IELTS Reading

History: Battles and Conflict 2

– The Battle of Waterloo-

​”In the annals of history, the Battle of Hastings, fought on October 14th, 1066, holds monumental significance. This clash, a culmination of a contentious succession dispute following the death of King Edward the Confessor of England, pitted Harold Godwinson, the recently crowned Anglo-Saxon king, against William of Normandy.

Utilizing a combination of infantry, cavalry, and archers, William, later known as William the Conqueror, relentlessly besieged Harold’s shield wall. After several feigned retreats, the Norman forces finally broke through, leading to the demise of Harold and the majority of his troops.

The outcome of the Battle of Hastings irrevocably altered the course of English history. The Normans supplanted the Anglo-Saxon nobility, and the cultural amalgamation that ensued engendered a profound transformation in the English language, governance, and architecture. The ramifications of this battle were so profound that they are still discernible in modern English society.”

​Choose NO MORE THAN TWO words from the text for each answer.
  1. The Battle of Waterloo was a critical military __________ that occurred on June 18, 1815.
  2. The renowned Napoleon Bonaparte faced against a __________ consisting of British, Dutch, Belgian, and Prussian soldiers.
  3. The coalition was led by the Duke of Wellington and Prussian Field Marshal Gebhard Leberecht von __________.
  4. Napoleon attempted to __________ the coalition troops from an important ridge, but bad weather hindered his cannons.
  5. The Battle of Waterloo concluded with a __________ defeat for Napoleon’s army.
  6. Following the battle, Napoleon was banished to the distant island of Saint __________ where he lived out his days.
​Choose NO MORE THAN ONE word from the text for each answer.

The __________ of Waterloo, which occurred close to modern-day Belgium on June 18, 1815, was a momentous military encounter. The notorious French leader, Napoleon Bonaparte, __________ his troops against an alliance encompassing British, Dutch, Belgian, and Prussian soldiers, under the command of the adept Duke of Wellington and Prussian Marshal von Blücher. Throughout the day, the two armies engaged in fierce __________ and tactical moves. Napoleon sought to expel the allied forces from a key __________, but adverse weather conditions hindered his cannons. Eventually, his forces succumbed to the unyielding attack by the alliance, culminating in his subsequent __________ to Saint Helena.

Vocabulary Builder 

  • Find the synonyms (words with the same or similar meaning) to these 9 words from the original passage.
Word in Original Passage Synonym in Questions (Find and Write) Synonym in Gapped Paragraph (Find and Write)
confrontation
pivotal
illustrious
coalition
led
forces
strategic
exiled
Original Word (in Passage) Synonym in Questions Synonym in Gapped Paragraph Answer (Word in Passage)
confrontation encounter encounter Battle
pivotal critical momentous pivotal
illustrious renowned notorious illustrious
coalition alliance alliance coalition
led commanded led led
forces troops armies forces
strategic important key strategic
exiled banished exiled exiled

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