The Birdmen Reading Answers

Mar 11, 2024

The Birdmen Reading Answers is an academic reading topic. The Birdmen Reading Answers have a total of 5 IELTS questions in total. The specified topic generates 2 question type: ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER, Chose the correct word. Candidates should read the IELTS Reading passage thoroughly to recognize synonyms, identify keywords, and answer the questions below. IELTS Reading practice papers, which feature topics such as The Birdmen Reading Answers. Candidates can use IELTS reading practice questions and answers to enhance their performance in the reading section.

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Section 1

Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions

The Birdmen

Will people finally be able to fly long distances without a plane? John Andres investigates. People have dreamt of flying since written history began. In the 1400s, Leonardo da Vinci drew detailed plans for human flying machines. You might have thought the invention of mechanised flight would have put an end to such ideas. Far from it. For many enthusiasts, the ultimate flight fantasy is the jet pack, a small piece of equipment on your back which enables you to climb vertically into the air and fly forwards, backwards and turn. Eric Scott was a stuntman in Hollywood for about a decade and has strapped jet packs to his back more than 600 times and propelled himself hundreds of metres into the air. Now he works for an energy-drink company that pays him to travel around the world with his jet pack. As Scott says: 'I get to do what I love and wherever I go I advertise Go Fast drinks. Existing packs work for little more than 30 seconds, but people are working on designs which let you fly around for 20 minutes. 'That would be amazing,' says Scott.

Paramotoring is another way of getting into the air. It combines the sort of parachute used in paragliding with a small engine and propeller and is now becoming popular. Chris Clarke has been flying a paramotor for five years. 'Getting about is roughly comparable with driving a petrol-powered car in terms of expense. The trouble is that paramotoring is ill-suited to commuting because of the impossibility of taking off in strong winds,' says Clarke.

Another keen paramotorist recently experienced a close call when in the air. 'I started to get a warm feeling in my back,' says Patrick Vandenbulcke. I thought I was just sweating. But then I started to feel burning and I realized I had to get to the ground fast. After an inspection of the engine later, I noticed that the exhaust pipe had moved during the flight and the harness had started melting.' This hasn't put Vandenbulcke off, however, and he is enthusiastic about persuading others to take up paramotoring. However he warns: Although it seems cheaper to try to teach yourself, you will regret it later as you won't have a good technique.' A training course will cost over £1,000, while the equipment costs a few thousand pounds. You may pick up cheaper equipment secondhand, however. There was one pre-used kit advertised on a website, with a bit of damage to the cage and tips of the propellers due to a rough landing. 'Scared myself to death,' the seller reported, 'hence the reason for this sale.'

Fun though it is, paramotoring is not in the same league as the acrobatics demonstrated by Yves Rossy. He has always enjoyed being a daredevil showman. He once parachuted from a plane above Lake Geneva and, intentionally skimming the top of a fountain as he landed, he descended to the lake where he grabbed some water ski equipment and started waterskiing while the crowd watched open-mouthed.

Rossy, who has been labelled 'the Birdman', was born in 1959 in Switzerland. After flying planes for the air force from the ages of 20 to 28, he went on to do a job as a pilot with a commercial airline from 1988 to 2000. 'The cockpit of a plane is the most beautiful office in the world,' he says, 'but I didn't have any contact with the air around me. It was a bit like being in a box or a submarine under water.' From then on, he, therefore, concentrated on becoming the first jet-powered flying man.

In May 2008, he stepped out of an aircraft at about 3000 metres. Within seconds he was soaring and diving at over 290 kph, at one point reaching 300 kph, about 104 kph faster than the typical falling skydiver. His speed was monitored by a plane flying alongside. Rossy started his flight with a free fall, then he powered four jet turbines to keep him in the air before releasing a parachute which enabled him to float to the ground. The jet turbines are attached to special wings which he can unfold. The wings were manufactured by a German firm called JCT Composites. Initially he had approached a company called Jet-Kit which specialised in miniature planes, but the wings they made for him weren't rigid enough to support the weight of the engines. Rossy says he has become the first person to maintain a stable horizontal flight, thanks to aerodynamic carbon foldable wings.' Without these special wings, it is doubtful he would have managed to do this.

