Paper is such a familiar item that we rarely stop to ask: where does it actually come from? The IELTS reading passage “The Origin of Paper” takes us on a historical journey spanning thousands of years—from the papyrus scrolls of Egypt and the expensive parchment of Europe to the great invention by Ts’ai Lun in China that changed the world, and the subsequent spread of this technology to the West.
This article provides a detailed analysis, including key vocabulary, a summary of the content, and a thorough explanation of every answer to help you master this fascinating historical topic.
Reading Passage
The Origin of Paper
The word paper derives from the Greek term for the ancient Egyptian writing material called papyrus. In about 2400 BC, the Egyptians discovered how to make a writing surface out of papyrus, a type of reed that grows along waterways in southern Europe and North Africa. The Egyptians cut the plant into strips which they softened in water. Papyrus was cross-woven into a mat and then pounded into a hard thin sheet. As the papyrus plant requires subtropical conditions to grow, papyrus was not much used in Europe at that time; instead, the main material used for writing was parchment. This was made from animal skin and was extremely expensive. In fact, it has been estimated that a single book written on parchment required the skins of 300 sheep. The skins had to be specifically prepared by drying them and they were then stretched on a special frame. It is not known when parchment was first introduced, but it was the main writing material in Europe for hundreds of years.
Paper, which is made from pulp, rags, and fibers of plants, seems to have been invented in China and is considered to be one of the Four Great Inventions of Ancient China. In 105 AD, under the Han Dynasty emperor Ho-Ti, a government official in China named Ts’ai Lun was the first to start a papermaking industry. Ts’ai Lun seems to have made his paper by mixing finely chopped mulberry bark and hemp rags with water, mashing the mixture flat with a stone mortar, and then pressing out the water and letting it dry in the sun. He may have based his idea on bark cloth, which was very common in China and also made from mulberry.
Previously, during the Shang (1600-1050 BC) and Zhou (1050-256 BC) dynasties of Ancient China, documents were ordinarily written on bone or bamboo (on tablets or on bamboo strips sewn and rolled together into scrolls), making them very heavy and awkward to transport. The light material of silk was sometimes used, but was normally too expensive to consider. When it was first invented, paper was used for purposes of wrapping or padding protection for delicate bronze mirrors. Although paper used for writing became popular by the 3rd century AD, it continued to be used for wrapping and other purposes. During the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) paper was folded and sewn into square bags to preserve the flavor of tea. During the same period, according to a written account, tea was served from baskets with multi-colored paper cups and paper napkins of different sizes and shapes. During the Chinese Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD) not only did the government produce the world’s first known printed paper money, or banknote, but paper money bestowed as gifts was wrapped in special paper envelopes.
Paper spread slowly outside of China; other Asian cultures, even after seeing paper, could not make it themselves. Instruction in the manufacturing process was required, and the Chinese were reluctant to share their secrets. It made its true push westward in 751 AD when the Tang Dynasty was at war with the Islamic world. During a battle on the banks of the Tarus river, a Chinese caravan was captured which happened to include several papermakers. They were taken away to Samarkand, which was a good place to make paper because it had an abundant supply of hemp and flax.
Samarkanders changed the technology of manufacturing paper. They began to prepare it in stone mills and Samarkand became an important papermaking center. The rudimentary and laborious process of papermaking was refined and bulk manufacturing of paper began in Iran, where they invented a method to make a thicker sheet of paper, which helped transform papermaking from an art into an important business. Gradually papermakers made their way further west through the Arab world – to Baghdad, Damascus and Cairo. Finally, when the Moors from North Africa invaded Spain and Portugal they brought the technology with them and so it was that papermaking entered Europe in the 12th century.
