Stainless Steel Reading Answers

Dec 26, 2023

Stainless Steel Reading Answers contains 14 questions, and it is a topic belonging to the assessment system of IELTS academic reading test. Stainless Steel Reading Answers has been taken from book called McGraw Hills Education 6 IELTS Practice Tests with Audio. In IELTS reading section, the nature of questions is such that candidates have to read a passage and provide answers from therein, it is to be attempted within 20 minutes. Stainless Steel Reading Answers contains the questions that ask the candidates to ascertain the veracity of statements, choose the correct option etc. To practice more reading papers like that the candidates can refer to IELTS Reading Practice test.

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Section 1

Read the passage to answer the questions that follow

Stainless Steel Reading Answers

Uses
In any ordinary kitchen, there are numerous items made from stainless steel, including cutlery, utensils, and appliances. ‘Inox’ or ’18/10′ may be stamped on the base of a good stainless steel pot: ‘Inox’ is short for the French inoxydable; while 18 refers to the percentage of chromium in the stainless steel, and 10 to its nickel content.

In hospitals, laboratories and factories, stainless steel is used for many instruments and pieces of equipment because it can easily be sterilised, and it remains relatively bacteria-free, thus improving hygiene. Since it is mostly rust-free, stainless steel also does not need painting, so proves cost-eﬀective.

As a decorative element, stainless steel has been incorporated into skyscrapers, like the Chrysler Building in New York, and the Jin Mao Building in Shanghai, the latter considered one of the most stunning contemporary structures in China. Bridges, monuments, and sculptures are often stainless steel; and, cars, trains, and aircraft contain stainless steel parts.

Recent alloys
As most pure metals serve little practical purpose, they are often combined or alloyed. Some examples of ancient alloys are bronze (copper + tin) and brass (copper + zinc). Carbon steel (iron + carbon), first made in small quantities in China in the sixth century AD, was produced industrially only in mid-nineteenth-century Europe. Stainless steel, which retains the strength of carbon steel with some added benefits, consists of iron, carbon, chromium, and nickel, and may contain trace elements. Stainless steel is a new invention – Austenitic stainless steel was patented by German engineers in 1912, the same year that Americans created ferritic stainless steel, while Martensitic stainless steel was patented as late as 1919.

Properties
The name, stainless steel, is misleading since, where there is very little oxygen or a great amount of salt, the alloy will, indeed, stain. In addition, stainless steel parts should not be joined together with stainless steel nuts or bolts as friction damages the elements; another alloy, like bronze, or pure aluminium or titanium must be used.

In general, stainless steel does not deteriorate as ordinary carbon steel does, which rusts in air and water. Rust is a layer of iron oxide that forms when oxygen reacts with the iron in carbon steel. Because iron oxide molecules are larger than those of iron alone, they wear down the steel, causing it to flake and eventually snap. Stainless steel, however, contains between 13-26% chromium, and, with exposure to oxygen, forms chromium oxide, which has molecules the same size as the iron ones beneath, meaning they bond strongly to form an invisible film that prevents oxygen or water from penetrating. As a result, the surface of stainless steel neither rusts nor corrodes. Furthermore, if scratched, the protective chromium-oxide layer of stainless steel repairs itself in a process known as passivation, which also occurs with aluminium, titanium, and zinc.

Varieties
There are over 150 grades of stainless steel with various properties, each distinguished by its crystalline structure. Austenitic stainless steel, comprising 70% of global production, is barely magnetic, but ferritic and Martensitic stainless steel function as magnets because they contain more nickel or manganese. Ferritic stainless steel – soft and slightly corrosive – is cheap to produce, and has many applications, while Martensitic stainless steel, with more carbon than the other types, is incredibly strong, so it is used in fighter jet bodies but is also the costliest to produce.

Recyclability
Stainless steel can be recycled completely, and these days, the average stainless steel object comprises around 60% of recycled material.

Cutting-edge application
In the last few years, 3D printers have become widespread, and stainless steel infused with bronze is the hardest material that a 3D printer can currently use.

