Learning from the Romans
Read Learning from the Romans and check the IELTS Reading answers. In a quest to make concrete more durable and sustainable, an international team of geologists and engineers has found inspiration in the concrete used by the ancient Romans. The chemical secrets of Roman concrete have been uncovered…
Passage preview
In a quest to make concrete more durable and sustainable, an international team of geologists and engineers has found inspiration in the concrete used by the ancient Romans. The chemical secrets of Roman concrete have been uncovered in samples taken from a concrete Roman breakwater. A breakwater is a barrier that is built out into the sea to protect coasts and harbors from the force of waves. This particular breakwater has spent the last 2,000 years submerged in seawater. The international team of researchers that collected the samples was led by Paulo Monteiro, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. Analysis of samples from the ancient underwater site in Pozzuoli Bay near Naples in Italy, and pinpointed why the best Roman concrete was superior to most modern concrete.
Vocabulary from this passage
9 words worth learning before you sit the test, each with the sentence it appears in.
- breakwater noun
A heavy structure built into the sea to protect a harbor from the force of waves
Chemical secrets were uncovered in samples taken from an ancient Roman breakwater submerged for two millennia.
- carbon footprint noun
The total amount of greenhouse gases produced to directly and indirectly support human activities
The manufacturing process for Portland cement significantly increases the carbon footprint of the modern construction industry.
- counterpart noun
A person or thing that corresponds to or has the same function as another in a different place or situation
Producing Roman concrete left a much smaller carbon footprint than its modern industrial counterpart.
- devise verb
To plan or invent a complex procedure, system, or mechanism by careful thought
The Romans devised an efficient method of making concrete specifically for durable coastal and harbor structures.
- durable construction materials noun
Building substances designed to withstand wear, pressure, or damage over a very long period
Roman concrete is considered one of the most durable construction materials ever engineered by human civilization.
- incentive noun
A thing that motivates or encourages someone to do something or work harder
Cutting greenhouse gas emissions provides a powerful incentive for finding better ways to manufacture construction materials.
- incorporate verb
To take in or include something as part of a whole or a larger structure
The lime reacted with seawater and incorporated water molecules into its structure to bind the mixture.
- pinpoint verb
To identify or locate something with great precision and accuracy
Researchers conducted detailed chemical analysis to pinpoint why Roman concrete was superior to modern alternatives.
- unforgiving adjective
Harsh or hostile; providing no opportunity for error or weakness in a specific environment
Engineers were interested in how Roman structures endured the unforgiving saltwater environment for two thousand years.
Answers with explanations
- 14. D
The question requires an opinion on the reduction in Roman concrete use. Paragraph D offers Marie Jackson's view that as shipping declined, the **need for the seawater concrete declined**, and argues that the original structures **didn't need to be replaced**.
- 15. B
The question asks for a list of contents for both cements. Paragraph B breaks down Portland cement as a **compound of calcium, silicates, and hydrates**, and specifies that Roman cement contains **aluminum** and less **silicon**.
- 16. F
The prompt looks for an argument for finding substitutes for a limited resource. Paragraph F explains that there is **not enough fly ash in this world** to replace Portland cement, meaning we must find **alternative local materials** to meet global construction needs.
- 17. A
The prompt seeks details on the source structure for the concrete samples. Paragraph A describes it as a **Roman breakwater** located at an **ancient underwater site in Pozzuoli Bay**, providing the specific information required.
- 18. E
The prompt asks for an environmental comparison between the two materials. Paragraph E contrasts them by stating that Roman concrete had a **smaller carbon footprint** and was **much cleaner**, while modern Portland cement relies on a carbon-heavy process.
- 19. G
The prompt requests a comparison of durability. Paragraph G contrasts modern structures, designed to last **100 to 120 years**, against Roman installations that have already **survived 2,000 years of chemical attack**, demonstrating superior ancient durability.
- 20. C
The question needs details on how seawater was used in manufacturing. Paragraph C explains that the mixture was **immersed in seawater**, which then **instantly triggered a hot chemical reaction** that hydrated the lime and bound the materials together.
- 21-22: AC
- 23. limestone
The gap requires a noun that is combined with clays. The text states that the process involves heating a **mix of limestone and clays** to the specified temperature. The word **limestone** perfectly completes the summary.
- 24. third
The gap needs a noun quantifying the heat reduction. The passage specifies that the required temperature was a **third lower** for Roman concrete. Using **third** is grammatically correct and fits the word limit.
- 25. fuel
The gap needs a noun indicating what is burned. The text explicitly links the release of carbon dioxide to **burning fuel** to generate heat. Therefore, needing less heat inherently means less **fuel** had to be burned.
- 26. industry
The gap requires a noun identifying the source of the broader carbon dioxide emissions. The passage notes that the seven percent figure refers specifically to the carbon dioxide that **industry puts into the air**. The word **industry** completes the summary accurately.