The women scientists of Bologna
Read The women scientists of Bologna and check the IELTS Reading answers. The 18th century was a time of logic and experimentation and many of the sciences had their beginnings at that time. But throughout most of Europe, these studies were reserved exclusively for men. Few options were available t…
Passage preview
The 18th century was a time of logic and experimentation and many of the sciences had their beginnings at that time. But throughout most of Europe, these studies were reserved exclusively for men. Few options were available to European women with an inclination to study. A university education was off limits to women almost everywhere in Europe, with one notable exception: Italy. In Italian universities, women competed equally with men, and among those liberal Italian universities, one in particular stands apart.
Vocabulary from this passage
10 words worth learning before you sit the test, each with the sentence it appears in.
- accord privileges verb
To officially grant special rights, advantages, or immunities to a specific individual or group
The university decided to accord privileges to researchers working on high-impact environmental studies.
- flourish verb
To grow, develop, or prosper vigorously in a favorable environment; to achieve success and influence
Under the mentorship of senior professors, the young researchers began to flourish.
- hydraulics noun
The branch of science and technology concerned with the mechanical properties of liquids and their practical applications
Civil engineers must master hydraulics to design effective flood prevention systems for coastal cities.
- inclination noun
A person's natural tendency, urge, or disposition to act, feel, or think in a particular way
Her strong inclination toward mathematics led her to pursue a career in astrophysics.
- modest background noun
An upbringing or family history characterized by low social status, simple living, or limited financial resources
Despite rising from a modest background, he became a highly respected supreme court judge.
- pathology noun
The scientific study of the causes, nature, and effects of diseases on the human body
The medical students attended lectures in pathology to understand how viruses damage human tissues.
- pioneer noun
A person who is among the first to explore, develop, or settle a new area of knowledge or activity
She was a pioneer in pediatric medicine, developing new treatments for rare childhood diseases.
- practitioner noun
A person actively engaged in an art, discipline, or profession, especially medicine or law
As a skilled medical practitioner, she dedicated her life to treating patients in rural areas.
- synthesis noun
The combination of diverse ideas, forces, or substances into a coherent, unified whole
The textbook provides a brilliant synthesis of classical physics and modern quantum mechanics.
- vanguard noun
A position of greatest advancement or leadership in a particular field, movement, or scientific discipline
The university's research team is at the vanguard of renewable energy technology development.
Answers with explanations
- 14. D
Paragraph D describes wax models of the human skeleton and muscles used to familiarize students with the body, which perfectly matches the description of an 18th-century teaching aid.
- 15. E
Paragraph E outlines how Morandi gained the opportunity to teach and was subsequently promoted to a professorship due to the illness and later death of her husband, linking a promotion to a family member's misfortune.
- 16. G
Paragraph G explains that because Dalle Donne had a 'physical deformity' (a handicap), her family assumed she wouldn't marry and therefore decided to educate her instead.
- 17. C
Paragraph C details that despite being a professor, Laura Bassi was not allowed to teach at the university itself due to gender restrictions, obliging her to lecture in her own home.
- 18. F
Paragraph F discusses Maria Gaetana Agnesi's important academic text, the 'Instituzioni Analitiche', which synthesized branches of mathematics and influenced future scientific works.
- 19. law
The summary needs a noun indicating the subject originally taught at the University of Bologna. The text explicitly states it was founded as a 'law' school, making 'law' the correct answer.
- 20. science
The summary mentions that many famous women students at Bologna worked in a specific field. The text notes that most of these women flourished in areas of 'science'. The word 'science' completes the summary grammatically.
- 21. experimental physics
The summary needs the subject Bassi taught to people outside the university. The text states she offered a 'public lecture' on 'experimental physics'. This fits the NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS limit perfectly.
- 22. literature
The summary asks which subject Bassi gave the least importance to. The text explains she studied both literature and science, but 'considered only science as truly valuable'. Therefore, she gave the least importance to 'literature'.
- 23. D
The statement matches Maria Dalle Donne (D), who, according to Paragraph H, assisted financially deprived girls and accepted them regardless of their 'ability to pay' (offered tuition to those who couldn't afford the fee).
- 24. A
This statement matches Laura Bassi (A). Paragraph C explains that while Bassi faced teaching restrictions, her example meant her successors received full privileges 'without restrictions', granting them a right she didn't fully enjoy.
- 25. C
This corresponds to Maria Gaetana Agnesi (C). Paragraph F details that she gave up mathematics in 1752 and spent nearly 50 years (the rest of her life) doing charitable work, caring for the elderly, poor, and sick.
- 26. B
This points to Anna Morandi (B). Paragraph E notes that she was named the 'chief model maker', meaning she was placed in charge of producing anatomical wax models (teaching materials).