Thomas Young Reading Answers

arivarasi

Author

16-09-2025

thomas-young-reading-answers.jpg

Thomas young reading answers presented below in tabular form. You can compare and evaluate your responses.

1. TRUE 5. TRUE 9. HUMAN EYE ACCOMMODATION  13. GAS LIGHTING
2. FALSE 6. TRUE 10. INDO-EUROPEAN  
3. FALSE 7. NOT GIVEN 11. RICHARD BROKLESBY  
4. NOT GIVEN 8. 46 12. ROYAL INSTITUTION  

In IELTS reading, examine the sample response to familiarise yourself with the reading test format and the type of questions which will appear in it. Your overall band score will increase if you perform well in the IELTS reading exam, your overall band will increase.

The Thomas Young reading passage comes with three different IELTS reading question types which are stated below

  • IELTS Reading True/False/Not Given
  • IELTS Reading Short Answer Questions
  • IELTS Reading Multiple Choice Questions

Check the IELTS reading tips, before solving Thomas young IELTS reading answers.

Check out our YouTube Channel to Practice Full-Length IELTS Reading Tests Daily

IELTS Reading Practice Test Demo

IELTS reading passage - Thomas Young

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1-13 which are based on the Reading Passage below. After you've attempted all of the questions, review your answers using the provided Thomas Young reading answers with location.

Thomas Young

The Last True Know-It-AU

  1. Thomas Young (1773–1829) wrote 63 articles for the Encyclopedia Britannica, including 46 biographies (primarily of scientists and classicists) and in-depth pieces on "Bridge," "Chromatics," "Egypt," "Languages," and "Tides." Was someone a polymath, a genius, or a dilettante if they could write with authority on so many subjects? According to Andrew Robinson's ambitious new biography, Young is a strong candidate for the title "the last man who knew everything." Young faces opposition, though: The term, which Robinson adopts as his subtitle, also appears in two other recent biographies: Paula Findlen's 2004 biography of polymath Athanasius Kircher (1602-1680) and Leonard Warren's 1998 biography of palaeontologist Joseph Leidy (1823-1891).

  2. Of course, Young produced more than just encyclopedia entries. At the age of 20, he delivered his first paper to the Royal Society of London, and a week after being 21, he was elected a Fellow. Young described how the human eye accommodates, or how the eye can focus correctly on objects at various distances, in the study. Young claimed that adjustments to the lens's shape were liable for this. Young also proposed the wave theory of light, and he felt that there must be three receptors in the eye that correspond to the three "primary colours" to which the retina may respond: red, green, and violet, in order to explain the ability to see in colour. All of these hypotheses were later shown to be true.

  3. Later in life, in his forties, Young played a key role in decoding the code that opened the mysterious script on the Rosetta Stone, a tablet that perhaps the Napoleonic army "discovered" in Egypt in 1799. The text on the stone is written in three different alphabets: Greek, an unknown alphabet, and Egyptian hieroglyphs. Young surmised that the obscure writing, now known as demotic, is intimately related to hieroglyphic. His initial research on this was included in his entry on Egypt in the Britannica. He first used the term Indo-European to refer to the family of languages that are spoken across the majority of Europe and northern India in another entry. These are the ground-breaking accomplishments of a man who was a child prodigy and who, in contrast to many other gifted kids, did not fade into obscurity as an adult.

  4. Young, who was born in 1773 and raised with his maternal grandparents in Somerset, England, finally moved out to pursue boarding school. He had been a bookworm since he was two years old, and on his own initiative, he became an expert in Latin, Greek, mathematics, and natural philosophy. Richard Brocklesby, a doctor and Fellow of the Royal Society, was his mother's uncle, and he gave him a lot of encouragement after he finished school. Young made the decision to pursue a career in medicine after Brocklesby. Following the medical tour, he studied in London before continuing on to more formal studies in Edinburgh, Gottingen, and Cambridge. Young opened a medical practice in London in 1808 after finishing his medical background at the University of Cambridge. Soon after, he was admitted to the Royal College of Physicians and sent to St. George's Hospital as a physician.

