Knighthoods Reading Answers

Jan 6, 2023

Knighthoods Reading Answers is a topic about the discussion of knighthood. The given IELTS topic has originated from the book named “Cambridge IELTS 10 Student's Book with Answers”. The topic named Knighthoods Reading Answers with 13 wide range of questions in total. Three types of questions as given in this particular topic are, True/False/Not Given, no more than three words, and choose the correct letters. The candidates should thoroughly read the IELTS reading passage to recognize the synonyms and identify the keywords and answer the questions below. Similar kinds of topics like Knighthoods Reading Answers are included in the IELTS reading practice papers, which the candidates can take into their consideration for performing a good score in this section.

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Section 1

Read the passage to answer the following questions

Knighthoods Reading Answers

An ancient tradition Knighthoods are one of the oldest and most prestigious forms of honoring individual citizens in the United Kingdom. Although initially conferred upon members of the armed forces solely on the basis of their performance in combat, the award now recognizes all contributions to national life. Some of the most notable knighthoods of recent times have been bestowed on musicians or entertainers such as Sir Elton John and Sir Paul McCartney, and the fields of finance, industry, and education are also represented. Citizens of non-S Commonwealth 1 countries are eligible for an 'honorary' knighthood for which they are not permitted to use the titles 'Sir' or 'Dame'.

Perceived to be a British tradition, the legacy of knighthoods actually dates back to ancient Rome, from where it spread throughout a number of European countries in the Middle Ages and acquired certain features. A would-be knight had to undergo strict military instruction from a young age, which include spending time as an assistant (known as an esquire) to an existing knight and participating in battle.

He had to learn how to equip his knight for battle, and to help him with putting on the heavy and cumbersome armor of the time. He was responsible for keeping this armor in good condition, polishing, and cleaning it. He also had to demonstrate chivalrous behavior such as generosity, selflessness, fearlessness, and skill in battle. Finally, the potential knight also required the financial means to purchase horses, weapons, and armor for himself, and then make himself available to serve the ruling monarch for a minimum period each year.

In modern times, the process is very different. Instead of relying on formalized military training or

political patronage, a nominations system is used. This way, a person's name can be put forward for a knighthood by any institution such as a school or business, or even just a fellow member of society. After this, an advisory panel, acting on behalf of the sovereign, deliberates and selects the future knights and dames from the pool of applications. Those selected are contacted discreetly before announcements are made to ensure that they wish to accept the honor.

In rare cases, knighthoods can be revoked through a process known as forfeiture. This most often occurs when the recipient is convicted of a criminal offense. Terry Lewis, a police officer in Queensland, Australia, was stripped of his knighthood after being implicated in a string of illegal activities that included accepting $700,000 worth of bribes from bookmakers and casinos, and forging the signature of an Australian politician on a police document in 1981. Lewis has repeatedly protested his innocence and suggested that he was falsely accused of these crimes, but his appeals failed in court. In a more serious incident, British art historian and intelligence officer Anthony Blunt lost his knighthood after it was discovered that he was working as a double agent and handing confidential material over to the Soviet Union.

Knighthoods have also been forfeited for reasons of incompetence rather than outright illegality or treason. Having been knighted for 'services to banking' in 2004, CEO of the Royal Bank of Scotland Fred Goodwin presided over a 24-billion-pound loss at the bank just four years later. Although retaining a 16 Million pound pension, to which he was legally entitled, Goodwin had his knighthood annulled as the Queen's advisory panel deemed him 'the chief decision-maker at the time'. Scandals such as these have contributed to spirited debates regarding the role and relevance of knighthoods in 21st-century society.

Section 2

Solution and Explanation

Questions 1–6

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1?
In boxes 1–6 on your answer sheet,
write TRUE – if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE – if the statement contradicts the information

NOT GIVEN – if there is no information on this

Question 1: The knighthood was first awarded only for military service.

Answer: True
Supporting sentence: An ancient tradition Knighthoods are one of the oldest and most prestigious forms of honoring individual citizens in the United Kingdom.
Keyword: ancient tradition, prestigious forms, honoring
Keyword location: paragraph 1, line 1
Explanation: Paragraph 1 states that an introduction to knighthoods. It explains that an oldest ritual of Knighthoods is one of the aged forms. It is also most renowned and respectable manner of honoring each citizens in the United Kingdom. However, originally granted on the affiliates of the battalion squad only based on their conduct in war. The Knighthood is one of the ancient and most honourable forms of paying respect to every citizens in the UK. The award presently perceives every endowment towards nation. Therefore, the statement is True.

