IELTS Reading Passages similar to 6 Dec 2025
📘 IELTS Reading Passage 1
Ancient Celtic Women
The role of women in ancient Celtic societies has long fascinated historians because, unlike many other ancient cultures, the Celts granted women a level of freedom that was unusual for the period. Archaeological discoveries and classical writings provide evidence that Celtic women enjoyed legal rights, property ownership, and social influence that exceeded what was common in Greek or Roman societies. Although not entirely equal to men, their position offers intriguing insights into early European gender structures.
One striking characteristic of Celtic society was the legal autonomy of women. Historical sources indicate that Celtic women could own land, inherit property, and initiate divorce—rights denied to most women elsewhere in classical antiquity. The Brehon Laws, an ancient Irish legal code, described various forms of marriage and recognised the economic contributions of both spouses. These laws also protected women from certain forms of domestic mistreatment. However, the degree of autonomy varied by region, and not all Celtic tribes practised identical customs.
Celtic women were also active participants in warfare. Roman commentators frequently expressed astonishment at the presence of female warriors on the battlefield. While such accounts may have been exaggerated for dramatic effect, archaeological evidence—such as weapon-filled female graves—suggests that some women held military roles. The legendary figure of Boudicca, the queen who led a major uprising against Roman rule in 60 CE, is often presented as an example of Celtic female leadership and defiance.
Beyond warfare, women influenced political and spiritual life. Some served as tribal rulers, while others functioned as druids, a priestly class known for scholarship and ritual authority. Although the exact responsibilities of female druids remain uncertain, historical texts imply that women participated in divination, healing, and religious ceremonies. Their presence in prestigious roles challenges the assumption that ancient societies universally restricted women’s public participation.
Despite these freedoms, Celtic women were not entirely liberated from patriarchal norms. Marriages were often arranged to secure alliances, and elite women were sometimes used as diplomatic tokens between tribes. Additionally, much of what historians know comes from Roman writers, whose observations were shaped by cultural bias and limited understanding of Celtic customs. As a result, modern interpretations must be cautious not to romanticise Celtic gender equality.
Nevertheless, the available evidence indicates that Celtic women experienced a distinctive blend of independence and constraint. They were neither fully subordinate nor entirely equal, but their legal rights and social visibility distinguish them from many women of the ancient world. Their story highlights the complexity of gender roles in early European societies and provides a counterpoint to more restrictive civilisations of the same era.
📘 QUESTIONS (1–13)
Questions 1–5: TRUE / FALSE / NOT GIVEN
Do the statements agree with the passage?
1. Celtic women had more legal rights than Greek women.
2. All Celtic tribes followed the same marriage laws.
3. Some Celtic women were buried with weapons.
4. Roman writers described Celtic female warriors accurately and without exaggeration.
5. Women in Celtic society were completely free from patriarchal restrictions.
Questions 6–9: MATCHING INFORMATION
Match each fact to the correct paragraph (A–E).
A = Paragraph 1
B = Paragraph 2
C = Paragraph 3
D = Paragraph 4
E = Paragraph 5
6. Female leaders challenging foreign rule
7. Marriage laws recognising women’s economic role
8. Roman misunderstanding influencing modern views
9. Evidence that women participated in religious life
Questions 10–13: SENTENCE COMPLETION
Complete the sentences below.
Use NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage.
10. The Brehon Laws protected Celtic women from certain types of _______.
11. Archaeology shows that some women may have had _______ roles.
12. Elite Celtic women were sometimes used to form political _______.
13. Historians warn that modern researchers should avoid _______ Celtic gender equality.
📘 IELTS Reading – Passage 2
Mechanical Computer
Before electronic circuits dominated the technological landscape, early engineers experimented with machines capable of performing calculations using entirely mechanical components. These “mechanical computers” emerged in the 19th and early 20th centuries and laid the groundwork for modern computing principles. Although they appear primitive today, their design required remarkable precision and innovation.
One of the earliest known mechanical computing devices was Charles Babbage’s Difference Engine, conceived in the 1820s. Babbage envisioned a machine that could automatically calculate mathematical tables, eliminating human error. His design relied on a complex arrangement of gears, levers, and rotating shafts. Despite receiving partial government funding, the full machine was never completed during his lifetime due to engineering challenges and escalating costs.
The next major milestone came from Herman Hollerith in the late 19th century. Tasked with solving the U.S. Census problem—where population data had become too large to process manually—Hollerith invented a mechanical tabulating machine that used punched cards to store and process information. His system dramatically reduced computation time and inspired the founding of a company that would later become IBM.
