Designed to Last Reading Answers with Explanation

Are you gearing up for the IELTS and on the lookout for some reading practice? If that’s the case, you’re in the right place. Dive right into the Designed to Last reading answers, and you will find some helpful explanations along the way. In addition, don’t forget to jot down any tricky vocabulary you come across and how it links to the overall context.

The reading section of the IELTS has about 4-5 different question types, and the challenge is to tackle all of them in just 20 minutes. So, give it your best shot with the passage below.

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Answers of Designed to Last Reading Passage with Explanation

Below are the Designed to Last reading answers with explanations and locations. It will assist you in identifying the required information for your solutions.

Question 1

ANSWER :A

Explanation :Paragraph B mentions that power tools are often kept long after they are no longer useful, gathering dust because people feel guilty about wasting money on them. This aligns with option A, "People feel guilty when they throw things away easily," as it reflects the guilt associated with discarding items effortlessly.

Question 2

ANSWER :B

Explanation :In paragraph C, it is noted that people historically owned objects to display their status and identity within their social groups, reflecting their character and social standing. Therefore, option B, "their status," best describes this motivation.

Question 3

ANSWER :C

Explanation :Paragraph C discusses how personal objects are imbued with narrative and emotional connections due to their histories and craftsmanship. Hence, option C, "object stories that relate personally and meaningfully to the owners," correctly identifies “narrative” as referring to these personal and meaningful stories associated with objects.

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Question 4

ANSWER :B

Explanation :Paragraph C highlights that without personal connections, people often buy new items to maintain the excitement of novelty rather than for their functional or emotional value. Thus, option B, "freshness," aligns with this observation.

Question 5

ANSWER :D

Explanation :In paragraph D, the example of old jeans and teddy bears illustrates how emotional connections, particularly those tied to personal history or childhood, encourage people to keep objects for sentimental reasons. Hence, option D, "the emotional connections make us keep the objects for longer," correctly reflects this sentimentality and emotional attachment to objects over time.

Question 6

ANSWER :E

Explanation :In paragraph E, it is stated that Tim Cooper emphasizes that while sustainable design has been slow to gain traction, the urgency of environmental crises and resource depletion is now bringing it to the forefront of global priorities. Hence, the answer is "slowly."

Question 7

ANSWER :F

Explanation :In paragraph F, Thackara attributes the looming environmental collapse to the excessive "weight" of material production and the "speed" at which resources are consumed and discarded, echoing concerns raised by Tim Cooper about sustainability challenges.

Question 8

ANSWER :H

Explanation :In paragraph F, Thackara argues that the integration of information technology into industrial processes has accelerated global resource consumption, reinforcing Tim Cooper’s observation about technology’s impact on environmental sustainability. Hence, the answer is "metabolism."

Question 9

ANSWER :C

Explanation :In paragraph H, Manzini advocates for a "multi-local society" where resources are sourced and distributed locally. This aims to mitigate the accelerated resource consumption highlighted by Thackara and addresses the sustainability challenges discussed by Tim Cooper. Hence, the answer is "locally."

Question 10

ANSWER :Yes

Explanation :The statement that people often buy things that are seldom used and then throw them away aligns with the information presented in paragraph B, which highlights that domestic tools like electric drills are frequently discarded after minimal use.

Question 11

ANSWER :No

Explanation :The statement in paragraph J indicates that the cost of recycling electronic goods will be prepaid at the time of purchase, not afterward, as suggested by the claim. Thus, the assertion that we will pay extra money after disposing of electronic goods contradicts the passage.

Question 12

ANSWER :Yes

Explanation :The statement that some businesses have jumped on the sustainability bandwagon is supported by paragraph J, which discusses how businesses are adopting sustainable practices to remain competitive and meet consumer demand for environmentally friendly products.

Question 13

ANSWER :Not Given

Explanation :There is no information provided in the passage regarding whether companies will spend less on repairs in the future. Thus, this statement is categorized as "Not Given" since it cannot be verified from the passage.

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IELTS Coaching Reading Passages

The passage refers to several things. including a book about building intentional relationships and homes, a concept in sustainable design focused on product longevity, and a theme in architecture highlighting enduring structures. Moving further, working through the Designed to Last reading answers will really help you prep for the IELTS, as it tests your reading, vocabulary, and grammar skills. If you want some quality study resources and online IELTS coaching, check out Gradding.com for top-notch online guidance.

Tips for Mastery of the Reading Passage on "Designed to Last"

Here are some friendly tips to help you tackle answers of the Designed to Last reading passage with ease:

Multiple Choice Questions: Focus on matching the meaning rather than just the words.
Summary Completion: Read the incomplete sentence, then explore your options.
Yes/ No/ Not Given: Try to grasp the author’s opinion to find answers faster.

Types of Questions in this Reading Passage

Let’s break down the types of questions you will encounter while solving the answers of Designed to Last, Look below:

Multiple Choice Questions

For this question type, you will choose an answer from several options labeled A, B, C, or D based on the passage details.

How to tackle this question:

Eliminate the unlikely options.
Pick the answer that best aligns with the passage.
Skim the text to find relevant details.

Summary Completion

In these questions, you should read the summary and identify keywords, then scan the passage to locate the relevant information, ensuring the words you choose to complete the summary accurately reflect the content and context of the passage.

How to tackle this question:

Quickly go through the summary to understand the overall context and what information is missing.
Scan the passage for these keywords or synonyms to find the sections that match the summary content.

Yes/ No/ Not Given

In this type of question, you will decide whether a statement agrees with, contradicts, or is not mentioned in the passage.

How to tackle this question:

If the detail isn’t clearly stated in the passage, opt for "Not Given" instead of guessing.
Stick to the information in the passageleave personal opinions out.

Summing up, the above question types for the Designed to Last reading answers. To boost your confidence for the exam, try taking some IELTS reading mock test to get familiar with the format. And if you’d like to level up your English skills, consider taking our IELTS sample test PDFs. You will encounter a variety of question types while studying "Designed to Last," and with a little practice and support, you will feel ready and confident on test day.