AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL IN THE USA - IELTS Reading Answers & Explanations
From Cambridge IELTS 08 Academic Reading Test 1 · Part 2 · Questions 14–26
Reading Passage
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 14–26, which are based on Reading Passage 2 on the following pages.
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL IN THE USA
A An accident that occurred in the skies over the Grand Canyon in 1956 resulted in the establishment of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to regulate and oversee the operation of aircraft in the skies over the United States, which were becoming quite congested. The resulting structure of air traffic control has greatly increased the safety of flight in the United States, and similar air traffic control procedures are also in place over much of the rest of the world.
B Rudimentary air traffic control (ATC) existed well before the Grand Canyon disaster. As early as the 1920s, the earliest air traffic controllers manually guided aircraft in the vicinity of the airports, using lights and flags, while beacons and flashing lights were placed along cross-country routes to establish the earliest airways. However, this purely visual system was useless in bad weather, and, by the 1930s, radio communication was coming into use for ATC. The first region to have something approximating today's ATC was New York City, with other major metropolitan areas following soon after.
C In the 1940s, ATC centres could and did take advantage of the newly developed radar and improved radio communication brought about by the Second World War, but the system remained rudimentary. It was only after the creation of the FAA that full-scale regulation of America's airspace took place, and this was fortuitous, for the advent of the jet engine suddenly resulted in a large number of very fast planes, reducing pilots' margin of error and practically demanding some set of rules to keep everyone well separated and operating safely in the air.
D Many people think that ATC consists of a row of controllers sitting in front of their radar screens at the nation's airports, telling arriving and departing traffic what to do. This is a very incomplete part of the picture. The FAA realised that the airspace over the United States would at any time have many different kinds of planes, flying for many different purposes, in a variety of weather conditions, and the same kind of structure was needed to accommodate all of them.
E To meet this challenge, the following elements were put into effect. First, ATC extends over virtually the entire United States. In general, from 365m above the ground and higher, the entire country is blanketed by controlled airspace. In certain areas, mainly near airports, controlled airspace extends down to 215m above the ground, and, in the immediate vicinity of an airport, all the way down to the surface. Controlled airspace is that airspace in which FAA regulations apply. Elsewhere, in uncontrolled airspace, pilots are bound by fewer regulations. In this way, the recreational pilot who simply wishes to go flying for a while without all the restrictions imposed by the FAA has only to stay in uncontrolled airspace, below 365m, while the pilot who does want the protection afforded by ATC can easily enter the controlled airspace.
F The FAA then recognised two types of operating environments. In good meteorological conditions, flying would be permitted under Visual Flight Rules (VFR), which suggests a strong reliance on visual cues to maintain an acceptable level of safety. Poor visibility necessitated a set of Instrumental Flight Rules (IFR), under which the pilot relied on altitude and navigational information provided by the plane's instrument panel to fly safely. On a clear day, a pilot in controlled airspace can choose a VFR or IFR flight plan, and the FAA regulations were devised in a way which accommodates both VFR and IFR operations in the same airspace. However, a pilot can only choose to fly IFR if they possess an instrument rating which is above and beyond the basic pilot's license that must also be held.
G Controlled airspace is divided into several different types, designated by letters of the alphabet. Uncontrolled airspace is designated Class F, while controlled airspace below 5,490m above sea level and not in the vicinity of an airport is Class E. All airspace above 5,490m is designated Class A. The reason for the division of Class E and Class A airspace stems from the type of planes operating in them. Generally, Class E airspace is where one finds general aviation aircraft (few of which can climb above 5,490m anyway), and commercial turboprop aircraft. Above 5,490m is the realm of the heavy jets, since jet engines operate more efficiently at higher altitudes. The difference between Class E and A airspace is that in Class A, all operations are IFR, and pilots must be instrument-rated, that is, skilled and licensed in aircraft instrumentation. This is because ATC control of the entire space is essential. Three other types of airspace, Classes D, C and B, govern the vicinity of airports. These correspond roughly to small municipal, medium-sized metropolitan and major metropolitan airports respectively, and encompass an increasingly rigorous set of regulations. For example, all a VFR pilot has to do to enter Class C airspace is establish two-way radio contact with ATC. No explicit permission from ATC to enter is needed, although the pilot must continue to obey all regulations governing VFR flight. To enter Class B airspace, such as on approach to a major metropolitan airport, an explicit ATC clearance is required. The private pilot who cruises without permission into this airspace risks losing their license.
