Bismarck: A Master of Political and Diplomatic Juggling? – IELTS Reading Answers

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Updated On Nov 29, 2023

Reading Passage
Bismarck: A Master of Political and Diplomatic Juggling?- Reading Answer with Location and Explanations
Tips for Answering the Question Types in the Bismarck: A Master of Political and Diplomatic Juggling? – IELTS Reading Answers

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The Reading section of the IELTS exam can be your highest-scoring section, but only if you practise diligently. To get the best results, you need to understand how to approach and answer the different types of questions. One of the best ways to prepare is to solve and review sample reading questions from past IELTS papers. This will help you get familiar with the different question formats and test your reading skills.

The Academic passage, ‘ Bismarck: A Master of Political and Diplomatic Juggling? ’, is a reading passage that appeared in an IELTS Test. Ideally, you should not spend more than 20 minutes on a passage. Let’s see how easy this passage is for you and if you’re able to make it in 20 minutes. If not, try more IELTS reading practice tests from IELTSMaterial.com.

Bismarck: A Master of Political and Diplomatic Juggling? is a part of an IELTS Academic reading test. The question types found in this passage are as follows:

Reading Passage

You should spend 20 minutes on Questions 1-14, which are based on the Reading Passage below.

Bismarck: A Master of Political and Diplomatic Juggling?

A Otto Von Bismarck’s rise up the political ladder was swift and relentless. Having entered parliament in 1847, he always harboured lofty ambitions, chief among them perhaps being the reunification of Germany into one strong, centrally controlled state, though his own personal thirst for power was arguably even stronger. On becoming Prussian Chancellor, he set about fulfilling his ambitions and in doing so proved himself to be a diplomat of some considerable skill. Victory in the Austro-Prussian war effectively ended Austria as a factor in German affairs. His political and military juggling was taken a step further when he orchestrated a situation where France declared war on Germany in 1.870, making the French seem responsible for a conflict he had always intended to create. And following another swift military triumph, this time over the French, the German empire was proclaimed in January 1871.

B In little more than nine years, Bismarck realised his lifelong ambition, steering Germany to reunification. And by defeating Austria and France in quick succession, he also created a power vacuum on mainland Europe which he was determined to fulfill himself. This was another opportunity for Bismarck to demonstrate his political and diplomatic cunning. He set about creating a dictatorial Germany in which he, as head of the Prussian parliament, would automatically become chancellor of the German empire. He drafted a new German constitution to suit his own purposes and, despite maintaining a veneer of democracy, the German parliament was effectively powerless to oppose him. Provinces that were slow to support him were enticed with bribes and before long the German empire was his to command.

C It is testament to his political skill that Bismarck achieved so much so quickly. At this point in his colourful political career he did appear, for all intents and purposes, a master of political and diplomatic juggling. But challenges lay ahead and Bismarck’s next target was the Catholic church, which he deemed too powerful and a threat to his political dominance. He proceeded to enact a series of laws which seriously eroded the power of the church. However, his plans backfired and Bismarck was forced to make a political U-turn. Though here again, he somehow managed to save face. The damage to his reputation was limited and indeed by the late 1870s he had even managed to win over the church whose support he now needed.

D Bismarck viewed the growing popularity of the Socialist Democratic Party as a serious threat. He bided his time and used the attempted assassination of the Kaiser as an excuse to attack the socialists in 1878, blaming them for the attempt on the Kaiser’s life. He immediately arrested the leaders, banned party meetings and suppressed socialist newspapers. But despite his efforts to destroy the socialist movement, its popularity had trebled by 1890. Just as his interventions with the church had not gone as planned, Bismarck once again failed to achieve his objective; though, to his credit, he held on to power.

