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About the Roman Shipbuilding and Navigation Reading Passage
This passage examines ancient Roman maritime practices — from how ships were built using methods inherited from the Greeks and Egyptians, to the design differences between warships and commercial vessels, to how sailors navigated the Mediterranean without compasses. It covers key concepts such as the mortise and tenon jointing technique, the trireme warship, the ports of Ostia and Pozzuoli, and the naming of the Mediterranean as Mare Nostrum. The passage is a practice passage (source not confirmed as a specific Cambridge volume).
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1–13, which are based on the passage below.
This passage contains three question types: True/False/Not Given (Q1–3), Multiple Choice (Q4–5), and Summary Completion (Q6–13).
Roman Shipbuilding and Navigation - Full Reading Passage
Paragraph A
Several historical documents have been preserved that provide descriptions and illustrations of ancient Roman ships, even down to the sails and rigging. Furthermore, ancient shipbuilding knowledge may be inferred from unearthed boats. According to this research, the outer hull was built first by ancient Roman shipbuilders, and then the frame and the remainder of the ship. The outside hull boards were first stitched together. The mortise and tenon jointing method was developed in the sixth century BCE to eliminate the necessity for stitching between the boards. Shipbuilders in the Mediterranean shifted to a method that is being used today in the early centuries of the current era, which entails creating the frame of the ship before the hull and other components. Ship construction times were drastically cut because of this more systematic approach. The ancient Roman fleet and warships were the largest and most technologically advanced in the world up until the early 16th century CE.
Paragraph B
Ships built in modern shipyards adhere to scientific principles and are crafted with the assistance of computers and other cutting-edge gear. Shipbuilding in ancient Rome, on the other hand, was more of an art than a science; it relied on hunches, on tradition, and on the individual's competence. In spite of the fact that they are commonly thought of as sailors, the Romans were in fact landlubbers who learned the art of shipbuilding from the Greeks and Egyptians that they conquered.
Paragraph C
Commercial ships are built to transport heavy loads over long distances for an affordable price. They had a larger hull, double planking, and a sturdy interior for greater stability. They couldn't reach the coast since their V-shaped hull was deeper than battleships'. A small tiller bar that was connected to a network of cables was used to steer the two large side rudders that were generally found off the stern of these boats. They were equipped with one to three masts, huge square sails, and a small triangular sail in the bow. Commercial ships had oarsmen, just like battleships, but it was hard to manage the hundreds of rowers on both kinds of ships. The oars would keep time with the music as it was performed on an instrument to assist them.
Paragraph D
Commercial ships transported a variety of goods, including agricultural products and raw materials such as grain from Egypt's Nile Valley. Some examples of the raw materials that were transported were iron bars, copper, marble, and granite. In ancient times, Rome was considered to be a major city due to its population of around one million people while it was ruled by the Empire. Both the enormous port of Ostia, which is found at the mouth of the Tiber River and the port of Pozzuoli, which is found to the west of Naples Bay in Italy, would carry products from all over the world to the city. Pozzuoli was located in Italy. The same as it is now, when large commercial ships got close to the port of destination, a number of towboats would meet them and bring them to the dock.
Paragraph E
The predicted trip times for the various sailing routes vary greatly. Ancient Roman navigators depended on instinct, acquaintance with the terrain, and careful observation of natural phenomena rather than compasses or other precision instruments. When weather conditions permitted, seafarers in the Mediterranean frequently had land or islands in sight, which greatly benefited navigation. They kept note of where they were with respect to various landmarks to help them navigate. When the weather was rough or land was no longer visible, Roman sailors would utilize the pole star or, less precisely, the Sun at midday to help them find their way. They guessed correctly about the prevailing winds and seas. Large ships traversed the oceans on a regular basis to bring commodities from the Roman Empire, just as contemporary shipping does today.
Paragraph F
Warship design objectives included making them swift and lightweight. They were built with a long, thin hull and little ballast to handle the shallow seas around the shore. After naval battles, it was usual to see them floating on the water's surface, damaged but still afloat since they wouldn't sink with the tide after suffering damage. Their bronze battering ram was used to pierce the wooden hulls of other ships and break their oars. Warships were made extremely speedy by the combination of sails and oarsmen. The Mediterranean Sea was given the Latin moniker Mare Nostrum, which means "our sea," after the Romans eventually gained control of the area. Their navy grew to be the largest and most powerful in the region. There were many different types of battleships. Triremes were the most typical kind of warship from the seventh century B.C.E. to the fourth century B.C.E. Over three levels, there were around fifty rowers on each side. Since they were directly beneath the other rowers and had to contend with water seeping in through the oar holes, the bottom rowers suffered the most. Contrary to popular opinion, the majority of rowers were free Roman citizens who had served in the military, which is crucial to highlight. The trireme was later supplanted by bigger ships with more rowers.
Roman Shipbuilding and Navigation Reading Questions and Answers
Questions 1–3: True/False/Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the Reading Passage?
In boxes 1–3 on your answer sheet, write:
- TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
- FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
- NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this in the passage
1. The Greeks and Egyptians inherited the Romans' shipbuilding expertise.
2. Planks were fastened using the mortise and tenon process, which required skilled craftsmen.
3. As they controlled its use, the Romans named the Mediterranean Sea Mare Nostrum.
Questions 4–5: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D. Write your answers in boxes 4–5 on your answer sheet.
4. Due to which factor were construction times cut drastically?
A. a standardised approach B. technology glitch C. enlightenment of directions D. knowledge from scholars
5. The ships were unable to make it to the coasts because…
A. The terrain interrupted B. Coasts were too rough C. The hull mismatched the depth of the ships D. Information was not fully true
Questions 6–13: Summary Completion
Complete the summary below. Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer. Write your answers in boxes 6–13 on your answer sheet.
Warships and merchant ships
It was important that warships be both 6) _____ and fast in order to be effective. They could avoid sinking during engagements and sail near shore since they were light. The plan called for a 7) _____ battering ram to smash the wooden hulls and break the oars of the enemy ships. The 'Trireme,' a type of warship, had rowers stationed on three 8) _____.
A commerce ship's broad 9) _____ would often extend well below the water's surface, in contrast to the narrow hulls of warships. Large rudders and a tiller bar were used to guide merchant ships through the sea. There were squares and 10) _____ sails on board. It was common practice for rowers on both commercial and military vessels to employ 11) _____ to synchronize their strokes. Merchant ships carried a large quantity of 12) _____ and other agricultural products to two major ports in Italy. 13) _____ assisted in bringing the vessels ashore. When the skies were clear, sailors would utilize familiar land or island features to guide them to safety.
