The Blog post contains the following IELTS Reading Questions:
- IELTS Reading True false not given
- IELTS Reading Short answer question
- IELTS Reading Diagram completion
Stay informed and prepared for success – Explore our comprehensive Reading Test Info page to get valuable insights, exam format details, and expert tips for mastering the IELTS Reading section.
IELTS reading passage – Hot air ballooning
Hot Air Ballooning
A.Two French brothers, Joseph and Etienne Montgolfier, are mainly credited with originating the hot air balloon. Using the notion that hot air is lighter than cold air, they could boost a little silk balloon 32 meters into the air. The brothers then sent a balloon 10,000 meters into the air, where it dismounted and then burst. Their work allured the concentration of the French Science Academy as the discovery of the qualities of hot air balloons benefited the analysis of weather patterns and the environment.
B.Not until a significant number of years later was a balloon qualified to carry passengers launched. Initial flights were performed by animals, but following the success of these flights, two passengers, Jean Francois Pilatre and Francois Laurent d’Arlandes, flew for 29 minutes across Paris in a balloon. The men fueled the fire in the center of their wicker basket to keep the balloon aloft, resulting in a successful journey across Paris.
C.In 1785, the discovery of hydrogen-powered flights resulted in the death of Pilatre, a tragedy that contributed to a decrease in the favor of hot air ballooning and an upsurge in the popularity of hydrogen. In the 1950s, hot air ballooning saw somewhat of a renaissance as a leisure activity and sport, but lost more popularity as other routes of air transport were constructed. Balloons of many sizes, shapes, and patterns exist today.
D.In 1987, Richard Branson, a British entrepreneur, traveled across the Atlantic Ocean in a balloon dubbed the Virgin Atlantic Flyer. Four years later, he and Per Lindstrand of Sweden flew approximately 8,000 kilometers from Japan to Northern Canada in their balloon, the Virgin Pacific Flyer, which was nearly 10,000 cubic meters larger and the longest voyage in a hot air balloon in history. The Pacific Flyer was organized to fly in transoceanic jet streams and attained the maximum land speed for a manned balloon, 394 kilometers per hour.
E.There are currently a number of designs and equipment available, including baskets with space for two to 35 or more passengers, segregated compartments, and specially developed flame-resistant textiles, but the balloon’s fundamental components have remained basically unaltered. The propane fuel tanks are often included in wicker baskets. The burners are connected to suspension wires just above the basket and partially enveloped by the skirt. The balloon is comprised of gores, which extend from the skirt to the top of the balloon and are further divided into separate panels. This portion of the object is known as the envelope. A self-closing flap located at the top of the envelope lets hot air escape at a regulated rate to limit ascents or force the balloon to sink. This is the parachute valve, which is restrained by the vent line – the wire that travels the distance of the parachute and hangs above the basket, allowing the pilot to open and close the parachute valve.
F.Piloting a balloon demands a great deal of expertise. Ballooning demands a great deal of expertise. The controls are quite simple. To hoist a balloon, the pilot releases propane by manipulating a control. By raising or reducing the flow of propane gas, the pilot may regulate the speed of the balloon, but not its horizontal direction. As a result, balloons are frequently accompanied by ground personnel, who may need to retrieve the pilot, passengers, and balloon from a variety of landing spots. To fly a hot air balloon, a pilot must possess a commercial pilot’s license and have at least 35 hours of flight instruction. There are no statutory safety regulations for passengers, but they should be aware of their flight crew and their credentials. For safety reasons, hot air balloons do not fly in the rain because the balloon’s heat might cause the surface water to boil and ruin the fabric.
G.The Balloon Federation of America is one of the major hot air balloon groups in the United States. Membership in the BFA, founded in 1961, appeals to anyone with an interest in ballooning (or “lighter than air” flying). With an active discussion forum, meetings, and exhibits around the United States and beyond, the BFA operates by a number of guiding principles, the most important of which is that the future of ballooning is closely tied to the safety of fans. They provide several training programs, ranging from classes for beginners seeking a basic license to pilot accomplishment programs. Even while the simulator does not immediately lead to a pilot’s license, it can offer participants a sense of the sensations experienced by professional balloon pilots.
Unlock your full potential in the IELTS Reading section – Visit our IELTS Reading Practice Question Answer page now!
Recommended Questions:
Renewable Energy IELTS Reading Question with Answer
Hot air ballooning IELTS reading questions
Questions 1-4
Do the following statements agree with the ones given in the reading passage? In boxes 1-4 on your answer sheet, write
- True if the statement agrees with the information.
- False if the statement contradicts the information.
- Not Given if there is no information on this
1) The brothers Montgolfier were the first individuals to soar in a hot air balloon.
2) Late in the eighteenth century, hot-air ballooning became less fashionable.
3) The volume of the largest hot air balloon exceeded 75,000 cubic meters.
4) Membership in the BFA is restricted to citizens of the United States.
Enhance your skills in identifying information as True, False, or Not Given. Click here to discover expert strategies and techniques for mastering this question type in the IELTS Reading section.
Questions 5-7
5) Who was the entrepreneur’s companion on the longest balloon flight?
6) Who follows the flight of a hot air balloon to recover it after it lands?
7) What can newcomers to the sport learn about the sensation of balloon flight?
Questions 8 – 11
Label the diagram below using no more than two words from the passage for each answer. Write your answers in boxes 8- 11 on your answer sheet.
Ready to tackle Diagram Label Completion tasks with confidence? Click here to access our comprehensive guide and learn how to accurately label parts or components of diagrams in the IELTS Reading section.
Unlock your full potential in the IELTS Reading section – Visit our IELTS Reading Practice Question Answer page now!
Recommended Questions:
Renewable Energy IELTS Reading Question with Answer
Hot air ballooning reading answers
1. FALSE
2. TRUE
3. FALSE
4. Not Given
5. Per Lindstrand
6. Ground crew
7. Balloons simulator
8. Parachute valve
9. Envelope
10. Panels
11. Gores
We hope you found this post useful in helping you to study for the IELTS Test. If you have any questions please let us know in the comments below or on the Facebook page.
The best way to keep up to date with posts like this is to like us on Facebook, then follow us on Instagram and Pinterest. If you need help preparing for the IELTS Test, join the IELTS Achieve Academy and see how we can assist you to achieve your desired band score. We offer an essay correction service, mock exams and online courses.
