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Travel Books Reading Answers: IELTS Reading Practice Test

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Updated on Jul 15, 2024, 10:38

The IELTS Reading section is a pivotal component of the exam, designed to evaluate your ability to read and comprehend texts. This section comprises three passages of increasing complexity, each accompanied by a set of questions. You have 60 minutes to complete the section, during which you'll demonstrate your skills in understanding, analysing, and interpreting written information.

 

 

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 “Travel Books” passage explores the different genres of books, which vividly recount journeys to distant places, offering readers a glimpse into foreign cultures, landscapes, and histories. Travel literature not only entertains but also educates, providing unique perspectives that broaden readers' horizons and deepen their understanding of global diversity.

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1. Travel Books 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. Travel Books Reading Question & Answers

Discover exciting and informative IELTS reading answers about Travel Books  Reading Question & Answers

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1.

Travel Books 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.

 

 

 

 

Travel Books Reading Passage

 

 

Paragraph A

 

There are numerous reasons why people have ventured outside of their own societies. Some travellers might have just wanted to quench their curiosity about the rest of the world. However, until recently, travellers did set out on their journeys for factors other than piqued curiosity. The traveller's accounts offer a wealth of insightful information about these foreign places and open a window to a better understanding of the local cultures and histories, but they also serve as a mirror for the travellers themselves because they give them a better understanding of who they are.

 

 

Paragraph B

 

Fragmented travel accounts first appeared in Mesopotamia and Egypt in ancient times, and records of foreign travel started to appear soon after writing was invented. Travel accounts became a popular literary genre after the formation of large imperial states in the classical world, and they held an especially strong appeal for rulers desiring useful knowledge about their realms. In order to learn more about the history of the Persian wars, the Greek historian Herodotus wrote about his travels to Egypt and Anatolia. Based on journeys made in the first century BCE in search of allies for the Han dynasty, the Chinese envoy Zhang Qian described much of central Asia as far west as Bactria (modern-day Afghanistan). The vast compendia of geographic knowledge that Hellenistic and Roman geographers like Ptolemy, Strabo, and Pliny the Elder compiled were based on their own travels through most of the Mediterranean region as well as the accounts of other travellers.

 

 

Paragraph C

 

Travel to foreign countries was greatly influenced by trade and pilgrimage during the post-classical era (roughly 500 to 1500 CE). Many parts of the eastern hemisphere were sought after by Muslim traders. They provided the first written accounts of societies in sub-Saharan West Africa and described the lands, peoples, and commercial goods of the Indian Ocean basin from East Africa to Indonesia. Devout Muslims travelled as pilgrims to Mecca to perform the hajj and visit the Islamic holy sites, while traders set out in search of trade and financial gain. Millions of Muslims have followed the prophet Muhammad's example since his first pilgrimage to Mecca, and thousands of hajj accounts have detailed their experiences. East Asian travellers followed many of the roads and sea lanes in the eastern hemisphere during the post-classical era, though they were not quite as well-known as Muslims. Devout East Asian Buddhists travelled great distances on pilgrimages, and Chinese traders frequently travelled to Southeast Asia and India. On occasion, they even ventured to East Africa. Numerous Chinese Buddhists travelled to India between the fifth and ninth centuries CE to study with Buddhist teachers, gather sacred texts, and visit sacred sites. Many pilgrims' experiences, including those of Faxian, Xuanzang, and Yijing, were chronicled in written accounts. Buddhists from Japan, Korea, and other countries also travelled to other countries in search of spiritual enlightenment, although their numbers were not as great as those of the Chinese pilgrims.

 

 

Paragraph D

 

Early in the post-classical era, mediaeval Europeans did not travel as extensively as their Muslim and East Asian contemporaries, despite the fact that ever-increasing numbers of Christian pilgrims travelled to Jerusalem, Rome, Santiago de Compostela (in northern Spain), and other holy sites. However, after the 12th century, numerous merchants, pilgrims, and missionaries from mediaeval Europe travelled widely and left behind travel diaries; the best-known of these is Marco Polo's account of his journeys and stay in China. Europeans searched for new and more direct routes to Asian and African markets as they became more familiar with the larger eastern hemisphere and the lucrative commercial opportunities it offered. Their efforts eventually led them to the Americas and Oceania, and they also travelled to every region of the Eastern Hemisphere.

 

 

Paragraph E

 

In contrast to Muslim and Chinese travellers and travel writers in post-classical times, European explorers, conquistadors, traders, and missionaries dominated the early modern era (roughly 1500–1800 CE). In early modern times, Muslim and Chinese travel was by no means stopped. However, Europeans travelled to remote regions of the world, and European printing presses produced thousands of travelogues that described distant places and peoples for an audience that seemed to have an insatiable appetite for news about the rest of the world. A number of editors, including Giambattista Ramusio, Richard Hakluyt, Theodore de Biy, and Samuel Purchas, compiled a large number of travel accounts and made them available in sizable published collections due to the volume of travel literature at the time.

