A review of Peter Bellerby's book. He set out to buy his father a good globe, found none, and spent years and a lot of money learning to make one. That became the only bespoke globe company in the world. The review also looks at famous globemakers of the past and mourns the craft skills that are disappearing.
The summary (27-32) comes from paragraphs A to C, in order. YES / NO / NOT GIVEN (33-36) is all paragraph B. The multiple choice (37-40) follows E, F, G and H.
Summary completion (word list A-J)
Questions 27-32
How to attack this block: The summary retells the opening in plain words, so each gap is a synonym job: obstacles become problems, a quick online order becomes an internet purchase, school classrooms become educational use. Do the easy synonyms first and let elimination handle the rest.
Question 27
Answer: GParagraph A, second sentence
How does the summary describe the birthday-globe plan as it turned out?
What seemed simple enough to start with triggered an almost obsessive, decade-long journey
Question says → Passage says
unexpectedlyWhat seemed simple enough to start with
challenging taskan almost obsessive, decade-long journey
Why: Something that 'seemed simple' but became a ten-year obsession was unexpectedly hard. The gap follows 'an unexpectedly', so it needs an adjective plus noun, and 'challenging task' (G) fits both grammar and meaning.
The trap: 'Memorable object' (H) also fits the grammar, and the globe was a gift. But the summary is describing the plan, and 'unexpectedly memorable' says nothing about the difficulty the passage stresses.
Question 28
Answer: JParagraph A, second sentence
What did Bellerby have to overcome?
marked by a series of obstacles that would have deterred anyone less determined
Question says → Passage says
overcomewould have deterred anyone less determined
numerous problemsa series of obstacles
Why: A 'series of obstacles' is many problems, and the gap follows 'overcome', so it needs a plural noun phrase. 'Numerous problems' (J).
The trap: 'Rare materials' (B) is plural too, and he did hunt for the right paper, inks and glue later. But nothing says the materials were rare, and the summary is still in paragraph A.
Question 29
Answer: IParagraph B, first sentence
What simple way of getting a globe did Bellerby find wasn't possible?
obtaining such a globe was not simply a matter of a quick online order
Question says → Passage says
a straightforwardsimply a matter of a quick
internet purchaseonline order
would not be possiblewas not simply a matter of
Why: An 'online order' is an internet purchase, and 'quick' and 'simply' become 'straightforward'. I.
The trap: 'Product exchange' (D) looks like a buying-and-selling phrase, but it means swapping goods. Nothing like that is mentioned.
Question 30
Answer: CParagraph C, second sentence
What kind of globes were available but not good enough?
Bellerby came across shoddy commercial versions designed for school classrooms
Question says → Passage says
were availablecame across
inferior makesshoddy commercial versions
Why: 'Shoddy' means badly made, and 'commercial versions' are brands or makes. Poor-quality makes are 'inferior makes' (C).
The trap: 'International markets' (F) fits after 'some' and the trips abroad are in the same paragraph. But the summary needs a type of globe, and those came from shops, not markets abroad.
Question 31
Answer: AParagraph C, second sentence
What were those cheap globes made for?
shoddy commercial versions designed for school classrooms
Question says → Passage says
intended fordesigned for
educational useschool classrooms
Why: 'Designed for' is 'intended for', and globes for school classrooms are for educational use (A).
The trap: 'Memorable object' (H) and 'international markets' (F) don't describe a purpose. The 'antiques in auction houses' are the expensive ones the summary mentions next.
Question 32
Answer: EParagraph C, last sentence
What might people still have in the places Bellerby travelled to?
Even his trips to Morocco and India, where surely the knowledge of artisan cartographers had been preserved, drew a blank.
Question says → Passage says
travelled to placeshis trips to Morocco and India
might still havesurely… had been preserved
the necessary skillsthe knowledge of artisan cartographers
could not find what he wanteddrew a blank
Why: The craft knowledge of mapmakers is the skill needed to make a globe. He hoped it had survived in Morocco and India, which is 'might still have the necessary skills' (E).
