The Story of Platinum Reading Answers 2026

The Story of Platinum IELTS Reading Answers is one of the most searched IELTS practice topics, helping thousands of aspirants sharpen their reading comprehension skills. This passage not only tests vocabulary and inference but also challenges candidates with true/false/not given and matching headings questions, which account for nearly 40% of the IELTS Reading section. 

For students aiming at a IELTS band score of 7.5 or higher, mastering such practice stories is crucial, as reading contributes directly to half of the overall IELTS score. By analyzing the Platinum passage, candidates learn strategies to manage time, decode complex texts, and avoid common pitfalls. In short, this story is more than practice, it’s a proven pathway to IELTS exam success.

Key Highlights: 

Aspect	Details
Test Section	IELTS Reading (Academic & General Training)
Passage Type	Narrative/Informational; focuses on Platinum’s journey
Question Types	True/False/Not Given, Matching Headings, Sentence Completion
Difficulty Level	Moderate to High, requires inference and vocabulary skills
Weightage	Reading contributes ~25% of total IELTS score
Common Pitfalls	Misinterpreting “Not Given”, overlooking synonyms, poor time management
Success Strategy	Skim for main ideas, scan for keywords, manage 60 minutes effectively

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The Story of Platinum IELTS Reading Sample Passage

The main text of “The Story of Platinum” is given below. Students are advised to read the essay carefully and then move on to the questions.

The Story of Platinum

A. The White metal Platinum is much denser and rarer than gold, in fact, some 30 times rarer. To acquire an ounce of platinum, it takes about ten tonnes of ore. Similar to gold, it is supposed to have come to earth in meteorites, the earliest recorded having hit the planet off the coast of western Greenland about three billion years ago.

B. The earliest recorded evidence of platinum use is in gold jewellery from Nubia with traces of platinum in 1200 BC and famously on a box from an Egyptian tomb in Thebes dating from 700 BC. Platinum also made appearances in pre-Columbian artefacts in South America, where platinum was used for decorative purposes to adorn the body including earrings and masks with the earliest known piece being that of a small platinum head. Evidence of platinum use did not appear again in South America until the time of the Incas, the most famous of the civilizations of South America. It was not until the time of the Spanish Conquistadors' arrival in South America in the 15th and 16th centuries that the first Europeans came into contact with platinum. It was, however, considered by the new arrivals as an inferior form of silver, from which it took its name platina, meaning small silver in Spanish. Ignorant of the skills of the local people, they were unable to melt it, so platinum was thrown back into rivers.

C. When platinum was finally identified and classified as a new metal in the 18th century it began to attract the interest of scientists in Europe. Being very hard and having a high melting point, however, it took time for scientists to develop ways to melt the metal. A concave mirror device created in 1758 by Macquer, a French scientist, managed to melt platinum, but the method was cumbersome. In 1786, a French court jeweller, Janety, used arsenic to create an alloy of platinum that was then refined to make pure platinum. In Spain and England, other experiments were carried out, but in 1782 Antoine Lavoisier succeeded in melting platinum using a high-temperature torch made from oxygen and hydrogen. Once melting was made possible, its use in making jewellery was greatly enhanced.

D. Platinum, as the other precious metals gold and silver before it, became a store of value. In jewellery, platinum accounts for only 30% of the approximate eight tonnes of the metal mined each year. Unlike gold, platinum does not wear away; in fact, because of its durability, the International Prototype Kilogram - stored at Sèvres in France - is made of platinum. Apart from its intrinsic value as a rare metal, platinum is desirable in jewellery for various reasons. Due to its very hardness, it is hypoallergenic, i.e. it does not cause allergy, unlike other metals such as gold; it does not reflect colour onto diamonds, which it can secure tightly as a result of strength and hardness.

E. Platinum is well known for its industrial use. The bulk of Platinum is used in the car industry in areas such as catalytic converters as platinum is able to absorb a huge amount of hydrogen, which makes it useful for environmental cleanup. The current manufacturers of glass, as in the past, along with anti-cancer medication, fibre-optic cables and LCD displays are all reliant on platinum. It is also a key component of fuel cells, which is used to convert hydrogen and oxygen into energy with water being a waste product.

F. Being a rare metal, platinum is only found in a few locations around the world. Up until the early part of the 19th century Columbia was the only source of platinum. In 1820, various deposits were discovered in the Ural mountains of Russia, still a major source today. There are minor deposits in Montana, USA, but the main supplier of platinum today is South Africa where the world’s largest deposits were discovered in 1920s.

G. Russia minted 1.5 million coins, but ceased it during so when the value of metal exceeded that of coins. Today, various platinum coins, such as the Australian Koala and the Canadian Maple Leaf in 1988. The Chinese Panda in 1987 and the American Eagle in 1997, have been available in one ounce sizes or less, and bars of platinum weighing ten ounces and smaller sizes for investment.

What is the summary of the Story of Platinum reading answer passage?

The passage “Story of Platinum” explores the history of one of the most precious and rare metals on earth - Platinum. It highlights the industrial importance and also how it’s been used in jewellery for thousands of years. It discusses how platinum was discovered, its unique physical and chemical properties and its usefulness. Especially since the industrial revolution started, it is shown how interested Europeans were in platinum melting, and other uses such as those in medicine. It explains how platinum became a symbol of prestige and how its demand has fluctuated over time. Overall, the passage blends scientific information with historical and economic context to demonstrate why platinum holds such a significant place in modern society.

