The IELTS Reading section includes different types of passages and questions that test your ability to understand information, locate specific details, and recognise paraphrased ideas. Raising the Mary Rose Reading Answers is one such IELTS Reading passage.
The passage explores the history of the Mary Rose, a warship that sank in 1545 during a battle with the French fleet. It explains how the wreck was discovered, how archaeologists excavated the site, the challenges involved in raising the fragile hull, and how the ship has been preserved for public display.
This IELTS Reading passage tests skills such as scanning for specific information, understanding paraphrased ideas, identifying supporting details, and following the sequence of historical events. Reading the questions carefully and locating the relevant paragraph can help you answer more accurately.
Raising the Mary Rose Reading Passage
The Raising the Mary Rose reading passage for the IELTS exam describes the discovery, excavation, recovery, and conservation of a historic English warship. As you read, pay attention to dates, names, technical terms, and the sequence of events because these details can help you locate answers quickly.
Raising the Mary Rose
A. In 1545, English warships were engaged with the French fleet in the Solent, the stretch of water that separates the Isle of Wight from the mainland of southern England. Among the English vessels was the Mary Rose, a ship that had served King Henry VIII for 34 years. After a relatively brief period of engagement, she sank. Witnesses described how she heeled over, water poured in through the open gun ports, and she went down. An eyewitness account tells of the cries of the soldiers and crew who were trapped below decks as she sank. The Mary Rose sank in approximately 11 fathoms of water.
B. The wreck was located in 1836 by two brothers, John and Charles Deane, who were pioneering divers at the time. The Deanes were using a newly invented diving helmet, and they salvaged a number of bronze cannons, iron guns, and other artefacts from the wreck. They marked the location on their charts, and the wreck was then forgotten for over a century. In 1967, the wreck was relocated by a local dive club, which also found that the starboard half of the ship was buried under a sandbank.
C. Preliminary investigations showed that a large part of the ship was intact. The ship had come to rest on the seabed at an angle of about 60 degrees to port (the left side facing forward). The starboard half had been covered rapidly by silt, which protected it from the effects of centuries of marine life and tidal currents that would otherwise have caused serious damage. This timely coverage also protected the ship from human interference; treasure hunters had, at various times, damaged or destroyed many other wrecks in the Solent.
D. Between 1971 and 1982, a team of archaeologists and volunteers worked to excavate the site. The team was led by Dr Margaret Rule, who became the leading expert on the Mary Rose. More than 500 dives were made to map, photograph, and systematically remove the remaining silt from around the vessel. Over 19,000 artefacts were recovered from the wreck site, including weapons, navigational instruments, clothing, and personal items belonging to the crew. These objects gave archaeologists an unusually detailed picture of shipboard life in Tudor England.
E. When the excavation was complete, plans were put in place to raise the hull. The task was far from simple. The hull was too fragile to be lifted in the usual way, that is, by attaching cables directly to its structure. Lifting had to be done in a way that transferred the load across the largest possible area of the ship's structure. Lifting tests suggested that the hull could withstand a pull of 1,000 tonnes before cracking.
F. The solution was to build a specially designed steel cradle that would hold the ship's hull from below. The hull was lowered onto this cradle as the cradle was raised from the seabed. A lifting frame was constructed above the cradle. Hydraulic jacks attached the lifting frame to the cradle and lifted it, along with the ship, to the surface. The entire operation was broadcast live on television and watched by millions of viewers around the world, including Prince Charles, who was a patron of the Mary Rose Trust.
G. Once at the surface, the hull was carefully moved into a conservation tank in the old dry dock at Portsmouth. Since then, the hull has been sprayed continuously with chilled, fresh water to prevent the timber from drying out and cracking. The long-term conservation plan involves replacing the water gradually with a wax compound that will support the ship's timbers permanently. Work on the Mary Rose continues, and the ship is now on permanent display at the Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth.
Raising the Mary Rose Reading Answers: Questions 1–13
The questions below are based on the passage provided above and cover different IELTS Reading skills. Before checking the answers, identify the important words in each question and scan the relevant paragraph. Remember that the wording in a question may differ from the wording in the passage.
Questions 1–5: True/False/Not Given
Read each statement and decide whether it agrees with, contradicts, or is not mentioned in the passage.
Q1: The Mary Rose had served King Henry VIII for more than three decades before it sank.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: Paragraph A states that the Mary Rose had served King Henry VIII for 34 years before sinking during the battle. Since 34 years is more than three decades, the statement agrees with the passage.
Answer location: Paragraph A
Keywords: served, King Henry VIII, 34 years
Paraphrase: “more than three decades” = “34 years”
Q2: The Mary Rose was discovered for the first time by a local dive club in 1967.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: Paragraph B states that the wreck was first located in 1836 by John and Charles Deane. The local dive club relocated the wreck in 1967, so the statement is incorrect.
Answer location: Paragraph B
Keywords: discovered, local dive club, 1967
Paraphrase: “located” and “discovered” refer to finding the wreck.
