A Brief History of Automata Reading Answers

Oct 18, 2025

A Brief History of Automata Reading Answers is an academic reading answers topic. A Brief History of Automata Reading Answers has a total of 13 IELTS questions in total. In the first question set, candidates have to choose one word only from the text for each answer. In the next question set, candidates have to look at the following descriptions (questions 31-35) and the list of people below. Match each statement with the correct person, a-g. In the last question set, candidates have choose one word only from the text for each answer.

The IELTS Reading section is an essential part of the test that evaluates a candidate's comprehension and analysis of various passage types. You will work through some IELTS reading practice problems in this section that resemble actual test situations. These questions are designed to help you improve your ability to recognise essential concepts, extract particular facts, and make inferences. Practising these IELTS reading problems can help you get comfortable with the structure and increase your confidence for the exam, regardless of whether you are studying for the Academic or General Training module.

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Section 1

BRIEF HISTORY OF AUTOMATA

An automaton is a machine, usually made to resemble a person or animal, that operates on its own, once it has been started. Although few are constructed nowadays, they have a history stretching back well over two thousand years. Several myths show that the ancient Greeks were interested in the creation of automata. In one, Hephaestus, the god of all mechanical arts, was reputed to have made two female statues of pure gold which assisted him and accompanied him wherever he went. As well as giving automata a place in mythology, the Greeks almost certainly created some. These were probably activated by levers and powered by human action, although there are descriptions of steam and water being used as sources of power. Automata were sometimes intended as toys or as tools for demonstrating basic scientific principles.

Other ancient cultures, too, seem to have developed automata. In Egypt, Ctesibius experimented with air pressure and pneumatic principles. One of his creations was a singing blackbird powered by water. A Chinese text of the third century BC describes a life-size, human-shaped figure that could walk rapidly, move its head up and down. sing and wink its eye. Much later, Arab engineers of the ninth and thirteenth centuries wrote detailed treatises on how to build programmable musical fountains, mechanical servants, and elaborate clocks. A ninth-century ruler in Baghdad had a silver and gold tree with metal birds that sang. The art of creating automata developed considerably during the fifteenth century, linked with improvements in clock-making: the mechanisms of automata and clocks had a great deal in common. Some truly remarkable automata were produced at this time. Muller was reputed to have made an artificial eagle which flew to greet the Emperor on his entry into Nuremberg, Germany, in 1470, then returned to perch on top of a city gate and, by stretching its wings and bowing, saluted the emperor on his arrival. Leonardo da Vinci made a lion in honour of the king of France, which advanced towards him, stopped, opened its chest with a claw, and pointed to the French coat of arms.

Automata were normally very expensive toys for the very rich. They were made for royal or aristocratic patrons, to be viewed only by themselves and selected guests who were expected to be impressed by their wealth. Automata were also created for public show, however, and many appeared on clock towers, such as me one in Bern, Switzerland, built in 1530. During the eighteenth century, some watchmakers made automata to contribute to the progress of medicine and the natural sciences, particularly to investigate the mechanical laws governing the structure and movement of living things. Many of their creations simulated almost perfectly the complex structure of human beings and animals. Maillardet made extensive use of gearing and cogs to produce automata of horses, worked by turning a handle. Vaucanson produced a duck made of gilded copper which ate, drank, and quacked like a real duck. He also made a life-size female flute player. Air passes through the complex mechanism, causing the lips and fingers of the player to move naturally on the flute, opening and closing holes on it. This automaton had a repertoire of twelve tunes.

In another well-known piece, Merlin's silver swan made in 1773, the swan sits in a stream consisting of glass rods where small silver fish are swimming. When the clockwork is wound, a music box plays and the glass rods rotate, giving the impression of a flowing stream. The swan turns its head from side to side. It soon notices the fish and bends down to catch and eat one, then raises its head to the upright position. The mechanism still works. One of the most skilled makers of automata was the Swiss watchmaker Jaquet-Droz. He produced three automata which, even today, are considered wonders of science and mechanical engineering. One of these, The Writer, simulates a boy sitting at a desk, dipping his pen into the ink and writing perfectly legibly.

Another Stunning creation of the eighteenth century was the Mechanical Theatre in the grounds of Austria's Hellbrunn Palace, home of the Archbishop of Salzburg. Designed by the miner Rosenegger and completed in 1752, this depicts the nobility's idea of a perfect society, with every class in its proper place. The figures inside a palace depict eighteenth-century court life, while industrious activity is carried on in and around this building. A total of 141 mobile and 52 immobile little figures demonstrate all manner of trades of the period: building workers bring materials to the foreman, who drinks; butchers slaughter an ox; a barber shaves a man. A dancing bear performs, guards march past the palace, and a farmer pushes an old woman in a wheelbarrow over the road. The theatre shows great skill in clock making and water technology, consisting of hidden waterwheels, copper wiring, and cogwheels.

During the nineteenth century, mass production techniques meant that automata could be made cheaply and easily, and they became toys for children rather than an expensive adult amusement. Between 1860 and 1910, small family businesses in Paris made thousands of clockwork automata and mechanical singing birds and exported them around the world. However, the twentieth century saw traditional forms of automata fall out of favour.

QUESTIONS 28-30

CHOOSE ONE WORD ONLY FROM THE TEXT FOR EACH ANSWER.

WRITE YOUR ANSWERS IN BOXES 28-30 ON YOUR ANSWER SHEET.

Automata and the ancient Greeks

The ancient Greeks had a number of 28……… concerning automata. According to one, the god Hephaestus created two assistants made of gold.