 

 

Paragraph F

 

European travellers explored the interior regions of Africa and the Americas during the 19th century, sparking a new wave of travel writing. While this was going on, European colonial administrators wrote extensively about the societies of their colonial subjects, particularly in the colonies they founded in Asia and Africa. By the middle of the 20th century, attention was also shifting the other way. Travellers from Asia, in particular, visited Europe and the United States in an effort to learn organisational principles that would be helpful for their own societies despite being painfully aware of the military and technological prowess of European and Euro-American societies. The Japanese reformer Fukuzawa Yu-kichi and the Chinese revolutionary San Yat-senauthor were two of the most notable of these travellers who heavily drew on their overseas observations and experiences in their own writings. 

 

 

Paragraph G

 

Explosions in both the frequency of long-distance travel and the volume of travel writing were seen in the 20th century as a result of the development of affordable and dependable modes of transportation. While there was still a lot of travel for the same reasons as in the past—business, administration, diplomacy, pilgrimage, and missionary work—more efficient mass transportation methods allowed for the growth of new types of travel. Mass tourism emerged as a significant form of consumption for people living in the world's wealthy societies, making it the most distinctive of them. Travelling allowed people to experience new places like Rome's landmarks, a Caribbean cruise, a Great Wall of China hike, some Bordeaux wineries, or a Kenyan safari. To accommodate these travellers, a peculiar variation of the travelogue emerged: the guidebook, which provided recommendations on where to eat, stay, shop, observe local customs, and see all the important sights. The global economy has been greatly impacted by tourism, but other recent forms of travel have also had a significant impact.

 

 

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

2.

Travel Books Reading Question & Answers

Discover exciting and informative IELTS reading answers about Travel Books 

Questions and Answers 1-2

  • Choose the correct letter: A, B, C or D.
  • Write your answers in boxes 1-2 on your answer sheet.

 

 

1. When it first started, why did the majority of people travel?

 

 

A. Researching one's own culture
B. Business
C. Better familiarity with other people and places
D. Publishing travelogues

 



2. Why did the author say writing travel books is also “a mirror” for travellers themselves?

 

 

A. Travellers keep journals of their own experiences.
B. Because travellers consider their own culture and way of life.
C. Because it broadens our understanding of world cultures.
D. As a result of its relevance to the evolution of human society.


 

Travel Books Reading Answers with Explanations (1-2)

 

 

Type of question: Multiple choice questions

 

In this question type, you are asked to answer the question followed by several options, typically lettered A, B, C, or D. The task is to select the correct answer from the given choices based on the information provided in the reading passage.

 

 

How to best answer: 
 

  • Read the question carefully and understand what it asks.
  • Pay attention to the keywords in the question.
  • Skim the passage quickly to locate relevant information.
  • Eliminate the clearly incorrect options.
  • Select the answer that best fits the information in the passage.



 

1. C


 

Reference

 

From paragraph A: “The traveller's accounts offer a wealth of insightful information about these foreign places and open a window to a better understanding of the local cultures and histories, but they also serve as a mirror for the travellers themselves because they give them a better understanding of who they are”.


 

Explanation

 

The passage discusses how travellers historically ventured out not just for curiosity but to gain deeper insights into foreign cultures. By experiencing different societies, travellers not only learn about others but also gain a comparative perspective that enriches their understanding of their own identity and culture. This aligns with option C, which highlights the importance of travel for fostering familiarity and empathy with diverse people and places.


 

2. B


 

Reference

 

From paragraph A:  “The traveller's accounts offer a wealth of insightful information about these foreign places and open a window to a better understanding of the local cultures and histories, but they also serve as a mirror for the travellers themselves because they give them a better understanding of who they are”.


 

Explanation

 

The passage suggests that travel writings act as a mirror for travellers by prompting them to reflect on their own cultural background and values. Option B correctly identifies this aspect, emphasising that through documenting their experiences and encounters abroad, travellers inevitably engage in introspection about their own identity and societal norms. Thus, writing travel books serves not only to educate others about different cultures but also to deepen travellers' awareness of their own cultural perspectives and ways of life.


 

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

Questions and Answers 3-5

  • Choose the correct letter: A, B, C or D.
  • Write your answers in boxes 3-5 on your answer sheet.

 

 

3. Why were the imperial rulers especially interested in these travel stories?

 

A. Reading travel stories was a popular pastime.
B. The accounts are often truthful rather than fictional.
C. Travel books played an important role in literature.
D. They desired knowledge of their empire.

