The shipping container is one of the mainstays of international trade. The globalised modern economy depends on the rapid and efficient movement of goods that containerisation allows. In many ways it was the advent of the container that allowed this globalised economy to develop.
Invented during World War two as an efficient method of moving equipment to the front lines, there are now at any one time up to 15 million containers being used to transport goods on land and sea or waiting to be filled at factories and ports. They are vital in the supply chain and have allowed the added efficiency of "just in time" inventory management, where companies no longer keep large warehouses of stock or parts, but rely on the ability to quickly order what they want from their suppliers. It is estimated that since the 1980s the ratio of inventory to GDP in American business' has fallen from 25% to 15%. Altogether total business inventory in the US is estimated at $1.5 trillion, without "just in time" management methods this might be as much as $2.5 trillion.
This means that companies rely more and more on the prompt delivery of parts from their suppliers to fulfill orders. This is particularly true of industries such as computer manufacture, which no longer make all the parts of the products that bear their names, but instead out source, often to suppliers half way around the world. American computer manufacturers are, for example, increasingly dependent on Asian microchip manufacturers in countries such as Taiwan and Thailand. An example of the kind of problems any disruption to the supply chain causes came after the September 11 attacks in the US when the Canadian border was shut for just two days causing chaos in the Detroit car industry, which relies on a regular flow of parts from Canada.
There are three main flows of sea borne cargo: trans-Pacific, trans-Atlantic and Europe-Far East. The trans-Pacific route is by far the largest flow. At 11 million TEU ("twenty foot equivalent units") a year, it is almost twice the volume of Europe-Far East trade and three times the size of trans-Atlantic traffic. During the 1990s, during America's boom years, the trade of all the routes grew enormously and this led to more and larger ships being built. The container fleet grew by 12% in 2001. Until then, a container ship commonly carried 600 TEU, during the 1990s ships were being build that could carry up to 8000 TEU. However after the 1990s there was a dramatic fall off in trade. Trans-Pacific trade, for example, fell to 50% of its 1990s high.
This down turn is being handled by the shipping alliances which manage the global trade. These large organizations are responsible for maintaining the fleets and seeing that the flow of goods is uninterrupted. This is a job that governments feel that the regular and reliable flow of trade is so important that in many cases the shipping alliances are exempt from anti-trust and monopoly laws. Their response has been to cut services, rest some of the older ships and share the burden amongst themselves.
At first, containers reduced theft as it was more difficult for casual thieves to get into the containers. However, criminal gangs soon saw the potential for taking whole containers. This became a profitable crime as the average value of a container grew to $500,000 by the 1980s. Criminals also benefited from the convenience of containers when using them to transport drugs, illegal immigrants or other illegal goods. Measures to combat this, including stronger locks and preference schemes for shippers who have anti-theft programmes, have had some success, but crime is a constant menace to the container trade.
Increasingly, the huge number of containers and their self-contained and enclosed nature has been raising worries about their possible use by terrorists. In fact, possible terrorists have already been found hiding in containers. This is particularly worrying considering that only 2% of containers are inspected. Containers are also extremely difficult to track and monitor. This is because they pass through so many countries and jurisdictions and because they can travel on both land and sea. Each transaction involving a container can involve as many as 25 different parties and generate between 30 and 40 documents. For a ship carrying 600 TEU this would result in approximately 4000 documents. The sheer scale of the information involved makes tracking containers a daunting task. Screening them to determine the contents is another solution that would take a great deal of effort because of the large numbers of containers. Additionally, it might cause delays in delivery that would disrupt international trade and industry out of proportion to the good the searches do.
For the foreseeable future, there would seem to be no alternative to containers and their use is bound to grow. They are one of the cornerstones of global trade, but many yet cause problems their inventors never envisaged.
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Question Focus: Detail question - effect of the invention of containers
Correct Answer: B
Why this is correct: The passage clearly says containers allowed this globalised economy to develop, which means they led to more global trade.
Passage Reference: In many ways it was the advent of the container that allowed this globalised economy to develop.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'allowed this globalised economy to develop' = Option: 'led to more global trade'
Tips: Look for cause words like allowed, led to, resulted in.
Key Vocabulary:
- globalised = worldwide
- develop = grow
Question Focus: Detail question - asks about why containers were invented
Correct Answer: A
Passage Reference: Invented during World War two as an efficient method of moving equipment to the front lines, there are now at any one time up to 15 million containers being used to transport goods on land and sea or
Why this is correct: This idea sounds logical, but the passage never says containers were invented because goods were already moving efficiently. Instead, it explains the opposite.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'invented during World War two' = Option: 'resulted from efficient movement'
Tips: Check cause and effect carefully. IELTS often reverses them.
Key Vocabulary:
- resulted = happened because of
- efficient = fast and effective
Question Focus: Detail question - original purpose of containers
Correct Answer: C
Passage Reference: Invented during World War two as an efficient method of moving equipment to the front lines, there are now at any one time up to 15 million containers being used to transport goods on land and sea or
Why this is correct: The passage directly states containers were invented during World War two to move equipment to the front lines, which is clearly military use.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'moving equipment to the front lines' = Option: 'military purposes'
Tips: When dates or events are mentioned, use them. They are strong evidence.
Key Vocabulary:
- front lines = battle areas
- military = army related
Question Focus: Detail question
Correct Answer: D
Passage Reference: They are vital in the supply chain and have allowed the added efficiency of "just in time" inventory management, where companies no longer keep large warehouses of stock or parts, but rely on the ability to quickly order what they want from their suppliers.
Why this is correct: Students may notice the phrase just in time, but this refers to inventory management, not managers personally.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'just in time inventory management' = Option: 'came just in time for managers'
Tips: Do not match words only. Always check the meaning.
