Uncovering the Truth about Germany's Autobahns Reading Answers

Mar 8, 2024

Uncovering the Truth about Germany's Autobahns Reading Answers is an academic reading topic. Uncovering the Truth about Germany's Autobahns Reading Answers have a total of 5 IELTS questions in total. The specified topic generates 3 question type: Choose the correct heading, Choose correct letter and True False Not Given. 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 Uncovering the Truth about Germany's Autobahns 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

Uncovering the Truth about Germany's Autobahns

Officially the Bundesautobahnen, which, when translated, means federal expressways, we know them more commonly as the autobahns – Germany’s impressive system of motorways. There is nothing extraordinary about them, fine feats of engineering though they may be, so why has the term autobahn become so well known? The simple answer is that people living outside of Germany have had their curiosity more than a little tickled on account of the fact that Germany’s motorways are, in one specific way, very unique indeed.
They are not the longest system in the world, this plaudit going to the Interstate Highway System of America, nor are they even second or third (China and India respectively), and though they come a healthy fourth in the length stakes, this is really neither here nor there. No, indeed, what fascinates us about the autobahns has nothing to do with their technical or design features. It is though, a lot to do with how fast you can go on them. The autobahns, you see, are the only stretch of motorway in the world on which you can drive your car (provided it is not towing a trailer) at, well, any speed you like.
Now that’s a very attractive proposition for many boy racers out there who would salivate at the prospect of being able to drive as fast as they wanted, and, therefore, on that rather scary point, perhaps we should consider asking the, well, obvious question: what on earth were the Germans thinking when they did this? Surely having no speed limit whatsoever is a recipe for disaster.
To clarify, there is a ‘recommended’ speed limit of 130km/h on all stretches of the German motorway, and a hard limit is imposed on some vehicles. Buses carrying standing passengers and motorbikes pulling trailers cannot go faster than 60 km/h. All other buses, as well as passenger cars and trucks with trailers, and all vehicles weighing in excess of 3.5 tonnes are not allowed to exceed 80km/h. Rare exceptions include buses that have been officially certified to travel at 100km/h and passenger cars carrying trailers that have received similar certification.
Nonetheless, the fact remains that all other cars, trucks, and motorbikes, while encouraged to adhere to the ‘recommended’ speed limit, are by no means bound to it and can, in effect, travel as fast as they please. Indeed, many of them do and it is not uncommon to see a car racing past you on the autobahn traveling in excess of 140km/h.
In such circumstances, it would not be at all surprising to learn that Germany has an awful record on road safety, except that it doesn’t. Indeed, Germany’s road safety record is comparable, and in some cases superior, to that of all other industrialized European countries. So is this just luck rewarding recklessness? Well, first of all, it’s important to concede that speed limits do apply at junctions and other danger spots, such as sections under repair, and that there are even weather-related speed limits on some stretches of the autobahn (lower speed limits are used in cases of wet lanes).
To fail to point this out would be to paint a picture, rather unfairly, of speed-hungry officials putting the traveling public in jeopardy on roads in order to gratify their own thrill-lust. Of course, this is not the case. Indeed, safety considerations aside, the Germans have even imposed speed limits for other purposes, such as to reduce pollution and noise on some stretches of the autobahn, so there is no crazy speed-fuelled agenda here. ‘Mad’ you may say, but the Germans actually seem to think this is safe.
And the statistics appear to back them up though. After all, the International Traffic Safety Data and Analysis Group’s research indicates that there are 2.2 road-user fatalities per billion vehicle kilometers on German autobahns each year. Using the same statistics, 4.5 fatalities occur on United States motorways each year. In fact, when you look beyond the myth of the motorway without speed limits, where drivers regularly clock up speeds in excess of 200km/h and uncover the more sober reality, you realize that the German approach might not be as daft as it first seemed.
For a start, only 2% of all traffic regularly travels on the unrestricted stretches of the motorway as, despite the vast area they cover, they are strategically located in rural areas with low traffic volume.
The other 98% of vehicles on the road do in fact have their speeds very strictly regulated, and these regulations are also heavily enforced. Speed cameras are everywhere and the motorways are patrolled by unmarked police cars ready to pull over speed offenders and reckless drivers. The Germans have also taken into consideration statistics that show that very few road accidents occur on motorways in low-volume traffic each year. In fact, these stretches of motorway offer up some of the safest driving conditions, statistically speaking, of all. The Germans have therefore reasoned that they don’t need to regulate rural motorways a great deal, and it would seem they are right.
Furthermore, the myth of limitless speed is also quite misleading. In reality, all German car manufacturers (and most international ones) keep to a gentlemen’s agreement whereby they limit the top speed of their cars to around 150 km/h for safety reasons, unless tire pressure is optimally maintained and cars are constantly serviced (as would happen, say, in motor racing), traveling at higher speeds than that is, well, extremely risky and can lead to blowouts and other physical and mechanical failures that have the potential to cause death.
Therefore, the situation is a little different than we might have assumed because while there is no official speed limit in theory, car manufacturers self-regulate so, in practice, a limit on the maximum speed vehicles can travel has been put in place. In addition, the few vehicles which are capable of clocking speeds in excess of 150km/h seldom get the opportunity (the time and space) to build up to these speeds on the German autobahns, and, if they do, well, the way the German government sees it, they might as well be driving that fast there rather than in the suburbs, so let them do it!

