Australia's Pearling Industry Reading Answers

Sep 6, 2024

Australia's Pearling Industry Reading Answers is an academic reading answers topic. Australia's Pearling Industry Reading Answers has a total of 13 IELTS questions in total.In the first section you have to choose the correct heading. In the next section you have to fill in the blanks with correct answers.

Candidates should read the IELTS Reading passage thoroughly to recognize synonyms, identify keywords, and answer the questions below. IELTS Reading practice papers feature topics such as Australia's Pearling Industry Reading Answers. Candidates can use IELTS reading practice questions and answers to enhance their performance in the reading section.

Section 1

Australia's Pearling Industry

A. Australia's pearling industry began long before European settlement. Northern Australian coastal-dwelling Aborigines harvested the abundant pearl shell from the shallow waters and had a well-established trading network for it. Aborigines also traded with fishermen from the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, who harvested various fish, sea animals, and pearl shells. Folklore, songs, cave paintings, and the diaries of early settlers tell us of links between Australia and Indonesia dating back 500 years. When Europeans settled in Australia, they were quick to see the value of the pearl fields. Pearling began in earnest in the 1850s at Shark Bay, Western Australia, and this spread to the islands in the Torres Strait over the next 30 years. The colony of Queensland recognized the value of this resource and annexed the islands in 1879. By 1910, nearly 400 boats and more than 3,500 people were fishing for shell in waters around Broome, then the biggest pearling center in the world.

B. Pearl shell obtained from Western Australia and the Torres Strait found an initial ready market in the clothing industry in the United States and England, especially for buttons and buckles. Quick returns could be made with pearl shell attracting £400 a ton in the early period and, at the worst time, in 1894, £79 a ton. The Torres Strait supplied over half the world demand for pearl shell in the 1890s. Pearl shell and mother of pearl were the main focus of the industry, as the shell was used in developing markets to make cutlery, hair combs, jewelry items, as well as art objects and inlay for furniture. One business alone in the Torres Strait raised £31,500 worth of shell and £5000 worth of pearls in one year.

C. These boom times attracted large numbers of Europeans, South Sea Islanders, and Asians who came for the adventure, the promise of work, and the possibility of making their fortunes. In the Torres Strait, by 1886, there were as many non-islanders as there were islanders. In Broome, the largest of these immigrant groups were the Chinese. They came not only as pearlers but also as cooks and shopkeepers, similar to the roles they played during the gold boom days.

D. In the Torres Strait, pearlers not only sought pearls but also exploited other island resources to sustain the industry, including ransacking the islands for food, timber, and water. This, combined with the spread of diseases, led to a significant population decline among the Torres Strait Islanders, with their numbers dropping to as low as 50 percent of pre-pearling populations by 1900.

E. From 1862, the pearl supply dwindled, prompting the use of larger boats sent two kilometers offshore to collect oysters in deeper waters. Aboriginal men and women practiced "naked diving," meaning they dived deep without oxygen, snorkels, or masks. In the Torres Strait, working conditions were not only dangerous but also extremely squalid, leading to numerous accidents. Many Japanese divers were employed as indentured laborers, working without pay to repay debts, typically for their transportation to Australia. Divers were paid based on the amount of shell they collected, but few managed to fully repay their debts. Efforts to regulate the marine industry and prevent the exploitation of Aborigines and Islanders were introduced by the Queensland parliament, requiring wages to be paid in front of an inspector after 1893.

F. The invention of diving suits revolutionized the pearling industry in Australia. Divers could now go deeper, stay underwater longer, and collect more shell and pearls. These divers wore vulcanized canvas suits with heavy bronze helmets and spent hours underwater. On the ocean floor, they moved in lead-weighted boots, frantically gathering oysters into bags since their pay depended on the amount of shell collected. Pearl divers regularly faced the dangers of shark attacks and the crippling effects of the bends with each dive. Some sources suggest the mortality rate for divers was as high as 50 percent. Additionally, entire fleets were often shipwrecked during cyclones.

G. During World War I and World War II, the pearling industry virtually ceased as most of the workers enlisted. The industry relied heavily on Japanese pearl divers, who were detained in prisoner of war camps after Japan entered World War II. Recovery after World War II was slow because the harvesting methods used in previous decades had depleted the supply of shell. Additionally, the development of cultured pearls and the adoption of plastic buttons and buckles in the 1950s further devastated the industry in the Torres Strait by the 1960s.

H. Broome and the pearling industry survived the economic devastation of both World Wars and today is recognized as a "pearl capital." Western Australia now boasts a well-established industry, including hatchery and culturing facilities, producing pearls valued at AUD 150 million last year. As a result of the pearling industry, Broome’s architecture and population are quite unique in Australia, featuring a Chinatown with several Chinese buildings and a local cemetery with Japanese and Chinese sections. Broome’s sub-tropical location has also enhanced its appeal as a tourist destination, contributing to its thriving multicultural community and flourishing economy.

Questions 14 - 21

The text on the previous pages has 8 paragraphs (A - H). Choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list of headings below.

Write the correct number (i - xi)

I. The Industry's Negative Local Effects
ii. Local Governments Benefit through Taxation
iii. Developments and Dangers
iv. High Demand Brings Large Profits
v. Boats Designed for the Industry
vi. Industry Setbacks
vii. The Origins of the Industry
viii. Shameful Exploitation
ix. The Legacy
x. The Rush for Riches
xi. Government Legislation Affects Pricing NE

Paragraph A

Answer: VII

Supporting statement: “.....Australia's pearling industry began long before European settlement. Northern Australian coastal-dwelling Aborigines.....”

Keywords: Origins,Trading

Keyword Location: para A, Line 2

Explanation: This paragraph focuses on the early origins of the pearling industry in Australia, even before European settlement. It describes how indigenous people were already involved in pearling, and their activities laid the foundation for the industry.

