Alexander Henderson IELTS Reading Answers With Explanation

Alexander Henderson IELTS Reading Answers: As we prepare for the IELTS Reading section, we will be acquiring a lot of new vocabulary words that can help us in other modules of the IELTS exam. We suggest that you maintain a journal of new words, noting their meanings, synonyms, and opposites. Also, make sentences with these words so that you can retain them and use them wisely.

This Story also Contains

1. IELTS Reading Passage: Alexander Henderson
2. Overview of the IELTS Reading Section
3. Alexander Henderson IELTS Reading Questions
4. Alexander Henderson IELTS Reading Answers
5. Common Traps and Mistakes to Avoid
6. Vocabulary and Key Phrases from the Passage
7. Tips to Solve the Alexander Henderson IELTS Reading Passage
8. Practice and Preparation Resources
9. Conclusion

In the IELTS reading module, you will attempt three different sections, with a total of 40 questions, within a one-hour duration. So, let's start Mock Section 1 with the given reading passage about Alexander Henderson. Remember, to maintain the pace of time, you first need to read the questions and then come to the passage to search for the required information.

IELTS Reading Passage: Alexander Henderson

1. Alexander Henderson was born in Scotland in 1831 and was the son of a successful merchant. His grandfather, also called Alexander, had founded the family business and later became the first chairman of the National Bank of Scotland. The family had extensive landholding in Scotland. Besides its residence in Edinburgh, it owned Press Estate, 650 acres of farmland about 35 miles southeast of the city. The family often stayed at Press Castle, the large mansion on the northern edge of the property, and Alexander spent much of his childhood in the area, playing on the beach near Eyemouth or fishing in the streams nearby.

   GMAC GMAT™ Exam

   Unlock GMAT Success Timeline & Expert Videos | Select test center appointment | Scores valid for 5 Years | Multiple Attempts

   Apply

   Study in USA

   Universities inviting applications | Get expert guidance

   Apply

2. Even after he went to school at Murcheston Academy on the outskirts of Edinburgh, Henderson returned to the Press at weekends. In 1849, he began a three-year apprenticeship to become an accountant. Although he never liked the prospect of a business career, he stayed with it to please his family. In October 1855, however, he emigrated to Canada with his wife, Agnes Elder Robertson, and they settled in Montreal.

   IELTS 2025 Writing Task 1 & 2 - Study Materials

   Aspirants who are appearing for IELTS exam can download this eBook which have complete study material for academic writing task 1 (Data Interpretation) and academic writing task 2 (Essays) sections.

   Download EBook

3. Henderson learned photography in Montreal around the year 1857 and quickly took it up as a serious amateur. He became a personal friend and colleague of the Scottish–Canadian photographer William Notman. The two men made a photographic excursion to Niagara Falls in 1860, and they cooperated on experiments with magnesium flares as a source of artificial light in 1865. They belonged to the same societies and were among the founding members of the Art Association of Montreal. Henderson acted as chairman of the association’s first meeting, which was held in Notman’s studio on 11 January 1860.

4. In spite of their friendship, their styles of photography were quite different. While Notman’s landscapes were noted for their bold realism, Henderson, for the first 20 years of his career, produced romantic images, showing the strong influence of the British landscape tradition. His artistic and technical progress was rapid and in 1865, he published his first major collection of landscape photographs. The publication had limited circulation (only seven copies have ever been found) and was called Canadian Views and Studies. The contents of each copy vary significantly and have proved a useful source for evaluating Henderson’s early work.

5. In 1866, he gave up his business to open a photographic studio, advertising himself as a portrait and landscape photographer. From about 1870, he dropped portraiture to specialize in landscape photography and other views. His numerous photographs of city life revealed in street scenes, houses, and markets are alive with human activity, and although his favorite subject was the landscape, he usually composed his scenes around such human pursuits as farming the land, cutting ice on a river, or sailing down a woodland stream. There was sufficient demand for these types of scenes and others he took, depicting the lumber trade, steamboats, and waterfalls, to enable him to make a living. There was little competing hobby or amateur photography before the late 1880s because of the time-consuming techniques involved and the weight of the equipment. People wanted to buy photographs as souvenirs of a trip or as gifts, and catering to this market, Henderson had stock photographs on display at his studio for mounting, framing, or inclusion in albums.

6. Henderson frequently exhibited his photographs in Montreal and abroad, in London, Edinburgh, Dublin, Paris, New York, and Philadelphia. He met with greater success in 1877 and 1878 in New York when he won first prizes in the exhibition held by E and H T Anthony and Company for landscapes using the Lambertype process. In 1878, his work won second prize at the World Exhibition in Paris.

