{"id":6472,"date":"2021-07-07T15:24:41","date_gmt":"2021-07-07T15:24:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ielts.completesuccess.in\/?p=6472"},"modified":"2021-07-07T15:35:16","modified_gmt":"2021-07-07T15:35:16","slug":"the-history-of-bicycles-segway-into-the-future-the-meaning-of-volunteering","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ielts.completesuccess.in\/index.php\/2021\/07\/07\/the-history-of-bicycles-segway-into-the-future-the-meaning-of-volunteering\/","title":{"rendered":"Book 2 Reading 11"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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READING PASSAGE 1<\/span><\/h2>

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1-13 which are based on Reading Passage 1 below.<\/span><\/p>

The History of Bicycles<\/span><\/h3>

The bicycle was not invented by one individual or in one country. It took nearly 100 years and many individuals for the modern bicycle to be born. By the end of those 100 years, bicycles had revolutionized the way people travel from place to place.<\/span><\/p>

Bicycles first appeared in Scotland in the early 1800s, and were called velocipedes. These early bicycles had two wheels, but they had no pedals. The rider sat on a pillow and walked his feet along the ground to move his velocipede forward.<\/span><\/p>

Soon a French inventor added pedals to the front wheel. Instead of walking their vehicles, riders used their feet to run the pedals. However, pedaling was hard because velocipedes were very heavy. The framework was made of solid steel tubes and the wooden wheels were covered with steel. Even so, velocipedes were popular among rich young men, who raced them in Paris parks.<\/span><\/p>

Because of the velocipedes were so hard to ride, no one thought about using them for transportation. People didn\u2019t ride velocipedes to the market or to their jobs. Instead, people thought velocipedes were just toys.<\/span><\/p>

Around 1870, American manufacturers saw that velocipedes were very popular overseas. They began building velocipedes, too, but with one difference. They made the frameworks from hollow steel tubes. This alteration made velocipedes much lighter, but riders still had to work hard to pedal just a short distance. In addition, roads were bumpy so steering was difficult. In fact, most riders preferred indoor tracks where they could rent a velocipede for a small fee and take riding lessons.<\/span><\/p>

Subsequent changes by British engineers altered the wheels to make pedaling more efficient. They saw that when a rider turned the pedals once, the front wheel turned once. If the front wheel was small, the bicycle traveled just a small distance with each turn. They reasoned that if the front wheel were larger, the bicycle would travel a greater distance. So, they designed a bicycle with a giant front wheel. They made the rear wheel small. Its primary purpose was to help the rider balance. Balancing was hard because the rider had to sit high above the giant front wheel in order to reach the pedals.<\/span><\/p>

This meant he was in danger of falling off the bicycle and injuring himself if he lost his balance. Despite this inherent danger, \u201chigh wheelers\u201d became very popular in England.<\/span><\/p>

American manufacturers once again tried to design a better bicycle. Their goal was to make a safer bicycle. They substituted a small wheel for the giant front wheel and put the driving mechanism in a r larger rear to wheel. It would be impossible for a rider to pedal the rear wheel, so engineers designed a system of foot levers. By pressing first, the right one and then the left, the rider moved a long metal bar up and down. This bar turned the rear axle1. This axle turned the rear wheel and the bicycle minimized the dangers inherent in bicycle riding, more and more people began using bicycles in their daily activities.<\/span><\/p>

The British altered the design one last time. They made the two wheels equal in size and created a mechanism that uses a chain to turn the rear wheel. With this final change, the modern bicycle was born.<\/span><\/p>

Subsequent improvements, such as brakes, rubber tires, and lights were added to make bicycles more comfortable to ride. By 1900, bicycle riding had become very popular with men and women of all ages. Bicycles revolutionized the way people worldwide ride bicycles for transportation, enjoyment, sport, and exercise.<\/span><\/p>

Questions 1-6<\/span><\/h5>

Complete the sentences. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS<\/strong> from the passage for each answer.<\/span><\/p>

In the invention of the bicycle took part not only one individual or the country, but the world in general during the (1<\/strong>) _______ years. This invention was firstly found in Scotland in the first decades of 1800, and was known as velocipedes. They were not resembled to today\u2019s bicycles and had two wheels, but they had no (2<\/strong>) ________. The rider sat on a pillow and walked his feet along the ground in order to move his velocipede forward. Soon, a French inventor added pedals to the front wheel. However, because of their difficulty in riding, nobody used them in a daily life, and they were accepted as (3<\/strong>) _______. Around 1870, manufacturers in America found that this invention is popular (4<\/strong>) ________, but within the difference: frameworks were made from (5<\/strong>) ______, what makes them much lighter. Soon, the British inventors found the method which can make pedalling more efficient- to turn pedals one by one. They designed a bicycle with a giant front wheel. However, as the rider had to sit high above the giant front wheel it was too difficult to keep the balance. The safer bicycle was invented by Americans. They designed the rear (6<\/strong>) ______, which minimized the danger of falling and injuring. At last, the British changed the design one last time and added two wheels equal in size and the mechanism that induce a chain to turn the rear wheel. By this there was invented the example of the modern bicycle.<\/span><\/p>

Questions 7-10<\/span><\/h5>

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1? Write<\/span><\/p>

TRUE\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>if the statement agrees with the information<\/span>
FALSE\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>if the statement contradicts the information<\/span>
NOT GIVEN<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0if there is no information on this<\/span><\/p>