Question 2: Most knights now come from the arts and entertainment industries.

Answer: Not Given
Explanation: No available information has been given in the passage in order to support the above statement. Therefore, the above statement is regarded as an invalid one.

Question 3: People from outside the Commonwealth cannot be awarded any type of knighthood.

Answer: False
Supporting sentence: Citizens of non-S Commonwealth 1 countries are eligible for an 'honorary' knighthood for which they are not permitted to use the titles 'Sir' or 'Dame'.
Keyword : Citizens, non-S Commonwealth 1 countries, 'honorary' knighthood
Keyword location: paragraph 1, last line
Explanation: The concluding portion of paragraph 1 says few things about the knighthood. Few of the most eminent knighthoods of present have been granted to musicians. It is also given to entertainers like, Sir Elton John and Sir Paul McCartney. The finance, industry, and education sectores are also highlighted. The residents of non-S Commonwealth 1 countries are qualified or suitable for an 'honorary' knighthood. For this knighthood, the people living there are not allowed to use the titles 'Sir' or 'Dame'. Therefore, the above assertion is False.

Question 4: The knighthood began in Great Britain.

Answer: False
Supporting sentence: Perceived to be a British tradition, the legacy of knighthoods actually dates back to ancient Rome, from where it spread throughout a number of European countries in the Middle Ages and acquired certain features.
Keyword : Perceived, knighthoods, ancient Rome
Keyword location: paragraph 2, line 1
Explanation: Paragraph 2 suggests that recognized as a British culture and norms, the era of knighthoods first began in the ancient Rome. It is Rome, from where it advanced in an enormous European countries during the Middle Ages. It also taken few features in consideration. A would-be knight had to maintain and abide strict military instruction from his early age. This consists of spending time as an assistant, popularly known as an esquire, to an existing knight and competing in wars. So, it is a False statement.

Question 5: Esquires, or trainee knights, were usually related to the knights they served.

Answer: Not Given
Explanation: No pertinent information in order to prove the validation of this statement has been given in the above context. Therefore, we can consider this statement to be an invalid one.

Question 6: An esquire needed money to buy his own equipment.

Answer: True
Supporting sentence: He had to learn how to equip his knight for battle, and to help him with putting on the heavy and cumbersome armor of the time.
Keyword : learn, equip, heavy and cumbersome armor of the time
Keyword location: paragraph 3, lines 1-4
Explanation: Lines 1-4 of paragraph 3 suggests that an esquire must learn how to endow his knight for the war. He should also assist him by making him wear the heavy and pomderous armor of that time. It is mandatory for him to keep those armor shields in better condition. It should remained polished, and cleaned. He also had to manifest and maintain a gallant behavior. Their manners should be filled with generosity, selflessness, fearlessness, and skill in battle. Therefore, the statement is regarded as a True one.

Questions 7–10

Complete the summary below.
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer. Write your answers in boxes 7–10 on your answer sheet.
KNIGHTHOOD SELECTION: THEN AND
NOW

The process of becoming a knight has changed over time. In the Middle Ages, people began training to become a knight at 7 ………………… They had to show they were brave and skilled fighters and were required to work for 8 ………………………. for part of the year. Today, potential recipients of the knighthood are selected through 9 ………………………….. A final decision is made by 10 ………………………..

Question 7:

Answer: a young age
Supporting sentence: A would-be knight had to undergo strict military instruction from a young age, which include spending time as an assistant (known as an esquire) to an existing knight and participating in battle.
Keyword : knight, undergo, young age
Keyword location: paragraph 2, line 2
Explanation: The second line of paragraph 2 states that identified to be a British culture, the legacy of knighthoods usually started in the ancient Rome. From Rome, it was distributed in alot of European countries in the Middle Ages and considered certain features. One of which is that a would-be knight had to abide and follow strict military rules and regulations from a young age. It includes spending time as an assistant or as an esquire till an existing knight and combat in the wars.

