Segway into the Future Reading Answers

Jan 6, 2023

Segway into the Future Reading Answers is an IELTS reading topic. The topic consists of 13 questions that must be finished within the time limit of 20 minutes. This IELTS topic Segway into the Future Reading Answers has been taken from the book: Practice Tests for IELTS 2 - Volume 2. The topic: Segway into the Future Reading Answers consist of a passage and questions from the passage. The candidates must analyse the IELTS reading passage for keywords. The IELTS Reading practice papers include more similar topics like this Segway into the Future Reading Answers. There are two types of questions: True, false, Not given and no more than three words.

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Section 1

Read the passage to answer the following questions

Segway into the Future Reading Answers

Will the electric vehicle known as the Segway alter the ways that individuals get around? Dean Kamer, the inventor of the Segway, believes that this revolutionary vehicle will someday substitute for the bicycles and automobiles that now crowd our cities. When he introduced the Segway in 2001, he believed it would change our lives.

Although the Segway uses up-to-the-minute technology, it looks very ordinary. The metal framework of the Segway consists of a platform where an individual stands. Attached to the front of the platform is a tall post with handles for the driver to hold. On each side of the platform is a wide, rubber wheel. Except for these two wheels, there are no mechanical parts on the Segway. It has no engine, no brakes, no pedal power, no gears, and no steering wheel.

Instead it uses a computer system that imitates the ability of humans to keep their balance.

This system seems to move to the driver’s thoughts. For example, when the driver thinks “Go forward’’, the Segway moves forwards, and when the driver thinks, “Stop’’, it stops. The Segway is not really responding to the driver’s thoughts, but to the tiny changes in balance that the driver makes as he prepares his body to move forward or to stop. For example, when the driver thinks about moving forward, he actually leans slightly forward, and when he thinks of stopping or slowing, the driver leans slightly back.

The Segway is powered by batteries that allow it to travel about T7miles on one battery charge. It is designed for short-range, low-speed operation. It has three speed settings. The slowest is the setting for learning, with speeds of up to 6 miles per hour. Next is the sidewalk setting, with speeds of up to 9 miles , per hour. The highest setting allows the driver to travel up to 12.5 miles per hour in open, flat areas.

At all three speed settings, the Segway can go wherever a person can walk, both indoors and outdoors.

Workers who must walk a lot in their jobs might be the primary users of Segways. For example, police officers could drive Segways to patrol city streets, and mail carriers could drive from house to house to deliver letters and packages. Farmers could quickly inspect distant fields and bams, and rangers, or parks. Security guards could protect neighborhoods or large buildings.

Any task requiring a lot of walking could be made easier. In cities, shoppers could leave their cars at home and ride Segway from store to store. Also, people who cannot comfortably walk due to age, illness, or injury could minimize their walking but still be able to go many places on a Segway.

Why is it, then, that our job sites, parks, and shopping centers have not been subsequently filled with Segways since they were introduced in 2001? Why hasn’t the expected revolution taken place? Studies have shown that Segways can help workers get more done in a shorter time. This saves money. Engineers admire Segways as a technological marvel.

Business, government agencies, and individuals, however, have been unwilling to accept the Segway. Yes, there have been some successes. In a few cities, for example, mail carriers drive Segway on their routes, and police officers patrol on Segways. San Francisco, California, and Florence, Italy, are among several cities in the world that offer tours on Segways for a small fee. Occasionally you will see golfers riding Segways around golf courses. Throughout the world more than 150 security agencies use Segways, and China has recently entered the overseas market. These examples are encouraging, but can hardly be called a revolution.

The primary reason seems to be that people have an inherent fear of doing something new. They fear others will laugh at them for buying a “toy’’. They fear losing control of the vehicle. They fear being injured. They fear not knowing the rules for using a Segway. They fear making people angry if they ride on the sidewalk. All these fears and others have kept sales low.

The inventor explained why people have been slow to accept the Segway. He said, "We didn’t realize that although technology moves very quickly, people’s mind-set changes very slowly.” Perhaps a hundred years from now millions of people around the world will be riding Segways.

Section 2

Questions 1-3:
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage?

TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this

The Segway’s framework consists of a platform and a post with handles

Answer: True
Supporting Sentence: The metal framework of the Segway consists of a platform where an individual stands
Keyword: framework, handle
Keyword Location: 2nd paragraph, 2nd sentence
Explanation: The author in the paragraph lists the main components of Segway’s frame. Although wheels are mentioned too, they are not part of the framework. Hence, the statement is True.

The driver can alter the direction of the Segway by leaning to the left or right

Answer: Not Given
Explanation: There is no such information provided in the passage.

The Segway was primarily designed for student to make their travel much more comfortable

Answer: Not Given
Explanation: The author only examples of how Segway could make life easier for people of different professions. The exact information regarding the statement is Not Given.

Questions 4-6:
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

Why the Segway has been accepted as the most comfortable vehicle for the people with moving problems?

they could leave their cars at home and ride Segway from store to store
could drive from house to house to deliver letters and packages
could quickly inspect distant fields and barns, and rangers, or parks
could minimize their walking.

Answer: D
Supporting Sentence: Workers who must walk a lot in their jobs might be the primary users of Segways.
Keyword: walk, a lot
Keyword Location: 6th paragraph, 2nd sentence
Explanation: The 2nd sentence of paragraph 6 states that the primary use of segway was for workers who walk to office. This means segway could minimize their walking. Hence, D is the correct answer.

