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Irish Potato Famine Reading Answers: IELTS Reading Practice Test

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Updated on Jul 15, 2024, 10:36

In the IELTS Reading section, you'll encounter three passages that test your reading comprehension skills. These passages are sourced from diverse texts such as books, journals, magazines, and newspapers. Each passage is followed by questions that evaluate your ability to grasp the main ideas, details, opinions, and the author's tone.

 

 

To better prepare for the IELTS Reading section, you can take an IELTS practice test, which provides a realistic experience of the types of texts and questions you will face in the actual exam.

 

 

The “Irish Potato Famine” passage explores one of the most devastating periods in Irish history during the mid-19th century. It delves into the causes, impact, and societal repercussions of the famine that resulted from potato blight, affecting millions of Irish people and leading to significant demographic changes.

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1. Irish Potato Famine Reading Passage

You should spend approximately 20 minutes answering Questions 1 - 13 based on the Reading Passage below. This approach can help manage time effectively during a reading comprehension activity or exam.  


 

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2. Irish Potato Famine Reading Question & Answers

Discover exciting and informative IELTS reading answers about Irish Potato Famine Reading Question & Answers

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1.

Irish Potato Famine Reading Passage

General Information

  • Read Instructions: Understand each question before answering.
  • Manage Time: Spend about 20 minutes per passage.
  • Skim and Scan: Quickly get the main idea and find specific information.
  • Highlight Key Info: Underline essential words or phrases.
  • Answer All Questions: Attempt every question; no penalty for wrong answers.
  • Stay Focused: Avoid distractions and keep your attention on the task.
  • Check Spelling: Ensure correct spelling and grammar.
  • Transfer Answers Clearly: Write answers neatly on the answer sheet.
  • Don’t Dwell: Move on if stuck and return later.
  • Review: If time allows, review your answers.

 

 

 

 

Irish Potato Famine Reading Passage

 

 

Paragraph A

 

Over 750,000 Irish people perished in the ten years that followed the Irish potato famine of 1845, including many who tried to immigrate to nations like the United States and Canada. One of Ireland's primary issues before the potato disaster was overcrowding. The population of the nation was thought to be less than three million in the early 1500s, but by 1840 it had nearly tripled. The population increase was partly due to the abundant potato harvest, which includes practically all of the nutrients needed for human survival. However, the population of Ireland was cut in half within five years of the 1845 harvest failure. The dependency of the Irish on the potato crop, the British tenure system, and the insufficient English relief efforts were some of the factors that caused the population of the Irish to drastically decline.

 

 

Paragraph B

 

Although the specific circumstances surrounding the potato's first introduction to Europe are unknown, it is generally accepted that it did so on a Spanish ship sometime in the 1600s. The belief that potatoes belonged to a botanical family of a dangerous breed persisted among Europeans for more than a century. Potatoes didn't become a novelty item until Marie Antoinette had potato blossoms in her hair in the middle of the seventeenth century. When the potato's nutritional significance was recognised in the late 1700s, European monarchs commanded that the vegetable be widely grown.

 

 

Paragraph C

 

The vast majority of Irish people had grown to depend on the potato as their main food source by the year 1800. An Irish potato farmer would typically eat more than six pounds of potatoes every day. Families even fed their livestock potatoes that they had stockpiled for the winter. The unexpected potato blight of 1845 decimated the Irish because of this dependence. Researchers initially hypothesised that the blight was brought on by static electricity, railway smoke, or fumes from subsurface volcanoes; however, the real culprit was later identified as an airborne fungus that originated in Mexico. The disease not only wiped out the potato harvests but also affected all of the potatoes that were being stored at the time. Famine was killing their families, but the exhausted farmers had little left of their farming expertise to gather other crops. Those who succeeded in cultivating oats, wheat, and barley relied on the money earned from these exported crops to pay their rent in their rented residences.

 

 

Paragraph D

 

Irish people experienced widespread famine as a result of the potato blight, but the British tenure system kept them in their predicament. The English had focused on their colonial land holdings after the Napoleonic Wars in 1815. British landowners understood that the easiest way to make money off of their properties was to extract the resources, export them, and charge high rents and taxes to anyone who wanted to live there. 95% of the Irish land, which was divided into five-acre allotments for people to live and farm on, was owned by Protestant landlords under the tenure system. However, the plots were continually divided into smaller parts as Ireland's population increased. Living circumstances drastically deteriorated, forcing families to relocate to less productive terrain where essentially nothing but potatoes would grow.

