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 busines…
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 André 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
12 words worth learning before you sit the test, each with the sentence it appears in.
- 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 verb
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.
- encase verb
To enclose or cover something completely with a protective layer, casing or container
Engineers encase underground cables in thick plastic tubing to protect them from moisture and corrosion.
- 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.
- patent verb
To obtain an official legal right that prevents others from making or selling a new invention without permission
The inventor patented her design before presenting the prototype at the international engineering exhibition.
- priority noun
The recognised right to be regarded as the first person to make a discovery or invention
The two laboratories disputed priority for the discovery until the journal published the original experimental records.
- 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 for the date of the **first electric telegraph system** **submitted to the Admiralty**. Paragraph D says Ronalds "was not the first to propose a system of this nature": **Ralph Wedgwood** had offered the Admiralty a similar telegraph in 1806, roughly ten years earlier. Ronalds's own letter is dated 1816, the nearest trap, but his was the later submission, not the first. The earliest date is therefore the correct one. Answer: 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**). Answer: 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**). Answer: 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**). Answer: 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**). Answer: 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. Answer: letters and numbers.
- 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**. Answer: glass tubes.
- 34. ["800 km","some 800 km"]
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 answer is the figure **800 km**, copied exactly as it is printed in the passage; **some 800 km** is also acceptable because it is taken word for word from the same sentence. Either form is a number plus a unit, so it fits the limit of three words and/or a number. Answer: 800 km.
- 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. Answer: frictional electricity.
- 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. Answer: G.
- 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. Answer: E.
- 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. Answer: C.
- 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. Answer: A.
- 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. Answer: F.