IELTS Academic Reading: Cambridge 11 Test 4; Reading Passage 2: An Introduction to Film Sound; with best solutions and explanations

November 16, 2018June 9, 2023

This IELTS Reading post is the second of the series post deals with a total solution package for Cambridge IELTS Series Book 11 Reading Test 4 Passage 2 which is entitled An Introduction to Film Sound. In this post, I’ve discussed all the answers and solutions with clear explanations for Reading Passage 2. This is another targeted post for candidates who have great problems in finding and understanding IELTS Reading Answers. This post can easily guide you the best to figure out every Reading answer without any difficulty. Finding IELTS Reading answers is a gradual process and I am hopeful that this post can assist you in this topic.

Reading Passage 2:

The headline of the passage: An Introduction to Film Sound

Questions 14-20: (Multiple Choice Questions)

[Multiple choice questions are a common type of question set in the IELTS Reading test. Most of the time, they come with four options but sometimes there are three options. Candidates need to work hard for this type of question because this may confuse them easily in passage 2 or passage 3. There will be long answers for each question, so they may kill valuable time. So, quick reading or skimming techniques might come in handy here. Remember that answers in 3 options out of 4 will be very close. So, vocabulary power will help a lot to choose the best answer.]

[TIPS: Skimming is the best reading technique. You need not to understand every word here. Just try to gather the gist of the sentences. That’s all. Read quickly and don’t stop until you finish each sentence.]

Question 14: In the first paragraph, the writer makes a point that

Keywords for the question: NO KEYWORDS HERE

In the first paragraph, the author describes the importance of sound in lines 1-4, at the very opening of the paragraph, “Though we might think of film as an essentially visual experience, we really cannot afford to underestimate the importance of film sound.”

Here, the word ‘underestimate’ means ‘overlook’.

After that, the author also gives details of how important film sound is. So, he makes a point that it would be wrong to overlook the contribution of sound to the artistry of films.

*Underestimate = overlook

So, the answer is: B (it would be wrong to overlook the contribution of sound to the artistry of films.)

Question 15: One reason that the writer refers to Humphrey Bogart is to exemplify

Keywords for the question: Humphrey Bogart, exemplify,

In the second paragraph, the author gives reference to Humphrey Bogert in lines 4-10, “Often with film characterization, the audience perceives little or no difference between the character and the actor. Thus, for example, the actor Humphrey Bogart is the character Sam Spade; film personality and life personality seem to merge.”

merge = become one

This clearly means that Humphrey Bogart is mentioned to exemplify the significance of the actor and the character appears to have similar personalities.

So, the answer is: A (the importance of the actor and the character appearing to have similar personalities.)

Question 16: In the third paragraph, the writer suggests that

Keywords for the question: NO KEYWORDS HERE

In paragraph no. 3, the writer mentions the use of dialogues in lines 6-12, “It is interesting to note that how dialogue is use and the very amount of dialogue used varies widely among films. For example, in the highly successful science-fiction film 2001, little dialogue was evident, and most of it was banal and of little intrinsic interest.”

Here, banal means dull or boring

So, the answer is: B (film dialogue that appears to be dull may have a specific purpose.)

Question 17: What does the writer suggest about Bringing Up Baby?

Keywords for the question: suggest, Bringing Up Baby,

The answer lies in the beginning of paragraph no. 4, in lines 1-8. Here, the author says, “The comedy Bringing Up Baby, on the other hand, presents practically non-stop dialogue delivered at breakneck speed. This use of dialogue underscores not only the dizzy quality of the character Katherine Hepburn, but also the absurdity of the film itself and thus its humor.”

These lines suggest that the dialogue in the film Bringing Up Baby highlights key elements of the film.

key elements = the absurdity of the humor of the film

So, the answer is: D (The nature of the dialogue emphasizes key elements of the film.)

Question 18: The writer refers to the ‘click’ of a door to make the point that realistic sounds

Keywords for the question: click of a door, realistic sounds

We can see the reference to the ‘click’ sound in paragraph no. 5. Here, in lines 6-19 the author says, “Synchronous sounds contribute to the realism of film and also help to create a particular atmosphere. For example, the ‘click’ of a door being opened may simply serve to convince the audience that the image portrayed is real, and the audience may only subconsciously note the expected sound. However, if the ‘click’ of an opening door is part of an ominous action such as a burglary, the sound mixer may call attention to the ‘click’ with an increase in volume; this helps to engage the audience in a moment of suspense.”

