Early Occupations Around The River Thames - IELTS Reading Answers & Explanations
From IELTS Practice Test Plus 3 Academic Reading Test 4 · Part 2 · Questions 14–26
Reading Passage
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 14-26, which are based on Reading Passage 2 below.
Early occupations around the river Thames
A In her pioneering survey, Sources of London English, Laura Wright has listed the variety of medieval workers who took their livings from the river Thames. The baillies of Queenhithe and Billingsgate acted as customs officers. There were conservators, who were responsible for maintaining the embankments and the weirs, and there were the garthmen who worked in the fish garths (enclosures). Then there were galleymen and lightermen and shoutmen, called after the names of their boats, and there were hookers who were named after the manner in which they caught their fish. The searcher patrolled the Thames in search of illegal fish weirs, and the tideman worked on its banks and foreshores whenever the tide permitted him to do so.
B All of these occupations persisted for many centuries, as did those jobs that depended upon the trade of the river. Yet, it was not easy work for any of the workers. They carried most goods upon their backs, since the rough surfaces of the quays and nearby streets were not suitable for wagons or large carts; the merchandise characteristically arrived in barrels which could be rolled from the ship along each quay. If the burden was too great to be carried by a single man, then the goods were slung on poles resting on the shoulders of two men. It was a slow and expensive method of business.
C However, up to the eighteenth century, river work was seen in a generally favourable light. For Langland, writing in the fourteenth century, the labourers working on river merchandise were relatively prosperous. And the porters of the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries were, if anything, aristocrats of labour, enjoying high status. However, in the years from the late eighteenth to the early nineteenth century, there was a marked change in attitude. This was in part because the working river was within the region of the East End of London, which in this period acquired an unenviable reputation. By now, dockside labour was considered to be the most disreputable, and certainly the least desirable form of work.
D It could be said that the first industrial community in England grew up around the Thames. With the host of river workers themselves, as well as the vast assembly of ancillary trades such as tavern-keepers and laundresses, food-sellers and street-hawkers, shopkeepers and marine store dealers - there was a workforce of many thousands congregated in a relatively small area. There were more varieties of business to be observed by the riverside than in any other part of the city. As a result, with the possible exception of the area known as Seven Dials, the East End was also the most intensively inhabited region of London.
E It was a world apart, with its own language and its own laws. From the sailors in the opium dens of Limehouse to the smugglers on the malarial flats of the estuary, the workers of the river were not part of any civilised society. The alien world of the river had entered them. That alienation was also expressed in the slang of the docks, which essentially amounted to backslang, or the reversal of ordinary words. This backslang also helped in the formulation of Cockney rhyming slang*, so that the vocabulary of Londoners was directly affected by the life of the Thames.
F The reports in the nineteenth-century press reveal a heterogeneous world of dock labour, in which the crowds of casuals waiting for work at the dock gates at 7.45 a.m. include penniless refugees, bankrupts, old soldiers, broken-down gentlemen, discharged servants, and ex-convicts. There were some 400-500 permanent workers who earned a regular wage and who were considered to be the patricians of dockside labour. However, there were some 2,500 casual workers who were hired by the shift. The work for which they competed fiercely had become ever more unpleasant. Steam power could not be used for the cranes, for example, because of the danger of fire. So the cranes were powered by treadmills. Six to eight men entered a wooden cylinder and, laying hold of ropes, would tread the wheel round. They could lift nearly 20 tonnes to an average height of 27 feet (8.2 metres), forty times in an hour. This was part of the life of the river unknown to those who were intent upon its more picturesque aspects.
* a collection of phrases, based on rhyme, used by people in parts of central London as alternatives to standard English words.
Questions
Questions 14–19 Matching Headings
Reading Passage 2 has SIX paragraphs, A-F.
Choose the correct heading, A-F, from the list of headings below.
Write the correct number, i-ix.
i. A mixture of languages and nationalities
ii. The creation of an exclusive identity
iii. The duties involved in various occupations
iv. An unprecedented population density
v. Imports and exports transported by river
vi. Transporting heavy loads manually
vii. Temporary work for large numbers of people
viii. Hazards associated with riverside work
ix. The changing status of riverside occupations
Questions 20–21 Multiple Choice (Two Answers)
Choose TWO letters, A-E.
Write the correct letters.
Questions 22–23 Multiple Choice (Two Answers)
Choose TWO letters, A-E.
Write the correct letters.
Questions 24–26 Sentence Completion
Complete the sentences below.
Use NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
- In the nineteenth century, only a minority of dock workers received a 24 .
- Cranes were operated manually because 25 created a risk of fire.
- Observers who were unfamiliar with London's docks found the River Thames 26 .
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q14 | iii | The baillies of Queenhithe and Billingsgate acted as customs officers. There were conservators, who were responsible for maintaining the embankments and the weirs, and there were the garthmen who worked in the fish garths (enclosures) | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage provides examples of specific job names and describes exactly what those people did for a living, such as being in charge of maintenance or checking goods. Answer Explanation: The answer iii means that this paragraph talks about different types of jobs and explains what the people in those jobs had to do. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is chosen because Paragraph A lists many specific jobs (occupations) associated with the river Thames during the Middle Ages. It explains the 'duties' (tasks or responsibilities) for each job title. For example, it mentions that 'baillies' checked items at customs, 'conservators' fixed river walls, and 'searchers' looked for illegal fishing equipment. Because the text focuses on naming various workers and describing their work activities, 'iii' is the best fit. |
| Q15 | vi | They carried most goods upon their backs, since the rough surfaces of the quays and nearby streets were not suitable for wagons or large carts; the merchandise characteristically arrived in barrels which could be rolled from the ship along each quay. If the burden was too great to be carried by a single man, then the goods were slung on poles resting on the shoulders of two men | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that since the roads were too bumpy for carts or wagons, workers had to carry heavy items on their backs. If an item was too heavy for one person, two men would carry it together by putting it on poles across their shoulders. Answer Explanation: The answer says that the main topic of Paragraph B is moving heavy items by hand or using the body. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is vi because Paragraph B describes how workers moved goods from boats without using machines or horse-drawn wagons. Because the ground was too rough for wheels, people had to use their own physical strength. They carried items on their backs or used poles between two men's shoulders. Key words that show manual work include 'carried', 'backs', and 'shoulders'. |
| Q16 | ix | And the porters of the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries were, if anything, aristocrats of labour, enjoying high status. However, in the years from the late eighteenth to the early nineteenth century, there was a marked change in attitude. This was in part because the working river was within the region of the East End of London, which in this period acquired an unenviable reputation. By now, dockside labour was considered to be the most disreputable, and certainly the least desirable form of work | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that river workers used to have a very good social position (high status), but later, people's feelings (attitude) changed. Because the area got a bad name, the work eventually became something people looked down upon (disreputable). Answer Explanation: The answer means that the main point of Paragraph C is to describe how the social position and public image of people working by the river changed over time. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'ix' because Paragraph C details a shift in how river workers were viewed by society. It mentions that during the 17th and early 18th centuries, these workers had 'high status' and were even called 'aristocrats' (important people) of labor. However, it then describes a 'marked change in attitude' where the same work became 'disreputable' (having a bad reputation). The heading 'changing status' perfectly matches this transition from being highly respected to being seen in a negative way. |
| Q17 | iv | As a result, with the possible exception of the area known as Seven Dials, the East End was also the most intensively inhabited region of London | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that because there were so many different types of workers and businesses in one spot, this area became the most crowded place to live in London. Answer Explanation: The answer means that a very high number of people lived and worked in a small space near the river, more than in most other parts of the city. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is chosen because Paragraph D describes how thousands of people from many different jobs lived and worked together in a small area. This made the East End the most crowded part of London at that time. The words 'congregated' and 'intensively inhabited' show that a lot of people were packed into one place, which matches the idea of high population density. |
| Q18 | ii | It was a world apart, with its own language and its own laws | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage describes the riverside area as a place that was completely separate from normal society, where people had their own unique rules and their own way of speaking. Answer Explanation: The answer 'ii' means that Paragraph E describes how the people living and working by the river felt like they were in their own special group, separate from the rest of the city. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is correct because Paragraph E explains that the riverside community was like a 'world apart.' This means they did not follow the same rules as other people and had their own 'language' and 'laws.' The paragraph mentions specific things like 'backslang' and 'Cockney rhyming slang,' which are special ways of talking that only people in that group used. These unique habits and ways of life gave them an identity that was different or 'exclusive' from the rest of society. |
