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The History Of Glass Reading Answers: IELTS Reading Practice Test

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Updated on Jul 02, 2024, 11:57

The reading test is one of the four modules of the IELTS exam. This section covers three passages, based on which you should answer the questions. There are 40 questions in this module, which must be answered within 60 minutes. 
 

As it's important to score better on the IELTS test to get admission to prestigious institutions, practising enough is essential to get a good score. 
 

The History of Glass reading practice test provides sample questions and answers related to the history of glass and helps you prepare better for the exams. 

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1. The History Of Glass Reading Passage

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1-13 based on Reading Passage 1 below.

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2. The History Of Glass Reading Question & Answers

Have you read the passage? Now, take the test and find The History Of Glass Reading answers! Try to answer these questions by yourself before you sneak a peek at the answers given below. 

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1.

The History Of Glass Reading Passage

General Instructions to Follow During the IELTS Reading Test

The following instructions will help you save time and improve your scores in The History Of Glass reading questions and answers.

  • Pay attention to the instructions given before the questions. Read it carefully and understand what’s being asked of you.
  • The reading passages are typically ordered with slightly increasing difficulty levels. To save time, try to answer the most challenging parts first.
  • Keep an eye on the clock. Every IELTS Exam centre has a clock on the wall. Watch it to stay ahead of your time limit.
  • Use skimming and scanning techniques and scan for keywords to answer questions.

 

 

 

 

The History Of Glass Reading Passage

 

 

A. Glass has been used by man from his earliest origins. Historians found that obsidian, a type of natural glass, has formed in places, like in the mouth of a volcano, as a consequence of the intense heat of an eruption melting island, which was used as tips for spears. In 4000 BC, archaeologists discovered evidence of man-made glass, which took the shape of glazes used for covering stone beads. With the covering of the sand core and the layer of molten glass, the first hollow glass container was made.
 

B. From the 1st century BC, the most common method to make glass containers is by doing glass blowing. As the raw materials contain impurities, the glass that was made at that time is highly coloured. Methods to create colourless glass were developed during the first century AD, and it was then tinted by adding the colouring materials. Romans are the ones who took the secret of glass making across Europe, during this century. But, they protected the glass making skills and technology, still it spread throughout Europe and the Middle East after their empire was ruined in 476 AD. From the 10th Century, the Venetians earned reputation on making the glass bottles with technical skill and artistic ability and most of the craftsmen in the italy’s cities set up the glassworks throughout Europe.
 

C. When the English Manufacturer George Ravenscroft (1632 – 1683) invented the lead crystal glass, it became a major mark in the history of glass. He added the lead in the raw materials during the process of glass-making to counter the clouding effect that occurs in blown glass. The new glass he introduced has the following qualities: softer, easier to decorate, higher refractive index, has the brilliance and beauty and it has become an important glass to the optical industry. Optical lenses, astronomical telescopes, microscopes have become possible only because of the invention of Ravenscroft.

 

D. In Britain, after rescinding the Excise Act in 1845, the modern glass industry began to boom. Heavy taxes were placed on the amount of glass melted in glasshouses, before that time and increased continuously from 1745 to 1845. In 1851, at the London’s Great Exhibition, Joseph Paxton’s Crystal Palace marked the beginning of glass as a material used in the building industry. This path-breaking new building has increased the usage of glass in public, domestic and horticultural architecture. As science and technology began to advance and develop, glass manufacturing techniques also improved.
 

E. From the year of 1887, when HM Ashley introduced a machine in Castleford, Yorkshire, England, which is capable of producing 200 bottles per hour. It is produced more than three times faster than any previous production methods. In 1907, Michael Owens, who is the founder of the Owens Bottle Company, developed the first fully automated machine in the USA and installed it in its factory. Owen’s invention can produce 2,500 bottles per hour. Rapid development occurred, but during the First World War, Britain cut off from the essential glass suppliers, and glass became part of the scientific sector. Before this, glass had been seen as a craft instead of precise science.

 

F. Currently, Glass making is a big business. It has become a modern, hi-tech industry functioning in an intensely competitive market where quality, design and service levels are important to maintaining market share. Modern glass plants have the capacity to make millions of glass containers per day in a variety of colours, green and brown remaining the most popular. Glass has become inseparable from modern life. You can see it in almost every aspect of our lives – our homes, our cars. Many products have glass packaging, and most of the beverages sold in glass, as are many foodstuffs, medicines and cosmetics.
 

G. Glass is the perfect material for recycling and concern for green issues, glass bottles and jars are becoming more popular as with growing consumers. Glass recycling is a good thing for the environment. It saves used glass containers rather than disposing it into landfill. Both fuel and production expenses can be saved because recycled glass needs less energy to melt than raw materials. The need for quarrying materials minimised by the recycling and preserves the valuable resources.

2.

The History Of Glass Reading Question & Answers

Have you read the passage? Now, take the test and find The History Of Glass Reading answers! 
 