The trap: 'Rare materials' (B) is tempting because he went abroad, but the passage talks about knowledge being preserved, not materials.
YES / NO / NOT GIVEN (writer's claims)
Questions 33-36
How to attack this block: All four are in paragraph B. Question 33 is the key one. The reviewer calls the popular belief in our ancestors' ignorance 'stubbornly held' and wrong, so the statement that it's correct is NO. The Plato and Crates statements add judgements the passage never makes.
Question 33
Answer: NOParagraph B, second sentence
Is the modern idea that our ancestors knew little geography correct?
contrary to stubbornly held popular views of our ancestors' geographical ignorance, we have known that the world is spherical since at least the 6th century BCE
Question says → Passage says
The assumption todaystubbornly held popular views
people in the past knew very little about geographyour ancestors' geographical ignorance
is correctcontrary to
Why: The writer calls the 'popular views' wrong ('contrary to') and gives the proof: people knew the Earth was round by the 6th century BCE. The statement says the view is correct, so NO.
The trap: Read 'contrary to' carefully. If you skim it, the sentence seems to confirm our ancestors' ignorance instead of rejecting it.
Question 34
Answer: NOT GIVENParagraph B, third sentence
Was Plato criticised for comparing the world to a leather ball?
The ancient Greek philosopher Plato in his work Phaedo likened it to a leather ball
Question says → Passage says
saying the world was shaped likelikened it to
Why: The writer reports Plato's comparison as evidence that ancient people knew the Earth was round. Nobody's reaction to it is mentioned, so NOT GIVEN.
The trap: A leather ball sounds like an odd comparison, so you might imagine people mocked it. The passage gives no criticism at all.
Question 35
Answer: NOT GIVENParagraph B, third sentence
Was Crates of Mallus's globe an accurate picture of the known world?
the accolade of producing the first recorded globe goes to the ancient Greek philosopher Crates of Mallus, who is said to have made one in around 150 BCE
Question says → Passage says
the globe made by Crates of Mallusthe first recorded globe… Crates of Mallus, who is said to have made one
Why: The passage tells you Crates made the first recorded globe and roughly when. It says nothing about what was on it or how accurate it was, so NOT GIVEN.
The trap: 'Accolade' sounds like praise for the globe's quality. Here it's the honour of being first, which isn't the same as being accurate.
Question 36
Answer: YESParagraph B, last sentence
Did Bellerby expect finding a good globe to be easy?
Surely, Bellerby reasoned, a good-quality globe wouldn't be difficult to find.
Question says → Passage says
assumedSurely, Bellerby reasoned
would have few problems locatingwouldn't be difficult to find
a well-made globea good-quality globe
Why: 'Surely… he reasoned' is an assumption, and 'wouldn't be difficult to find' is 'few problems locating'. YES, even though he turned out to be wrong.
The trap: The rest of the passage shows it was very hard. That's what happened, not what he assumed at the start, and the statement is about the assumption.
Multiple choice
Questions 37-40
How to attack this block: One question per paragraph, E to H. The options test tone: did Bellerby nearly quit, or discover a problem? Was he inspired by the old masters, or did he share something with them? Pick the option that matches the paragraph's exact claim, not its mood.
Question 37
Answer: BParagraph E, last two sentences
What happened when Bellerby stuck the gores onto the globe?
Right at the end of the process, he learnt that the paper had stretched slightly and so the final one overlapped the first by a centimetre
Question says → Passage says
became aware ofhe learnt that
an unexpected issuethe paper had stretched slightly… overlapped the first by a centimetre
Why: Only at the very end did he discover the paper had stretched, so the last gore overlapped the first. Finding out about a problem you didn't see coming is B.
