The history of the pencil
Read The history of the pencil and check the IELTS Reading answers. Pencils have existed for millennia. It is known that the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans all used small pieces of metal as writing instruments, and that 14th-century European artists made pale grey drawings with thin rods of l…
Passage preview
Pencils have existed for millennia. It is known that the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans all used small pieces of metal as writing instruments, and that 14th-century European artists made pale grey drawings with thin rods of lead, silver or zinc. It is, however, generally accepted that the history of the modern pencil began in the 16th century, in the hilly, rural county of Cumberland in north-west England.
Vocabulary from this passage
11 words worth learning before you sit the test, each with the sentence it appears in.
- blueprint noun
A technical drawing or detailed plan for a design; an early prototype for a mechanical invention
Italian designers created the first blueprints for the modern wood-encased pencil during the late sixteenth century.
- derive verb
To obtain something from a specific source; to trace the origin or development of a word or concept
The term 'plumbago' is derived from the Latin word for lead, reflecting an early misunderstanding of graphite's composition.
- encasement noun
The act of enclosing or covering something in a protective container or layer for stability and use
Graphite is too soft to be used alone, requiring a sturdy encasement such as wood or string.
- enormous deposit noun
A very large accumulation or layer of solid matter, such as a mineral, found naturally in the earth
The discovery of an enormous deposit of high-purity graphite in Cumberland revolutionized the local economy.
- exceptional purity noun
A state of being entirely free from inferior or foreign substances; of an unusually high standard or quality
The exceptional purity of local graphite meant it did not require the extensive cleaning needed for other deposits.
- immerse verb
To dip or submerge something completely in a liquid; to involve oneself deeply in a particular activity
Manufacturers immerse the dried graphite sticks in melted wax to enhance the smoothness of the writing experience.
- kiln noun
A furnace or oven for burning, baking, or drying something, especially one for calcining lime or firing pottery
The graphite-clay sticks must be heated in a high-temperature kiln to ensure they become hard and durable.
- millennia noun
A period of a thousand years; plural form indicating several thousands of years of history
While modern pencils are relatively recent, basic writing instruments have existed for several millennia across various civilizations.
- monopoly noun
The exclusive possession or control of the supply of or trade in a commodity or service
England maintained a monopoly on pencil production for years due to the unique purity of the Borrowdale graphite.
- reconstitute verb
To build up or restore something to its original form from parts or a powdered state
The industry changed when manufacturers discovered how to reconstitute graphite powder by mixing it with other elements.
- varnish verb
To apply a resinous surface coating to an object to provide a hard, clear, shiny, and protective finish
In the final stage of production, the exterior of the pencil is varnished to protect the wood.
Answers with explanations
- 1. sheep
To find the answer, look for what the **farmers in the area** (referred to as **locals**) used the graphite for. The passage explicitly states they used it for **marking their sheep** to **identify** which ones they **owned** (ones that belonged to them). The note requires a single noun that represents the possession, making **sheep** the exact and grammatically correct fit.
- 2. lead
The keyword bridge connects **first believed to be a type of** to the source's phrasing **thought to be a form of**. The text identifies that the mineral was originally mistaken for **lead**. Since the instructions strictly require one word only, **lead** is the exact correct answer. Other interpretations would fail the word limit or meaning constraints.
- 2-3: A
2: The keyword bridge connects **first believed to be a type of** to the source's phrasing **thought to be a form of**. The text identifies that the mineral was originally mistaken for **lead**. Since the instructions strictly require one word only, **lead** is the exact correct answer. Other interpretations would fail the word limit or meaning constraints.
3: Scan for the mention of **cannon balls**. The question asks who in **England** recognized the graphite's importance for this purpose. The source points out that **the government soon realized the value**. Therefore, **government** is the necessary one-word noun fitting the gap correctly.
- 3. government
Scan for the mention of **cannon balls**. The question asks who in **England** recognized the graphite's importance for this purpose. The source points out that **the government soon realized the value**. Therefore, **government** is the necessary one-word noun fitting the gap correctly.
- 3-4: B
3: Scan for the mention of **cannon balls**. The question asks who in **England** recognized the graphite's importance for this purpose. The source points out that **the government soon realized the value**. Therefore, **government** is the necessary one-word noun fitting the gap correctly.
4: The statement claims Borrowdale graphite was **superior** to other forms. The passage confirms this by stating that graphite found in **other parts of the world** lacked the **exceptional purity and quality** of the Borrowdale find. Because the text directly affirms the claim through synonymous phrasing, the answer is **TRUE**.
- 4. TRUE
The statement claims Borrowdale graphite was **superior** to other forms. The passage confirms this by stating that graphite found in **other parts of the world** lacked the **exceptional purity and quality** of the Borrowdale find. Because the text directly affirms the claim through synonymous phrasing, the answer is **TRUE**.
- 5. FALSE
The statement asserts that pencil production **only lasted until the 1860s**. However, the text explains that while the *design was modified* after the 1860s, a town close to the Borrowdale/Cumberland find **still manufactures pencils today**. Because the text directly contradicts the limitation claimed in the statement, the answer is **FALSE**.
- 6. NOT GIVEN
To evaluate this statement, search for references to the **Cumberland pencil museum**. While the text confirms the museum's existence at the Keswick factory, it provides no information about whether the museum contains **examples of pencils from different European countries**. Because there is no evidence to confirm or deny this specific detail, the answer is **NOT GIVEN**.
- 7. TRUE
The statement checks if an **improved technique** on the Bernacottis' method is **still used now**. The passage mentions a **superior technique** was adopted and states it is **essentially the same method in use to this day**. Since the text directly supports the statement's claim, the correct answer is **TRUE**.
- 8. NOT GIVEN
Scan for the keywords **1662** and **Nuremberg**. The text states that the first attempt to manufacture graphite sticks took place there using powdered graphite, sulphur, and antimony. However, it never mentions whether this graphite was **imported from England**. Without this critical piece of information regarding the source of the material, the claim cannot be verified, making the answer **NOT GIVEN**.
- 9. cleaned
The flowchart tracks the manufacturing process. First, the materials are **crushed to form powders** (ground into a fine powder). The text then states the powder goes on to be **cleaned** before it is **dried**. The past participle **cleaned** fits the sequence perfectly and maintains the one-word limit.
- 10. heated
Following the process, the mixture is shaped into **sticks**. The question asks what happens to the sticks after they are **dried**. The text states that **after drying these are heated**. The verb **heated** correctly completes the sequential step in the flowchart.
- 11. wax
The flow chart asks what the sticks are **dipped into**. The passage uses the synonymous phrase **immersed in**. The material they are immersed in is **melted wax**. Given the instruction for ONE WORD ONLY, the noun **wax** is the exact correct answer.
- 12. grooves
The question asks where the sticks are **put into** in a wooden plank. The text explains that **grooves** are cut into the planks and the sticks are **inserted into these**. Therefore, **grooves** represents the physical location where the sticks are placed, perfectly matching the gap.
- 13. varnished
For the final step, the flowchart provides the alternative **or painted in different colours**. The text mirrors this exact phrase and provides the other option: the outside may be **varnished**. The past participle **varnished** completes the parallel structure of the sentence.