Mechanical computers were limited not only by their speed but also by their physical constraints. A typical device required thousands of precisely engineered metal parts, which made production expensive and maintenance difficult. Moreover, the machines worked only with pre-defined instructions. Unlike modern computers, which can be reprogrammed instantly, mechanical devices had to be physically altered to perform new tasks.
Nonetheless, mechanical computers played fundamental roles during the early 20th century. Aircraft engineers used them to solve aerodynamic equations long before digital calculators existed. In World War II, mechanical calculating systems supported navigation and artillery targeting. Their reliability in extreme conditions made them critical instruments in environments where electronic components were vulnerable.
By the mid-20th century, however, the rise of electronic computing rendered mechanical devices obsolete. Transistors, introduced in the 1940s, transformed computation by allowing machines to run faster, handle more complex tasks, and occupy far less space. Yet historians argue that without the conceptual framework provided by mechanical computers—especially the separation of input, processing, and output—modern computing would not exist in its current form.
Today, surviving mechanical computers are preserved in museums and research institutions. They stand not only as historical artefacts but also as reminders of human ingenuity during a period when computation relied solely on the movement of gears rather than the flow of electricity.
📘 QUESTIONS (1–13)
Questions 1–5: TRUE / FALSE / NOT GIVEN
Do the statements agree with the information?
1. Babbage’s Difference Engine was fully completed during his lifetime.
2. Hollerith’s invention helped speed up population-data processing.
3. Mechanical computers could easily be reprogrammed for new tasks.
4. Mechanical devices were preferred during wars because of their reliability.
5. Transistors replaced mechanical computers mainly due to lower production costs.
Questions 6–9: MATCHING INFORMATION
Match each statement with the correct paragraph A–F.
(A) Paragraph 1
(B) Paragraph 2
(C) Paragraph 3
(D) Paragraph 4
(E) Paragraph 5
(F) Paragraph 6
6. A machine that used punched cards
7. Difficulties in building early mechanical computers
8. How mechanical computers influenced modern computer structure
9. The limited flexibility of mechanical designs
Questions 10–13: SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
Answer NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS.
10. What kind of parts did early mechanical computers rely on?
11. What organisation did Hollerith’s company eventually evolve into?
12. What invention in the 1940s replaced mechanical computing systems?
13. Where are surviving mechanical computers mainly kept today?
📘 IELTS Reading Passage 3
Crossing the Threshold
Across cultures and throughout history, a “threshold” has symbolised more than a physical boundary; it represents a psychological or social transition from one state of being to another. Anthropologists often use the term liminality to describe this in-between phase, where individuals temporarily exist outside their ordinary roles and expectations. Whether through coming-of-age ceremonies, religious rituals, or modern self-improvement practices, crossing a threshold signifies transformation—often profound and irreversible.
The best-known analysis of thresholds comes from Arnold van Gennep, who proposed that every rite of passage contains three stages: separation, liminality, and incorporation. In the separation phase, individuals detach from their previous status; in the liminal stage, they enter a symbolic space characterised by uncertainty and suspension of normal rules; finally, in the incorporation phase, they emerge with a new identity. Although van Gennep’s model was developed in the early 20th century, it continues to shape contemporary anthropological studies.
Interestingly, the concept of threshold-crossing has extended far beyond traditional rituals. In the modern world, people encounter liminality in contexts such as starting a new job, migrating to unfamiliar countries, or recovering from major life changes. These experiences mirror classic rites of passage; individuals leave behind familiar habits, adapt to ambiguity, and eventually establish a renewed sense of belonging. Psychologists argue that these transitions can stimulate emotional growth, creativity, and resilience.
However, liminality is not always reassuring. Prolonged or involuntary liminal states—such as unemployment, long-term displacement, or social isolation—can generate anxiety and instability. Without clear direction, individuals may feel suspended between two worlds, unable to reclaim their former identity yet uncertain of their future role. Studies show that people experiencing extended liminality often struggle with self-esteem and loss of control.
Thresholds also appear in architecture and design. Doorways, gateways, and transitional spaces—like porches or courtyards—are deliberately constructed to ease the movement from public to private life. Some cultures treat these zones as sacred or protective. In Japan, for example, torii gates mark the boundary between everyday space and a spiritual realm. While these physical thresholds differ from psychological ones, both signal a shift in meaning or purpose.
In recent years, researchers have applied liminality to technology and digital life. Virtual reality, online identities, and social media interactions create hybrid spaces that blend physical and virtual presence. Users often adopt alternative personas, exploring identities that may not align with their everyday selves. Scholars argue that digital platforms function as modern thresholds, enabling experimentation but also contributing to confusion about authenticity.