Rossy's ambitions include flying down the Grand Canyon. To do this, he will have to fit his wings with bigger, more powerful jets. The engines he currently uses already provide enough thrust to allow him to climb through the air, but then he needs the power to stay there. In terms of the physical strength involved, Rossy insists it's no more difficult than riding a motorbike. 'But even the slightest change in position can cause problems. I have to focus hard on relaxing in the air, because if you put tension in your body, you start to swing around.' If he makes it, other fliers will want to know whether they too will someday be able to soar. The answer is yes, possibly, but it is unlikely to be more than an expensive hobby.

Section 2

Solution and Explanation

Questions 28-30

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

Write the correct letter in boxes 28-30 on your answer sheet.

What information is given about Vandenbulcke in paragraph 3?

He narrowly avoided a dangerous situation.
He did not understand the equipment he was using.
He did not react fast enough to the situation.
He was fortunate to get the help he needed.

Answer: A
Supporting statement: “........recently experienced a close call when in the air. 'I started to get a warm feeling in my back,' says Patrick Vandenbulcke.........”
Keywords: warm, feeling
Keyword Location: para 3, line 1
Explanation: The chosen line uncovers, “Another sharp paramotorist as of late experienced a near call when within the air.” This tells us that the third passage clarifies a circumstance where Vandenbulcke barely maintained a strategic distance from an unsafe circumstance (experienced a near call) as the depleted pipe had moved and dissolved the tackle.

When the writer refers to some second-hand paramotoring equipment which was for sale, he is emphasizing that -

paramotoring equipment is in short supply.
paramotoring equipment needs to be carefully tested.
paramotoring is a very expensive hobby.
paramotoring can be a dangerous pastime.

Answer: D
Supporting statement: “.......... You may pick up cheaper equipment secondhand, however. There was one pre-used kit advertised on a website, with a bit of damage to the cage and tips of the propellers due to a rough landing........”
Keywords: advertised, cage
Keyword Location: para 3, line 9-11
Explanation: This line focuses on the reality that with reference to some used (pre-used) paramotoring gear that was for deal, the author needs that paramotoring can be perilous and panic individuals to passing.

The description of what happened at Lake Geneva is given to suggest that Rossy

frequently changes his plans.
likes to do what appears impossible.
is an excellent overall sportsman.
knows the area very thoroughly.

Answer: B
Supporting statement: “........ He once parachuted from a plane above Lake Geneva and, intentionally skimming the top of a fountain as he landed, he descended to the lake where he grabbed some water ski equipment and started waterskiing while the crowd watched open-mouthed..........”
Keywords: skimming, ski
Keyword Location: para 4, line 2-3
Explanation: This demonstrates the reality that Rossy was a thrill seeker, which implies he enjoyed doing what was about incomprehensible and no one challenged to do. The Lake Geneva occurrence demonstrated his quality.

Questions 31-35

Complete the summary below.

Choose ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER from the text for each answer.

Write your answers in boxes 31-35 on your answer sheet.

Yves Rossy

Yves Rossy was born in 1959. He worked as both a military and 31 .................... pilot before focusing on his ambition of becoming a jet-powered flying man. First he asked a firm which made 32 .................... planes to construct some 33 .................... for him, but these proved unsuitable. The second company he approached was able to help him, however. On a flight in May 2008, he managed to achieve a top speed of 34 .................... easily exceeding the speed achieved by the average 35 .................... He had engines to keep him in the air and then used a parachute when it was time to come down.

Ques 31:

Answer: commercial
Supporting statement: “......... he went on to do a job as a pilot with a commercial airline from 1988 to 2000. 'The cockpit of a plane is the most beautiful office in the world,' he says, 'but I didn't have any contact with the air around ........”
Keywords: beautiful, plane
Keyword Location: para 5, line 2
Explanation: Within the cited line of Passage 5, it is said that “After flying planes for the discuss constraints from the ages of 20 to 28, he went on to do work as a pilot with a commercial carrier from 1988 to 2000.” It is evident from the above-mentioned lines that Rossy worked within the military (discuss force)from ages 20 to 28 and after that joined work as a commercial pilot.

