The Luddites Reading Answers: IELTS Reading Practice Test with Answers

updated at

Updated on Apr 04, 2025, 12:11

The IELTS Reading section assesses your ability to understand and analyse various texts. You will encounter three passages, each followed by a set of questions that test skills such as skimming, scanning, and detailed comprehension. The texts are taken from books, journals, newspapers, and online sources, covering a range of academic topics.
 

In the Luddites Reading passage, you will read about the Luddites - a group of early 19th-century English textile workers who protested against the mechanisation of their industry. Their actions were driven by concerns over job security and the impact of new machinery on their livelihoods.


Let’s look at the Luddites reading answer passage, questions, and answers with explanations.

On this page

Arrow right
Slider image

1. The Luddites Reading Answer Passage

You should spend approximately 20 minutes answering Questions 1 – 14 based on The Luddites Reading Answer Passage below.

Read More Down arrow
1/ 4
Slider image

2. The Luddites Reading Answers with Sample Questions

Discover exciting and informative IELTS reading answers about The Luddites.

Read More Down arrow
2/ 4
Slider image

3. Check Out Top 60+ IELTS Reading Practice Test Questions with Answers

Below are some top free IELTS Reading Practice test online questions with detailed answers to enhance your IELTS preparation online. 

Read More Down arrow
3/ 4

More for you

Boost Your IELTS Reading Score

Practice IELTS Reading Answers arrow right

4-Week IELTS Course with
 

Band Jump Guarantee

Attend Free Masterclass arrow right
4/4
1.

The Luddites Reading Answer 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 Luddites Reading Answer Passage

 

Paragraph A. The term Luddite is used to refer to a person who is opposed to new technology. The word derives from the name Ned Ludd, a man who may or may not have actually existed. The original Luddites were textile workers in early nineteenth-century England who protested changes brought on by the Industrial Revolution. These weavers made lace and stockings by hand, carrying out their craft independently in their homes according to traditional methods. In the 1800s, automated power looms and stocking frames were introduced, radically changing the traditional work system. Weavers’ work was moved from individual homes to factories; individuals could not afford to buy the new machines for themselves. The new machines were not difficult to run. They could be operated by unskilled workers and turned out to be an inferior product, but they produced large quantities cheaply, which was the aim of the new factory owners. The makers of finely crafted, handmade textiles could not compete with the new machines. Instead of continuing their tradition as skilled, independent workers, they would have to go to work in factories for low wages.

 

Paragraph B.  The industrial revolution was happening everywhere. In the textile-producing towns of England, workers focused on the new weaving machines as the source of their troubles. The height of Luddite activity occurred in the years 1811-1812. Groups of men, often in disguise, would arrive at a factory and make demands for higher wages and better working conditions. If these demands were not met, the group retaliated by smashing the factory machines. These groups often claimed that they were working under the command of General Ned Ludd, and thus came to be called Luddites.

 

Paragraph C.  Who was Ned Ludd? Rumours about this mysterious person abounded. He came to be associated with that traditional champion of the poor, Robin Hood. The original Luddite activity was centred around Nottingham, and many said that Ned Ludd hid out in nearby Sherwood Forest, just as the legendary Robin Hood had. According to another tradition, Ned Ludd was a weaver who had accidentally broken two stocking frames, and from that, came to be the one blamed any time an expensive piece of weaving equipment was damaged. Whoever Ned Ludd may or may not have been, riots protesting the new factories were carried out in his name throughout England’s textile-producing region.

 

Paragraph D.  Workers’ families suffered as wages fell and food prices rose. There were food riots in several towns, and Luddite activity spread. In the winter of 1812, the Frame-Breaking Act was passed, making the destruction of factory equipment a crime punishable by death. The government sent thousands of troops into areas affected by the riots. In the spring of that year, several factory owners were killed during the Luddite riots, and a number of textile workers died as well. Following one of the largest incidents, when rioters set fire to a mill in Westhoughton, four rioters, including a young boy, were executed. In another incident that spring, a group of over a thousand workers attacked a mill in Lancashire with sticks and rocks. When they were beaten back by armed guards protecting the mill, they moved to the mill owner’s house and burned it down. The wave of violence resulted in a crackdown by the government. Suspected Luddites were arrested and imprisoned, and many of them were hanged.

 

Paragraph E.  By the summer of 1812, Luddite activity had begun to die down, although there continued to be sporadic incidents over the next several years. In 1816, a bad harvest and economic downturn led to a small revival of rioting. In June of that year, workers attacked two mills, smashing equipment and causing thousands of dollars worth of damage. Government troops were brought in to stop the violence. In the end, six of the rioters were executed for their participation. However, rioting never again reached the levels it had in 1811 and 1812.

