The Story of Opium IELTS Reading Passage: Complete Guide  

Did you know? A study found that IELTS Academic Reading test-takers who employed a combination of quick scanning to locate information and more detailed reading to answer questions performed better overall. 

Passages presented in the IELTS Reading test are typically from historical or scientific subjects that are both difficult to understand and analyse. An example of such work is The Story of Opium, an account of the history, commerce, and cultural influence of the opium poppy. To frame its significance, historians reckon that by the 19th century, the world opium trade accounted for over 1.2 billion dollars annually in the present-day purchasing power value, affecting wars, imperial growth, and even world treaties.  

Questions in IELTS reading that depend on this passage are most likely to cover the comparison of details, cause-and-effect association, and the opinions of the writer. The reason why this can mean the difference between Band scores a Band 6.5 and Band 7+ is that approximately 3 million students take the IELTS each year, so knowing how to tackle such passages can be the determining factor. This guide analyses the passage, provides examples of questions, and a guide to strategies so you can handle tertiary comparison and awkward details with ease.  

Discover how to prepare for IELTS from home with practical tools, expert strategies, and full flexibility, everything you need to prepare for IELTS the right way.  

What is ‘The Story of Opium’ Passage About? 

The Common Readings entitled The Story of Opium IELTS often revolves around the story of the Opium poppy, a formerly medicinal plant that influences trade routes and the way world politics is structured. It brings out the fact that opium was appreciated among people because it treated pain, but later turned to produce controversies as it was an addictive drug and lucrative in the economy.  

It regularly introduces the facts of the European powers involved, particularly in the colonial period, in a manner that trade and political motives were allied to the content. This passage is not so much about memorising history as suggesting relationships between ideas, opposing points of view, and the cause-and-effect links in history, for IELTS test takers. 

Key points to keep in mind: 

• The passage typically blends medicine, trade, and politics, showing the multiple dimensions of opium. 
• You’ll need to compare viewpoints (e.g., medical benefits vs. economic exploitation). 
• Questions often test your ability to follow cause-effect chains and author’s opinions rather than raw facts. 

What Key Vocabulary and Phrases Should I Know? 

A good vocabulary is necessary if you have to deal with passages like “The Story of Opium” in the IELTS reading. Understanding context-type language can also help you know what is being paraphrased and incorrectly placed in tricky questions.  

The following are some important terms and phrases that can be found in the passage and which prospective test-takers may need to feel familiar with: 

Word/Phrase	Meaning
Cultivation	The process of growing crops or plants
Trade route	Pathways used for commercial exchange
Addiction	Dependence on a substance, often harmful
Medicinal use	Application of a substance for treatment or healing
Colonial powers	Nations that controlled other regions during imperial times
Conflict / War	Political or military struggles (e.g., Opium Wars)
Banned / Prohibited	Officially not allowed by law or authority
Commodity	A valuable product for trade
Dependency	Reliance on something (economic or medical context)
Illicit trade	Illegal buying and selling of goods

Also Read: How to Improve Reading Skills in IELTS: Tips For Reading in IELTS 

Can You Provide a Sample Passage from ‘The Story of Opium’? 

The Story of Opium – IELTS Reading Practice Passage (about 450 words) 

For centuries, the opium poppy has played a remarkable role in human society. First cultivated in Mesopotamia around 3400 BCE, opium was valued for its pain-relieving properties. Ancient civilisations, including the Egyptians and Greeks, recorded its medicinal use. By the 8th century, Arab traders introduced opium to Asia, where it became a part of traditional medicine. However, its addictive nature soon caused widespread concern. 

The turning point came in the 18th and 19th centuries. Britain discovered that selling Indian opium to China generated enormous profits, especially when exchanged for tea and silk. This trade imbalance sparked tensions that culminated in the Opium Wars between Britain and China (1839–1860). These conflicts weakened the Qing dynasty and left a lasting political and social impact on China. Millions of Chinese became addicted, and the image of opium shifted from medicine to menace. 

In Europe, meanwhile, opium was refined into laudanum, a popular tonic prescribed for everything from coughs to sleeplessness. Literary figures such as Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Thomas De Quincey openly described their dependence on the drug. By the late 19th century, advances in chemistry led to the isolation of morphine and, later, heroin. Both were initially praised as medical breakthroughs but soon revealed devastating addictive potential. 

The 20th century saw governments worldwide take strong action. Opium cultivation and trade were restricted through international agreements such as the 1912 Hague Convention. Later, the UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961) tightened regulations. Despite these measures, opium remains a global issue today. According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), over 7,000 tons of opium were produced in 2022, with Afghanistan as the leading source. While efforts continue to curb production, opium’s legacy as both healer and destroyer remains deeply embedded in human history. 

What Questions Can Be Asked from the Sample Passage? 

In the practice of IELTS Reading, the passage, The Story of Opium, can yield a mixture of question types, including the True/False/Not Given, Fill in the Blanks, Multiple Choice, and Short Answer Questions.  

These tests not only examine your memorization skills but also your ability to compare details, keyword awareness, and historical reasoning.  

Some practice questions about the passage include: 

What are the True/False/Not Given questions for the Story of Opium passage? 

Do the following statements agree with the passage? Write TRUE, FALSE, or NOT GIVEN. 

1. Opium was first cultivated in China. 
2. The British sold opium to China to balance trade. 
3. Laudanum was used in Europe mainly for curing headaches. 
4. Morphine was considered a safe medical breakthrough at first. 
5. Afghanistan is still one of the largest opium producers. 

What are the Fill in the Blanks questions for the Story of Opium passage? 