In Europe, the preferred medium for the artists and literati of the time was still the smooth and lustrous parchment. The notion of paper being used as a practical everyday item did not occur until the 15th century when Johannes Gutenberg perfected movable type printing, which included the use of metal molds and alloys, a special press, and oil-based inks, allowing the mass production of printed books. The birth of the modern paper and printing industry is commonly marked from this date. Printing technology rapidly developed and created an ever-increasing demand for paper. The early European papers were made from recycled cotton and linen – and a huge trade quickly developed around the trading of old rags. It is said that the disease known as ‘the Black Death’ entered England from Europe on these old rags. Yet soon this source became insufficient and some curious attempts were made to find new materials. Experiments with fibers such as straw, cabbage, wasp nests and finally wood, resulted in inexpensive – and replaceable – materials for papermaking. Today, the long soft fibers of softwoods such as spruce have become the most suitable source of pulp for the mass production of paper.
Questions 1 – 7 (TRUE/ FALSE/ NOT GIVEN)
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1? 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. In Ancient China, writing was occasionally done on silk.
2. Coloured paper was invented during the Tang Dynasty.
3. Papermakers from Samarkand were captured by the Chinese.
4. Papermaking as a large-scale industry originated in Iran.
5. Papermaking skills were brought to Europe via North Africa.
6. When Gutenberg invented movable type, paper materials were very expensive.
7. The end of the trade in rags was brought about by the difficulty of transporting them.
Questions 8 – 13 (Summary Completion)
| Place | Date of introduction | Materials used | Method of production |
| Egypt | about 2400 BC | a plant called papyrus | 8………….. of the plant were softened in water, woven and pounded |
| Europe | unknown | parchment made from the skin of animals such as 9…….. | skin was dried and 10……….. |
| China | 105AD | 11…………. of a mulberry tree and hemp rags | ingredients were mixed with water, pressed and put outside in the sun |
| 12……….. | 751AD | flax and hemp | mills made of 13………. were used |
Summary of the Reading Passage
The passage describes the historical journey of writing materials from ancient times to the modern era.
- Before paper: The Egyptians invented papyrus from reeds. In Europe, parchment—an extremely expensive material made from sheepskin—was the primary medium.
- Invention in China: Paper (made from plant pulp) was invented by Ts’ai Lun in 105 AD. He used mulberry bark and hemp rags. Initially, paper was used for wrapping before becoming popular for writing.
- Spread to the West: The Chinese kept the technology secret. However, in 751 AD, during a battle, Chinese papermakers were captured and taken to Samarkand.
- Improvements: In Samarkand, the process was refined (using stone mills). It later spread to Iran, where bulk manufacturing began. The technology eventually reached Europe via the Moors (North Africa) through Spain.
- Boom in Europe: Paper only became truly popular after Gutenberg invented the printing press in the 15th century, creating massive demand. Early European paper was made from rags, but as that supply dwindled, experiments led to the use of wood pulp, which is the standard today.
Key Vocabulary
- derives from (v.p): to originate from.
- Example: “The word paper derives from the Greek term…”
- parchment (n): a stiff, flat, thin material made from the prepared skin of an animal.
- awkward (adj): (in this context) cumbersome or inconvenient.
- Example: “…making them very heavy and awkward to transport.”
- reluctant (adj): unwilling or hesitant.
- Example: “…the Chinese were reluctant to share their secrets.”
- rudimentary (adj): basic or primitive.
- Example: “The rudimentary and laborious process…”
- refined (v): improved or perfected.
- bulk manufacturing (n.p): production in large quantities.
- lustrous (adj): having a gentle sheen or soft glow.
- perfected (v): to make something completely free from faults.
- Example: “…when Johannes Gutenberg perfected movable type printing…”
- insufficient (adj): not enough; inadequate.
- Example: “Yet soon this source became insufficient…”
- pulp (n): a soft, wet mass of fibrous material.
Answer Key and Detailed Explanations
1. TRUE
- Question: In Ancient China, writing was occasionally done on silk.
- Evidence (Paragraph 3): “The light material of silk was sometimes used [occasionally done], but was normally too expensive to consider.”
- Explanation: “Sometimes used” is synonymous with “occasionally done.”
2. NOT GIVEN
- Question: Coloured paper was invented during the Tang Dynasty.