Section 2

Solution and Explanation

Questions 1-5

Reading Passage has five paragraphs, A-E.

Choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list of headings (i-viii) below.

The Fascination Explained
Speedsters Thwarted by Manufacturers (in) A Policy Well Conceived
A Policy Well Conceived
Speed Limits That Are Not Speed Limits
Recklessness Rewarded
Safety Compromised
Safety Not Only Factor Driving Speed Regulators
The Longest Motorways Examined

Paragraph A - ____

Answer: i
Supporting statement: “.......we know them more commonly as the autobahns – Germany’s impressive system of motorways. There is nothing extraordinary about them, fine feats of engineering though they may be,........”
Keywords: impressive, though
Keyword Location: para A, line 2
Explanation: Given that what intrigues us almost the autobahns have nothing to do with their specialized or plan highlights. It is in spite of the fact that a parcel has to do with how quick you'll go on them. The autobahns, you see, are the extent of motorways within the world on which you'll be able drive your car (given it isn't towing a trailer) at, well, any speed you like.

Paragraph B - ____

Answer: iv
Supporting statement: “......Nonetheless, the fact remains that all other cars, trucks, and motorbikes, while encouraged to adhere to the ‘recommended’ speed limit, are by no means bound to it and can, in effect, travel as fast as they please. .........”
Keywords:
Keyword Location: para B, part 2
Explanation: In any case, the truth remains that all other cars, trucks, and motorbikes, whereas energized to follow the 'recommended' speed restrain, are by no means bound to it and can, in impact, travel as quick as they do if you don't mind. Undoubtedly, numerous of them do and it isn't exceptional to see a car dashing past you on the expressway traveling in an overabundance of 140km/h.

Paragraph C - ____

Answer: vii
Supporting statement: “........To fail to point this out would be to paint a picture, rather unfairly, of speed-hungry officials putting the traveling public in jeopardy on roads in order to gratify their own thrill-lust.......”
Keywords: gratify, thrill
Keyword Location: para C, line 7
Explanation: 7th and 8th line of passage C describes that Without a doubt, security contemplations aside, the Germans have indeed forced speed limits for other purposes, such as to decrease contamination and clamor on a few stretches of the expressway, so there's no insane speed-fuelled agenda here.

Paragraph D - ____

Answer: iii
Supporting statement: “......For a start, only 2% of all traffic regularly travels on the unrestricted stretches of the motorway as, despite the vast area they cover, they are strategically located in rural areas with low traffic volume.........”
Keywords: motorway, located
Keyword Location: para D, line 8
Explanation: The Germans have too taken into thought measurements that appear that exceptionally few street mischances happen on motorways in low-volume activity each year. In reality, these stretches of motorway offer up a few of the most secure driving conditions, factually speaking, of all. The Germans have subsequently contemplated that they do not ought to control rustic motorways, an incredible bargain, and it would appear they are right.

Paragraph E - ____

Answer: ii
Supporting statement: “.......Therefore, the situation is a little different than we might have assumed because while there is no official speed limit in theory, car manufacturers self-regulate so........”
Keywords: situation, assumed
Keyword Location: para E, part 2
Explanation: The moment passage of segment E informs that Hence, the circumstance may be a small distinctive than we might have expected since whereas there's no official speed restrain in hypothesis, car producers self-regulate so, in home, a constraint on the greatest speed vehicles can travel has been put

Questions 6-10

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

German road regulations state

that all vehicles must adhere to a recommended speed limit of 130km/h.
the speed limit for all buses is 100km/h.
no trailer-carrying vehicle can travel at speeds in excess of 80km/h.
passenger cars carrying trailers must not exceed a limit of 80km/h without prior approval.

Answer: D
Supporting statement: “.......Buses carrying standing passengers and motorbikes pulling trailers cannot go faster than 60 km/h. All other buses........”
Keywords: puling, buses
Keyword Location: para B, line 3
Explanation: 3rd line of section B depicts that All other buses, as well as traveler cars and trucks with trailers, and all vehicles weighing in abundance of 3.5 tons are not permitted to surpass 80km/h.

Special motorway speed limits

are sometimes imposed on all vehicles in difficult driving conditions.
never apply to cars, trucks, and motorcycles, which can travel at any speed, provided they are not towing a trailer.
like all speed limits in Germany – are only recommended maximum speeds, and are not enforceable in law.
are only seen at junctions and on stretches of motorway which need work.

