Benjamin Franklin - The Founding Father of United States Reading Answers

Jul 15, 2024

Benjamin Franklin - The founding father of United States Reading Answers is an academic reading answers topic. Benjamin Franklin - The founding father of United States Reading Answers has a total of 13 IELTS questions in total. In the questions, you have to tell whether the statement is correct or not. In the next question, you have to choose the correct answer for the statement.

Candidates should read the IELTS Reading passage thoroughly to recognize synonyms, identify keywords, and answer the questions below. IELTS Reading practice papers, which feature topics such as Benjamin Franklin - The founding father of United States Reading Answers. Candidates can use IELTS reading practice questions and answers to enhance their performance in the reading section.

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Section 1

Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions

Benjamin Franklin - The Founding Father of United States

Benjamin Franklin was born on January 17, 1706, and expired on April 17, 1790. He was an American with a wealth of knowledge and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. Franklin was a top author, printer, political theorist, politician, Freemason, postmaster, scientist originator, humourist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat. As a scientist, he was a chief figure in the American Enlightenment and the pas of physics for his findings and theories concerning electricity. He invented many prominent things such as lightning rod, bifocals, and the Franklin stove. He founded numerous civic organisations, including the Library Company, Philadelphia's first fire department and the University of Pennsylvania Benjamin Franklin was born on Milk Street, in Boston, Massachusetts, on January 17, 1706, and blessed at Old South Meeting House. He was one of seventeen children born to Josiah Franklin, and one of ten born by Josiah's second wife, Abiah Folger: the daughter of Mary Morrill. James and Jane were among Benjamin's siblings. Jane was younger to Peter Foulger and Benjamin. Josiah desired Ben to attend school with the clergy but had limited resources to send him to school for two years. He joined Boston Latin School but soon dropped out; he sustained his education through insatiable reading.

Although his parents wanted him to think of church as a career. But his schooling ended when he was ten. After that, Benjamin worked for his father for a time, and at 12 he became an apprentice to his brother James. James was a printer, who taught Ben the printing trade. When Ben was 15, James originated The New-England Courant, which was the opening truly independent newspaper in the colonies. When deprived of the chance to write a letter to the paper for publication, Franklin adopted

the pseudonym of "Silence Dogood", a middle-aged widow. Mrs. Dogood's letters were published and became a subject of discussion around town. Neither James nor the Courant's readers were aware of the trick, and James was unhappy with Ben when he discovered the popular correspondent was his younger brother. Franklin was a supporter of unrestricted speech from an early age. When James was jailed for three weeks in 1722 for publishing material unattractive to the governor, young Franklin took over the newspaper and had Mrs. Dogood (quoting Cato's Letters) announced in the newspaper: "Without freedom of thought there can be no such thing as wisdom and no such thing as public liberty without freedom of speech." Franklin left his internship without his brother's consent, and in so doing turn out to be an escapee.

Franklin campaigned for colonial unity in the early days and earned the title of "The First American". He was an author and spokesman in London for several colonies at that time. As the first United States Ambassador to France, he represented the emerging American nation. Franklin was the first person to recognize the American ethos as a nuptial of the practical values of prudence, hard work, education, community spirit, self-governing institutions, and opposition to fascism in both politics and religion, with the scientific and tolerant values of the Enlightenment. In the words of historian Henry Steele Commager, "In a Franklin could be fused the virtues of Puritanism without its defects, the illumination of the Enlightenment without its heat." To Walter Isaacson, this styles Franklin "the most talented American of his age and the most persuasive in inventing the type of society America would become."

Franklin became an effective newspaper editor and printer in Philadelphia, the leading city in the colonies, publishing the Pennsylvania Gazette at the age of 23. After few years, he became rich publishing this and Poor Richard's Almanack, which he authored under the pseudonym "Richard Saunders". After 1767, he was associated with the Pennsylvania Chronicle, a newspaper that was known for its revolutionary opinions and condemnations of British policies. He pioneered the Academy and College of Philadelphia which opened in 1751 which later became the University of Pennsylvania. He was also the first President of the college of Philadelphia. He organized the American Philosophical Society as the secretary

and was elected president in 1769. Franklin turned out to be a national hero in America as a mediator for numerous colonies when he fronted an effort in London to have the Parliament of Great Britain repeal the unpopular Stamp Act. A skilled diplomat, he was broadly respected among the French as the American minister to Paris and was a main figure in the development of positive Franco-American relations. His hard work proved integral for the American Revolution in securing shipments of vital ammunitions from France.

He was promoted to deputy postmaster-general for the British colonies in 1753, previously he was Philadelphia postmaster for many years, and this allowed him to set up the first national communications network. During the revolution, he turned out to be the first United States Postmaster he aided as governor of Pennsylvania. He firstly owned and dispensed in slaves but, by the late 1750s, he started disagreeing with captivity and came an abolitionist. Franklin was honoured more than two hundred years after he passed away. He was honoured on coinage and the $100

bill. name of many towns. Counties, educational institutes warships, and corporations, as well as uncountable cultural references.

Section 2

Solution and Explanation

Questions 27-34

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the Reading Passage?

TRUE - If the statement agrees with the information.
FALSE - If the statement contradicts the information.
NOT GIVEN - If there is no information on this

Benjamin Franklin was the solitary founding father of the United States.

