Cambridge IELTS 11 · Academic · Test 2 · Passage 1
Raising The Mary Rose — IELTS Reading Answers
All 13 answers for Raising The Mary Rose, Cambridge IELTS 11 Academic Reading Test 2 Passage 1, with the passage evidence and an explanation for each.
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Raising The Mary Rose answer key at a glance
Questions 1–13. Tap an answer to see the evidence.
What this passage tests
This passage is tested with True / False / Not Given (Q1–4), Matching Features (Q5–8), Diagram Labeling (Q9–13). Each section below gives the strategy for that question type, the answers, and the sentence that proves them.
Questions 1–4: 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.
There is some doubt about what caused the Mary Rose to sink.
“Accounts of what happened to the ship vary: while witnesses agree that she was not hit by the French, some maintain that she was outdated, overladen and sailing too low in the water, others that she was mishandled by undisciplined crew.”
Witness accounts vary between the ship being outdated and overladen or mishandled by an undisciplined crew, confirming genuine uncertainty about the cause.
The Mary Rose was the only ship to sink in the battle of 19 July 1545.
“Among the English vessels was a warship by the name of Mary Rose.”
The text places the Mary Rose among the English vessels but never states how many other ships sank, so the only-ship claim is unsupported.
Most of one side of the Mary Rose lay undamaged under the sea.
“Because of the way the ship sank, nearly all of the starboard half survived intact.”
Nearly all of the starboard half survived intact, which means most of one side lay undamaged under the sea.
Alexander McKee knew that the wreck would contain many valuable historical objects.
“McKee and his team now knew for certain that they had found the wreck, but were as yet unaware that it also housed a treasure trove of beautifully preserved artefacts.”
McKee's team were as yet unaware of the treasure trove of beautifully preserved artefacts, so he did not know they would be found.
Questions 5–8: Matching Features
Strategy: Match the statement to the named person or thing. Names can repeat, so check each option against what that person actually says.
A search for the Mary Rose was launched.
“But in 1965, military historian and amateur diver Alexander McKee, in conjunction with the British Sub-Aqua Club, initiated a project called ‘Solent Ships’. While on paper this was a plan to examine a number of known wrecks in the Solent, what McKee really hoped for was to find the Mary Rose.”
McKee's 1965 Solent Ships project, whose real hope was to find the Mary Rose, is the search launched, person C.
One person’s exploration of the Mary Rose site stopped.
“Deane continued diving on the site intermittently until 1840, recovering several more guns, two bows, various timbers, part of a pump and various other small finds.”
Deane continued diving on the site intermittently until 1840, marking where one person's exploration stopped, person B.
It was agreed that the hull of the Mary Rose should be raised.
“While the original aim was to raise the hull if at all feasible, the operation was not given the go-ahead until January 1982, when all the necessary information was available.”
The hull lift was given the go-ahead only in January 1982, which is the agreement to raise the hull, person G.
The site of the Mary Rose was found by chance.
“Then, on 16 June 1836, some fishermen in the Solent found that their equipment was caught on an underwater obstruction, which turned out to be the Mary Rose.”
Fishermen snagging their equipment on an underwater obstruction that turned out to be the Mary Rose is a chance discovery, person A.
Questions 9–13: Diagram Labeling
Strategy: Locate the labelled part on the diagram, then find the matching description in the passage. Answers are usually concrete nouns.
“The hull was attached to a lifting frame via a network of bolts and lifting wires.”
The diagram gap labels what the hull was bolted to; the text names a lifting frame, attached by bolts and lifting wires.
“The problem of the hull being sucked back downwards into the mud was overcome by using 12 hydraulic jacks.”
The gap labels the equipment that overcame the hull being sucked into the mud; the passage says 12 hydraulic jacks were used.
“This required precise positioning to locate the legs into the ‘stabbing guides’ of the lifting cradle.”
The gap names the fittings that received the legs; the text calls them the stabbing guides of the lifting cradle.
“the hull was lifted completely clear of the seabed and transferred underwater into the lifting cradle.”
The gap is the structure the hull was moved into underwater; the passage names the lifting cradle.
“and was fitted with air bags to provide additional cushioning for the hull’s delicate timber framework.”
The gap labels what provided extra cushioning for the timber; the text says air bags were fitted for additional cushioning.
Learn the question types in this passage
Frequently asked questions
Where does the Raising The Mary Rose passage come from?
It is Passage 1 of Cambridge IELTS 11 Academic Reading Test 2, and it covers Questions 1–13.
What question types appear in Raising The Mary Rose?
The passage is tested with True / False / Not Given, Matching Features, Diagram Labeling. 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.