 

 

4. Who were the largest group to record their spiritual trips during the post-classical era?

 

A. Muslim traders
B. Muslim pilgrims
C. Chinese Buddhists
D. Indian Buddhist teachers

 

 

5. During the early modern era, a large number of travel books were published to

 

A. meet the public’s interest.
B. explore new business opportunities.
C. encourage trips to the new world.
D. record the larger world.


 

 

Travel Books Reading Answers with Explanations (3-5)

 

 

Refer to Question type(1-2) for information


 

3. D


 

Reference

 

From paragraph B: “Travel accounts became a popular literary genre after the formation of large, imperial states in the classical world, and they held an especially strong appeal for rulers desiring useful knowledge about their realms”.


 

Explanation

 

Imperial rulers were especially interested in travel stories (answer D) because they provided crucial insights into their empires, aiding in governance and expansion by offering valuable knowledge about geography, cultures, and politics.


 

4. B


 

Reference

 

From paragraph C: “ Devout Muslims travelled as pilgrims to Mecca to perform the hajj and visit the Islamic holy sites, while traders set out in search of trade and financial gain”.


 

Explanation

 

Muslim pilgrims (answer B) were the largest group recording their spiritual trips during the post-classical era, primarily due to the significance of the pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj), which was a central religious duty for devout Muslims. Their accounts detailed profound experiences and observations during these sacred journeys.



 

5. A


 

Reference

 

From paragraph E: “In early modern times, Muslim and Chinese travel was by no means stopped. However, Europeans travelled to remote regions of the world, and European printing presses produced thousands of travelogues that described distant places and peoples for an audience that seemed to have an insatiable appetite for news about the rest of the world”.


 

Explanation

 

During the early modern era, a large number of travel books were published (answer A) to meet the public's insatiable interest in learning about distant lands and cultures. This surge in travel literature reflected growing European curiosity about the wider world and its diverse peoples, driving the demand for detailed accounts of these explorations.


 

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

Questions and Answers 6-13

  • Complete the table on the next page.
  • Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the Reading Passage for each answer.

 

 

TimeTravellerDestinationPurpose of Travel
Classical GreeceHerodotusEgypt and AnatoliaTo compile information for the study of (6) ………………..
Han DynastyZhang QianCentral AsiaTo seek (7) ………………..
Roman EmpirePtolemy, Strabo, Pliny the ElderThe MediterraneanTo acquire (8) ………………..
Post-classical era (about 500 to 1500 CE)MuslimsFrom East Africa to Indonesia, MeccaFor trading and (9) ………………..
5th - 9thCenturies CEChinese Buddhists(10) ………………..To collect Buddhist texts and for spiritual enlightenment
Early modern era (about 1500 to 1800 CE)European explorersThe New WorldTo satisfy public curiosity about the New World
During 19th centuryColonial administrators Asia, AfricaTo provide information for the (11) ………………..
By mid-century of the 1800s

Sun Yat-sen,

Fukuzawa

Yukichi

Europe and the United States To study the (12) ……………….. of their societies
20th centuryPeople from (13) ……………….. countriesMass tourism For entertainment and pleasure 

 

 

Travel Books Reading Answers with Explanations (6-13)

 

 

Type of question: Table completion

 

Under this task, you are required to fill in missing information in a table based on the information provided in the passage. These questions typically appear as part of the matching information or summary completion tasks.

 

 

How to answer: 

 

  • Quickly skim the passage for the main idea and relevant details.
  • Note keywords or headings in the table to place missing information.
  • Read surrounding sentences carefully for specific details.
  • Use accurate and grammatically correct information from the passage.
  • Verify and finalise your answers.


 

6. Persian wars


 

Reference

 

From paragraph B: “ In order to learn more about the history of the Persian wars, the Greek historian Herodotus wrote about his travels to Egypt and Anatolia.”


 

 

Explanation

 

Herodotus undertook travels to Egypt and Anatolia with a specific focus on documenting the Persian wars. His accounts not only detailed the military conflicts but also provided cultural and historical insights into the societies involved. By chronicling these events, Herodotus laid the foundation for historical inquiry and narrative storytelling in Western literature.



 

7. Allies


 

Reference

 

From paragraph B: “Based on journeys made in the first century BCE in search of allies for the Han dynasty, the Chinese envoy Zhang Qian described much of central Asia as far west as Bactria (modern-day Afghanistan).”


 

 

Explanation

 

Zhang Qian's expedition to Central Asia during the Han Dynasty aimed to establish diplomatic alliances and explore trade routes. His travels were pivotal in expanding China's influence westward and facilitating cultural exchanges along the Silk Road. This diplomatic mission underscored the strategic importance of travel in ancient diplomacy and international relations.


