A Brief History of Glassmaking
Read A Brief History of Glassmaking and check the IELTS Reading answers. The first known glass objects can be traced back to the ancient Eastern empires, in about 3500 BC. Building on existing knowledge about glazes, a new material, including sand and metal oxides, was developed. This material - gl…
Passage preview
The first known glass objects can be traced back to the ancient Eastern empires, in about 3500 BC. Building on existing knowledge about glazes, a new material, including sand and metal oxides, was developed. This material - glass - was initially used for small pieces of jewellery and inlays in small statues. Then it was used increasingly for vessels made to hold perfumes, oils, and fragrances. Transparency was not a characteristic of these works. Of greater interest to the early glass artisans was the ability to reproduce the colour and structures of highly valued semi-precious stones.
Vocabulary from this passage
12 words worth learning before you sit the test, each with the sentence it appears in.
- artisan noun
A skilled worker who makes goods by hand, often using traditional techniques
Local artisans still weave the baskets using methods passed down through generations.
- exemplary adjective
Serving as an excellent model worth imitating because of outstanding quality
Her exemplary research set a standard that other scholars in the field tried to match.
- glaze noun
A thin glassy coating fused onto pottery or similar surfaces to give colour, shine or protection
The potter applied a blue glaze before firing the bowls in the kiln.
- inlay noun
A decorative piece set into the surface of another material, such as glass embedded in a statue
The cabinet was decorated with an ivory inlay forming a delicate floral pattern.
- intricate adjective
Having many small, carefully arranged parts or details, making something elaborate and complex
The museum displays intricate carvings that took the sculptor several years to complete.
- mass production noun
The manufacture of goods in large quantities using standardised processes, typically making them cheaper and widely available
Mass production transformed once-luxurious goods into affordable items for ordinary households.
- monumental adjective
Impressively large and imposing, especially in a way suited to public structures or lasting commemoration
The sculptor was commissioned to create a monumental figure for the city square.
- predominantly adverb
Mainly or for the most part, though not exclusively, in terms of composition or frequency
The region's economy is predominantly agricultural, with little heavy industry.
- profound adjective
Very great and far-reaching in effect, influencing something at a deep rather than surface level
The printing press had a profound influence on how knowledge spread across Europe.
- revival noun
A renewed interest in or return to an earlier style, practice or method after a period of neglect
The nineteenth century saw a revival of Gothic architecture across Europe.
- soda ash noun
A sodium compound used as a key raw material in making glass because it lowers the melting temperature
Large deposits of soda ash made the area ideal for producing glass.
- surpass verb
To go beyond or exceed something in quality, achievement or extent
Later engineers surpassed the earlier bridge designs by using stronger and lighter materials.
Answers with explanations
- 1. FALSE
The statement claims that glass was **as important as** ceramics in Greece around 450 BC. Scanning the second paragraph for **450 BC** and **Greeks**, the text indicates that the Greeks **concentrated their energies on ceramics** while using glass **simply for coloured inlays** in sculptures. This shows ceramics was their primary focus, whereas glass was merely decorative and secondary. Because the source text directly refutes the claim of equal importance, the statement is **contradicted**, making the correct answer FALSE rather than NOT GIVEN.
- 2. NOT GIVEN
The statement asserts that early Roman glassmakers **made copies** of luxury Greek items. Scanning paragraph three for **early Roman Empire** and **luxury glass**, the passage notes that an industry of luxury glass in former Greek areas had a **profound effect** on early Roman glass art. However, having an influence does not mean artisans created direct copies or reproductions. Because the passage is completely **silent** on whether copies were made, the claim can neither be confirmed nor denied, making the answer NOT GIVEN.
- 2-3: C
2: The statement asserts that early Roman glassmakers **made copies** of luxury Greek items. Scanning paragraph three for **early Roman Empire** and **luxury glass**, the passage notes that an industry of luxury glass in former Greek areas had a **profound effect** on early Roman glass art. However, having an influence does not mean artisans created direct copies or reproductions. Because the passage is completely **silent** on whether copies were made, the claim can neither be confirmed nor denied, making the answer NOT GIVEN.
3: The question tests whether glass items became **more common** with the rise of the Roman Empire. Scanning paragraph four for **rise of the Roman Empire**, the text states this period was accompanied by an **increase in glass production** and transitioned from luxury goods to **mass production** and daily use. This expansion directly confirms that glass objects became widely accessible and frequent. Because the passage fully supports every element of the claim, the answer is TRUE.
- 3. TRUE
The question tests whether glass items became **more common** with the rise of the Roman Empire. Scanning paragraph four for **rise of the Roman Empire**, the text states this period was accompanied by an **increase in glass production** and transitioned from luxury goods to **mass production** and daily use. This expansion directly confirms that glass objects became widely accessible and frequent. Because the passage fully supports every element of the claim, the answer is TRUE.