Q3: The silt helped protect part of the Mary Rose from damage.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: Paragraph C explains that the starboard half was rapidly covered by silt. This protected it from marine life, tidal currents, and human interference. Therefore, the statement agrees with the passage.
Answer location: Paragraph C
Keywords: silt, protected, damage
Paraphrase: “covered rapidly by silt” = a layer of silt helped preserve the ship.
Q4: More than 20,000 artefacts were recovered from the wreck.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: Paragraph D states that over 19,000 artefacts were recovered. This is fewer than 20,000, so the statement contradicts the information in the passage.
Answer location: Paragraph D
Keywords: artefacts, 20,000, recovered
Paraphrase: “over 19,000” does not mean “more than 20,000”.
Q5: The Mary Rose hull could be lifted safely using cables attached directly to its structure.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: Paragraph E explains that the hull was too fragile to be lifted in the usual way by attaching cables directly to it. A different method was required to spread the load across a larger area.
Answer location: Paragraph E
Keywords: hull, cables, directly, fragile
Paraphrase: “too fragile to be lifted in the usual way” contradicts the statement.
Questions 6–9: Matching Information
Match each event with the paragraph where it is discussed.
Q6: The Mary Rose sank during a conflict involving England and France.
Answer: Paragraph A
Explanation: Paragraph A describes the battle between the English and French fleets and explains that the Mary Rose sank during the engagement.
Answer location: Paragraph A
Q7: Divers recovered weapons and other objects from the wreck after it was discovered.
Answer: Paragraph B
Explanation: Paragraph B states that John and Charles Deane salvaged bronze cannons, iron guns, and other artefacts using diving equipment.
Answer location: Paragraph B
Q8: Archaeological work produced evidence about the lives of people on board the ship.
Answer: Paragraph D
Explanation: Paragraph D explains that more than 19,000 artefacts were recovered, including clothing and personal possessions. These objects gave archaeologists a detailed picture of shipboard life in Tudor England.
Answer location: Paragraph D
Q9: A specially designed structure was used to support the hull during the lifting operation.
Answer: Paragraph F
Explanation: Paragraph F describes the steel cradle that held the hull from below. It also explains how the lifting frame and hydraulic jacks were used to raise the ship.
Answer location: Paragraph F
Questions 10–13: Summary Completion
Complete each sentence using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage.
Q10: The Mary Rose came to rest on the seabed at an angle of about ______ degrees to port.
Answer: 60
Explanation: Paragraph C states that the ship rested at an angle of approximately 60 degrees to port. The number directly completes the sentence.
Answer location: Paragraph C
Q11: More than ______ dives were made during the archaeological excavation.
Answer: 500
Explanation: Paragraph D states that the archaeological team made more than 500 dives to map, photograph, and remove silt from around the vessel.
Answer location: Paragraph D
Q12: The lifting frame was connected to the cradle using ______.
Answer: HYDRAULIC JACKS
Explanation: Paragraph F explains that hydraulic jacks attached the lifting frame to the cradle. They were then used to lift the cradle and the ship to the surface.
Answer location: Paragraph F
Q13: The hull is sprayed with ______ water to prevent the timber from drying out.
Answer: CHILLED, FRESH
Explanation: Paragraph G states that the hull has been continuously sprayed with chilled, fresh water. This prevents the timber from drying and cracking after being brought to the surface.
How to Approach Raising the Mary Rose Reading Answers
The Raising the Mary Rose passage is useful IELTS Reading practice because it combines historical information with archaeological discoveries and a technical recovery process. The information moves in chronological order, making it helpful to follow the sequence of events while reading.
Follow the Chronological Order
The passage begins with the sinking of the ship in 1545, moves to its discovery in 1836, describes its relocation in 1967, covers the archaeological excavation from 1971 to 1982, and then explains how the hull was raised and preserved.
Creating a simple mental timeline can help you avoid confusing events from different periods.
Use Names, Dates and Numbers as Scanning Clues
Names such as John and Charles Deane and Dr Margaret Rule, along with dates such as 1545, 1836 and 1967, can help you quickly locate the relevant paragraph.
Numbers are particularly useful in this passage because several questions refer to specific figures, including the ship's 34 years of service, 60-degree angle, more than 500 dives and 1,000-tonne lifting test.
Look for Paraphrased Information
IELTS questions often do not repeat the exact wording used in the passage. For example, the question may use “protected from damage”, while the passage explains that silt “protected it from the effects” of marine life and tidal currents.
Focus on meaning rather than searching only for an exact keyword.
Common Mistakes to Avoid in Raising the Mary Rose Reading
Historical IELTS passages can contain many dates, names, technical terms and connected events. These details can make it easy to select information from the wrong paragraph or misunderstand the relationship between two events.
Confusing the Discovery Dates
The wreck was located by the Deane brothers in 1836 and relocated by a local dive club in 1967. These dates describe different stages in the history of the wreck, so they should not be treated as the same event.
Ignoring Numbers
Numbers can provide direct clues to answers. The passage mentions 34 years, 11 fathoms, 60 degrees, more than 500 dives, over 19,000 artefacts and 1,000 tonnes. Missing these details can lead to avoidable errors.
