Sir Francis Ronalds 1788-1873
Read Sir Francis Ronalds 1788-1873 and check the IELTS Reading answers. Francis Ronalds was born in London in 1788, the second of eleven children. When he was nineteen his father died, and as the eldest son, the young Ronalds had to assume the responsibility of running the family's cheese business.…
Passage preview
Francis Ronalds was born in London in 1788, the second of eleven children. When he was nineteen his father died, and as the eldest son, the young Ronalds had to assume the responsibility of running the family's cheese business. He combined this occupation with his passions for chemical experiments and for meteorology, the study of the Earth's atmosphere and its changes. This brought him into contact with the elderly Swiss meteorologist Jean Andre de Luc, who was also an inspired inventor in the field of electricity. In 1814, de Luc encouraged Ronalds to start work on this new discipline.
Vocabulary from this passage
10 words worth learning before you sit the test, each with the sentence it appears in.
- accuracy noun
The quality or state of being correct or precise; the degree of conformity to a standard or truth
Scientific instruments must be regularly calibrated to ensure the accuracy of the measurements they provide.
- belated adjective
Coming or happening later than should have been the case; delayed or overdue recognition or action
The artist received belated acclaim for her work only many years after her death.
- come to fruition noun
To reach a successful conclusion or to become a reality after a period of planning or development
After years of intensive research, the scientist’s theories finally started to come to fruition.
- convey verb
To transport or communicate something, such as information or physical goods, from one place to another
The new infrastructure was designed for conveying high volumes of water to drought-stricken agricultural regions.
- electrostatic adjective
Relating to stationary electric charges or their effects, as opposed to electric currents flowing through wires
Early experiments in telegraphy often utilized electrostatic devices to transmit simple signals over short distances.
- intelligence noun
Information of military, political, or strategic value that is gathered through observation or communication networks
The government utilized its telegraph network to transmit urgent intelligence between the capital and the naval fleet.
- meteorology noun
The scientific study of the atmosphere and its phenomena, especially for the purpose of weather forecasting
Advancements in meteorology have significantly improved our ability to predict and prepare for severe storm systems.
- rapidity noun
The quality of moving or happening with great speed; the rate at which something occurs quickly
The rapidity of urban development in the region has put immense pressure on local natural resources.
- reap verb
To receive a benefit or reward as a consequence of one’s own previous actions or investments
Early investors in the technology sector reaped significant financial rewards when the market expanded.
- semaphore noun
A system of sending messages by holding arms or two flags in certain positions according to a code
Before the electric telegraph, naval commanders relied on semaphore to communicate between ships and coastal stations.
Answers with explanations
- 27. A
The question asks when the **first electric telegraph system** was submitted to the Admiralty. Paragraph D notes that before Ronalds's attempt, "**in 1806, the inventor Ralph Wedgwood had offered the Admiralty a similar type of telegraph**" using electricity. This matches the year **1806** (Option **A**).
- 28. H
We need the date when Ronalds received **official recognition** for his work. The text explicitly states that "**In 1870... he was knighted by Queen Victoria, a belated honour in recognition of his 'early and remarkable labours in telegraphic investigations.'**" This officially recognises his contribution, pointing to **1870** (Option **H**).
- 29. E
The question looks for when the first electric telegraph was **patented**. The text explains that Wheatstone and Cooke developed their system in **1837** and "**patented their design in the same year, the first of its kind to be officially registered**." This gives the date **1837** (Option **E**).
- 30. B
The question asks when Ronalds **began** experimenting with electricity. Paragraph A introduces de Luc, an inventor in electricity, and states, "**In 1814, de Luc encouraged Ronalds to start work on this new discipline.**" This marks the beginning of his experiments in **1814** (Option **B**).
- 31. D
To find when Ronalds **informed the public**, we look for a publication. Paragraph F states that "**in a small pamphlet published in 1823, he described his invention and listed some of its potential uses**". This maps directly to the year **1823** (Option **D**).
- 32. letters and numbers
The question asks what was **marked** on the **dials** (revolving discs). The text specifies that the discs were surfaces "**on which letters and numbers were engraved**." Therefore, **letters and numbers** is the correct answer.
- 33. glass tubes
The question asks what was used to **enclose** (encase) the **wires** in the later, modified version. The passage explains that in this version, "**the wire was encased in glass tubes**." The exact phrase needed is **glass tubes**.
- 34. ["800 km","some 800 km","800 kilometres","some 800 kilometres"]
The question seeks the **distance** Ronalds thought his system could reach. The text states clearly, "**Ronalds believed that his invention was capable of carrying messages some 800 km**". The figure **800 km** accurately answers the question.
- 35. frictional electricity
We need to know what **Ralph Wedgwood's** early communication system was **based on** or used. The text explains that his telegraph was "**based on frictional electricity**". Therefore, **frictional electricity** correctly completes the sentence.
- 36. G
A **commercial application** involves businesses and profit. Paragraph G describes how Wheatstone and Cooke saw the telegraph's "**potential of a rapid communication system for the growing number of private railway companies**" and subsequently gained financially. This makes G the correct paragraph.
- 37. E
A **rejection** involves someone refusing the invention. Paragraph E details the response from the Admiralty, where the Secretary dismisses the idea, stating "**telegraphs of any kind are wholly unnecessary, and NO other than the one now in use will be adopted.**" This is a clear rejection.
- 38. C
A **drawback** is a negative feature or limitation. At the end of Paragraph C, the writer points out the flaws in Ronalds's garden telegraph, stating that "**The system was slow and depended on the two dials staying in step**." This perfectly matches the concept of a drawback.
- 39. A
Paragraph A introduces a **fellow scientist**, the meteorologist and inventor Jean Andre de Luc. It shows his **positive influence** by stating that "**de Luc encouraged Ronalds to start work on this new discipline**" of electricity. This corresponds exactly to the prompt.
- 40. F
Paragraph F discusses a system for registering meteorological data. It notes that while another scientist developed a similar system, the authorities "**confirmed Ronalds's priority**" and "**His system remained in use for many decades.**" This shows his procedure was adopted **in preference** to his competitor's.