Why people have been slow to accept the Segway?

it wastes too much money
people have the various hinds of fears
it was too hard to manage
people didn’t want to replace the existing vehicles

Answer: B
Supporting Sentence: The primary reason seems to be that people have an inherent fear of doing something new.
Keyword: inherent, fear
Keyword Location: 2nd last paragraph, 1st sentence
Explanation: The second last paragraph lists all the fears that stop people from choosing Segway over the more conventional modes of transportation such as cars. They think people will call it a toy. Hence, B is the correct answer.

According to the point of view of the Dean Kamen, although technology moves very quickly, people’s mindset changes very slowly, what he meant by this?

people cannot accept the innovation at once
because of people worldwide ride bicycles for transportation they cannot accept other hinds of vehicles
people have fears and thus cannot get accustomed with new forms of transportation
the ideas and attitudes with which a person approaches a situation cannot be quickly altered

Answer: D
Supporting Sentence: We didn’t realize that although technology moves very quickly, people’s mind-set changes very slowly.
Keyword: technology, mind-set, slowly
Keyword Location: last paragraph, 2nd sentence
Explanation: As per the passage, the way a person thinks nowadays doesn’t progress as rapidly as technology. This is said by the inventor of Segway. This is insync with option D, making it the correct answer.

Questions 7-14:
Complete the sentences.
Choose NO MORE THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.

Dean Kamer, the inventor of the Segway, believes that this revolutionary vehicle will replace all conveyances we use today, and in 2001 he presented his innovation to the public. Even though the Segway uses up the minimum energy, it has a very 7________ appearance. It has not engine, brakes, gears and even 8________ , however, the attribute is that it has the 9_______ with wide and rubber wheels. Moreover, this invention is designed for the short-term destinations and works with 10________ . As it minimizes the moving time or energy, the Segway, particularly fits to those people who has an active lifestyle such as 11________ , mail carriers; farmers, security guards and even those who have difficulties because of their 12________ . However, the inventor explains why people have difficulties in accepting the Segway. He believes that the main reason for this is that people have an innate 13_________ of doing innovations and because of that the people’s 14_________ always changes gradually, it is too hard to accept the new invention for the short time.

Question 7:

Answer: ordinary.
Supporting Sentence: Although the Segway uses up-to-the-minute technology, it looks very ordinary.
Keyword: although, up-to-the-minute, technology
Keyword Location: Second paragraph, first sentence
Explanation: The author in the first line of paragraph 2 states that the technology was ordinary. Hence, ordinary is the correct answer.

Question 8:

Answer: steering wheel.
Supporting Sentence: It has no engine, no brakes, no pedal power, no gears, and no steering wheel.
Keyword: no engine, no brakes
Keyword Location: 2nd paragraph, last sentence
Explanation: The author in paragraph two gives the list of what Segway doesn’t have in comparison to conventional vehicles. He mentions engines, brakes and Steering wheels. Here the steering wheel is not mentioned, making it the correct answer.

Question 9:

Answer: platform.
Supporting Sentence: On each side of the platform is a wide, rubber wheel.
Keyword: rubber wheel
Keyword Location: Paragraph 2, 4th sentence
Explanation: In Paragraph Two, the author mentions two wheels attached to the platform. Hence, platform is the correct answer.

Question 10:

Answer: batteries.
Supporting Sentence: The Segway is powered by batteries that allow it to travel about T7miles on one battery charge.
Keyword: powered
Keyword Location: Paragraph 4, 1st sentence.
Explanation: As per the 4th Paragraph, the author mentions that Segway is powered by batteries. Hence, batteries is the correct answer.

Question 11:

Answer: police officers.
Supporting Sentence: For example, police officers could drive Segways to patrol city streets, and mail carriers could drive from house to house to deliver letters and packages.
Keyword: patrol, streets,
Keyword Location: Paragraph 5, 2nd sentence
Explanation: The author gives examples of people that stand to benefit from the use of Segway. Examples provided are of Police officers and others. Police officers are the only ones omitted from the task text. Hence, it is the correct answer.

Question 12:

Answer: age, injury
Supporting Sentence: Also, people who cannot comfortably walk due to age, illness, or injury could minimize their walking but still be able to go many places on a Segway.
Keyword: cannot, comfortably
Keyword Location: Paragraph 5, last sentence
Explanation: The author in Paragraph Five lists age and injury as reasons for some people to prefer Segway over the more conventional walking. Hence age and injury is the correct answer.

Question 13:

Answer: fear.
Supporting Sentence: The primary reason seems to be that people have an inherent fear of doing something new.
Keyword: inherent, fear
Keyword Location: 2nd last paragraph, 1st sentence
Explanation: The paragraph states that the reason for not using Segway is that people have an inherent fear or inner fear of doing something new. Hence, fear is the correct option.

Question 14:

Answer: mind-set.
Supporting Sentence: We didn’t realize that although technology moves very quickly, people’s mind-set changes very slowly
Keyword: people, changes
Keyword Location: Last paragraph, 2nd sentence
Explanation: The last paragraph mentions a mind-set that evolves slower in comparison to today’s rate of science. This makes mindset the correct answer.

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