The Medieval Period IELTS Reading Answers

Aug 28, 2023

The Medieval Period IELTS Reading Answers is a general reading subject that explores The Medieval Period. The Medieval Period IELTS reading answers, have a total of thirteen questions. The specified topic generates a single type of question: True/False/Not Given. Candidates should read the IELTS Reading passage thoroughly in order to recognize synonyms, identify keywords, and answer the questions below. IELTS reading practice papers, which feature topics such as The Medieval Period IELTS Reading Answers. Candidates can use IELTS reading answers to enhance their performance in the reading section.

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Section 1

Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions

THE MEDIEVAL PERIOD

The via Francigena, or Francigena Way is a historical pilgrimage route from Canterbury Cathedral in England to St Peter's Basilica in Rome. It is similar to the more well-known but shorter pilgrimage route, the Camino de Santiago, which crosses the north of Spain. The current usable path of the Francigena begins in the north of France, goes through the pass of St Bernard in Switzerland, crossing the base of the Alps into Italy, and winds its way down to Rome.

The 30-kilometer English section from Canterbury to Dover on the coast, now lies under the A2 motorway. However, from France to Rome there is a continuous narrow road, which is best preserved in the Italian territory. After Rome, the passage continues on a route called the Southern Francigena to the coast of Puglia, which historically enabled

pilgrims to travel by ship across the Mediterranean to the Holy Land.

1,000 kilometers of the route is in the Italian territory through the regions of Aosta, Piedmont Lombardy, Emilia Romagna, Tuscany, Umbria, Liguria and Lazio. The French section of the route almost fell into disuse after the medieval period as ships started taking the faster route by ship around France and Spain and through the Mediterranean to Rome, or even directly on to the coast near the city of Jerusalem. The Italian parts of the route are mainly in mountainous areas so they were never developed into modern roads, and the exact path can still be walked today, across open fields, through woodlands, and over ancient stone bridges right up to the gates of Rome.

Written records date the route back to the pre-Christian era, with the Romans calling it the Lombardian Way. Archaeologists, however, have found evidence of its existence dating all the way back to at least the Bronze Age. The name via Francigena (meaning 'road from France') was first documented in 876 CE when monks from Monte Amiata in Tuscany referred to their abbey as one of the route's stops for pilgrims. Sigeric, the Archbishop of Canterbury, took the 1,800 kilometre route from Rome to Canterbury in 990 CE, while returning from a meeting with the Pope in Rome (and it is presumed he arrived at Rome by the same route). Sigeric wrote a journal recording the experience of his journey and he was the first to do this.

In the 1860s, Sigeric's journal was published as a book for the first time and some interest in the Francigena Way was revived. However, until the twentieth century, it remained mostly obscure, and the length of it was only traversed by a few enthusiastic historians and pilgrims. Shorter sections along the route were used by local people between villages, in but as new roads in the 1800s allowed for more direct routes, the Francigena practically fell into disuse. In recent years, it has been reborn as not only a religious walk but also a scenic route for trekking enthusiasts.

The part of the route that passes through Tuscany in particular is thought to be the most picturesque and has become a huge tourist attraction. This Tuscan section is broken into distances of around 8 to 10 kilometers that can be comfortably walked in one day, between a series of tiny hillside villages that are now revitalized with rural B&Bs and

restaurants, servicing the walkers as they follow the ancient path.

The Francigena Way passes through Switzerland in the canton of Valais close to the Italian border, and the route goes through the ancient low pass of St Bernard. This is where Napoleon Bonaparte famously passed into Italy, which was immortalized in a number of paintings, most likely inspired by the wonderful scenery. This is another very beautiful stage of the route, passing lakes and alpine fields and following around the base of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Europe.

8 The part of the Francigena Way stretching through France from the coastal city of Calais to the border of Switzerland, is less trekked than the paths in Italy and Switzerland. There are often great distances between the places to stay along the French legs, and walkers often have to camp on the side of the road when it starts getting dark due to scarcity of accommodation.

