Cambridge IELTS 12 · Academic · Test 4 · Passage 1
The History Of Glass — IELTS Reading Answers
All 13 answers for The History Of Glass, Cambridge IELTS 12 Academic Reading Test 4 Passage 1, with the passage evidence and an explanation for each.
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The History Of Glass 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 (Q1–8), True / False / Not Given (Q9–13). Each section below gives the strategy for that question type, the answers, and the sentence that proves them.
Questions 1–8: 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.
“Historians have discovered that a type of natural glass – obsidian – formed in places such as the mouth of a volcano as a result of the intense heat of an eruption melting sand”
The gap names the natural glass formed by volcanic heat; the passage calls it obsidian, created as an eruption melted sand.
“was first used as tips for spears”
The gap names the weapon the earliest glass tipped; the passage says it was first used as tips for spears.
“Archaeologists have even found evidence of man-made glass which dates back to 4000 BC; this took the form of glazes used for coating stone beads”
The gap names the objects coated with early man-made glass; the passage says glazes were used for coating stone beads.
“The glass made during this time was highly coloured due to the impurities of the raw material”
The gap explains why early glass was coloured; the passage blames the impurities of the raw material.
“The secret of glass making was taken across Europe by the Romans during this century. However, they guarded the skills and technology required to make glass very closely, and it was not until their empire collapsed in 476 AD that glass-making knowledge became widespread throughout Europe and the Middle East.”
The gap names who carried glassmaking across Europe; the passage says the secret of glass making was taken across Europe by the Romans.
“A major milestone in the history of glass occurred with the invention of lead crystal glass by the English glass manufacturer George Ravenscroft (1632-1683)”
The gap names the material added to make crystal glass; the passage cites the invention of lead crystal glass by George Ravenscroft.
“He attempted to counter the effect of clouding that sometimes occurred in blown glass by introducing lead to the raw materials used in the process”
The gap names the defect lead was meant to fix; the passage says he tried to counter the effect of clouding in blown glass.
“In Britain, the modern glass industry only really started to develop after the repeal of the Excise Act in 1845. Before that time, heavy taxes had been placed on the amount of glass melted in a glasshouse”
The gap names what burdened glassmaking before 1845; the passage says heavy taxes had been placed on the amount of glass melted.
Questions 9–13: 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.
In 1887, HM Ashley had the fastest bottle-producing machine that existed at the time.
“factory-owner HM Ashley introduced a machine capable of producing 200 bottles per hour in Castleford, Yorkshire, England – more than three times quicker than any previous production method”
Being more than three times quicker than any previous production method confirms Ashley's machine was the fastest then.
Michael Owens was hired by a large US company to design a fully-automated bottle manufacturing machine for them.
“the first fully automated machine was developed in the USA by Michael Owens – founder of the Owens Bottle Machine Company”
Owens was the founder of the Owens Bottle Machine Company, not an employee hired by a large US company to design the machine.
Nowadays, most glass is produced by large international manufacturers.
“Today, glass making is big business. It has become a modern, hi-tech industry operating in a fiercely competitive global market where quality, design and service levels are critical to maintaining market share.”
The passage calls glassmaking big business in a global market but gives no figures on what share large international manufacturers hold.
Concern for the environment is leading to an increased demand for glass containers.
“Glass is an ideal material for recycling, and with growing consumer concern for green issues, glass bottles and jars are becoming ever more popular”
Growing consumer concern for green issues is making glass bottles and jars ever more popular, confirming increased demand.
It is more expensive to produce recycled glass than to manufacture new glass.
“As less energy is needed to melt recycled glass than to melt down raw materials, this also saves fuel and production costs”
Recycled glass needs less energy and saves fuel and production costs, so it is cheaper to produce, not more expensive.
Learn the question types in this passage
Frequently asked questions
Where does the The History Of Glass passage come from?
It is Passage 1 of Cambridge IELTS 12 Academic Reading Test 4, and it covers Questions 1–13.
What question types appear in The History Of Glass?
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.