Key Vocabulary:
- inventory = stock
- management = control
Question Focus: Detail question
Correct Answer: E
Passage Reference: This means that companies rely more and more on the prompt delivery of parts from their suppliers to fulfill orders.
Why this is correct: The passage says companies rely on quick delivery after containers existed, not that the invention itself relied on quick orders.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'companies rely more and more' = Option: 'the invention relied'
Tips: Check who relies on what. Subject mistakes are common.
Key Vocabulary:
- rely on = depend on
- fulfill = complete
Question Focus: Detail question - importance of containers
Correct Answer: A
Passage Reference: They are vital in the supply chain and have allowed the added efficiency of "just in time" inventory management, where companies no longer keep large warehouses of stock or parts, but rely on the ability to quickly order what they want from their suppliers.
Why this is correct: The passage clearly explains that companies no longer keep large warehouses of stock, thanks to containers.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'no longer keep large warehouses of stock' = Option: 'prevent the need to hold large amounts of stock'
Tips: Exact explanations are usually correct in detail questions.
Key Vocabulary:
- warehouse = storage building
- stock = goods
Question Focus: Detail question
Correct Answer: B
Passage Reference: It is estimated that since the 1980s the ratio of inventory to GDP in American business' has fallen from 25% to 15%.
Why this is correct: The passage says inventory fell, not increased, from 25% to 15%.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'has fallen' = Option: 'increase'
Tips: Watch for opposite meanings.
Key Vocabulary:
- inventory = stored goods
- ratio = proportion
Question Focus: Main idea question
Correct Answer: C
Passage Reference: The globalised modern economy depends on the rapid and efficient movement of goods that containerisation allows.
Why this is correct: Containers allow the rapid and efficient movement of goods, which clearly makes long-distance trade easier.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'rapid and efficient movement of goods' = Option: 'make trade easier'
Tips: For main ideas, think broadly, not about one example.
Key Vocabulary:
- efficient = effective
- movement = transport
Question Focus: Detail question
Correct Answer: D
Passage Reference: An example of the kind of problems any disruption to the supply chain causes came after the September 11 attacks in the US when the Canadian border was shut for just two days causing chaos in the Detroit car industry, which relies on a regular flow of parts from Canada.
Why this is correct: Canada is mentioned only as an example of disruption, not as a regular supply benefit of containers.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'example of problems' = Option: 'regularly supply'
Tips: Examples do not equal general benefits.
Key Vocabulary:
- disruption = interruption
- manufacture = production
Question Focus: Detail question
Correct Answer: E
Passage Reference: This is particularly true of industries such as computer manufacture, which no longer make all the parts of the products that bear their names, but instead out source, often to suppliers half way around the world.
Why this is correct: The passage says companies outsource more, not less, often to other countries.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'increasingly dependent' = Option: 'reduce outsourcing'
Tips: Increasing and reducing are opposites.
Key Vocabulary:
- outsource = buy from outside
- dependent = rely on
Question Focus: Detail question - comparison of trade routes
Correct Answer: A
Passage Reference: At 11 million TEU ("twenty foot equivalent units") a year, it is almost twice the volume of Europe-Far East trade and three times the size of trans-Atlantic traffic. During the 1990s, during America's
Why this is correct: The passage says the trans-Pacific route is almost twice the volume of Europe-Far East trade.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'almost twice the volume' = Option: 'nearly double'
Tips: Numbers and comparisons are very reliable evidence.
Key Vocabulary:
- volume = amount
- route = path
Question Focus: Detail question
Correct Answer: B
Passage Reference: The container fleet grew by 12% in 2001.
Why this is correct: The 12% increase refers to the global container fleet, not only the trans-Pacific route.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'container fleet grew' = Option: 'Trans-Pacific fleet grew'
Tips: Check if information is general or specific.
Key Vocabulary:
- fleet = group of ships
- grew = increased
Question Focus: Inference question
Correct Answer: C
Passage Reference: During the 1990s, during America's boom years, the trade of all the routes grew enormously and this led to more and larger ships being built.
Why this is correct: The passage says trade grew during the boom years, not that this route caused them.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'during America's boom years' = Option: 'sparked the boom'
Tips: Growth happening at the same time does not mean cause.
Key Vocabulary:
- sparked = caused
- boom = rapid growth
Question Focus: Detail question
Correct Answer: D
Passage Reference: Until then, a container ship commonly carried 600 TEU, during the 1990s ships were being build that could carry up to 8000 TEU. However after the 1990s there was a dramatic fall off in trade. Trans-Pa
Why this is correct: The 600 TEU figure describes container ships in general, not specifically the trans-Pacific route.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'a container ship commonly carried' = Option: 'Trans-Pacific route carried'
Tips: Do not add extra limits that the passage does not state.
Key Vocabulary:
- TEU = container unit
- commonly = usually
Question Focus: Detail question - change over time
Correct Answer: E
Passage Reference: However after the 1990s there was a dramatic fall off in trade. Trans-Pacific trade, for example, fell to 50% of its 1990s high.
Why this is correct: The passage clearly states trans-Pacific trade fell to 50% of its 1990s high, which is a substantial decrease.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'fell to 50%' = Option: 'substantial decrease'
Tips: Percentages strongly support answers.
Key Vocabulary:
- substantial = large
- fell = decreased
General Tips:
- For multiple-answer questions, always check how many answers you need. Here it is two.
- MCQ questions follow passage order, so use the previous answer location to find the next.
- Be careful with cause and effect. IELTS often reverses them.
- Examples are not general rules. Do not overgeneralise.
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