Papyrus Reading Answers

Feb 15, 2023

Papyrus Reading Answers contains a write up about Papyrus. Papyrus Reading Answers contains a total of 5 paragraphs. Related to the paragraphs are 13 questions. Candidates in this IELTS Section will be shown various question types with clear instructions. The paragraphs contain information about the development of papyrus. The use of papyrus and its protection as well as destruction have also been mentioned.

Papyrus Reading Answers is an IELTS Reading passage which comprises three types of questions: associate the paragraphs, choose the correct option and complete the summary. Candidates must carefully and properly read each paragraph. It is necessary to interpret each text. In order to respond to the questions, you must identify the paragraph's main idea. It's vital to keep in mind the crucial facts. It is necessary to interpret and comprehend each text. The information which is not mentioned in the paragraphs must be answered as not given. To gain proficiency, candidates can practice from IELTS reading practice test.

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Section 1

Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions

Papyrus Reading Answers

Used by the ancient Egyptians to make paper, the papyrus plant has helped to shape the world we live in

Libraries and archives are cultural crossroads of knowledge exchange, where the past transmits information to the present, and where the present has the opportunity to inform the future. Bureaucracies have become the backbone of civilizations, as governments try to keep track of populations, business transactions and taxes. At a personal level, our lives are governed by the documents we possess; we are certified on paper literally from birth to death. And written documentation carries enormous cultural importance: consider the consequences of signing the Foundation Document of the United Nations or the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Documentation requires a writing tool and a surface upon which to record the information permanently. About 5,000 years ago, the Sumerians started to use reeds or sticks to make marks on mud blocks which were then baked, but despite being fireproof, these were difficult to store. Other cultures used more flexible but less permanent surfaces, including animal skins and wood strips. In western culture, the adoption of papyrus was to have a great impact. Sheets of papyrus not only provide an invaluable record of people’s daily lives, they can also be dated using carbon-dating techniques, giving precise information about the age of the text written on them.
Papyrus is strongly associated with Egyptian culture, although all the ancient civilizations around the Mediterranean used it. The papyrus sedge is a tall grass-like plant. It was harvested from shallow water and swamplands on the banks of the River Nile. Manufacturing sheets of papyrus from papyrus sedge was a complex, messy process. Pith from inside the plant’s stem was cut into long strips that were laid side by side. These were then covered with a second layer of strips which were laid at right angles to the first, then soaked in water and hammered together. The sheet was then crushed to extract the water, dried and then polished to produce a high-quality writing surface, individual sheets could be glued together and rolled up to make scrolls or folded and bound to form books.
In moist climates, the cellulose-rich sheets of papyrus would readily decay, becoming covered by mould or full of holes from attacks by insects. But in dry climates, such as the Middle East, papyrus is a stable, rot-resistant writing surface. The earliest known roll of papyrus scroll was found in the tomb of an official called Hemeka near Memphis, which was then the capital city of Egypt, and is around five thousand years old. In 79 CE, nearly 2,000 papyrus scrolls in the library of Julius Caesar’s father-in-law were protected at Herculaneum by ash from the catastrophic eruption of administrative capital and for a thousand years generated vast amounts of administrative documentation, including accounts, tax returns and correspondence, which was periodically discarded to make room for more. Over time, a thick layer of sand covered these dumps, and they were forgotten. But the documents were protected by the sand, creating a time capsule that allowed astonishing glimpses into the lives of the town’s inhabitants over hundreds of years.
Collections of documents that record information and ideas have frequently been viewed as potentially dangerous. For thousands of years, governments, despots and conquerors have resorted to burning libraries and books to rid themselves of inconvenient evidence or obliterate cultures and ideas that they found politically, morally or religiously unacceptable. One such calamity, the burning of the Great Library of Alexandria, and the papyrus scrolls and books it contained, has been mythologized and has come to symbolize the global loss of cultural knowledge.
Besides their use in record-keeping, papyrus stems were used in many other aspects of Mediterranean life, such as for boat construction and making ropes, sails and baskets, as well as being a source of food. In 1969 the adventurer Thor Heyerdahl attempted to cross the Atlantic from Morocco in the boat Ra, to show that it was possible for mariners in ancient times to cross the Atlantic Ocean. Ra was made from bundles of papyrus stems and modeled on ancient Egyptian craft. As a marshland plant, papyrus sedge stabilizes soils and reduces erosion, while some investigations show that it has potential for water purification and sewage treatment.
True paper was probably invented in China in the first century CE. Like papyrus, it was constructed from a meshwork of plant fibers, but the Chinese used fibers from the white mulberry tree, which yielded a tough, flexible material that could be folded, stretched, and compressed. The adoption of this paper by western cultures soon rendered papyrus obsolete.
Despite dreams of paper-free societies, western cultures still use enormous quantities of paper, often in ways that it would be inconceivable to use papyrus for. As a paper substitute, the role of the papyrus sedge in western cultures has been superseded; papyrus is little more than a niche product for the tourist market. What makes papyrus noteworthy for western societies nowadays is its use as the surface upon which our ancient ancestors recorded their lives, their art and their science. In the words of the ancient Roman philosopher Pliny the Elder, it is ‘the material on which the immortality of human beings depends’.

