Cambridge 19 Reading Test 2 - Answers With Explanation

1. In Watt and Boulton's engine, "the gear mechanism it was connected to produced rotary motion" from the piston's movement.

2. "The demand for coal, which was a relatively cheap energy source, grew rapidly during the Industrial Revolution."

3. Before the revolution, "the work performed in small workshops or even homes by individual spinners, weavers and dyers."

4. With the new machines, "relatively little labour was required to produce cloth."

5. Smelting with coke "produced metals that were of a higher quality."

6. Demand for iron and steel grew with "the expansion of the railways from the 1830s."

7. "Overcrowded cities suffered from pollution and inadequate sanitation."

8. Steam-powered boats used the canals, but the passage never says the canal network itself expanded to move more goods — NOT GIVEN.

9. Smelting with coke "was cheaper and produced metals that were of a higher quality" — cheaper, not more expensive — FALSE.

10. Morse and others "worked on their own versions," but the passage never compares reliability — NOT GIVEN.

11. Industrialisation "improved the standard of living for the middle and upper classes," while "many poor people continued to struggle" — benefits went to some, not all — TRUE.

12. Weavers "feared that unskilled machine operators were robbing them of their livelihood" — they expected job losses — TRUE.

13. The passage describes the arrests and executions near Huddersfield but says nothing about local sympathy for those arrested — NOT GIVEN.

14. Paragraph D covers "adrenaline and cortisol — also known as 'stress hormones'" — the two chemical compounds.

15. Paragraph F lists tactics: changing the language used, reframing physical responses, visualisation, and simulating pressure in training.

16. Paragraph A: Raducanu wrote about her withdrawal, attributing it to "the accumulation of the excitement and the buzz."

17. Paragraph C: "Research shows that the challenge states lead to good performance, while threat states lead to poorer performance."

18. Paragraph F: positive responses "can be promoted through the language that they and others — such as coaches or parents — use."

19. Demands include "any potential dangers such as injury."

20. "Cortisol has been associated with more unsuccessful serves and greater anxiety."

21. Psychologists help athletes "see a higher heart rate as excitement, rather than nerves."

22. "Developing psychological skills, such as visualisation, can also help decrease physiological responses to threat."

23–24. Raducanu "began having difficulty regulating her breathing and heart rate" (a symptom), and "a much larger audience, higher expectations and facing a more skilful opponent" raised the demands on her (aspects of the tournament that increased her stress).

25–26. "The intensity with which a person experiences anxiety depends on the demands and resources they have" (what determines severity), and "repeated episodes of anxiety... can increase risk of heart disease and depression" (the resulting harm).

27. "She was the only woman to win the Fields Medal" — a unique achievement.

28. "Maths wasn't her interest — reading was." Maths held little appeal for her.

29. Her brother "shared a famous maths problem from a magazine that fascinated her — and she was hooked" — intrigued.

30. The passage says she was "resolute in the face of setbacks" — determined.

31. "The most rewarding part is the 'Aha' moment, the excitement of discovery" — satisfaction.

32. "That trail took her to the heights of original research into mathematics" — innovative work.

33. "Most Nobel prize winners were unexceptional in childhood," and Einstein "was slow to talk as a baby" — YES.

34. The passage says Einstein "struggled at work initially," but never links this to a lack of confidence — NOT GIVEN.

35. "While the jury is out on giftedness being innate" — no settled agreement — YES.

36. The passage quotes Einstein's views on intellect and character but never mentions him being upset by public opinion — NOT GIVEN.

37. Einstein said, "it's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I stay with problems longer" — persistence, not speed — NO.

38. Eyre calls for teaching "curiosity, persistence and hard work" — "high performance learning," matching a spirit of inquiry.

39. "He doesn't think unique and innate talents are at the heart of performance" — being gifted isn't the key factor.

40. The spin-off research found "strong evidence of an adult or adults in the child's life who valued and supported education."