 

Paragraph F.  The Luddites were short-lived, but they left an impressive mark. They were responsible for destroying close to one thousand weaving machines during the height of their activity in 1811-1812, as well as burning down several factories. Beyond the physical damage, however, they left their mark in people’s minds. The famed English novelist Charlotte Bronte set her novel Shirley in Yorkshire at the time of the riots. This novel is still widely read today. In our present time of rapid technological change, people who are concerned about the pace of technological advance often call themselves Neo-Luddites. Although the responses to it may differ, concern about the changes brought on by technology continues.

 

Let’s explore the questions and answers of The Luddites reading answer passage.

2.

The Luddites Reading Answers with Sample Questions

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

Questions and Answers 1-6
  • Match each cause in List A with its effect in List B.
  • Write the correct letter, A-H, on lines 1-6 on your answer sheet.
  • There are more effects in List B than you will need, so you will not use them all.

 

List A Causes

 

1. The new weaving machines were expensive to buy. _____________

2. The new weaving machines were easy to operate. ______________

3. Workers’ demands for better pay and conditions were not met. ______________

4. Rioting spread to many towns. ______________

5. A law was passed against destroying factory equipment. ______________

6. Economic conditions worsened in 1816. ______________

 

List B Effects

 

A. Troops were sent into the area.

B. Weavers stopped working at home and went to work in factories.

C. Rioters often wore disguises.

D. Workers destroyed factory equipment.

E. Many rioters were hanged.

F. Charlotte Bronte wrote a novel about the Luddites.

G. Prices went up, and salaries went down.

H. Factory owners did not need to hire skilled weavers.

I. Luddite rioting resumed for a short while.

J. People compared Ned Ludd to Robin Hood.
 

The Luddites Reading Answers with Explanations (1-6)

 

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. B - Weavers stopped working at home and went to work in factories

 

Reference: From Paragraph A: “Weavers’ work was moved from individual homes to factories; individuals could not afford to buy the new machines for themselves.”

 

Explanation: This line shows that because the new weaving machines were too expensive, individual weavers could not afford them. As a result, they had to leave their homes and work in factories, making "Weavers stopped working at home and went to work in factories" the correct answer.

 

2. H - Factory owners did not need to hire skilled weavers

 

Reference: From Paragraph A: “The new machines were not difficult to run. They could be operated by unskilled workers and turned out to be an inferior product, but they produced large quantities cheaply, which was the aim of the new factory owners.”

 

Explanation: This line explains that the new weaving machines required little skill to operate, allowing factory owners to employ untrained workers. Since skilled weavers were no longer needed, "Factory owners did not need to hire skilled weavers" is the correct answer.

 

3. D - Workers destroyed factory equipment

 

Reference: From Paragraph B: “Groups of men, often in disguise, would arrive at a factory and make demands for higher wages and better working conditions. If these demands were not met, the group retaliated by smashing the factory machines.”

 

Explanation: This line states that workers resorted to destroying factory equipment when their demands for better wages and working conditions were ignored. This makes "Workers destroyed factory equipment" the correct answer.

 

4. A - Troops were sent into the area

 

Reference: From Paragraph D: “The government sent thousands of troops into areas affected by the riots. In the spring of that year, several factory owners were killed during Luddite riots, and a number of textile workers died as well.”

 

Explanation: This line indicates that the government responded to the widespread riots by sending troops to the affected areas to control the violence. Therefore, "Troops were sent into the area" is the correct answer.

 

5. E - Many rioters were hanged

 

Reference: From Paragraph D: “Following one of the largest incidents, when rioters set fire to a mill in Westhoughton, four rioters, including a young boy, were executed. Suspected Luddites were arrested and imprisoned, and many of them were hanged.”

 

Explanation: This line highlights that in response to the violence, many rioters were arrested, imprisoned, and executed, showing the severity of the crackdown. This makes "Many rioters were hanged" the correct answer.

 

6. I - Luddite rioting resumed for a short while

 

Reference: From Paragraph E: “In 1816, a bad harvest and economic downturn led to a small revival of rioting.”

 

Explanation: This line indicates that economic hardships caused by a bad harvest and financial struggles led to renewed rioting. Therefore, "Luddite rioting resumed for a short while" is the correct answer.

 

Also Read: Dictation Words for IELTS: Practice and Preparation

Questions and Answers 7-14
Do the following statements agree with the information given in The Luddites Reading Answers Passage?
In boxes 7-14 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 about this.