Complete the sentences with NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage. 

1. Ancient _______ and _______ recorded the medicinal use of opium. 
2. The _______ dynasty was weakened due to the Opium Wars. 
3. In the 19th century, opium in Europe was refined into _______. 
4. The first international effort to regulate opium was the _______ Convention of 1912. 
5. Opium is described as both a _______ and a destroyer. 

What are the Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) for the Story of Opium passage? 

Choose the correct option (A, B, C, or D). 

1. When did Arab traders introduce opium to Asia? 
   A. 1st century BCE 
   B. 8th century CE 
   C. 15th century CE 
   D. 18th century CE 
2. The Opium Wars mainly occurred between: 
   A. Britain and India 
   B. Britain and China 
   C. China and Japan 
   D. India and China 
3. Which of the following literary figures mentioned opium use? 
   A. Shakespeare 
   B. Dickens 
   C. Coleridge 
   D. Chaucer 

What are the Short Answer Questions for the Story of Opium passage? 

Answer the questions using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS. 

1. Which two products did Britain gain from trading opium with China? 
2. Which drug was developed after morphine but proved equally addictive? 

What are the correct answers for the IELTS Reading Passage “The Story of Opium”? 

Now let’s go through the answers step by step. This will help you not only check your responses but also understand the reasoning behind each one. 

What are the True/False/Not Given answers in the passage “The Story of Opium”? 

• Question 1: FALSE – Opium was first cultivated in Mesopotamia, not China. 
• Question 2: TRUE – Britain exported opium to China to balance trade. 
• Question 3: NOT GIVEN – No evidence of laudanum being used for headaches. 

What are the Fill in the Blanks answers in the passage “The Story of Opium”? 

• Question 4: Egyptians, Greeks – Early civilizations using opium. 
• Question 5: Qing – Refers to the dynasty that resisted opium imports. 

What are the Multiple Choice answers in the passage “The Story of Opium”? 

• Question 6: B. Afghanistan – Largest producer of opium. 
• Question 7: C. Morphine – 19th-century medical breakthrough. 

What are the Short Answer Question answers in the passage “The Story of Opium”? 

• Question 8: Mesopotamia – Origin of opium cultivation. 
• Question 9: 19th century – Period of the Opium Wars. 

What Common Mistakes Do Test-Takers Make? 

The problem is that most of the IELTS candidates lose points on the Story of Opium passage questions, not due to the challenging nature of the text, but owing to tiny errors that they can prevent. And these are the most common: 

• Omitting keywords: Students tend to read at a fast pace and miss other important words, such as not, only, or always, which alter the context of an answer completely. 
• Memory guessing: Not checking the particular line in the text, some candidates resort to sheer guessing. 
• Tangled wordings in the paraphrase: IELTS is all about replicating wordings. Other terms, such as the word banned may seem to appear as forbidden, and many overlook this connection. 
• Giving too much attention to one question: Spending time on one tricky True/False question when you do not need it. 
• Overthinking answers: Another put in information that is not found in the passage, rather than just sticking to what is directly said. 

Also Read: How To Reduce Spelling Mistakes In English While Writing?-IELTS 

How Can I Score Better in ‘The Story of Opium’ Passage? 

Scoring good in this passage isn’t just about reading fast; it’s about using smart strategies. Here’s what can help: 

How can I use skimming and scanning effectively? 

Instead of reading every line, skim the passage to understand the overall theme and arguments. Then scan for details like years, trade routes, or names that match the question. This method helps you locate information quickly without wasting time on irrelevant sentences. 

Why should I focus on synonyms and paraphrases? 

IELTS loves to test paraphrasing. For example, the passage may say opium was transported illegally, but the question could phrase it as smuggled goods. If you only look for exact words, you’ll miss the answer. Training your eye to catch synonyms and reworded phrases is essential to scoring higher. 

What question types should I practice more? 

‘The Story of Opium’ often appears with question types like True/False/Not Given, sentence completion, and short-answer questions. Each requires a different approach. For example, T/F/NG needs careful logic, while fill-in-the-blank questions test your ability to match exact words. Practicing all types ensures you won’t freeze during the test. 

How do I manage my time for this passage? 

Aim to spend about 20 minutes on this passage. Use 3-4 minutes for skimming, 10-12 minutes for answering, and 3-4 minutes for reviewing uncertain questions. Keeping a strict time structure prevents you from overthinking a single question and losing time for the rest of the test. 

How do I deal with complex details in the passage? 

Historical passages like this one often include overwhelming dates, treaties, and names. Instead of memorizing them, underline or circle only the details that relate to a question. Remember, IELTS won’t test every number or event; they only want to check if you can filter relevant information. 

Also Read: IELTS Plan for 1 Month – A Complete Preparation Strategy 

Conclusion 

Learning passages such as The Story of Opium is really not about learning about the past, but it is about conditioning the mind to pick up the details, solve cryptic vocabulary, and analyse information under a clock. The IELTS Reading allows mistakes to be penalised by accuracy, rapidity, and compliance with instructions. Work hard to learn the typical pitfalls, work through well-structured techniques, and concentrate on word limits and spelling, and you can gradually drive your marks up into Band 7 or above. 

When you are serious about improvement, indeed, continue to practice with various reading materials and simulate exam conditions. Each passage you work over is strengthening your confidence and is helping you one step closer to achieving your desired score. 

upGrad is an ideal platform for learners aiming for Band 7 and above. Book a free one-on-one counselling session with upGrad’s expert advisors today and get personalized support for your test prep and university applications. 

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