History in Various Centuries Reading Answers

Jan 23, 2025

History in Various Centuries Reading Answers is an academic reading answers topic. History in Various Centuries Reading Answers has a total of 5 IELTS questions in total. In the question set you have to answer the question by choosing the correct paragraph which contains the given information.

The IELTS Reading section is an essential part of the test that evaluates a candidate's comprehension and analysis of various passage types. You will work through a number of IELTS reading practice problems in this section that resemble actual test situations. These questions are designed to help you improve your ability to recognize essential concepts, extract particular facts, and make inferences. Practicing these IELTS reading problems can help you get comfortable with the structure and increase your confidence for the exam, regardless of whether you are studying for the Academic or General Training module.

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Section 1 HISTORY IN VARIOUS CENTURIES

A. Constantinople was a centre of local, regional and interregional trade, a fact which to a great degree

was due to the city's geographic location and close relationship with the sea. However, in order the scope

of commercial activities centred on the Byzantine capital to become more comprehensible, a quick

investigation of terminology beforehand is essential. Having adapted Luuk de Ligt's criteria for the

categorization of trade fairs in the Roman world based on duration, geographic scope, volume of goods

exchanged and dominant type of exchanges.

B. The 6th century marked the completion of an evolution that had been set into motion with the foundation of Constantinople to the detriment of Rome since the new capital had by then become the empire's main commercial hub. The total amount of wheat, oil and wine required for provisioning Constantinople had to be imported from other areas. For wheat, in particular, the Byzantine capital depended on the annual production of Egypt, which was the main source of supply for Constantinople, through the institution of the civic annona. An important precondition for the smooth social life of a city which around the year 600 is estimated to have numbered 300,000-500,000 inhabitants. Imported grain, oil and wine were supplemented by other foodstuffs, such as fish and meat, which could be procured from the city's specialized markets.

C. Generally speaking, regional and interregional maritime trade benefited from the existence of

infrastructures. In Constantinople, in the 4th and 5th centuries, the construction of the harbour of Julian

on the Sea of Marmara and, later on, that of Theodosius, along with the granaries, led to the increase

in the capacity of the two natural ports of the Golden Horn.Thus the capital boasted a total of almost 4 km of landing docks, which could serve the simultaneous mooring of 500 medium-sized ships. The importance attained by Constantinople during that period as a commercial entrepet is also implied by Justinian I's (527-565) foundation of new customs houses (dekateuteria), attached to the customs house of Constantinople, in Abydos and the Hieron, at the entrance of the Hellespont and the Bosporus respectively, to collect taxes from ships sailing from and to the Mediterranean.

D. The loss of Egypt during 7th century caused great difficulties to the capital's grain supply. Little is known as to how this problem was dealt with: the areas that provided the capital with wheat were the hinterland of Thessalonica, the west coast of the Black Sea, the Thracian hinterland, Bithynia, and perhaps also Ephesos. Nevertheless, although there is some evidence that grain ships were coming into the capital, there is no information on how this grain reached Constantinople nor on the individuals that transported it there, although it is considered unlikely that the provisioning in grain in this period should have been left entirely to free trade. Given the limited scope of commercial exchanges at this time, it is thought that at least local trade (particularly in foodstuffs) existed, which must have been important in the wider area of Constantinople. Perhaps regional trade also existed between Constantinople and Bithynia, and probably the Bulgarian coast as well. Apart from grain and the trade of foodstuffs in general, silk fabrics along with slaves constituted an important item of exchange.

Questions 22-26

Which paragraph contains the following information?

Write the correct letter A- D.

NB: You may use one letter more than once.

22. The reason the place has become centre of trade

Answer: A

Supporting statement:due to the city's geographic location and close relationship with the sea

Keywords: city’s, location

Keyword Location: Para A, Line 2

Explanation: The passage states that the city's geographic position and close proximity to the sea contributed greatly to Constantinople's position as an important center for local, regional, and interregional trade.

23. Construction of harbour has changed the face of trade

Answer: C

Supporting statement:the two natural ports of the Golden Horn.Thus the capital boasted a total of almost 4 km of landing docks

Keywords: ports, capital

Keyword Location: Para C, Line 4

Explanation: The passage mentions that in Constantinople during the 4th and 5th centuries, the construction of Julian's and Theodosius' harbors on the Sea of Marmara, as well as granaries, increased the space of the Golden Horn's two natural ports.As a result, the city featured over 4 km of landing docks that could accommodate 500 medium-sized ships at once. Constantinople's importance as a commercial entrepot is further highlighted by Justinian I's (527-565) foundation of new tax houses (dekateuteria) in Abydos and the Hieron, at the entrances of the Hellespont and the Bosporus. These were designed for collecting taxes from ships cruising from and to the Mediterranean.

24. The estimated population of Constantinople was around half million

Answer: B

Supporting statement:which around the year 600 is estimated to have numbered 300,000-500,000 inhabitants

Keywords: year, inhabitants

Keyword Location: Para B, Line 7

Explanation: The passage highlights that the population of the city was around half a million during the year 600, a necessary requirement for a city's social life to run smoothly.

25. Silk was considered as a major item for trade

Answer: D

Supporting statement: silk fabrics along with slaves constituted an important item of exchange.

Keywords: silk, exchange

Keyword Location: Para D, Line 11

Explanation: Since there was little commercial activity at the period, it is believed that there was at least some local trade, especially in food, which must have been significant in the larger Constantinople region. Bithynia and Constantinople may have had regional trade, and the Bulgarian coast most likely did as well. In addition to grain and the normal trade in food, silk fabrics and slaves were a significant item.

26. There is no information that how the grains were carried to such long places

Answer: D

Supporting statement: there is no information on how this grain reached Constantinople nor on the individuals that transported it there

Keywords: information, transported

Keyword Location: Para D, Lines 5-6

Explanation: The passage suggests that the places that supplied wheat to the capital were Thessalonica's hinterland, the Black Sea's west coast, the Thracian hinterland, Bithynia, and possibly Ephesos. No information is available regarding how this grain got to Constantinople or the people who carried it there, despite a possibility that grain ships headed towards the capital.

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