial improvements in mobility and transport
- Request for improves transport in Makete modes
- Transport improvements in the northern part of the district
- Improvements in the rail network
- Effects of initial MIRTP measures
- Co-operation of district officials
- Role of wheelbarrows and donkeys
Example- Section A
Answer - vi
Example- Section D
Answer – ix
- Section B
Answer: ii- Identifying the main transport problems
Supporting Sentence: Before solutions could be proposed, the problems had to be understood.
Keywords: Identifying, main, transport, problems
Keyword Location: Section B, Paragraph 2, Line 1
Explanation: The passage states that before any solution could be developed for Makete District, the problems such as the condition of road and road traffic needed to be identified. Little was known about the transport demands and hence Phase I focused on the research.
Read More IELTS Reading Related Samples
- Section C
Answer: v- Initial improvements in mobility and transport
Supporting Sentence: From January to February 1991, a number of approaches were implemented in an effort to improve mobility and access to transport.
Keywords: Initial, improvements, mobility, transport
Keyword Location: Section C, Paragraph 1, Line 2
Explanation: It is mentioned in the passage that once the problems were identified, numerous approaches were implemented to improve mobility and access to transport.
- Section E
Answer: x- Co-operation of district officials
Supporting Sentence: It would have been difficult to respond to the requests of villagers and other rural inhabitants without the support and understanding of district authorities.
Keywords: Co-operation, district, officials
Keyword Location: Section E, Lines 4-5
Explanation: The passage mentions that it wouldn’t have been easy to implement the ideas of MIRTP had the district officials not cooperated.
- Section F
Answer: i- MIRTP as a future model
Supporting Sentence: The experiences from Makete will help in this initiative, and Makete District will act as a reference for future work.
Keywords: Future
Keyword Location: Section F, Paragraph 2, Last line
Explanation: It is mentioned that Makete will act as a reference for future work for improving rural transport in Tanzania due to its proven hard work and success in improving rural transport in parts of Africa.
Questions 31-35:
Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer in the Reading Passage?
In boxes 31-35 on your answer sheet write:
YES - if the statement agrees with the claims of the writer
NO - if the statement contradicts the claims of the writer
NOT GIVEN - if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this
- MIRTP was divided into five phases.
Answer: NO
Supporting Sentence: Phase I, between December 1985 and December 1987, focused on research.
At the end of Phase II, it was clear that the selected approaches to Makete's transport problems had had different degrees of success. Phase III, from March 1991 to March 1993, focused on the refinement and most of these activities.
Keywords: MIRTP, divided, five, phases
Keyword Location: Section B Paragraph 2 Line 2, Section D Paragraph 1 Lines 1-3
Explanation: The passage mentions that the MIRTP initiative was divided into three phases namely Phase I, II and III which had their respective functions. Hence, the correct answer is ‘no’.
- Prior to the start of the MIRTP, the Makete district was almost inaccessible during the rainy season.
Answer: YES
Supporting Sentence: When the project began Makete District was virtually totally isolated during the rainy season.
Keywords: Prior, start, MIRTP, Makete, district, inaccessible, rainy season
Keyword Location: Section B, Line 1
Explanation: The passage mentions that when MIRTP was initiated, the Makete district was almost unreachable during the rainy season. Hence, the correct answer is ‘yes’.
- Phase I of MIRTP consisted of a survey of household expenditure on transport.
Answer: NO
Supporting Sentence: The socio-economic survey of more than 400 households in the district indicates that a household in Makete spent, on average, seven hours a day on transporting themselves and their goods, a figure which seemed extreme but which has also been obtained in surveys in other rural areas in Africa.
Keywords: Phase I, MIRTP, consisted, survey, household, expenditure, transport
Keyword Location: Section B, Paragraph 2, Lines 3-6
Explanation: Phase I of MIRTP consisted of a survey to determine the amount of time spent on transportation by the people of Makete district. Hence, the correct answer is ‘no’.
- The survey concluded that one-fifth of 20% of the household transport requirement is outside the local area.
Answer: YES
Supporting Sentence: Interesting facts regarding transport were found- 95% was on foot, 80% was within the locality and 70% was related to the collection of water and firewood and travelling to running mills.
Keywords: Survey, concluded, one-fifth, 20%, household, transport, requirement, outside, local area
Keyword Location: Section B, Paragraph 2, Lines
Explanation: It is mentioned in the passage that the result of the survey was that 80% percent of household transport was within the local area which means only 20% was outside. Hence, the correct answer is ‘yes’.
- MIRTP hopes to improve the movement of goods from the Makete district to the country's capital.
Answer: NOT GIVEN
Questions 36-39:
Complete each sentence with the correct ending, A-J, below.
Write the correct letters, A-J, in boxes 36-39 on your answer sheet.
- Construction of footbridges, steps and handrails
Answer: D- improved paths used for transport up and down hillsides.
Supporting Sentence: It made sense to improve the paths by building steps, handrails and footbridges.
Keywords: Construction, footbridges, steps, handrails
Keyword Location: Section C, Paragraph 3, Line 2
Explanation: The passage mentions that the construction of footbridges, steps and handrails improved the paths as they were used as shortcuts to transport goods but were not safe.
- Frequent breakdown of buses and trucks in Makete
Answer: I- hindered attempts to make the existing transport services more efficient.
Supporting Sentence: The efforts to improve the efficiency of the existing transport services were not very successful because most of the motorised vehicles in the district broke down and there were no resources to repair them.
Keywords: Frequent, breakdown, buses, trucks, Makete
Keyword Location: Section D, Paragraph 4, Line 1-3
Explanation: The passage mentions that the efforts that were made to improve pre existing transport services were not very prosperous as many motorised vehicles broke down and resources to repair them were not available.
- The improvement of secondary roads and paths
Answer: G- was done only at the request of local people who were willing to lend a hand.
Supporting Sentence: Paths and secondary roads were improved only at the request of communists who were willing to participate in construction and maintenance.
Keywords: Improvement, secondary, roads, paths
Keyword Location: Section D, Paragraph 3, Lines 1-2
Explanation: The passage mentions that the secondary roads and paths were improved only upon the request of local people who were eager to participate in the construction.
- The isolation of Makete for part of the year
Answer: E- was no longer a problem once the road was improved
Supporting Sentence: The road improvements and accompanying maintenance system had helped make the district centre accessible throughout the year.
Keywords: Isolation, Makete, part, year
Keyword Location: Section D, Paragraph 2, Lines 1-2
Explanation: It is mentioned that once the road was enhanced, Makete was accessible throughout the year which was earlier not possible, especially in the rainy season.
Question 40:
Choose the correct letter A, B, C or D. Write the correct letter in box 40 on your answer sheet.
Which of the following phrases best describes the main aim of Reading Passage?
- to suggest that projects such as MIRTP are needed in other countries
- to describe how MIRTP was implemented and how successful it was
- to examine how MIRTP promoted the use of donkeys
- to warn that projects such as MIRTP are likely to have serious problems
Answer: B- to describe how MIRTP was implemented and how successful it was
Supporting Sentence: From January to February 1991, a number of approaches were implemented in an effort to improve mobility and access to transport.
Keywords: MIRTP, implemented, successful
Keyword Location: Section C, Paragraph 1, Line 3
Explanation: The whole passage talks about the initiative called MIRTP, which was started to improve the rural transport condition in the villages of Africa. It thoroughly describes MRTP’s conception, functioning and success in the Makete district of Africa. Hence the correct answer is ‘B’.
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