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The History of Salt Reading Answers: IELTS Reading Practice Test

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Updated on Jul 02, 2024, 11:57

In the IELTS Reading section, your reading comprehension skills are rigorously tested. Lasting for 60 minutes, this segment comprises three passages, each accompanied by a series of questions in various formats like multiple choice, matching headings, and True/False/Not Given. Success in this section hinges on your ability to grasp key information, discern main ideas, and infer meaning from context.

 

To ace the IELTS Reading section, adopt effective reading strategies such as skimming for main ideas and scanning for specific details. Regular practice with sample questions and exposure to different question types will sharpen your skills for test day.

 

Prepare for a fascinating journey through "The History of Salt," an insightful exploration of the role salt has played throughout human civilization. Delve into its significance in ancient economies, its influence on trade routes, and its cultural and culinary impact through engaging passages and accompanying questions, enriching your understanding of how this common mineral has shaped history and continues to be an essential part of our lives.

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1. The History of Salt Reading Passage

You should spend approximately 20 minutes answering Questions 1 - 14 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. The History of Salt Reading Question & Answers

Discover exciting and informative IELTS reading answers about The History of Salt

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1.

The History of Salt 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.

 

 

 

 

 The History of Salt Reading Passage 


 

 

Paragraph A 

Salt is so simple and plentiful that we almost take it for granted. In chemical terms, salt is the combination of a sodium ion with a chloride ion, making it one of the most basic molecules on earth. It is also one of the most plentiful: it has been estimated that salt deposits under the state of Kansas alone could supply the entire world’s needs for the next 250,000 years.

 

Paragraph B

But salt is also an essential element. Without it, life itself would be impossible since the human body requires the mineral in order to function properly. The concentration of sodium ions in the blood is directly related to the regulation of safe body fluid levels. And while we are all familiar with its many uses in cooking, we may not be aware that this element is used in some 14,000 commercial applications. From manufacturing pulp and paper to setting dyes in textiles and fabric, from producing soaps and detergents to making our roads safe in winter, salt plays an essential part in our daily lives.

 

Paragraph C

Salt has a long and influential role in world history. From the dawn of civilization, it has been a key factor in economic, religious, social and political development. In every corner of the world, it has been the subject of superstition, folklore, and warfare, and has even been used as currency.

 

Paragraph D

As a precious and portable commodity, salt has long been a cornerstone of economies throughout history. In fact, researcher M.R. Bloch conjectured that civilization began along the edges of the desert because of the natural surface deposits of salt found there. Bloch also believed that the first war – likely fought near the ancient city of Essalt on the Jordan River – could have been fought over the city’s precious supplies of the mineral.

 

Paragraph E

In 2200 BC, the Chinese emperor Hsia Yu levied one of the first known taxes. He taxed salt. In Tibet, Marco Polo noted that tiny cakes of salt were pressed with images of the Grand Khan to be used as coins and to this day among the nomads of Ethiopia’s Danakil Plains it is still used as money. Greek slave traders often bartered it for slaves, giving rise to the expression that someone was “not worth his salt.” Roman legionnaires were paid in salt – a solarium, the Latin origin of the word “salary.”

 

Paragraph F

Merchants in 12th-century Timbuktu – the gateway to the Sahara Desert and the seat of scholars – valued this mineral as highly as books and gold. In France, Charles of Anjou levied the “gabelle,” a salt tax, in 1259 to finance his conquest of the Kingdom of Naples. Outrage over the gabelle fueled the French Revolution. Though the revolutionaries eliminated the tax shortly after Louis XVI, the Republic of France re-established the gabelle in the early 19th Century; only in 1946 was it removed from the books.

 

Paragraph G

The Erie Canal, an engineering marvel that connected the Great Lakes to New York’s Hudson River in 1825, was called “the ditch that salt built.” Salt tax revenues paid for half the cost of construction of the canal. The British monarchy supported itself with high salt taxes, leading to a bustling black market for the white crystal. In 1 785, the Earl of Dundonald wrote that every year in England, 10,000 people were arrested for salt smuggling. And protesting against British rule in 1930, Mahatma Gandhi led a 200-mile march to the Arabian Ocean to collect untaxed salt for India’s poor.

 

Paragraph H

In religion and culture, salt long held an important place with Greek worshippers consecrating it in their rituals. Further, in the Buddhist tradition, salt repels evil spirits, which is why it is customary to throw it over your- shoulder before entering your house after a funeral: it scares off any evil spirits that may be clinging to your back. Shinto religion also uses it to purify an area. Before sumo wrestlers enter the ring for a match – which is, in reality, an elaborate Shinto rite – a handful is thrown into the center to drive off malevolent spirits.