 

7. A Luddite is a person who resists new technology. _____________

8. Before the nineteenth century, weavers made lace by hand. _____________

9. Factory owners, as well as workers, died as a result of Luddite rioting. _____________

10. The Luddite movement did not spread beyond England. _____________

11. Nobody knows for certain who Ned Ludd was. _____________

12. Worker protests during the economic downturn of 1816 were nonviolent. _____________

13. Luddite activity lasted for many years. _____________

14. Neo-Luddites do not use computers  _____________
 

The Luddites  Reading Answers With Explanations (7-14)

 

Type of question: Yes/No/Not Given(True/False/Not Given)

 

In this question type, you are required to determine whether the statements provided agree with, contradict, or are not mentioned in the reading passage. 

 

How to best answer: 
 

  • Understand what information is being presented and what is being asked.
  • Find relevant information in the reading passage that relates to the statement.
  • Determine if the statement agrees with, contradicts, or is not mentioned in the passage.
  • If the information is not explicitly provided in the passage, select 'Not Given' rather than making assumptions.
  • Base your answers solely on the information presented in the passage, avoiding personal opinions or outside knowledge.

 

7. True

 

Reference: From Paragraph A: “The term Luddite is used to refer to a person who is opposed to new technology.”

 

Explanation: This line clearly defines the meaning of the term "Luddite," stating that it refers to someone who resists new technology. Since the statement directly aligns with this definition, "True" is the correct answer.

 

8. True

 

Reference: From Paragraph A: “The original Luddites were textile workers in early nineteenth-century England who protested changes brought on by the industrial revolution. These weavers made lace and stockings by hand, carrying out their craft independently in their homes according to traditional methods.”

 

Explanation: This line confirms that before the introduction of new machinery, weavers used traditional techniques to make lace manually at home. Since this directly supports the given statement, "True" is the correct answer.

 

9. True

 

Reference: From Paragraph D: “The government sent thousands of troops into areas affected by the riots. In the spring of that year, several factory owners were killed during Luddite riots, and a number of textile workers died as well.”

 

Explanation: This line explicitly states that both factory owners and textile workers lost their lives during the riots. Since the statement agrees with the information provided in the passage, "True" is the correct answer.

 

10. Not Given

 

Reference: N/A

 

Explanation: There is no mention of when sellers must finish or leave the event. Since the passage does not provide any information regarding a closing time for sellers, the answer is “Not given”.

 

11. True

 

Reference: From Paragraph A: “The term Luddite is used to refer to a person who is opposed to new technology. The word derives from the name Ned Ludd, a man who may or may not have actually existed.”

 

Explanation: This line highlights the uncertainty surrounding Ned Ludd’s identity, indicating that no one knows for sure who he was. As this directly supports the statement, that "True" is the correct answer.

 

12. False

 

Reference: From Paragraph E: “In 1816, a bad harvest and economic downturn led to a small revival of rioting. In June of that year, workers attacked two mills, smashing equipment and causing thousands of dollars worth of damage.”

 

Explanation: This line describes the violent actions taken by workers during the protests in 1816. Since the statement claims that the protests were nonviolent, which contradicts the passage, "False" is the correct answer.

 

13. False

 

Reference: From Paragraph F: “The Luddites were short-lived, but they left an impressive mark.”

 

Explanation: This line states that the Luddite movement was not long-lasting, which directly contradicts the statement that it lasted for many years. As a result, "False" is the correct answer.

 

14. Not Given

 

Reference: N/A

 

Explanation: The passage does not provide any details about whether Neo-Luddites use computers or not. Since there is no confirmation or contradiction of the statement, "Not Given" is the correct answer.

 

To build a strong word bank that can help you approach the Reading section with clarity and confidence, go through the IELTS Academic Reading 2025!
3.

Check Out Top 60+ IELTS Reading Practice Test Questions with Answers

Below are some top 60+ free IELTS Reading Practice test online questions with detailed answers to enhance your IELTS preparation online. We have provided sample passages for each test type for your reference.
 

ielts logo

Get the IELTS Prep App

Star rating icon

4.2

1M+ Installs

 app download banner image

Get the app link on your phone

+91

Or download app from

google play storeapp store

Next Up

IELTS Reading Practice Test
IELTS Practice Test
IELTS Cue Card
IELTS Writing Task 2
IELTS Writing Task 1
IELTS Listening Practice Test

IELTS Important Information

IELTS ExamIELTS Exam DateIELTS Exam FeeIELTS ModulesIELTS Listening Practice TestIELTS Speaking Practice TestIELTS Reading Practice TestIELTS Writing Practice TestIELTS Test CentresIELTS ResultsTypes of IELTSIELTS PatternIELTS Exam EligibiltyIELTS Slot BookingIELTS Band ScoreIELTS RegistrationIELTS BooksIELTS PreparationIELTS Practice Test

