This IELTS Reading post focuses on all the solutions for IELTS Cambridge 10 Reading Test 2 Passage 1 which is entitled: Tea and the Industrial Revolution. This is a targeted post for candidates who have big difficulties in finding Reading Answers. This post can direct you the best to comprehend every Reading answer easily. Finding IELTS Reading answers is a gradual process and I hope this post can help you in this respect.

IELTS Cambridge 10 Test 2: Academic Reading Module

Reading Passage 1:

The headline of the passage: Tea and the Industrial Revolution

Questions 1-7: (List of Headings)

[To find answers for List of Headings, check the first and (occasionally) the last few lines of each paragraph. Most of the time, the answer is there for you containing some synonymous words, which have a match with the lists of headings. If you cannot find the answers in the first and last few lines, you may need to check the middle of the paragraphs. This we did in other tests too.]

Question 1: Paragraph A

The answer can be found in the last lines of paragraph A. Here, the author asks, “Why did this particular Big Bang-the world-changing birth of industry – happen in Britain? And why did it strike at the end of the 18 century?” These questions give us the hint about the place and the time of Industrial Revolution.

So, the answer is: iv (The time and place of the Industrial Revolution)

Question 2: Paragraph B

The answer can be found in paragraph B, lines 1-2 says, “There are about 20 different factors and all of them need to be present before the revolution can happen.” Then the writer mention the factors such as technology, power, cheap labour, easy transportation, market-driven economy, political system etc.  All of these factors are the conditions required for Industrial Revolution.

So, the answer is: viii (Conditions required for industrialisation)

Question 3: Paragraph C

The answer is found in paragraph C, lines 1 and 2 mentions the missing conditions or factors, “Tea  and  beer,  two  of  the  nation’s  favorite  drinks,  fueled  the revolution.” Then the author explains why they were the keys or important factors, “The antiseptic properties of tannin, the active ingredient in tea, and of hops in beer – plus the fact that both are made with boiled water – allowed urban communities to flourish at close quarters without succumbing to water-borne diseases such as dysentery.”

So, the answer is: vii (Two keys to Britain’s industrial revolution)                       

Question 4: Paragraph D

In the first lines of paragraph D the writer says, “Macfarlane had wondered for a long time how the Industrial Revolution came about.” This line suggests that Macfarlane was searching the reason behind the revolution. Then in lines 3-4, the writer says, “Between about 1650 and 1740, the population in Britain was static. But then there was a burst in population growth.” Then in the following lines he lists four questions which were suggested as causes of this burst.

So, the answer is: i (The search for the reasons for an increase in population)               

Question 5: Paragraph E

In paragraph E lines 7-11, the author mentions, “For a long time, the English were protected by the strong antibacterial agent in hops, which were added to help preserve the beer. But in the late 17th century a tax was introduced on malt, the basic ingredient of beer. The poor turned to water and gin and in the 1720s, the mortality rate began to rise again. Then it suddenly dropped again.”  This means that the English changed their habit of drinking, which, in return, changed the mortality rate too.

So, the answer is: vi (Changes in drinking habits in Britain)                   

Question 6: Paragraph F

Paragraph F starts with the line, “Macfarlane looked to Japan, . .. .” Then in the following lines we find a comparison between Japan and Britain. … . “Water-borne disease had a much looser grip on the Japanese population than those in Britain.” Thus Macfarlane was able to find out that “. .. . . the history of tea in Britain provided an extraordinary coincidence of dates”.

So, the answer is: ix (Comparisons with Japan lead to the answer)

Question 7: Paragraph G

The answer is in lines 3-5 where the author says, “ . .. .  it had turned its back on the essence of any work-based revolution by giving up labour-saving devices such as animals, afraid that they would put people out of work.” This means fear of unemployment because of industrialisation.

So, the answer is: ii (Industrialisation and the fear of unemployment)

Questions 8-13: TRUE, FALSE, NOT GIVEN

In this type of question, candidates are asked to find out whether:

The statement in the question matches with the account in the text- TRUE
The statement in the question contradicts the account in the text- FALSE
The statement in the question has no clear connection with the account in the text- NOT GIVEN

[For this type of question, you can divide each statement into three independent pieces and make your way through with the answer.]

Question 8: China’s transport system was not suitable for industry in the 18th century.

Keywords for the answer: China, transport, not suitable, 18th century

Though the writer mentions the country China in paragraphs B and F, and China and the 18th century are also mentioned in Paragraph F; we cannot find any mention of the transport system in China anywhere in the paragraphs.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question 9: Tea and beer both helped to prevent dysentery in Britain.

Keywords for these answers: tea, beer, both, helped, prevent dysentery

Remember reading lines from Paragraph C for list of headings?

“The antiseptic properties of tannin, the active ingredient in tea, and of hops in beer – plus the fact that both are made with boiled water – allowed urban communities to flourish at close quarters without succumbing to water-borne diseases such as dysentery.”  These lines suggest that antiseptic properties in tea and beer helped to prevent dysentery in urban communities though they lived in close quarters.

So, the answer is: TRUE

Question 10: Roy Porter disagrees with Professor Macfarlane’s findings.

Keywords for this answer:  Roy Porter, disagree, Macfarlane

At the end of paragraph C, the author says, “Macfarlane’s case has been strengthened by support from notable quarters- Roy  Porter…. . .. . ”.  This line suggests that Roy Porter agreed and supported Professor Macfarlane’s findings. The statement contradicts the question.

So, the answer is: FALSE

Question 11: After 1740, there was a reduction in population in Britain.

Keywords for this answer:  After 1740, reduction, population, Britain

In paragraph D, lines 3-4 say, “Between 1650 and 1740, the population in Britain was static. But then there was a burst in population growth.” This means that after 1740, there was a huge increase in population in Britain. The statement contradicts the question.

So, the answer is: FALSE

Question 12: People in Britain used to make beer at home.

Keywords for this answer:  Britain, make beer, at home

Though drinking beer is mentioned in paragraphs C and E, there is no such information that makes it clear to understand that people in Britain used to make beer at their homes.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question 13: The tax on malt indirectly caused a rise in the death rate.

Keywords for this answer:  tax on malt, indirectly caused, rise, death rate

We find the mention of tax and death rate at the end of paragraph E, “But in the late 17 century, a tax was introduced on malt, the basic ingredient of beer. The poor turned to water and gin and in the 1720s the mortality rate began to rise again.” This clearly suggests that the introduction of tax on malt led poor people to stop drinking beer and started to drink water and gin, which caused a rise in the mortality rate/death rate.

So, the answer is: TRUE

Click here for all the solutions to Cambridge 10 Reading test 2 Passage 2

Click here for all the solutions to Cambridge 1o Reading test 2 Passage 3

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