Royal National Lifeboat Institution Reading Answers

Jul 2, 2025

Royal National Lifeboat Institution Reading Answers is an academic reading answers topic. Royal National Lifeboat Institution Reading Answers has a total of 13 IELTS questions in total. In the question set, you have to choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list of headings (I-X). In the next set, you have to complete each sentence with the correct ending (A-G). In the last set, you have to choose the correct letter.

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 ROYAL NATIONAL LIFEBOAT INSTITUTION

A:Drowning claims an estimated 372,000 lives around the world each year. This is a conservative estimate and the actual number is likely to be much higher. More than 90 per cent of these drownings happen in low- and middle-income countries. Despite the scale of the problem, it is barely recognised and it's hard to believe that this is not yet a global priority.

The UK-based Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is working to change that. Working in partnership with others, they are expanding their international work to provide communities with the knowledge, equipment and skills to try to reduce this staggering loss of life.

B:The islands of Britain and Ireland have always been at the mercy of the sea. In the early 19th century, there was an average of 1800 shipwrecks a year around the coasts of Great Britain, with many seafarers drowned. This danger was an accepted part of life onboard. Rescue services did exist in some places — there are records of a rescue boat stationed in Liverpool from 1730. In Bamburgh, Northumberland, men from the local castle patrolled the shore on horseback, ready to go to sea in their 'unimmergible' cable — the first purpose-built lifeboat, designed by Lionel Lukin. A 1789 competition, run by a group of businessmen from Newcastle, sought designs for rescue boats. One of the entries, from William Wouldhave, was designed to self right. Boatbuilder Henry Greathead was asked to build a lifeboat combining the best features of Lukin's and Wouldhave's plans, and came up with a vessel called the Original.

Within 20 years, he had built more than 30 of these lifeboats, and they were soon saving lives all around Great Britain.

C:Sir William Hillary is credited with founding the RNLI. After witnessing the destruction of dozens of ships from his home on the Isle of Man, and getting involved in rescue attempts himself, Hillary appealed to the Navy, the government and other 'eminent characters' for help in forming 'a national institution for the preservation of lives and property from shipwreck'. With the support of London Members of Parliament (MP) and businesses, the Institution was founded as a charity on 4 March 1824.

D:When Sir William Hillary first issued his appeal to the British nation in 1823, he sent it out to the Navy and govemment. He gained great sympathy, but not much cash! It was MP Thomas Wilson who suggested asking wealthy philanthropists to support the fledgling lifeboat service. Obtaining money in 1824 was very successful, bringing in almost £ I0,000, but the impetus soon stagnated and, by 1849, income had dropped to £354. Efforts in the mid-19th century were focused on the wealthy, and it wasn't until the late 1880's that the RNLI realised how generous the general public could be. Following a tragic disaster in 1886, a public appeal was launched that raised £10.000 in 2 weeks. A little later, there was the first 'Lifeboat Saturday'. Bands, floats and lifeboats paraded through the streets of Manchester, followed by volunteers with collecting buckets and purses on poles. More than £5, 000 was taken on the day, which was the first recorded example of a charity street collection.

E:For the RNLI's first 100 years or so, lifeboats were mostly put to sea and brought in from their local beaches. In many communities, hauling the lifeboat was done by women, as most of the men were on board, though farmers often loaned their horses to help bear the weight. Lifeboats were frequently dragged for long distances before putting to sea to minimise the time at sea in rough conditions. In 1899, the lifeboat in the village of Lynmouth, Devon, was hauled 10 miles by a team of 50 to 60 people and 18 horses to go to the aid of a vessel in distress in another bay. These days, most large, all-weather lifeboats are designed to go to sea from a slipway, or to lie afloat. But leaving land from the beach is still common, especially with the smaller, inshore lifeboats. Specially adapted tractors are now used to do the hauling.

F:The way in which people use the sea has changed dramatically since the RNLI's foundation. More people are using the water for leisure, so the lifesaving service has had to change accordingly. In 2001, RNLI lifeguards began patrolling some of the most popular beaches in England and now lifeguards patrol over 200 beaches around the UK, rescuing thousands of people every year and providing first aid and safety advice. The 'prevention-rather-than-cure' approach also helps the RNLI's Coastal Safety and Education teams save lives by preventing people from getting into danger in the first place. Also in 2001 the RNLI's first station on an inland waterway was established in Northern Ireland. Environmental change has increased demand, too. The Flood Rescue Team was formed in 2000 to respond to floods anywhere in the I-JK or Ireland within 6 hours. The RNLI also has an international Flood Rescue Team that can deploy anywhere in the world within 24 hours.

Questions 28–33

The text on the previous pages has 6 paragraphs (A—F). Choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list of headings below. Write the correct number, i-ix.

i. Fundraising

ii. Government Support

iii. A Developing Service

iv. A Global Issue

v. A Lesson from America

vi. Early Lifesavers and their Craft

vii. New Training Facilities

viii. Launching

ix. The Beginning of the RNLI

28. Paragraph A

Answer: iv

Supporting statement: Drowning claims an estimated 372,000 lives around the world each year.

Keywords: 372,000, year

Keyword Location: Para A, Line 1

Explanation: According to the passage, drowning is a serious worldwide issue that takes an estimated 372,000 lives yearly. It underlines that more than 90% of these drownings take place in low- and middle-income nations, and that the real figure may be substantially higher.

