The Dams That Changed Australia - IELTS Reading Answers

The Reading passage, ‘The Dams That Changed Australia’, would assess your ability to locate factual information, understand the paraphrased information, and interpret details. Scoring well in IELTS Reading  is not just about reading every word, but it is about understanding how questions are prepared. With this topic, you get an opportunity to strengthen your weak areas and refine your reading strategies. Through a detailed analysis of the reading answers, you can become familiar with question structures and its particular strategies.

Types of Questions in IELTS Reading Passage ‘The Dams That Changed Australia’

Remember that reading the entire passage first without stopping to check the questions can cause confusion. By first analyzing the types of questions, you will be able to identify which parts need particular strategies. In this way, you will have a more productive method for reading to complete answering within the specified time frame. The passage, ‘The Dams That Changed Australia’, contains the following types of questions.

• IELTS Reading Matching Headings [Q.1-Q.5]
• IELTS Reading Table Completion [Q.6-Q.10]
• IELTS Reading Sentence Completion [Q.11-Q.13]

How to Practice with the Passage ‘The Dams That Changed Australia’ for a Band 8+?

To get a band 8+, you must first strategize how to use the passage to your advantage. Remember that you need to learn to read analytically, divide your time wisely, and avoid making the common mistakes. With the following  IELTS Exam Preparation Tips for Band Score of 8+, you will focus on improving your reading skills such as skimming, scanning, and comprehending the information. 

Check out the video below and learn 5 Tips for Speed Reading!

IELTS Reading Passage on ‘The Dams That Changed Australia’

The Dams That Changed Australia

Section A

1 The Snowy Mountains Scheme was created and established because interior Australia has been plagued by a dry spell from the time of its first colonisation in 1778 till now. Before the Snowy Scheme, a considerable percentage of the snowfields on Australia's highest mountains (the Snowy Mountains) melted into the Snowy River. As a result, rather than flowing into the country's arid areas, where residents desperately need it, snowy water flows directly into the sea. In 1840, the Polish geologist and explorer Strezlecki realised this and addressed how the country could not grow without an appropriate and sufficient supply of water. Agricultural fertilisation would have to be redirected from its current path in order for agriculture to grow.

2 Prior to the Federation in 1901, Australia was a collection of colonies, each of which was concerned with safeguarding its own interests. Following the union, all states held their water rights, determining which way the river would flow. The Deadlocked Premiers' Conference was formed in 1947 as a result of disagreements between New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. Despite the ensuing debate, the Snowy Mountains Water Generated Power Act was passed by the Federal Parliament barely two years later, on July 7. The project got underway on October 17, shortly after the bill was enacted.

3 The major goal of the program's concept was to deal with water for energy and divert it back to the dry irrigation regions in the country's interior. Mountains had to be dug across hundreds of kilometres to make tunnels, and in nineteen years, sixteen spectacular dams and seven water generated power plants were built. The Guthega power plant, for example, was permitted in 1954, and the latest completed one was Tumut III.

Section B

4 The major goal of the Snowy Water programme was to permanently alter Australia's situation. The key difference in this programme was the inclusion of people from other nations. When the world was still reeling from the tragedy of World War II (1939–1945), the Australian government needed a large number of people to labour in the Snowy Mountains. The government recruited labour from other countries, and between 60,000 and 100,000 people worked on this project from other countries.

5 Workers on the project came from Italy, Yugoslavia, and Germany, as well as from megacities like Budapest, Paris, and Vienna, as well as from tiny villages. These European labourers were living in a country that was at a defining period in the globe that was radically different from their own, which battled with one another throughout the war and had unique cultures. They arrived in an area that provided both great difficulties and a primitive lifestyle because they were brave young guys. Some individuals were fortunate enough to be put in camps, but many others lived in tents in the early days of the project. There was no luxury to living there, and there was also no female population. In addition, the food given was inadequate.

Section C

6 Many workers were advised to take English lessons after work hours since they could not speak English effectively. When the situation became untenable, they created sign language as a vital means of communication with one another. At that time, the signals for labour were unusual. A thumb near the lips, for example, suggested water but did not specify whether the water was required for the drill the guy was using or for a drink.

7 As a result, only a small number of women worked on the project, and those who were hired mainly worked from home. As a result, the references used in the snowy area were precise. Members of the rural women's group taught English courses throughout the neighbourhood. The Australian Broadcasting Commission provided regular broadcasts to aid new learners and other English instruction.

Section D

8 There were many fewer serious societal issues than was previously thought possible. Workers performed double shifts and put in long hours in order to settle down in Australia or return home with a fair amount of money. After recalling the difficulties they had gone through during the 1999 reunion, most of the workers became prudent as a result of their joy. Working on the project not only delighted the employees but also their spouses and mothers, indicating that they had experienced many aspects of the concept.

9 The children of these couples were educated in Happy Jack, a town noted for having a large number of schools in Australia and a high birth rate in comparison to other cities in Australia. At one point in Happy Jack, thirty infants were born to eighty households. Older children attended school in Cooma, the next big town.

Section E

10 It was unclear if the project would be continued. The cost of constructing power plants under the earth's crust would now be too expensive, and our present ecological predicament would need a new approach to river treatment. Many hydroelectricity plans, such as the Tennessee Valley Authority, outperformed the Snowy Mountain system, which was followed by others. The Snowy Mountain Scheme is also the only water generated project in the world that is entirely funded by the sale of energy.

11 The project is not only a pillar for individuals from all over the globe who have dared to return to their former way of life, but it is also a magnificent technical marvel. Some are working and living in Australia, while others have retired there and returned to their home countries. Everyone has done their best in a constantly evolving Australian society.

Questions 1-5

1 Section A ……………………………….

2 Section B ……………………………….

3 Section C ……………………………….

4 Section D ……………………………….

5 Section E ……………………………….

Questions 6-10

Questions 11-13

Because of the situation, the workers needed to communicate by utilising 11 …………………... At their reunion, the employees reminisced about the 12 ………………….. they had to deal with in the beginning. The Snowy Mountains Scheme was seen as a 13 ………………….. that had a lasting impact on Australian society.

Answer with Explanation for ‘The Dams That Changed Australia’

Let’s check the right answers for the passage, ‘The Dams That Changed Australia’. This analysis would help you to enhance your reasoning skills, precision, and self-assurance. Gradually by using this technique, you can apply the specific method to similar question types in passages which will help you to get a higher IELTS Band Score.