Preparing for the Academic IELTS exam? Read the guide to get complete knowledge on this exam.

Multiple-Choice Questions in The Story of Platinum Reading Passage

Questions 1-5 are multiple-choice and have to be answered by choosing any one correct option out of the four.

1. What was the initial attitude of Spanish conquistadors towards platinum?

1. They valued it for its beauty.
2. They disregarded it as a nuisance.
3. They mistook it for Silver.
4. They used it as a currency.

2. In the 18th century, European scientists faced difficulties for?

1. Extracting platinum from its ores
2. Using platinum in catalytic converters
3. Melting Platinum
4. Using platinum as currency

3. Which property of platinum made its use in making the International Prototype Kilogram?

1. Durability
2. Strength
3. Density
4. Rereness

4. Which of the following is not the use of Platinum?

1. In Catalytic Converters
2. In the treatment of cancer
3. Making utensils
4. In Jewelry

5. Russia ceased minting platinum coins because of

1. Rarity of the metal
2. Risks of smuggling
3. High melting point
4. High value of metal

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True/False Questions in The Story of Platinum IELTS Reading Passage

Questions 6-10 are answering the statement True or False based on the relevance of the information given in passage:

6. The first known meteorite hit the earth 3 billion years ago.

7. The Incas had more knowledge about platinum than any other who discovered or used it.

8. Platinum is no longer employed in the manufacturing of Glass.

9. The majority of today’s world platinum comes from South Africa.

10. The Americans made use of platinum coins before Australia and Canada.

Sentence Completion Questions for The Story of Platinum Passage

In the questions 11-13, choose NO MORE THAN 3 WORDS from the passage to complete the sentences.

11. Macquer’s attempt at melting platinum was __________.

12. Platinum was not common in jewellers’ work until the development of a high-temperature_______.

13. As with Gold and Silver, Platinum became a ________.

Here are some preparation tips for IELTS academic reading test.

Answers for The Story of Platinum IELTS Reading Passage

Here are the answers to the questions asked above with complete explanations.

1. B (They disregarded it as a nuisance)

Explanation: (Paragraph B) Spanish conquistadors were unable to melt platinum, ignorant of the skills of local people. Failing to do so, they disregarded it as a nuisance and threw it back into rivers.

2. C (Melting Platinum)

Explanation: (Paragraph C) Due to the high melting point of platinum, the European scientists faced difficulties in melting platinum. It took some time for scientists to develop methods to melt platinum and finally in 1782 Antoine Lavoisier succeeded in melting it.

3. A (Durability)

Explanation: (Paragraph D) It is mentioned in the essay “Unlike gold, platinum does not wear away; in fact, because of its durability, the International Prototype Kilogram - stored at Sèvres in France - is made of platinum.”.

4. C (Making Utensils)

Explanation: It is not mentioned anywhere in the passage. In fact, due to its rarity, it cannot be used in making utensils.

5. D (High value of metal)

Explanation: (Paragraph G) Mentioned in the passage “Russia minted 1.5 million coins, but ceased it during so when the value of metal exceeded that of coins”.

6. TRUE

Explanation: Paragraph A states that the earliest recorded meteorite hit the Earth off the coast of western Greenland about three billion years ago, bringing elements like platinum. So, this statement is directly supported by the text.

7. NOT GIVEN

Explanation: Paragraph B mentions that the Incas used platinum but does not compare their knowledge with others. There's no information about whether they had more knowledge than other civilizations or groups, so the claim can't be verified.

8. FALSE

Explanation: Paragraph E says “current manufacturers of glass, as in the past” still rely on platinum. This means platinum is still being used in glass production today, contradicting the statement.

9. TRUE

Explanation: Paragraph F clearly states that South Africa is the main supplier of platinum today, after large deposits were discovered there in the 1920s. So, this statement aligns with the passage.

10. FALSE

Explanation: Paragraph G says that the Australian Koala and Canadian Maple Leaf platinum coins were issued in 1988, while the American Eagle coin was released in 1997—which was later than the other two countries.

11. Difficult and cumbersome

Explanation: Paragraph C mentions “in 1758 by Macquer, a French scientist, managed to melt platinum, but the method was cumbersome”.

12. Hydrogen-Oxygen Torch

Explanation: Paragraph C mentions “in 1782 Antoine Lavoisier succeeded in melting platinum using a high-temperature torch made from oxygen and hydrogen”.

13. Store of Value

Explanation: From paragraph D, it is mentioned that Platinum, as the other precious metals gold and silver before it, became a store of value.

Conclusion

The Story of Platinum reading answers in IELTS Reading is interesting to read as it contains history, science, and industrial applicability in equal measure, thus it serves as informative as well as a perfect guide in preparing to take a test. Students reading the passage by reading in different forms of questions, that is, MCQs, a True/ False/Not Given and sentence completion question, helps equip them with important IELTS reading skills such as skimming, scanning, and getting detail and inference. 

Answers with explanations increase the understanding and confidence in the real test. The exercise with the passages is not only about learning new vocabulary in the area of sciences and history, but it also enables the candidates to become familiar with divergent forms which the Academic Reading part of the IELTS may include.

Need help with IELTS or your study abroad plan? Book a free counseling session with an upGrad expert today. If you think you did well in this passage, try another one, The marvelous invention reading answers.