Question type 7: Classification Questions

Task Description

A classification question requires the student to arrange information in categories. To answer

successfully, a student must skim and scan for information and understand the gist of a passage.

[Classification question
G student †`i KvR n‡jv passage content Gi Av‡jv‡K cÖ‡kœi Z_¨¸‡jv †kªYxe× Kiv| `ªæZ
mwVKfv‡e DËi Ki‡Z student ‡K `ªæZ scan I skim K‡i passage Gi Z_¨ †ei K‡i Avb‡Z n‡e| Classification
question ¸‡jv‡K mnR ai‡Yi question g‡b Kiv nq|]

Solving Classification questions

GB ai‡bi cÖ‡kœ mvaviYZ e¨w³ A_ev †Kvb e¯‘i bvg w`‡q Z_¨ †kªYxe× Ki‡Z ejv n‡q _v‡K| cix¶v_x© cÖkœ¸‡jv c‡o ‡`L‡e
Ges mv‡_ Dcw¯’Z Option ¸‡jv c‡o †`L‡e| Gici Passage G wM‡q Option G †jLv bvg¸‡jv w`‡q cÖ‡kœvËi Ki‡e|

Exercise 1 Read the passage below and answer the questions which follow.

Underground Railways

Underground railways are an essential part of life in some of the world's largest cities. There are, for
example, 275 stations on the London underground and 450 on New York's subway system. Although the
Paris metro can only boast 275, it is said that wherever you live in the city, you're never more than 500
metres from a station. In all three cities, the railways move enormous numbers of people around every
day, while making little impact on the visual appearance of the cityscape.

Many of the world's most famous underground railways date back to the period around the beginning of
the twentieth century. The first metro trains in Paris ran in 1900, while New York's subway dates from
1904. They came into existence as the development of railway building technology coincided with an
enormous influx of people into the world's largest cities, part of a general urbanisation associated with
both population growth and industrial development. Underground railways facilitated the expansion of
cities without placing more strain on their already overcrowded surface transportation systems - a
forward-thinking conclusion reached by city leaders in London, whose system was inaugurated some 40
years before developments in Paris and New York. Today, there are more than 160 subway systems
around the world that have followed that model.

Tunneling under a city, however, is easier said than done. In the early days, there was a reliance on manual
labour, and it was tough work. Around 8,000 people were involved in the construction of the first lines in
New York, while the original tunneling in London was marked by a high level of both injuries and fatalities.
A variety of techniques has since been developed for use in the excavation of tunnels, and each system
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MENTRS’ IELTS Regular Reading Module 4
has its own particular needs and challenges. For example, in Paris, soft mud rather than hard rock is the
main headache for tunneling engineers, whose solution has been to freeze it using calcium chloride so
that it can be removed more easily.

In New York City, the subway system is currently in the middle of a massive renovation project that
involves boring a number of new tunnels, using what's known as a tunnel-boring machine (TBM). This
enormous piece of equipment cuts through the earth beneath the city slowly but safely, and is especially
important in New York where the hard bedrock is not far below the surface. This method of construction
is very different to those in use when the first underground railways were built.

New tunnels are currently being dug beneath London to reduce overcrowding on a system that already
carries in excess of seven million passengers a day. The tunneling has unearthed archaeological remains of
great interest, a factor that held up the construction project. Sometimes, however, archaeology can work
in the builders' favour, as in Paris where the metro was able to take advantage of deep quarries which
were first excavated by the Ancient Romans.

Whether it's solid rock in New York or ancient remains in Europe, tunneling is never without its challenges.
But the benefits of underground railways certainly outweigh the cost and challenge of building them.

Questions 1-6
Look at the following statements (Questions 1-6) and the list of railway systems below.

Match each statement with the correct railway system, A, B or C.

Write the correct letter, A, B or C, next to each question.

NB- You may use any letter more than once.

