Roman Roads Reading Answers

Sep 26, 2025

Roman Roads Reading Answers is an academic reading answers topic. Roman Roads Reading Answers has a total of 13 IELTS questions in total such as in the first question set, where the Reading Passage has six paragraphs A-F. Which paragraph contains the following information? Write the correct letter A-F. In the next question set, choose the correct letter, A, B, C, or D. And in the last set, choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.

The IELTS Reading section is an essential part of the test that evaluates a candidate's comprehension and analysis of various passage types. You will work through a number of IELTS reading practice problems in this section that resemble actual test situations. These questions are designed to help you improve your ability to recognise essential concepts, extract particular facts, and make inferences. Practising these IELTS reading problems can help you get comfortable with the structure and increase your confidence for the exam, regardless of whether you are studying for the Academic or General Training module.

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Section 1

ROMAN ROADS

A.The long straight roads built by the Romans have, in many cases, become just as famous in history as their greatest emperors and generals. Building upon more ancient routes and creating a huge number of new ones, Roman engineers were fearless in their plans to join one point to

another in as straight a line as possible, whatever the difficulties in geography and the costs in manpower. Consequently, roads required bridges, tunnels, viaducts and many other architectural and engineering features to create a series of breathtaking but highly useful monuments, which spread from Europe to eastern parts of the Roman empire.

B.The Romans did not invent roads, but, as in so many other areas, they took an idea which went back as far as the Bronze Age and extended that concept, daring to squeeze from it the fullest possible potential. The first and most famous great Roman road was the Via Appia, or Appian Way. Constructed from 312 BCE, and covering 196 kilometres, it linked Rome to ancient Capua in Italy in as straight a line as possible and was appropriately known to the Romans as the Regina Viarum or 'Queen of Roads'. Much like a modern highway, it bypassed small towns

along the way, and it largely ignored geographical obstacles. The road would later be extended to 569 kilometres in length.

C.The network of public Roman roads covered over 120,000 kilometres. Besides permitting the rapid deployment of troops and, more importantly, the wheeled vehicles which supplied them with food and equipment, Roman roads allowed for an increase in trade and cultural exchange. Roads were also one of the ways Rome could demonstrate its authority. For this reason, many roads began and ended in a triumphal arch, and the imperial prestige associated with a road project was demonstrated in the fact that roads were very often named after the officials who funded them; for example, the Via Appia takes its name from the Roman magistrate Appius Claudius Caecus.

D.To achieve the objective of constructing the shortest routes possible between two points, all manner of engineering difficulties had to be overcome. Once extensive surveying had been carried out, to ensure the proposed route was actually straight and to determine what various

engineering methods were needed, marshes had to be drained, forests cut through, creeks diverted, bedrock channelled, mountain sides cut into, rivers crossed with bridges, valleys traversed with viaducts and tunnels built through mountains. When all that was done, roads had to be levelled, reinforced with support walls or terracing and then, of course, maintained, which they were for over 800 years.

E.Major roads were around a standard 4.2 metres wide, which was enough space for two vehicles to pass each other. First, a trench was dug in the earth, and a layer of large stones was used to form the foundation. This was followed by a substantial deposit of smaller broken materials — often crushed brick was used for this purpose, and on top of this, a layer of fine gravel was added. This upper section of the road was referred to as the nucleus and was then surfaced with blocks or slabs. Mountain roads might also have ridges running across the surface of the slabs to give animals better grip, and have ruts cut into the stone to guide wheeled vehicles.

F.Roads were purposely inclined slightly from the centre down to the kerb to allow rainwater to run off along the sides. Many also had parallel ditches that collected the run-off and formed a drainage canal on each side of the road. A path of packed gravel for pedestrians typically ran along each side of the road, varying in width from 1 to 3 metres. Separating the path from the road were the kerb stones, which were regular upright slabs. Busier stretches of main W I roads had areas where vehicles could pull over, and some of these had services for travellers and their animals. Milestones were also set up at regular intervals along the road, and these often recorded who was responsible for the upkeep of that stretch of the road and what repairs had been made.

G.Lasting symbols of the imagination of Roman engineers are the many arched bridges and viaducts still standing today that helped achieve the engineers' straight-line goal. The Romans built to last, and the piers of bridges which crossed rivers, for example, were often built with a resistant prow-shape and used massive, durable blocks of stone, while the upper parts might be built off of stone blocks strengthened with iron clamps. Perhaps the most impressive bridge was at Narni; 180 metres long, 8 metres wide, and as high as 33 metres, it had 4 massive semicircular arches, one of which, stretching 32.1 metres, ranks as one of the longest block—arch spans in the ancient world. Recently hit by earthquakes, it is now having to undergo restoration work to repair the effects.

H.Such was the engineering and surveying skill of the Romans that many of their roads have provided the basis for hundreds of today's routes across Europe and the Middle East. Many roads in Italy still use the original Roman name for certain stretches, and some bridges, such as at Tre Ponti in Venice, still carry road traffic today.

Questions 1-6

The Reading Passage has six paragraphs A-F. Which paragraph contains the following information? Write the correct letter A-F.

You may use any letter more than once.

1. The various functions of Roman roads.

Answer: C

Supporting statement: Besides permitting the rapid deployment of troops and, more importantly, the wheeled vehicles which supplied them with food and equipment, Roman roads allowed for an increase in trade and cultural exchange. Roads were also one of the ways Rome could demonstrate its authority.

Keywords: rapid deployment, troops, trade

Keyword Location: Para C, Lines 2-3

Explanation: This paragraph lists multiple purposes of the Roman road network, including military use, trade, cultural exchange, and a way for Rome to demonstrate its power.

