The History of Steel Reading Answer

Oct 14, 2025

The History of Steel Reading Answer is part of the IELTS General Reading section, featuring 13 questions that assess comprehension, summary completion, and statement identification. Candidates should complete The History of Steel IELTS reading passage in approximately 20 minutes. The History of Steel reading segment explores traces of the history of steel.

In this passage, you’ll answer question types such as choosing no more than two words only, true/false/not given, and choosing the correct letter. Use this IELTS reading passage to sharpen your vocabulary identification, keyword matching, and logical reasoning abilities.

Check: Get 10 Free Sample Papers
Check: Register for IELTS Coaching - Join for Free Trial Class Now

Topic:

Due to its high tensile strength and relatively low cost, steel is one of the most commonly used materials in modem construction.

As an alloy of iron and carbon - among other materials - steel is produced through a process known as smelting. This involves heating iron ore in blast furnaces to remove its impurities before adding carbon. Smelting is a technique that has been used by humans since around the 13th century BCE, when early blacksmiths discovered that iron ore was stronger when heated by charcoal However, the first large-scale steel production occurred in southern India and Sri Lanka in the 6th century BCE. The steel produced there was known as wootz steel and was renowned for its strength. It was exported throughout the world, but became particularly prevalent in the Middle East, where it was used to make weapons.

While wootz steel was produced in a crucible, a metal container in which pure iron and carbon were heated and then cooled, other methods of production were used in both China and Europe. These included the tempering of steel, a method to reduce steel's brittleness which was discovered by the Romans for use in strengthening weapons. In China meanwhile, steel was common throughout the country from the 3rd century BCE onwards. Some of this steel was probably produced through combining wrought iron and high-quality cast iron, as was the case with the sword of Liu Bang, the first Han emperor. Sophisticated methods of steel production were in use in China from at least the 11th century AD, including an early version of the Bessemer process which would revolutionise European steel manufacturing around eight centuries later.

The start of the industrial Revolution in Europe in the 18th century saw a massive increase in the use of steel. This steel boom was facilitated by several innovations. The first was Benjamin Huntsman's invention of a technique for producing high-quality steel in a crucible in 1740. Huntsman was a clockmaker who wanted to make a better quality of steel for his clock springs. He came up with the idea of heating the steel in a crucible until it melted, a method that gave the resulting steel a more uniform composition. The invention of the steam engine during this period also boosted demand for steel, while Henry Cort's invention of the steel rolling system in 1783 - a new way of producing steel rapidly - led to a much higher output.

The next significant milestone in the history of steel was the invention of the Bessemer process, a means of steel production in which impurities were removed through the introduction of air to molten iron. This resulted in much stronger steel that could also be produced relatively cheaply. It was developed by Henry Bessemer in 1856, although it had been used in various forms for centuries, and subsequently allowed for the inexpensive mass production of steel. Following the adoption of this process, steel became the most important material in industrialisation. It could now be produced at prices low enough to make it a cost-effective material for large-scale buildings, bridges and railroads, where it would soon replace less durable wrought iron rails.

The use of steei in large constructions was most evident in two huge projects in America: the Brooklyn Bridge - the first steel suspension bridge - and the Home Insurance Building in Chicago - the first steel skyscraper. Both were completed in the 1880s and symbolised America's new position as global leader in steel production. This was driven, in part, by Scottish American industrialist Andrew Carnegie, who built a massive steel empire which stretched across the United States. Much of the steel produced by Carnegie's steelworks was used in building the railroads which were being laid throughout the continent in the latter decades of the 19th century.

In the early 20th century steer's role as the material of modem industry was further established by the invention of rust resistant stainless steel in 1912. This resistant material increased the range of applications in which steel could be used. It led to the use of steel in housewares, surgical instruments and storage tanks, which were now able to transport liquids. In the next few decades of the 20th century, the two world wars both resulted in a spike in the production of steel, which was used for weapons and vehicles.

Despite this high demand, steel was still relatively abundant and even replaced copper, which was much rarer, as the material of the American one cent coin for the duration of the Second World War, in recent decades, the steel industry has continued to grow, although China has replaced America as the main producer and consumer of steel. Indeed, it is estimated that China is now responsible for over 50 per cent of the world's steel production.

Questions 14-18

Look at the following statements and the list of people below. Match each statement with the correct person, A-E. Write the correct letter, A-E.

14. He created a way to cheaply produce large quantities of steel.

Answer: Henry Bessemer

Supporting statement: "The next significant milestone in the history of steel was the invention of the Bessemer process... it subsequently allowed for the inexpensive mass production of steel."

Keywords: Bessemer process, inexpensive, mass production

Keyword Location: Paragraph 4, lines 1–4

Explanation:

Bessemer's process introduced an efficient and low-cost method to remove impurities from iron using air, enabling the mass production of steel. This innovation greatly reduced steel prices and allowed it to be used in widespread industrial applications.

15. He wanted to make better steel for clocks.

Answer: Benjamin Huntsman

Supporting statement: "Huntsman was a clockmaker who wanted to make a better quality of steel for his clock springs."