  5. But Young's talent as a doctor fell short of his skill as a student of languages or natural philosophy. At the Royal Institution, where he held a professorship of natural philosophy before, he gave up to 60 lectures a year beginning in 1801. These were released in 1807 in two volumes. Young was appointed secretary of the Royal Society in 1804 and remained in that position until his passing. On civic and national issues, such as the implementation of gas lighting in London and shipbuilding techniques, his thoughts were sought after. He served as the Nautical Almanac's superintendent and Board of Longitude secretary beginning in 1819. He served as the Palladian Insurance Company's doctor and calculations inspector from 1824 until 1829. He provided his extensive and varied entries to the Encyclopedia Britannica between 1816 and 1825, and over the course of his career, he wrote a great deal of books, essays, and papers.

  6. Young is the ideal, yet intimidating, subject for a biography. Few men made as much of an impact in so many technical domains. Robinson wants to explain Young's work and life to non-scientists. He succeeds in delivering the technical material in a clear manner (especially on optics and Egyptian hieroglyphs). Young's accomplishments will strike some readers of this book as impressive, like Robinson, while others will view him as a dilettante like some historians have. However, despite the wealth of information in this book, readers won't get to know Young personally. A lighthearted Young can be seen writing Latin and Greek words in his notes for medical courses and translating the lines that a young woman had scrawled on a summerhouse's walls into Greek elegiacs. Young was introduced to high society, went to the theatre, and managed to pick up dancing and flute playing. Additionally, he was a skilled rider. But in comparison to his dynamic profession and studies, his personal life seems tepid.

  7. According to Robinson, Young married Eliza Maxwell in 1804, and "their marriage was a happy one and she appreciated his work." The only things we really know about her are that she supported her husband through some contentious arguments about optics and that she fretted about money when his medical profession didn't take off right away. The complexity of Young's connections with his mother and father are little documented. Robinson does not attribute Young's remarkable thinking to them or anybody else. Despite the paucity of information regarding Young's relationships, this book is recommended for anyone curious about what it means to be a genius.

Thomas Young Reading Questions 

Questions 1-6

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the reading passage?
In boxes 1-6 on your answer sheet, write

TRUE               if the statement is true
FALSE             if the statement is false
NOT GIVEN     if the information is not given in the passage

  1. Each of Young’s articles appeared in Encyclopedia Britannica.
  2. Others have also raised a claim to "the last man who knew everything."
  3. Young's abilities as a physician far overshadowed his other abilities.
  4. Young, like many others, struggled academically as a young person.
  5. People with responsibility for local and international issues sought Young's advice.
  6. Young had suffered from a disease in his old age.

Know more about IELTS Reading True/False/Not Given

Questions 7-10

Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage for each answer.

7. How many biographies for the Encyclopedia Britannica did Young pen?

8. In his initial academic publication, Young focused on what area of scientific study?

9. What name did Young coin to describe a group of languages?

10. Who gave Young the motivation to begin his medical studies?

Know more about IELTS Reading Short Answer Questions.

Questions 11-13

11. Which pathways did Young choose after school?

  1. Technology
  2. Medicine
  3. Visual arts
  4. None of the above

12. In whose opinion was Young capable enough for the title "the last man who knew everything”?

  1. Rosetta
  2. Richard
  3. Robinson
  4. Maxwell

13. Which of the following hasYoung NOT claimed in his academics?

  1. How human eye focus
  2. that modifications of the lens were to blame
  3. Theory of colours and eye receptors
  4. That reflex action can be controlled

Know more about IELTS Reading Multiple Choice Questions

Thomas Young Reading answers with explanation

Here, you can easily access Thomas Young reading answers with explanations so that you may learn the methods and speed up your ability to track out the solutions.

(Note: The text in italics is from the reading passage and gives the location from where the answer is taken or inferred. The text in regular font gives an explanation of the answer in brief.)

1. FALSE

Answer Location: Paragraph B 1st line
Explanation: According to the initial line of the second paragraph, Young produced more than just encyclopedia entries. Thus, the given statement is false.

2. TRUE

Answer Location: Paragraph A 3rd line
Explanation: It is stated in the passage that, According to Andrew Robinson's ambitious new biography, Young is a strong candidate for the title "the last man who knew everything." Hence the given statement is true.

3. NOT GIVEN

Answer Location: Not available
Explanation: There is no statement in the passage which states that Young's abilities as a physician far overshadowed his other abilities.

4. FALSE

Answer Location: Paragraph D 2nd line
Explanation: It is mentioned in the passage that, He had been a bookworm since he was two years old, and on his own initiative, he became an expert in Latin, Greek, mathematics, and natural philosophy. Richard Brocklesby, a doctor and Fellow of the Royal Society, was his mother's uncle, and he gave him a lot of encouragement after he finished school. So, the given statement is False.