It is a route better suited to cycling because of this. Some parts of the route have light motorized traffic, but other parts lead into hidden paths through woods and hillsides. The French government has recently started taking an interest in preserving and renovating some sections of the Francigena Way, so in coming years may become easier to make the journey on foot.

Few people walk the complete Francigena, which takes between 80 and 90 days to complete on foot. The best time to take the route is during the spring or autumn season, when the temperatures are milder and there are fewer tourists. The route consists of country roads and stony mountainous paths - though they are not of a very high altitude, and as such, walkers do not have to be very experienced.

One of the attractions of walking even a part of the Francigena Way is its pure simplicity. Travellers can only take as much as they can carry, and do not have access to Wi-Fi or mobile phone signal at numerous points on the trip. Much of the journey is virtually unchanged in landscape and wildlife since its early Christian beginnings, so walking along the paths can fire the imagination about the many other people who have taken this path over the centuries.

Section 2

Questions 28-32
Choose ONE WORD from the text for each answer.

The Francigena Route

The starting point was originally in England at the cathedral in 28............ but the route to the coast now lies under: motorway.The Francigena Way now really begins at the city of 29............. and travels through France to Switzerland.The route then passes through the canton of Valais, crosses the Alps in Switzerland at the pass of 30 .......... and enters Italy. The Francigena then winds its way through eight 31 ......... of Italy, finally arriving at the city of 32 ....... .

Q.28

Answer: CANTERBURY
Supporting statement: “...The via Francigena, or Francigena Way is a historical pilgrimage route from Canterbury Cathedral in England to St Peter's Basilica in Rome....”
Keywords: Francigena, pilgrimage
Keyword location: para 1, line 1-2
Explanation:The starting point of the Francigena Way was originally in England at Canterbury Cathedral. However, the section of the route from Canterbury to Dover on the coast is now located under the A2 motorway.

Q.29

Answer:CALAIS
Supporting statement: “...The part of the Francigena Way stretching through France from the coastal city of Calais to the border of Switzerland...”
Keywords: Francigena, coastal
Keyword location: para 8, line 1-2
Explanation:The Francigena Way now begins at the city of Calais in France and travels through France before reaching Switzerland. Thank you for pointing out the correction.

Q.30

Answer:ST BERNARD
Supporting statement: “...The current usable path of the Francigena begins in the north of France, goes through the pass of St Bernard in Switzerland...”
Keywords: france, St Bernard
Keyword location: para 1, line 3-4
Explanation:After entering Switzerland, the Francigena Way passes through the canton of Valais and crosses the Alps at the pass of St Bernard. This pass, also known as the Great St Bernard Pass, is a historic route through the mountains and has been used for centuries by travelers and pilgrims

Q.31

Answer: REGIONS
Supporting statement: “...1,000 kilometers of the route is in the Italian territory through the regions of Aosta, Piedmont Lombardy, Emilia Romagna, Tuscany, Umbria, Liguria and Lazio....”
Keywords: Italian , regions
Keyword location: para 3, line 1-2
Explanation: After crossing the pass of St Bernard in Switzerland, the Francigena Way winds its way through eight regions of Italy. These regions are Aosta, Piedmont, Lombardy, Emilia Romagna, Tuscany, Umbria, Liguria, and Lazio.

Q.32

Answer:ROME
Supporting statement: “...France and Spain and through the Mediterranean to Rome, or even directly on to the coast near the city of Jerusalem....”
Keywords: France, Rome
Keyword location: para 3, line 4-5
Explanation:The journey covers approximately 1,000 kilometers in the Italian territory, taking pilgrims and travelers through picturesque landscapes, historic sites, and charming villages before reaching the ultimate destination of Rome, where St. Peter's Basilica is located.

Questions 33-36

Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the text for each answer.

Early records of the Francigena Way

The Francigena Way was called the Lombardian Way by the Romans, but there is archaeological 33 .............. of the road being there for thousands of years. The first time the Francigena Way was mentioned in writing was when 34 .......... in Tuscany wrote about pilgrims visiting them. Sigeric, the Archbishop of Canterbury, recorded the 35 ......... of his return to England in a journal. The French part of the Francigena Way stopped being used as much after medieval times because people began travelling to Rome by 36........