IELTS Accepting Countries

Study In USAStudy In CanadaStudy In UKStudy In AustraliaStudy In IrelandStudy in GermanyStudy In New ZealandStudy in ItalyStudy in France

IELTS Accepting Universities

Massachusetts Institute Of TechnologyThe University Of British ColumbiaHarvard UniversityUniversity Of TorontoConestoga CollegeUniversity Of East LondonStanford UniversityUniversity Of AlbertaCoventry UniversityNew York University

Read More about IELTS Practice Test

IELTS Speaking Practice TestIELTS Writing Practice TestIELTS Reading Practice TestIELTS Listening Practice TestIELTS Speaking Cue CardIELTS Speaking Part 1IELTS Writing Task 1IELTS Writing Task 2Task 1 Pie ChartTask 1 Table ChartTask 1 MapTask 1 Bar GraphTask 1 Line GraphTask 1 Diagram

Top Reading Samples with Answers

Comet Missions Reading AnswersGlaciers Reading AnswersGraffiti Reading AnswersTasmanian Tiger Reading AnswersThe Ring Tailed Lemur Reading AnswersSleep Reading AnswersDyslexia Reading AnswersPoverty and Health Reading AnswersStealth Forces in Weight Loss Reading AnswersThe Types of Pearls Reading AnswersCaffeine Reading AnswersWhy We Need to Protect Polar Bears Reading Answers

IELTS Test Centre and Dates in India

IELTS Test Centre and Dates in HyderabadIELTS Test Centre and Dates in BangaloreIELTS Test Centre and Dates in ChennaiIELTS Test Centre and Dates in AmritsarIELTS Centre and Dates in LudhianaIELTS Test Centre and Dates in MumbaiIELTS Test Centres and Dates in AhmedabadIELTS Centre and Dates in DelhiIELTS Test Centres and Dates in ChandigarhIELTS Center and Dates in Pune
Related videos

Related Articles

Related read

The Exploration Of Mars Reading Answers

Related read

Your Moulex Iron Reading Answers

Related read

The Harbour View Hotel Reading Answers

FAQs

Q. What are common keywords in The Luddites reading passage?

Ans. Common keywords in The Luddites passage include "industrial revolution," "textile workers," "machinery," "protests," "destruction," "economic impact," and "government response." These words help identify key ideas and locate answers efficiently.

Q. How to answer matching headings questions in The Luddites reading passage?

Ans. Read all headings first, then skim each paragraph to identify the main idea. Look for keywords and synonyms related to headings. Avoid choosing an option just because it contains a familiar word. Focus on the overall theme rather than specific details.

Q. What is a challenging aspect of The Luddites reading passage?

Ans. One challenge is understanding the historical context and vocabulary related to the Industrial Revolution. The passage may also include paraphrased ideas that make it tricky to locate answers. Additionally, distinguishing between fact and opinion can be difficult.

Q. Are The Luddites passages part of the IELTS Academic or General Reading?

Ans. The Luddites passage is typically found in the IELTS Academic Reading test. It is a historical and analytical text, which aligns with the complex reading materials used in the Academic module.

Q. Are there any tips for guessing answers in the IELTS Reading test?

Ans. Yes, use context clues, identify keywords, and eliminate obviously incorrect options. If unsure, make an educated guess rather than leaving a blank. Pay attention to grammatical structure and word form when filling gaps.

Q. How is the IELTS Reading test scored?

Ans. The test has 40 questions, with each correct answer earning one mark. The raw score is converted into a band score from 1 to 9. Academic and General Training modules have different band score conversion charts.

Q. Are spelling mistakes penalised for the IELTS Reading test?

Ans. Yes, spelling mistakes are penalised. Answers must be spelt correctly, even if they are correct in meaning. This applies to all question types, including gap fills and multiple-choice questions.

Q. Is grammar necessary for the IELTS Reading test?

Ans. Grammar is not directly tested, but it matters for certain question types like sentence completion. Answers must fit grammatically within the given sentence structure to be correct.

Q. What are some common misconceptions about the IELTS Reading test?

Ans. Some believe they need prior knowledge of the topics, but all answers come from the passage. Others think they must understand every word, whereas scanning and skimming techniques are more effective.

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

Ans. Practise under timed conditions, stay organised, and move on if stuck on a question. Manage time wisely by allocating minutes per section. Deep breathing and positive thinking can also help reduce stress.

Q. What is the band score range for the IELTS Reading module?

Ans. The IELTS Reading module is scored from band 1 to 9. Higher scores require more correct answers, with approximately 30-32 correct answers needed for a band 7 in the Academic module.