The History of the Pencil: IELTS Reading Practice Guide

The IELTS Reading section measures a candidate’s ability to understand and interpret various types of written texts. One of the sample texts that illustrate this is “The History of the Pencil.” In this guide, we will discuss a real IELTS Reading passage on the history of pencils, followed by pertinent questions, detailed answer keys, common mistakes, challenging vocabulary, and complex grammatical structures.

Actual Reading Passage: The History of the Pencil

THE HISTORY OF PENCIL

A
The beginning of the story of pencils started with lightning. Graphite, the main material for producing a pencil, was discovered in 1564 in Borrowdale, England, when lightning struck a local tree during a thunderstorm. Local people found that the black substance at the root of the tree was distinct from the usual wood ash. It was soft and left marks everywhere. At that time, chemistry was still nascent, and people mistakenly thought it was lead, equally black but much heavier. It was soon used by locals to mark their sheep for signs of ownership and calculations.

B
Britain turned out to be the major country where mines of graphite were discovered and developed. However, the first pencil was invented elsewhere. Due to graphite’s softness, it needed some kind of encasement. In Italy, graphite sticks were initially wrapped in string or sheepskin for stability, possibly becoming the first pencil in the world. Around 1560, an Italian couple created what could be considered the first modern, wood-encased carpentry pencil. Their version was flat, oval, and compact, involving the hollowing out of a stick of juniper wood. Shortly afterward, in 1662, a superior technique was developed by the Germans: two wooden halves were carved, a graphite stick was inserted, and the halves were glued together – essentially the same method used today. This innovation spread, attracting the attention of artists worldwide.

C
Although the graphite core in pencils is still called “lead”, modern pencils do not contain lead. The “lead” in pencils is actually a mix of finely ground graphite and clay powders. The amount of clay added determines the pencil’s hardness, while the grinding duration affects the lead’s quality. More clay results in a harder core. Pencils worldwide, especially in Europe, are often graded based on the European system, which uses ‘B’ for black and ‘H’ for hard. A pencil’s grade is expressed by a sequence of successive ‘Bs’ or ‘Hs’ such as BB and BBB for progressively softer leads and HH and HHH for progressively harder ones. The standard writing pencil is graded HB.

D
In England, pencils continued to be made from whole sawn graphite. With mass production, pencils became drastically more popular globally. As demand rose, so did the appetite for graphite. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), in 2012, world production of natural graphite was 1,100,000 tonnes, with major exporters including China, India, Brazil, North Korea, and Canada. When graphite’s value was realized, the mines were taken over by the government and guarded. During Elizabeth I’s reign, it was used for making cannonball molds. Graphite was transported from Keswick to London in armed stagecoaches. In 1751, an Act of Parliament made it a crime to steal or receive “wad,” punishable by hard labor or transportation.

E
The claim that the United States did not use pencils in space until they spent $1000 to make a zero-gravity pencil is fictional. Russian astronauts used grease pencils that didn’t break easily, while American astronauts preferred mechanical pencils for their finer lines, even though the lead tips broke frequently. Broken graphite could float in the capsule and cause various problems, including shorting electronics. Despite inventing zero-gravity pencils later, Americans continued using mechanical pencils for years.

F
Despite the digital age, pencils remain widespread, seen in classrooms, meeting rooms, and art studios. Users include students solving math problems, artists sketching, waitstaff taking orders, makeup professionals, and architects. The possibilities are limitless.

The History of the Pencil

Reading Comprehension Questions

Questions 14-19

Complete the sentences below. Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer:

1. Graphite was found under a __ in Borrowdale.
2. Ancient people used graphite to sign possession and number of ____.
3. The first pencil was graphite wrapped in ___ or animal skin.
4. In the eighteenth century, the ___ protected the mines when the value of graphite was realized.
5. During the reign of Elizabeth I, people were condemnable if they ___ or received the “wad.”
6. Russian astronauts preferred ___ pencils to write in outer space.

Questions 20-26

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the Reading Passage?

Write:

• TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
• FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
• NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this

1. Italy is probably the first country in the whole world to make pencils.
2. Germany used various kinds of wood to make pencils.
3. Graphite makes a pencil harder and sharper.
4. Pencils are not produced anymore since the reign of Elizabeth I.
5. The pencil was used during the first American space expedition.
6. American astronauts did not replace mechanical pencils immediately after the zero-gravity pencils were invented.
7. Pencils are unlikely to be used in the future.

Answer Keys and Explanations

Sentence Completions

14. tree – Graphite was discovered under a tree in Borrowdale.
15. sheep – Ancient people used graphite to mark sheep for ownership signs and calculations.
16. strings – The earliest pencils were wrapped in strings or sheepskin.
17. government – When the value of graphite was realized, the government protected the mines.
18. steal – During Elizabeth I’s reign, it was a crime to steal or receive graphite.
19. grease – Russian astronauts used grease pencils in space.

True/False/Not Given

20. TRUE – The text states Italy might have made the first modern pencil.
21. NOT GIVEN – The text does not specify the types of wood Germany used.
22. FALSE – More clay, not graphite, makes the pencil harder.
23. TRUE – The text implies pencils have been continuously produced since Elizabeth I’s reign, thus contradicting the cessation idea.
24. NOT GIVEN – There is no specific information regarding the pencil use during the first American space expedition.
25. TRUE – Even after inventing zero-gravity pencils, Americans continued using mechanical pencils.
26. FALSE – The text indicates that pencils will continue to be used in the future.

Common Mistakes in This Question Type

1. Misinterpreting the Text: Many candidates misread the passage and draw incorrect conclusions.
2. Vocabulary Confusion: Not fully understanding the meaning of key terms can mislead answers.
3. Overlooking Details: Ignoring specific information or details often results in incorrect responses.

Challenging Vocabulary from the Passage

1. Nascent (adjective) /ˈnæ.sənt/ – Newly developed or just coming into existence. e.g., A nascent technology.
2. Encasement (noun) /ɛnˈkeɪsmənt/ – Something used to cover or protect another thing.
3. Successive (adjective) /səkˈsɛs.ɪv/ – Following one another in sequence. e.g., Successive generations.
4. Sawn (adjective) /sɔːn/ – Cut with a saw, usually wood.
5. Armed stagecoaches (noun) – Carriages guarded by armed individuals for safe transport.

Complex Grammatical Structures

1. Relative Clauses:

   • Structure: [Subject] + verb + [relative pronoun] + [dependent clause]
   • Example: The black substance that local people found was different from the usual wood ash.

2. Passive Voice:

   • Structure: [Subject] + [form of “to be”] + past participle + (by + agent)
   • Example: The mines were taken over by the government and guarded.

3. Compound Sentences:

   • Structure: Independent Clause + (coordinating conjunction) + Independent Clause
   • Example: The lead tips of mechanical pencils broke often, and broken graphite could float around the space capsule.

By understanding and practicing with this detailed guide, IELTS candidates can enhance their comprehension skills, resulting in better performance in the IELTS Reading section.