Despite its many forms, threshold-crossing remains a universal human experience. Whether stepping into adulthood or navigating unfamiliar digital spaces, individuals repeatedly move between states of uncertainty and self-definition. The challenge—and opportunity—lies in managing the discomfort of the in-between while embracing the growth it can offer.
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📘 QUESTIONS (1–14)
Questions 1–5: YES / NO / NOT GIVEN
(Writer’s views)
1. Thresholds are viewed as strictly physical boundaries in anthropology.
2. Van Gennep’s three-stage model still influences modern researchers.
3. Modern life offers fewer opportunities for liminal experiences than ancient societies.
4. Extended periods of liminality can negatively affect mental health.
5. Architectural thresholds serve no symbolic purpose in any culture.
Questions 6–9: MATCHING FEATURES
Match the description to the correct concept.
A = Psychological liminality
B = Architectural thresholds
C = Digital thresholds
D = Traditional rites of passage
6. Enables individuals to experiment with alternate identities
7. Involuntary transitions producing anxiety
8. Marking sacred boundaries
9. Structured ceremonies involving symbolic stages
Questions 10–12: MULTIPLE CHOICE
10. What do psychologists believe liminal experiences can promote?
A Creativity and emotional resilience
B Strict adherence to social norms
C Reduced sensitivity to uncertainty
D Faster adaptation to technology
11. Which example from the passage illustrates a voluntary liminal transition?
A Long-term unemployment
B Migration to a new country
C Social isolation
D Prolonged displacement
12. According to the passage, what challenge does digital liminality create?
A Lack of privacy
B Identity confusion
C Inability to access technology
D Permanent loss of cultural practices
Questions 13–14: SUMMARY COMPLETION
Complete the summary using ONE WORD ONLY.
Threshold-crossing occurs in many forms. In traditional societies, these transitions often take the shape of (13)__________, while in digital environments individuals may shift between different (14)__________.
📘 ANSWER KEY + EXPLANATIONS
True / False / Not Given
1. TRUE – Passage says Celtic women had more rights than Greek/Roman women.
2. FALSE – It states that customs varied by region.
3. TRUE – Weapon-filled female graves are mentioned.
4. FALSE – Roman accounts were often exaggerated.
5. FALSE – They still faced arranged marriages and patriarchal norms.
Matching Information
6. C – Boudicca leading an uprising = female leaders challenging Rome.
7. B – Brehon laws acknowledged economic contributions.
8. D – Roman bias affecting modern interpretations.
9. D – Female druids in spiritual roles.
Sentence Completion
10. mistreatment – Laws protected them from domestic mistreatment.
11. military – Grave evidence indicates military roles.
12. alliances – Elite women used for diplomacy.
13. romanticising – Warning against romanticising their equality.
Passage 2:
True / False / Not Given
1. FALSE – It says the Difference Engine was never completed during his lifetime.
2. TRUE – His tabulating machine dramatically reduced computation time.
3. FALSE – They had to be physically altered to perform new tasks.
4. TRUE – They were used in war because they were reliable in extreme conditions.
5. FALSE – Replacement was due to speed, complexity, and size, not cost.
Matching Information
6. C – Punched-card machine = Hollerith (Paragraph 3).
7. B – Engineering challenges and rising costs = Babbage (Paragraph 2).
8. E – Conceptual framework influenced modern computing.
9. C – Mechanical devices needed physical alteration for new tasks.
Short Answers
10. Gears and levers – Mentioned in Paragraph 2.
11. IBM – Direct reference in Paragraph 3.
12. Transistors – Named in Paragraph 5.
13. Museums and institutions – Paragraph 6.
Passage 3: YES / NO / NOT GIVEN
1. NO – Anthropologists view thresholds as symbolic, not merely physical.
2. YES – It “continues to shape contemporary studies.”
3. NO – Modern life adds many liminal experiences.
4. YES – Passage states extended liminality causes anxiety & instability.
5. NO – Some cultures treat architectural thresholds as sacred.
MATCHING FEATURES
6. C – Digital thresholds → exploring alternative personas.
7. A – Psychological liminality → involuntary transitions like unemployment.
8. B – Architectural thresholds → torii gates marking sacred spaces.
9. D – Traditional rites → structured ceremonies with stages.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
10. A – Psychologists say liminality promotes growth, creativity, resilience.
11. B – Migration is a voluntary major life transition.
12. B – Digital liminality → confusion about authenticity/identity.
SUMMARY COMPLETION
13. rituals – Traditional transitions often take the form of rituals.
14. identities – Digital spaces allow switching between identities.