 

8. Geographical Knowledge


 

Reference

 

From paragraph C: “The vast compendia of geographic knowledge that Hellenistic and Roman geographers like Ptolemy, Strabo, and Pliny the Elder compiled were based on their own travels through most of the Mediterranean region as well as the accounts of other travellers.”

 


 

Explanation

 

Ptolemy, Strabo, and Pliny the Elder, through their extensive travels and writings, significantly advanced geographical knowledge. Their works encompassed detailed descriptions of regions, peoples, and natural features across the Mediterranean and beyond, shaping early geographic understanding and laying the groundwork for future explorations and mapmaking.


 

9. Pilgrimage


 

Reference

 

From paragraph C: “Travel to foreign countries was greatly influenced by trade and pilgrimage during the post-classical era (roughly 500 to 1500 CE).”


 

 

Explanation

 

During the post-classical era, pilgrimage, such as the hajj to Mecca for Muslims, served dual purposes of religious duty and cultural exchange. It fostered connections among diverse societies across the Indian Ocean basin and beyond, facilitating trade routes and the dissemination of cultural practices and knowledge. Pilgrimage played a crucial role in shaping religious identities and global interactions during this period.


 

10. India


 

Reference

 

From paragraph C: “Numerous Chinese Buddhists travelled to India between the fifth and ninth centuries CE to study with Buddhist teachers, gather sacred texts, and visit sacred sites.”


 

 

Explanation

 

Chinese Buddhists embarked on journeys to India between the 5th and 9th centuries CE to deepen their understanding of Buddhism. These pilgrimages were pivotal in transmitting Buddhist scriptures, fostering intellectual exchange, and enhancing spiritual practices across East Asia. The accounts of travellers like Faxian and Xuanzang documented their arduous journeys and contributed to the preservation and dissemination of Buddhist teachings.



 

11. Colonies


 

Reference

 

From paragraph F: “ While this was going on, European colonial administrators wrote extensively about the societies of their colonial subjects, particularly in the colonies they founded in Asia and Africa.”



 

Explanation

 

In the 19th century, European colonial administrators travelled extensively to document and govern their colonies in Asia and Africa. Their writings provided insights into local cultures, economies, and governance structures, shaping colonial policies and justifications for imperial rule. These travel narratives served as crucial sources of information for understanding colonial societies and influencing European perceptions of their overseas territories.


 

12. Principals


 

Reference

 

From paragraph F: “ Travellers from Asia, in particular, visited Europe and the United States in an effort to learn organisational principles that would be helpful for their own societies despite being painfully aware of the military and technological prowess of European and Euro-American societies.”


 

Explanation

 

Fukuzawa Yukichi and Sun Yat-sen travelled to Europe and the United States in the late 19th century to study organisational and societal principles. Their aim was to gather knowledge that could be applied to modernise and reform their respective East Asian societies. By adopting Western ideas on governance, education, and technology, they played significant roles in the transformation of Japan and China towards modern nation-states.


 

13. Wealthy


 

Reference

 

From paragraph G: “Mass tourism emerged as a significant form of consumption for people living in the world's wealthy societies, making it the most distinctive of them. Travelling allowed people to experience new places like Rome's landmarks, a Caribbean cruise, a Great Wall of China hike, some Bordeaux wineries, or a Kenyan safari.”


 

Explanation

 

In the 20th century, mass tourism became a prominent leisure activity among affluent individuals from developed countries. It involved travel for pleasure and cultural exploration, often to iconic destinations like historical landmarks, natural wonders, and luxury resorts. The rise of mass tourism contributed to global economic growth, infrastructure development in tourist destinations, and cultural exchanges, shaping modern tourism industries and global travel trends.



 

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FAQs

Q. How can I improve my reading speed for the IELTS Reading test?

Ans. To improve your reading speed for the IELTS Reading test, practice regularly with timed exercises. Focus on skimming and scanning techniques to quickly identify main ideas and relevant details in passages. Expand your vocabulary and practice summarising passages to improve comprehension and speed.

Q. Are there practice materials available for the IELTS Reading test?

Ans. Yes, there are plenty of practice materials available for the IELTS Reading test. You can access official practice tests, study guides, online resources, and sample questions provided by test preparation centres. These materials are designed to familiarise you with the test format types of questions and help you develop effective strategies for approaching the reading passages and answering questions accurately.


 

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

Ans. To manage time effectively during the IELTS Reading test, allocate a specific amount of time for each passage and stick to it. Prioritise answering easier questions first and return to more challenging ones later. Practice time management strategies during your preparation to build confidence and familiarity with the test format.