List of Railway Systems

A Paris Metro
B New York City Subway
C London Underground

1. Construction of tunnels in the city was delayed by unexpected discoveries.

2. The city authorities were pioneers in the development of these railway systems.
3. The city is taking advantage of available technology to update its system.
4. An impressive claim is made regarding the ease of access to the city's system.
5. This system has to deal with the problem of tunneling in difficult soil conditions.
6. Safety of the workforce was a n issue during the initial construction of this system.

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MENTRS’ IELTS Regular Reading Module 4
Exercise 2 Read the passage below and answer the questions which follow.

The Need for Water

An adequate supply of domestic water is vital for human health and hygiene. Despite the great progress
made in the recent decade, the achievement of the goal of clean water for all is still a long way off. An
adequate water supply is also vital for the production of food. In many parts of Africa, rainfall is a very
unreliable provider of such water. For example, in Zimbabwe, Mupawose (1984) states that unreliable
rainfall and the incidence of mid-season drought represent the single most critical uncertainty facing the
Zimbabwean farmer today.

While staple foods such as maize and rice produced during the rainy season can be stored for
consumption in the dry season, the same is not true of vegetables and fruits which are essential for good
nutrition. Since the early part of this century, the answer to the problem of inadequate rainfall has been
through the provision of conventional irrigation schemes. The failure of such schemes in many parts of
Africa is well documented (Morris and Thom, 1990) and there is little hope of significant expansion in this
sector.

Most of these irrigation schemes depend on the utilization of surface water resources, principally through
the construction of dams. There is grave concern over the use of such dams because of their adverse
impact on health, their displacement of successful farmers and the severe limitations on their useful life
due to siltation (Wright, 1986; Arlosoroff et al. 1984; Bell et al, 1987).

In order to develop groundwater resources, a suitable water lifting technology must be employed. While
much work has been done on the development of power sources for water pumping (Hofkes and
Visscher, 1986), for many people in rural Africa the use of human energy remains the only practical option
(Lambert and Faulkner, 1991). In recent years there have been significant improvements in the design of
hand pumps for community use. However, community water points still suffer breakdowns and attempts
to remedy this, through community managed pump maintenance schemes, are still far from universally
successful.

The problems of community management could be avoided through the promotion of household
supplies, where these are feasible. An example of such a strategy in Zimbabwe is the program of
upgrading family wells (Mtero and Chimbunde, 1991). However, most of the pumps developed for
community use are either not available to individual households or are too expensive.

In recognition of the need for simple water lifting technology, research was carried out to identify suitable
water lifting devices. Almost all existing human powered pumps tested could not supply water at more
than about 0.3 liters per second, which is not sufficient for irrigation. Two designs were finally selected as
the most promising for further development, the rope-washer and the treadle (Lambert and Faulkner,
1991).

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MENTRS’ IELTS Regular Reading Module 4
Questions 1-7
In the passage, The Need for Water, there are 7 references cited. Below is a list of statements (A-K)
which are supported by the references. Match each reference with its corresponding statement.

1. Mtero and Chimbunde, 1991

2. Morris and Thom, 1990
3. Lambert and Faulkner, 1991
4. Wright, 1986; Arlosoroff et al, 1984; Bell et al, 1987
5. Hofkes and Visscher, 1986
6. Mupawose, 1984
7. Lambert and Faulkner, 1991.

A. Dams usually take up a lot of land so that farmers have to move somewhere else.
B. There has been little success with irrigation projects.
C. It is important to have an adequate water supply.
D. Human power is still the best option.
E. Rainfall is too little and too irregular when most needed.
F. Building dams has helped improve health.
G. There is a plan to improve individual domestic wells.
H. Experiments have been done to provide energy to pump water.
I. Most families cannot afford to buy pumps.
J. The design of hand pumps has improved lately.
K. The rope washer and treadle will help solve the problem.

