When tackling the IELTS Reading test, historical and applied science passages often present a significant time-management challenge if candidates get bogged down translating word for word instead of dissecting the logical structure of the text. The reading passage A History of Fingerprinting takes learners on a journey exploring the discovery and application of fingerprints—from covenantal thumbprints pressed into ancient clay to the groundbreaking chemical fingerprinting technologies of the 21st century. For IELTS candidates, this text serves as a masterclass in filtering out noise, mastering Matching Headings tasks, and strictly managing strict Word Limits.
Reading Passage: A History of Fingerprinting
A History of Fingerprinting
[Paragraph A] To detectives, the answers lie at the end of our fingers. Fingerprinting offers an accurate and infallible means of personal identification. The ability to identify a person from a mere fingerprint is a powerful tool in the fight against crime. It is the most commonly used forensic evidence, often outperforming other methods of identification. These days, older methods of ink fingerprinting, which could take weeks, have given way to newer, faster techniques like fingerprint laser scanning, but the principles stay the same. No matter which way you collect fingerprint evidence, every single person’s print is unique. So, what makes our fingerprints different from our neighbours’?
[Paragraph B] A good place to start is to understand what fingerprints are and how they are created. A fingerprint is the arrangement of skin ridges and furrows on the tips of the fingers. This ridged skin develops fully during foetal development, as the skin cells grow in the mother’s womb. These ridges are arranged into patterns and remain the same throughout the course of a person’s life. Other visible human characteristics, like weight and height, change over time, whereas fingerprints do not. The reason why every fingerprint is unique is that when a baby’s genes combine with environmental influences, such as temperature, it affects the way the ridges on the skin grow. It makes the ridges develop at different rates, buckling and bending into patterns. As a result, no two people end up having the same fingerprints. Even identical twins possess dissimilar fingerprints.
[Paragraph C] It is not easy to map the journey of how the unique quality of the fingerprint came to be discovered. The moment in history it happened is not entirely clear. However, the use of fingerprinting can be traced back to some ancient civilisations, such as Babylon and China, where thumbprints were pressed onto clay tablets to confirm business transactions. Whether people at this time actually realised the full extent of how fingerprints were important for identification purposes is another matter altogether. One cannot be sure if the act was seen as a means to confirm identity or a symbolic gesture to bind a contract, where giving your fingerprint was like giving your word.
[Paragraph D] Despite this uncertainty, there are those who made a significant contribution towards the analysis of fingerprinting. History tells us that a 14th century Persian doctor made an early statement that no two fingerprints are alike. Later, in the 17th century, Italian physician Marcello Malpighi studied the distinguishing shapes of loops and spirals in fingerprints. In his honour, the medical world later named a layer of skin after him. It was, however, an employee of the East India Company, William Herschel, who came to see the true potential of fingerprinting. He took fingerprints from the local people as a form of signature for contracts, in order to avoid fraud. His fascination with fingerprints propelled him to study them for the next twenty years. He developed the theory that fingerprints were unique to an individual and did not change at all over a lifetime. In 1880, Henry Faulds suggested that fingerprints could be used to identify convicted criminals. He wrote to Charles Darwin for advice, and the idea was referred on to Darwin’s cousin, Sir Francis Galton. Galton eventually published an in-depth study of fingerprint science in 1892.
[Paragraph E] Although the fact that each person has a totally unique fingerprint pattern had been well documented and accepted for a long time, this knowledge was not exploited for criminal identification until the early 20th century. In the past, branding, tattooing, and maiming had been used to mark the criminal for what he was. In some countries, thieves would have their hands cut off. France branded criminals with the fleur-de-lis symbol. The Romans tattooed mercenary soldiers to stop them from becoming deserters.
[Paragraph F] For many years, police agencies in the Western world were reluctant to use fingerprinting, much preferring the popular method of the time, the Bertillon System, where dimensions of certain body parts were recorded to identify a criminal. The turning point was in 1903 when a prisoner by the name of Will West was admitted into Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary. Amazingly, Will had almost the same Bertillon measurements as another prisoner residing at the very same prison, whose name happened to be William West. It was only their fingerprints that could tell them apart. From that point on, fingerprinting became the standard for criminal identification.
[Paragraph G] Fingerprinting was useful in identifying people with a history of crime and who were listed on a database. However, in situations where the perpetrator was not on the database, and a crime had no witnesses, the system fell short. Fingerprint chemistry is a new technology that can work alongside traditional fingerprinting to find more clues than ever before. From organic compounds left behind on a print, a scientist can tell if the person is a child, an adult, a mature person, or a smoker, and much more. It seems, after all these years, fingers continue to point the way.
Questions
Questions 1 – 6
Choose the correct heading for paragraphs B-G from the list of headings below. Write the correct number, i-x, in boxes 1-6 on your answer sheet.
List of Headings
i Key people that made a difference
ii An alternative to fingerprinting
iii The significance of prints (Example: Paragraph A)
iv How to identify a criminal
v Patterns in the making
vi Family connections
vii Exciting new developments
viii A strange coincidence
ix Punishing a criminal
x An uncertain past
1. Paragraph B
2. Paragraph C
3. Paragraph D
4. Paragraph E
5. Paragraph F
6. Paragraph G
Questions 7 – 9
Complete the sentences. Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer. Write your answers in boxes 7-9 on your answer sheet.