- Evidence (Paragraph 3): “…tea was served from baskets with multi-colored paper cups…”
- Explanation: The passage mentions “multi-colored paper cups” used during the Tang Dynasty, but provides no information stating that “coloured paper” itself was “invented” at that time.
3. FALSE
- Question: Papermakers from Samarkand were captured by the Chinese.
- Evidence (Paragraph 4): “…a Chinese caravan was captured which happened to include several papermakers. They were taken away to Samarkand…”
- Explanation: The truth is the opposite; Chinese papermakers were captured and taken to Samarkand.
4. TRUE
- Question: Papermaking as a large-scale industry originated in Iran.
- Evidence (Paragraph 5): “…bulk manufacturing [large-scale industry] of paper began in Iran, where they invented a method to make a thicker sheet… transform papermaking from an art into an important business.”
- Explanation: “Bulk manufacturing” and “important business” align with “large-scale industry,” which the text states “began in Iran.”
5. TRUE
- Question: Papermaking skills were brought to Europe via North Africa.
- Evidence (Paragraph 5): “Finally, when the Moors from North Africa invaded Spain [Europe] they brought the technology with them and so it was that papermaking entered Europe…”
- Explanation: The Moors (from North Africa) brought the technology into Spain (Europe).
6. NOT GIVEN
- Question: When Gutenberg invented movable type, paper materials were very expensive.
- Evidence (Paragraph 6): Paragraph 1 notes that parchment was “extremely expensive.” Paragraph 6 notes that the printing press created “ever-increasing demand” for paper and that early paper was made from “old rags.”
- Explanation: The passage explicitly states that parchment was expensive, but it does not compare or comment on the cost of paper at the time of Gutenberg’s invention.
7. FALSE
- Question: The end of the trade in rags was brought about by the difficulty of transporting them.
- Evidence (Paragraph 6): “The early European papers were made from recycled cotton and linen… Yet soon this source became insufficient…”
- Explanation: The trade in rags declined because the supply became “insufficient,” not because of “difficulty of transporting” them.
Questions 8 – 13 (Table Completion)
8. strips
- Location: Paragraph 1
- Evidence: (Egypt) “The Egyptians cut the plant into strips which they softened in water. Papyrus was cross-woven into a mat…”
- Explanation: The production method in Egypt involved cutting the papyrus plant into “strips.”
9. sheep
- Location: Paragraph 1
- Evidence: (Europe) “…parchment. This was made from animal skin… it has been estimated that a single book… required the skins of 300 sheep.”
- Explanation: The table asks for an example of animals; the text specifies “sheep.”
10. stretched
- Location: Paragraph 1
- Evidence: (Europe) “The skins had to be specifically prepared by drying them and they were then stretched on a special frame.”
- Explanation: The European method involved drying the skin and then having it “stretched.”
11. bark
- Location: Paragraph 2
- Evidence: (China) “Ts’ai Lun seems to have made his paper by mixing finely chopped mulberry bark and hemp rags with water…”
- Explanation: The material used in China was the “bark” of the mulberry tree.
12. Samarkand
- Location: Paragraph 4
- Evidence: “They were taken away to Samarkand… It made its true push westward in 751 AD…”
- Explanation: The table asks for the location in 751 AD; the text confirms the papermakers were taken to “Samarkand.”
13. stone
- Location: Paragraph 5
- Evidence: (Samarkand) “They began to prepare it in stone mills…”
- Explanation: The method used in Samarkand involved “stone” mills.
Conclusion
The “The Origin of Paper” passage is a compelling historical journey that illustrates how a common item transformed human civilization. From an IELTS perspective, this is a classic Passage 1, focusing on chronological order and factual details. Practicing True/False/Not Given and Summary Completion tasks in this historical context will help you hone your scanning skills for accuracy. We hope this detailed analysis has clarified any questions and provided you with an effective strategy for your exam.
Khai giảng Khóa học Hè cực HOT.
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