Unlocking the History of Locks and Keys Reading Answers

Mar 4, 2023

Unlocking the History of Locks and Keys Reading Answers is a general reading topic discussing in detail different types of locks from old age till now. The given IELTS topic has originated from the book named “Cambridge IELTS 10 Student's Book with Answers”. The topic named Unlocking the History of Locks and Keys Reading Answers has a total of 13 questions. The topic consists of three sorts of questions, which are, choosing the correct paragraph, choosing the correct letter, and no more than two words. The candidates should thoroughly read the IELTS reading passage to recognize the synonyms, identify the keywords, and answer the questions below. IELTS reading practice papers can be taken into consideration by the candidates in order to score a good score in the reading section in which similar topics like Unlocking the History of Locks and Keys Reading Answers have been included.

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Section 1

Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions

Unlocking the History of Locks and Keys Reading Answers

(A) Keys have always represented authority, security, and power. Kings, emperors, court nobles, and cities and towns across the globe have incorporated the symbol of the key into banners, coats of arms, and official seals. The delivery of keys to a castle, fortress, or city was a symbolic event, as is the presentation of the Key-to-the-City today to a visiting dignitary. It was a way of showing people that they were both welcome and trusted.

(B) Many centuries ago in ancient Egypt, the importance of the 'head of the household' was determined by the number of keys he owned. These were large keys and were carried by slaves on their shoulders. If he had several slaves or key bearers, he was considered to be a man of great wealth and distinction. And in this tradition, through the ages, the lock and its key have become an intricate part of our culture. Locking up personal property, the key symbolizes our desire for privacy and security for our possessions.

(C) The earliest known locks date back well over 3,000 years. They were made of wood and were large and crude in design, yet their principle of operation was the forerunner of the modern pin-tumbler locks in use today. Since the earliest times, chests were secured with strong and often very large locks. They were used to protect precious metals, money, jewels, to store clothing, and church vestments, archives and arms, linens and other household articles, bridal dresses, and even for the burial of important people. Chest locks were ornamented for household use or were very plain and sturdy for chests that were to be transported. So the design and appearance of a lock usually depended on the use to which that lock would be put.

(D) Padlocks were known to the ancient Greeks, Romans, Egyptians and other cultures including the Chinese, and were particularly favoured because they were portable. It is generally believed that the padlock was first used as a travel' lock to safeguard merchandise from thieves along ancient trade routes and seaboards and waterways where commerce was centred. Brass and iron padlocks found in Europe and the East were popularized by the Romans and the Chinese.

(E) Another type of padlock, the push-key padlock, was of simple construction, the bolt being kept in the locked position by the projection of a spring or springs. To unlock, the springs were compressed or flattened by the key, which freed the bolt and permitted it to slide back. Padlocks were often highly decorated with dragons, horses, dogs and even elephants, and were presented in pairs as gifts, with congratulatory messages. For better efficiency, letter locks, otherwise known as combination padlocks, were later developed, which eliminated the need for an actual key and worked by aligning letters or numbers on revolving disks. Padlocks were used throughout the centuries to lock up prisoners as well as possessions. They were usually made of iron, bronze or brass, and were rough in construction, but had the disadvantage of being easy to defuse.

(F} Throughout the 14th and 15th centuries in Europe, there was little significant improvement made in the design of locking mechanisms, although ornamentation became increasingly important. Craftsmen at this time excelled in metalwork and designed and produced locks for gates, doors, chests and cupboards. This was the age of the 'Masterpiece' lock that had to be designed and produced as one-of-a-kind by a journeyman locksmith, in order to qualify him as a Master. Masterpiece locks, which were never actually used on a door, were often displayed without covers to show the component parts of the mechanisms, their functions, the decoration and the method of assembly.

(G) During the era of the Renaissance in the 15th and 16th centuries in Europe, master locksmiths were inspired to produce the most intricate and the finest ornamental locks of all time. This was the period when iron craftsmen and lock artisans were highly sought after and became internationally famous. They excelled in the forging, embossing, engraving, and etching of metals, and were invited to make locks and keys for many of the great courts of Europe.

