The Renaissance Reading Answers

Dec 8, 2025

The Renaissance Reading Answers is an academic reading answers topic. The Renaissance Reading Answers has a total of 13 IELTS questions.

Reading passage 2 has seven paragraphs, A-G. Which paragraph relates to the following?
Which TWO points were results of the Renaissance?
Which TWO results of the Renaissance are not mentioned in the text?
Choose NO MORE THAN ONE WORD for each answer.

The IELTS Reading section is an essential part of the test that evaluates a candidate's comprehension and analysis of various passage types. You will work through a number of IELTS reading practice problems in this section that resemble actual test situations. These questions are designed to help you improve your ability to recognise essential concepts, extract particular facts, and make inferences. Practising these IELTS reading problems can help you get comfortable with the structure and increase your confidence for the exam, regardless of whether you are studying for the Academic or General Training module.

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Section 1

THE RENAISSANCE

HOW it Changed Everything

A.The Renaissance was a period of broadly 300 years in Europe, between 1300 and 1600, which marked the end of the Middle Ages and the beginning of the Reformation and the Age of Enlightenment. During this period, artistic creativity flourished, new ways of thinking emerged, and the independent cities of northern Italy introduced banking and capitalism. The word Renaissance means 'rebirth.' In French, though, it was not commonly used to refer to the period until the nineteenth century.

B.In 1453, the Ottomans invaded Constantinople, and many of the city's scholars left for the safety of Europe, bringing ancient Greek and Roman classical texts with them. A new interest in philosophy and the art of antiquity arose as a result. Conflicts in Spain also drove many academics to the Italian cities of Florence, Bologna, and Padova, creating an atmosphere for a revival in learning. With the establishment of universities, firstly in these cities and then all over Europe, new ways of thinking, independent from the confines of religion, encouraged rational

thought based on human experience and natural laws,

C.The Black Death, a devastating global epidemic of bubonic plague, is estimated to have killed up to 60 per cent of the population of Europe. It also helped open the doors to the Renaissance. There was social and political upheaval in Florence, as so many local officials had died and the Medici family moved in, taking advantage of the power gap. They, and other newly powerful families, demonstrated their wealth by patronizing the arts, and artists flocked to Florence to find work. The labour shortage caused by the Black Death meant that workers could demand wages and better living conditions, and were no longer slaves to the aristocracy.

D.Artistic works became more realistic and three-dimensional through the use of perspective and variations in light and shadow, and the subjects depicted were more lifelike and filled with human emotion. The Medici family supported the arts throughout the Renaissance, employing such artists as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli, and Raphael. By the end of the fifteenth century, Rome had overtaken Florence as the centre of the Renaissance when a member of the Medici family, Pope Leo X, began filling the city with religious buildings and art in a period now known as the High Renaissance. Florence is generally considered the focal point of the Renaissance, though developments were happening all over Italy. From there, new philosophies, values, and artistic practices moved across Europe.

E.The invention of the printing press by Gutenberg in 1440 allowed for the perfect reproduction of the Bible, books and printed music to an extent previously unimaginable. The printed word, which had previously been only accessible to the elite, reached more people, allowing modern culture and education to develop, and Renaissance thought still affects the world today. People remained very religious, and certainly much of the art produced still focused on religion, but people began to think less of the afterlife and more of what good they could do in this life. Reason, scientific inquiry and human fulfilment became acceptable objectives. Literature, too, was characterized by a return to the classical motifs of tragedy and comedy and humanist themes. Shakespeare's works are good examples of this, particularly Hamlet, which focuses on the human ability to reason and take action in ways that impact the lives of others.

F.Scientists began to investigate the natural world through observation and experiments, and as a result, science and religion began to diverge. causing conflict between scientists and the Church and often leading to persecution and imprisonment. Polish mathematician and astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus published his theory of a heliocentric solar system in the 1530s, which is the idea that the Earth orbits around the sun. Though it was a major breakthrough in science, his book was banned by the Church. Galileo Galilei, spending years in prison and his life threatened, was another such Renaissance scientist persecuted for his scientific work. He improved the telescope, discovered new celestial bodies, and supported Copernicus' ideas. His motion experiments on pendulums and falling objects set the stage for Newton's later discovery of gravity.

G.The biggest social change brought about by the Renaissance was the collapse of feudalism and the creation of a capitalist market economy. The banking industry had its beginnings in Italy at this time. An increase in trade paved the way for the emergence of a middle class. To open up new trade routes, explorers set out to discover new lands. Christopher Columbus found the Americas in 1492, and Ferdinand Magellan successfully circumnavigated the globe in 1522. The Renaissance was a time of transition from the ancient world to the modern age. Much of the way we live our lives today is a reflection of the changes that occurred during the Renaissance period.

Questions 14-19

Reading passage 2 has seven paragraphs, A-G. Which paragraph relates to the following?

Write the correct letter, A-G. NB You may use any letter more than once.

14. A new philosophy changed people's goals.

Answer: E

Supporting statement: People remained very religious... but people began to think less of the afterlife and more of what good they could do in this life. Reason, scientific inquiry and human fulfilment became acceptable objectives.

Keywords: less of the afterlife, scientific inquiry and human

Keyword Location: Para E, Lines 6-7

Explanation: This section describes the shift in focus from the religious afterlife to human concerns (human fulfillment) in the current life.

