The History of Glass Reading Answers

Dec 6, 2022

The History of Glass Reading Answers comprises a total of 13 questions. These 13 questions should be answered by candidates within 20 minutes. The History of Glass Reading Answers has question types; one word only and true/false/not given. For True/False/Not Given, candidates must read the passage and understand the statement provided and answer whether the statement is true, false, or not given. For no more than one word, candidates need to read the paragraph and understand the information mentioned. Further, they are to choose from the given information. Candidates must read the IELTS reading passage, identify keywords, and recognize synonyms to answer the question.

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Reading Passage Questions

From our earliest origins, man has been making use of glass. 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 - 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. It was not until 1500 BC, however, that the first hollow glass container was made by covering a sand core with a layer of molten glass.

Glass blowing became the most common way to make glass containers from the first century BC. The glass made during this time was highly coloured due to the impurities of the raw material. In the first century AD, methods of creating colourless glass were developed, which was then tinted by the addition of colouring materials. 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. From the 10th century onwards, the Venetians gained a reputation for technical skill and artistic ability in the making of glass bottles, and many of the city’s craftsmen left Italy to set up glassworks throughout Europe.

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). 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 new glass he created was softer and easier to decorate, and had a higher refractive index, adding to its brilliance and beauty, and it proved invaluable to the optical industry. It is thanks to Ravenscroft’s invention that optical lenses, astronomical telescopes, microscopes and the like became possible.

In Britain, the modem 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, and were levied continuously from 1745 to 1845. Joseph Paxton’s Crystal Palace at London’s Great Exhibition of 1851 marked the beginning of glass as a material used in the building industry. This revolutionary new building encouraged the use of glass in public, domestic and horticultural architecture. Glass manufacturing techniques also improved with the advancement of science and the development of better technology.

From 1887 onwards, glass making developed from traditional mouth-blowing to a semi-automatic process, after 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. Then in 1907, the first fully automated machine was developed in the USA by Michael Owens - founder of the Owens Bottle Machine Company (later the major manufacturers Owens- Illinois) - and installed in its factory. Owens’ invention could produce an impressive 2,500 bottles per hour Other developments followed rapidly, but it | was not until the First World War when Britain became cut off from essential glass suppliers, that glass became part of the scientific sector. Previous to this, glass had been seen as a craft rather than a precise science.

Today, glass making is big business. It has become a modem, hi-tech industry operating in a fiercely competitive global market where quality, design and service levels are critical to maintaining market share. Modem glass plants are capable of making millions of glass containers a day in many different colours, with green, brown and clear remaining the most popular. Few of us can imagine modem life without glass. It features in almost every aspect of our lives - in our homes, our cars and whenever we sit down to eat or drink. Glass packaging is used for many products, many beverages are sold in glass, as are numerous foodstuffs, as well as medicines and cosmetics.

Glass is an ideal material for recycling, and with growing consumer concern for green issues, glass bottles and jars are becoming ever more popular. Glass recycling is good news for the environment. It saves used glass containers being sent to landfill. As less energy is needed to melt recycled glass than to melt down raw materials, this also saves fuel and production costs. Recycling also reduces the need for raw materials to be quarried, thus saving precious resources.

Solution and Explanation
Questions 1-8:
Complete the notes below.
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 1-8 on your answer sheet

Q1 – 2. EARLY HUMANS USED A MATERIAL CALLED (1)obsidian TO MAKE THE SHARP POINTS OF THEIR (2) spears

Answer: 1) Obsidian, 2) Spears
Supporting Sentence: “From our earliest origins, man has been making use of glass. 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 - was first used as tips for spears.”
Keywords: Discovered, natural gas
Keyword Location: 1st paragraph, lines 1-2
Explanation: Glass is discussed at the beginning of this particular IELTS reading passage as being an essential component of our lives and how it first appeared in ancient times. The term "obsidian," which refers to a naturally occurring form of glass created as a result of the eruption's intense heat melting sands, was first discovered by historians. The answer choice was correct because the product was used as spear tips.

Q3. 4000 BC: 3 beads MADE OF STONE WERE COVERED IN A COATING OF MAN-MADE GLASS.

Answer: beads
Supporting Sentence: “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. It was not until 1500 BC, however, that the first hollow glass container was made by covering a sand core with a layer of molten glass.”
Keywords: Glazes, coating stone
Keyword Location: 1st paragraph, lines 2-3
Explanation: Archaeologists first found evidence of manufactured glasses about 4000 BC, and it has now been shown that they were used as glazes to cover stone beads. This explains how, up until 1500 BC, molten glass and a sand core were used to create genuine hollow glass. These lines indicate that "this" refers to manufactured glass and that "coating" refers to the covering of the stone beads.

Q4. FIRST CENTURY BC: GLASS WAS COLOURED BECAUSE OF THE 4 impurities IN THE MATERIAL.

Answer: impurities
Supporting Sentence: “Glass blowing became the most common way to make glass containers from the first century BC. The glass made during this time was highly colored due to the impurities of the raw material.”
Keywords: Glass-made, highly colored
Keyword Location: 2nd paragraph, lines 1-2
Explanation: Glass blowing was invented in the first century BC for the purpose of producing glass containers. Because the raw materials used in their production were impure, the glass containers were colored. Therefore, the chosen response is the correct one since it is solely due to impurities that the colour of the glass container changes.

