Reading 4
Improving global reading skills
Paraphrasing the main ideas 1 Reading the following text and then answer the questions. a Which paragraph contains the most detail?
b Which three paragraphs cover one main theme?
Magazine circulations are in the millions and advertising revenue is rising, despite the growth TV and electronic media, reports David Short. A Print is not dead yet – at least not when it comes to magazines. Despite ever-growing competition from television and electronic media, a new report shows that worldwide advertising expenditure in consumer magazines has doubled over the past decade. B The report also shows that many magazines in Europe continue to enjoy circulations in the millions. Although there are more and more television channels, whether cable, satellite, terrestrial, analogue, or digital, and despite the incursion of the Internet, magazines are still a regular shopping or subscription item. C Advertising expenditure worldwide was $225 billion last year, according to the report World Magazine Trends. $32 billion of this, or 14%, was taken by magazines. In Europe, the share of consumer magazine expenditure was $12 billion or 21% of an estimated overall spend of $57 billion. But the share had dropped in the past 15 years from 30%, with decline having been particularly severe in Belgium and Germany, where commercial television was introduced relatively late. D However, the type of magazines which Europeans choose to flip through still varies dramatically according to country, with few signs that the European magazine with a common title is making inroads across nations. Interests which can create top-selling titles in one country are nowhere to be seen in the circulation lists of others. E But whatever their relative importance across the world, magazines have one real advantages over broadcast media. For advertisers such as tobacco and alcohol producers, which are barred or severely restricted on television in some countries, magazines remain a safe haven for their messages. And new French research has revealed that magazines are still powerful tools for owners of brands.
2 Choose the sentence that best paraphrases the main idea in each paragraph of the test.
1 Paragraph A A The amount of money spent on magazine advertising is increasing. B The rivalry between magazines and other media is surprising. C Some magazines sell better than others.
2 Paragraph B A Magazines are some more popular than they used to be. B A lot of people are still reading magazines. C TV is more available than ever.
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3 Paragraph C A Europe allocates a greater proportion of its advertising budget to
magazines than the world average.
B Belgium and Germany spend more on magazine advertising than
other European countries.
C The figures for magazine advertising in Europe are decreasing. 4 Paragraph D A Across Europe, people read very different kinds of magazines. B The idea of a ‘European’ magazine is becoming popular.
C Magazines that cover popular activities can become best sellers. 5 Paragraph E A Cigarette advertising is banned in some countries.
B Magazines advertise a smaller range of products than television.
C There are fewer limitations on magazine advertising than TV
advertising.
IELTS Reading test practice Global reading question
3 What is the purpose of the writer of the passage ? A to compare European and world magazines B to attract more magazine readers
C to review the continuing popularity of magazines D to illustrate the advantages of electronic magazines
IELTS Reading test practice Choosing headings for paragraphs
How to approach the task ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
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4 Take five minutes to answer questions 1-7.
The reading passage has eight paragraphs A-H. Choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list of heading below. List of Headings i Benefiting from an earlier model ii Important operative conditions iii Examining the public confusion iv Where to go from here? v How it’s all linked up vi How a suitable location was found vii Comparing wind speeds in Australian cities ix What makes Esperance different ? x More than just a source of power Example Answer Paragraph A x 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Paragraph B __________ Paragraph C __________ Paragraph D __________ Paragraph E __________ Paragraph F __________ Paragraph G __________ Paragraph H __________ Australia’s First Commercial Wind Farm
It’s come years since the rotor blades began spinning in Esperance.
A Harvest time in Esperance is constant. As long as the wind blows- which is pretty much all the time – nine identical synchronized wind turbines, reap the benefits of the dependable winds that gust up around the southern coastline of Western Australia. These sleek, white, robot – like wind turbines loom up on the horizon forming part of Australia’s first commercial wind farm. They’re not only functional machines that help provide electricity for this secluded coastal town, but increasingly, they’re also drawcards for curious tourists and scientists alike.
B Because of its isolation, Esperance is not linked to Western Power’s grid which supplies electricity from gas-, coal- and oil- fires power stations to the widespread population of Western Australia. Before the wind turbines went in, Esperance’s entire electricity needs were met by the
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diesel power station in town.
C The $5.8 million Ten Mile Lagoon project is not Esperance’s first wind farm. The success of a smaller, experimental wind farm, at a spot called Salmon Beach, encouraged the State’s power utility to take Esperance wind seriously. Today, the wind turbines at Ten Mile Lagoon work in conjunction with the diesel power station, significantly reducing the amount of the town’s electricity generated by expensive diesel power.
D The wind farm is connected to the power station by a 33- kilovolt powerline, and a radio link between the two allows operators to monitor and control each wind turbine. The nine 225- kilowatt Vestas wind turbines produce a total generating capacity of two megawatts and provide around 12 per cent of the energy requirements of Esperance and its surrounding districts.
E The power produced by a wind turbine depends on the size and efficiency of the machine and, of course, on the energy in the wind. The energy in the wind available to the wind turbines is proportional to wind speed cubed. Thus, the greater the wind speed, the greater the output of the turbine. In other to achieve optimum wind speeds, the right location is imperative. ‘You have to accept the nature of the beast,’ Mr.Rosser, Western Power’s physicist, said. ‘As surface dwellers our perceptions of wind speeds are bad. As you go higher, wind speed increase significantly.’
F The most favourable wind sites are on gently sloping hills, away from obstructions like trees and buildings and where the prevailing winds are not blocked. Computer modeling was used to select the optimum site for Esperance’s wind farm. Scientists were protecting the coastal health environment which is rich in plant life and home to tiny pygmy and honey-possums, and a host of bird species. In addition, the wind farm is adjacent to Esperance’s popular scenic tourist drive.
G Strict erosion controls have been implemented and access to the wind farm is limited to selected viewing areas. The wind turbine towers are painted white and devoid of corporate logos or signage. According to Mr.Rosser there is something of a worldwide backlash against wind farms with regard to their visual impact. ‘ But because wind turbines perform best in the most exposed positions, they will always be visible. There is a very real need to balance environmental and technical requirements. I think the Ten Mile Lagoon Wind Farm sets the standard for environmentally friendly development.’
H In fact, the project has become something of a tourist attraction in itself. Esperance Shire president Ian Mickel said the wind turbines had been well accepted by locals. ‘We have watched the wind farm develop with great interest, and now we find visitors to Esperance are equally enthusiastic about is,’ he said. The aim now is to identify other remote locations where wind turbines will be a feasible means of supplementing existing power stations.
IELTS Reading test practice Sentence completion How to approach the task ■ ■
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5 Take six minutes to answer questions 1-6 about Australia’s First Commercial Wind Farm.
Complete the sentences below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage for each answer. 1 Esperance used to rely totally on __________________ for energy. 2 About ___________________ of Esperance’s energy needs are met by the wind farm. 3 Both the __________________ of a wind turbine affect its energy output. 4&5 Wind farms should not be built near barriers to the wind, such as ______________ or ___________________ . 6 Scientists chose the best location for the wind farm at Esperance with the aid of _______________ . Getting gapfill answers right 6 Here are some answers that students have given to questions 1-6 above. For each answer, state which question the student was doing and say why the answer would be marked wrong.
A computer modeling B tree or building C around 12 per cent D the diesel power E Western Power’s grid F $5.8 million G scientists H on gently sloping hills
7 Match the words and phrases below from questions 1-6 in exercise 5 with phrases in the
passage. Questions Passage A used to rely totally on B energy needs C its energy output D not be (built) near E barriers to the wind, such as F chose the best location G with the aid of
IELTS Reading test practice Global reading question 8 What is the main purpose of the writer of the article?
A to respond to criticism of a project B to review the success of a project C to explain his role in a project D to predict the future of a project
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