BEST IELTS Academic Reading Test 517

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IELTS ACADEMIC READING TEST – 517

READING PASSAGE – 2

Iran-Contra Affair

A. In the middle of President Reagan’s second term as President, the Iran-Contra affair erupted. This was a political scandal in which senior administration officials secretly sold arms to Iran, which was under an arms embargo. The idea was that the sale of these arms would help secure the release of several U.S. hostages being held in Lebanon. Furthermore, the money raised from this sale would be used to fund the Contras in Nicaragua. At the time, under the Boland Amendment, Congress had prohibited any further funding of the Contras.

B. The scandal was initially begun as an operation to free seven American hostages who were being held in Lebanon by a group with ties to Iran and the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution. The plan was that Israel would ship the arms to Iran. In return, the United States would replace the arms to Israel and the U.S. would receive payment for the arms from Israel. For the weapons, Iran promised to do everything in its power to secure the U.S. hostages release.

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Unfortunately, the plan deteriorated into an arms-for-hostages scheme in which arms were sold directly to Iran in exchange for release of hostages. As the plan developed, there were modifications devised by then Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North who was with the National Security Council in 1985. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of weapons was diverted to fund the Contras, who were opposed to the communist Sandinista government of Nicaragua.

C. Even though President Reagan himself was a supporter of the Contras, there is virtually no evidence to indicate that he had authorised the diversion of money raised by the arms sale to Iran, to the Contras. Based on a note written by then Defence Secretary Casper Weinberger on December 7, 1985, it could be seen that Reagan was aware of the potential hostage transfers with Iran as well as the sale of Hawk and Tow missiles to other factions within Iran. After the sale of weapons was revealed in November 1986, Reagan immediately spoke on national television stating that the arms transfers did occur, but the U.S. did not trade weapons in exchange for hostages.

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D. The investigation into the scandal was greatly hampered when it was discovered that large volumes of documents relating to the scandal were destroyed or withheld by officials from the Reagan administration. Reagan again spoke on national television on March 4, 1987 stating that he took full responsibility for any actions that he was unaware of and did admit that what began as a way to open up to Iran deteriorated into trading arms for hostages.

E. Several investigations took place when the scandal broke. One was conducted by the U.S Congress and another by a three-person panel appointed by President Reagan, known as the Tower Commission. Neither investigation found any evidence to implicate President Reagan or to suggest that he knew the extent of the scandal. Ultimately, the sale of weapons itself was viewed not to be a criminal offence. However, criminal charges were lodged against five individuals due to their support of the Contras. These charges were later dropped because the Reagan administration refused to declassify certain documents and this prevented any formal court proceedings to take place.

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Those who were indicted did face lesser charges. As a result, fourteen officials were indicted, including Secretary of Defence Weinberger. Eleven convictions resulted. Some were redacted after appeal. The rest of those who were indicted or convicted were all pardoned by President George H.W. Bush during his final days as President.

F. The scandal was broken after a leak by Iranian Mehdi Hashemi to the Lebanese magazine Ash-Shiraa, which exposed the arrangement in November, 1986. This was the first reporting of the arms for hostages deal. The operation itself was discovered after an airlift of weapons was downed over Nicaragua. Eugene Hasenfus, who was aboard the plane was captured by Nicaraguan authorities who stated in a press conference that two of his co-workers were employed by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency.

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The Iranian government confirmed the Ash-Shiraa story and in response, President Reagan in a speech on national television stated that he was sending a signal to Iran that the U.S. was prepared to end hostilities and develop a new relationship with Iran. He also mentioned that in order for such relations to proceed, Iran must oppose all forms of terrorism and as a first step Iran would use its influence to secure the release of U.S. hostages in Lebanon.

G. Oliver North made the situation worse when he destroyed or hid many important documents. During his trial, his secretary testified that she had helped North alter, shred and remove official National Security Council documents from the White House. North testified that he witnessed Poindexter destroy a document that could have linked President Reagan to the scandal, which was a signed copy of a presidential covert-action finding that sought to authorise CIA participation in the Hawk missile shipment to Iran.

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Questions 15 – 19

The text has seven paragraphs (A – G). Which paragraph contains the following information? Choose the correct paragraph (A – G).

15 a mention of the verdict given by an official body

16 a reference to official declaration of evidence tampering

17 why financing the Contra was considered illegal

18 an explanation of challenge faced during ongoing inquiry

19 a message of ending the fight and maintaining peace

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Questions 20 – 21

Which TWO of the following statements are made in the text about President Reagan?

A. He was against the funding of the contras with the sale proceeds of weapons.

B. He knew that the hostage exchange is going to take place.

C. He authorised arms trading in lieu of hostages in his term.

D. He assured the release of hostages under any circumstances.

E. His term was marked by a scandal involving the senior officials.

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Questions 22 – 27

Write ONE WORD ONLY from the text in each gap.

Originally, the scandal started as an (22)…………….. which was planned to secure the release of seven hostages from a group having links with Iran. In exchange of the weapons, the release of these hostages was (23)…………….. . However, this scheme did not work out and (24)…………….. were contrived for the plan. A part of the sales proceed from the exchange was (25)…………….. to support the Contras. When the scandal was exposed, multiple (26)…………….. were undertaken. Some of the charges were dropped and many of those who were found guilty were (27)……………..

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