Keywords: clockmaker, better quality, clock springs

Keyword Location: Paragraph 3, line 2

Explanation:

Huntsman invented a crucible steelmaking process aiming to improve the quality of steel for his clock springs. His innovation produced steel with a uniform composition, enhancing its strength and utility.

16. He had a weapon made of two types of iron.

Answer: Liu Bang

Supporting statement: "...the sword of Liu Bang... was probably produced through combining wrought iron and high-quality cast iron."

Keywords: Liu Bang, sword, wrought iron, cast iron

Keyword Location: Paragraph 2, lines 4–5

Explanation:

Liu Bang’s sword was a notable historical artifact believed to be made by combining two types of iron, showing early advanced metallurgical techniques in China. This method contributed to the durability of steel weapons.

17. He invented a steel rolling production system.

Answer: Henry Cort

Supporting statement: "...Henry Cort’s invention of the steel rolling system in 1783 - a new way of producing steel rapidly..."

Keywords: Henry Cort, steel rolling, producing rapidly

Keyword Location: Paragraph 3, lines 5–6

Explanation:

Cort developed a rolling system that made steel production faster and more efficient. This advancement significantly increased steel output during the Industrial Revolution.

18. He constructed a huge steel business in America.

Answer: Andrew Carnegie

Supporting statement: "...Andrew Carnegie, who built a massive steel empire which stretched across the United States."

Keywords: Andrew Carnegie, steel empire, United States

Keyword Location: Paragraph 5, line 4

Explanation:

Carnegie was a major figure in American steel production. His vast steel empire fueled infrastructure growth in the U.S., including railroads and buildings.

LIST OF PEOPLE

A. Benjamin Huntsman

B. Andrew Carnegie

C. Henry Bessemer

D. Liu Bang

E. Henry Cort

Questions 19-20

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each.

THE STEEL INDUSTRY IN THE 20TH CENTURY

The steel industry grew significantly in the early decades of the 20th century due to the creation of 19............

Answer: stainless steel

Supporting statement: "In the early 20th century... the invention of rust resistant stainless steel in 1912."

Keywords: stainless steel, rust-resistant, 1912

Keyword Location: Paragraph 6, line 1

Explanation:

Stainless steel was rust-resistant and expanded steel’s use to new industries like healthcare and storage. It marked a major technological leap for the material.

Steel could now be used in a much wider range of applications, including for surgery, storage, and as 20.................

Answer: housewares

Supporting statement: "...led to the use of steel in housewares, surgical instruments and storage tanks..."

Keywords: steel, housewares, surgical instruments

Keyword Location: Paragraph 6, line 2

Explanation:

With the invention of stainless steel, steel became viable for domestic items like housewares, due to its resistance to corrosion and aesthetic appeal.

Questions 21-22

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each.

THE STEEL INDUSTRY IN THE 20TH CENTURY

The steel industry expanded further due to the two world wars which required a massive amount of steel for weapons. Although steel was in 21………….

Answer: demand

Supporting statement: "In the next few decades of the 20th century, the two world wars both resulted in a spike in the production of steel..."

Keywords: spike, production, world wars

Keyword Location: Paragraph 6, line 4

Explanation:

The wars created enormous demand for steel, used in everything from weapons to vehicles. Production was high to meet the needs of war-time economies.

during these conflicts, there was still

enough steel for it to replace 22....... as the material of one of the American coins.

Answer: copper

Supporting statement: "...steel was still relatively abundant and even replaced copper...as the material of the American one cent coin..."

Keywords: steel, replaced, copper, coin

Keyword Location: Paragraph 6, line 6

Explanation:

Despite heavy usage during wartime, steel remained plentiful. It even substituted copper in coin production due to copper’s relative scarcity.

Questions 23-26

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 2? 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

23. Wootz steel was only exported to the Middle East.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: "...It was exported throughout the world, but became particularly prevalent in the Middle East..."

Keywords: exported, world, Middle East

Keyword Location: Paragraph 1, line 5

Explanation:

The passage clearly states that Wootz steel was exported globally, not only to the Middle East. Therefore, the statement is incorrect.

24. A form of the Bessemer process was used in China before its use in Europe.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: "...including an early version of the Bessemer process which would revolutionise European steel manufacturing..."

Keywords: early version, Bessemer, China

Keyword Location: Paragraph 2, lines 6–7

Explanation:

China had a steel-making technique resembling the Bessemer process centuries before its adoption in Europe, confirming the statement.

25. Wrought iron rails lasted longer than steel ones.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: "...steel... would soon replace less durable wrought iron rails."

Keywords: steel, replace, wrought iron

Keyword Location: Paragraph 4, line 5

Explanation:

The passage directly states that wrought iron was less durable than steel, contradicting the claim that it lasted longer. Hence, the statement is false.

26. The Brooklyn Bridge remains the largest steel suspension bridge in the world.

Answer: NOT GIVEN

Explanation: Although the Brooklyn Bridge is mentioned as the first steel suspension bridge, there is no information about whether it remains the largest today.

Read More IELTS Reading Related Samples