How a Canal Lock Works

(Sample IELTS Writing)

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Task 1: How a Canal Lock Works

Talk with a partner. What would you write for this task?

Cut up strips and shuffle and have students re-arrange them in order in groups

When a boat needs to move to a lower water level, the upper gates are opened to allow the boat to enter the lock.

When the boat is in place, the upper gates are closed behind it and paddles in the lower gate are opened to release water.

The boat then drops as the water level falls.

When the water level reaches the same level as the water in the next section of the canal, the lower gates are opened and the boat exits the lock.

When a boat needs to enter a higher water level, the procedure is reversed.

Task 1: How a Canal Lock Works

Paragraph 1: What it is Paragraph 2: How it works Paragraph 3: Conclusion

A canal lock is a device, which is used to move boats up or downhill in a canal. It consists of gates, which separate different water levels. The gates have pipes called ‘paddles’, which are used for lowering the water level in the lock. [This paragraph is missing. Your teacher will give you the sentences for this paragraph, but you will need to arrange the correct order.] In conclusion, a canal lock is a simple system, which enables boats to move through a canal.

Answer

Task 1: How a Canal Lock Works

Paragraph 1: What it is Paragraph 2: How it works Paragraph 3: Conclusion

A canal lock is a device, which is used to move boats up or downhill in a canal. It consists of gates, which separate different water levels. The gates have pipes called ‘paddles’, which are used for lowering the water level in the lock. When a boat needs to move to a lower water level, the upper gates are opened to allow the boat to enter the lock. When the boat is in place, the upper gates are closed behind it and paddles in the lower gate are opened to release water. The boat then drops as the water level falls. When the water level reaches the same level as the water in the next section of the canal, the lower gates are opened and the boat exits the lock. When a boat needs to enter a higher water level, the procedure is reversed. In conclusion, a canal lock is a simple system, which enables boats to move through a canal.

Word Count: 161

Lastly, look through the sample writing, and underline all the verbs that are in the passive voice. The first one is done for you.

Why are these verbs written in the passive?

A canal lock is a device, which is used to move boats up or downhill in a canal. It consists of gates, which separate different water levels. The gates have pipes called ‘paddles’, which are used for lowering the water level in the lock.

When a boat needs to move to a lower water level, the upper gates are opened to allow the boat to enter the lock. When the boat is in place, the upper gates are closed behind it and paddles in the lower gate are opened to release water. The boat then drops as the water level falls. When the water level reaches the same level as the water in the next section of the canal, the lower gates are opened and the boat exits the lock. When a boat needs to enter a higher water level, the procedure is reversed.

In conclusion, a canal lock is a simple system, which enables boats to move through a canal.

Answers

The passive voice is used here because the canal lock and gates are being controlled by human operators, and are not performing the actions. The human operators are performing the actions, but since the gates and the canal locks are the subject of the sentence, the verbs are written in the passive voice.

A canal lock is a device, which is used to move boats up or downhill in a canal. It consists of gates, which separate different water levels. The gates have pipes called* ‘paddles’, which are used for lowering the water level in the lock.

When a boat needs to move to a lower water level, the upper gates are opened to allow the boat to enter the lock. When the boat is in place, the upper gates are closed behind it and paddles in the lower gate are opened to release water. The boat then drops as the water level falls. When the water level reaches the same level as the water in the next section of the canal, the lower gates are opened and the boat exits the lock. When a boat needs to enter a higher water level, the procedure is reversed.

 In conclusion, a canal lock is a simple system, which enables boats to move through a canal.

* called in the sentence “the gates have pipes called paddles” is a reduced passive sentence used as a modifying past-participle clause.  The full meaning is understood to be “the gates have pipes which are called paddles.”

scrambled order

The boat then drops as the water level falls.

When the boat is in place, the upper gates are closed behind it and paddles in the lower gate are opened to release water.

When a boat needs to enter a higher water level, the procedure is reversed.

When the water level reaches the same level as the water in the next section of the canal, the lower gates are opened and the boat exits the lock.

When a boat needs to move to a lower water level, the upper gates are opened to allow the boat to enter the lock.