The Materials of Modern Life Reading Answers is an academic reading answers topic. The Materials of Modern Life Reading Answers has a total of 13 IELTS questions in total. In the first question set, you have to choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list of headings (I-X). In the second question set given, you have to state whether the statement is true, false, or not given with the information given in the text.
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THE MATERIALS OF MODERN LIFE
A. We are a species of consumers, and whether the materials we consume are used as fuels, foodstuffs or for the purposes of comfort and entertainment, the amount we need is ever-growing. According to United Nations Population Division projections, by 2050, there will be nine billion people living on the planet - all requiring greater resources to meet their needs. The environmental impacts of carbon-based fuels and single-use plastics are well documented, but we also consume vast amounts of rare earths and minerals in the batteries. screens and components of many modern devices. With high demand and limited availability, the pressure is on to discover and develop new materials which will be stronger and last longer than anything we have used
B. One new material that has the potential to change the way we make and use things is graphene. First discovered by researchers at the University of Manchester in 2004, graphene is a two-dimensional material with exceptional properties. In its basic form as a carbon sheet one atom thick, graphene is 200 times stronger than steel, and the lightest and most conductive man-made material on earth. It is also stretchable, transparent and extremely flexible. These qualities make it an ideal material to address our growing needs, and the range of applications is vast.
C. One of the most effective ways Of benefitting from the qualities of graphene is to combine it with existing products to make composite materials. Take, for example, the smartphone. Recent statistics tell us that approximately one in five users in the UK have cracked their mobile screens at some time. As conventional touchscreens have to be sensitive to pressure, they are often made with lightweight oxide materials. However, this also means they are easily damaged. By applying a thin coating of graphene to a smartphone screen, manufacturers could ensure functionality and make sure that they are more durable. Or they can go even further, creating a flexible electronic device which is essentially unbreakable.
D. Graphene composites and coatings aren't just restricted to electronics, though. When mixed with paint, graphene creates a material which protects from rust and corrosion. A ship or bridge painted in this way would have long-term protection from water damage, potentially saving the industry an annual figure of £1.5 trillion in repairs and replacements. Similar coatings can be applied to cars to absorb impact in crashes. Researchers predict that adding a strong graphene composite to the paintwork of a car could reduce damage by 20—30 %, saving lives in the process.
E. There are further applications of graphene that have the potential to save lives in other ways. When layers of graphene oxide are placed on top of each other, they form a material called a membrane. This acts like a skin which can prevent liquids or gases from passing through it. In such a form, graphene membranes can be used as packaging to keep foods or medicines fresh. But perhaps more importantly, similar membranes can be used to filter water. In the case of polluted water, tiny water molecules pass through the membrane, while any impurities, such as bacteria, are trapped. The same membrane technology can be used to extract fresh water from seawater by trapping salt molecules. Given that by 2025, the UN predicts 14% of the global population will experience water scarcity, such processes have increasing relevance.
F. Similar to water, other natural resources are being quickly used up. Most of us are aware of the impact our modern lifestyles have on fuel reserves. Recent statistics suggest that we have around 100 years of coal and 50 of natural gas, and oil left on the planet. However, to meet climate change goals, we cannot continue burning fossil fuels at current rates. Renewable solar and wind power are vital to meeting our needs, but are currently difficult to store for long periods. With its high surface area, flexibility and ability to conduct energy, graphene could be used to make batteries which charge faster than traditional lithium-ion examples and store the energy for longer. Given that it is extremely lightweight, graphene-based charging devices could be sewn into clothing to ensure that individuals generate their own energy supply - either via body heat or solar power. Each one of us would have the potential to meet the majority of our energy needs without using any finite resources.
G. In terms of materials science, graphene is an exciting prospect as it has the qualities which allow for diverse research goals across many different areas of study. For the rest of us, it has the potential to change the way we use everyday items and address our most challenging problems. Sometimes the simplest of materials makes all the difference.
Questions 1 - 7
Reading Passage 1 has seven paragraphs A-G. Choose the correct heading for each section from the list of headings below.
i. Improving everyday electronics
ii. Generating power through graphene
iii. The environmental impact of grapheme
iv. The reasons we require new materials
v. Reducing risk through graphene use
vi. Recognising potential
vii. The challenges of graphene production
viii. First discovery of grapheme
ix. The role of graphene in saving lives
1. Paragraph A
Answer: IV
Supporting statement: With high demand and limited availability, the pressure is on to discover and develop new materials which will be stronger and last longer than anything we have used.
Keywords: high demand, limited availability, pressure, develop new materials
Keyword Location: Para A, Lines 7-8
Explanation: This paragraph outlines the driving forces—population growth and the environmental impact of current resources—that necessitate the creation of new, more durable materials.