 

Paragraph I

In the Southwest of the United States, the Pueblo worship the Salt Mother. Other native tribes had significant restrictions on who was permitted to eat salt. Hopi legend holds that the angry Warrior Twins punished mankind by placing valuable salt deposits far from civilization, requiring hard work and bravery to harvest the precious mineral. In 1933, the Dalai Lama was buried sitting up in a bed of salt. Today, a gift of salt endures in India as a potent symbol of good luck and a reference to Mahatma Gandhi’s liberation of India.

 

Paragraph J
The effects of salt deficiency are highlighted in times of war, when human bodies and national economies are strained to their limits. Thousands of Napoleon’s troops died during the French retreat from Moscow due to inadequate wound healing and lowered resistance to disease – the results of salt deficiency.

2.

The History of Salt Reading Question & Answers

Discover exciting and informative IELTS reading answers about The History of Salt

Questions and Answers 1-3
  • Choose THREE letters A-H.
  • Which THREE statements are true of salt?

 

 

  1. A number of cities take their name from the word salt.
  2. Salt contributed to the French Revolution.
  3. The uses of salt are countless.
  4. Salt has been produced in China for less than 2000 years.
  5. There are many commercial applications for salt.
  6. Salt deposits in the state of Kansas are vast.
  7. Salt has few industrial uses nowadays.
  8. Slaves used salt as a currency.

 

 

The History of Salt Reading Answers with Explanations (1-3)

 

Question Type: Multiple Choice 

 

Multiple Choice questions in the IELTS reading test present you with a question followed by a set of options from which you must choose the correct answer. Typically, there are three or four options to choose from. You must carefully read the question and each option before selecting the correct answer.
 

How to best answer this question:

 

  • You must comprehend the passage to select the most accurate option.
  • Efficient skimming and scanning help locate relevant information quickly.
  • Some options may be designed to mislead you, so it's crucial to base your choice on evidence from the passage.
  • Multiple-choice questions can be time-consuming if you dwell on each option too long. Manage your time wisely to ensure you can attempt all questions.

 

 

1. B - Salt contributed to the French Revolution

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph F

Outrage over the gabelle fueled the French Revolution.
 

Explanation

This line explains that the salt tax, or "gabelle," was a significant factor in sparking the French Revolution, showing salt's influence on historical events.


 

2. E - There are many commercial applications for salt

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph B 

we may not be aware that this element is used in some 14,000 commercial applications.
 

Explanation

This line highlights the extensive use of salt in various industries, confirming its numerous commercial applications.


 

3. F - Salt deposits in the state of Kansas are vast

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph A 

salt deposits under the state of Kansas alone could supply the entire world’s needs for the next 250,000 years.
 

Explanation

This line emphasizes the vastness of salt deposits in Kansas, indicating their substantial capacity.

Questions and Answers 4-8
  • Complete the summary.
  • Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer
  • Write your answers in boxes 4-8 on your answer sheet.

 

 

Salt is such a 4)  _______.that people would not be able to live without it. As well as its uses in cooking, this basic mineral has thousands of business 5) ____. Ranging from making paper to the manufacture of soap. Being a prized and 6) _____, it has played a major part in the economies of many countries. As such, salt has not only led to war but has also been used to raise 7) _____ by governments in many parts of the world. There are also many instances of its place in religion and culture being used as a means to get rid of evil 8) ______ .

 

 

The History of Salt Reading Answers with Explanations (4-8)

 

Type of Question: Summary Completion

 

Summary completion questions provide a summary of part of the reading passage with several blanks. Your task is to fill in these blanks with appropriate words or phrases from the passage. The summary may cover a whole passage or a part of it, focusing on key points and main ideas.
 

How to best answer this question:

 

  • Quickly skim the passage to get an idea of its main ideas and structure.
  • Focus on keywords in the summary and look for them or their synonyms in the passage.
  • Carefully read the instructions to know the word limit and any specific guidelines.
  • Identify the part of the passage related to the summary. This often involves scanning for keywords or phrases.
  • Ensure the words you choose fit grammatically and contextually within the summary.
  • After filling in the blanks, review the summary to ensure it makes sense and adheres to the word limit.


 

4. Essential Element

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph

But salt is also an essential element. Without it, life itself would be impossible...
 

Explanation

This line indicates that salt is a vital substance necessary for life, confirming it as an essential element.


 

5. Applications

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph  B 

this element is used in some 14,000 commercial applications.
 

Explanation

This line shows the vast range of uses for salt in various industries, confirming it has thousands of business applications.


 

6. Portable Commodity

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph D 

As a precious and portable commodity, salt has long been a cornerstone of economies...
 

Explanation

This line describes salt as a valuable and easily transportable item, making it a significant part of many economies.