In 3D printing, an inkjet head deposits alternate layers of stainless steel powder and organic binder into a build box. After each layer of binder is spread, overhead heaters dry the object before another layer of powder is added. Upon completion of printing, the whole object, still in its build box, is sintered in an oven, which means the object is heated to just below the melting point, so the binder evaporates. Next, the porous object is placed in a furnace so that molten bronze can replace the binder. To finish, the object is blasted with tiny beads that smooth the surface.

Appraisal
In less than a century, stainless steel has become essential due to its relatively cheap production cost, its durability, and its renewability. Used in the new manufacturing process of 3D printing, its future looks bright.

Questions 1-4

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

A stainless steel pot with 18/10 stamped in it contains
A. 18% carbon and 10% iron
B. 18% iron and 10% carbon
C. 18% chromium and 10% nickel
D. 18% nickel and 10% chromium

Answer: C
Supporting Sentence: ‘Inox’ or ’18/10′ may be stamped on the base of a good stainless steel pot: ‘Inox’ is short for the French inoxydable; while 18 refers to the percentage of chromium in the stainless steel, and 10 to its nickel content.
Keyword: 18/10, stamped, stainless steel
Keyword Location: Paragraph 1, 2nd & 3rd line
Explanation: It is clearly mentioned in the supporting sentence that 18 means percentage of chromium and 10 is for nickel content. So, the stamp of 18/10 means 18% chromium and 10% nickel.

Hospitals and laboratories use stainless steel equipment because it
A. Is easy to clean
B. Is inexpensive
C. Is not disturbed by magnets
D. Withstands high temperatures

Answer: A
Supporting Sentence: In hospitals, laboratories and factories, stainless steel is used for many instruments and pieces of equipment because it can easily be sterilised, and it remains relatively bacteria-free, thus improving hygiene.
Keyword: hospitals, laboratories, stainless steel
Keyword Location: Paragraph 2, 1st line
Explanation: Hospitals and Laboratories use stainless steel equipment because its easy to sterilise. Here, sterilisation is a process to clean the equipment so easy to sterilise means easy to clean.

Stainless steel has been used in some famous buildings for its
A. Durability
B. Beauty
C. Modernity
D. Reflective quality

Answer: B
Supporting Sentence: As a decorative element, stainless steel has been incorporated into skyscrapers, like the Chrysler Building in New York, and the Jin Mao Building in Shanghai, the latter considered one of the most stunning contemporary structures in China.
Keyword: decorative, stainless steel, building
Keyword Location: Paragraph 3, 1st & 2nd line
Explanation: The Chrysler Building and Jin Mao Building are examples of famous buildings. Stainless steel has been used in them as a decorative element which means it is beautiful.

The first type of stainless steel was patented in
A. China in 1912
B. Germany in 1912
C. The UK in 1912
D. The US in 1912

Answer: B
Supporting Sentence: Stainless steel is a new invention – Austenitic stainless steel was patented by German engineers in 1912, the same year that Americans created ferritic stainless steel, while Martensitic stainless steel was patented as late as 1919.
Keyword: stainless steel, patented, German engineers
Keyword Location: Paragraph 4, 6th & 7th line
Explanation: The supporting sentence says that Austenitic stainless steel was patented by Germany in 1912. It was the first type of steel to be patented because ferritic stainless steel was created in that year and Martensitic stainless was patented in 1919.

Questions 5-11

Do the following Statements agree with the information given in the text?
In boxes 5-11 on your answer sheet, 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

Stainless steel does not stain

Answer: FALSE
Supporting Sentence: The name, stainless steel, is misleading since, where there is very little oxygen or a great amount of salt, the alloy will, indeed, stain.
Keyword: stainless steel, stain
Keyword Location: Paragraph 5, 1st & 2nd line
Explanation: The claim that stainless steel does not stain is false. As the supporting sentence suggests the name is misleading because where there is little oxygen and a lot of salt, it will stain. So, stainless steel will stain if oxygen is little and salt is in great amounts.