Question 8:

Answer: the ruling monarch
Supporting sentence: Finally, the potential knight also required the financial means to purchase horses, weapons, and armor for himself, and then make himself available to serve the ruling monarch for a minimum period
each year.
Keyword : potential knight, the ruling monarch, minimum period
Keyword location: Paragraph 3, last line
Explanation: An esquire should mandatorily maintain a respectful behavior such as generosity, selflessness, fearlessness, and artistry in wars. Also, the potential knight also needed the economic ways for purchasing horses, weapons, and armor for himself. He should then make himself available to oblige the ruling monarch for a mere and minimal time of every year.

Question 9:

Answer: a nomination system
Supporting sentence: Instead of relying on formalized military training or political patronage, a nominations system is used.
Keyword : formalized, political patronage, nominations system
Keyword location: paragraph 4, line 2
Explanation: Lines 2 of paragraph 4 suggest that at present, the process is contrasting to what it was prior. Rather than being susceptible on designated military training or political patronage, a nominations system is implemented. It is the procedure by which a person's name can be put forth for a knighthood by any institution like a school or business. Also even just a fellow representative of nation.

Question 10:

Answer: an advisory panel
Supporting sentence: After this, an advisory panel, acting on behalf of the sovereign, deliberates and selects the future knights and dames from the pool of applications.
Keyword : an advisory panel, sovereign, pool of applications
Keyword location: paragraph 4, lines 3-4
Explanation: A person's name can be given for a knighthood by any institution such as a school or business in the society. After this, an advisory panel, acting on favor of the sovereign, deliberates and selects the future knights and dames from the huge list of applications. Those selected are approached attentively before announcements are made to make sure that they wish to accept the prestige.
Questions 11–13

Choose THREE letters, A–F.

Write the correct letters in boxes 11–13 on your answer sheet.
Which THREE of the following are reasons given in the text for people losing their knighthoods?

Punishing someone for a crime he or she did not commit.
Using another person’s name on an important paper.
Poor management of a company.
Wrongfully accepting pension payments.
Gambling on horse racing or card games.
Giving secret information to a foreign government.

Question 11:

Answer: B
Supporting sentence: This way, a person's name can be put forward for a knighthood by any institution such as a school or business, or even just a fellow member of society.
Keyword : person's name, knighthood, institution
Keyword location: paragraph 4, line 3
Explanation: In present situation, the process is very diverse. Despite of being reliant on characterized military training or political subsidy, a nominations system is implemented. In this manner, a person's name can be put forth for a knighthood by any institution. The institute includes school or business, or even just a fellow companion of society. Therefore, option B is one of the reason for people losing their knighthood title.

Question 12:

Answer: C
Supporting sentence: Terry Lewis, a police officer in Queensland, Australia, was stripped of his knighthood after being implicated in a string of illegal activities that included accepting $700,000 worth of bribes from
bookmakers and casinos, and forging the signature of an Australian politician on a police document in 1981.
Keyword : stripped, knighthood, illegal activities
Keyword location: paragraph 5, lines 1-3
Explanation: Lines 1-3 of paragaph 5 explains that in some cases, knighthoods can be dismantled and abolished through a process known as forfeiture. This most often happens at the time any recipient is framed as a culprit of a criminal offense. Terry Lewis, a police officer in Queensland, Australia, was deprived of his knighthood. He was abolished from his knighthood after being involved in a rope of illegal activities. It included accepting $700,000 worth of bribes from bookmakers and casinos, and forging the signature of an Australian politician on a police document in 1981. Thus, option C is the second right choice for the answer.

Question 13:

Answer: F
Supporting sentence: In a more serious incident, British art historian and intelligence officer Anthony Blunt lost his knighthood after it was discovered that he was working as a double agent and handing confidential material
over to the Soviet Union.
Keyword : lost, knighthood, double agent
Keyword location: Paragraph 5, last line
Explanation: The last line of paragraph 5 says that Lewis has repeatedly opposed his innocence and suggested that he was falsely framed guilty of these crimes. Although, his claims or petition meets a failure in court. In a more severe incident, British art historian and intelligence officer Anthony Blunt lost his knighthood. He lost it after it came to light that he was working as a dual agent and transferring private informations to the Soviet Union.