Questions
Questions 14–19 Matching Headings
Reading Passage 2 has seven paragraphs, A-G.
Choose the correct heading for paragraphs A and C-G from the list below.
i. Disobeying FAA regulations
ii. Aviation disaster prompts action
iii. Two coincidental developments
iv. Setting altitude zones
v. An oversimplified view
vi. Controlling pilots' licences
vii. Defining airspace categories
viii. Setting rules to weather conditions
ix. Taking off safely
x. First steps towards ATC
Questions 20–26 True / False / Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 2?
TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q14 | ii | An accident that occurred in the skies over the Grand Canyon in 1956 resulted in the establishment of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to regulate and oversee the operation of aircraft in the skies over the United States, which were becoming quite congested | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that a bad plane crash in 1956 caused the government to create the FAA. This organization was formed to set rules and watch over planes because the sky was getting very crowded. Answer Explanation: The answer 'ii' means that a plane crash (an aviation disaster) caused people to take steps (prompted action) to make flying safer. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'ii' because Paragraph A describes how a 1956 crash over the Grand Canyon led directly to the creation of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Key synonyms to note are 'aviation disaster' from the heading, which matches 'accident' in the text, and 'prompts action', which matches 'resulted in the establishment'. This shows that the disaster was the reason the government took action to manage air traffic. |
| Q15 | iii | It was only after the creation of the FAA that full-scale regulation of America's airspace took place, and this was fortuitous, for the advent of the jet engine suddenly resulted in a large number of very fast planes, reducing pilots' margin of error and practically demanding some set of rules to keep everyone well separated and operating safely in the air | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that it was lucky timing that the FAA was made to create rules right when jet engines were invented, because jet planes are very fast and need rules to keep them from crashing into each other. Answer Explanation: The answer, 'iii. Two coincidental developments', refers to two important events that happened at a similar time, which helped organize air travel better. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is derived from the word 'fortuitous' in Paragraph C, which is a synonym for 'coincidental' or happening by lucky chance. The paragraph describes two specific developments that happened around the same time: the creation of the FAA (full-scale regulation) and the 'advent of the jet engine' (the arrival of very fast planes). These two events together made it necessary and possible to have strict rules for safe flying. |
| Q16 | v | Many people think that ATC consists of a row of controllers sitting in front of their radar screens at the nation's airports, telling arriving and departing traffic what to do. This is a very incomplete part of the picture | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that what many people think air traffic control is (people watching radar screens at airports) is only a small and incomplete part of how the entire system works. Answer Explanation: The answer means that Paragraph D talks about a view of air traffic control that is too simple and not fully correct. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'v' because the paragraph begins by describing a common belief about what Air Traffic Control (ATC) is. It then says this belief is 'incomplete.' This matches the heading 'An oversimplified view,' which refers to making something complex seem way too basic. The paragraph goes on to explain that the system actually needs to manage many different kinds of planes and weather conditions, making it much more complex than the simple image of people at radar screens. |
| Q17 | iv | In general, from 365m above the ground and higher, the entire country is blanketed by controlled airspace. In certain areas, mainly near airports, controlled airspace extends down to 215m above the ground, and, in the immediate vicinity of an airport, all the way down to the surface | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage describes the specific heights above the ground (365 meters and 215 meters) where the government begins to manage and control air traffic. Answer Explanation: The answer 'iv' means that Paragraph E's main topic is the creation of different levels or sections in the sky based on how high (altitude) the planes are flying. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'iv' because Paragraph E explains how the sky over the USA is divided into areas based on height. It uses specific measurements like '365m' and '215m' to show where rules start to apply. In the context of flying, 'altitude' is the word used for height above the ground, and 'zones' refers to the different layers or areas created by these height limits. |
