IELTS Rewind

IELTS Reading Practice Test: Nutmeg – a valuable spice

Practice your IELTS reading skills with this comprehensive 13-question test. Time limit: 20 minutes.

Reading Passage Content Summary

## Nutmeg – a valuable spice The nutmeg tree, Myristica fragrans, is a large evergreen tree native to Southeast Asia. Until the late 18th century, it only grew in one place in the world: a small group of islands in the Banda Sea, part of the Moluccas – or Spice Islands – in northeastern Indonesia. ...

Question Types Included

  • note-completion (4 questions)
  • true-false-not-given (3 questions)
  • table-completion (6 questions)

Test Information

  • Total Questions: 13
  • Time Limit: 20 minutes
  • Level: Intermediate to Advanced
  • Format: IELTS Academic Reading
Ready to Start?
Customize your exam settings and begin your reading test
Exam Duration:
min
Standard test • Range: 5-180 minutes
20 min
13 questions

Nutmeg – a valuable spice

Reading Passage Content

This page contains IELTS reading practice materials with comprehensive questions and explanations.

Reading Comprehension Questions

Questions 1–4: Note Completion

Complete the notes below.
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 1–4.

The nutmeg tree and fruit

  • the leaves of the tree are (1). in shape
  • the (2). surrounds the fruit and breaks open when the fruit is ripe
  • the (3). is used to produce the spice nutmeg
  • the covering known as the aril is used to produce (4).
  • the tree has yellow flowers and fruit

Questions 5–7: True/False/Not Given

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the passage?
Write TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
Write FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
Write NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this

5 In the Middle Ages, most Europeans knew where nutmeg was grown.

6 The VOC was the world’s first major trading company.

7 Following the Treaty of Breda, the Dutch had control of all the islands where nutmeg grew.

Questions 8–13: Table Completion

Complete the table below.
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 8–13.

Middle Ages Nutmeg was brought to Europe by the (8).
16th century European nations took control of the nutmeg trade
17th century
  • Demand for nutmeg grew, as it was believed to be effective against the disease known as the (9).
  • The Dutch
  • took control of the Banda Islands
  • restricted nutmeg production to a few areas
  • put (10). on nutmeg to avoid it being cultivated outside the islands
  • finally obtained the island of (11). from the British
Late 18th century
  • 1770 – nutmeg plants were secretly taken to (12).
  • 1778 – half the Banda Islands’ nutmeg plantations were destroyed by a (13).
Ready to Start?
Customize your exam settings and begin your reading test
Exam Duration:
min
Standard test • Range: 5-180 minutes
20 min
13 questions
IELTS Reading #107: Nutmeg – a valuable spice | IELTS Rewind