# The pirates of the ancient Mediterranean: answers and explanations

Cambridge IELTS 19, Test 1, Reading Passage 2

Source: Passage, questions and answer key from Cambridge IELTS 19, Test 1, Reading Passage 2. © Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Used for educational practice. Explanations and evidence notes are written by Testmigo.

## Answer key

| Q | Answer | Proof |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 14 | D | the king of Alashiya (modern Cyprus) rejected Akhenaten's claims of a connection with the Lukka |
| 15 | G | Pompey divided the entire Mediterranean into 13 districts, assigning a fleet and commander to each |
| 16 | C | it was not unknown in the first and second millennia BCE for governments to resort to pirates' services, especially during wartime |
| 17 | A | an image springs to most people's minds of a crew of misfits, daredevils and adventurers |
| 18 | G | many more were offered land in fertile areas located far from the sea |
| 19 | B | most were restricted to a few well-known navigable routes that followed the coastline |
| 20 | B, D | knowledge of the local area helped the pirates to avoid retaliation once a state fleet arrived |
| 21 | B, D | the inhabitants of these areas relied heavily on marine resources, including fish and salt |
| 22 | C, E | Even high-ranking members of the state were not beyond engaging in such activities. |
| 23 | C, E | Homer not only condones, but praises the lifestyle and actions of pirates |
| 24 | grain | Pirate attacks on grain ships |
| 25 | punishment | demanding punishment of the culprits. |
| 26 | ransom | asking for a large ransom to be paid. |

## Why these answers are right

**14. D.** In paragraph D the king of Alashiya 'rejected Akhenaten's claims of a connection with the Lukka', a pirate group. Rejecting a claim that you are connected to pirates is a denial of involvement in piracy, so the information is in paragraph D.

**15. G.** Paragraph G gives the step-by-step method Pompey used: the sea was split into 13 districts, each with a fleet and commander, and fleets moved on once a district was cleared. These are the details of how the campaign was carried out, so G is correct.

**16. C.** Paragraph C explains that governments would 'resort to pirates' services, especially during wartime', using them in the first wave of an attack. Wartime is the circumstance in which states used pirates, which is what the prompt describes.

The why and the trap for questions 17 onwards are free with an account on the [answers page](https://testmigo.com/ielts/reading/the-pirates-of-the-ancient-mediterranean/answers).

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