| Q18 | viii | The FAA then recognised two types of operating environments. In good meteorological conditions, flying would be permitted under Visual Flight Rules (VFR), which suggests a strong reliance on visual cues to maintain an acceptable level of safety. Poor visibility necessitated a set of Instrumental Flight Rules (IFR), under which the pilot relied on altitude and navigational information provided by the plane's instrument panel to fly safely | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that there are two different ways to fly a plane depending on the weather. In clear weather, pilots use their eyes to stay safe (VFR). If it is hard to see because of bad weather, they must use the instruments on their dashboard to guide the plane (IFR). Answer Explanation: The answer 'viii' (Setting rules to weather conditions) means that the rules pilots must follow change based on the weather and how well they can see outside. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is viii because Paragraph F explains how the FAA created two different sets of flying rules depending on the weather. For 'good meteorological conditions' (clear weather), pilots follow Visual Flight Rules (VFR). For 'poor visibility' (cloudy or foggy weather), pilots follow Instrumental Flight Rules (IFR). Therefore, the paragraph explains how specific flight rules are chosen and applied based on weather conditions. |
| Q19 | vii | Controlled airspace is divided into several different types, designated by letters of the alphabet | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that the areas where planes fly are split into many groups, and each group is given a letter as a name. Answer Explanation: The answer 'vii. Defining airspace categories' means that the paragraph explains the different labels and groups used to organized parts of the sky where airplanes fly. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is vii because the entire paragraph focuses on how the sky is split into different groups or 'classes' that have specific names and rules. It identifies these groups using letters like A, B, C, D, E, and F. The paragraph explains where these areas are—such as near airports or at high altitudes—and defines the rules for each. The word 'types' used in the text is a synonym for 'categories' in the heading. |
| Q20 | FALSE | An accident that occurred in the skies over the Grand Canyon in 1956 resulted in the establishment of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to regulate and oversee the operation of aircraft in the skies over the United States, which were becoming quite congested | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that a plane crash in the Grand Canyon in 1956 led to the start of the FAA to manage the busy skies over the United States. Answer Explanation: The answer is FALSE because the introduction of the jet engine was not the reason why the FAA was created. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is FALSE because Paragraph A clearly states that the FAA was established following a mid-air accident over the Grand Canyon in 1956. Although Paragraph C mentions that the jet engine appeared around the same time and made the FAA's rules very necessary, the actual event that led to the creation of the organization was the 1956 plane crash. Because the text identifies a specific accident as the cause, claiming the jet engine was the cause contradicts the information provided. |
| Q21 | FALSE | Rudimentary air traffic control (ATC) existed well before the Grand Canyon disaster. As early as the 1920s, the earliest air traffic controllers manually guided aircraft in the vicinity of the airports, using lights and flags, while beacons and flashing lights were placed along cross-country routes to establish the earliest airways | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that a basic type of air traffic control was already being used in the 1920s, which is much earlier than the year 1956. Answer Explanation: The answer is FALSE because air traffic control started many years before the 1956 accident mentioned in the story. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is FALSE because the passage states that air traffic control existed as early as the 1920s. The 1956 crash led to the creation of the FAA and better rules, but it was not the start of air traffic control itself. The text uses the word 'rudimentary' to describe the simple version of the system that was in place 'well before' 1956. |
| Q22 | NOT GIVEN | As early as the 1920s, the earliest air traffic controllers manually guided aircraft in the vicinity of the airports, using lights and flags, while beacons and flashing lights were placed along cross-country routes to establish the earliest airways | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that lights and beacons were used in the 1920s to help planes. However, it does not say if people still use them today or if they have all been removed. Answer Explanation: The answer "NOT GIVEN" means the reading passage does not tell us whether this statement is true or false. We do not have enough information to know if these lights are used today. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is NOT GIVEN because while the text mentions the use of beacons and flashing lights, it only talks about them in the context of the 1920s. It calls these the "earliest" methods for guiding planes. The passage explains how technology changed to radio and radar later on, but it never says if the old lights were completely stopped or if some are still used "today." Since the text is silent about the modern status of these specific lights, we cannot confirm if the statement is true or false. |