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MENTRS’ IELTS Regular Reading Module 4
 Question type 8: Diagram labeling

Task Description
এই ধরনের প্রনে students are asked to locate information in the passage যার উপর ভিভি কনর শূন্স্থাে পূরে
করনে বলা হয়। Students-দেরনক passage দথনক শব্দ ভেনয় গ্যাপ fill-up করনে বলা হয়।

Solving Diagram labeling questions

Read the questions first and identify the type of word needed to for the answer. Look for the
information in the passage and check how many words you can use for the answer.
Remember that the answers may not come in order.

Exercise 1 Read the passage below and answer the questions which follow.

The Chicken Egg

Chicken egg consists of six main parts: albumin, yolk, shell, germinal disc, chalaza and air cell. In further
paragraphs we will learn all the important information you need to know about these parts.

One of the main parts of the egg is yolk - the yellow, inner part of the egg where the embryo will form.
The yolk contains the food that will nourish the embryo as it grows. Yolk is a major source of vitamins,
minerals, almost half of the protein, and all of the fat and cholesterol. The yolk contains less water and
more protein than the white part of the egg, some fat, and most of the vitamins and minerals of the egg.
The yolk is also a source of lecithin, an effective emulsifier. Yolk color ranges from just a hint of yellow to a
magnificent deep orange, according to the feed and breed of the hen. Yolk is anchored by chalaza - a
spiral, rope-like strand that anchors the yolk in the thick egg white. There are two chalazae anchoring
each yolk; one on the top and one on the bottom.

Another very important part of the egg is the albumin, which is the inner thick white part of the egg. This
part of the egg is a excellent source of riboflavin and protein. In high-quality eggs, the inner thick
albumen stands higher and spreads less than thin white. In low-quality eggs, it appears thin white.

Now let's talk about the outer part of the egg - the shell It is a hard, protective coating of the egg. It is
semi-permeable; it lets gas exchange occur, but keeps other substances from entering the egg. The shell
is made of calcium carbonate and is covered with as many as 17,000 tiny pores.

Air cell is an air space that forms when the contents of the egg cool and contract after the egg is laid. The
air cell usually rests between the outer and inner membranes at the eggs larger end. As the egg ages,
moisture and carbon dioxide leave through the pores of the shell, air enters to replace them and the air
cell becomes larger.

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MENTRS’ IELTS Regular Reading Module 4
And last but not least, let's look at the germinal disc. It's a small, circular, white spot (2-3 mm across) on
the surface of the yolk; it is where the sperm enters the egg. The nucleus of the egg is in the blastodisc.
The embryo develops from this disk, and gradually sends blood vessels into the yolk to use it for nutrition
as the embryo develops.

Questions 1-6 Complete the diagram below.

Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

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MENTRS’ IELTS Regular Reading Module 4
 Question type 9: Selecting Factors/ Phrases

Task Description

GB ai‡bi cÖ‡kœ GKwU sentence Gi first half cÖ‡kœ †`Iqv _v‡K Ges evwK A‡a©K wb‡P option AvKv‡i †`Iqv _v‡K| cix¶v_x©i
KvR n‡jv grammar we‡ePbv K‡i `yBwU Ask wgwj‡q GKwU A_©en evK¨ evbv‡bv|

Solving Selecting Factors/Phrases

ev‡K¨i cÖ_g Ask †hwU cÖ‡kœ †`Iqv †mwU co–b| Gici wb‡Pi option ¸‡jv c‡o †`Lyb| wKQz option cÖ‡kœi mv‡_ wg‡j †h‡Z
cv‡i| cix¶v_x©i KvR n‡jv Gici passage G wM‡q sentence wU Luy‡R †ei Kiv Ges GKwU option select Kiv Ges
answer g‡bvbqb Kiv|

Exercise 1 Read the passage below and answer the questions which follow.

The Meaning of Dreams

We are fascinated by our dreams. And it is usually our own dreams we're fascinated by. When another
person launches into a lengthy exposition of the dreams that graced their night, our eyes are liable to
glaze over quickly. But for many of us, our own dreams provide an endless source of intrigue.