7. In the 1890s and 1880s, Henderson travelled widely throughout Quebec and Ontario, in Canada, documenting the major cities of the two provinces and many of the villages in Quebec. He was especially fond of the wilderness and often travelled by canoe on the Blanche, du Lièvre, and other noted eastern rivers. He went on several occasions to the Maritimes, and in 1872, he sailed by yacht along the lower north shore of the St Lawrence River. That same year, while in the lower St Lawrence River region, he took some photographs of the construction of the Intercolonial Railway. This undertaking led in 1875 to a commission from the railway to record the principal structures along the almost completed line connecting Montreal to Halifax. Commissions from other railways followed. In 1876, he photographed bridges on the Quebec, Montreal, Ottawa and Occidental Railway between Montreal and Ottawa. In 1855, he went west along the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) as far as Rogers Pass in British Columbia, where he took photographs of the mountains and the progress of construction.

8. In 1892, Henderson accepted a full-time position with the CPR as manager of a photographic department, which he was to set up and administer. His duties included spending four months in the field each year. That summer, he made his second trip west, photographing extensively along the railway line as far as Victoria. He continued in this post until 1897, when he retired completely from photography.

When Henderson died in 1913, his huge collection of glass negatives was stored in the basement of his house. Today, collections of his work are held at the National Archives of Canada, Ottawa, and the McCord Museum of Canadian History, Montreal.

You May Also Like:

• The Braille System

• The Flavour of Pleasure

Who Was Alexander Henderson?

Alexander was a Scottish photographer who significantly contributed to Canadian photography. His passion for photography included landscapes and many other human activities. He was influenced by British tradition and romantic styles.

Why Is This Passage Used in IELTS?

This passage is used in the IELTS reading section because it contains academic vocabulary words and mixed sentence structures from simple to complex, with a lot of ideas. This will help in evaluating a candidate's ability to search for accurate information, understand the main context, and identify the ideas and reasons.

Common Themes and Topics in the Passage

Some of the common themes included in the reading passage are as follows:

• Biography of a photographer

• Technological development

• Canadian geography

• Railway construction and industrialization

• The art of photography evolved as a profession.

Overview of the IELTS Reading Section

The IELTS Reading module consists of three sections, each containing 40 questions, to be completed within one hour.

1. Types of Questions You Might Encounter

Some of the types of questions that are asked in the IELTS Reading section are as follows:

• Multiple choice

• Matching headings

• True/False/Not Given

• Summary completion

• Sentence completion

• Diagram labeling

2. Skills Tested in the Reading Module

Some of the skills tested in the IELTS Reading section are as follows:

• Ability to find the gist of the paragraph.

• Ability to compare the given information with the question statement.

• Understanding the writer's tone, purpose, and style of language.

• Understanding logical arguments.

You May Also Like:

• Common Topics of IELTS Essay

• IELTS Cue Card Preparation Strategy

Alexander Henderson IELTS Reading Questions

Now, let's attempt some sample questions that can come from this passage. Follow the strategies we have given you. Read the instructions, then the question statement, and finally search for the information in the passage.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What was Alexander Henderson's father’s profession?

A. Merchant
B. Photographer
C. Accountant
D. Engineer

2. Which profession did Alexander choose to please his family?

A. Artist
B. Photographer
C. Accountant
D. Engineer

3. Which of the following best describes Henderson’s early photographic style?

A. Abstract and modern
B. Romantic and influenced by British traditions
C. Harsh and realistic
D. Minimalist

4. What year did Henderson publish his first major photographic collection?

A. 1857
B. 1865
C. 1870
D. 1877

5. What type of photography did Henderson focus on later in his career?

A. Portraits
B. Cityscapes
C. Landscapes and railway photography
D. Wildlife photography

2) Matching Headings

Match the following headings with the paragraphs A to H:

6. Early Life and Family Background
7. Artistic Development and Style
8. Involvement with the Railway Companies
9. Partnership with Notman
10. Recognition and Awards

3) True/False/Not Given Statements

11. Financial problems led Henderson to leave photography.

12. Henderson used a canoe to take photographs in the wilderness.

13. All copies of Henderson’s first photo collection are the same.

14. Henderson taught photography at the University of Montreal.

15. Notman and Henderson remained friends throughout their lives.

4) Sentence Completion

16. Henderson learned photography in Montreal around the year ___.

17. Henderson published "Canadian Views and Studies" in the year ___.

18. Henderson was especially fond of the ___ and traveled by canoe.

19. He photographed bridges between Montreal and Ottawa for the ___ Railway.

20. Henderson’s photographic collection is stored in ___.

Alexander Henderson IELTS Reading Answers

As you have solved all the questions, it's time to review the answers and work on weaknesses.

