The History Of Glass Reading Answers is an IELTS reading topic that traces the evolution of glass from natural volcanic origins to today’s advanced industry. This history of glass IELTS reading passage not only explains the art and science behind glassmaking but also highlights its cultural and industrial importance.
Students practicing the glass-making IELTS reading answers will find it useful for understanding IELTS Reading Test Format, IELTS Reading question types, and IELTS Reading multiple choice questions. With this IELTS academic passage glass history, candidates can improve their IELTS Reading band score through a detailed reading explanation of glass history.
The History of Glass Reading Answers with Passage also supports practice for IELTS Reading sentence completion questions and helps learners master IELTS Reading structure effectively.
Provided here is the complete passage ‘The history of glass IELTS reading passage’. It introduces learners to the origins and development of glass through centuries. Practicing this text helps candidates explore glass making IELTS reading answers, understand IELTS Reading Topics, learn how to handle multiple choice questions, and refine strategies to improve their overall IELTS Reading Band Score effectively.
A.Glass has been used by the man from his earliest origins. Historians found that obsidian, a type of natural glass, has formed in places, like in the mouth of a volcano, as a consequence of intense heat of an eruption melting island, which was used as tips for spears. In 4000 BC, archaeologists discovered evidence of man-made glass, which took the shape of glazes used for covering stone beads. With the covering of sand core and the layer of molten glass, the first hollow glass container was made.
B.From the 1st century BC, the most common method to make glass containers is by doing glass blowing. As the raw materials contain impurities, the glass that was made at that time is highly coloured. Methods to create colourless glass were developed during the first century AD, and it was then tinted by adding the colouring materials. Romans are the ones who took the secret of glass making across Europe, during this century. But, they protected the glass making skills and technology, still it spread throughout Europe and the Middle East after their empire was ruined in 476 AD. From the 10th Century, the Venetians earned reputation on making the glass bottles with technical skill and artistic ability and most of the craftsmen in the italy’s cities set up the glassworks throughout Europe.
C. When the English Manufacturer George Ravenscroft (1632 - 1683) invented the lead crystal glass, it became a major mark in the history of glass. He added the lead in the raw materials during the process of glass making to counter the clouding effect that occurs in blown glass. The new glass he introduced has the following qualities: softer, easier to decorate, higher refractive index, has the brilliance and beauty and it has become an important glass to the optical industry. Optical lenses, astronomical telescopes, microscopes have become possible only because of the invention of Ravenscroft.
D. In Britain, after rescinding the Excise Act in 1845, the modern glass industry began to boom. Heavy taxes were placed on the amount of glass melted in glasshouses, before that time and increased continuously from 1745 to 1845. In 1851, at the London’s Great Exhibition, Joseph Paxton’s Crystal Palace marked the beginning of glass as a material used in the building industry. This path breaking new building has increased the usage of glass in public, domestic and horticultural architecture. As science and technology began to advance and develop, glass manufacturing techniques also improved.
E. From the year of 1887, when HM Ashley introduced a machine in Castleford, Yorkshire, England, which is capable of producing 200 bottles per hour. It is produced more than three times faster than any previous production methods. In 1907, Michael Owens, who is the founder of the Owens Bottle Company, developed the first fully automated machine in the USA and installed it in its factory. Owen’s invention has the capability to produce 2,500 bottles per hour. Rapid development occurred, but, during the first world war, Britain cut off from the essential glass suppliers, and glass became part of the scientific sector. Before this, glass had been seen as a craft instead of precise science.
F. Currently, Glass making is a big business. It has become a modern, hi-tech industry functioning in an intensely competitive market where quality, design and service levels are important to maintaining market share. Modern glass plants have the capacity of making millions of glass containers per day in a variety of colours, green and brown remaining the most popular. Glass has become inseparable from modern life. You can see it in almost every aspect of our lives - our homes, our cars. Many products have glass packaging, most of the beverages sold in glass, as are many foodstuffs, medicines and cosmetics.
G. Glass is the perfect material for recycling and concern for green issues, glass bottles and jars are becoming more popular as with growing consumers. Glass recycling is a good thing for the environment. It saves used glass containers rather than disposing it into landfill. Both fuel and production expenses can be saved because recycled glass needs less energy to melt than raw materials. The need for quarrying materials minimised by the recycling and preserves the valuable resources.
