When the Tulip Bubble Burst - IELTS Reading Answers

• The article “When the Tulip Bubble Burst” is a popular IELTS Academic Reading passage that examines one of the earliest recorded financial bubbles in history. This blog provides accurate answers along with detailed explanations to help candidates understand how to approach each question effectively. In addition, it includes practical tips for every IELTS Reading question type, enabling test-takers to improve their comprehension skills, avoid common mistakes, and boost their overall band score. For more practice, you can try our full IELTS Reading practice tests to sharpen your skills and boost your band score. If you want more passages to solve, try taking one of our IELTS reading practice tests.

When the Tulip Bubble Burst IELTS Reading Passage

When the Tulip Bubble Burst - IELTS Reading Questions

Questions 14-18

14 Difference between bubble burst impacts by tulip and by high-tech shares.

15 Spread of tulips before the 17th century

16 Indication of money offered for the rare bulb in the 17th century

17 Tulip was treated as money in Holland

18 The comparison made between a tulip and other plants

Questions 19-23

19 In 1624, all the tulip collections belonged to a man in Amsterdam.

20 Tulip was first planted in Holland according to this passage.

21 The popularity of Tulip in Holland was much higher than in any other country in the 17th century.

22 Holland was the most wealthy country in the world in the 17th century.

23 From 1630, Amsterdam Stock Exchange started to regulate the Tulips exchange market.

Questions 24-27

Dutch concentrated on gaining independence by 24…………………………. against Spain in the early 17th century; consequently, spare resources entered the area of 25………………………

Prosperous traders demonstrated their status by building great 26………………………. and with gardens in the surroundings. Attracted by the success of profit on tulips, traders kept looking for 27……………………..and speculators for sale.

When the Tulip Bubble Burst - IELTS Reading Answers with Explanation

Let’s now review the answers to the questions from the passage in the reading section, When the Tulip Bubble Burst - IELTS Reading Answers, and assess your improvement for a high IELTS Reading band score.

14 Answer: I

Question type: Match the features

Answer location: Paragraph I, lines 1-3

Answer explanation: “Tulipmania differed in one crucial aspect from the dot-com craze that grips our attention today: even at its height, the Amsterdam Stock Exchange, well-established in 1630, wouldn’t touch tulips.” These lines draw a clear line of difference between the values of Tulips and the dot-com stocks. It clearly shows how the tulip bubble was more valued than the dot-com bubble.

15 Answer: D

Question type: Match the features

Answer location: Paragraph D, lines 2-4

Answer explanation: “Long before the first tulip bloomed in Europe – in Bavaria, it turns out, in 1559 – the flower had enchanted the Persians and bewitched the rulers of the Ottoman Empire.” This suggests that the tulips were prominent even before the seventeenth century. It was allowing its beauty and attractiveness that the rulers of the Ottoman Empire and eventually the whole of Holland got entranced by it.

16 Answer: B

Question type: Match the features

Answer location: Paragraph B, lines 1-4

Answer explanation: “Around 1624, the Amsterdam man who owned the only dozen specimens was offered 3,000 guilders for one bulb. While there’s no accurate way to render that in today’s greenbacks, the sum was roughly equal to the annual income of a wealthy merchant.” This makes it apparent that the tulip bulbs were so priced that a single bulb was traded for 3000 guilders. This clearly elucidates the value the tulip bulbs hold back in the days.

17 Answer: G

Question type: Match the features

Answer location: Paragraph G, lines 3-6

Answer explanation: “In 1633, a farmhouse in Hoorn changed hands for three rare bulbs. By 1636 any tulip-even bulbs recently considered garbage – could be sold off, often for hundreds of guilders. A futures market for bulbs existed, and tulip traders could be found conducting their business in hundreds of Dutch taverns.” These lines implicitly mean that tulips were being traded and exchanged for various forms of capital such as gold coins (guilders). This all developed majorly from the onset of the year 1636 when tulips were traded in taverns (bars) and many such places.

18 Answer: F

Question type: Match the features

Answer location: Paragraph F, lines 1-4

Answer explanation: “It is impossible to comprehend the tulip mania without understanding just how different tulips were from every other flower known to horticulturists in the 17th century,” says Dash. “The colors they exhibited were more intense and more concentrated than those of ordinary plants.” Here in these lines, a clear comparison can be seen between ordinary flowers and Tulips.

19 Answer: True

Question type: True/False/not given

Answer location: Paragraph B, lines 1-2

Answer explanation: “Around 1624, the Amsterdam man who owned the only dozen specimens was offered 3,000 guilders for one bulb.” This makes it clear that a man in Amsterdam had all the tulip collections in 1624 and was the only one who had traded them for guilders (or any other form of the economy).