| Q23 | TRUE | In the 1940s, ATC centres could and did take advantage of the newly developed radar and improved radio communication brought about by the Second World War, but the system remained rudimentary | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that during the 1940s, air traffic control centers were able to use better radio technology that was created during the Second World War. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the sentence is true according to the text. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is TRUE because the passage explicitly states that radio technology got better because of the Second World War. In paragraph C, it mentions "improved radio communication," which is a synonym for "improvements were made in radio communication." It also directly links these improvements to the time of the war. |
| Q24 | TRUE | In general, from 365m above the ground and higher, the entire country is blanketed by controlled airspace. In certain areas, mainly near airports, controlled airspace extends down to 215m above the ground, and, in the immediate vicinity of an airport, all the way down to the surface. Controlled airspace is that airspace in which FAA regulations apply. Elsewhere, in uncontrolled airspace, pilots are bound by fewer regulations. In this way, the recreational pilot who simply wishes to go flying for a while without all the restrictions imposed by the FAA has only to stay in uncontrolled airspace, below 365m, while the pilot who does want the protection afforded by ATC can easily enter the controlled airspace Uncontrolled airspace is designated Class F, while controlled airspace below 5,490m above sea level and not in the vicinity of an airport is Class E |
Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that "uncontrolled airspace" is given the scientific name Class F. It also states that the government controls the air starting from a height of 365 meters, or even lower if the area is near an airport. This means the area with no control (Class F) is limited to the space under 365 meters and away from airports. Answer Explanation: The answer is TRUE because the reading passage confirms that Class F is the same as "uncontrolled airspace" and that this type of air is found below 365 meters in areas away from airports. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is TRUE because the passage provides information in two different sections that join together to prove the statement. First, paragraph G explicitly states that 'uncontrolled airspace' is called Class F. Second, paragraph E explains that 'controlled' airspace covers almost the entire country from 365 meters and higher. It also mentions that near airports, this control goes even lower toward the ground. Therefore, 'uncontrolled' space—which is Class F—only exists 'elsewhere' (not near airports) and at heights 'below 365m.' |
| Q25 | FALSE | The difference between Class E and A airspace is that in Class A, all operations are IFR, and pilots must be instrument-rated, that is, skilled and licensed in aircraft instrumentation | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage shows that Class A and Class E are different because only in Class A are all flights required to use IFR (Instrumental Flight Rules). This means that in Class E, using IFR is not a requirement for everyone. Answer Explanation: The answer means it is not true that every plane in Class E airspace has to use IFR (Instrumental Flight Rules). Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is FALSE because the text explains that requiring all flights to be IFR is the specific thing that makes Class A airspace different from Class E airspace. In Class E airspace, pilots can use different rules (like Visual Flight Rules or VFR) depending on the weather conditions. The passage notes that Class E is mostly for smaller planes or turboprop planes, while higher altitudes (Class A) are strictly for IFR flights only. |
| Q26 | TRUE | Three other types of airspace, Classes D, C and B, govern the vicinity of airports. These correspond roughly to small municipal, medium-sized metropolitan and major metropolitan airports respectively, and encompass an increasingly rigorous set of regulations | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that Classes D, C, and B are different air zones around airports. It lists them in order: Class D is for small towns, Class C is for middle-sized (average) cities, and Class B is for very large cities. Answer Explanation: The answer is true because Class C airspace is the specific zone used for flying near cities that are medium or average in size. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is TRUE because the passage explains that Class C airspace is used for 'medium-sized metropolitan' areas. The word 'metropolitan' refers to a city, and 'medium-sized' is a synonym for 'average-sized.' Therefore, if a pilot is in Class C airspace, they are flying near an average-sized city. |