The IELTS Academic passage glass history allows test-takers to practice with exam-like exercises, including IELTS Reading multiple choice questions and sentence completion tasks. These glass-making IELTS reading answers guide candidates on IELTS Reading Test Format, IELTS Reading Question Types, and essential methods on how to improve IELTS Reading Score for better results.
Check the below provided table below to know about some of the questions that are given in the table:
Sample Questions on IELTS The History Of Glass Reading Answers With Passage | |
Section & Question Type | Question |
Section A: True/False/Not Given | 1. Obsidian was a naturally occurring glass used by early humans. |
2. The earliest man-made glass artifacts were discovered in Egypt around 4000 BC. | |
3. Glassmaking was introduced to Europe by the Chinese. | |
4. The glass tax introduced in Britain during the 18th century encouraged innovation. | |
5. By the 20th century, machines could produce over one million glass bottles a day. | |
Section B: Multiple Choice Questions | 6. Which raw material is essential in modern glass production? A) Iron B) Sand C) Clay D) Copper |
7. Who invented lead crystal glass in the 17th century? A) Michael Owens B) George Ravenscroft C) HM Ashley D) Joseph Paxton | |
8. The Excise Act on glass in Britain was repealed in: A) 1645 B) 1745 C) 1845 D) 1945 | |
9. Which invention allowed mass production of bottles in the early 20th century? A) Owens Bottle Machine B) Ashley Furnace C) Venetian Blowing Method D) Crystal Polishing Tool | |
Section C: Sentence Completion | 10. Early humans used obsidian glass to make ________. |
11. The introduction of lead crystal glass allowed the development of ________. | |
12. By the mid-20th century, glass was widely used in ________ and ________. | |
Section D: Matching Information | 13. Match the inventors with their contributions: 1) George Ravenscroft 2) Michael Owens 3) HM Ashley a) Invention of lead crystal glass b) Fully automated bottle machine c) Produced 200 bottles/hour |
Section E: Short Answer Questions | 14. In which country were the earliest man-made glass objects discovered? |
15. What did the 19th-century repeal of the Excise Act enable for the glass industry? |
The history of glass reading explanation enhances comprehension of the passage while strengthening accuracy in answering. This section focuses on IELTS Reading Topics, IELTS Reading structure, and strategies for sentence completion.
Learners practicing these glass making IELTS reading answers gain useful insights that support scoring well in the IELTS Reading Band Score. Provided below are the correct answers for the sample questions given above:
IELTS The History Of Glass Reading Answers With Passage | ||
Section & Question Type | Question | Answer |
Section A: True/False/Not Given | 1. Obsidian was a naturally occurring glass used by early humans. | TRUE |
2. The earliest man-made glass artifacts were discovered in Egypt around 4000 BC. | TRUE | |
3. Glassmaking was introduced to Europe by the Chinese. | FALSE | |
4. The glass tax introduced in Britain during the 18th century encouraged innovation. | FALSE | |
5. By the 20th century, machines could produce over one million glass bottles a day. | TRUE | |
Section B: Multiple Choice Questions | 6. Which raw material is essential in modern glass production? A) Iron B) Sand C) Clay D) Copper | B) Sand |
7. Who invented lead crystal glass in the 17th century? A) Michael Owens B) George Ravenscroft C) HM Ashley D) Joseph Paxton | B) George Ravenscroft | |
8. The Excise Act on glass in Britain was repealed in: A) 1645 B) 1745 C) 1845 D) 1945 | C) 1845 | |
9. Which invention allowed mass production of bottles in the early 20th century? A) Owens Bottle Machine B) Ashley Furnace C) Venetian Blowing Method D) Crystal Polishing Tool | A) Owens Bottle Machine | |
Section C: Sentence Completion | 10. Early humans used obsidian glass to make ________. | cutting tools and spear tips |
11. The introduction of lead crystal glass allowed the development of ________. | optical instruments such as telescopes and microscopes | |
12. By the mid-20th century, glass was widely used in ________ and ________. | architecture, transportation | |
Section D: Matching Information | 13. Match the inventors with their contributions: 1) George Ravenscroft 2) Michael Owens 3) HM Ashley a) Invention of lead crystal glass b) Fully automated bottle machine c) Produced 200 bottles/hour | 1 → a 2 → b 3 → c |
Section E: Short Answer Questions | 14. In which country were the earliest man-made glass objects discovered? | Egypt |
15. What did the 19th-century repeal of the Excise Act enable for the glass industry? | Rapid industrial growth and expansion |
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