A study by MIT economist Amy Finkelstein found that drivers who pay tolls electronically are less aware of the rates they pay. She also discovered that tolls on roads accepting electronic payment were up to 40 % higher than on those that did not. Electronic collection gives agencies the flexibility to raise tolls by small percentages (e.g. 3 % a year) instead of in 5‑ or 10‑cent increments, avoiding the need to collect pennies.
The Academic and General Training IELTS Reading tests consistently challenge candidates with dense, high-level texts. One passage that frequently appears in practice materials and past exams is
The text contrasts the processing time of a manual toll collector (seconds per car) with automated sensors (fractions of a second).
If a question states, "E-ZPass was the first electronic toll system ever invented globally," check the text carefully. The text might state it was the first in the US or highly successful , making the global statement False or Not Given depending on the exact wording. 3. Summary Completion (With or Without a Word Bank)
Enhancing your vocabulary is the most effective way to improve your reading score. Here are essential words used in the "E-ZPass Was Just the Beginning" passage: e-zpass was just the beginning ielts reading answers
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is already studying how to eliminate cash lanes. With more than 71 % of its transactions using E‑ZPass (up from 52 % in 2000), executive director Anthony E. Shorris expects cash booths to disappear within five years.
Present, appearing, or found everywhere.
It explains the technical triad: the transponder (in the car), the reader (on the gantry), and the back-end database processing the transaction.
Write if the statement agrees with the passage, FALSE if it contradicts the passage, or NOT GIVEN if there is no information. A study by MIT economist Amy Finkelstein found
While specific questions vary across different mock tests, common question types for this passage include Yes/No/Not Given Summary Completion 1. Yes/No/Not Given Questions
, this text often appears in IELTS practice materials to test comprehension of technological trends and their societal impacts. Passage Summary: The Future of the Open Road
The passage "" is essentially about how small, automated technologies evolve into comprehensive, networked, and intelligent infrastructure systems. The passage tracks the journey from manual cash payments to automatic, data-driven systems that are transforming transportation.
The phrase “just the beginning” is not merely rhetorical. The passage argues that E-ZPass introduced three key principles that now define smart transport: 3 % a year) instead of in 5‑
The most common ETC system uses a combination of radio‑frequency identification (RFID) transponders, high‑speed cameras and networked computers. These read tags in windshields and instantly charge the driver’s account, usually by billing a credit card. E‑ZPass, the ubiquitous version, is available to drivers in a dozen states from Maine to Virginia. In New York State alone, nearly 10 million tags are in use – three times the number in 1999.
Before diving into the answers, it is crucial to understand what the text is actually about. Core Theme and Background
The text mentions the topic, but does not confirm or deny the specific detail in the question.
The text is structured semi-chronologically. The opening paragraphs detail the immediate success of electronic tolling in eliminating gridlock. The middle section introduces the unintended consequences, such as data logging. The conclusion looks to the future of automated vehicle communication. Tracking this narrative flow prevents you from searching the wrong end of the document for an answer. Watch for "Signpost" Words
The title explicitly states that E-ZPass was "just the beginning." This tells you that the passage will move from a narrow topic (toll booths) to a much broader topic (global tracking, future infrastructure). Expect the later questions to focus on these broader societal impacts. If you want to practice further, let me know: