OUT OF THE ASHES - IELTS Reading Answers & Explanations
From Cambridge IELTS 09 General Training Reading Test 1 · Part 3 · Questions 28–40
Reading Passage
Read the text on pages 113 and 114 and answer questions 28-40.
OUT OF THE ASHES
A
On the afternoon of 30th August 1989, fire broke out at Uppark, a large eighteenth-century house in Sussex. For a year builders had been replacing the lead on the roof, and by a stroke of irony, were due to finish the next day, on August 31st. Within fifteen minutes of the alarm being sounded, the fire brigade had arrived on the scene, though nothing was to survive of the priceless collection on the first floor apart from an oil painting of a dog which the firemen swept up as they finally retreated from the blaze. But due to the courage and swift action of the previous owners, the Meade-Featherstonhaugh family, and the staff, stewards and visitors to the house, who formed human chains to pass the precious pieces of porcelain, furniture and paintings out on to the lawn, 95 per cent of the contents from the ground floor and the basement were saved. As the fire continued to rage, the National Trust's conservators were being mobilised, and that evening local stationers were especially opened to provide the bulk supplies of blotting paper so desperately needed in the salvage operation.
B
The following morning, Uppark stood open to the sky. A sludge of wet charcoal covered the ground floor and basement, and in every room charred and fallen timbers lay amongst the smoke. It was a scene of utter devastation.
C
After the initial sense of shock, the days which followed the fire were filled with discoveries. Helped by volunteers, the National Trust's archaeologists and conservators swung into action, first of all marking the site out into a grid and then salvaging everything down to the last door handle. The position of each fragment was recorded, and all the debris was stored in countless dustbins before being sifted and categorised.
D
There was great excitement as remnants of the lantern from the Staircase Hall were pulled out from the debris of two fallen floors, and also three weeks later when the Red Room carpet, thought to have been totally lost, was found wrapped around the remains of a piano. There was a lucky reprieve for the State Bed too. Staff who had left the scene at 3am on the night of the fire had thought its loss was inevitable, but when they returned the next morning it had escaped largely undamaged. Firemen, directed by the National Trust's conservators from outside the Tapestry Room window, dismantled the silk-hung bed and passed it out piece by piece. Twenty minutes later the ceiling fell in.
E
The scale of the task to repair Uppark was unprecedented in the National Trust. The immediate question was whether it should be done at all. A decision had to be taken quickly, as the building was unsound and whatever had not been damaged by the fire was exposed to the elements. Within a month, after consulting many experts and with the agreement of the National Trust's Executive Committee, the restoration programme began. It was undertaken for three main reasons. After the fire it had become apparent just how much remained of the structure with its splendidly decorated interiors; to have pulled the house down, as one commentator suggested, would have been vandalism. Also the property was covered by insurance, so the repairs would not call upon the National Trust's own funds. Lastly, much had been saved of the fine collection acquired especially for Uppark from 1747 by Sir Matthew Featherstonhaugh and his son Harry. These objects belonged nowhere else, and complete restoration of the house would allow them to be seen and enjoyed again in their original setting.
F
The search for craftsmen and women capable of doing the intricate restoration work was nation-wide. Once the quality and skill of the individual or company had been ascertained, they had to pass an economic test, as every job was competitively tendered. This has had enormous benefits because not only have a number of highly skilled people come to the fore – woodcarvers for example, following in the footsteps of Grinling Gibbons – but many of them, for example plasterers, have relearnt the skills of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries which can now be of use to other country house owners when the need arises.
G
In June 1994 the building programme was completed, on time and on budget. The total cost of the work to repair the house and its contents came to be nearly £20 million, largely met from insurance. In addition, it made economic sense for the National Trust to invest time and money in upgrading water and heating systems, installing modern environmental controls, and updating fire and security equipment.
H
The final stages of restoration and the massive programme of reinstallation took eight months. The family and the room stewards were visibly moved when returning to their old haunts, perhaps the best testament that the spirit of Uppark had not died. But the debate will no doubt continue as to whether or not it was right to repair the house after the fire. The National Trust has done its best to remain true to Uppark; it is for others to judge the success of the project.
Note: The National Trust is a charitable organisation in Britain set up over a hundred years ago to preserve the national heritage.
Questions
Questions 28–33 Matching Information
The text on pages 113 and 114 has eight paragraphs, A-H.
Which paragraphs contain the following information?
Write the appropriate letters, A-H, in boxes 28-33 on your answer sheet.
Questions 34–37 Short Answers
Answer the questions below.
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the text for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 34-37 on your answer sheet.