2. Reference to some current remains of Roman road building.

Answer: F

Supporting statement: Many roads in Italy still use the original Roman name for certain stretches, and some bridges, such as at Tre Ponti in Venice, still carry road traffic today.

Keywords: still use, still carry traffic

Keyword Location: Para H, Lines 3-4

Explanation: This paragraph provides specific examples of Roman roads and bridges that are still in use today.

3. A description of preparations for building a road.

Answer: D

Supporting statement: Once extensive surveying had been carried out... marshes had to be drained, forests cut through, creeks diverted, bedrock channelled, mountain sides cut into, rivers crossed with bridges, valleys traversed with viaducts and tunnels built through mountains.

Keywords: surveying, drained, cut through, diverted

Keyword Location: Para D, Lines 2-5

Explanation: This paragraph describes the detailed and extensive preparatory work that was done before the actual road surface was laid, including surveying and altering the landscape.

4. The period in history when road building began.

Answer: B

Supporting statement: The Romans did not invent roads, but... they took an idea which went back as far as the Bronze Age...

Keywords: not invent roads, Bronze Age

Keyword Location: Para B, Lines 1-2

Explanation: This paragraph mentions that the concept of roads existed as far back as the "Bronze Age," indicating when road building first began, not just by the Romans.

5. The consequence of damage caused by a natural disaster.

Answer: F

Supporting statement: Recently hit by earthquakes, it is now having to undergo restoration work to repair the effects.

Keywords: earthquakes, restoration work, repair

Keyword Location: Para F, Lines 8-9

Explanation: The Narni bridge, which was recently struck by earthquakes and is now undergoing repairs to rectify the effects, as mentioned in this paragraph.

6. The total distance once crossed by Roman roads.

Answer: C

Supporting statement: The network of public Roman roads covered over 120,000 kilometres.

Keywords: network, covered, 120,000 kilometres

Keyword Location: Para C, Line 1

Explanation: This paragraph provides a specific figure for the total distance covered by the Roman road network.

Question 7-10

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C, or D.

7. Which aspect of Roman road building does the writer mention in Section A?

A. The strength and permanence of the roads.

B. The magnificence and practicality of the road.

C. The number of people involved in building.

D. The powerful people who financed the roads.

Answer: B

Supporting statement: ...a series of breathtaking but highly useful monuments, which spread from Europe to eastern parts of the Roman empire.

Keywords: breathtaking, highly useful, monuments

Keyword Location: Para A, Lines 6-7

Explanation: The writer describes the roads as breathtaking (magnificent) and highly useful (practical), which directly matches option B.

8. The writer compares the Appian Way to a modern highway because

A. It was lengthened over time.

B. It took a long time to construct.

C. It was used by a large number of travellers.

D. It was designed to avoid certain areas.

Answer: D

Supporting statement: Much like a modern highway, it bypassed small towns along the way, and it largely ignored geographical obstacles.

Keywords: modern highway, bypassed small towns

Keyword Location: Para B, Line 6

Explanation: The text makes it clear that the Appian Way mainly ignored geographical barriers and bypassed local villages, much like a modern-day highway.

9. According to the writer, the purpose of the triumphal arches was to

A. Display the power of Rome.

B. Celebrate the opening of a road.

C. Show the name of important roads.

D. Provide access for important officials.

Answer: A

Supporting statement: Roads were also one of the ways Rome could demonstrate its authority. For this reason, many roads began and ended in a triumphal arch...

Keywords: demonstrate, authority, triumphal arch

Keyword Location: Para C, Lines 4-6

Explanation: The passage directly links the use of triumphal arches to Rome's ability to "demonstrate its authority," which is another way of saying displaying its power.

10. What common use of a milestone is mentioned in Section E?

A. Indicating to travellers the total length of the road.

B. Highlighting areas of the road that needed repair.

C. Noting details regarding the maintenance of the road.

D. Marking rest places along the road for travellers and their animals.

Answer: C

Supporting statement: Milestones were also set up at regular intervals along the road, and these often recorded who was responsible for the upkeep of that stretch of the road and what repairs had been made."

Keywords: Milestones, recorded, upkeep, repairs

Keyword Location: Para F, Lines 7-8

Explanation: According to the passage, milestones recorded who was in charge of the road's maintenance and what repairs had been completed.

Questions 11-13

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.

11. Nucleus made of ___________

Answer: (FINE) GRAVEL

Supporting statement: This upper section of the road was referred to as the nucleus and was then surfaced with blocks or slabs.

Keywords: upper section, nucleus

Keyword Location: Para E, Line 5

Explanation: According to the passage, fine gravel was put after a layer of crushed materials. The nucleus was the name given to this upper portion of the road.

12. Stone slabs- may be ridged to help ____________using the road

Answer: ANIMALS

Supporting statement: Mountain roads might also have ridges running across the surface of the slabs to give animals better grip...

Keywords: ridges, give animals, better grip

Keyword Location: Para E, Lines 6-7

Explanation: The passage mentions that ridges were used to give animals a better grip on the road.

13. Layer of materials such as______________

Answer: (CRUSHED) BRICK

Supporting statement: This was followed by a substantial deposit of smaller broken materials — often crushed brick was used for this purpose, and on top of this, a layer of fine gravel was added.

Keywords: smaller broken materials, crushed brick

Keyword Location: Para E, Lines 3-4

Explanation: According to the passage, a layer of smaller crushed materials was utilised, and crushed brick was frequently used for this.

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