20 Answer: False

Question type: True/False/not given

Answer location: Paragraph D, lines 1-4

Answer explanation: “The Dutch were not the first to go gaga over the tulip. Long before the first tulip bloomed in Europe – in Bavaria, it turns out, in 1559 – the flower had enchanted the Persians and bewitched the rulers of the Ottoman Empire. It was in Holland, however, that the passion for tulips found its most fertile ground,..” This suggests that tulips were not first grown in the Holland rather it was first bloomed in Bavaria

21 Answer: True

Question type: True/False/not given

Answer location: Paragraph D, lines 3-5

Answer explanation: “It was in Holland, however, that the passion for tulips found its most fertile ground, for reasons that had little to do with horticulture.” This suggests that the Dutch had the most passion and exuberance for tulips than any other country and the tulips rose to the maximum eminence in this country.

22 Answer: Not given

Question type: True/False/not given

Answer location: N/A

Answer explanation: There is no such reference made in the passage where the world ranking of Holland in the terms of its wealth is indicated.

23 Answer: False

Question type: True/False/not given

Answer location: Paragraph I, lines 1-3

Answer explanation: “Tulipmania differed in one crucial aspect from the dot-com craze that grips our attention today: even at its height, the Amsterdam Stock Exchange, well-established in 1630, wouldn’t touch tulips.” Hence, it makes it clear that the Amsterdam Stock Exchange couldn’t even touch the valuation of the Tulip trade let alone control it. This shows how expensive and pricey the tulips were.

24 Answer: Fighting

Question type: Short answer questions

Answer location: Paragraph E, lines 1-3

Answer explanation: “Holland in the early 17th century was embarking on its Golden Age. Resources that had just a few years earlier gone toward fighting for independence from Spain now flowed into commerce.” This shows that the Dutch spent their resources in fighting to rescind the Spanish rule from their country.

25 Answer: Commerce

Question type: Short answer questions

Answer location: Paragraph E, lines 2-3

Answer explanation: “Resources that had just a few years earlier gone toward fighting for independence from Spain now flowed into commerce.” This clearly explains that out of total resources, a significant portion was spent by the Dutch on fighting for independence from Spain, and the remaining were flowed/used into trade and commerce.

26 Answer: Estates

Question type: Short answer questions

Answer location: Paragraph E, lines 3-5

Answer explanation: “They displayed their success by erecting grand estates surrounded by flower gardens.” This suggests that the wealthy and opulent household often displayed their wealth and affluence by building lavish estates with flower gardens.

27 Answer: Flower lovers

Question type: Short answer questions

Answer location: Paragraph F, lines 5-7

Answer explanation: “Around 1630, however, a new type of tulip fancier appeared, lured by tales of fat profits. These “florists,” or professional tulip traders, sought out flower lovers and speculators alike.” This suggests that the traders who were involved in tulip trading tried to seek opportunities for flower lovers.

Tips to Ace Oscars - IELTS Reading Answers

Let us check out some quick IELTS Exam Preparation Tips for Band Score of 8+ to answer the types of questions in the Reading Answers. 

Matching Features 

• Identify key features first (such as names, dates, places, or categories) and underline them before reading the passage.
• Scan the passage, not read word by word, to locate information related to each feature quickly.
• Look for paraphrasing, as the wording in the passage will often differ from the question.
• Avoid overusing one paragraph, since each feature is usually matched only once unless stated otherwise.
• Use elimination, crossing out options that clearly do not match to narrow down the correct answer.

True / False / Not Given  

• Understand the statement clearly before checking the passage; do not rely on memory.
• True means the statement agrees with the passage, while False means it contradicts it directly.
• Not Given is used when the information is missing or not mentioned at all.
• Do not assume or use outside knowledge—base your answer only on what is written.
• Check for qualifiers (e.g., some, all, often, never), as these words can change the meaning.

Short Answer Questions 

• Read the question carefully to understand what type of information is required (number, name, reason, etc.).
• Follow the word limit strictly, as extra words will result in a wrong answer.
• Locate keywords in the question and scan the passage for synonyms.
• Use words directly from the passage; do not paraphrase unless instructed.
• Answer grammatically, ensuring the response fits the sentence logically.

In conclusion, the IELTS Reading passage “When the Tulip Bubble Burst - IELTS Reading Answers” allows candidates to practise a range of question types while improving comprehension and information-identifying skills. With complete answers, keyword locations, and explanations, this article helps learners understand the passage more effectively, enhance accuracy, and boost their overall IELTS Reading score. Keep practising with more IELTS Reading Recent Actual Tests  and answers on IELTSMaterial.com to improve your speed, accuracy, and overall performance.

Check More IELTS Reading Answers