15. Tragedy became an opportunity for some.

Answer: C

Supporting statement: The Black Death, a devastating global epidemic... helped open the doors to the Renaissance. There was social and political upheaval in Florence, as so many local officials had died and the Medici family moved in, taking advantage of the power gap.

Keywords: Black Death, Renaissance, Medici family

Keyword Location: Para C, Lines 1-4

Explanation: The tragedy of the Black Death created a power vacuum that the Medici family exploited ("taking advantage of the power gap") to gain influence, which then led to the flourishing of the Renaissance.

16. There was a Clash between Old and new ideas.

Answer: F

Supporting statement: Scientists began to investigate the natural world... and as a result, science and religion began to diverge, causing conflict between scientists and the Church and often leading to persecution and imprisonment.

Keywords: investigate, Church

Keyword Location: Para F, Lines 1-3

Explanation: This describes the conflict (clash) between the scientific (new) and religious (old) ways of thinking.

17. New techniques breathed life into the visual arts.

Answer: D

Supporting statement: Artistic works became more realistic and three-dimensional through the use of perspective and variations in light and shadow, and the subjects depicted were more lifelike and filled with human emotion.

Keywords: three-dimensional, light and shadow

Keyword Location: Para D, Lines 1-2

Explanation: The paragraph details the new artistic methods (perspective, light, and shadow) that made art more lifelike.

18. Escape from War drew bright minds to Italy.

Answer: B

Supporting statement: In 1453, the Ottomans invaded Constantinople, and many of the city's scholars left for the safety of Europe... Conflicts in Spain also drove many academics to the Italian cities of Florence, Bologna, and Padova, creating an atmosphere for a revival in learning.

Keywords: 1453, Constantinople, invaded

Keyword Location: Para B, Line 1

Explanation: This section mentions two events that drove educated people (scholars/academics) to Italian cities, including "Conflicts in Spain" (war).

19. A famous drama epitomizes the philosophy of the age.

Answer: E

Supporting statement: Shakespeare's works are good examples of this, particularly Hamlet, which focuses on the human ability to reason and take action in ways that impact the lives of others.

Keywords: Shakespeare's, Hamlet

Keyword Location: Para E, Lines 9-10

Explanation: The paragraph cites Hamlet as a specific piece of literature that embodies the humanist themes and emphasis on reason characteristic of Renaissance philosophy.

Questions 20-21

Which TWO points were results of the Renaissance?

A. An improvement in health

B. Changed ideological attitudes

C. Less interest in religion

D. A reduction in warfare

E. Increased creativity

20………

Answer: B

Supporting statement: During this period... new ways of thinking emerged... Reason, scientific inquiry and human fulfilment became acceptable objectives

Keywords: new ways of thinking emerged, acceptable objectives

Keyword Location: Para A & E, Lines 3 & 7

Explanation: The development of new philosophies (Humanism) and the focus on reason and human fulfilment represent a change in ideological attitudes.

21………

Answer: E

Supporting statement: During this period, artistic creativity flourished, new ways of thinking emerged, and the independent cities of northern Italy introduced banking and capitalism.

Keywords: artistic creativity flourished

Keyword Location: Para A, Line 3

Explanation: The text specifically states that "artistic creativity flourished" during the Renaissance period.

Questions 22-23 Choose TWO letters, A-E.

Which TWO results of the Renaissance are not mentioned in the text?

A. Discoveries by explorers

B. Artistic patronage

C. Political uprisings

D. Support for the poor

E. Developments in technology

22………

Answer: C

Supporting statement: The Black Death, a devastating global epidemic... There was social and political upheaval in Florence, as so many local officials had died and the Medici family moved in

Keywords: global epidemic, upheaval

Keyword Location: Para C, Lines 1–3

Explanation: The text mentions political upheaval, which is a general disturbance or major change, but it does not specify or describe political uprisings (organized resistance or rebellion by the populace).

23………

Answer: D

Supporting statement: workers could demand wages and better living conditions

Keywords: demand wages

Keyword Location: Para C, Line 7

Explanation: While the conditions for workers improved due to labor shortages (Paragraph C), the text never mentions any direct support for the poor (e.g., charity, welfare programs, or government aid) as a result of the Renaissance.

Questions 24-26

Choose NO MORE THAN ONE WORD for each answer.

24. Renaissance paintings were more lifelike because artists began using the technique of…………… and greater variation in shading.

Answer: PERSPECTIVE

Supporting statement: Artistic works became more realistic and three-dimensional through the use of perspective and variations in light and shadow

Keywords: perspective, variations

Keyword Location: Para D, Lines 1-2

Explanation: The text names perspective and variations in light/shadow (shading) as the techniques that made art more realistic.

25. The invention of the printing press made books more………….. to the average person because so many could be produced.

Answer: ACCESSIBLE

Supporting statement: The printed word, which had previously been only accessible to the elite, reached more people

Keywords: accessible, more people

Keyword Location: Para E, Line 3

Explanation: By reaching more people, the printed word became more accessible (available) to those outside the elite.

26. The works of Shakespeare are considered typical Renaissance literature because they are based on………………….ideas and were influenced by Greek philosophy.

Answer: HUMANIST

Supporting statement: Literature, too, was characterized by a return to the classical motifs of tragedy and comedy and humanist themes. Shakespeare's works are good examples of this

Keywords: characterized, humanist, works

Keyword Location: Para E, Lines 8-9

Explanation: The text identifies the key characteristic of Renaissance literature, including Shakespeare's, as humanist themes.

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