Nowadays we are less likely than our ancestors to believe that dreams have a predictive function. But it is
probably part of the 20th-century neurologist Sigmund Freud's lasting legacy that we can't quite shake off
the idea that they somehow hold the key to our hidden hopes and desires. Incredibly enough, the idea
that the symbolic meaning of our dream is there, waiting to be interpreted, remains very appealing.

There are, of course, alternative views, including the one that dreams have no meaning whatsoever and
result instead from the brain's attempts to make sense of neural processes that occur during sleep. But
adopting such a scientific attitude to dreams doesn't imply that they are no longer a source of fascination
to us. We could simply relate to them differently. Instead of seeking to decipher the symbols that our
unconscious is supposedly messaging to us, we could use them as a starting point for reflection.

Whether or not the content of our dreams actually reflects our waking concerns, thinking about them
could be a helpful way of exploring our own thoughts. While we may be disappointed that we can't
consult a dream dictionary to explain what the things we've dreamt about mean, by thinking about them
we might gain insights into our own lives. In other words, the important thing is not what the dream
means in an absolute sense, but what it means to us personally.

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MENTRS’ IELTS Regular Reading Module 4
Questions 1-4

Complete the sentence using the phrases, A-G, below.

Write the correct letter, A-G, for each question.

1. The idea that dreams can foretell the future ………………….

2. Freud's idea that it's possible to interpret the meaning of dreams ………………….

3. The idea that dreams have no meaning at all ……………………….

4. The idea that it is worth thinking about our own dreams ………………………

A. has been the subject of extensive scientific research.

B. shouldn't make them any less interesting.

C. is no longer taken as seriously as it used to be.

D. seems more relevant when we hear about other people's dreams.

E. may be a useful one for the individual to pursue.

F. has never gained wide acceptance.

G. is still surprisingly influential today.

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MENTRS’ IELTS Regular Reading Module 4
 Reading Test
Reading Passage 1

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1-14 which are based on Reading Passage 1.

Working in the movies

Subtitling is an exacting part of the translation profession. Melanie Leyshon talks to Virginie Verdler of
London translation company VSI about the glamour and the grind.

When people ask French translator Virginie Verdler what she does for a living, it must be tempting to say
“Oh me? I am in the movies.” It’s strictly true, but her starring role is behind the scenes. As translating
goes, it doesn’t get more entertaining or glamorous than subtitling films. If you are very lucky, you get to
work on the blockbusters before they are even in the cinemas, and if you are just plain lucky, you get to
work on the blockbuster movies that are going to video or DVD.

Virginie is quick to point out that this is as exciting as any translating job. ‘You work hard. It’s not all
entertainment as you are doing the translating. You need all the skills of a good translator and a top-
notch (D”PgvM©xq) editor. You have to be precise and, of course, much more concise than in traditional
translation work.’

The process starts when you get the original script and a tape. ‘We would start with translating and
adapting the film script. The next step is what we call ‘timing’, which means synchronizing (mgKvjeZ©x Kiv)
the subtitles to the dialogue and pictures.’ This task requires discipline. ‘You play the film, listen to the
voice and subtitles are up on the screen ready to be timed. You insert your subtitle when you hear the
corresponding dialogue and delete it when the dialogue finishes. The video tape carries a time code
which runs in hours, minutes, seconds and frames. Think of it as a clock. The subtitling unit has an insert
key to capture the time code where you want the subtitle to appear. When you press the delete key, it
captures the time code where you want the subtitle to disappear. So each subtitle would have an ‘in’ point
and an ‘out’ point which represent the exact time when the subtitle comes in and goes out. This process is
then followed by a manual review, subtitle by subtitle, and time codes are adjusted to improve
synchronization and capture shot changes. This process involves playing the film literally frame by frame
as it is essential the subtitles respect the visual rhythm of the film.’