Ques 32:

Answer: miniature
Supporting statement: “.........Initially he had approached a company called Jet-Kit which specialised in miniature planes, but the wings they made for him weren't rigid enough to support the weight of the engines. ........”
Keywords: miniature, weight
Keyword Location: para 6, line 7
Explanation: Within the indicated line of Passage 6, it is communicated that “Initially he had drawn closer to a company called Jet-Kit which is particular in scaled down planes…”. In this way, it appears that Rossy drew closer to a firm (company) called Jet-Kit which made (particularly in) scaled down planes.

Ques 33:

Answer: wings
Supporting statement: “........Initially he had approached a company called Jet-Kit which specialised in miniature planes, but the wings they made for him weren't rigid enough to support the weight of the engines.........”
Keywords: drew, closer
Keyword Location: para 6, line 7
Explanation: The said line of Section 6 says that “…but the wings they made for him weren't unbending sufficient to back the weight of the engines.”. Because it is evident that the wings made by the Jet-Kit, as inquired by Rossy, were not appropriate to bolster the weight of the motors, the reply is 'wings''.

Ques 34:

Answer: 300 kph
Supporting statement: “........was soaring and diving at over 290 kph, at one point reaching 300 kph, about 104 kph faster than the typical falling skydiver.........”
Keywords: reaching, falling
Keyword Location: para 6, line 2
Explanation: The given line of Passage 6 portrays, “Within seconds he was taking off and plunging at over 290 kph, at one point coming to 300 kph…”. It is obvious that on a flight in May 2008, Rossy overseen to attain a best speed of 300 kph whereas he was taking off and jumping..

Ques 35:

Answer: skydiver
Supporting statement: “........was soaring and diving at over 290 kph, at one point reaching 300 kph, about 104 kph faster than the typical falling skydiver.........”
Keywords: point, reaching
Keyword Location: para 6, Line 2
Explanation: The given line of Passage 6 peruses, “Within seconds he was taking off and jumping at over 290 kph, at one point coming to 300 kph, approximately 104 kph quicker than the ordinary falling skydiver.”. It is obvious that amid the flight in May 2008, Rossy taken off and plunged at 300 kph, which was quicker than any normal (commonplace) skydiver. Thus, the reply is 'skydiver'.

Questions 36-40

Look at the following statements (Questions 36-40) and the list of people below. Match each statement with the correct person, A, B, C or D. Write the correct letter, A, B, C or D, in boxes 36-40 on your answer sheet

He acknowledges the role of his equipment in enabling him to set a flying record.

Answer: D
Supporting statement: “........Rossy says he has become the first person to maintain a stable horizontal flight, thanks to aerodynamic carbon foldable wings..........”
Keywords: horizontal, flight
Keyword Location: para 6, line 10
Explanation: It is given that Rossy was the first person to set the record and he praised the equipment. He said that the aerodynamic carbon wings was the equipment that helped him.

He explains how he uses his flying expertise to promote a product.

Answer: A
Supporting statement: “........back more than 600 times and propelled himself hundreds of metres into the air. Now he works for an energy-drink company that pays him to travel around the world with his jet pack..........”
Keywords: drink, world
Keyword Location: para 1, line 6
Explanation: It is given that the energy drink was promoted by Eric because of his flying expertise. He is paid by the energy drink company to travel the world.

He explains what led him to experiment with different ways of flying.

Answer: D
Supporting statement: “........Fun though it is, paramotoring is not in the same league as the acrobatics demonstrated by Yves Rossy. He has always enjoyed being a daredevil showman..........”
Keywords: acrobatics, showman
Keyword Location: para 4, line 1
Explanation: It is given that Rossy believed that paramotoring is not the same as acrobatics. Also it is mentioned that he enjoyed being a daredevil showman.

He describes a mistake some beginners might make.

Answer: C
Supporting statement: “.........' A training course will cost over £1,000, while the equipment costs a few thousand pounds. You may pick up cheaper equipment secondhand, however..........”
Keywords: equipment, secondhand
Keyword Location: para 3, line 8
Explanation: It is given that he mentioned that beginners should take a training course that is not very costly. Not taking a course is a mistake most beginners make.

He mentions circumstances which prevent you from leaving the ground.

Answer: B
Supporting statement: “........The trouble is that paramotoring is ill-suited to commuting because of the impossibility of taking off in strong winds,'.........”
Keywords: impossibility, strong
Keyword Location: para 2, line 3
Explanation: It is given that paramotoring is ill suited to commuting. Because it is difficult to take off in strong winds.
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