The Growth of Liquorice Reading Answers

The IELTS Academic passage, “The Growth of Liquorice Reading Answers”, is a reading passage that consists of 13 questions. With diligent practice, the IELTS Reading Module can be the top-scoring category for IELTS aspirants. To score well, you must understand how to approach and answer the different question types in the Reading Module.

By solving and reviewing Sample Reading questions from past IELTS papers, you can ensure that your Reading skills are up to the mark. Take the practice test “The Growth of Liquorice” below and try more IELTS reading practice tests.

Here are the question types in the reading test

Reading Passage (The Growth of Liquorice)

• Multiple Choice Questions (Q. 1-5)
• True/False/Not Given (Q. 6-10)
• Matching Sentence Endings (Q. 11-13)

Want to learn tricks to answer Matching Sentence Endings? Before you start, dive into the strategies by looking at the video below.

Reading Passage 1

The Growth of Liquorice 

A LIQUORICE has a long, honourable history in the service of mankind. Alexander The Great, the Scythian armies and the Roman Emperor Caesar,are all on record for endorsing the beneficial properties contained in liquorice. Warriors used it as a substitute for water on a march, while others recognized liquorice’s valuable healing properties.

B Native to Asia and the Mediterranean region, liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) in the family Leguminosae is a tall shrub (1.5 m) with blue or violet flowers. The most common variety, Spanish liquorice, is characterized by blue flowers, while Russian liquorice has violet blossoms. The name glycyrrhiza comes from Greek words meaning ‘sweet root’. The roots contain the medicinally active constituents, and the plant requires rich soils and grows in subtropical climates. It is indigenous to Turkey, Iraq, Spain, Greece and northern China.

C The plants are graceful and their leaves have an almost feathery appearance from a distance. The leaves hang down during the night on each side of the stem, though they do not meet beneath it. From the leaves, spring spikes of small pale-blue, violet or purplish flowers, followed by small pods somewhat resembling a partly grown pea pod in form.

D The underground system, as in so many Leguminosae, is double: one part consisting of a vertical or tap root, often with several branches; the other of a horizontal runner, coming off the root below the surface of the ground. These runners have leaf buds and throw up stems in their second year. The perennial downward-running roots, as well as the long horizontal runners, are equally preserved for use.

E English·grown liquorice is dug up in late autumn and sold mostly in its fresh state for making extract, with only a small amount being dried. When washed, fresh English liquorice is a bright yellowish brown. It is very flexible, with a light yellow, juicy internal substance, which consists of a thick bark surrounding a woody column. The root has a peculiar earthy odour and a strong, characteristic, sweet taste. The English extract of liquorice, made from the fresh home-grown root, is said to have a more delicate flavour than that of imported varieties.

F In southern Italy, large quantities of liquorice root are grown, but it is chiefly converted into extract, though some of the root is exported. Spain and the south of France provide quantities of carefully dried liquorice root. Up to the year 1890, the cultivation of Spanish liquorice was small or moderate in comparison with the wild collection. Owing, however, to the depletion of the natural supplies of good quality root, this cultivation has grown rapidly in southern and southern-central Europe, where the climate is favourable.

G Nearly all the Russian liquorice that has been exported has already been peeled. It reaches a much larger size than the Spanish variety, and the taste, although sweet, is accompanied by a subtle bitterness or acridity. It consists chiefly of roots, not runners, in long and often crooked pieces, about 5 cm in thickness. These are pale yellow externally,and are a lighter yellow and softer internally than the Spanish variety.

H Spain was formerly the main supplier, which explains why the extract is still referred to as ‘Spanish Juice’, but the best grade has almost disappeared. The sticks vary in size, but are commonly about 2 cm in diameter and 15 or 18 cm in length. When imported, they are usually wrapped in bay leaves.

I Liquorice grows best on sandy soil near streams and is usually not found in the wild more than 50 metres from water. It will not flourish on clay and prefers the rich, fine soil of lowlands in river valleys, where there is an abundance of moisture during the growing period. Liquorice also flourishes where the ground hardens during the hot, dry summer months.

J The plant grows most successfully in a warm climate. Not only can it not endure severe freezing, but cool weather interferes with the formation of the sweet liquorice juice and makes the plant woody. It appears that climates which are particularly favourable for the production of oranges are also favourable for liquorice.

K Owing to the depth to which the root penetrates and its propagation, the plant is a persistent weed in cultivated grounds, where it is indigenous and exceedingly difficult to remove by its roots. It is very healthy and robust and rarely subject to disease. It can successfully occupy the ground to the exclusion of other planes. For this reason, the continuation of a natural supply may be considered as assured, although it is liable to suffer from severe depletion due to being overpicked.

Questions 1-5

A The health properties of liquorice are not well known.

B Liquorice used to be valued as a means to quench thirst.

C Liquorice plants only grow in tropical climates.

D Liquorice blossoms are blue or violet.

E Liquorice flowers last for a long time.

F The leaves of the liquorice plant look like feathers.

G Pods develop on the plant after the flowering stage.

H Medicine is derived from the flowers of the liquorice plant.

I The liquorice root system has two roots.

J Horizontal runners develop stems immediately.

1 ……………………….

2 ……………………….

3 ……………………….

4 ……………………….

5 ……………………….

Questions 6-10

6 Only some of the English liquorice is harvested in the autumn.

7 Improved varieties of liquorice have a stronger taste than English liquorice.

8 After 1890, the production of Spanish liquorice declined slowly.

9 Russian liquorice is not popular because it has a bitter taste.

10 Russian and Spanish varieties of liquorice have identical flavours.

Questions 11-13

11 Wild liquorice is usually found near streams because it

12 To guarantee the development of juice, the liquorice plant

13 In some areas, the liquorice plant is a problem because it

A requires a warm climate.