E His domestic position was relatively secure after 1871, Bismarck devoted a lot of his time to foreign policy. Having used war to unite Germany and make her great, Bismarck now believed that his ambitions were best served by peace. His plan to isolate a hostile France would require all his considerable diplomatic skills. The Dreikaiserbund agreement of 1873 between Germany, Austria-Hungary and Russia was a first step towards doing just that. The Balkan crisis, a conflict involving Russia and Austria-Hungary, severely tested his diplomatic credentials, but his answer was to offer himself as an ‘honest broker’ to help resolve the dispute. The subsequent Congress of Berlin which he hosted was an outstanding success and only served to reinforce Bismarck’s reputation as a shrewd diplomat. Bismarck’s foreign policy would continue in this vein throughout his reign as Chancellor. He built up strategic alliances with the big powers, Russia, Italy and Austria-Hungary, in the hope that he could keep his main threats, France and Britain, isolated.

F In truth, Bismarck’s reign as chancellor of the German empire does seem to confirm him as a shrewd and wily diplomat and politician, one whose objectives were broadly achieved. Does this mean his so-called juggling was a success? Perhaps, but Bismarck left a less than perfect legacy. He created a Germany in which the Kaiser had the ultimate say in domestic affairs and enjoyed far too much power should he choose to wield it. This meant that the future of the empire largely depended on the strength and character of just one man, the Kaiser. A weak Kaiser would be disastrous for the country’s welfare, and so it would soon prove. In the final analysts, Bismarck put Germany back on the map again as a great power during his reign, but we should not forget that he created the political situation that would be the downfall of his country in the end. His political and diplomatic juggling, therefore, simply cannot be considered a total success.

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Questions 1-5

Choose the correct answer A, B, C or D.

1 In little more than nine years as Prussian Chancellor Bismarck had

A succeeded in reuniting Germany and defeating Austria and France.

B divided his country and lost two wars.

C succeeded in suppressing the Socialist party.

D abolished the parliament.

2 What happened after Bismarck enacted laws to weaken the Catholic church?

A He changed his policy and made the church an ally.

B The church’s influence weakened.

C France declared war on Germany.

D He didn’t succeed and his influence was severely weakened.

3 What had happened to the Socialist party by 1890?

A It had taken power from Bismarck.

B It had lost its influence.

C Its popularity had risen three-fold.

D It became very powerful in parliament.

4 After reuniting Germany what was Bismarck’s belief on foreign policy?

A He needed to wage war with all countries that posed a military threat.

B Preserving the peace and isolating France would benefit him.

C Germany needed to befriend France to form a powerful alliance.

D He wanted to form an alliance with Britain and France.

5 The article concludes that Bismarck

A made few mistakes and left a positive legacy.

B was not at all successful.

C was always tolerant of those who had different opinions.

D was not actually a master of political juggling.

Questions 6 -8

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the Reading Passage ?

In boxes 6 – 8 on your answer sheet, write

TRUE if the statement agrees with the information

FALSE if the statement contradicts the information

NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this

6 The Congress of Berlin was a great personal success for Bismarck.

7 Bismarck refused to build alliances with Russia or Austria.

8 Bismarck considered his reign as German chancellor a failure.

Questions 9 – 13

Reading Passage has six paragraphs, A-F.

Choose the correct heading, i-ix, from the list of headings below.

Write the correct number, i-ix, in boxes 9 – 13 on your answer sheet.

9 Paragraph A

10 Paragraph B

11 Paragraph C

12 Paragraph D

13 Paragraph E

14 Paragraph F

List of Headings

i A critical analysis

ii Early career and rise to power

iii Foreign policy

iv Powerful friends

v Separating church and state

vi Socialist threat

vii Political decline

viii Creating a virtual dictatorship

ix A change of mind

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Bismarck: A Master of Political and Diplomatic Juggling?- Reading Answer with Location and Explanations

1 Answer: A

Question type: Multiple choice questions

Answer location: Paragraph B

Answer Explanation: The key term for this inquiry is “nine years.” Consequently, the relevant details can be found in paragraph B, “In little more than nine years, Bismarck realised his lifelong ambition, steering Germany to reunification. And by defeating Austria and France in quick succession, he also created a power vacuum on mainland Europe which he was determined to fulfill himself. This was another opportunity for Bismarck to demonstrate his political and diplomatic cunning.” We can infer from these lines that his actions, resulting in a power vacuum across mainland Europe, validate his accomplishment. Furthermore, all the highlighted keywords correspond, leading to the conclusion that the correct answer is A.