Leap to Learn: Tip of the Moment!

Remember, most of these questions follow the order of the passage, so it’s easy to trace back if you look through the paragraphs sequentially.

 

Try to answer these questions by yourself before you sneak a peek at the answers given below. 
 

Good luck! 

Questions and Answers 1-8
  • Type of Question: Note completion
  • In boxes 1-8 on your answer sheet, choose one word from the given passage for each answer.

 

• Early humans used a material called (1) ………………  to make the sharp points of their (2) …………………..

• 4000 BC: (3)………………… made of stone were covered in a coating of man-made glass

• First century BC: glass was coloured because of the (4)…………………… in the material

• Until 476 AD: only the (5)…………………… knew how to make glass

• From 10th century: Venetians became famous for making bottles out of glass

• 17th century: George Ravenscroft developed a process using (6)…………………. to avoid the occurrence of (7)……………… in blown glass

• Mid 19th century: British glass production developed after changes to laws concerning (8)……………………


 

The History Of Glass Reading Answers with Explanations (1-8)

 

Type of Question: Note completion

 

In this task, you will be given notes containing blank spaces, which you should answer based on your understanding of the passage. 
 

How to answer the question: 
 

  • Carefully read the questions and note down the keywords.
  • Now, read the passage and look for information that matches the missing words in the notes.
  • You can also pay attention to any clues given in the passage, such as dates, names, or specific words, that can help you fill in the gaps. 

 

1. Obsidian

 

Reference

 

From Paragraph A: “Historians found that obsidian, a type of natural glass, has formed in places.”
 

Explanation 

In paragraph A, it is mentioned that obsidian is a type of natural glass that early humans used to make "tips for spears. Therefore, the word obsidian refers to the material they used to make their spears' sharp points.
 

2. Spears

 

Reference

 

From Paragraph A: “Obsidian, a type of natural glass, … which was used as tips for spears.”
 

Explanation

In paragraph A, it states, "which were used as tips for spears." This indicates that the sharp points were used for spears; hence, the word spears is the appropriate answer.

 

3. Beads

 

Reference

 

From Paragraph A: “evidence of man-made glass, which took the shape of glazes used for covering stone beads.”
 

Explanation

Paragraph A, mentions evidence of man-made glass taking the shape of "glazes used for covering stone beads." This implies that man-made glass covered stone beads, leading to the answer beads.


 

4. Impurities

 

Reference

 

From Paragraph B: “As the raw materials contain impurities, the glass made at that time is highly coloured.”

 

Explanation

Paragraph B mentions that the glass made in the 1st century BC was coloured due to impurities in the material. Therefore, the word impurities explains the reason for the glass's colouration.

 

5. Romans

 

Reference

 

From Paragraph B: “Romans are the ones who took the secret of glass making across Europe, during this century.”

 

Explanation

Paragraph B states that Romans spread the secret of glassmaking across Europe during the 1st century AD. Hence, the word Romans is the appropriate answer for those who knew how to make glass until 476 AD.

 

6. Lead

 

Reference

 

From Paragraph C: “invented the lead crystal glass, it became a major mark in the history of glass.”
 

Explanation

Paragraph C mentions George Ravenscroft's invention of lead crystal glass. It mentions that he added lead to the raw materials during the glassmaking process to counter the clouding effect in blown glass. Thus, lead is the right word to fill in the given blank. 


 

7. Clouding

 

Reference

 

From Paragraph C: “He added the lead in the raw materials during the process of glass making to counter the clouding effect that occurs in blown glass.”
 

Explanation 

Paragraph C mentions that Ravenscroft's process aimed to avoid the occurrence of "clouding" in blown glass. Therefore, clouding is the effect which he wanted to prevent during glass making. 


 

8. Taxes

 

Reference

 

From Paragraph D: “Heavy taxes were placed on the amount of glass melted in glasshouses before that time.”
 

Explanation
 

Paragraph D explains the changes to laws concerning glass production in Britain. It mentions the Excise Act was removed in 1845, which placed taxes on glass melted in glasshouses before that time. Hence, taxes represent the legal changes affecting glass production in the mid-19th century.

Questions and Answers 9-13
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1?
In boxes 9-13 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

 

9. In 1887, HM Ashley has the fastest bottle producing machine that existed at the time.

10. Micheal Owens was hired by a large US company to design a fully automated bottle manufacturing machine for them.

11. Nowadays, most glass is produced by large international manufacturers.

12. Concern for the environment is leading to an increased demand for glass containers.

13. It is more expensive to produce recycle glass than to manufacture new glass.

 

The History Of Glass Reading Answers with Explanations (9-13)

 

Type of question: True/False/Not Given 

 

Here’s how to find the history of glass reading answers:
 

  • Read the given question statements carefully and note down the keywords
  • With the help of the keywords, locate them in the passage, which will help you decide whether the given statement is true or false. 
  • Your answer will only be given if the information is in the passage, if not then mention not given. 

