Cambridge IELTS 13 · Academic · Test 2 · Passage 1
Bringing Cinnamon To Europe — IELTS Reading Answers
All 13 answers for Bringing Cinnamon To Europe, Cambridge IELTS 13 Academic Reading Test 2 Passage 1, with the passage evidence and an explanation for each.
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Bringing Cinnamon To Europe answer key at a glance
Questions 1–13. Tap an answer to see the evidence.
What this passage tests
This passage is tested with Note Completion (Q1–9), True / False / Not Given (Q10–13). Each section below gives the strategy for that question type, the answers, and the sentence that proves them.
Questions 1–9: Note Completion
Strategy: Predict the word class from the note, find the paraphrase of the note's keyword in the passage, then copy the answer exactly within the word limit.
“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”
The gap needs the substance cinnamon was mixed with; the text says it was 'mixed with oils for anointing people's bodies'.
“also as a token indicating friendship among lovers and friends”
Cinnamon was 'a token indicating friendship among lovers and friends', so the abstract noun friendship fills the note.
“In ancient Rome, mourners attending funerals burnt cinnamon to create a pleasant scent”
The note asks which ceremonies involved burning cinnamon; Roman 'mourners attending funerals burnt cinnamon to create a pleasant scent'.
“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”
A spice plate displayed 'the wealth at his or her disposal', so the gap requires the noun wealth.
“Cinnamon was also reported to have health benefits, and was thought to cure various ailments, such as indigestion”
Among ailments cinnamon was thought to cure, the text names 'indigestion', the complaint required by the note.
“They took it from India, where it was grown”
The note asks where the spice was grown; the passage says 'They took it from India, where it was grown'.
“on camels via an overland route to the Mediterranean”
Transport is the missing element; the text describes carrying cinnamon 'on camels via an overland route to the Mediterranean'.
“Their journey ended when they reached Alexandria”
The journey 'ended when they reached Alexandria', so this port is the destination the note needs.
“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.”
European traders brought the spice 'back to Venice', from where it travelled to markets around Europe, so Venice is the answer.
Questions 10–13: True / False / Not Given
Strategy: Judge the whole statement against the text. FALSE contradicts the passage; NOT GIVEN means the passage never addresses that specific claim.
The Portuguese had control over the cinnamon trade in Ceylon throughout 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”
TRUE: a fort built in 1518 helped the Portuguese 'develop a monopoly in the cinnamon trade', confirming their control through the 16th century.
The Dutch took over the cinnamon trade from the Portuguese as soon as they arrived in Ceylon.
“When the Dutch arrived 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”
FALSE: the Dutch arrival at the start of the 17th century only made them 'set their sights on displacing' Portugal, so takeover was not immediate.
The trees planted by the Dutch produced larger quantities of cinnamon than the wild trees.
“Eventually, the Dutch began cultivating their own cinnamon trees to supplement the diminishing number of wild trees available for use”
NOT GIVEN: the Dutch cultivated trees to supplement 'the diminishing number of wild trees', but no comparison of yields from planted and wild trees appears.
The spice trade maintained its economic importance during the 19th century.
“the spice trade overall was diminishing in economic potential, and was eventually superseded by the rise of trade in coffee, tea, chocolate, and sugar”
FALSE: the spice trade 'was diminishing in economic potential' and was superseded by coffee, tea, chocolate and sugar, contradicting maintained importance.
Learn the question types in this passage
Frequently asked questions
Where does the Bringing Cinnamon To Europe passage come from?
It is Passage 1 of Cambridge IELTS 13 Academic Reading Test 2, and it covers Questions 1–13.
What question types appear in Bringing Cinnamon To Europe?
The passage is tested with Note Completion, True / False / Not Given. Each type is explained on this page, alongside the answers.
Are these reading answers reliable?
Every answer is paired with the sentence that proves it, so you can check each one against the passage yourself. Use the page after a timed attempt, not instead of one.
Cambridge IELTS is published by Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Band9Prep is not affiliated with Cambridge. This page is an independent study aid: it gives the answer key, the passage evidence and an explanation so you can review an attempt you have already made.