Answer: FALSE
Supporting statement:“......He was an American with a wealth of knowledge and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States........”
Keywords: Founding, Fathers
Keyword Location: para 1, line 2
Explanation: The passage clearly states that Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers, not the only one. This confirms that the statement is false.

Abiah Folger had 17 children.

Answer: FALSE
Supporting statement:“......He was one of seventeen children born to Josiah Franklin, and one of ten born by Josiah's second wife, Abiah Folger.........”
Keywords: children, one
Keyword Location: para 2, line 2-3
Explanation: The passage specifies that Josiah Franklin had seventeen children in total, but Abiah Folger, his second wife, had ten children. This contradicts the statement that Abiah Folger had 17 children, making it false.

Benjamin learned about printing from his brother James.

Answer: TRUE
Supporting statement:“.......James was a printer, who taught Ben the printing trade........”
Keywords: Ben, printing
Keyword Location: para 2, line 7
Explanation: The passage explicitly states that James, Benjamin's brother, taught him the printing trade. This directly supports the statement, making it true.

James was ecstatic when he found that the eminent correspondent was his brother Franklin.

Answer: FALSE
Supporting statement:“......James was unhappy with Ben when he discovered the popular correspondent was his younger brother.........”
Keywords: unhappy, younger
Keyword Location: para 2, line 11-12
Explanation: The passage states that James was unhappy when he found out that the popular correspondent was his younger brother, Benjamin. This contradicts the statement that James was ecstatic, making it false.

Franklin was given the title 'the first American' by a prevalent newspaper.

Answer: NOT GIVEN
Explanation: The passage mentions that Franklin earned the title "The First American," but it does not specify that this title was given by a prevalent newspaper. Hence, the answer is not given.

Franklin became renowned at the age of 23 when he published the Pennsylvania Chronical.

Answer: FALSE
Supporting statement:“......Franklin became an effective newspaper editor and printer in Philadelphia, the leading city in the colonies, publishing the Pennsylvania Gazette at the age of 23........”
Keywords: publishing, Pennsylvania
Keyword Location: para 4, line 1-2
Explanation: The passage states that Franklin published the Pennsylvania Gazette at the age of 23, not the Pennsylvania Chronicle. This makes the statement false.

Franklin became the head of the first sports committee of Pennsylvania.

Answer: NOT GIVEN
Explanation: The passage does not provide anything regarding Franklin's involvement with a sports committee. Thus, the information is not given.

Franklin was privileged more than 200 years after his death.

Answer: TRUE
Supporting statement:“......Franklin was honoured more than two hundred years after he passed away........”
Keywords: honored, more
Keyword Location: para 6, line 1
Explanation: The passage states that Franklin was honored more than two hundred years after his death. It supports the statement and makes it true.

Questions 35-40

Complete each sentence with the correct heading.
Write the correct letter in your answer sheet.

When Franklin was 12 years old.....

Answer: D
Supporting statement:“......After that, Benjamin worked for his father for a time, and at 12 he became an apprentice to his brother James........”
Keywords: apprentice, brother
Keyword Location: para 2, line 6
Explanation: The passage clearly states that Benjamin became an apprentice to his brother James at the age of 12. Hence D is the correct answer for this statement.

Franklin did not appraise his brother after exiting apprenticeship.....

Answer: B
Supporting statement:“......Franklin left his internship without his brother's consent, and in so doing turned out to be an escapee........”
Keywords: consent, escapee
Keyword Location: para 2, lines 14-15
Explanation: The passage describes that Franklin left his apprenticeship without informing his brother, which made him a fugitive. Option B is the correct choice for the given statement.

He became the first United States Ambassador to France.....

Answer: C
Supporting statement:“......As the first United States Ambassador to France, he represented the emerging American nation........”
Keywords:France, represented
Keyword Location: para 3, line 2-3
Explanation:The passage states that Franklin was the first United States Ambassador to France, representing the American nation. Option C is the correct choice for the given statement.

At the age of 23.....

Answer: E
Supporting statement:“......Franklin became an effective newspaper editor and printer in Philadelphia, the leading city in the colonies, publishing the Pennsylvania Gazette at the age of 23........”
Keywords:editor, printer
Keyword Location: para 4, line 1-2
Explanation:The passage mentions that Franklin became a newspaper editor and printer, publishing the Pennsylvania Gazette at the age of 23. Option E is the correct choice for the given statement.

Franklin was refused to write a letter to the newspaper for publication....

Answer: A
Supporting statement:“......When deprived of the chance to write a letter to the paper for publication, Franklin adopted the pseudonym of 'Silence Dogood'........”
Keywords:letter, pseudonym
Keyword Location: para 2, line 9-10
Explanation:The passage describes that Franklin adopted the pseudonym "Silence Dogood" after being denied the opportunity to write a letter for publication. Option A is the correct choice for the given statement.

Franklin attended Boston Latin School.....

Answer: G
Supporting statement:“.......He joined Boston Latin School but soon dropped out; he sustained his education through insatiable reading.......”
Keywords:School, dropped
Keyword Location: para 2, line 5
Explanation:The passage states that Franklin attended Boston Latin School but did not graduate. Option G is the correct choice for the given statement.