2. Paragraph B
Answer: VI
Supporting statement: One new material that has the potential to change the way we make and use things is graphene
Keywords: potential, change the way, exceptional properties
Keyword Location: Para B, Line 1
Explanation: This section introduces graphene and lists its extraordinary physical characteristics (strength, conductivity, flexibility), highlighting why it is seen as a revolutionary discovery.
3. Paragraph C
Answer: I
Supporting statement: By applying a thin coating of graphene to a smartphone screen, manufacturers could ensure functionality and make sure that they are more durable.
Keywords: smartphone, screens, durable, electronic device
Keyword Location: Para C, Lines 6-7
Explanation: The paragraph focuses specifically on how graphene can be used to make mobile phone screens more durable and unbreakable.
4. Paragraph D
Answer: V
Supporting statement: Similar coatings can be applied to cars to absorb impact in crashes. Researchers predict that adding a strong graphene composite to the paintwork of a car could reduce damage by 20—30 %, saving lives in the process
Keywords: absorb impact, crashes, reduce damage, saving lives
Keyword Location: Para D, Lines 5-6
Explanation: While paragraph E also mentions "saving lives," Paragraph D is specifically about safety and the reduction of physical damage/risk in infrastructure and vehicle collisions.
5. Paragraph E
Answer: IX
Supporting statement: But perhaps more importantly, similar membranes can be used to filter water... in the case of polluted water... bacteria are trapped.
Keywords: saving lives, filter water, impurities, water scarcity
Keyword Location: Para E, Lines 5-6
Explanation: This paragraph focuses on survival and biological health, specifically regarding the purification of water and the preservation of food and medicine.
6. Paragraph F
Answer: II
Supporting statement: graphene-based charging devices could be sewn into clothing to ensure that individuals generate their own energy supply - either via body heat or solar power.
Keywords: energy supply, solar power, batteries, energy needs
Keyword Location: Para F, Line 9
Explanation: This section discusses using graphene for advanced battery storage and personal energy generation to replace fossil fuels.
7. Paragraph G
Answer: III
Supporting statement: For the rest of us, it has the potential to change the way we use everyday items and address our most challenging problems.
Keywords: challenging problems, everyday items
Keyword Location: Para G, Line 3
Explanation: This concluding paragraph reflects on graphene's ability to solve the broad environmental and material challenges mentioned throughout the text.
Questions 8 - 13
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage I?
TRUE - if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE - if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN - if there is no information on this
8. There are a limited number of uses for graphene.
Answer: FALSE
Supporting statement: These qualities make it an ideal material to address our growing needs, and the range of applications is vast.
Keywords: range of applications, vast
Keyword Location: Para B, Lines 6-7
Explanation: The text explicitly states that the range of applications is "vast," which contradicts the idea that uses are "limited."
9. Graphene-coated mobile devices are currently being sold.
Answer: NOT GIVEN
Explanation: The passage discusses the potential for manufacturers to use graphene ("could ensure"), but does not confirm if such devices are already on the market for purchase.
10. Graphene has the potential to reduce maintenance costs.
Answer: TRUE
Supporting statement: A ship or bridge painted in this way would have long-term protection from water damage, potentially saving the industry an annual figure of £1.5 trillion in repairs and replacements.
Keywords: saving, repairs, replacements
Keyword Location: Para D, Lines 3-4
Explanation: The text mentions massive potential savings in "repairs and replacements," which are direct maintenance costs.
11. Membrane technology for water purification is untested.
Answer: FALSE
Supporting statement: In the case of polluted water, tiny water molecules pass through the membrane, while any impurities, such as bacteria, are trapped. The same membrane technology can be used to extract fresh water from seawater by trapping salt molecules.
Keywords: pass through, trapped, impurities, salt molecules
Keyword Location: Para E, Lines 6-8
Explanation: The text provides a factual description of how the process operates—allowing water through while trapping bacteria and salt—and notes its "increasing relevance" to the UN's 2025 water scarcity predictions. This indicates the technology is a known, demonstrated application rather than an "untested" theory.
12. Graphene-based batteries compare well with conventional models.
Answer: TRUE
Supporting statement: graphene could be used to make batteries which charge faster than traditional lithium-ion examples and store the energy for longer.
Keywords: charge faster, store longer, traditional lithium-ion
Keyword Location: Para F, Line 7
Explanation: Graphene batteries are described as superior to "traditional lithium-ion" models because they charge faster and store energy longer.
13. Over time, graphene becomes a less effective source of energy.
Answer: NOT GIVEN
Explanation: While the text discusses the efficiency and storage capacity of graphene, it does not provide information regarding its degradation or loss of effectiveness over time.
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