Beating the Burglars

When lock-picking became prevalent in the 18th century, the inventor met the challenge of confounding the burglar with increasingly complicated locking mechanisms. Among the new improvements were keys with changeable bits, as well as alarm bells and what were known as 'puzzle' padlocks. These early puzzle padlocks had from three to seven rings of characters or letters which released the lock when properly aligned. Dial locks were similar in operation, and both types were set to be unlocked by words or patterns of numbers known only to the owners or responsible persons. The introduction of digital technology in the late 20th century revolutionized the science of locks and security systems. But despite the advances made in this field, most of us still rely on conventional keys to lock our front doors or start the car, possibly because we prefer the mechanical satisfaction of turning a key to rememberinga security number.

Section 2

Solution and Explanation

Questions 28-34

The text has seven paragraphs, A-G. Which paragraph contains the following information? Write the correct letter, A-G, in boxes 28-34 on your answer sheet.

Question 28. the reason why a certain lock was used to protect goods for sale

Answer: D
Supporting sentence: It is generally believed that the padlock was first used as a travel' lock to safeguard merchandise from thieves
Keyword : believed, padlock, safeguard, thieves
Keyword location: paragraph D, lines 2-3
Explanation: Lines 2-3 of paragraph D suggest that ancient Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, and other cultures were favored. It also included the Chinese, who were all familiar with padlocks and were particularly favored. Since they could be carried around. Most people agree that the padlock was initially used as a travel lock to protect goods from thieves.

Question 29. an explanation of how a particular lock works

Answer: E
Supporting sentence: To unlock, the springs were compressed or flattened by the key, which freed the bolt and permitted it to slide back.
Keyword : unlock, compressed, permitted, slide back
Keyword location: paragraph E, lines 2-3
Explanation: Lines 2-3 of paragraph E explain that the push-key padlock, is another form of a padlock. It had a straightforward design, with a spring or springs protruding from it holding the bolt in the locked position. The key was used to open the bolt, which allowed it to glide back once the springs were flattened or compressed by the key.

Question 30. examples of the relationship between form and function

Answer: C
Supporting sentence: They were made of wood and were large and crude in design, yet their principle of operation was the forerunner of the modern pin-tumbler locks in use today.
Keyword : wood, crude, forerunner, use today
Keyword location: paragraph C, lines 1-3
Explanation: Lines 1-3 of paragraph C suggest that although they were built of wood and had a bulky, spartan look. The idea behind how they worked before the pin-tumbler locks that are used today. Chests have always been locked with powerful, frequently quite huge locks.

Question 31. a time when locksmiths were in big demand

Answer: G
Supporting sentence: During the era of the Renaissance in the 15th and 16th centuries in Europe, master locksmiths were inspired to produce the most intricate and the finest ornamental locks of all time.
Keyword : the era, locksmiths, intricate, locks
Keyword location: paragraph G, lines 1-3
Explanation: Lines 1-3 of paragraph G say that Master locksmiths were inspired to create the most complex and exquisite ornamental locks. It happened ever during the Renaissance in Europe in the 15th and 16th centuries. During this time, lock and iron craftspeople attained fame on a global scale and were in high demand.

Question 32. reference to an ancient ceremony

Answer: A
Supporting sentence: Kings, emperors, court nobles, and cities and towns across the globe have incorporated the symbol of the key into banners, coats of arms, and official seals.
Keyword : Kings, incorporated, banners, official seals
Keyword location: paragraph A, lines 1-3
Explanation: Lines 1-3 of paragraph A explain that keys have long stood for security, control, and authority. Across the world, kings, emperors, court nobility, and cities and towns have integrated the key sign into their flags, coats of arms, and official seals.

Question 33. how certain lock-making skills were tested

Answer: F
Supporting sentence: Craftsmen at this time excelled in metalwork and designed and produced locks for gates, doors, chests and cupboards.
Keyword : Craftsmen, excelled, metalwork, cupboards
Keyword location: paragraph F, lines 3-4
Explanation: Lines 3-4 of paragraph F imply that the design of locking mechanisms did not significantly advance in Europe during the 14th and 15th centuries. It did not prosper despite ornamentation's growing significance. At this time, artisans specialized in metallurgy and created locks for gates, doors, chests, and cabinets.