The trap: D is tempting because the reviewer says his 'frustration' is 'palpable', but frustration isn't nearly quitting. C fails because he had already found the right paper, inks and glue before this stage, and the process is 'painstaking', not quick (A).
Question 38
Answer: CParagraph F
Why does the reviewer bring up globemakers of the past?
Bellerby clearly found a kindred spirit in Martin Behaim… Something of Bellerby's unflinching ambition is reflected in the even more heroic efforts of the Italian cartographer Vincenzo Coronelli
Question says → Passage says
had something in common witha kindred spirit / Something of Bellerby's unflinching ambition is reflected in
each of themMartin Behaim… Vincenzo Coronelli
Why: A 'kindred spirit' is someone like you, and Coronelli's efforts 'reflect' Bellerby's ambition. For both historic makers, the reviewer points out a likeness with Bellerby, so C.
The trap: A is the strongest distractor, but nothing says the old makers inspired Bellerby to start. The link the reviewer draws is similarity, not influence. B is never claimed, and Behaim's bad timing couldn't have been avoided (D).
Question 39
Answer: DParagraph G, first and last sentences
What point does paragraph G make about Bellerby?
Bellerby's book is also a lament for the fading away of centuries-old traditions… many of these have now retired or passed away.
Question says → Passage says
regretsa lament for
the loss of many globe-making skillsthe fading away of centuries-old traditions
Why: A 'lament' is an expression of sadness, and 'the fading away of centuries-old traditions' is the loss of old skills, made worse by craftsmen retiring or dying. D.
The trap: A picks up on the craftsmen he found, but some just 'dropped in' by chance, and nothing says he worked with them for a long time. B is never said: the paragraph mourns the loss, it doesn't explain anyone's lack of interest.
Question 40
Answer: AParagraph H, fourth sentence
What does the reviewer say about the book in the last paragraph?
His book, beautifully illustrated… is hardly a blueprint for commercial success.
Question says → Passage says
does not tell you how tois hardly a blueprint for
create a profitable businesscommercial success
Why: A 'blueprint' is a plan you can follow, and 'hardly' means almost not at all. So the book doesn't show you how to build a successful business. A.
The trap: B is tempting because paragraph F says purists 'might wish for more map-making details'. That's a different paragraph and a different point: it wants more detail about mapmaking, not about which mapmakers are left out.
The reviewer calls Behaim a kindred spirit and says Coronelli's ambition reflects Bellerby's. That's something in common with each of them (C), not inspiration (A).
The book is 'hardly a blueprint for commercial success'. It won't tell you how to build a profitable business, so A.
Words from this passage worth keeping
bespoke(A)
made specially for one customer
shoddy(C)
badly made, poor quality
drew a blank(C)
failed to find what you are looking for
thwart(D)
stop someone from doing what they planned
abortive(E)
unsuccessful, ending before it achieves anything
palpable(E)
so strong you can almost feel it
kindred spirit(F)
a person who thinks and feels like you
moribund(H)
close to dying out
Sit this test on Langujet, then come back
The full Cambridge 21 Test 4 reading paper: all three passages, 60 minutes, marked the second you finish with a review of every answer. Already done it? Take it again and see if the same traps still get you.
Cambridge IELTS 21, Test 4, Reading Passage 3. The passage and questions belong to Cambridge University Press and are not reproduced here. We quote short extracts only as evidence for our own commentary, and the answers are published for self-marking. Get the book for the full text, or sit the test on Langujet.
FAQ
The Globemakers: The Curious Story of an Ancient Craft: quick answers
"The Globemakers: The Curious Story of an Ancient Craft" is Reading Passage 3 of Cambridge IELTS 21, Test 4. It covers questions 27-40 (14 marks).
Questions 27-32: Summary completion, questions 33-36: YES / NO / NOT GIVEN and questions 37-40: Multiple choice.
1 YES, 1 NO and 2 NOT GIVEN.
Our review highlights questions 38, 33 and 40. Each one is explained in "Questions worth a second look" above.