2 Answer: A

Question type: Multiple choice questions

Answer location: Paragraph C

Answer explanation: We can find reference in Paragraph C, which states, “But challenges lay ahead and Bismarck’s next target was the Catholic church, which he deemed too powerful and a threat to his political dominance. He proceeded to enact a series of laws which seriously eroded the power of the church.” The term “to weaken” is rephrased as “to erode power,” while “to change his policy” can be interpreted as making a “political U-turn.” Additionally, after securing the support of the church, which he now required, he convinced them that his position was correct and sought their assistance. In essence, he established the church as an ally (an entity that provides help and backing to another country or organization). Thus, the correct answer is A.

3 Answer: C

Question type: Multiple choice questions

Answer location: Paragraph D

Answer explanation: Upon reviewing the year 1980, it is apparent that the relevant information is present in paragraph D, “But despite his efforts to destroy the socialist movement, its popularity had trebled by 1890. Just as his interventions with the church had not gone as planned, Bismarck once again failed to achieve his objective; though, to his credit, he held on to power. The correct answer is C as the expression “to rise three-fold” is paraphrased as “to treble” in the passage.

4 Answer: B

Question type: Multiple choice questions

Answer location: Paragraph E

Answer explanation: In paragraph E, it is mentioned, “Having used war to unite Germany and make her great, Bismarck now believed that his ambitions were best served by peace. His plan to isolate a hostile France would require all his considerable diplomatic skills.” The details address the topic of foreign policy in Paragraph E, hence, the answer is B.

5 Answer: D

Question type: Multiple choice questions

Answer location: Paragraph E

Answer explanation: The concluding section, which is paragraph F, offers the author’s final remarks, “His political and diplomatic juggling, therefore, simply cannot be considered a total success.” While examining the keywords, option B appears to be the correct choice. However, the article’s conclusion revolves around Bismarck’s political maneuvering rather than any other aspect of his character. Consequently, it can be inferred that the correct answer is D.

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6 Answer: True

Question type: True/False/Not Given

Answer location: Paragraph E

Answer explanation: Paragraph E states, “The subsequent Congress of Berlin which he hosted was an outstanding success and only served to reinforce Bismarck’s reputation as a shrewd diplomat.” The assertion that the Congress of Berlin was highly successful and bolstered Bismarck’s reputation, essentially representing his significant personal triumph, is supported by all the provided information. Therefore, the correct answer is TRUE.

7 Answer: False

Question type: True/False/Not Given

Answer location: Paragraph E

Answer explanation: In paragraph E, it is mentioned, “He built up strategic alliances with the big powers, Russia, Italy and Austria-Hungary, in the hope that he could keep his main threats, France and Britain, isolated.” These lines indicate that Bismarck established alliances with Russia and Austria. However, the question implies that he declined to form alliances with these nations. These pieces of information are in direct contrast with each other. Therefore, the correct answer is FALSE.

8 Answer: Not Given

Question type: True/False/Not Given

Answer location: NA

Answer explanation: We find reference in Paragraph F, “In truth, Bismarck’s reign as chancellor of the German empire does seem to confirm him as a shrewd and wily diplomat and politician, one whose objectives were broadly achieved.” The assessment of Bismarck’s rule in paragraph F is the author’s viewpoint, and there is no indication of how Bismarck himself viewed his tenure as the German chancellor. Consequently, the answer is NOT GIVEN.

9 Answer: ii