- 3-4: A
3: The question tests whether glass items became **more common** with the rise of the Roman Empire. Scanning paragraph four for **rise of the Roman Empire**, the text states this period was accompanied by an **increase in glass production** and transitioned from luxury goods to **mass production** and daily use. This expansion directly confirms that glass objects became widely accessible and frequent. Because the passage fully supports every element of the claim, the answer is TRUE.
4: The claim states that Syrian artisans produced **many different types** of objects using glassblowing. Scanning paragraph five for **Syrian glassmakers** and **blowing**, the text explains that after discovering glassblowing, it became possible to produce a **large variety of vessels** for different uses, from simple bottles to intricate pieces. The phrase **large variety of vessels** directly matches the question's assertion. Since the full claim is explicitly confirmed by the source text, the correct answer is TRUE.
- 4. TRUE
The claim states that Syrian artisans produced **many different types** of objects using glassblowing. Scanning paragraph five for **Syrian glassmakers** and **blowing**, the text explains that after discovering glassblowing, it became possible to produce a **large variety of vessels** for different uses, from simple bottles to intricate pieces. The phrase **large variety of vessels** directly matches the question's assertion. Since the full claim is explicitly confirmed by the source text, the correct answer is TRUE.
- 5. NOT GIVEN
The statement claims that Roman roads provided a **safer way** of transporting glass compared to older methods. Scanning paragraph six for **network of roads**, the text mentions that well-planned roads ensured goods and techniques were **quickly spread and adopted**. While transport speed and geographic reach are discussed, the text provides no information about transport safety or hazard reduction. Because the passage does not confirm or contradict safety improvements, the information is missing, making the answer NOT GIVEN.
- 6. FALSE
The claim states that Roman glass vessels in the 1st century AD were **restricted to simple designs**. Scanning paragraph seven for **1st century AD**, the text describes diverse items and notes that vessels **technically very difficult** to produce existed, including **playful bottles** shaped like birds or animals. Elaborate animal-shaped bottles directly contradict the idea that production was limited only to simple designs. Because the evidence actively refutes the restriction, the answer is FALSE.
- 7. shiny surface
The gap requires a **noun phrase** describing a physical property of glass alongside lightness and transparency. Scanning paragraph eight for the date marker **2nd century AD**, the passage records that **lightness of the material** as well as its **shiny surface** became more valued. The prompt's phrase **greater emphasis** paraphrases **came to be valued more**. The exact two-word phrase **shiny surface** fits the grammatical structure and satisfies the two-word limit.
- 8. ["details","intricate details"]
The gap follows the adjective complex, which already paraphrases the passage word intricate ("an increasing tendency to apply intricate details"). So the blank only needs the plural noun details; writing "intricate details" again would duplicate that paraphrase. Both details and intricate details are accepted.
- 9. mouths
The gap requires a **noun** representing the part of the vessels being highlighted. Scanning paragraph eight for **threads or strings of extra glass**, the passage states they were wrapped around rims to give emphasis to the **vessels' mouths**. The prompt's **used to highlight** paraphrases **give emphasis to**. The single noun **mouths** fits the gap syntactically after 'of' and complies with the word count constraint.
- 10. shellfish beaker
The gap requires a **singular noun phrase** naming a specific type of container. Scanning the ninth paragraph under the heading **late Roman period**, the passage highlights the **shellfish beaker** as representing a **climax in glassmaking**. The note's **high point** directly paraphrases **climax**, while **containers** corresponds to **vessels**. The exact two-word term **shellfish beaker** fits the gap perfectly and complies with the word limit.
- 11. mosaic glass
The gap requires a **noun phrase** naming a historical technique revived by Venetian craftsmen. In paragraph ten, scan for **15th century** and **thread-glass decoration**. The text notes that Venetian art was based on the **revival of such methods** as **mosaic glass**. The prompt's **used old techniques like** mirrors **revival of such methods as**. The two-word phrase **mosaic glass** fits the parallel noun structure and obeys the word limit.
- 12. chemistry
The gap requires a **singular noun** denoting an academic field. Scanning paragraph ten for the time marker **19th century**, the text explains that until **chemistry** became an **established scientific discipline**, glassmaking saw minor improvements. The prompt's **acceptance of ... as a subject for serious study** paraphrases **became an established scientific discipline**. The single word **chemistry** fits the noun slot accurately and satisfies the word limit.
- 13. puzzle
The gap requires a **singular noun** following the indefinite article 'a'. Scanning the final paragraph for **techniques used in the Roman Empire**, the text states that several ancient methods **remain a puzzle** that modern technicians cannot resolve. The question's **continue to be** directly matches **remain**, and **today's glassmakers** paraphrases **modern glass technicians**. The noun **puzzle** fits the sentence grammatically and complies with the one-word limit.