Walking and shoes in eighteenth-century London
Read Walking and shoes in eighteenth-century London and check the IELTS Reading answers. It was difficult to get about in eighteenth-century London. During the first half of that century, the physical mobility of the upper classes in the city had been considerably restricted: the poor condition of…
Passage preview
It was difficult to get about in eighteenth-century London. During the first half of that century, the physical mobility of the upper classes in the city had been considerably restricted: the poor condition of the streets did not allow ‘walking for pleasure’ outside private parks or pleasure gardens. Streets were dirty, rubbish was everywhere and the British climate did not help. Walking could be a risky business. The terrible state of roads, always flooded and muddy, created a metropolitan world of shoe cleaners and street sweepers.
Vocabulary from this passage
10 words worth learning before you sit the test, each with the sentence it appears in.
- disfigure verb
To mar, spoil, or severely damage the appearance, shape, or aesthetic value of an object
Acid rain can permanently disfigure historical monuments made of delicate limestone.
- diverge verb
To develop in completely different directions or become separate and distinct from a common starting point
The economic trajectories of the two sister cities began to diverge after the trade agreement.
- eminent adjective
Famous, highly respected, and distinguished within a particular profession, discipline, or social class
Several eminent historians were invited to debate the socio-economic impacts of the industrial revolution.
- enact verb
To pass a bill or proposal into law, making it official and legally enforceable
The government plans to enact strict regulations to curb industrial emissions in urban centers.
- garment noun
An item of clothing, typically referred to in formal, academic, or historical contexts
Museum curators carefully preserved the centuries-old silk garments worn by royalty.
- metropolitan adjective
Relating to or denoting a large, densely populated city and its surrounding urbanized regions
Urban planning is essential to manage the transportation networks within an expanding metropolitan area.
- physical mobility noun
The capacity of individuals or groups to move freely and easily through geographical or urban spaces
Improved infrastructure significantly enhanced the physical mobility of citizens living in the crowded metropolis.
- sober adjective
Serious, plain, and dark in color or style, avoiding any excessive decoration or brightness
The corporate dress code requires employees to wear sober suits during formal business meetings.
- symbolic marking noun
The practice of using specific behaviors, objects, or garments to signify a major cultural transition or status
The formal uniform serves as a symbolic marking of the student's entry into the military academy.
- undergo verb
To experience, endure, or be subjected to a significant process of change, development, or transformation
The urban landscape will undergo massive renovations to accommodate the expanding population next year.
Answers with explanations
- 14. C
Paragraph C details a **legal change** by mentioning the first **legislation concerning paving** which improved conditions in **urban areas** (London and many other cities).
- 15. F
Paragraph F references how the **significance of men's shoes** (as a symbolic marker of entering manhood) has been **overlooked by experts**, noting it may have been of **more importance than has previously been acknowledged in costume history**.
- 16. D
Paragraph D discusses how **gender began to affect shoe design**, explaining that the appearance of men's and women's shoes started to **diverge** due to a distinction between **male and female footwear**.
- 17. A
Paragraph A provides a clear **description of potential problems** faced in urban areas, citing **dirty streets**, **rubbish**, and a **terrible state of roads** that were flooded and muddy.
- 18. E
Paragraph E explicitly mentions the **tough qualities of men's shoes**, noting that because they were entirely made of leather, they **provided resistance to rain, mud and bad weather**.
- 19. B
Paragraph B references the **modes of transport** (a series of **boats and coaches**) that were specifically used by **visitors** (sightseers) in London.
- 20. A
Paragraph A mentions that people were **restricted** in where they could walk, only able to safely enjoy walking in **limited areas** like **private parks or pleasure gardens**.
- 21-22: AD
Option A is correct because Paragraph F explains that **rich women's footwear harmonised with their other garments** through matching textiles and colours. Option D is correct because the same paragraph states that an **upper-class man's shoe** acted as a sign that **distinguished him from working men** and emphasized the difference between him and other groups.
- 23. coach
The summary says that only people who were less well-off had to walk rather than take a vehicle. The text specifies that walking was for those who could not afford a **coach**. The required grammatical form is a singular noun.
- 24. countryside
The summary notes that the situation was different outside of London. The text states that the restrictions on walking were truer for urban spaces than for places in the **countryside**, where outdoor activities were a lifestyle. The noun 'countryside' fits.
- 25. pedestrians
The summary states that the number of a specific group of people rose dramatically. The text mentions that Sophie von La Roche commented on how many more **pedestrians** there were. The plural noun 'pedestrians' fits both grammar and meaning.
- 26. pavements
The summary explains that people could walk on wide paths away from traffic. The passage describes these safe paths as broad, clean **pavements**. The plural noun 'pavements' correctly completes the sentence.