Different subtitlers use different techniques. ‘I would go through the film and do the whole translation
and then go right back from the beginning and start the timing process. But you could do it in different
stages- translate, say 20 minutes of the film, then time this section and translate the next 20 minutes, and
so on. It’s just a different method.’

For multi-lingual (eû fvlv) projects, the timing is done first to create what is called a ‘spotting list’, a subtitle
template, which is in effect a list of English subtitles pre-timed and edited for translation purposes. This is
then translated and the timing is adapted to the target language with the help of the translator for quality
control.

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MENTRS’ IELTS Regular Reading Module 4
‘Like any translating work, you can’t hurry subtitling,’ says Virginie. ‘If subtitles are translated and timed in
a rush, the quality will be affected and it will show.’ Mistakes usually occur when the translator does not
master the source language and misunderstands the original dialogue. ‘Our work also involves checking
and reworking subtitles when the translation is not up to standard. However, the reason for redoing
subtitles is not just because of poor quality translation. We may need to adapt subtitles to a new version
of the film: the time code may be different, the film may have been edited or the subtitles may have been
created for the cinema rather than video. If subtitles were done for cinema on 35mm, we would need to
reformat the timing for video, as subtitles could be out of synch or too fast. If the translation is good, we
would obviously respect the work of the original translator.’

On a more practical note, there are several subtitling rules to follow, says Virginie. ‘Subtitles should appear
at the bottom of the screen and usually in the centre.’ She says that different countries use different
standards and rules. ‘In Scandinavian countries and Holland for example, subtitles are traditionally left
justified. Characters usually appear in white with a thin black border for easy reading against a white or
light background. We can also use different colors for each speaker when subtitling for the hearing
impaired. Subtitles should also have a maximum of 2 lines and the maximum number of characters on
each line should be between 32 and 39. Our company standard is 37 (different companies and countries
have different standards).’

Translators often have a favorite genre, whether it’s war films, musicals, comedies (one of the most
difficult because of the subtleties (AwZm~¶è cv_©K¨) and nuances (mvgvb¨ cwigvb cv_©K¨) of comedy in different
countries), drama, or corporate programmes. Each requires a certain tone and style. ‘VSI employs
American subtitlers, which is incredibly useful as many of the films we subtitle are American,’ says Virginie.
‘For an English person, it would not be so easy to understand the meaning behind typically American
expressions and vice versa.’

Questions 1-5

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1?
Write- TRUE if the statement agrees with the information provided
FALSE if the statement does not agree with the information provided
NOT GIVEN if there is no information provided about the statement.

1. For translators, all subtitling work on films is desirable.

2. Subtitling work involves a requirement that does not apply to other translation work.

3. Some subtitling techniques work better than others.

4. Few people are completely successful at subtitling comedies.
5. Every single movie has the same tone and style.

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MENTRS’ IELTS Regular Reading Module 4
Questions 6-10

Complete the flowchart below. Use NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS taken from the passage for each
answer.

THE SUBTITLING PROCESS

Stage 1: Translate and adapt the script.

Stage 2:  (6) ……………………………………. - matching the subtitles to what is said

 involves recording time codes by using the (7)……………………… and…………………. keys

Stage 3: (8) …………………………………..- in order to make the (9) ……………………………………… better

Multi-lingual projects

Stage 1: Produce something known as a (10) ……………………………………………. and translate

that.

Questions 11-14

Complete the sentences below with words taken from Reading Passage 1. Use NO MORE THAN
THREE WORDS for each answer.

11. Poor subtitling can be a result of the subtitler not being excellent at ………………………………

12. To create subtitles for a video version of a film, it may be necessary to

…………………………………….
13. Subtitles usually have a ……………………………………………. around them.

14. Speakers can be distinguished from each other for the benefit of
…………………………………………….

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MENTRS’ IELTS Regular Reading Module 4
Reading Passage 2

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 15-28 which are based on Reading Passage 2.