 

 

Paragraph E

 

Throughout the same colonisation era. The Penal Laws were also established to break the spirit of the Irish people. Irish peasants were denied fundamental human rights under the Penal Laws, including the freedom to speak their own native language, pursue particular economic opportunities, practise their religion, get an education, and possess land. Despite the famine that was wreaking havoc on Ireland, landlords did nothing to help tenants who were unable to pay their rent. Between 1845 and 1847, landowners evicted almost 500,000 Irish tenants. Many of these individuals also had homefires and were imprisoned for unpaid rent.

 

 

Paragraph F

 

The laissez-faire doctrine, which backed a strategy of nonintervention in the condition of the Irish, was endorsed by the majority of British officials in the 1840s. Sir Robert Peel, the former prime minister, was an outlier. He moved to remove the Corn Laws, which had been placed in place to shield British grain producers from competition in foreign markets, out of compassion for the Irish. Peel was swiftly compelled to retire as a result of his rash decision, which cost him the favour of the British people. Lord John Russell, the new prime minister, gave full command of all relief operations in Ireland to Charles Trevelyan, his assistant. Trevelyan thought that Providence should be allowed to handle the Irish crisis. He even took action to shut down food depots that were selling maise and to reroute shipments of grain that were already headed to Ireland on the justification that it would be dangerous to allow the Irish to grow dependent on other nations. A few relief initiatives, like soup kitchens and workhouses, were finally put into place; nevertheless, these were badly operated institutions that contributed to the spread of disease, tore families apart, and provided insufficient food supplies in light of the severity of Ireland's food shortages.

 

 

Paragraph G

 

The Irish potato famine still has many aftereffects that are visible today. There are people all over the world who are descended from those who left Ireland in the 1840s. In the Irish hills, a few of the houses that were removed by absentee landlords now stand empty. Many Irish dependents still harbour resentment toward the British for prioritising politics over people. Irish people are still plagued by the potato blight itself during specific planting seasons when the climate is conducive to the fungus's growth.

 

 

To improve your vocabulary for the IELTS Reading section, read here.

2.

Irish Potato Famine Reading Question & Answers

Discover exciting and informative IELTS reading answers about Irish Potato Famine

Questions and Answers 1-5

  • The passage has seven paragraphs: A-G. Which paragraph contains the following information?
  • Write the correct letter in boxes 1-5 on your Answer Sheet.

 

 

1. The British government's stance on the potato famine
2. An explanation of Ireland's land ownership structure 
3. Early European perceptions of the potato
4. Justification for Irish farmers' lack of legal protection
5. The significance of potatoes in Irish culture



 

Irish Potato Famine Reading Answers with Explanations (1-5)

 

 

Type of question: Matching information

 

 

In this question type, you will be asked to match specific pieces of information, often dates, names, or events, from the reading passage with corresponding options provided in the question.

 

 

How to best answer: 
 

  • Read each statement carefully to understand the specific information being asked for.
  • Scan the passage for relevant dates or events in the reading passage that corresponds to each statement.
  • Eliminate incorrect options that do not match the information found in the passage.
  • Match the remaining options based on the information provided in the passage.
  • Verify your answers to ensure they match the information in the passage before finalising them.



 

1. F


 

Reference

 

From paragraph F: “The laissez-faire doctrine, which backed a strategy of nonintervention in the condition of the Irish, was endorsed by the majority of British officials in the 1840s. Sir Robert Peel, the former prime minister, was an outlier. He moved to remove the Corn Laws, which had been placed in place to shield British grain producers from competition in foreign markets, out of compassion for the Irish. Peel was swiftly compelled to retire as a result of his rash decision.”


 

Explanation

 

This answer correctly identifies the British government's stance on the potato famine. The passage describes how British officials favoured a laissez-faire approach, refraining from intervening to alleviate the Irish crisis. It highlights Sir Robert Peel's isolated attempt to repeal the Corn Laws out of sympathy for the Irish, an action that led to his retirement due to opposition. This paragraph underscores how economic policies prioritised over humanitarian aid exacerbated the suffering during the famine.


 

2. D


 

Reference

 

From paragraph D:  “Irish people experienced widespread famine as a result of the potato blight, but the British tenure system kept them in their predicament. The English had —--------------- forcing families to relocate to less productive terrain where essentially nothing but potatoes would grow.”


 

Explanation

 

This answer discusses Ireland's land ownership structure under British rule. The paragraph details how the British tenure system, focusing on maximising profits from land holdings through high rents and resource extraction, exacerbated the impact of the famine. It explains how Irish land was owned by Protestant landlords, with plots continually subdivided amidst population growth, forcing families into less fertile land where only potatoes could grow. This paragraph illustrates the economic and social factors that worsened the plight of Irish farmers during the crisis.


 

3. B


 

Reference

 

From paragraph B: “The belief that potatoes belonged to a botanical family of a dangerous breed persisted among Europeans for more than a century. Potatoes didn't become a novelty item until Marie Antoinette had potato blossoms in her hair in the middle of the seventeenth century.”