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From Stephen Harris, What Have Plants Ever Done for Us?, Bodleian Library Publishing 2015. Reprinted by kind permission of Bodleian Library Publishing.

Section 2

Solution and Explanation

Question 28-32

The text below has five sections, A-E.

Choose the correct heading for each section from the list of headings below.

Write the correct number i-viii in boxes 28-32 on your answer sheet.

List of Headings

Solving the puzzle of a papyrus document
The importance of written records and different ways of recording them
The use of papyrus for a range of purposes
Suggestions for future possibilities for papyrus
How papyrus was cultivated and different manufacturing methods
The decline of papyrus use
The preservation and destruction of papyrus documents
The process of papyrus production

Section A

Answer: ii
Supporting Statement: Libraries and archives are cultural crossroads of knowledge exchange, where the past transmits information to the present, and where the present has the opportunity to inform the future. Bureaucracies have become the backbone of civilizations, as governments try to keep track of populations, business transactions and taxes.
Keywords: Information, bureaucracies
Keyword Location: Paragraph A
Explanation: As per paragraph A it has been clearly mentioned that libraries and archives serve as a crossroads for the transmission of knowledge between cultures, allowing the present to inform the future while also receiving information from the past. As governments work to keep tabs on citizens, economic activity, and taxes, bureaucracies have evolved into the backbone of civilizations. So, the correct answer is ii stating 'The importance of written records and different ways of recording them' as per the explanation provided.

Section B

Answer: viii
Supporting Statement: Manufacturing sheets of papyrus from papyrus sedge was a complex, messy process. Pith from inside the plant’s stem was cut into long strips that were laid side by side.
Keywords: Manufacturing, papyrus
Keyword Location: Paragraph B
Explanation: As per paragraph B, it has been clearly mentioned that it was a difficult, untidy procedure to turn papyrus sedge into sheets of papyrus. Long strips of pith, taken from the interior of the plant's stem, were arranged next to one another. After that, these were covered with a second layer of strips that had been set at an angle to the first, soaked in water, and hammered together. Individual sheets could be adhered together, rolled up into scrolls, or folded and bound into books. So, the correct answer is viii stating 'The process of papyrus production' as per the explanation provided.