THE HISTORY OF SALT

1. Salt is so simple and plentiful (ch©vß) that we almost take it for granted. In chemical terms, salt is the
combination of a sodium ion with a chlorine ion, making it one of the most basic molecules in the
world. It is also one of the most plentiful: it has been estimated that salt deposits under the city of
Kansas alone could supply the entire world’s needs for the next 250,000 years.

2. But salt is also an essential element. Without it, life itself would be impossible since the human body
requires the mineral in order to function properly. The concentration of sodium ions in the blood is
directly related to the regulation of safe blood fluid levels. And while we are all familiar with its many
uses in cooking, we may not be aware that this element is used in some 14,000 commercial
applications. From manufacturing pulp (kuvm) and paper to setting dyes in textiles and fabric, from
producing soaps and detergents to making our roads safe in winter, salt plays an essential part in our
daily lives.

3. Salt has a long and influential role in the world. From the dawn of civilization, it has been a key factor
in economic, religious, social and political development. In every corner of the world, it has been the
subject of superstition, folklore (†jvK Kvwnbx), and warfare and has been even used as currency.

4. As a precious and portable commodity, salt has long been a cornerstone of economies throughout
history. In fact, researcher M.R. Bloch conjectured (Abygvb Kiv) that civilization began along the edges of
the desert because of the natural surface deposits of salt found there. Bloch also believed that the first
war- likely fought near the ancient city of Essalt on the Jordan river- could have been fought over the
city’s precious supplies of the mineral.

5. In 2200 BC, the Chinese emperor Hsia Yu levied (LvRbv †Zvjv) one of the first known taxes. He taxed salt.
In Tibet, Marco Polo noted that tiny cakes of salt were pressed with images of the Grand Khan to be
used as coins and to this day among the nomads of Ethiopia’s Danakil Plains it is still used as money.
Greek slave traders often bartered (wewbgq Kiv) it for slaves, giving rise to the expression that someone
was “not worth his salt.” Roman legionnaires were paid in salt- a salarium, the Latin origin of the word
“salary.”

6. Merchants in 12th century Timbuktu- the gateway to the Sahara Desert and the seat of scholars-
valued this mineral as highly as books and gold. In France, Charles of Anjou levied the “gabelle,” a salt
tax, in 1259 to finance his conquest of the kingdom of Naples. Outrage over the gabelle fuelled the
French Revolution. Though the revolutionaries eliminated the tax shortly after Louis XVI, the Republic
of France re-established the gabelle in the early 19 th century; only in 1946 was it removed from the
books.

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MENTRS’ IELTS Regular Reading Module 4
7. The Erie Canal, an engineering marvel that connected the Great Lakes to New York’s Hudson River in
1825, was called “the ditch that salt built.” Salt tax revenues paid for half the cost of construction of
the canal. The British monarchy supported itself with high salt taxes, leading to a bustling black
market for the white crystal. In 1785, the Earl of Dundonald wrote that every year in England, 10,000
people were arrested for salt smuggling. And protesting against British rule in 1930, Mahatma Gandhi
led a 200 mile march to the Arabian Ocean to collect untaxed salt for India’s poor.

8. In religion and culture, salt long held an important place with Greek worshippers consecrating (DrmM©
Kiv) it in their rituals. Further, in Buddhist tradition, salt repels evil spirits, which is why it is customary
to throw it over your shoulder before entering your house after a funeral: it scares off any evil spirits
that may be clinging to your back. Shinto religion uses it to purify an area. Before sumo wrestlers
enter to ring for a match- which is in reality an elaborate Shinto rite, a handful is thrown into the
center to drive off malevolent spirits.

9. In the Southwest of the United States, the Pueblo worship the Salt Mother. Other native tribes had
significant restriction on who was permitted to eat salt. Hopi legend holds that the angry Warrior
Twins punished mankind by placing valuable salt deposits far away from civilization, requiring hard
work and bravery to harvest the precious mineral. In 1933, the Dalai Lama was buried sitting up in a
bed of salt. Today, a gift of salt endures in India as a potent symbol of good luck and a reference to
Mahatma Gandhi’s liberation of India.