 

Explanation

 

This answer provides insights into early European perceptions of the potato. The paragraph explains how potatoes were initially feared as a potentially harmful botanical species, a misconception that persisted for over a century. It highlights Marie Antoinette's public embrace of potatoes in the 18th century, which helped popularise the vegetable in European cuisine. This paragraph contextualises the initial scepticism towards potatoes and their eventual acceptance as a staple food crop in Europe.


 

4. E


 

Reference

 

From paragraph E: “The Penal Laws were also established to break the spirit of the Irish people. Irish peasants were denied fundamental human rights under the Penal Laws, including the freedom to speak their own native language, pursue particular economic opportunities, practise their religion, get education, and possess land.”


 

Explanation

 

This answer addresses the lack of legal protections for Irish farmers during the famine. The paragraph discusses the Penal Laws, which deprived Irish peasants of basic rights such as language, religion, education, and land ownership. It explains how these laws exacerbated the vulnerability of Irish farmers, making them more susceptible to exploitation and eviction during the famine. This paragraph highlights the legal and institutional barriers that compounded the suffering of the Irish population at that time.


 

5. C


 

Reference

 

From paragraph C: “The vast majority of Irish people had grown to depend on the potato as their main food source by the year 1800. An Irish potato farmer would typically eat more than six pounds of potatoes every day. Families even fed their livestock potatoes that they had stockpiled for the winter.”


 

Explanation

 

This answer emphasises the significance of potatoes in Irish culture before the famine. The paragraph details how potatoes became a staple food for the majority of the Irish population, both for daily consumption and as fodder for livestock. It describes the widespread reliance on potatoes due to their nutritional value and ability to grow in Irish soil conditions. This paragraph underscores the centrality of potatoes to Irish agriculture and daily life, setting the stage for understanding the devastation caused by the potato blight and subsequent famine.

 


 

Refer to tips and tricks for the IELTS Reading section to achieve a high band score.

Questions and Answers 6-10

  • Complete each sentence with the correct ending, A-L, from the box at the top of the next page.
  • Write the correct letter in boxes 6-10 on your Answer Sheet.
  • There are more endings than sentences, so you won't use them all.

 

 

   Sentence Endings

 

 

A. Because they were unable to pay their farm rent.

B. Due to the air pollution created by railroad trains.

C. Because their primary food source was potatoes.

D. Because Charles Trevelyan assumed control of the relief effort.

E. Because they needed to pay the rent and earn the earnings.

F. Since they weren't properly managed.

G. Since there wasn't enough land to accommodate the growing population.

H. Because the British were against his efforts to aid the Irish.

I. For the reason that they thought potatoes were harmful.

J. Due to the British introduction of punitive laws.

K. Due to the discovery that potatoes are packed with nutrients.

L. Because Marie Antoinette decorated with potato blossoms.

 

 

6. Europeans first refused to consume potatoes.
7. European kings promoted potato cultivation
8. The Irish were devastated by the potato blight.
9. Oat, wheat, and barley farmers didn't consume these crops.
10. Many Irish farmers farmed unproductive land.

 

 

Irish Potato Famine Reading Answers with Explanations (6-10)

 

 

Type of question: Matching sentence endings

 

 

In this question type, you will be given incomplete sentences, and you will have to complete the end of the sentence by selecting suitable words or phrases from the given list. 

 

 

How to best answer: 

 

  • Skim through the incomplete sentences to get an idea of the context
  • Recognise keywords in each sentence
  • Scan your list of options and look for the keywords
  • Verify the context and check if the word flows with the rest of the sentence 
  • Finalise your answers


 

6. I


 

Reference

 

From paragraph B: “The belief that potatoes belonged to a botanical family of a dangerous breed persisted among Europeans for more than a century. Potatoes didn't become a novelty item until Marie Antoinette had potato blossoms in her hair in the middle of the seventeenth century.”


 

 

Explanation

 

Europeans initially refused to consume potatoes due to widespread beliefs that they belonged to a dangerous botanical family. This fear persisted for over a century until potatoes gained popularity, notably when Marie Antoinette adorned her hair with potato blossoms in the 17th century, marking a shift in perception towards their nutritional value.



 

7. K


 

Reference

 

From paragraph B: “When the potato's nutritional significance was recognised in the late 1700s, European monarchs commanded that the vegetable be widely grown.”


 

 

Explanation

 

European kings promoted potato cultivation after recognising its nutritional significance in the late 1700s. This led to royal commands urging widespread cultivation of potatoes, aiming to address food scarcity issues and harness the nutritional benefits offered by this crop.