B flourishes on clay.

C needs a lot of water.

D tolerates very low temperatures.

E spreads very easily.

Answer Key

Explanation

1 Answer: B

Question type: Multiple Choice Question

Answer location: Paragraph A, line 3

Answer explanation: In the given location, it is given that “Warriors used it as a substitute for water on a march…”. This referred line shows that warriors have used liquorice as a means to quench thirst ( as a substitute of water). Hence, the answer is B.

2 Answer: D

Question type: Multiple Choice Question

Answer location: Paragraph B, line 1

Answer explanation: In the mentioned line, it is given “Native to Asia and the Mediterranean region, liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) in the family Leguminosae is a tall shrub (1.5 m) with blue or violet flowers.”. This reference proves that liquorice blossoms (flowers) are blue or violet. Hence, the answer is D.

3 Answer: F

Question type: Multiple Choice Question

Answer location: Paragraph C, line 1

Answer explanation: In the specified line, it is given “The plants are graceful and their leaves have an almost feathery appearance from a distance.”.  In other words, the leaves of the liquorice plant look like feathers (have an almost feathery appearance). Hence, the answer is F. 

4 Answer: I

Question type: Multiple Choice Question

Answer location: Paragraph D, line 1

Answer explanation: In the fourth paragraph, it is stated that “The underground system, as in so many Leguminosae, is double: one part consisting of a vertical or tap root, often with several branches; the other of a horizontal runner, coming off the root below the surface of the ground.”. It can be pointed out that the liquorice root system has two roots – one is a vertical or tap root and the other is a horizontal runner. Hence, the answer is I.

5 Answer: J

Question type: Multiple Choice Question

Answer location: Paragraph D, line 1 – line 2

Answer explanation: Through reference lines like, “…the other of a horizontal runner, coming off the root below the surface of the ground. These runners have leaf buds and throw up stems in their second year.”, it can be concluded that the second root of the liquorice plant (horizontal runners) has leaf buds and develops stems immediately (in the second year). Hence, the answer is J.

6 Answer: False

Question type: True/False/Not Given

Answer location: Paragraph E, line 1

Answer explanation: In the mentioned section, it is stated that “English·grown liquorice is dug up in late autumn and sold mostly in its fresh state for making extract, with only a small amount being dried.”  Based on this reference, we can conclude that the statement (only some of the English liquorice is harvested in the autumn.) contradicts the information since all types of English liquorice are harvested in autumn. Hence, the answer is False.

7 Answer: True

Question type: True/False/Not Given

Answer location: Paragraph E, line 5

Answer explanation: In Paragraph E, it is said that “The English extract of liquorice, made from the fresh home-grown root, is said to have a more delicate flavour than that of imported varieties.”. This points out that the improved varieties of liquorice have a stronger taste than English liquorice which has a more delicate flavour. As the statement agrees with the information, the answer is True.

8 Answer: False

Question type: True/False/Not Given

Answer location: Paragraph F, line 3 – line 4

Answer explanation: The following lines –Up to the year 1890, the cultivation of Spanish liquorice was small or moderate in comparison with the wild collection. Owing, however, to the depletion of the natural supplies of good quality root, this cultivation has grown rapidly in southern and southern-central Europe, where the climate is favourable. – establishes the fact that after 1890 the production of Spanish liquorice increased, especially in areas where the climate is favourable. Hence, the answer is False.

9 Answer: Not Given

Question type: True/False/Not Given

Answer location: N.A.

Answer explanation: Although it is mentioned that Russian liquorice has a bitter aftertaste, there is no information if it is the reason this variety is unpopular. Hence, the answer is Not Given.

10 Answer: Not Given

Question type: True/False/Not Given

Answer location: N.A.

Answer explanation: Although there are comparisons in the size of the Russian and Spanish liquorice, there is no information on Russian and Spanish varieties of liquorice having identical flavours. Hence, the answer is Not Given.

11 Answer: C

Question type: Matching Sentence Endings

Answer location: Paragraph I, line 1 – line 2

Answer explanation: The given line specifies that “Liquorice grows best on sandy soil near streams and is usually not found in the wild more than 50 metres from water. It will not flourish on clay and prefers the rich, fine soil of lowlands in river valleys, where there is an abundance of moisture during the growing period.”. It is indicated that liquorice grows near streams as it needs an abundance of moisture in the growing period. Hence, the answer is C (needs a lot of water.).

12 Answer: A

Question type: Matching Sentence Endings

Answer location: Paragraph J, line 2

Answer explanation: In the paragraph, it is given “The plant grows most successfully in a warm climate. Not only can it not endure severe freezing, but cool weather interferes with the formation of the sweet liquorice juice and makes the plant woody.”. This reference proves that to guarantee the development of juice, the plant requires a warm climate as low temperature dries it up and makes it woody. Hence, the answer is A (requires a warm climate.).

13 Answer: E

Question type: Matching Sentence Endings

Answer location: Paragraph K, line 1

Answer explanation: The given line specifies that “Owing to the depth to which the root penetrates and its propagation, the plant is a persistent weed in cultivated grounds, where it is indigenous and exceedingly difficult to remove by its roots.”. It is indicated that in some areas the liquorice plant is considered as a weed as it spreads very quickly (propagation) and is very difficult to uproot. Hence, the answer is E (spreads very easily).