10. The effects of salt deficiency are highlighted in times of war, when human bodies and national
economies are strained (Uvb †`qv) to their limits. Thousands of Napoleon’s troops died during the
French retreat from Moscow due to inadequate wound healing and lowered resistance to disease- the
results of salt deficiency.

Questions 15-17

Choose THREE letters, A-H.

Which THREE statements are true of salt?

A. A number of cities take their name from the word “salt.”

B. Salt contributed to the French Revolution.
C. The uses of salt are countless.
D. Salt has been produced in China for less than 2000 years.
E. There are many commercial applications of salt.
F. Salt deposits in the state of Kansas are vast.
G. Salt has few industrial uses nowadays.
H. Slaves used salt as a currency.

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MENTRS’ IELTS Regular Reading Module 4
Questions 18-22

Complete the summary. Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

Salt is such an (18) …………………….. that people would not be able to live without it. As well as its
uses in cooking, this basic mineral has thousands of business (19) ………………………….. ranging
from making paper to the manufacture of soap. Being a prized and (20) ………………………………, it
has played a major part in the economies of many countries. As such, salt has not only led to war,
but has also been used to raise (21) …………………………… by governments in many parts of the
world. There are also many instances of its place in religion and culture, being used as a means to
get rid of evil (22) ………………………………………….. .

Questions 23-28

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 2?
Write-
TRUE if the statement agrees with the information provided
FALSE if the statement does not agree with the information provided
NOT GIVEN if there is no information provided about the statement.

23. It has been suggested that salt was responsible for the first war.

24. The first tax on salt was imposed by a Chinese emperor.

25. Salt is no longer used as a form of currency.

26. Most of the money for the construction of the Erie Canal came from salt taxes.
27. Hopi legend believes that salt deposits were placed far away from civilization to penalize
mankind.
28. A lack of salt is connected with the deaths of many of Napoleon’s soldiers during the French

retreat from Moscow.

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MENTRS’ IELTS Regular Reading Module 4
Reading Passage 3

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 29-40 which are based on Reading Passage 3.

TWIST IN THE TALE

Fears that television and computers would kill children’s desire to read couldn’t have been more
wrong. With sales roaring, a new generation of authors are publishing’s newest and unlikeliest
literary stars.

A. Less than a few years ago, doom merchants were predicting that the growth in video games and the
rise of the Internet would sound the death knell (we`vq N›Uv) for children’s literature. But contrary to
popular myth, children are reading more books than ever. A recent survey by Books Marketing found
that children up to the age of 11 read on average for four hours a week, particularly girls.

B. Moreover, the children’s book market, which traditionally was seen as a poor cousin to the more
lucrative (jvfRbK) and successful adult market, has come into its own. Publishing houses are now
making considerable profits on the back of new children’s books and children’s authors can now
command significant advances. ‘Children’s books are going through an incredibly fertile period,’ says
Wendy Cooling, a children’s literature consultant. ‘There’s a real buzz around them. Book clubs are
happening, sales are good and people are much more willing to listen to children’s authors.’

C. The main growth area has been the market for eight to fourteen year olds, and there is little doubt
that the boom has been fuelled by the bespectacled apprentice, Harry Potter. So influential has J.K.
Rowling’s series of books been that they have helped to make reading fashionable for pre-teens.
‘Harry made it OK to be seen on a bus reading a book,’ says Cooling. ‘To a child, that is important.’
The current buzz around the publication of the new Harry Potter beats anything in the world of adult
literature.

D. ‘People still tell me, “Children don’t read nowadays”,’ says David Almond, the award-winning author of
children’s books such as Skellig. ‘The truth is that they are skilled, creative readers. When I do
classroom visits, they ask me very sophisticated questions about use of language, story structure,
chapters and dialogue.’ No one is denying that books are competing with other forms of
entertainment for children’s attention but it seems as though children find a special kind of mental
nourishment within the printed page.