Q5. UNTIL 476 AD: ONLY THE 5 Romans KNEW HOW TO MAKE GLASS

Answer: Romans
Supporting Sentence: “The secret of glass making was taken across Europe by the Romans during this century”
Keywords: The secret, across Europe
Keyword Location: 2nd paragraph, lines 2-3
Explanation: It is clear from the second paragraph that the Romans made the production of coloured glasses secure when they spread the knowledge of how to do so over all of Europe. The entire glass-making method was kept secret until 476 AD, when the entire empire fell. The knowledge of making glass spread throughout the world after that. We can infer that only Romans were kept in the dark about the information prior to the fall of the empire.

Q6 – 7. 17TH CENTURY: GEORGE RAVENSCROFT DEVELOPED A PROCESS USING 6 lead TO AVOID THE OCCURRENCE OF 7 clouding IN BLOWN GLASS.

Answer: lead , clouding
Supporting Sentence: “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). 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.”
Keywords: 17th century, raw materials, counter, effect
Keyword Location: 3rd paragraph, lines 1-2
Explanation: The information concerning George Ravenscroft, who introduced "softer and simpler to adorn" spectacles, was discovered in the third paragraph. The 'lead crystal glass' was the invention that brought about the modifications. In this context, "counter the impact of clouding" refers to preventing the clouding effect. In order to prevent clouding during the production of blown glass, the manufacturer has used the product lead in the process.

Q8.MID-19TH CENTURY: BRITISH GLASS PRODUCTION DEVELOPED AFTER CHANGES TO LAWS CONCERNING

Answer: taxes
Supporting Sentence: “In Britain, the modem 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, and were levied continuously from 1745 to 1845.”
Keywords: Placed, amount of glass, mid-19th century, British glass production, after, changes, laws
Keyword Location: 4th paragraph, lines 1-2
Explanation: From the above supporting sentences we get the idea about the occurrence in 1845 in Britain. The Excise Act had imposed heavy taxes on the melted glass that was being produced. The taxes were charged constantly from the years 1745 to 1845. But from the time of its cancellation, the British glass industry started developing. Further, it can be seen that the repealing of the Excise Act was stated as the changes in the law.

QUESTIONS 9-13: IN BOXES 9-13 ON YOUR ANSWER SHEET

Q9. IN 1887, HM ASHLEY HAD THE FASTEST BOTTLE-PRODUCING MACHINE THAT EXISTED AT THE TIME.

Answer: True
Supporting Sentence: “From 1887 onwards, glass making developed from traditional mouth-blowing to a semi-automatic process, after 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.”
Keywords: fastest, bottle-producing, at the time, Three times, production method
Keyword Location: 5th paragraph, lines 1-2
Explanation: Quoting about the HM Ashley's manufacturing device, it can be seen in the fifth paragraph that the machine worked "more than three times quicker than any previous production method," which indicates it already developed a method of production. The phrase "bottle making machine" refers to a certain sort of production. As a result, the response is accurate.

Q10. MICHAEL OWENS WAS HIRED BY A LARGE US COMPANY TO DESIGN A FULLY-AUTOMATED BOTTLE MANUFACTURING MACHINE FOR THEM.

Answers: False
Supporting Sentences: Then in 1907, the first fully automated machine was developed in the USA by Michael Owens - founder of the Owens Bottle Machine Company (later the major manufacturers Owens- Illinois) - and installed in its factory.
Keywords: hired, large US company, design,Founder, company
Keyword Location: 5th paragraph, lines 2-3
Explanation: The completely automated bottle production machine firm is discussed in the fifth paragraph. Although it is claimed above that Michale Owens was employed by the firm, the passage mentions that he was the company's creator, proving that the statement in the question is untrue. It is made quite apparent that he was the business's owner.

Q11. NOWADAYS, MOST GLASS IS PRODUCED BY LARGE INTERNATIONAL MANUFACTURERS.

Answer: NOT GIVEN
Explanation: No relevant information was found in association with the mentioned question.

Q12. CONCERN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT IS LEADING TO AN INCREASED DEMAND FOR GLASS CONTAINERS.

Answer: True
Supporting Sentences: “Glass is an ideal material for recycling, and with growing consumer concern for green issues, glass bottles and jars are becoming ever more popular. Glass recycling is good news for the environment. It saves used glass containers from being sent to landfills.
Keywords: concern, environment, lead to, increased demand, glass containers, Green issues, more popular
Keyword Location: 6th paragraph, lines 1-2
Explanation: Glass bottles and jars are getting more and more popular among customers, according to the final sentence about them. This is due to increased consumer concern for environmental problems. This claim demonstrates that people demand more glass goods. Consumer demand for glass items is increasing as a result of environmental concerns. This demonstrates that the chosen response is the right one.

Q 13. IT IS MORE EXPENSIVE TO PRODUCE RECYCLED GLASS THAN TO MANUFACTURE NEW GLASS.

Answer: False
Supporting Sentence: “As less energy is needed to melt recycled glass than to melt down raw materials, this also saves fuel and production costs. Recycling also reduces the need for raw materials to be quarried, thus saving precious resources.”
Keywords: Saves, production costs, more expensive, recycled glass, new glass
Keyword Location: 6th paragraph, lines 2-3
Explanation: The comparison of recycled glass and new glass is discussed in the final sentence, and it is stated that "As less energy is required to melt recycled glass than to melt down raw materials, this also saves fuel and production costs." Recycled glass is produced at a far lower rate than new glass.