 

 

9. True

 

Reference:

 

From Paragraph E: “HM Ashley introduced a machine in Castleford, Yorkshire, England, which is capable of producing 200 bottles per hour.”

 

Explanation

Paragraph E explains that HM Ashley introduced a machine in Castleford, Yorkshire, England, capable of producing 200 bottles per hour." This indicates that HM Ashley did indeed have the fastest bottle-producing machine known at that time, so the given statement is true.


 

10. False

 

Reference:

 

From Paragraph E: “the first fully automated machine was developed in the USA by Michael Owens.”
 

Explanation

Paragraph E mentions that Michael Owens developed the first fully automated machine in the USA in 1907 for his own company, the Owens Bottle Company. However, there is no mention of him being hired by a large US company to design such a machine, so the given statement is false

 

11. Not Given

 

Reference:

 

From Paragraph: Not available
 

Explanation

The passage does not provide specific information about the current state of the glass industry, mainly whether large international manufacturers dominate it.


 

12. True

 

Reference:

 

From Paragraph G: “Glass is the perfect material for recycling, and with growing consumers' concern for green issues, glass bottles and jars are becoming more popular.”
 

Explanation

Paragraph G mentions that Glass recycling is a good thing for the environment. This suggests that concern for the environment is leading to an increased demand for glass containers, so the statement is true.


 

13. False

 

Reference:

 

From Paragraph G: “As less energy is needed to melt recycled glass than to melt down raw materials, this also saves fuel and production costs.”

 

Explanation

Paragraph G does not provide specific information regarding the cost of producing recycled glass compared to manufacturing new glass. Therefore, the statement is false

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FAQs

Q. What are some valuable tips for tackling the IELTS Reading test's True/False/Not Given questions?

A. You need to focus on the specific information in the passage and verify whether the statement is linked. If the information matches the statements in the passage, it's TRUE. If it's contradictory, then it's FALSE. But if there is insufficient data to decide on "Not Given”.

Q. What is a good score for my IELTS Reading module?

A. A good score for the IELTS Reading module varies based on your goals and the organisation's requirements. Typically, a score of 6.5 to 7 or higher out of 9 is considered strong and meets language proficiency standards for various purposes. Verify specific score requirements for accurate guidance.

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

A. The IELTS Reading test typically consists of three passages, each followed by a set of questions designed to evaluate the candidate's comprehension and analytical skills. The passages are meant to assess the candidate's reading proficiency and may vary in complexity and length depending on the topic.

Q. Does the IELTS Reading module have more weightage?

A. All modules in the IELTS exam are equally important, including reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Your score in each module determines your total band score, so each section is equally crucial. To succeed, comprehensive preparation for each section is essential.

Q. How can I stay calm and focused during the IELTS Reading test?

A. To stay calm and focused during the IELTS Reading test, consider practising mindfulness meditation or deep breathing exercises. Also, make sure to get good sleep and eat a healthy breakfast. Also, carefully read the instructions and keep track of your time while solving the IELTS reading section.

Q. How long is the IELTS Reading test?

A. The IELTS reading test lasts an hour and involves answering 40 questions across three passages. The passages cover a wide range of topics and evaluate your abilities to answer quickly and accurately. So, to answer the questions in the given time frame, you need to practise practical time management skills. 

Q. What is the minimum score required in the IELTS Reading test?

A. The marks needed to pass the IELTS Reading test vary depending on the institution or organisation you are applying to and their specific English language proficiency standards. A minimum band score of 6.0 suits many educational institutions and immigration purposes.

Q. What are some excellent books for IELTS Reading test preparation?

A. Some of the best books to prepare for the IELTS reading are the Cambridge Guide to IELTS, Road to IELTS, Simone Braverman's book (Target Band 7), and Barron's IELTS Superpack. Additionally, you can use IELTS practice test materials to improve your skills. Setting aside some time to practise and familiarise yourself with the exam format is important.

Q. How can I score better on my IELTS Reading test?

A. The best way to score better in the IELTS reading is to practise constantly and familiarise yourself with the test format and the different types of questions it asks. You should focus on improving your reading skills by using various strategies like quickly scanning the content and deriving vital information. You can also focus on the critical keywords in the passage that will help you locate the answers quickly.

Q. Is the IELTS Reading test challenging to score?

A. The IELTS reading test can be challenging because it contains many types of questions, such as multiple-choice, true/false/not given, matching, sentence completion, etc., from the given three passages. This makes it challenging to deal with them in the given timeframe. But with constant practice, you can improve your skills and score well on the test. 

Q. How can I manage my time effectively during the IELTS Reading test?

A. You should first start scanning the contents before going through the questions. While doing so, focus on the keywords in the passage. Now, read through the questions and start solving them back to back. Keep monitoring to ensure you give each answer a specific amount of time. Remember, time management is vital to succeed in the exam.