Choosing an Answer Because of One Keyword
A keyword appearing in both the question and passage does not automatically make an answer correct. Always read the complete sentence and check whether the meaning matches what the question is asking.
Exceeding the Word Limit
For completion questions, always follow the instruction about the maximum number of words. Even a correct phrase can be marked wrong if it exceeds the specified limit.
Looking for more IELTS Reading practice? Read these answer guides to practise different passage topics and question types:
Raising the Mary Rose Reading Answers: Tips to Improve Your Score
A few simple habits can make this type of IELTS Reading passage easier to manage. Focus on locating information efficiently rather than trying to memorise every sentence.
1. Read the Questions First
Before reading the passage in detail, look through the questions and identify names, dates, numbers, and important nouns. This gives you an idea of what information to watch for.
2. Build a Quick Timeline
Remember the main sequence:
1545 → sinking of the Mary Rose 1836 → wreck located 1967 → wreck relocated 1971–1982 → excavation Raising operation → hull recovered After recovery → conservation
This makes it easier to connect questions with the correct section.
3. Read Around the Answer
Once you find a likely keyword, do not immediately write the answer. Read the sentence before and after it. This can help you understand whether the information actually answers the question.
4. Check Grammar in Completion Questions
Read the entire sentence after inserting your answer. The completed sentence should make grammatical and logical sense.
5. Use Elimination
For True/False/Not Given questions, eliminate options that clearly do not fit. If the passage gives opposite information, select FALSE. If the passage simply does not discuss the point, consider NOT GIVEN rather than making an assumption.
Conclusion
The Raising the Mary Rose Reading Answers passage is a useful practice text for improving scanning, paraphrase recognition, chronological reading, and attention to detail. The passage follows the Mary Rose from its sinking in 1545 through its rediscovery, excavation, recovery, and conservation.
When working on raising the Mary Rose full reading answers, focus on dates, names, numbers and technical terms. Understanding how information is organised across Paragraphs A–G can help you locate answers faster and improve your accuracy in raising the Mary Rose IELTS reading answers and other Academic Reading passages.
1. What is the Raising the Mary Rose passage about?
The passage tells the story of the Mary Rose, an English warship that sank in 1545. It covers the discovery of the wreck, archaeological excavation, recovery of artefacts, the technical process used to raise the hull, and the conservation work carried out after the ship reached the surface.
2. Why is the Mary Rose historically important?
The Mary Rose provides detailed evidence about life aboard a Tudor warship. Thousands of artefacts were recovered from the wreck, including weapons, navigational equipment, clothing and personal belongings. These discoveries helped archaeologists understand aspects of shipboard life in Tudor England.
3. Why was the Mary Rose difficult to raise?
The hull had become fragile after centuries underwater, so it could not simply be lifted with cables attached directly to the ship. A specially designed steel cradle was built to support the hull and distribute the lifting load across a larger area.
4. How was the Mary Rose preserved after being raised?
After reaching the surface, the hull was moved into a conservation tank in Portsmouth. It has been continuously sprayed with chilled, fresh water to prevent the timber from drying and cracking. A long-term plan involves gradually replacing the water with a wax compound.
5. What happened to the artefacts recovered from the Mary Rose?
More than 19,000 artefacts were recovered during the excavation. These included weapons, navigational instruments, clothing and personal objects. Together, they provided archaeologists with an unusually detailed insight into the lives of the ship's crew.
6. Why did the silt help preserve the Mary Rose?
The starboard half of the ship was rapidly covered by silt after it settled on the seabed. This layer helped protect the timber from marine organisms, tidal currents, and interference from people looking for valuable objects.
7. Who led the archaeological excavation?
Dr Margaret Rule led the archaeological team that worked on the Mary Rose site between 1971 and 1982. The team included archaeologists and volunteers who carried out more than 500 dives to investigate and document the wreck.
8. What equipment was used to raise the Mary Rose?
The recovery operation used a specially designed steel cradle, a lifting frame, and hydraulic jacks. The cradle supported the hull from underneath, while the hydraulic jacks helped raise the frame, cradle and ship together to the surface.
9. Where is the Mary Rose now?
The Mary Rose is on permanent display at the Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth. After being raised from the seabed, the hull was moved into a conservation tank where specialists began the long-term process of protecting the historic timber.
10. How can dates help when solving the Raising the Mary Rose Reading Answers?
Dates provide useful scanning clues because the passage follows a clear historical sequence. Looking for dates such as 1545, 1836, 1967, and 1971 can help you move quickly to the relevant part of the passage instead of reading every paragraph repeatedly. This approach can also help when working through the Raising the Mary Rose IELTS reading answers.
11. How can Academic Reading Raising the Mary Rose Answers improve IELTS preparation?
Practising with the Academic Reading Raising the Mary Rose answers can help develop skills needed for Academic Reading, particularly scanning, identifying supporting information, recognising paraphrases, and following chronological information. Reviewing the evidence for each answer is more useful than simply memorising the answers to the Raising the Mary Rose reading passage.
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