Carbon steel rusts as its surface molecules are smaller than those of iron oxide

Answer: TRUE
Supporting Sentence: In general, stainless steel does not deteriorate as ordinary carbon steel does, which rusts in air and water. Rust is a layer of iron oxide that forms when oxygen reacts with the iron in carbon steel. Because iron oxide molecules are larger than those of iron alone, they wear down the steel, causing it to flake and eventually snap.
Keyword: carbon steel, rust, iron oxide, molecules
Keyword Location: Paragraph 6, 1st &3rd line
Explanation: The supporting sentence says that stainless steel does not deteriorate like ordinary carbon steel which rusts. Why does it rust? Because iron oxide molecules are larger than those of iron alone. Now, Carbon steel contains iron so its molecules are the surface molecules. Thus, surface molecules are smaller than molecules of iron oxide.

Passivation is unique to stainless steel

Answer: FALSE
Supporting Sentence: Furthermore, if scratched, the protective chromium-oxide layer of stainless steel repairs itself in a process known as passivation, which also occurs with aluminium, titanium, and zinc.
Keyword: stainless steel, passivation
Keyword Location: Paragraph 6, 9th line
Explanation: The supporting sentence says that stainless steel repairs itself through Passivation. But it also adds that the process also occurs with aluminium, titanium and zinc. So, Passivation isn’t unique to stainless steel.

Austenitic stainless steel is the most commonly produced type

Answer: TRUE
Supporting Sentence: Austenitic stainless steel, comprising 70% of global production, is barely magnetic, but ferritic and Martensitic stainless steel function as magnets because they contain more nickel or manganese.
Keyword: Austenitic stainless steel, production
Keyword Location: Paragraph 7, 2nd line
Explanation: The supporting sentence says that Austenitic stainless steel comprises 70% of global production. This means that in the remaining 30% all other kinds of steel are produced. So, most of the production belongs to Austenitic stainless steel and no other variety is produced in equivalent amounts making it the most common.

These days, Martensitic stainless steel is mainly produced in China

Answer: NOT GIVEN
Explanation: No mention in the passage has been made regarding where Martensitic stainless steel is produced let alone China.

Currently, the recycling of stainless steel takes place in many countries

Answer: NOT GIVEN
Supporting Sentence: Stainless steel can be recycled completely, and these days, the average stainless steel object comprises around 60% of recycled material.
Keyword: Stainless steel, recycled
Keyword Location: Paragraph 8, 1st line
Explanation: The only reference that the passage makes to recyclability of stainless steel is given in the supporting sentence. There is no mention of recycling being done in several countries.

Close to two-thirds of a stainless steel object is made up of recycled material

Answer: TRUE
Supporting Sentence: Stainless steel can be recycled completely, and these days, the average stainless steel object comprises around 60% of recycled material.
Keyword: stainless steel, recycled
Keyword Location: Paragraph 8, 1st line
Explanation: The supporting sentence claims that the average stainless steel object is 60% recycled material. Now, two-thirds means approximately 66% while the make in here is of 60%. So, the figure of 60% cuts close to two-thirds and hence the claim in the question is true.

Questions 12-14

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

Answer: Melting Point
Supporting Sentence: Upon completion of printing, the whole object, still in its build box, is sintered in an oven, which means the object is heated to just below the melting point, so the binder evaporates.
Keyword: object, binder, evaporates
Keyword Location: Paragraph 9, 5th & 7th line
Explanation: The aim in the first stage of this process seems to be heating an object to evaporate binder. The supporting sentence says that the object is heated just below the melting point so the binder evaporates. So, melting point is the answer which will heat up the object and evaporate the binder.

Answer: Furnace
Supporting Sentence: Next, the porous object is placed in a furnace so that molten bronze can replace the binder.
Keyword: object, replace, binder
Keyword Location: Paragraph 9, 7th & 8th line
Explanation: The aim of this step is to place the object in something and this will lead to binder being replaced with molten bronze. The Supporting sentence says that object is placed in a furnace so that molten bronze can replace the binder.

Answer: Tiny Beads
Supporting Sentence: To finish, the object is blasted with tiny beads that smooth the surface.
Keyword: object, blasted
Keyword Location: Paragraph 9, 8th line
Explanation: The aim of the final step is to blast the object with something. According to the supporting sentence the object is blasted with tiny beads.