Charles Heaphy and the settlement of New Zealand
Read Charles Heaphy and the settlement of New Zealand and check the IELTS Reading answers. In the early 19th century, the London-based New Zealand Company was set up to promote the colonisation of the North and South Islands of New Zealand. It hoped to encourage British migrants to settle there and…
Passage preview
In the early 19th century, the London-based New Zealand Company was set up to promote the colonisation of the North and South Islands of New Zealand. It hoped to encourage British migrants to settle there and buy land. To do this, it needed to capture the public imagination, and used paintings and drawings of the landscape for this purpose. Eighteen was a young age for someone to become a hired artist and explorer for this kind of major land-trading company, but Charles Heaphy took on this role after 18 months producing technical drawings for a British railway company, and a further two years studying occasionally at the Royal Academy's school of painting. His family had possibly lacked the financial means to enable him to continue at the Academy, but he was luckily introduced to someone in the New Zealand Company. Heaphy was offered, and accepted, a position on 6 May 1839-threedays before the Company's ship, Tory, departed Plymouth for New Zealand with its cargo of settlers.
Vocabulary from this passage
7 words worth learning before you sit the test, each with the sentence it appears in.
- capture the imagination verb
To fascinate people and make them feel strongly interested in or excited about something
The discovery of habitable exoplanets continues to capture the imagination of scientists and the general public.
- dampen verb
To make feelings of enthusiasm, optimism, or excitement less strong or intense
Rising interest rates have dampened consumer enthusiasm for luxury goods and private vehicle purchases.
- envisage verb
To form a mental picture of something that is expected or possible in future
Urban architects envisage a carbon-neutral public transport network operating across the capital by 2035.
- financial means noun
The money or economic resources necessary to afford a specific expense or standard of living
Many gifted students lack the financial means to pursue postgraduate education without government scholarship support.
- pressing demand noun
An urgent need that requires immediate attention, action, or allocation of resources
Rapid population growth creates a pressing demand for sustainable public transport networks across urban centres.
- ready supply noun
An available amount of something that can be accessed and used easily and immediately
Renewable energy facilities require a ready supply of replacement components to avoid prolonged operational disruptions.
- vivid impression noun
A clear, powerful, and detailed mental picture or feeling produced in someone
The investigative documentary left a vivid impression of the harsh working conditions in fast-fashion factories.
Answers with explanations
- 1. TRUE
The statement tests whether Heaphy **gained employment** with a British railway company prior to travelling. Scan paragraph 1 for the chronological signpost **after 18 months**. The text confirms that Heaphy took on his exploration role after working on **producing technical drawings** for a British railway company. Because the source directly **supports** the fact that his railway job preceded his New Zealand journey, the statement agrees with the information. The answer is TRUE rather than NOT GIVEN because the employment sequence is explicitly documented.
- 2. FALSE
The statement claims that Heaphy **completed his studies** at the Royal Academy. The passage reveals that he attended classes **studying occasionally** and that his family **lacked the financial means** to allow him to continue there. His inability to continue contradicts the idea that he successfully finished or graduated from the course. Because the source presents a direct **contradiction** to the statement rather than remaining silent on the outcome, the correct answer is FALSE.
- 2-3: parental
2: The statement claims that Heaphy **completed his studies** at the Royal Academy. The passage reveals that he attended classes **studying occasionally** and that his family **lacked the financial means** to allow him to continue there. His inability to continue contradicts the idea that he successfully finished or graduated from the course. Because the source presents a direct **contradiction** to the statement rather than remaining silent on the outcome, the correct answer is FALSE.
3: The statement compares the detail of Heaphy's **written records** with that of his **paintings**. The passage notes that his travel record was **less comprehensive** than the accounts of his contemporaries, but it makes no comparison between his own writing and artwork. Both mediums are acknowledged as leaving a **vivid impression**, but the text is completely silent on which was more detailed. Because the comparison is neither confirmed nor contradicted, the answer is NOT GIVEN.
- 3. NOT GIVEN
The statement compares the detail of Heaphy's **written records** with that of his **paintings**. The passage notes that his travel record was **less comprehensive** than the accounts of his contemporaries, but it makes no comparison between his own writing and artwork. Both mediums are acknowledged as leaving a **vivid impression**, but the text is completely silent on which was more detailed. Because the comparison is neither confirmed nor contradicted, the answer is NOT GIVEN.