Section C

Answer: vii
Supporting Statement: Over time, a thick layer of sand covered these dumps, and they were forgotten. But the documents were protected by the sand, creating a time capsule that allowed astonishing glimpses into the lives of the town’s inhabitants over hundreds of years. Collections of documents that record information and ideas have frequently been viewed as potentially dangerous. For thousands of years, governments, despots and conquerors have resorted to burning libraries and books to rid themselves of inconvenient evidence.
Keywords: Protection, burning.
Keyword Location: Paragraph C
Explanation: As per paragraph C, it has been clearly mentioned that these landfills were abandoned after being buried in a significant layer of sand over time. However, the sand shielded the papers, creating a time capsule that provided amazing glimpses into the town's residents' daily lives over hundreds of years. So, the correct answer is vii stating 'The preservation and destruction of papyrus documents' as per the explanation provided for the same.

Section D

Answer: iii
Supporting Statement: Besides their use in record-keeping, papyrus stems were used in many other aspects of Mediterranean life, such as for boat construction and making ropes, sails and baskets, as well as being a source of food.
Keywords: Use, record keeping
Keyword Location: Paragraph D
Explanation: As per paragraph D, it has been clearly stated that Papyrus stems were employed in many other elements of Mediterranean life besides record keeping. So, the correct answer is iii stating 'The use of papyrus for a range of purposes' as per the explanation provided.

Section E

Answer: vi
Supporting Statement :Despite dreams of paper-free societies, western cultures still use enormous quantities of paper, often in ways that it would be inconceivable to use papyrus for. As a paper substitute, the role of the papyrus sedge in western
cultures has been superseded; papyrus is little more than a niche product for the tourist market.
Keywords: Paper-free,papyrus
Keyword Location: Paragraph E
Explanation: As per paragraph E, it has been mentioned that Western civilizations continue to utilize a tremendous amount of paper, frequently for purposes for which it would be impossible to use papyrus, despite hopes for a society free of paper. So, the correct answer is vi stating 'The decline of papyrus use' as it is the appropriate heading.

Questions 33-37

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

Write the correct letter in boxes 33-37 on your answer sheet.

What was the problem with using animal skins and wood strips for writing on?

They did not last for a long time.
They were not easy to store.
They were insufficiently flexible.
They could be destroyed by fire.

Answer: A
Supporting Statement: Sumerians started to use ……………. including animal skins and wood strips.
Keywords: Sumerians, animal skins
Keyword Location: Paragraph A
Explanation: As per paragraph A, it has been clearly mentioned that the Sumerians began to mark baked mud blocks with reeds or sticks, but despite being fireproof, they were difficult to store. Animal skins and wood strips were among the more flexible but less durable surfaces employed by other cultures. So, the correct answer is A as per the explanation provided and the information given in paragraph A.

Why did papyrus manufacturers hammer the papyrus?

to remove water from the pith strips
to join the layers of pith strips together
to allow the pith strips to be easily cut
to position the layers of pith strips at the correct angle

Answer: B
Supporting Statement: Manufacturing sheets of papyrus from papyrus sedge was a complex, messy process. ………. to the first, then soaked in water and hammered together.
Keywords: Manufacturing sheet, pith inside.
Keyword Location: Paragraph B
Explanation: As per paragraph B, it has been clearly mentioned that it was a difficult, untidy procedure to turn papyrus sedge into sheets of papyrus. After that, these were covered with a second layer of strips that had been set at an angle to the first, soaked in water, and hammered together. So, the correct answer is B as per the explanation provided for the same.

When referring to burning libraries and books, the writer is suggesting that

information can be used for harm as well as for good.
new ways must be found to ensure information is not lost.
cultural knowledge depends on more than written texts.
those in power may Wish to keep others in ignorance.

Answer: D
Supporting Statement: Collections of documents that record information and ideas have ………….. themselves of inconvenient evidence.
Keywords: Dangerous, governments.
Keyword Location: Paragraph C
Explanation: As per paragraph C it has been mentioned that document collections that contain knowledge and ideas have frequently been seen as harmful. So, the correct answer is D as per the explanation provided and the information given in paragraph C.

