The Origin of Paper
Read The Origin of Paper and check the IELTS Reading answers. The word paper derives from the Greek term for the ancient Egyptian writing material called papyrus. In about 2400 BC, the Egyptians discovered how to make a writing surface out of papyrus, a type of reed that grows along waterways in so…
Passage preview
The word paper derives from the Greek term for the ancient Egyptian writing material called papyrus. In about 2400 BC, the Egyptians discovered how to make a writing surface out of papyrus, a type of reed that grows along waterways in southern Europe and North Africa. The Egyptians cut the plant into strips which they softened in water. Papyrus was cross-woven into a mat and then pounded into a hard, thin sheet.
Vocabulary from this passage
9 words worth learning before you sit the test, each with the sentence it appears in.
- abundant supply noun
A large, plentiful, or practically inexhaustible quantity of a particular resource or material
The region's abundant supply of natural resources fueled its rapid industrialization during the nineteenth century.
- bestow verb
To confer or present an honor, right, or gift formally to an individual or group
The university committee bestowed an honorary doctorate upon the distinguished environmental scientist.
- derive verb
To obtain something from a specified source, or to have a particular origin or historical root
Many contemporary English medical terms derive from ancient Latin and Greek vocabularies.
- laborious adjective
Requiring considerable effort, time, and hard physical or mental work to complete successfully
The research team undertook the laborious task of manually entering decades of handwritten archival data.
- literati noun
Well-educated people who possess a strong interest in literature, arts, and scholarly pursuits
The city's historic cafés served as popular gathering places for the intellectual literati and political dissidents.
- lustrous adjective
Having a gentle, glowing sheen or shining quality; reflecting light evenly and brightly
The ancient artifact was renowned for its lustrous metallic finish despite remaining buried for centuries.
- mass production noun
The manufacturing of large quantities of standardized products, typically utilizing automated assembly line technology
The advent of mass production revolutionized the global automobile industry in the early twentieth century.
- rudimentary adjective
Involving or limited to basic, elementary principles; in an immature or early developmental stage
Early experimental models possessed only rudimentary processing capabilities compared to today's sophisticated computer systems.
- subtropical conditions noun
Climatic environments bordering the tropics, characteristically experiencing distinct hot summers and relatively mild winters
Certain specialized agricultural crops can only achieve optimal yields when cultivated in specific subtropical conditions.
Answers with explanations
- 1. TRUE
The text confirms that **silk** was **sometimes used** as a writing material. **Sometimes** has the same meaning as **occasionally**. Because the claim accurately matches the information provided in the passage, the answer is TRUE.
- 2. NOT GIVEN
The text mentions that **multi-coloured paper cups** were used during the **Tang Dynasty**. However, the passage does not provide information about when **coloured paper** was originally **invented**. Because we cannot prove or disprove the statement based on the text, the answer is NOT GIVEN.
- 2-3: C
2: The text mentions that **multi-coloured paper cups** were used during the **Tang Dynasty**. However, the passage does not provide information about when **coloured paper** was originally **invented**. Because we cannot prove or disprove the statement based on the text, the answer is NOT GIVEN.
3: The statement claims that papermakers from Samarkand were captured by the Chinese. However, the text explicitly states the opposite: a **Chinese caravan was captured**, and these captured Chinese papermakers were **taken away to Samarkand**. Therefore, the statement contradicts the text, making the answer FALSE.
- 3. FALSE
The statement claims that papermakers from Samarkand were captured by the Chinese. However, the text explicitly states the opposite: a **Chinese caravan was captured**, and these captured Chinese papermakers were **taken away to Samarkand**. Therefore, the statement contradicts the text, making the answer FALSE.
- 3-4: YES
3: The statement claims that papermakers from Samarkand were captured by the Chinese. However, the text explicitly states the opposite: a **Chinese caravan was captured**, and these captured Chinese papermakers were **taken away to Samarkand**. Therefore, the statement contradicts the text, making the answer FALSE.
4: The text states that **bulk manufacturing** (which means a **large-scale industry**) of paper **began in Iran**. This directly matches the claim that large-scale papermaking originated there. Since the statement is fully supported by the text, the answer is TRUE.
- 4. TRUE
The text states that **bulk manufacturing** (which means a **large-scale industry**) of paper **began in Iran**. This directly matches the claim that large-scale papermaking originated there. Since the statement is fully supported by the text, the answer is TRUE.
- 5. TRUE
The passage explains that the Moors, coming from **North Africa**, **brought the technology** (papermaking skills) with them when they invaded Spain and Portugal, which is how it **entered Europe**. This perfectly supports the claim, so the answer is TRUE.
- 6. NOT GIVEN
The text details the inventions associated with **Gutenberg** perfecting **movable-type printing**, which allowed for mass production. However, it completely omits any mention of whether **paper materials were very expensive** at this exact point in history. Therefore, the answer is NOT GIVEN.
- 7. FALSE
The statement attributes the end of the **trade in rags** to the **difficulty of transporting them**. However, the text states that the trade ended because the **source became insufficient** (they ran out of rags). Because the reason given in the statement contradicts the text, the answer is FALSE.
- 8. strips
The table asks what parts of the **papyrus plant** were **softened in water**. The text explicitly states that the Egyptians cut the plant into **strips**, which were then softened. The singular noun 'strips' correctly fits the grammatical structure of the sentence.
- 9. sheep
The table requires an animal whose **skin** was used to make **parchment** in **Europe**. The text clearly mentions that parchment required the skins of **sheep**. The noun 'sheep' fits perfectly into the completion requirement.
- 10. stretched
The question asks what was done to the **skin** after it was **dried**. The text states that the skins were prepared by **drying** them and were then **stretched**. The past participle 'stretched' accurately completes the sentence grammatically.
- 11. bark
The table asks what was taken from a **mulberry tree** and mixed with **hemp rags**. The text describes the mixture as being made of finely chopped **mulberry bark** and hemp rags. The noun 'bark' correctly completes the phrase.
- 12. Samarkand
The table asks for the **Place** associated with the date **751 AD** and materials **flax and hemp**. The passage notes that captive papermakers were taken to **Samarkand**, which had an abundant supply of hemp and flax. The proper noun 'Samarkand' correctly completes the entry.
- 13. stone
The question asks what material the **mills** were made of. The passage directly states that they prepared paper in **stone mills**. The noun 'stone' successfully modifies 'mills' and completes the sentence accurately.