 

7. Taxes

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph  E 

In 2200 BC, the Chinese emperor Hsia Yu levied one of the first known taxes. He taxed salt.
 

Explanation

This line illustrates that salt has been used historically to raise revenue through taxation.


 

8. Spirits

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph H 

in the Buddhist tradition, salt repels evil spirits...
 

Explanation

This line explains salt's role in religious and cultural practices to ward off evil spirits.

Questions and Answers 9-14
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the Reading Passage?
In boxes 9-14 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

 

 

9. It has been suggested that salt was responsible for the first war
10. The first tax on salt was imposed by a Chinese emperor
11. Salt is no longer used as a form of currency
12. Most of the money for the construction of the Erie Canal came from salt taxes
13. Hopi legend believes that salt deposits were placed far away from civilization to penalize mankind
14. A lack of salt is connected with the deaths of many of Napoleon’s soldiers during the French retreat from Moscow
 

 

The History of Salt Reading Answers with Explanations (9-14)

 

Question Type:  True/False/Not Given

 

In this task, you are presented with a statement, and your task is to determine if it agrees with the information in the passage (True), contradicts the information in the passage (False), or if there is insufficient information in the passage to decide (not given).
 

How to best answer the question:

 

  • Read the statement carefully to ensure you understand exactly what it is saying. 
  • Pay attention to details such as dates, numbers, and specific information.
  • Scan the passage to find the section where the relevant information is likely to be located. 
  • Focus on finding evidence that either supports or contradicts the statement.
  • True: If the statement agrees with the information in the passage.
  • False: If the statement contradicts the information in the passage.
  • Not Given: If there is no information in the passage that confirms or contradicts the statement.


 

9. True

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph C
Presley, Cash, Perkins and Lewis understood the ambition of the Philips intuitively and believed in it. Orbison wasn’t motivated by the goal, and he achieved one hit with Sun Label.
 

Explanation

Roy Orbison is mentioned in the passage as the one who wasn’t motivated by Sam Philips' goal, making option d the correct choice.


 

10. Not Given

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph E 

In 2200 BC, the Chinese emperor Hsia Yu levied one of the first known taxes. He taxed salt.
 

Explanation

While this line mentions that the Chinese emperor imposed one of the first known taxes on salt, it does not confirm whether it was the very first tax on salt. Therefore, the information needed to determine if it was the first tax is not provided, making the statement not given.


 

11. False

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph E 

In Tibet, Marco Polo noted that tiny cakes of salt were pressed with images of the Grand Khan to be used as coins and to this day among the nomads of Ethiopia’s Danakil Plains it is still used as money.
 

Explanation
This line indicates that salt is still used as a form of currency among the nomads of Ethiopia’s Danakil Plains, contradicting the statement that salt is no longer used as currency, making the statement false.


 

12. False

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph G 

Salt tax revenues paid for half the cost of construction of the canal.
 

Explanation

This line clearly states that salt tax revenues paid for only half of the construction costs of the Erie Canal, not most of it. Hence, the statement that most of the money came from salt taxes is false.


 

13. True

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph I 

Hopi legend holds that the angry Warrior Twins punished mankind by placing valuable salt deposits far from civilization...
 

Explanation

This line indicates that according to Hopi legend, salt deposits were placed far from civilization as a form of punishment by the Warrior Twins, supporting the statement that Hopi legend believes salt deposits were placed far away from civilization to penalize mankind.


 

14. True

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph J 

Thousands of Napoleon’s troops died during the French retreat from Moscow due to inadequate wound healing and lowered resistance to disease – the results of salt deficiency.
 

Explanation

This line confirms that many of Napoleon’s soldiers died during the retreat from Moscow due to the effects of salt deficiency, thereby making the statement true.

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FAQs

Q. Can I write on the question paper during the test?

Ans. Yes, you are allowed to write on the question paper during the IELTS Reading test. This can be a helpful strategy for keeping track of key information, identifying important details, and organising your thoughts as you read the passages. You can underline relevant points, circle keywords, or make brief notes to aid in answering the questions later.

Q. What types of questions can I expect in the IELTS Reading test?

Ans. The IELTS Reading test includes various question formats such as multiple choice, matching headings, True/False/Not Given, sentence completion, and short answer questions. These question types assess different skills like understanding main ideas, identifying details, and interpreting information.

Q. Is there a difference between the Academic and General Training IELTS Reading tests?

Ans. Yes, there is a difference. The Academic Reading test includes passages that are more academically oriented, often taken from books, journals, and magazines, and are designed to assess readiness for university-level study. In contrast, the General Training Reading test features passages relevant to everyday life and work situations, such as advertisements, official documents, and instruction manuals, assessing practical reading skills.