The history of colours and the meanings people have given them
Read The history of colours and the meanings people have given them and check the IELTS Reading answers. The use of colours has a long history in human development. Prehistoric paintings in caves were found to contain yellow and red earth, white chalk, and a black made from the soot of burned anima…
Passage preview
The use of colours has a long history in human development. Prehistoric paintings in caves were found to contain yellow and red earth, white chalk, and a black made from the soot of burned animal fat. Over time, new colours were invented, using a wide range of materials and processes; for example, Chinese yellow was made from the resin of the gamboge tree, and saffron yellow in India from a flower, the Crocus sativus. Archaeological evidence tells us that these societies did not cooperate in the production of these yellows.
Vocabulary from this passage
11 words worth learning before you sit the test, each with the sentence it appears in.
- ceremonial occasion noun
A formal event or ritual marking a significant religious, state, or social milestone with traditional practices
In ancient Rome, purple garments were strictly reserved for high-ranking officials to wear during a ceremonial occasion.
- commission verb
To formally request the production of something, typically a work of art, in exchange for payment or patronage
During the Renaissance, wealthy aristocrats would commission elaborate frescoes to decorate the ceilings of their private chapels.
- instinct noun
An innate, typically fixed pattern of behavior in humans or animals in response to certain stimuli without learned experience
Psychologists argue that the human preference for vibrant primary colors is rooted in a deep-seated biological instinct.
- lightfastness noun
The property of a material, such as a dye or pigment, that describes how resistant it is to fading
Museum curators prioritize the lightfastness of artworks to ensure that colors do not degrade under exhibition lighting.
- manipulation noun
The skillful handling or alteration of something, especially in a digital context, to achieve a specific desired effect
Advances in software allow for the sophisticated manipulation of color levels in digital photography and video editing.
- pigment noun
A substance used for coloring or painting, especially a dry powder, which is mixed with a liquid to produce paint
Artists in the Middle Ages relied on rare earth minerals to extract vibrant blue and red pigments.
- resin noun
A sticky flammable organic substance, insoluble in water, exuded by some trees and other plants as a protective mechanism
Ancient civilizations utilized tree resin as a primary binding agent for creating durable yellow pigments.
- social context noun
The immediate physical and social setting in which people live or in which something happens or develops historically
The meaning of white varies significantly depending on the social context and geographical region of the observer.
- synthetic adjective
A substance or material made by chemical synthesis, especially to imitate a natural product; not occurring naturally in environment
The invention of synthetic paints allowed modern artists to experiment with colors that were previously unavailable.
- transparency noun
The quality of allowing light to pass through so that objects behind can be distinctly seen; clarity of medium
Modern watercolorists value the transparency of certain synthetic pigments for layering and glazing techniques in their work.
- universal adjective
Applicable to or done by all people or things in the world or in a particular group; ubiquitous
While certain colors represent danger globally, the cultural associations of other shades are far from universal.
Answers with explanations
- 1. NOT GIVEN
The statement claims the new shade of red was **more popular with the public** than the older kermes red. The passage mentions the new shade brought by the Spanish and explains it was made from beetles, but there is no mention or comparison of its popularity with the public. Therefore, the answer is NOT GIVEN.
- 2. FALSE
The statement claims artists were obliged to use **low cost materials**. The passage explicitly states the opposite, noting that patrons required painters to use **expensive pigments** to add value to their works. This is a direct contradiction, making the answer FALSE.
- 3. TRUE
The claim states that new 1800s colours led to **major new art movements**. The text confirms this by stating that without these synthetic colours, movements like **Impressionism and other aspects of modern art development** would not have been possible. Thus, the statement is TRUE.
- 3-4: NOT GIVEN
3: The claim states that new 1800s colours led to **major new art movements**. The text confirms this by stating that without these synthetic colours, movements like **Impressionism and other aspects of modern art development** would not have been possible. Thus, the statement is TRUE.
4: The statement claims people **today continue to give new meanings** to colours. The passage confirms this by stating that giving meanings to colours is a process that "has not yet come to an end", indicating it continues into the present day. Answer: TRUE.
- 4. TRUE
The statement claims people **today continue to give new meanings** to colours. The passage confirms this by stating that giving meanings to colours is a process that "has not yet come to an end", indicating it continues into the present day. Answer: TRUE.
- 5. NOT GIVEN
The statement claims there are an **equal number** of positive and negative meanings for black in Europe. While the passage mentions black means "formality and elegance" and can also represent death, it does not quantify or compare the total number of positive versus negative meanings. Thus, the answer is NOT GIVEN.
- 6. FALSE
The statement claims Jonas Cohn believed children naturally like **dark colours**. The text directly contradicts this, stating Cohn found a basic human instinct for "strong, pure colours" (which contextually refers to bright primary colours, not dark ones). Answer: FALSE.
- 7. caves
The blank requires a noun indicating the location of the **earliest paints**. The passage describes "Prehistoric paintings" (which signifies earliest paints) being discovered in **caves**. The surrounding context of chalk, earth, and animal fat confirms this is the correct location.
- 8. beetle
The blank needs a singular noun for another living creature used to make **red**, alongside kermes insects. The text explains that Spanish explorers brought back a new shade of red that was made using a species of **beetle**.
- 9. priests
The note requires a plural noun describing a group of people who used **purple** for expensive ceremonial reasons, alongside "rulers". The passage notes it was the colour of "kings and emperors" (rulers) and was also worn by **priests**.
- 10. gem
The blank requires a noun describing what **ultramarine** was made from during the **Renaissance**. The passage explicitly states that this expensive pigment was made from a semi-precious **gem** called lapis lazuli.
- 11. metals
The blank requires a plural noun indicating the base materials **chemists in the 1800s** used to create new colours. The text explicitly states they began to develop synthetic paints "often from **metals**".
- 12. tubes
The blank requires a plural noun showing what was used to contain the colours in the **mid 1800s** to make them easy to transport. The passage specifically mentions the development of "portable **tubes**" to contain the paint.
- 13. weddings
The blank requires a plural noun representing a specific type of event where **red** is traditionally worn in some countries. The text notes that red is "traditionally used for **weddings**" and subsequently mentions it also represents danger elsewhere, matching the clue exactly.