Paragraph B

Answer: IV

Supporting statement: “.....Pearl shell obtained from Western Australia and the Torres Strait found an initial ready market.....”

Keywords: High, demand

Keyword Location: para B, Line 3

Explanation: This paragraph discusses the high demand for pearl shells in international markets, particularly in the clothing industry, which led to large profits. The focus on market demand and profitability aligns with the heading "High Demand Brings Large Profits."

Paragraph C

Answer: X

Supporting statement: “.....These boom times attracted large numbers of Europeans, South Sea Islanders, and Asians who came for the adventure, the promise of work, and the possibility of making their fortunes.....”

Keywords: Rush, Riches

Keyword Location: para C, Line 2

Explanation: This paragraph highlights the influx of people from various regions who were drawn to the pearling industry by the prospect of wealth and adventure, which is a classic example of a "rush for riches."

Paragraph D

Answer: I

Supporting statement: “.....Pearlers not only sought pearls, but also other island resources to maintain the industry, which extended to the ransacking of the islands for food, timber, and water. .....”

Keywords: Negative, effects

Keyword Location: para D, Line 4

Explanation: This paragraph discusses the detrimental impact of the pearling industry on local resources, including the depletion of essential materials like food and timber.

Paragraph E

Answer: VIIII

Supporting statement: “.....Aboriginal men and women would 'naked dive'. This meant they had to dive deep with no oxygen, no snorkel, and no mask. Many of the Japanese divers.....”

Keywords: Exploitation, Labor

Keyword Location: para E, Line 5

Explanation: This paragraph details the harsh and exploitative labor conditions faced by Aboriginal divers, including the dangerous practice of naked diving. The exploitation of these workers and their dire working conditions align with the heading "Shameful Exploitation."

Paragraph F

Answer: III

Supporting statement: “.....The invention of diving suits revolutionized the pearling industry. Divers could go deeper than ever before, stay underwater longer,.....”

Keywords: Developments, dangers

Keyword Location: para F, Line 3

Explanation: This paragraph discusses the significant development of diving suits, which allowed divers to go deeper and stay underwater longer. However, it also mentions the dangers faced by these divers, such as shark attacks and the bends

Paragraph G

Answer: VI

Supporting statement: “.....During World War 1 and World War 2, the industry virtually ceased, as most of the workers enlisted. The development of cultured pearls and the use of plastic buttons in the 1950s.....”

Keywords: Setbacks, Devastated

Keyword Location: para G, Line 3

Explanation: This paragraph outlines the setbacks faced by the pearling industry, including the impact of both World Wars and the rise of alternatives like cultured pearls and plastic buttons. These events significantly hindered the industry.

Paragraph H

Answer: IX

Supporting statement: “....Broome and the pearling industry survived the economic devastation of both World Wars and today is recognized as a 'pearl capital'. Western Australia has a well-established industry......”

Keywords: Legacy, Survived

Keyword Location: para H, Line 1

Explanation: This paragraph discusses the enduring legacy of the pearling industry in Broome, which has managed to survive economic challenges and continues to thrive. The long-term impact and continued success of the industry justify the heading "The Legacy."

Questions 22 - 26

Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each.

To which industry was Australian pearl shell first sold?

Answer: THE CLOTHING INDUSTRY

Supporting statement: “....Pearl shell obtained from Western Australia and the Torres Strait found an initial ready market in the clothing industry in the United States and England......”

Keywords: Clothing, industry

Keyword Location: para B, Line 1

Explanation: The passage explicitly mentions that the first significant use of pearl shell from Australia was in the clothing industry in the United States and England. The phrase "ready market" emphasizes the immediate demand for pearl shell in this sector, highlighting the industry's early reliance on clothing-related products like buttons and buckles.

What construction resource was over-exploited on the Torres Strait islands to help support the pearl industry there?

Answer: TIMBER

Keywords: Timber, Ransacking

Keyword Location: para D, Line 2

Explanation: the passage details how the pearling industry on the Torres Strait islands led to the over-exploitation of local resources, including timber. The term "ransacking" suggests an aggressive and unsustainable approach to resource extraction

Who supervised any money paid to Aboriginal and island workers from 1893?

Answer: AN INSPECTOR

Supporting statement: “.....Attempts to regulate the marine industry and to prevent improper employment of Aborigines and islanders were made by the Queensland parliament, and wages were required to be paid in front of an inspector after 1893.....”

Keywords: Inspector, Wages

Keyword Location: para E, Line 4

Explanation: The passage discusses the efforts made by the Queensland parliament to protect Aboriginal and island workers from exploitation within the pearling industry. By requiring wages to be paid in front of an inspector, the authorities aimed to ensure fair treatment.

What hindered pearlers in diving suits from walking properly on the sea bed?

Answer: LEAD WEIGHTED BOOTS

Supporting statement: “.....On the bottom, they struggled about in lead-weighted boots, frantically scooping oysters into bags......”

Keywords: Lead-weighted, boots

Keyword Location: para F, Line 2

Explanation: The passage vividly describes the physical challenges faced by pearl divers wearing diving suits. The "lead-weighted boots" made it difficult for divers to move effectively on the sea bed, and the word "struggled" conveys the effort required to perform their tasks under these conditions.

What had depleted the available amount of pearl shell before World War 2?

Answer: HARVESTING METHODS

Supporting statement: “.....The recovery after World War 2 was slow, as harvesting methods used in the previous decades meant that the supply of shell had almost run out.....”

Keywords: Harvesting, method

Keyword Location: para G, Line 2

Explanation: The passage indicates that the aggressive harvesting methods used in earlier decades had led to a significant depletion of pearl shell supplies by the time World War 2 ended.

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