 

8. C


 

Reference

 

From paragraph C: “The vast majority of Irish people had grown to depend on the potato as their main food source by the year 1800. An Irish potato farmer would typically eat more than six pounds of potatoes every day. Families even fed their livestock potatoes that they had stockpiled for the winter. The unexpected potato blight of 1845 decimated the Irish because of this dependence.”


 

Explanation

 

The Irish were devastated by the potato blight because potatoes had become the primary food source for the majority of the population by 1800. When the blight hit in 1845, it wiped out the potato harvests entirely, leading to widespread famine and loss of life among those heavily dependent on this crop.


 

9. E


 

Reference

 

From paragraph C: “Those who succeeded in cultivating oats, wheat, and barley relied on the money earned from these exported crops to pay their rent in their rented residences.”


 

Explanation

 

Oat, wheat, and barley farmers didn't consume these crops because they primarily grew these grains for export to earn money to pay rent. Unlike potato farmers who consumed their crops, these grains were vital income sources in a land tenure system dominated by absentee landlords and high rents.


 

10. G


 

Reference

 

From paragraph D: “95% of the Irish land, which was divided into five-acre allotments for people to live and farm on, was owned by Protestant landlords under the tenure system. However, the plots were continually divided into smaller parts as Ireland's population increased. Living circumstances drastically deteriorated, forcing families to relocate to less productive terrain where essentially nothing but potatoes would grow.”


 

Explanation

 

Many Irish farmers farmed unproductive land because increasing population pressure and British land tenure policies led families to settle on less fertile soil. This forced reliance on land where only potatoes could grow effectively exacerbated the vulnerability of Irish farmers to crop failures and food shortages.

 

 

Read more about 350+ Vocabulary words for IELTS: Difficult & New English Words List For 2024

Questions and Answers 11-13

  • Complete the summary below.
  • Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

 

 

Peel was promptly forced to 11.…..………… Because of his imprudent decision. Trevelyan thought that Providence should be allowed to handle the Irish crisis. He even took action to shut 12.…………… that were selling maise and to reroute shipments of grain that were already headed to Ireland on the justification that it would be dangerous to allow the Irish to grow dependent on other nations. Irish people are still plagued by the potato blight itself during specific planting seasons when the climate is conducive to the 13.……………growth.

 


 

Irish Potato Famine Reading Answers with Explanations (11-13)

 

 

 

Type of question: Summary completion

 

 

Under this task, you will be given a summary with incomplete sentences. However, you will not be given any list of words/phrases to choose the missing information. You must refer to the main passage to fill in the missing information. 

 

 

 

How to answer: 

 

 

  • Read the summary to understand what information it’s missing
  • Identify keywords and locate them in the main passage to find missing words 
  • Review the context of the words you’ve chosen to match the summary
  • Finalise your answers 


 


 

11. A


 

Reference

 

From paragraph F: “Peel was swiftly compelled to retire as a result of his rash decision.”



 

Explanation

 

Peel's decision to repeal the Corn Laws, aimed at alleviating the Irish famine, was unpopular and faced strong opposition. This led to his swift retirement from office as Prime Minister, highlighting the political repercussions of his actions during the crisis.


 

12. C


 

Reference

 

From paragraph F: “He even took action to shut food depots that were selling maise and to reroute shipments of grain that were already headed to Ireland on the justification that it would be dangerous to allow the Irish to grow dependent on other nations.”


 

 

Explanation

 

Trevelyan's policy was to discourage dependency on foreign aid by closing down food depots selling maise and redirecting grain shipments. This decision exacerbated the famine's impact by limiting food supplies, reflecting the British government's controversial approach to the crisis.


 

13. C


 

Reference

 

From paragraph F: “ Irish people are still plagued by the potato blight itself during specific planting seasons when the climate is conducive to the fungus's growth.”


 

 

Explanation

 

The passage indicates that the Irish continue to face recurring outbreaks of potato blight due to climatic conditions that favour the growth of the fungus responsible for the blight. This ongoing threat underscores the lasting agricultural and societal impacts of the famine on Ireland.



 

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FAQs

Q. What is the format of the IELTS Reading test?

Ans. The IELTS Reading test consists of three sections, each with a different passage. These passages are taken from books, newspapers, magazines, and academic journals. The texts are appropriate for those entering undergraduate or postgraduate courses or seeking professional registration


 

Q. How many passages are there in the IELTS Reading test?

Ans. In the IELTS Reading test, you will encounter three passages. Each passage is followed by a series of questions designed to evaluate your reading skills, such as comprehension, vocabulary, and logic. These passages are drawn from a variety of sources like books, newspapers, magazines, and academic journals.

Q. How long is the IELTS Reading test?

Ans. The IELTS Reading test lasts for 60 minutes. During this time, you need to read three passages and answer 40 questions in total. Managing your time effectively is crucial to ensure you have enough time to read each passage thoroughly and answer all questions.