Questions 38–40 Multiple Choice (One Answer)
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
Write the correct letter in boxes 38-40 on your answer sheet.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q28 | C | Helped by volunteers, the National Trust's archaeologists and conservators swung into action, first of all marking the site out into a grid and then salvaging everything down to the last door handle. The position of each fragment was recorded, and all the debris was stored in countless dustbins before being sifted and categorised | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains the organized plan used to look through the burnt items. Workers divided the house into squares (a grid), wrote down where every small part was found, and then put the broken pieces into bins so they could be carefully sorted into groups. Answer Explanation: The answer is paragraph C, which describes the step-by-step process used to find and organize items left behind after the fire. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because paragraph C details the specific method or 'procedure' used by experts to manage the remains of the house. It mentions how they used a 'grid' to organize the area, 'recorded' where pieces were found, and 'sifted and categorised' (sorted) the 'debris' (remains). Paragraph C provides the technical details of the cleanup and sorting work, whereas other paragraphs focus on the fire itself, the decision to rebuild, or the final results. |
| Q29 | B | The following morning, Uppark stood open to the sky. A sludge of wet charcoal covered the ground floor and basement, and in every room charred and fallen timbers lay amongst the smoke. It was a scene of utter devastation | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that on the day after the fire, the building had no roof, the lower floors were covered in wet, burnt wood, and every room was filled with smoke and broken, burned materials. It looked completely destroyed. Answer Explanation: The answer is Paragraph B because it describes the appearance of the house and its rooms on the morning after the fire. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because this paragraph provides a clear picture of the house's condition immediately following the disaster. It explains that the roof was gone (it 'stood open to the sky'), the floors were covered in a 'sludge of wet charcoal' (black, burnt wood mixed with water), and the rooms were filled with 'charred and fallen timbers' (burnt wood pieces). These details show exactly how the building looked, which is described at the end as a scene of 'utter devastation' or complete ruin. |
| Q30 | G | In addition, it made economic sense for the National Trust to invest time and money in upgrading water and heating systems, installing modern environmental controls, and updating fire and security equipment | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that while rebuilding, they also improved the house by putting in better water and heating, new systems to control the environment inside, and newer, better tools for fire safety and security. Answer Explanation: The answer is Paragraph G because it lists the new and better things that were added to the house while it was being fixed. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is Paragraph G because it describes the extra work done to improve the house beyond just fixing fire damage. It mentions that the National Trust decided to put money into "upgrading" systems and installing "modern" equipment. This shows that the house was not just rebuilt as it was, but was actually improved with better technology for things like heating and safety. |
| Q31 | F | The search for craftsmen and women capable of doing the intricate restoration work was nation-wide. Once the quality and skill of the individual or company had been ascertained, they had to pass an economic test, as every job was competitively tendered | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that they looked all over the country to find people who were talented at fixing old buildings. They only hired a person or a company after checking how good their work was and ensuring they offered a fair price for the job. Answer Explanation: The answer 'F' indicates that the sixth paragraph of the text describes how the workers were chosen to fix the historic house. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is F because this paragraph explains the process used to find and hire workers. It uses the term 'craftsmen and women' to describe the people with special skills needed for the repairs. It notes that the search was 'nation-wide' and explain that candidates were chosen based on both their 'skill' and their ability to pass an 'economic test' (meaning their prices were fair). |
| Q32 | E | It was undertaken for three main reasons. After the fire it had become apparent just how much remained of the structure with its splendidly decorated interiors; to have pulled the house down, as one commentator suggested, would have been vandalism. Also the property was covered by insurance, so the repairs would not call upon the National Trust's own funds. Lastly, much had been saved of the fine collection acquired especially for Uppark from 1747 by Sir Matthew Featherstonhaugh and his son Harry. These objects belonged nowhere else, and complete restoration of the house would allow them to be seen and enjoyed again in their original setting | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage lists three points to justify the project: the house still had beautiful parts inside, insurance company money would pay for the repairs, and the objects that were saved needed to stay in their original home. Answer Explanation: The answer is paragraph E because it lists the specific reasons why the organization decided to fix the house instead of tearing it down. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is E because this paragraph explains that the restoration was 'undertaken for three main reasons.' These reasons are: the building's inside parts were still worth saving, insurance money would pay for the work so it wouldn't cost the National Trust's own money, and the saved items belonged in that house specifically and should be seen there. Keywords like 'reasons,' 'decision,' and 'restoration' show that this part of the text explains the 'why' behind the rebuilding. |
| Q33 | H | The family and the room stewards were visibly moved when returning to their old haunts, perhaps the best testament that the spirit of Uppark had not died | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that the people who lived and worked there were very emotional when they came back to the house, feeling that the house still had its special heart or soul even after the fire and the repairs. Answer Explanation: The answer H refers to the final paragraph, which describes the feelings and opinions of people after the house was fully restored. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is H because it describes the emotional reaction of the people closest to the house—the family and staff—when they saw it rebuilt. It mentions they were 'visibly moved,' meaning they showed strong feelings on their faces or in their actions. Additionally, it notes that the 'debate' about the project continues, which reflects how different people have different opinions about the finished work. |