Q.33

Answer:EVIDENCE
Supporting statement: “...with the Romans calling it the Lombardian Way. Archaeologists, however, have found evidence of its existence dating all the way back to at least the Bronze Age.....”
Keywords: archaeologists, existence
Keyword location: para 4, line 1-2
Explanation: Archaeological evidence suggests that the route existed for thousands of years, even before the Romans referred to it as the Lombardian Way.

Q.34

Answer:MONKS
Supporting statement: “...The name via Francigena (meaning 'road from France') was first documented in 876 CE when monks from Monte Amiata in Tuscany referred to their abbey as one of the route's stops for pilgrims......”
Keywords: tuscany, abbey
Keyword location: para 4, line 3-4
Explanation: The first documented mention of the Francigena Way in writing was made by monks from Monte Amiata in Tuscany.

Q.35

Answer: EXPERIENCE
Supporting statement: “....Sigeric wrote a journal recording the experience of his journey and he was the first to do this....”
Keywords: Journal, experience
Keyword location: para 4, line 8-9
Explanation: the Archbishop of Canterbury, made a journey from Rome to Canterbury in 990 CE. It is believed that he traveled the same route known as the Francigena Way.

Q.36

Answer: SHIP
Supporting statement: “....taking the faster route by ship around France and Spain and through the Mediterranean to Rome....”
Keywords: route, mediterranean
Keyword location: para 3, line 4-5
Explanation: After the medieval period, the popularity of the French section of the Francigena Way declined. This was mainly due to the advent of faster and more convenient travel by ship.

Questions 37-40
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

Q37.Why has the Francigena Way become more popular in recent years?

A. Because Sigeric's journal has been published.
B.Because a large number of historians have studied it.
C.Because it has become a site for leisure and exercise.
D.Because it is physically challenging.

Answer: C
Supporting statement: “....The part of the Francigena Way stretching through France from the coastal city of Calais to the border of Switzerland, is less trekked than the paths in Italy and Switzerland....”
Keywords: france, trekked
Keyword location: para 8, line 1-2
Explanation:In recent years, the Francigena Way has experienced a revival in popularity, attracting not only religious pilgrims but also leisure and exercise enthusiasts.

Q.38 The text reveals that Napoleon Bonaparte

A.commissioned paintings of himself at the pass of St Bernard.
B.used the Francigena Way to enter the Italian territories.
C.thought the scenery around the Francigena was wonderful.
D.was painted at the foot of Mont Blanc on his way to Italy.

Answer: B
Supporting statement: “...the route goes through the ancient low pass of St Bernard. This is where Napoleon Bonaparte famously passed into Italy.....”
Keywords: route, Italy
Keyword location: para 7, line 2-3
Explanation: The text mentions that Napoleon Bonaparte famously passed into Italy through the Francigena Way. This historical event is often commemorated and depicted in paintings.

Q39. Why is the French part of the route better for cyclists than walkers?

A.There are long distances between rest points.
B.It is safer to cycle to than walk on public roads.
C.The French government prefers to promote cycling.
D.Cyclists are better equipped for camping.

Answer: A
Supporting statement: “...There are often great distances between the places to stay along the French legs, and walkers often have to camp on the side of the road when it starts getting dark due to scarcity of accommodation...”
Keywords: walkers, scarcity
Keyword location: para 8, line 3-4
Explanation:It notes that there are often great distances between the places to stay along the French legs of the route, which can pose a challenge for walkers.

Q40. A reason people enjoy walking parts of the Francigena Way is

A. they get to exercise by walking up the mountains.
B.it offers an uncomplicated way of traveling.
C.they can stay in touch with the outside world easily.
D.the weather is always pleasant.

Answer: B
Supporting statement: “...One of the attractions of walking even a part of the Francigena Way is its pure simplicity. Travellers can only take as much as they can carry...”
Keywords: simplicity, travelers
Keyword location: para 11, line 1-2
Explanation:Travelers can only take as much as they can carry and do not have access to Wi-Fi or mobile phone signal at numerous points on the trip.