Full List of Answers

1. A

2. C

3. B

4. B

5. C

6. A

7. D

8. G

9. C

10. F

11. False

12. True

13. False

14. Not given

15. True

16. 1857

17. 1865

18. Wilderness

19. Occidental

20. McLord Museum

Also Read:

• Common Mistakes in IELTS

• IELTS Writing Band Descriptors

• IELTS Test Day Tips

Answer Explanations and Justifications/ Strategies Used

1. A - This is mentioned in the first line.

2. C- Focus on the word- Although (Henderson returned to the Press at weekends. In 1849, he began a three-year apprenticeship to become an accountant. Although he never liked the prospect of a business career, he stayed with it to please his family.)

3. B- Henderson, for the first 20 years of his career, produced romantic images, showing the strong influence of the British landscape tradition.

4. B- Check paragraph C- The Annotation strategy will help you locate the answer quickly

5. C- check paragraph G- simple Skimming will also help here.

For questions 6 to 10- Make the gist of paragraphs or apply the basic logic of Introduction- body of the paragraph- conclusion, and then use the elimination method to reach the most accurate option.

6. A- The initial lines of the paragraph state the information.

7. D- The first 4 lines explain the given heading

8. G- it's the gist of this paragraph

9. C- The last sentence clearly states that they were both the founder members

10. F- The second sentence clearly states the recognition

11. False- the information mentioned in the passage states that he was retired and does not highlight the force of financial constraints.

12. True- He often travelled by canoe through wilderness regions in Quebec and Ontario.

13. False- The passage states that the copies of "Canadian Views and Studies" vary significantly.

14. Not given- No such information is given in any paragraph

15. True- The paragraph only mentions their friendship and no breakage.

16. 1857- Suggested strategy is the Annotation technique.

17. 1865- Suggested strategy is the Annotation technique.

18. Wilderness- He enjoyed traveling in remote wilderness areas by canoe.

19. Occidental- He photographed bridges on this railway line.

20. McLord Museum- the last paragraph clearly states this information.

Common Traps and Mistakes to Avoid

Some of the common traps that should be focused are as follows:

• The paraphrased lines are too confusing.

• Not paying attention to dates, hence the Annotation strategy is recommended.

• Not breaking the question statement of True/false/not given into chunks to understand it better.

• Extra time spent on particular questions/ question types.

Vocabulary and Key Phrases from the Passage

Always remember that the reading section of the IELTS gives you an advantage of acquiring vocabulary that is topic specific, it's you who has to manage to learn the words and use them in your language regularly to retain them.

1) Difficult Words and Their Meanings

• Apprenticeship: A period of training under a skilled professional

• Romantic: In art, depicting scenes with emotion and idealism

• Commission: Official request or order for someone to do work

• Lambertype: A photographic process

• Archive: A collection of historical documents or records

2) Paraphrasing Techniques for IELTS

1. Use synonyms (e.g., "photography" = "taking pictures")

2. Change word forms (e.g., "retired" → "ended his career")

3. Use active/passive voice interchangeably

Tips to Solve the Alexander Henderson IELTS Reading Passage

Some of the tips to solve the Alexander Henderson quickly manage time with accuracy are as follows:

1. Skimming and Scanning Strategies

This strategy mainly works for the sentence completion and summary completion questions. Also, it can be applied to True/false/Not given after understanding the question statement appropriately. Skim for the main ideas and scan the numerical figures like dates and numbers.

2. Time Management Techniques

Do not spend more than 20 minutes on each section of the reading module. If you feel you are stuck at a particular question, the best recommendation is to make an educated guess and move on. While preparing for the IELTS reading module, analyse what type of questions you can answer quickly, and start with them.

3. Understanding Context Clues

• Use surrounding sentences to infer the meanings of difficult words

• Pay attention to transitions (however, although, therefore)

Practice and Preparation Resources

All students preparing for the IELTS should refer only to authenticated material to prepare for the IELTS exam.

1. Where to Find Similar IELTS Reading Passages

You can find similar reading material by referring to the Cambridge series of IELTS and the Burlington IELTS books.

2. Recommended Books and Online Platforms

• Cambridge IELTS books (1–19)
• British Council and IDP practice materials

Conclusion

As you prepare for the IELTS, remember that just by reading strategies, you will not be able to gain high band scores. Consistent practice and reviewing mistakes will help in reaching the set goal.

1. Final Thoughts on the Alexander Henderson IELTS Reading Practice

This passage has historical and biographical content, making it a perfect challenge for testing multiple reading skills. Understanding the structure, theme, and chronology of events will help in answering the questions.

2. Encouragement and Next Steps in IELTS Preparation

With consistent practice and smart strategies like skimming, scanning, and understanding context, you can excel in passages like this. Keep practicing with real test materials and review your mistakes thoroughly to improve.

About the Author:
Pooja Aggarwal is an experienced trainer with over 15 years of expertise in helping students achieve their educational goals. With a degree in Education, she focuses on clear, patient, and personalized instruction. Her approach has successfully guided students from diverse backgrounds, preparing them for both Academic and General Training modules of various exams in a supportive and engaging environment.