Cambridge IELTS 13, Test 2, Reading Passage 1: Bringing Cinnamon to Europe, Solution With Answer Key

Bringing Cinnamon to Europe Solution with Answer Key – Cambridge IELTS 13, Test 2: Reading Passage 1. Here we will discuss detailed explanation of all the questions of the passage. Here is step by step Solution with Tips and Strategies. This post is for educational purpose only. If you find difficulties in reading passage to find the right answer in the exam, just read the post carefully. Tips and strategies will help you find the right answer.

 

Bringing Cinnamon to Europe

IELTS Reading Passage Solution

 

IELTS Cambridge 13, Test 2, Academic Reading Module, Reading Passage 1

 

Questions 1-9. Complete the notes below.

** Tips (link details): How To Solve Notes, Table, Form, Summary, Flow Chart, Diagram in IELTS Reading

 

Question 1. BIBLICAL TIMES: ADDED TO……………

Keywords: biblical, added
Now, looking for the key words, we find a reference to biblical times in paragraph 1. “It was known in biblical times, and is mentioned in several books of the Bible, both as an ingredient that was mixed with oils for anointing people’s bodies and…..” So, cinnamon was used with oils.

Here,  added to = mixed with

Answer: oils.

 

Question 2. BIBLICAL TIMES: USED TO SHOW……… BETWEEN PEOPLE

Keywords: biblical, show
Now, in the same sentence in paragraph 1, we find another use for cinnamon in biblical times. The passage continues: “…and also as a token indicating friendship among lovers and friends”.

Here,  show = indicate. people = lovers and friends.

Answer:  friendship.

Question 3. ANCIENT ROME: USED FOR ITS SWEET SMELL AT………..

Keywords: Rome, sweet smell
Now, the use of cinnamon in Ancient Rome is also described in paragraph 1. “In ancient Rome, mourners attending funerals burnt cinnamon to create a pleasant scent”.

Here,  sweet smell = pleasant scent

Answer: funerals.

Question 4. MIDDLE AGES: WAS AN INDICATION OF A PERSON’S………

Keywords: Middle Ages, indication
Now, the Middle Ages are first mentioned in paragraph 1. Here, we find: “In the Middle Ages, Europeans who could afford the spice used it to flavour food, particularly meat, and to impress those around them with their ability to purchase an expensive condiment from the ‘exotic’ East. At a banquet, a host would offer guests a plate with various spices piled upon it as a sign of the wealth at his or her disposal”.
Thus, at this time few people could afford spices such as cinnamon. If you could offer it to guests, this indicated that you were wealthy.

Here, indication = sign

Answer: wealth.

Question 5. KNOWN AS A TREATMENT FOR …………. AND OTHER HEALTH PROBLEMS

Keywords: treatment, health problems
Now, the medical use of cinnamon is referred to at the end of paragraph 1: “Cinnamon was also reported to have health benefits, and was thought to cure various ailments, such as indigestion”. Indigestion is mentioned as a specific health problem, for which cinnamon was a treatment.

Here, treatment = cure. health problems = ailments.

Answer: indigestion.

Question 6. GROWN IN…………

Now, in paragraph 2, the writer describes how Arab traders/merchants transported cinnamon. “They took it from India, where it was grown…..”
Answer:  India.

Question 7. MERCHANTS USED………. TO BRING IT TO THE MEDITERRANEAN

Keywords: merchants, Mediterranean
Now, the same sentence in paragraph 2 continues: “where it was grown, on camels via an overland route to the Mediterranean”.
Thus, cinnamon was brought to the Mediterranean using camels.
Answer:  camels.

 

Question 8. ARRIVED IN THE MEDITERRANEAN AT……………..

Keywords: arrived, Mediterranean
Now, in the next sentence, we find the answer to Q8: “Their journey ended when they reached Alexandria”.
When the journey ended, this means that they had arrived – they had reached their destination – Alexandria, which we are told is a port in the Mediterranean.