The writer refers to Thor Heyerdahl to illustrate the point that

papyrus could be used as a food on long sea voyages.
the ancient Egyptians already had advanced navigation skills.
papyrus could be used to build boats for long sea journeys.
the ancient Egyptians knew of the environmental benefits of papyrus

Answer: C
Supporting Statement: In 1969 the adventurer Thor Heyerdahl attempted to cross the Atlantic …………. and modeled on ancient Egyptian craft.
Keywords: Thor Heyerdahl, Papyrus
Keyword Location: Paragraph D
Explanation: As per paragraph D, it has been clearly mentioned that to prove that ancient sailors might have crossed the Atlantic Ocean, explorer Thor Heyerdahl made an effort to do so on the boat Ra in 1969 from Morocco. Ra was fashioned after ancient Egyptian art and was formed from bundles of papyrus stalks. So, the correct answer is C as per the explanation provided and the information given in paragraph D.

What does the writer conclude about papyrus today?

It is better for the environment than using paper.
Its significance is restricted to its role in the past.
It is still the best writing surface for some purposes.
More efforts need to be made to ensure it stays in use.

Answer: B
Supporting Statement: Despite dreams of paper-free societies, …………… has been superseded; papyrus is little more than a niche product for the tourist market.
Keywords: Papyrus,substitute
Keyword Location: Paragraph E
Explanation: As per paragraph E, it has been mentioned that Western civilizations continue to utilize a tremendous amount of paper, frequently for purposes for which it would be impossible to use papyrus, despite hopes for a society free of paper. So, the correct answer is B as per the explanation provided.

Questions 38-40

Complete the summary below.

Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the text for each answer.

Write your answers in boxes 38-40 on your answer sheet.

How papyrus documents have survived

Papyrus is rich in cellulose and in some conditions will be destroyed by fungal growths or be consumed by 38 ………………. However, it can survive for long periods in an environment that is dry. It has been found in a 5,000-year-old 39 ………………….. in Egypt, and in Herculaneum, many papyrus documents were preserved following a huge 40 ……………………. in 79 CE. in the town of Oxyrhynchus, unwanted administrative documents were left on rubbish dumps which were covered with sand, preserving them for many years.

Question 38

Answer: Insect
Supporting Statement: In moist climates, the cellulose-rich sheets of papyrus would readily …………… such as the Middle East, papyrus is a stable, rot-resistant writing surface
Keywords: Moist climates, cellulose-rich
Keyword Location: Paragraph C
Explanation: As per paragraph C, it has been clearly mentioned that the cellulose-rich papyrus sheets would quickly rot in wet climates, becoming coated with mould or having holes from insect bites. Papyrus, on the other hand, provides a sturdy, rot-resistant writing surface in arid locations, such as the Middle East. So, the correct answer is 'insect' as per likes of paragraph C.

Question 39

Answer: Tomb
Supporting Statement: The earliest known roll of papyrus scroll was ………. is around five thousand years old.
Keywords: Earliest known, papyrus
Keyword Location: Paragraph C
Explanation: As per paragraph C, it has been clearly mentioned that the oldest known papyrus scroll dates back around 5,000 years and was discovered in the tomb of an official named Hemeka outside of Memphis, which at the time served as Egypt's capital. So, the correct answer is 'tomb' as per the explanation provided and the information given in paragraph C.

Question 40

Answer: Eruption
Supporting Statement: In 79 CE, nearly 2,000 papyrus scrolls in the library of Julius Caesar’s ……………tax returns and correspondence, which was periodically discarded to make room for more.
Keywords: Herculaneum, administrative capital
Keyword Location: Paragraph C
Explanation: As per paragraph C, it has been mentioned that a catastrophic eruption of administrative capital in 79 CE shielded nearly 2,000 papyrus scrolls in Julius Caesar's father-in-library law's at Herculaneum, and for a thousand years produced enormous amounts of administrative documentation, including accounts, tax returns, etc. So, the correct answer is 'eruption' as per the explanation provided.

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