Table of contents

1. IELTS general reading flow chart completion exercises with answers
2. 2 2022 IELTS general reading flow chart completion exercises with answers
3. Flow chart completion exercise 1
4. Flow chart completion exercise 2
5. Conclusions

Flow chart completion is the trickiest question in the IELTS general reading. We’ve enclosed some IELTS general reading flow chart completion exercises with answers in this article. In this task, you’ll be given a general passage with the flow chart structure that contains the process or sequence with gaps taken from the passage. You need to skim the passage and understand the flow chart sequence to fill all the gaps with suitable answers.

Among all the IELTS general reading question types, flow chart completion is one of the highly important question types. By realizing the importance, we’ve included some IELTS general reading flow chart completion exercises with answers in this article for your preparation purpose. Level up your IELTS general reading score by practicing the exercises given here.  

2 2022 IELTS general reading flow chart completion exercises with answers

It is essential that you need to know some tips to solve flow chart completion questions. First, do not panic when you get a flow chart completion question. Since it is a difficult one if you know some tips, you can easily crack the questions. Quickly skim the passage, and flow chart to grasp the meaning or sequence. Noticing the keywords, arrows, directions, date, and year will be of great help here.  

Also, read IELTS general reading tips

Flow chart completion exercise 1

Answer questions 1-8 which are based on the reading passage below.

Candle Making in Colonial America

The main thing used in creating candles today is paraffin wax, which is derived from petroleum. In the method of purifying crude oil, refiners “crack” the oil, thereby dividing it into different products like gasoline, heating oil, and kerosene. Paraffin wax, initially delivered by plants that lived 100 to 700 million years ago to save their leaves, is inert and remains stopped in the decayed vegetable matter that ultimately becomes crude oil. In the refining procedure, paraffin wax is isolated and sold as a by-product.
 
Paraffin was not found until the early 1800s. At that time, paraffin was derived by a method of filtering bituminous schist, now known as shale oil. In 1850, Dr. James Young, a Scottish industrial chemist, used for a patent for obtaining paraffin oil and paraffin from bituminous coals. Soon after that, under a license from Young, paraffin was being delivered from coal on an enormous scale in the United States. As petroleum is now available, Young’s original method for getting paraffin is not much lucrative, and paraffin is now made from crude oil.
 
Before the discovery of paraffin, candle-making had for centuries depended on various materials. Chemically, those materials were also hydrocarbons; yet, they were derived straight from insects, animals, or plants.
 
In colonial times in America, beeswax was highly worth creating candles. Even today beeswax, though more costly, is highly considered because refined beeswax candles emit no smoke when burning, whereas paraffin candles deliver a black, slightly oily soot. Only working female bees can secrete the Beeswax. Because a worker bee consumes honey, her wax glands exude the wax as oval flakes that form on the bottom of her last four abdominal segments. The bee then releases the wax flakes and chews them, combining the wax flakes with her saliva to soften them. When the wax is enough flexible, she links it to the honeycomb. As the wax comb is constructed, each pouch is loaded with honey and then closed with more wax.

Questions 1 - 8

Complete the flow chart below

Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer

Answers for exercise 1

(Note: The text in italics is from the reading passage and shows the location from where the answer is taken or inferred. The text in the regular font explains the answer in detail.)

1. paraffin

Explanation: Paragraph 1 - The main thing used in creating candles today is paraffin wax, which is derived from petroleum. 

2. plants

Explanation: Paragraph 1 - Paraffin wax, was initially delivered by plants that lived 100 to 700 million years ago to save their leaves,... 

3. 1800s

Explanation: Paragraph 2 - Paraffin was not found until the early 1800s. At that time, paraffin was derived by a method of filtering bituminous schist, now known as shale oil. 

4. lucrative

Explanation: Paragraph 2 - As petroleum is now available, Young’s original method for getting paraffin is not much lucrative, and paraffin is now made from crude oil.

5. smoke

Explanation: Paragraph 3 -  Even today beeswax, though more costly, is highly considered because refined beeswax candles emit no smoke when burning, whereas paraffin candles deliver a black, slightly oily soot. 

6. soften

Explanation: Paragraph 3 - The bee then releases the wax flakes and chews them, combining the wax flakes with her saliva to soften them. 

Check more IELTS general reading flow chart completion practice questions

Flow chart completion exercise 2

Answer questions 1-8 which are based on the reading passage below.

The Geodesic Dome

R. Buckminster Fuller, in the early 20th century, explored ways to enhance human shelter by using current technological know-how to make dormitory construction more convenient, efficient, and economically accessible to a large number of people. After gaining some knowledge in the construction industry and learning traditional techniques and ideas that strictly control modifications and advancements in construction methods, Fuller carefully researched and enhanced interior construction equipment, including toilets, bathrooms, and showers. He examined structural shells and developed many options, each of which is more reasonable, lighter, and robust than traditional wood, brick, and stone buildings.

In 1944, the United States experienced a severe housing lack. Government officials learned that Fuller had created a prototype of a family home that could be quickly produced, using the same tools that had earlier been used to construct warplanes. They can be "installed" anywhere with the phone installed and minor inconvenience. When an officer went to Wichita, Kansas to see this home built by Beech Aircraft and Fuller, the man gasped, “My God! This is the house of the future! "

Shortly, unwanted checks piled up from those who desired to purchase this new kind of home, but Fuller was unable to deliver it fully. This is due to a number of obstacles, like the truth that only union contractors can link homes to water, electricity, and sewers in multiple cities. However, many construction unions have made it obvious that homes will not work because the plumbing is already installed by the wire and airline. There were also differences between Fuller and the partners. Fuller did not feel that the design of the home was done, there were issues he wanted to correct. But shareholders desired to make progress. Nevertheless, negotiations with investors were a major obstacle to obtaining funding for equipment costs that were not intentionally included. No bank will fund the project due to union issues and shareholder fighting. 

Questions 1 - 8

Complete the flow chart below

Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer

Answers for exercise 1

(Note: The text in italics is from the reading passage and shows the location from where the answer is taken or inferred. The text in the regular font explains the answer in detail.)

1. Human shelter

Explanation: Paragraph 1 - R. Buckminster Fuller, in the early 20th century, explored ways to enhance human shelter by using current technological know-how to make dormitory construction more convenient, efficient, and economically accessible to a large number of people. 

2. bathrooms

3. Showers(can be any order) 

Explanation: Paragraph 1 - Fuller carefully researched and enhanced interior construction equipment, including toilets, bathrooms, and showers. 

4. 1944

Explanation: Paragraph 2 - In 1944, the United States experienced a severe housing lack. 

5. produced

Explanation: Paragraph 2 - Government officials learned that Fuller had created a prototype of a family home that could be quickly produced, using the same tools that had earlier been used to construct warplanes.

6. wire

Explanation: Paragraph 3 -  However, many construction unions have made it obvious that homes will not work because the plumbing is already installed by the wire and airline. 

7. negotiations

Explanation: Paragraph 3 - Nevertheless, negotiations with investors were a major obstacle to obtaining funding for equipment costs that were not intentionally included.

Attempt this free IELTS general reading flow chart completion mock test 

Also, check IELTS general reading flow chart completion tips

Conclusions

Regular practice will level up your band score. So, train yourself by preparing for your IELTS exams. Try all the flow chart completion exercises given in this blog to develop your knowledge in this specific question type.