Here, arrived = reached

Answer:  Alexandria.

Question 9. TRADERS TOOK IT TO …………… AND SOLD IT TO DESTINATIONS AROUND EUROPE

Keywords: traders, sold, destinations, Europe
Now, the next sentences in paragraph 2 then provide the answer to Q9. When cinnamon arrived in Alexandria: “European traders sailed there to purchase their supply of cinnamon, then brought it back to Venice. The spice then travelled from that great trading city to markets all around Europe”.
Thus, the traders took/brought the cinnamon to Venice.

Here, destinations = markets

Answer: Venice.

 

 Questions 10-13. True, False, Not Given

** Tips (Link Details): How To Solve True, False, Not Given in IELTS Reading Module?

Question 10. THE PORTUGUESE HAD CONTROL OVER THE CINNAMON TRADE IN CEYLON THROUGHOUT THE 16TH CENTURY.

Keywords: Portuguese, Ceylon, throughout, 16th century
Now, looking for the keywords, we find ‘Portuguese’ and ‘Ceylon’ at the beginning of paragraph 3. All of paragraph 3 is about how the Portuguese controlled and increased the production of cinnamon, building a fort in 1518 to maintain their control of Ceylon during all of the 16th century. “In 1518, the Portuguese built a fort on Ceylon, which enabled them to protect the island, so helping them to develop a monopoly in the cinnamon trade and generate very high profits”.

Here, control over ~ a monopoly in

Answer: TRUE.

Question 11. THE DUTCH TOOK OVER THE CINNAMON TRADE FROM THE PORTUGUESE AS SOON AS THEY ARRIVED IN CEYLON.

Keywords: Dutch, took over, arrived, Ceylon
Now, the arrival of the Dutch is described at the beginning of paragraph 4. “When the Dutcharrived off the coast of southern Asia at the very beginning of the 17th century, they set their sights on displacing the Portuguese as kings of cinnamon…. By 1640, the Dutch broke the 150-year Portuguese monopoly when they overran and occupied their factories. By 1658, they had permanently expelled the Portuguese from the island, thereby gaining control of the lucrative cinnamon trade”.

From this history, we learn that the Dutch arrived early in the 17th century, but they did not gain complete control of the cinnamon trade until after they had expelled the Portuguese in 1658. So, they did not take control of the cinnamon trade as soon as they arrived.

Here, take over = displace

Answer: FALSE.

Question: 12. THE TREES PLANTED BY THE DUTCH PRODUCED LARGER QUANTITIES OF CINNAMON THAN THE WILD TREES.

Keywords: trees, Dutch, larger quantities, wild
Now, in paragraph 5, the planting of cinnamon trees by the Dutch is mentioned. “Eventually the Dutch began cultivating their own cinnamon trees to supplement the diminishing number of wild trees available for use”.
We are given no information here about whether these trees planted by the Dutch produced more cinnamon than the wild trees.

Here, plant = cultivate
Answer: NOT GIVEN.

Question 13. THE SPICE TRADE MAINTAINED ITS ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE DURING THE 19TH CENTURY.

Keywords: spice trade, importance, 19th century
Now, in the last paragraph, the author refers to the 19th century and the ‘diminishing economic potential’ of the cinnamon trade: “the spice trade overall was diminishing in economic potential, and was eventually superseded by the rise of trade in coffee, tea, chocolate, and sugar”. The trade, therefore, had become less important by the middle of the 19th century.
Answer: FALSE.

Answer Key – Bringing Cinnamon to Europe

Cambridge IELTS 13 Test 2 Answer Key, Reading Passage 1

 

Bringing Cinnamon to Europe Reading Answers

Passage 1

 

• Cambridge IELTS 13, Test 2, Reading Passage 2: Oxytocin, Solution With Answer Key
• Cambridge IELTS 13, Test 2, Reading Passage 3: Making the Most of Trends, Solution With Answer Key