- 3-4: NO
3: The statement compares the detail of Heaphy's **written records** with that of his **paintings**. The passage notes that his travel record was **less comprehensive** than the accounts of his contemporaries, but it makes no comparison between his own writing and artwork. Both mediums are acknowledged as leaving a **vivid impression**, but the text is completely silent on which was more detailed. Because the comparison is neither confirmed nor contradicted, the answer is NOT GIVEN.
4: The claim asserts that Heaphy's **first impression** of the landscape was **positive**. Scan paragraph 3 for his arrival reaction. The passage states that his expectations were **dampened on arrival** and that the South Island **hardly seemed worth settling** due to barren mountains. This directly contradicts the notion of a favourable initial reaction. Because there is explicit contradictory evidence showing a negative first assessment rather than a positive one, the statement is FALSE.
- 4. FALSE
The claim asserts that Heaphy's **first impression** of the landscape was **positive**. Scan paragraph 3 for his arrival reaction. The passage states that his expectations were **dampened on arrival** and that the South Island **hardly seemed worth settling** due to barren mountains. This directly contradicts the notion of a favourable initial reaction. Because there is explicit contradictory evidence showing a negative first assessment rather than a positive one, the statement is FALSE.
- 5. TRUE
The statement claims Heaphy considered Queen Charlotte Sound a **poor choice** for settlers. In paragraph 3, scan for the location name **Queen Chalotte Sound**. The text states that Heaphy viewed the local fertile patches as **insufficient for a major settlement**, remaining unconvinced by its harbour. This confirms his belief that the area was unsuitable for incoming migrants. Because the passage directly **supports** the tested assertion, the answer is TRUE.
- 6. soil
The gap comes after the definite article and requires a **singular noun** describing a feature of the hills. The phrase **good quality** in the prompt matches the passage's **rich and fertile**, which characterizes the terrain. Scanning paragraph 6 for **Porirua** leads to the description of the hills between the settlements. The noun **soil** is lifted verbatim from the text and grammatically completes the subject phrase within the one-word limit.
- 7. park
The gap follows the indefinite article and requires a **singular noun** denoting an appearance. The prompt's phrase **looking like** paraphrases the passage's **beautiful appearance of**. Scanning paragraph 6 for Heaphy's evaluation of Porirua locates the description of the proposed settlement site. The exact word **park** is extracted directly from the text, fits the grammar of the sentence perfectly, and satisfies the **ONE WORD ONLY** restriction.
- 8. rivers
The gap follows 'many' and requires a **plural countable noun**. The prompt's reference to being **useful for transport** parallels the passage's statement that the waterways were deep enough for the **passage of small ships**. Scanning paragraph 7 for **Manawatu Plains** leads to the description of the level plains. The noun **rivers** is lifted verbatim from the text, fits the sentence structure, and complies with the one-word limit.
- 9. population
The gap follows the adjective 'larger' and requires a **singular or uncountable noun** representing a requirement for settling Manawatu. The prompt's phrase **larger was needed** matches the text's **growth of the population**. Scanning paragraph 7 for the conditions required for settlement reveals that existing colonised areas had to expand first. The word **population** is taken verbatim from the passage and fulfills the one-word requirement.
- 10. mountain
The gap follows the indefinite article and requires a **singular noun** identifying the subject of Heaphy's artwork. The prompt's description **impressive but inaccurate** corresponds to the passage's description of his **most famous painting** having **exaggerated** proportions. Scanning paragraph 8 for the Taranaki region leads to the discussion of Mt Egmont. The noun **mountain** is lifted directly from the text and adheres to the one-word limit.
- 11. trees
The gap follows 'plenty of' and needs a **plural noun** identifying raw materials used for construction. The prompt's phrase **plenty of** paraphrases the passage's **ready supply of**, while **for building** matches **construction of homes and ships**. Scanning paragraph 8 for building resources in the forest locates the answer. The noun **trees** is lifted verbatim from the source text and satisfies the one-word limit.
- 12. climate
The gap requires a **singular noun** referring to an environmental condition praised by Heaphy. The prompt's phrase **wrote favourably about** corresponds to the passage stating he was **convinced** New Zealand had the **best climate in the world**. Scanning paragraph 9 for general positive aspects of living in New Zealand identifies the description. The word **climate** is extracted verbatim from the text and complies with the one-word limit.
- 13. illness
The gap follows 'as much' and requires an **uncountable noun** relating to health comparisons between New Zealand and England. The prompt's phrase **not as much** contrasts with the passage's statement that Heaphy had **never experienced** health problems, unlike the respiratory conditions **common in congested English cities**. Scanning paragraph 9 for health claims reveals the comparison. The noun **illness** is lifted directly from the text within the one-word constraint.