Water and Chips Break New Ground Reading Answers

Feb 6, 2023

Water and Chips Break New Ground Reading Answers is a topic discussing the evolution of micro processing chips. The given IELTS topic has been originated from the book called “A Book for IELTS.: (Academic Module)”. The topic named Water and Chips Break New Ground Reading Answers comes with eleven questions. The question types are True False Not Give and no more than three words.

The candidates should read thoroughly the IELTS reading passage in order to recognize the synonyms and identify the keywords and for answering the questions below. Similar kinds of topics like Water and Chips Break New Ground Reading Answers are included in the IELTS reading practice papers. Candidates can take this into their consideration for performing a good score in this IELTS Exam.

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Section 1

Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions

Water and Chips Break New Ground Reading Answers

Computers have been shrinking ever since their conception almost two centuries ago, and the trend is set to continue with the latest developments in microchip manufacturing. The earliest prototype of a mechanical computer was called the Difference Engine, and was invented by an eccentric Victorian called Charles Babbage. It weighed over 15 tons and had 26,000 parts. Colossus, the first electronic computer, did not appear until the end of WWTI, and with its 1,500 vacuum tubes was even more complex and much heavier than its mechanical predecessor.

It was only when the silicon-based microchip was invented in the early 1950s that computers started to become more compact. The first microchip computers were very complex and had more than 100,000 transistors, or electronic switches; however, they were still rather bulky and measured several metres across. Nowadays microchips are measured in nanometres (nm)-that is, in billionths of a metre-and the search for even smaller microchips continues as scientists work on new methods of microchip production.

Today, most microchips are shaped by a process called lithographic etching, which uses ultraviolet (UV) light. A beam of UV light with a wavelength of only 193 nm is projected through a lens on to an etching mask, a micro device with slits, or long narrow cuts. When the UV light hits the surface of silicon chips, it removes microscopic layers of silicon to create patterns for the microchips circuits. Microchips with features as small as 65 nm can be created with this wavelength.

However, lithographic etching is unable to make chips much smaller than 65 nm due to the fundamental properties of light. If the slit in the mask were made narrower, the air and nitrogen used in the space between the lens and the etching mask would diffuse the light, causing a blurred image. This means that 193-nm UV light cannot be used to produce microchips with features smaller than 65 nm. Manufacturers know that they need to go even smaller for the technological demands of this century, and they are looking for new methods of making microchips.

One approach to solving the problem is to use microscopic mirrors to focus X-rays rather than ultraviolet light. X-rays with a wavelength of less than 25 nm can be created, allowing engineers to make components smaller than 15 nm. The process is known as X-ray lithography etching. However, this technology is extremely expensive, so manufacturers are continuing to search for a cheaper alternative.

A technology called immersion lithography might be the solution. Although liquids are not commonly associated with computers, a tiny drop of water may be all it takes to make microprocessors smaller and more powerful. Intel and IBM, who made the first microprocessors, have recently developed a unique method of microchip production, which uses water droplets to enable manufacturers to shrink the chips-and at a reasonable price! The new microchip is produced by using a drop of water to narrow the gap between the light source and the etching mask, and shorten the wavelength of the UV light to less than 34 nm. This process can be used to manufacture microchips as small as 45 nm, or possibly even smaller.

Initially, engineers feared that air bubbles and other contaminants in water drops would distort the light and ruin the microchip etching process, and the first experiments proved these fears to be well-founded. The problem was overcome by using high-purity water, free of air and other substances. Scientists are also experimenting with liquids other than water-denser liquids such as hydrofluoric acid-which may allow the wavelength to be shrunk still further, thus producing even smaller chips.

IBM have already successfully implemented immersion lithography on some of their production lines and created a fully-functioning microprocessor. IBM also claim that they are able to produce microchips with very few defects.

Although immersion lithography is very new, it is highly promising as it will make the production of 45 nm and 32 nm chips commercially viable. It is a significant milestone in chip manufacturing and will help to bring the costs of the chip down without fundamentally changing the microchip production processes.

In the near future, the ground-breaking technology of immersion lithography will enable computer manufacturers to make powerful microchips that will be used in electronic devices smaller than a coin. This will open up new opportunities in the ever-shrinking world of digital technology.

Section 2

Solution and Explanation
Questions 30-34:
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the reading passage?

TRUE - if the statement is true according to the passage
FALSE - if the statement is false according to the passage
NOT GIVEN - if the information is not given in the passage

The first electronic computer weighed more than the first mechanical prototype.