7. Unlike other _______________ that you can see, fingerprints never change.
8. Although genetically the same, _______________ do not share the same fingerprints.
9. A fingerprint was a substitute for a _______________ in Indian contracts.
Questions 10 – 14
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the Reading Passage? In boxes 10-14 on your answer sheet, 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
10. Fingerprinting is the only effective method for identifying criminals.
11. The ridges and patterns that make up fingerprints develop before birth.
12. Malpighi conducted his studies in Italy.
13. Roman soldiers were tattooed to prevent them from committing violent crimes.
14. Fingerprint chemistry can identify if a fingerprint belongs to an elderly person.
Full Vietnamese Translation of the Reading Passage
[Paragraph A] For detectives, the answers lie at the end of our fingers. Fingerprinting offers an accurate and infallible means of personal identification. The ability to identify a person from a mere fingerprint is a powerful tool in the fight against crime. It is the most commonly used forensic evidence, often outperforming other methods of identification. These days, older methods of ink fingerprinting, which could take weeks, have given way to newer, faster techniques like fingerprint laser scanning, but the principles stay the same. No matter which way you collect fingerprint evidence, every single person’s print is unique. So, what makes our fingerprints different from our neighbours’?
[Paragraph B] A good place to start is to understand what fingerprints are and how they are created. A fingerprint is the arrangement of skin ridges and furrows on the tips of the fingers. This ridged skin develops fully during foetal development, as the skin cells grow in the mother’s womb. These ridges are arranged into patterns and remain the same throughout the course of a person’s life. Other visible human characteristics, like weight and height, change over time, whereas fingerprints do not. The reason why every fingerprint is unique is that when a baby’s genes combine with environmental influences, such as temperature, it affects the way the ridges on the skin grow. It makes the ridges develop at different rates, buckling and bending into patterns. As a result, no two people end up having the same fingerprints. Even identical twins possess dissimilar fingerprints.
[Paragraph C] It is not easy to map the journey of how the unique quality of the fingerprint came to be discovered. The moment in history it happened is not entirely clear. However, the use of fingerprinting can be traced back to some ancient civilisations, such as Babylon and China, where thumbprints were pressed onto clay tablets to confirm business transactions. Whether people at this time actually realised the full extent of how fingerprints were important for identification purposes is another matter altogether. One cannot be sure if the act was seen as a means to confirm identity or a symbolic gesture to bind a contract, where giving your fingerprint was like giving your word.
[Paragraph D] Despite this uncertainty, there are those who made a significant contribution towards the analysis of fingerprinting. History tells us that a 14th-century Persian doctor made an early statement that no two fingerprints are alike. Later, in the 17th century, Italian physician Marcello Malpighi studied the distinguishing shapes of loops and spirals in fingerprints. In his honour, the medical world later named a layer of skin after him. It was, however, an employee of the East India Company, William Herschel, who came to see the true potential of fingerprinting. He took fingerprints from the local people as a form of signature for contracts, in order to avoid fraud. His fascination with fingerprints propelled him to study them for the next twenty years. He developed the theory that fingerprints were unique to an individual and did not change at all over a lifetime. In 1880, Henry Faulds suggested that fingerprints could be used to identify convicted criminals. He wrote to Charles Darwin for advice, and the idea was referred on to Darwin’s cousin, Sir Francis Galton. Galton eventually published an in-depth study of fingerprint science in 1892.
[Paragraph E] Although the fact that each person has a totally unique fingerprint pattern had been well documented and accepted for a long time, this knowledge was not exploited for criminal identification until the early 20th century. In the past, branding, tattooing, and maiming had been used to mark the criminal for what he was. In some countries, thieves would have their hands cut off. France branded criminals with the fleur-de-lis symbol. The Romans tattooed mercenary soldiers to stop them from becoming deserters.
[Paragraph F] For many years, police agencies in the Western world were reluctant to use fingerprinting, much preferring the popular method of the time, the Bertillon System, where dimensions of certain body parts were recorded to identify a criminal. The turning point was in 1903 when a prisoner by the name of Will West was admitted into Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary. Amazingly, Will had almost the same Bertillon measurements as another prisoner residing at the very same prison, whose name happened to be William West. It was only their fingerprints that could tell them apart. From that point on, fingerprinting became the standard for criminal identification.
[Paragraph G] Fingerprinting was useful in identifying people with a history of crime and who were listed on a database. However, in situations where the perpetrator was not on the database, and a crime had no witnesses, the system fell short. Fingerprint chemistry is a new technology that can work alongside traditional fingerprinting to find more clues than ever before. From organic compounds left behind on a print, a scientist can tell if the person is a child, an adult, a mature person, or a smoker, and much more. It seems, after all these years, fingers continue to point the way.
Academic Vocabulary Summary
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Infallible (adj): Incapable of making mistakes or being wrong; completely reliable.