These lines suggest that realistic sounds can be modified by increasing the sound volume to make it more realistic.

So, the answer is: C (may be modified in order to manipulate the audience’s response to the film.)

Question 19-23: (TRUE/FALSE/NOT GIVEN):

In this type of question, candidates are asked to find out whether:

The statement in the question matches with the account in the text- TRUE
The statement contradicts the account in the text- FALSE
The statement in the question has no clear connection with the account in the text- NOT GIVEN

[For this type of question, you can divide each statement into three independent pieces and make your way through with the answer.]

Question 19: Audiences are likely to be surprised if a film lacks background music.

Keywords for the question: audiences, likely to be surprised, film lack background music

In the very beginning of paragraph no. 7, the writer says that “We are probably all familiar with background music in films, which has become so ubiquitous as to be noticeable in its absence.”

Here, ubiquitous = ever-present

This means background sound or music has become an essential part of films. So, there is a high possibility that the audience will surely notice it and be surprised if background music is absent from a film.

So, the answer is: TRUE

Question 20: Background music may anticipate a development in a film.

Keywords for the question: anticipate, development

Again, in paragraph no. 7, the author mentions in the end, “In addition, background music often foreshadows a change in mood.”

Here, the word ‘foreshadow’ is synonymous to ‘anticipate’. This means the background music can make the audience understand what changes are going to happen in a film.

So, the answer is: TRUE

Question 21: Background music has more effect on some people than on others.

Keywords for this question: more effect, some people than on others

We find the reference to ‘background music’ and its effects in both paragraphs no. 7 and 8. But we cannot find any comparison as to whether it has more or less effect on some people.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question 22: Background music may help the audience to make certain connections within the film.

Keywords for this question: help the audience, make certain connections

The writer states in lines 1 and 2 of paragraph no. 8, “Background music may aid viewer understanding by linking scenes.”

Here, help means aid, audience means viewer, make connections within a film means linking scenes

So, the answer is: TRUE

Question 23: Audiences tend to be aware of how the background music is affecting them.

Keywords for this question: audiences, tend to, be aware, how, affecting,

In the final paragraph, the author says, “The effects of sound are often largely subtle and often are noted by only our subconscious minds.”

Here, subtle means delicate or faint or slight

So, audiences aren’t truly aware of the background music’s effect. Rather, subconscious mind takes note of it.

So, the answer is: FALSE

Question 24-26: (Completing sentences with correct ending)

[For this type of question, candidates need to match the beginning and end of sentences. Candidates need to look for keywords in the sentence-beginnings and find the relative paragraphs and then sentences in the passage. Skimming and scanning, both reading skills are essential for this question-type.]

Question 24: The audience’s response to different parts of a film can be controlled

Keywords for this answer: response, different parts, controlled

In paragraph no. 1, the writer states in lines 8-13, “The entire sound track consists of three essential ingredients: the human voice, sound effects and music. These three tracks must be mixed and balanced so as to produce the necessary emphases which in turn create desired effects”.

The lines mean that the response or reaction of the audience can be influenced if voice, sound, and music are appropriately combined.

Here, combined appropriately means mixed and balanced.

So, the answer is: C

Question 25: The feelings and motivations of characters become clear

Keywords for this answer: feelings, motivation, clear

In paragraph 2, the writer says in lines 1-4, “… . As is the case with stage drama, dialogue serves to tell the story and expresses feelings and motivations of characters as well.”

This means that listening to dialogues clarifies the feelings and motivations of characters in the film.

So, the answer is: A

Question 26: A character seems to be a real person rather than an actor

Keywords for this answer: seems to be real person, than actor

In paragraph no. 3, the writer says in lines 1-3, “When voice textures fit the performer’s physiognomy and gestures, a whole and very realistic person emerges.”

Here, actor means performer, appearance means physiognomy, moves means gestures, consistent with means fit

These lines suggest that a character appears to be a real person rather than an actor given to the fact that the audience listens to the voice, looks at the appearance of the character, and watches how he/she moves.

So, the answer is: E