Answer: True
Supporting Sentence: Colossus, the first electronic computer, did not appear until the end of WWTI, and with its 1,500 vacuum tubes was even more complex and much heavier than its mechanical predecessor.
Keyword: electronic, heavier
Keyword location: 1st paragraph, last sentence
Explanation: The author directly states that the first electronic computer contained 1500 vacuum tubes and was very complex. It weighed more than its mechanical predecessor. Hence, the answer is True.

Computers started to shrink with the invention of the microchip.

Answer: True
Supporting Sentence: It was only when the silicon-based microchip was invented in the early 1950s that computers started to become more compact.
Keyword: microchip, compact
Keyword location: 2nd paragraph, 1st sentence
Explanation: The author in the 2nd paragraph states that with the invention of microchip, computers became compact. This means it became smaller or shrunk. After this, in the whole passage, the author talks about smaller computers and shrinking microchips. Hence the statement is True.

In early 1950s engineers used ultraviolet rays to build the first microchip.

Answer: Not Given
Explanation: There is no information regarding the statement in the passage.

X-ray lithography is an inexpensive alternative technology to lithographic etching.

Answer: False
Supporting Sentence: However, this technology is extremely expensive, so manufacturers are continuing to search for a cheaper alternative.
Keyword: X-ray, lithography, expensive
Keyword location: 5th paragraph, last sentence
Explanation: The author talks about X-ray technology or X-ray lithography which is very expensive. Since this is a very expensive technology for lithograph etching, manufacturers looked for an alternative. This means that the statement which states X-ray lithography is inexpensive is False.

Immersion lithography has enabled microchip manufacturers to produce higher quality computer chips.

Answer: True
Supporting Sentence: IBM also claim that they are able to produce microchips with very few defects.
Keyword: Immersion lithography
Keyword location: 8th paragraph, last sentence
Explanation: The author talks about a process called immersion lithography. In the passage, it is stated that immersion lithography solved many problems and made the chips smaller. Many companies used and produced it. As per IBM, these chips had very few defects. Hence, they were of good quality.

Questions 35-40:
Complete the table below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage.

Method	Light Used	Wavelength	Material used to condense light
Lithography	Ultraviolet	193 nm	Air or 38………..
Immersion lithography	35…………..	36……………	39…………….
X-ray lithography	X-rays	37…………….	40…………….

Question 35:

Answer: UV
Supporting Sentence: The new microchip is produced by using a drop of water to narrow the gap between the light source and the etching mask, and shorten the wavelength of the UV light to less than 34 nm.
Keyword: new microchip, produced, UV light
Keyword location: 6th paragraph, 4th sentence
Explanation: The author states that the new process involves water to narrow the gap between light source and etching mask. It also shortens the wavelength of the UV light. Hence, the light used is UV.

Question 36:

Answer: less than 34
Supporting Sentence: The new microchip is produced by using a drop of water to narrow the gap between the light source and the etching mask, and shorten the wavelength of the UV light to less than 34 nm.
Keyword: new microchip, produced, UV light
Keyword location: 6th paragraph, 4th sentence
Explanation: The author states that the new process involves water to narrow the gap between light source and etching mask. It also shortens the wavelength of the UV light to less than 34 nm. Hence, the answer is less than 34.

Question 37:

Answer: less than 25
Supporting Sentence: X-rays with a wavelength of less than 25 nm can be created, allowing engineers to make components smaller than 15 nm.
Keyword: X-ray, wavelength
Keyword location: 5th paragraph, 2nd sentence
Explanation: The question asks about the wavelength of the X-ray process. As per the supporting sentence, we can see that it is less than 25nm.

Question 38:

Answer: nitrogen
Supporting Sentence: If the slit in the mask were made narrower, the air and nitrogen used in the space between the lens and the etching mask would diffuse the light, causing a blurred image.
Keyword: narrower, air and nitrogen
Keyword location: 4th paragraph, 2nd sentence
Explanation: The supporting sentence states that air or nitrogen was used in the lithography method to condense the light. Hence, nitrogen is the correct answer.

Question 39:

Answer: water drops
Supporting Sentence: The new microchip is produced by using a drop of water to narrow the gap between the light source and the etching mask, and shorten the wavelength of the UV light to less than 34 nm.
Keyword: new microchip, produced, UV light
Keyword location: 6th paragraph, 4th sentence
Explanation: The author states that the new process involves water to narrow the gap between light source and etching mask. In the previous lines the author also states that immersion technology uses water droplets. Hence, water droplets is the correct answer.

Question 40:

Answer: microscopic mirrors
Supporting Sentence: One approach to solving the problem is to use microscopic mirrors to focus X-rays rather than ultraviolet light.
Keyword: X-ray, use
Keyword location: 5th paragraph, 1st sentence
Explanation: The author directly states that the X-ray lithography used microscopic mirrors to focus the X-rays. Hence, microscopic mirrors is the correct answer.

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