7<\/strong>. The bicycle was invited by Americans only<\/span>
8<\/strong>. It was too hard to lead the velocipedes due to their heaviness<\/span>
9<\/strong>. The alteration of velocipedes made the life of people much easier<\/span>
10<\/strong>. The changes by British inventors altered the wheels to make pedalling more efficient<\/span><\/p>

Questions 11-13<\/strong><\/span><\/p>

Complete the sentences. Choose NO MORE THAN TREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.<\/span><\/p>

11<\/strong>. The British inventors concluded that if the front wheel were large in ______, the bicycle would travel comparatively long distance.<\/span>
12<\/strong>. American engineers designed a system of ______ which was driven by pressing first the right and then the left pedals.<\/span>
13<\/strong>. The last, but not least alteration in creating of the modern bicycle was a making the two wheels equal in size and using the ______ to spin the rear wheel.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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READING PASSAGE 2<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>

You should spend about 20 minutes<\/u> on Questions 14-26<\/strong> which are based on Reading Passage 2 on the following pages.<\/span><\/p>

Segway into the Future<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>

Will the electric vehicle known as the Segway alter the ways that individuals get around? Dean Kamer, the inventor of the Segway, believes that this revolutionary vehicle will someday substitute for the bicycles and automobiles that now crowd our cities. When he introduced the Segway in 2001, he believed it would change our lives.<\/span><\/p>

Although the Segway uses up-to-the-minute technology, it looks very ordinary. The metal framework of the Segway consists of a platform where an individual stands. Attached to the front of the platform is a tall post with handles for the driver to hold. On each side of the platform is a wide, rubber wheel. Except for these two wheels, there are no mechanical parts on the Segway. It has no engine, no brakes, no pedal power, no gears, and no steering wheel. Instead it uses a computer system that imitates the ability of humans to keep their balance.<\/span><\/p>

This system seems to move to the driver\u2019s thoughts. For example, when the driver thinks \u201cGo forward\u201d, the Segway moves forwards, and when the driver thinks, \u201cStop\u201d, it stops. The Segway is not really responding to the driver\u2019s thoughts, but to the tiny changes in balance that the driver makes as he prepares his body to move forward or to stop. For example, when the driver thinks about moving forward, he actually leans slightly forward, and when he thinks of stopping or slowing, the driver leans slightly back.<\/span><\/p>

The Segway is powered by batteries that allow it to travel about 17 miles on one battery charge. It is designed for short-range, low-speed operation. It has three speed settings. The slowest is the setting for learning, with speeds of up to 6 miles per hour. Next is the sidewalk setting, with speeds of up to 9 miles per hour. The highest setting allows the driver to travel up to 12.5 miles per hour in open, flat areas. At all three speed settings, the Segway can go wherever a person can walk, both indoors and outdoors.<\/span><\/p>

Workers who must walk a lot in their jobs might be the primary users of Segways. For example, police officers could drive Segways to patrol city streets, and mail carriers could drive from house to house to deliver letters and packages. Farmers could quickly inspect distant fields and barns, and rangers, or parks. Security guards could protect neighbourhoods or large buildings.<\/span><\/p>

Any task requiring a lot of walking could be made easier. In cities, shoppers could leave their cars at home and ride Segway from store to store. Also, people who cannot comfortably walk due to age, illness, or injury could minimise their walking but still be able to go many places on a Segway.<\/span><\/p>

Why is it, then, that our job sites, parks, and shopping centres have not been subsequently filled with Segways since they were introduced in 2001? Why hasn\u2019t the expected revolution taken place? Studies have shown that Segways can help workers get more done in a shorter time. This saves money. Engineers admire Segways as a technological marvel.<\/span><\/p>

Business, government agencies, and individuals, however, have been unwilling to accept the Segway. Yes, there have been some successes. In a few cities, for example, mail carriers drive Segway on their routes, and police officers patrol on Segways. San Francisco, California, and Florence, Italy, are among several cities in the world that offer tours on Segways for a small fee. Occasionally you will see golfers riding Segways around golf courses. Throughout the world more than 150 security agencies use Segways, and China has recently entered the overseas market. These examples are encouraging, but can hardly be called a revolution.<\/span><\/p>

The primary reason seems to be that people have an inherent fear of doing something new. They fear others will laugh at them for buying a \u201ctoy\u201d. They fear losing control of the vehicle. They fear being injured. They fear not knowing the rules for using a Segway. They fear making people angry if they ride on the sidewalk. All these fears and others have kept sales low.<\/span><\/p>

The inventor explained why people have been slow to accept the Segway. He said, \u201cWe didn\u2019t realise that although technology moves very quickly, people\u2019s mind-set changes very slowly.\u201d Perhaps a hundred years from now millions of people around the world will be riding Segways.<\/span><\/p>

Questions 14-16<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 2?<\/span><\/p>

TRUE\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>if the statement agrees with the information<\/span><\/p>

FALSE \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>if the statement contradicts the information<\/span><\/p>

NOT GIVEN\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0 if there is no information on this<\/span><\/p>

14<\/strong>. The Segway\u2019s framework consists of a platform and a post with handles<\/span><\/p>

15<\/strong>. The driver can alter the direction of the Segway by leaning to the left or right<\/span><\/p>

16<\/strong>. The Segway was primarily designed for student to make their travel much more comfortable<\/span><\/p>

Questions 17-19<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/h5>

Choose the correct letter, \u0410, \u0412, C <\/strong>or D<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>

17<\/strong>. Why the Segway has been accepted as the most comfortable vehicle for the people with moving problems?<\/span><\/p>