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BEST IELTS Academic Reading Test 480
IELTS ACADEMIC READING TEST 480 – PASSAGE – 1
IELTS ACADEMIC READING TEST – 480
READING PASSAGE – 1
Malacca the beautiful city
A. Malacca is also known as ‘The Historic State’. It is a state positioned in Malaysia in the southern region of the Malay Peninsula, besides the Strait of Malacca. Malacca is located south of Negeri Sembilan and north of Johor state. Malacca city is the capital of the state of Malacca. Malacca is located about 250 kilometres from the capital city of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur. The historical city centre of the city is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008. Malacca is a small city, but one can see cultural diversity at every corner. The historical sites around the city has been preserved very well.
B. Previously, Malacca was known as the earliest Malay sultanates, but the local kingdom was obliterated when the Portuguese occupied Malacca in 1511. The head of the state is not a Sultan, but a Governor. Melaka is well-known for its exclusive history and is one of the major tourist destinations in Malaysia.
Tourists from within the country and foreigners also visit the city of Malacca. The city was once a renowned international trade centre in the East with a highly strategic state location for international trade routes. Famous traders from mainly India, China and Arabia traded at the port of Malacca. This resulted in many people settling there and one can witness the descendants and tribes that exists in Malacca today.
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C. Due to diversity in the races and ethnicities that have long existed in the local community has had a huge impact on their nature. People in Malacca are harmonious and full of life. Malays, Malaysian Chinese, Malaysian Indians, Baba Nyonya, Kristang, Chitty and Eurasians are the most prominent ethnic groups living in the state of Malacca till date.
Malacca was a fishing village populated by local populace known as Orang Laut before the arrival of the first Sultan. Malacca was founded by Parameswara, popularly acknowledged as Iskandar Shah. In 1402, he identified Malacca as an all whether port. In 1403, the first official Chinese trade representative led by Admiral Yin Qing arrived in Malacca. Far along, Parameswara was accompanied by Zheng He and other heralds in his successful visits. Malacca’s relations with Ming China approved it protection from bouts by Siam and Majapahit. Malacca officially succumbed to Ming China as a protectorate. Following this, Malacca developed into a major trade settlement on the trade route between China and India, Middle East, Africa and Europe.
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D. According to a folklore, Parameswara was sleeping under a tree near a river during a hunt, when one of his dogs cornered a mouse deer. In self-defence, the mouse deer pushed the dog into the river. Parameswara was very impressed by the courage of the deer. He took this act as an auspicious omen of the weak overcoming the powerful.
He then decided to find an empire on that very spot. He named it ‘Malacca’ after the tree where he was resting, the Malacca tree. Parameswara made an alliance with the fellow sea-people who were known by the name of Orang Laut. Orang Laut were the people who wandered in the straits of Malacca. With them, he established Malacca as an international port by convincing fleeting ships to call there and founding fair and reliable facilities for warehousing and trade.
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E. In the early 15th century, Ming China actively wanted to develop a commercial hub and a base of operation for their treasure expeditions into the Indian Ocean in Malacca. Malacca had been a relatively insignificant region, not even qualifying as a polity prior to the journeys according to both Ma Huan and Fei Xin. In 1405, the Ming court posted Admiral Zheng He with a stone tablet enfeoffing the Western Mountain of Malacca as well as an imperial order elevating the status of the port to a country.
The Chinese also established a government depot as a fortified cantonment for their soldiers. Ma Huan reported that Siam did not dare to invade Malacca thereafter. The leaders of Malacca, such as Parameswara in 1411, would pay honour to the Chinese emperor in person. In 1431, when a Malaccan representative criticized that Siam was hindering tribute missions to the Ming court, the Xuande Emperor posted Zheng He carrying an intimidating message for the Siamese king saying “You, king should respect my orders, develop respectable relations with your neighbours, examine and instruct your subordinates and not act recklessly or violently.
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F. The early kings of Malacca-Parameswara, Megat Iskandar Shah, and Sri Maharaja- understood that they can gain Ming China’s protection over skilful diplomacy and thereby could found a strong foundation to their kingdom against Siam and other potential enemies. Involvement from China was integral to expand into a major substitute to other crucial and established ports.
To improve relations, Hang Li Po, according to local legend, a daughter of the Ming Emperor of China, arrived in Malacca, escorted by 500 attendants, to marry Sultan Manshur Shah who reigned from 1456 until 1477. Her attendants married locals and settled mostly in Bukit Cina.
IELTS Academic Reading Test
Question 1-6
Which paragraph contains the following information?
Write correct letter A-F in your answer sheet.
NB you may use any letter more than once
1. Assortment in the population of Malacca.
2. The idea of Kings that Malacca could have a solid foundation against certain kingdoms.
3. The geographical location of Malacca.
4. The naming of Malacca according to a legend.
5. The city used to be a famous trade centre.
6. The influence of Chinese in Malacca.
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Questions 7-14
Write no more than THREE WORDS for each answer.
7. Malacca is small, but there is …………………… at every nook and corner.
8. …………………… is the head of the state, not a Sultan.
9. Well-known traders from different countries …………………… at the port of Malacca.
10. Previously, Malacca was a fishing village and was populated by ……………………
11. According to a fable, Parameswara was resting under a ……………………
12. Ming China hoped to develop a …………………… and a base of operation for their treasure voyages.
13. The early kings of Malacca sought the protection of ……………………
14. The daughter of Ming Emperor from china was accompanied by …………………… in Malacca.
IELTS Academic Reading Test
IELTS Academic Reading Test
ANSWERS
1. C
2. F
3. A
4. D
5. B
6. E
7. CULTURAL DIVERSITY
8. GOVERNOR
9. TRADED
10. ORANG LAUT
11. TREE
12. COMMERCIAL HUB
13. MING CHINA
14. 500 ATTENDANTS
IELTS Academic Reading Test