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Forensic evidence (phrase): Scientific evidence suitable for use in a court of law.
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Foetal development (phrase): The process of growth and formation of a fetus within the womb.
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Civilisations (n): Advanced states of human social development and organization.
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Symbolic gesture (phrase): An action that expresses or represents a particular idea or feeling.
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Fraud (n): Wrongful or criminal deception intended to result in financial or personal gain.
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Exploited (v): Made full use of and derived benefit from a resource.
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Deserters (n): Members of the armed forces who forsake their duty without permission.
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Reluctant (adj): Unwilling and hesitant; disinclined.
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Perpetrator (n): A person who carries out a harmful, illegal, or immoral act.
Answer Key and Detailed Explanations
Questions 1 – 6: Matching Headings
1. Paragraph B -> v (Patterns in the making)
Explanation: Paragraph B focuses on defining the structure of fingerprints and explaining how they are formed: “A fingerprint is the arrangement of skin ridges… This ridged skin develops fully during foetal development… it affects the way the ridges on the skin grow… bending into patterns.” The phrases develops / grow / bending into patterns perfectly align with the concept of “Patterns in the making.”
2. Paragraph C -> x (An uncertain past)
Explanation: The opening sentence of Paragraph C highlights historical ambiguity: “It is not easy to map the journey… The moment in history it happened is not entirely clear” and “One cannot be sure if the act was seen as…”. This lack of historical certainty corresponds directly to “An uncertain past.”
3. Paragraph D -> i (Key people that made a difference)
Explanation: Paragraph D lists a succession of prominent figures who made major contributions to fingerprint analysis over the centuries: a 14th-century Persian doctor, Marcello Malpighi, William Herschel, Henry Faulds, and Sir Francis Galton. These individuals are precisely the “Key people that made a difference.”
4. Paragraph E -> ix (Punishing a criminal)
Explanation: Paragraph E describes historical punitive and marking measures inflicted on criminals: “In the past, branding, tattooing, and maiming had been used to mark the criminal… thieves would have their hands cut off. France branded criminals…”. These are various methods of “Punishing a criminal.”
5. Paragraph F -> viii (A strange coincidence)
Explanation: Paragraph F details a remarkable case at Leavenworth prison in 1903 where two unrelated inmates (Will West and William West) shared nearly identical Bertillon body measurements and names: “Amazingly, Will had almost the same Bertillon measurements as another prisoner… whose name happened to be William West.” This makes for “A strange coincidence.”
6. Paragraph G -> vii (Exciting new developments)
Explanation: Paragraph G introduces a breakthrough technological advance that goes beyond traditional methods: “Fingerprint chemistry is a new technology that can work alongside traditional fingerprinting to find more clues than ever before.” This chemical technology represents an “Exciting new development.”
Questions 7 – 9: Sentence Completion (NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS)
7. Unlike other [visible human characteristics] that you can see, fingerprints never change.
Explanation: The prompt uses the structure “Unlike other [Noun] that you can see.” Cross-referencing Paragraph B: “Other visible human characteristics, like weight and height, change over time, whereas fingerprints do not.” The word “visible” is paraphrased in the question by the relative clause “that you can see.” Although the raw noun phrase is three words (“visible human characteristics”), the word limit permits no more than two words. Since “visible” is redundant given the prompt’s phrasing, we omit it and use the core noun phrase: characteristics / human characteristics.
8. Although genetically the same, [identical twins] do not share the same fingerprints.
Explanation: The final sentence of Paragraph B states: “Even identical twins possess dissimilar fingerprints.” The phrase “genetically the same” mirrors the definition of “identical twins.” The exact answer is “identical twins.”
9. A fingerprint was a substitute for a [signature] in Indian contracts.
Explanation: Scanning for the location “Indian” in Paragraph D leads to the mention of the East India Company. The text describes William Herschel’s work: “He took fingerprints from the local people as a form of signature for contracts, in order to avoid fraud.” The phrase “a substitute for a [Noun]” corresponds to “a form of signature.” The single word required is “signature.”
Questions 10 – 14: True / False / Not Given
10. Fingerprinting is the only effective method for identifying criminals.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: The statement makes the absolute claim that fingerprinting is the *only* effective method. Comparing this with Paragraph A: “It is the most commonly used forensic evidence, often outperforming other methods of identification.” Stating that it “often outperforms other methods” proves that other effective identification methods do exist; therefore, it is not the sole method.
11. The ridges and patterns that make up fingerprints develop before birth.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: Paragraph B states: “This ridged skin develops fully during foetal development, as the skin cells grow in the mother’s womb.” Developing during fetal growth in the mother’s womb is synonymous with occurring “before birth.”
12. Malpighi conducted his studies in Italy.
Answer: NOT GIVEN
Explanation: Paragraph D notes: “Later, in the 17th century, Italian physician Marcello Malpighi studied…”. The passage only mentions his nationality (“Italian physician”); it never confirms the physical location where he carried out his research (he could have worked in France, England, or elsewhere). Candidates must never assume locations based solely on a person’s nationality.
13. Roman soldiers were tattooed to prevent them from committing violent crimes.
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