| Q19 | vii | However, there were some 2,500 casual workers who were hired by the shift | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that there were 2,500 workers who were not permanent; instead, they were only given work for one shift at a time. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the paragraph talks about jobs that were not permanent and were done by many individuals at the same time. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is vii because Paragraph F focuses on the thousands of 'casual workers' at the docks. While there were only a few hundred permanent employees, there were about 2,500 people hired by the 'shift,' which means the work was short-term or temporary. The text describes these people as 'crowds' waiting for a chance to work, which supports the idea of large numbers of people looking for temporary jobs. |
| Q20 | — | — | |
| Q21 | C / E | The baillies of Queenhithe and Billingsgate acted as customs officers. There were conservators, who were responsible for maintaining the embankments and the weirs, and there were the garthmen who worked in the fish garths (enclosures) They carried most goods upon their backs, since the rough surfaces of the quays and nearby streets were not suitable for wagons or large carts; the merchandise characteristically arrived in barrels which could be rolled from the ship along each quay. If the burden was too great to be carried by a single man, then the goods were slung on poles resting on the shoulders of two men |
Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage first lists several unique job names and the specific work each person did, which proves the work was specialized. It then describes how workers had to use their own bodies to carry heavy items because the ground was too bumpy for vehicles with wheels, meaning the workers needed to be very strong. Answer Explanation: The answer means that before the year 1700, the people working along the river Thames had very specific, different job titles for different tasks, and they also needed to be very strong to lift and move things by hand. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is supported by sections A and B of the passage. Paragraph A lists several 'specialised' job titles such as customs officers, conservators who fixed river walls, and different types of fishermen, showing that each worker had a specific, named role. Paragraph B explains that because the roads were too 'rough' for carts or wagons, workers had to carry heavy goods on their 'backs' or use 'poles resting on the shoulders' of two men. This confirms that 'physical strength' was a requirement for the job during this time. |
| Q22 | — | — | |
| Q23 | A / C | As a result, with the possible exception of the area known as Seven Dials, the East End was also the most intensively inhabited region of London However, there were some 2,500 casual workers who were hired by the shift. The work for which they competed fiercely had become ever more unpleasant |
Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that the area near the river (the East End) had a higher concentration of people living in it than almost anywhere else in the city. It also notes that thousands of temporary workers had to fight hard against each other to get work shifts, showing that these jobs were in high demand. Answer Explanation: The answer means that in the early 1800s, the region near the River Thames was packed with many people living close together, and there were many temporary workers fighting for the chance to do difficult daily jobs. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is found by looking at paragraphs D and F. For choice A, the text explains that after thousands of workers arrived to work in river-related businesses, the East End became the 'most intensively inhabited region' of London. In this context, 'intensively inhabited' is a synonym for 'very crowded.' For choice C, paragraph F describes 'casual workers'—people hired for short periods rather than permanently—and says they 'competed fiercely' for work. To 'compete fiercely' for something indicates that there is a very high demand for it, as many people are struggling against each other to get a limited number of positions. |
| Q24 | regular wage | There were some 400-500 permanent workers who earned a regular wage and who were considered to be the patricians of dockside labour. However, there were some 2,500 casual workers who were hired by the shift | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage shows that there were many more casual workers (2,500) than there were permanent workers (400-500). Only the small group of permanent workers earned money in a regular, steady way. Answer Explanation: The answer “regular wage” refers to a fixed amount of money paid to a worker at set times, such as every week or month, for steady work. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is correct because paragraph F explains that in the 1800s, only a small group of 400 to 500 permanent workers received a “regular wage.” In contrast, a much larger group of about 2,500 people were treated as “casual workers” who were only paid for a single shift at a time. This comparison demonstrates that only a minority (the smaller group) of the total workforce had the security of steady, scheduled pay. |
| Q25 | steam power | Steam power could not be used for the cranes, for example, because of the danger of fire | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that machines using steam were not used for the cranes because they created a risk of fire. Answer Explanation: The answer "steam power" refers to a type of energy created by heating water to make steam, which was used to run machines in the past. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is found in Paragraph F, which discusses work at the docks. It explains that even though machines existed, "steam power" was not allowed to be used for the cranes. This was because it was too dangerous and might start a fire. Instead of using this power, men had to move the cranes themselves by walking on treadmills. Therefore, the risk of fire was caused by steam power. |
| Q26 | picturesque | This was part of the life of the river unknown to those who were intent upon its more picturesque aspects | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that the hard life of the workers was not known by people who only looked at the pretty or beautiful parts of the river. Answer Explanation: The answer "picturesque" means the river looked like a beautiful picture or was very pretty to look at. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is correct because the passage mentions that the difficult and unpleasant parts of working on the docks were often hidden from outsiders. These observers only focused on the attractive or charming parts of the river, which the text calls its "picturesque aspects." Therefore, to people who didn't know the reality of the work, the river seemed beautiful. |