29. Paragraph B

Answer: vi

Supporting statement: men from the local castle patrolled the shore on horseback, ready to go to sea in their 'unimmergible' coble — the first purpose-built lifeboat,

Keywords: horseback, coble

Keyword Location: Para B, Line 4

Explanation: The passage highlights that the first lifesavers were the men from the castle who patrolled the shore on horseback, equipped with a coble which was unsubmergible.

30. Paragraph C

Answer: ix

Supporting statement: Sir William Hillary is credited with founding the RNLI.

Keywords: founding, RNLI

Keyword Location: Para C, Line 1

Explanation: Indeed, the title "The Beginning of the RNLI" fits the paragraph in question. The text focuses on the history and foundation of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) by Sir William Hillary.

31. Paragraph D

Answer: i

Supporting statement: It was MP Thomas Wilson who suggested asking wealthy philanthropists to support the fledgling lifeboat service.

Keywords: wealthy, fledgling

Keyword Location: Para D, Line 3

Explanation: "Fundraising" is a suitable title for the passage in question. The main focus of the passage is the various attempts to raise money for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution's (RNLI) lifeboat service through the wealthy or with the help of the public.

32. Paragraph E

Answer: viii

Supporting statement: lifeboats were mostly put to sea and brought in from their local beaches.

Keywords: brought, beaches

Keyword Location: Para E, Line 1

Explanation: The Royal National Lifeboat Institution's (RNLI) historical lifeboat launching procedures are addressed in the passage. It notes that local beaches were the main location for lifeboat launches and recoveries during the RNLI's early years.

33. Paragraph F

Answer: iii

Supporting statement: In 2001, RNLI lifeguards began patrolling some of the most popular beaches in England and now lifeguards patrol over 200 beaches around the UK,

Keywords: beaches, lifeguards

Keyword Location: Para F, Lines 3-4

Explanation: The title "A Developing Service" fits the paragraph in question. The paragraph emphasizes how the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is a lifesaving service that is always changing by expanding its service area.

Questions 34–37

Complete each sentence with the correct ending (A-G).

Write the correct letter (A-G).

34. The official figure of people drowned around the world is

Answer: C

Supporting statement: This is a conservative estimate and the actual number is likely to be much higher.

Keywords: estimate, actual

Keyword Location: Para A, Line 2

Explanation: According to the passage, the official worldwide drowning deaths are probably a modest estimate, and the real number is thought to be significantly larger.

35. In the past, the danger of drowning was

Answer: G

Supporting statement: This danger was an accepted part of life onboard.

Keywords: danger, onboard

Keyword Location: Para B, Line 3

Explanation: Indeed, the risk of drowning was an accepted aspect of life for seafarers in the past, as shown by the information provided in paragraph B.

36. The lifeboat named "The Original" was

Answer: E

Supporting statement: build a lifeboat combining the best features of Lukin's and Wouldhave's plans, and came up with a vessel called the Original.

Keywords: combining, Original

Keyword Location: Para B, Lines 9-10

Explanation: According to the text, the lifeboat known as "The Original" was, in fact, a mix of several designs. The task assigned to boat builder Henry Greathead was to create a lifeboat that combined the best elements of William Wouldhave's and Lionel Lukin's designs.

37. The founder of the RNLI was

Answer: B

Supporting statement: After witnessing the destruction of dozens of ships from his home on the Isle of Man,

Keywords: destruction, home

Keyword Location: Para C, Line 2

Explanation: As per the passage, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution's founder, Sir William Hillary, was inspired by seeing so many ships destroyed from his Isle of Man home.

A. employed by the British navy.

B. motivated by seeing many shipwrecks where he lived.

C. probably grossly under-estimated.

D. more dangerous on navy ships.

E. a mixture of different designs.

F. never accepted by the British navy

G. always an accepted part of a seafarer's life.

Questions 38–40

Choose the correct letter.

38. Focusing on the public for early funding of the RNLI was

A. less successful than approaching the rich.

B. advised by British government officials.

C. not a strategy followed at first.

D. the first strategy attempted.

Answer: C

Supporting statement: It was MP Thomas Wilson who suggested asking wealthy philanthropists to support the fledgling lifeboat service.

Keywords: wealthy, support

Keyword Location: Para D, Line 3

Explanation: As stated in Paragraph D, the public was not the original target of the RNLI's early funding plan, but the wealthy philanthropists.

39.Early life boats were often

A. moored at sea to save time.

B. moved on land before being released into the sea.

C. crewed at sea by women when the men were away.

D. crewed by the local military forces.

Answer: B

Supporting statement: Lifeboats were frequently dragged for long distances before putting to sea to minimise the time at sea in rough conditions.

Keywords: distances, rough

Keyword Location: Para E, Line 4

Explanation: In the early days of the RNLI, lifeboats were often carried on land for long distances before being released into the sea, as stated in the Paragraph.

40. The RNLI service has evolved because

A. its initial operating strategy was not financially sustainable,

B. of its dependence on people donating money.

C. people interact with the sea in a different way than before.

D. it is run solely by volunteers.

Answer: C

Supporting statement: The way in which people use the sea has changed dramatically since the RNLI's foundation.

Keywords: people, changed

Keyword Location: Para F, Line 1

Explanation: The Paragraph states that as people's contacts with the sea have changed throughout time, so too has the RNLI service.

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