E. ‘A few years ago, publishers lost confidence and wanted to make books more like television, the
medium that frightened them most,’ says children’s book critic Julia Eccleshare. ‘But books aren’t TV,
and you will find that children always say that the good thing about books is that you can see them in
your head. Children are demanding readers,’ she says. ‘If they don’t get it in two pages, they’ll drop it.’

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F. No more are children’s authors considered mere sentimentalists or failed adult writers. ‘Some adult
writers would kill for the sales,’ says Almond, who sold 42,392 copies of Skellig in 1999 alone. And
advances seem to be growing too: UK publishing outfit Orion recently negotiated a six-figure sum
from US company Scholastic for The Seeing Stone, a children’s novel by Kevin Crossley-Holland, the
majority of which will go to the author.

G. It helps that once smitten (Awff~Z nIqv), children are loyal and even fanatical (DrmvwnZ) consumers. Author
Jacqueline Wilson says that children spread news of her books like a bushfire. ‘My average reader is a
girl of ten,’ she explains. ‘They are sociable and acquisitive (AR©b ev jvf Ki‡Z B”QzK). They collect. They
have parties- where books are a good present. If they like something, they have to pass it on.’ After
Rowling, Wilson is currently the best-selling children’s writer, and her sales have boomed over the
past three years. She has sold more than three million books, but remains virtually invisible to adults,
although most ten year old girls know about her.

H. Children’s books are surprisingly relevant to contemporary life. Provided they are handled with care,
few topics are considered off-limits for children. One senses that children’s writers relish (Dc‡fvM Kiv)
the chance to discuss the whole area of topics and language. But Anne Fine, author of many award-
winning children’s books is concerned that the British literati (weÁ mgvR) still ignore children’s culture. ‘It
is considered worthy but boring,’ she says.

I. ‘I think there is a still a way to go,’ says Almond, who wishes that children’s books were taken more
seriously as literature. Nonetheless, he derives great satisfaction from his child readers. ‘They have a
powerful literary culture,’ he says. ‘It feels as if you are able to step into the store of mythology and
ancient stories that run through all societies and encounter the great themes: love and loss and death
and redemption (†gvPb, i¶vKiY).’

J. At the moment, the race is on to find the next Harry Potter. The bidding for new books at Bologna
this year- the children’s equivalent of the Frankfurt Book Fair- was as fierce as anything anyone has
ever seen. All of which bodes (j¶Y cÖKvk Kiv) well for the long-term future of the market- and for
children’s authors, who have traditionally suffered the lowest profile in literature, despite the
responsibility of their role.

Questions 29-32

Reading Passage 3 has ten paragraphs, A-J. Which paragraph mentions the following points?

29. the fact that children are able to identify and discuss the important elements of fiction

30. the undervaluing of children’s society

31. the impact of a particular fictional character on the sales of children’s books
32. an inaccurate forecast regarding the reading habits of children

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MENTRS’ IELTS Regular Reading Module 4
Questions 33-37

Look at the list of people A-E and the list of statements (Questions 33-37). Match each statement with
one of the people listed.
A Wendy Cooling
NB- You may use any letter more than once.
B David Almond
C Julia Eccleshare
D Jacqueline Wilson

E Anne Fine

33. Children take pleasure in giving books to each other.

34. Reading in public is an activity that children have not always felt comfortable about doing.

35. Some well-known writers of adult literature regret that they earn less than popular children’s
writers.
36. Children are quick to decide whether they like or dislike a book.

37. Children will read many books by an author that they like.

Questions 38-40

Using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS taken from the passage, answer the following questions.

38. For which age group have sales of books risen the most?

39. Which company has just invested heavily in an unpublished children’s book?

40. Who is currently the best-selling children’s writer?

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MENTRS’ IELTS Regular Reading Module 4