5. TRUE

Answer Location: Paragraph E 4th line
Explanation: According to the 5th paragraph, Young was appointed secretary of the Royal Society in 1804 and remained in that position until his passing. On civic and national issues, such as the implementation of gas lighting in London and shipbuilding techniques, his thoughts were sought after. He served as the Nautical Almanac's superintendent and Board of Longitude secretary beginning in 1819. Thus, the given statement is True.

6. NOT GIVEN

Answer Location: Not available
Explanation: There is no statement in the passage which states that Young had suffered from a disease in his old age.

7. 46

Answer Location: Paragraph A, Line 1
Explanation: Thomas Young (1773–1829) wrote 63 articles for the Encyclopedia Britannica, including 46 biographies.

8. Human eye accommodation

Answer Location: Paragraph B, Line 3
Explanation: At the age of 20, he delivered his first paper to the Royal Society of London, and a week after being 21, he was elected a Fellow. Young described how the human eye accommodates.

9. Indo-European

Answer Location: Paragraph C, Line 6
Explanation: He first used the term Indo-European to refer to the family of languages that are spoken across the majority of Europe and northern India in another entry.

10. Richard Brocklesby

Answer Location: Paragraph D, Line 4
Explanation: Richard Brocklesby, a doctor and Fellow of the Royal Society, was his mother's uncle, and he gave him a lot of encouragement after he finished school.

11. B

Answer Location: Paragraph D, Line 6
Explanation: Young made the decision to pursue a career in medicine after Brocklesby.

12. C

Answer Location: Paragraph A, Line 4
Explanation: According to Andrew Robinson's ambitious new biography, Young is a strong candidate for the title "the last man who knew everything.

13. D

Answer Location: Paragraph B, Line 3
Explanation: Young described how the human eye accommodates, or how the eye can focus correctly on objects at various distances, in the study. Young claimed that adjustments to the lens's shape were liable for this. Young also proposed the wave theory of light, and he felt that there must be three receptors in the eye that correspond to the three "primary colours" to which the retina may respond.

Check the other reading passages

Check the other reading passages listed below.

Conclusion

The "Thomas Young reading answers," ensures plenty of practice with the different question types. These are the ones that most frequently show up on the test. In addition, extra added links to practice materials have been provided for your convenience.

arivarasi

About Author Arivarasi

Arivarasi is an experienced author with expertise in the study abroad industry and preparing test materials for exams like IELTS, TOEFL, GRE, SAT, PTE, etc. She stays up-to-date with university and college requirements for international students which allows her to provide guidance on course selection, documents like SOP, LOR, and scholarship opportunities. She has written numerous articles on study abroad exams, destinations, universities & colleges requirements, admission procedures, and the entire process of studying abroad. Collaborating with industry experts and counselors, she crafts informative articles that make students take the right decisions.

More Articles Post by Arivarasi

Kanan.co is a trusted study abroad consultancy offering comprehensive services, resources, and solutions for students and education institutions. We support students at every stage of their global education journey, ensuring a smooth and guided experience. Along with test preparation for IELTS, GRE, TOEFL, and SAT, we provide expert services such as SOP writing, visa guidance, accommodation support, scholarship assistance, and education loan support. Our expertise and commitment to excellence make us a reliable partner for students pursuing international education.

kanan-logo1
kanan-ftr-fbkanan-ftr-igkanan-ftr-linkedinkanan-ftr-twitterkanan-ftr-youtube
kanan-ftr-phone1

+91 73555 73555

DMCA.com Protection Status
Mobile app
Mobile app

Global Headquarters

Kanan Int EdTech Inc

320 Bay Street, Suite 321 (Spaces), Toronto ON, Canada M5B 1N9

Indian Headquarters

Kanan International Pvt. Ltd.

D-wing, 2nd Floor, Trident Complex, Ellora Park Vadiwadi Road, Vadodara, Gujarat 390007

IT/ Digital Campus

Kanan International Pvt. Ltd

Old, New No 3, 2nd Floor, 1A, Dr Sadasivam Rd, T. Nagar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600017

Our branches

  • Bardoli
  • Bharuch
  • Chennai
  • Dehradun
  • Gurugram
  • Himatnagar
  • Karnal
  • Nadiad
  • Navsari
  • Palanpur
  • Rajkot
  • Vadodara
  • Valsad
  • Vallabh Vidyanagar
  • Vapi

Copyright © 2026 KANAN.CO All rights reserved.