Answer: A
Supporting statement: “.......as well as passenger cars and trucks with trailers, and all vehicles weighing in excess of 3.5 tonnes are not allowed to exceed 80km/h. ........”
Keywords: weighing, tonnes
Keyword Location: para B, line 4
Explanation: 4th line of section B shows that Uncommon exemptions incorporate buses that have been formally certified to travel at 100km/h and traveler cars carrying trailers that have gotten comparative certification.

The section of the German motorway system which has no upper-speed limit for some vehicles

is also that which sees the most volume of traffic.
is not a significant part of the system as a whole, only accounting for about 2% of the country’s motorways.
is, however, patrolled by unmarked police cars which monitor traffic flow.
receives a comparatively small amount of the country’s overall traffic volume.

Answer: D
Supporting statement: “........For a start, only 2% of all traffic regularly travels on the unrestricted stretches of the motorway as, despite the vast area they cove.......”
Keywords: motorway, cove
Keyword Location: para D, line 8
Explanation: 8th line of passage D speaks to that For a begin, as it were 2% of all activity frequently voyages on the unhindered extends of the motorway as, in spite of the tremendous range they cover, they are deliberately found in provincial regions with moo activity volume.

German car manufacturers

have a legal agreement to limit their vehicles’ speeds.
self-regulate to an extent when it comes to safety considerations.
implement an unusual practice of limiting their vehicles’ fuel consumption.
regularly service their vehicles for safety purposes.

Answer: B
Supporting statement: “.......whereby they limit the top speed of their cars to around 150 km/h for safety reasons, unless tire pressure is optimally maintained and cars........”
Keywords: safety, optimally
Keyword Location: para 6, line 3
Explanation: In reality, all German car producers (and most universal ones) keep to a gentlemen's understanding whereby they restrain the best speed of their cars to around 150 km/h for security reasons, unless tire weight is ideally kept up and cars are always overhauled

What do you think is the writer’s view of the German approach to speed regulation?

It is irresponsible and reckless.
It initially appears baffling, but, on closer inspection, makes a lot of sense.
It is inadequate in cities and leaves a lot to be desired in rural areas.
It is over-reliant on self-regulation by manufacturers and even drivers themselves.

Answer: B
Supporting statement: “........In fact, when you look beyond the myth of the motorway without speed limits, where drivers regularly clock up speeds in excess of 200km/h and uncover the more sober reality.......”
Keywords: regularly, sober
Keyword Location: para D, line 5
Explanation: 4th and 10th line of section D cites that In reality, once you see past the myth of the motorway without speed limits, where drivers frequently clock up speeds in overabundance of 200km/h and reveal the more calm reality, you realize that the German approach might not be as dumb because it to begin with appeared

Questions 11-13

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

For cars operating at high speeds, it is necessary to maintain optimal tire pressure and ensure that the vehicle is serviced regularly in order to combat the heightened risk of

_____________ failures. In reality, due to the practice whereby 12. ________________, few vehicles have the capacity to travel at speeds in excess of 150km/h. When it comes to vehicles that can and are determined to travel at very high speeds, 13. _______________ would rather they attempt to drive excessively fast on the parts of the motorway it deems safe than anywhere else.

Ques 11:

Answer: Physical and Mechanical
Supporting statement: “......agreement whereby they limit the top speed of their cars to around 150 km/h for safety reasons, unless tire pressure is optimally maintained and cars are constantly serviced .........”
Keywords: safety, constantly
Keyword Location: para E, line 3
Explanation: all German car producers (and most worldwide ones) keep to a gentlemen's understanding whereby they restrain the best speed of their cars to around 150 km/h for security reasons.

Ques 12:

Answer: Car Manufacturers Self-regulate
Supporting statement: “........agreement whereby they limit the top speed of their cars to around 150 km/h for safety reasons, unless tire pressure is optimally.......”
Keywords: limit, pressure
Keyword Location: para E, line 3
Explanation: 3rd line of section E tells that Subsequently, the circumstance could be a small distinctive than we might have accepted since whereas there's no official speed constraint in hypothesis, car producers self-regulate so, in home, a constraint on the most extreme speed vehicles can travel has been put in put.

Ques 13:

Answer: The (German) Government
Supporting statement: “......Therefore, the situation is a little different than we might have assumed because while there is no official speed limit in theory, car manufacturers self-regulate so, in practice, a limit on the maximum speed vehicles can
travel has been put in place..........”
Keywords: official, place
Keyword Location: para E, line 7
Explanation: 4th line of section E clarifies that In expansion, the few vehicles which are able of clocking speeds in overabundance of 150km/h at times get the opportunity (the time and space) to construct up to these speeds on the German autobahns, and, on the off chance that they do, well, the way the German government sees it, they might as well be driving that quick there instead of within the rural areas, so let them do it!

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