Question 34. the use of keys as a measure of a person's social status

Answer: B
Supporting sentence: Many centuries ago in ancient Egypt, the importance of the 'head of the household' was determined by the number of keys he owned.
Keyword : centuries, ancient Egypt, head of the household,
Keyword location: paragraph B, lines 1-2
Explanation: Lines 1-2 of paragraph B explain that the number of keys the "head of the home" possessed in ancient Egypt determined how important he was. Slaves carried these substantial keys on their shoulders. He was regarded as a man of considerable riches and distinction if he possessed numerous slaves or key bearers.

Questions 35 and 36

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

Question 35. According to the writer, early padlocks were popular because they were

(A) made of wood.
(B) extremely secure.
(C) easily transported.
(D) common to many cultures.

Answer: C
Supporting sentence: Since the earliest times, chests were secured with strong and often very large locks.
Keyword : earliest, chests, secured, large locks
Keyword location: paragraph C, lines 3-4
Explanation: Lines 3-4 of paragraph C suggest that the oldest locks that have been found stretch back more than 3,000 years. Although they were built of wood and had a bulky, spartan look, the idea behind how they worked was before the pin-tumbler locks that are used today. Chests have always been locked with powerful, frequently quite huge locks.

Question 36. What does the writer say about Masterpiece locks?

(A) They were used to demonstrate design features.
(B) They were made to lock up small items only.
(C) They were made for the royal families of Europe.
(D) They were produced to last for centuries.

Answer: A
Supporting sentence: Masterpiece locks, which were never actually used on a door, were often displayed without covers to show the component parts of the mechanisms
Keyword : Masterpiece locks, displayed, component, mechanisms
Keyword location: paragraph F, lines 6-7
Explanation: Lines 6-7 of paragraph F explain about the masterpiece locks. To demonstrate the individual components of the mechanisms, and the manner of assembly, masterpiece locks were never really used on a door. Those were frequently shown without coverings.

Questions 37-40

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO Words from the text for each answer.

Anti-burglar devices Security mechanisms have included:

keys with changeable bits

(37)...........

puzzle padlocks

(38)........ In recent years, alternative methods of security have been made possible by (39).......... However, people continue to prefer (40)...........

Question 37:

Answer: Alarm bells
Supporting sentence: Among the new improvements were keys with changeable bits, as well as alarm bells and what were known as 'puzzle' padlocks.
Keyword : improvements, alarm bells, 'puzzle', padlocks
Keyword location: paragraph H, lines 2-4
Explanation: Lines 2-4 of paragraph H suggest that the problem faced by the inventor was to confuse the burglar. The problem was to confuse the burglar with ever-more-complex locking mechanisms as lock-picking became common in the 18th century. Changeable-bit keys, alarm bells, and what were referred to as "puzzle" padlocks were some of the new additions.

Question 38:

Answer: Dial locks
Supporting sentence: Dial locks were similar in operation, and both types were set to be unlocked by words or patterns of numbers known only to the owners or responsible persons.
Keyword : Dial locks, operation, patterns, responsible persons
Keyword location: paragraph H, lines 5-7
Explanation: Lines 5-7 of paragraph H state that these early puzzle locks included three to seven rings of characters or letters. Those, when properly aligned, unlocked the lock. Dial locks operated similarly and were programmed to be opened only by phrases or numerical patterns known to the owners or responsible parties.

Question 39:

Answer: Digital technology
Supporting sentence: The introduction of digital technology in the late 20th century revolutionized the science of locks and security systems.
Keyword : introduction, digital technology, revolutionized, security systems
Keyword location: paragraph H, lines 7-8
Explanation: Lines 7-8 of paragraph H suggest that the science of locks and security systems underwent a transformation with the advent of digital technology. Although there have been advancements in this area, the majority of us still use traditional keys to lock our front doors and start our cars.

Question 40:

Answer: conventional keys
Supporting sentence: But despite the advances made in this field, most of us still rely on conventional keys to lock our front doors or start the car
Keyword : despite, field, conventional keys, start the car
Keyword location: paragraph H, lines 8-9
Explanation: Lines 8-9 of paragraph H explain that the emergence of digital technology in the late twentieth century transformed the science of locks and security systems. Although there have been advancements in this area, the majority of us still use conventional keys to lock our front doors and start our cars.