| Q34 | August 31st | For a year builders had been replacing the lead on the roof, and by a stroke of irony, were due to finish the next day, on August 31st | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that workers had spent a year working on the roof and their job was scheduled to be done on August 31st. Answer Explanation: The answer is the specific day and month in 1989 when the workers were supposed to finish fixing the house's roof. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'August 31st' because the text states that the fire happened on August 30th, 1989, during a time when builders were replacing the lead on the roof. It notes that, ironically, they were supposed to finish that work the very next day, which was August 31st. The word 'finish' acts as a synonym for 'completed'. |
| Q35 | human chain / chains | due to the courage and swift action of the previous owners, the Meade-Featherstonhaugh family, and the staff, stewards and visitors to the house, who formed human chains to pass the precious pieces of porcelain, furniture and paintings out on to the lawn | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage describes how the family, workers, and visitors stood in lines and used their hands to move expensive items like furniture and paintings out of the house and onto the grass before they could be destroyed. Answer Explanation: The answer means a group of people stood in a line and passed objects from one person to the next to move items away from the fire quickly. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'human chains' because the text explains that people at Uppark worked together using this specific method to save most of the items on the ground floor. It uses keywords like 'formed' to describe how the people made these lines and 'pass' to describe how they moved the 'precious pieces' or valuable items out of the burning building. |
| Q36 | blotting paper | As the fire continued to rage, the National Trust's conservators were being mobilised, and that evening local stationers were especially opened to provide the bulk supplies of blotting paper so desperately needed in the salvage operation | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that while the fire was still burning, the experts who fix old things were getting ready to help. Stores nearby opened that night to give them a large amount of blotting paper because they needed it very much for their work to save items from the damage. Answer Explanation: The answer is blotting paper, which is a thick type of paper used to soak up or dry wet liquids. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is blotting paper because the passage says that on the very evening of the fire, the workers (conservators) needed a lot of it to help save the items from the house. They needed it so quickly that local stores (stationers) were opened just to sell it to them. The text uses the phrase 'bulk supplies' to mean 'large quantities' and 'desperately needed' to show it was required immediately. |
| Q37 | countless dustbins / dustbins | The position of each fragment was recorded, and all the debris was stored in countless dustbins before being sifted and categorised | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that they kept track of every piece they found. They put all the broken remains into many large trash cans so they could sort through them carefully later. Answer Explanation: The answer means the people who saved things from the fire put the broken pieces into many large containers usually used for trash. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'dustbins' because the text in section C explains the steps workers took to save the house. It says that after finding pieces of material (called debris), they 'stored' (put) them inside 'countless dustbins' to keep them safe before they were organized (categorised). The word 'countless' tells us there were a very large number of these containers. |
| Q38 | C | The following morning, Uppark stood open to the sky | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that when the sun came up the next day, the house had no roof, allowing people to see the sky from within the ruins. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the top cover or top part of the house was burnt away by the fire. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because the text says that the morning after the fire, the house was 'open to the sky.' This is a way of saying that the roof was missing or destroyed so you could look straight up at the sky from inside the building. Other choices are wrong because 95% of the things in the basement and ground floor were saved. Choice D is also wrong because one oil painting of a dog from the first floor was saved, so it was not 'all' contents. |
| Q39 | C | Also the property was covered by insurance, so the repairs would not call upon the National Trust's own funds | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that because the house had insurance, the National Trust did not need to use their own money to pay for the repairs. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the National Trust did not have to use its own money to fix the house because the insurance company paid for it. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because Paragraph E lists three specific reasons why the restoration project went ahead. One of those reasons was that the house had insurance. Use of the phrase 'not call upon the National Trust's own funds' means that the organization did not have to spend its own money for the repairs, which matches the idea that they wouldn't have to pay. |
| Q40 | D | many of them, for example plasterers, have relearnt the skills of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries which can now be of use to other country house owners when the need arises | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that these workers learned old building methods again, and these old skills will help them get more work in the future. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the workers learned and gained new abilities they did not have before the project started. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is D because the text says that some workers, such as plasterers, 'relearnt' old building methods from hundreds of years ago. This means they gained knowledge or 'skills' that were forgotten or that they had not used before. These new abilities help them because they can use these skills for other old buildings in the future. |