Answer: MYTHS

Supporting statement: Several myths show that the ancient Greeks were interested in the creation of automata

Keywords: myths, ancient Greeks

Keyword Location: Para 1, Line 3

Explanation: The text says that a number of myths suggest the ancient Greeks were interested in making automata.

The Greeks probably also created real automata; it seems most likely that the mechanism which controlled them consisted of 29………..which were worked by human operators.

Answer: LEVERS

Supporting statement: These were probably activated by levers and powered by human action

Keywords: activated by levers, human action

Keyword Location: Para 1, Line 7

Explanation: The text suggests that the Greek automata were probably activated by levers and powered by human action

Some automata were designed to be 30................ with an educational purpose.

Answer: TOOLS

Supporting statement: Automata were sometimes intended as toys or as tools for demonstrating basic scientific principles.

Keywords: tools, demonstrating basic scientific principles

Keyword Location: Para 1, Line 9

Explanation: The text mentions that automata were intended as toys or as tools for demonstrating basic scientific principles, which fits the description of an educational purpose.

QUESTIONS 31-35

LOOK AT THE FOLLOWING DESCRIPTIONS (QUESTIONS 31-35) AND THE

LIST OF PEOPLE BELOW. MATCH EACH STATEMENT WITH THE CORRECT PERSON, A-G.

LIST OF DESCRIPTIONS

31. created an automaton that represented a bird in water interacting with its surroundings

Answer: F

Supporting statement: In another well-known piece, Merlin's silver swan made in 1773, the swan sits in a stream consisting of glass rods where small silver fish are swimming... The swan turns its head from side to side. It soon notices the fish and bends down to catch and eat one

Keywords: Merlin's silver swan, stream, fish, eat one

Keyword Location: Para 4, Lines 1-2

Explanation: According to the text, Merlin created the silver swan that interacts with the fish and the stream.

32 created an automaton that performed on a musical instrument

Answer: E

Supporting statement: Vaucanson produced a duck made of gilded copper... He also made a life-size female flute player. Air passes through the complex mechanism, causing the lips and fingers of the player to move naturally on the flute

Keywords: Vaucanson, flute player, flute

Keyword Location: Para 3, Lines 9-12

Explanation: Vaucanson is credited with creating the female flute player automaton.

33 produced documents about how to create automata

Answer: B

Supporting statement: Much later, Arab engineers of the ninth and thirteenth centuries wrote detailed treatises on how to build programmable musical fountains, mechanical servants, and elaborate clocks.

Keywords: Arab engineers, detailed treatises

Keyword Location: Para 2, Line 5

Explanation: According to the text, Arab engineers wrote detailed treatises (documents) on how to build automata.

34 created automata, which required a human being to operate the mechanism

Answer: D

Supporting statement: Maillardet made extensive use of gearing and cogs to produce automata of horses, worked by turning a handle.

Keywords: Maillardet, horses, worked by turning a handle

Keyword Location: Para 3, Lines 8-9

Explanation: Maillardet's horses were worked by turning a handle, which requires human operation.

35 used air and water power

Answer: A

Supporting statement: In Egypt, Ctesibius experimented with air pressure and pneumatic principles. One of his creations was a singing blackbird powered by water.

Keywords: Ctesibius, air pressure, water

Keyword Location: Para 2, Lines 1-2

Explanation: The text mentions that Ctesibius utilized both air pressure (pneumatic principles) and water power in his creations.

List of People

A Ctesibius E Vaucanson

B Arab engineers F Merlin

C da Vinci G Jaquet-Droz

D Maillardet

QUESTIONS 36-40 05:51

CHOOSE ONE WORD ONLY FROM THE TEXT FOR EACH ANSWER.

WRITE YOUR ANSWERS IN BOXES 36-40 ON YOUR ANSWER SHEET.

36. The Mechanical Theatre shows court life inside a…………..

Answer: PALACE

Supporting statement: The figures inside a palace depict eighteenth-century court life

Keywords: palace, court life

Keyword Location: Para 5, Line 4

Explanation: The text states that the figures showing court life are located inside a palace.

37. In the Mechanical Theatre, building workers, butchers, and a barber represent various…………..of the time.

Answer: TRADES

Supporting statement: A total of 141 mobile and 52 immobile little figures demonstrate all manner of trades of the period: building workers bring materials to the foreman, who drinks; butchers slaughter an ox; a barber shaves a man.

Keywords: trades, building workers, butchers, barber

Keyword Location: Para 5, Lines 6-7

Explanation: The text uses the word "trades" to describe the various occupations, such as those of the building workers, butchers, and barber, being demonstrated.

38. ………………provides the power that operates the Mechanical Theatre.

Answer: WATER

Supporting statement: The theatre shows great skill in clock making and water technology, consisting of hidden waterwheels

Keywords: water, waterwheels, technology

Keyword Location: Para 5, Lines 9-10

Explanation: The mechanism relies on water technology, consisting of hidden waterwheels, indicating that water provides the power.

39. New……………. that developed in the nineteenth century reduced the cost of the production of automata.

Answer: TECHNIQUES

Supporting statement: During the nineteenth century, mass production techniques meant that automata could be made cheaply and easily, and they became toys for children rather than an expensive adult amusement.

Keywords: techniques, mass production, cheaply

Keyword Location: Para 6, Lines 1-2

Explanation: The text explicitly mentions mass production techniques as the reason automata became cheaper to make.

40. During the nineteenth century, most automata were intended for use by……………….

Answer: CHILDREN

Supporting statement: they became toys for children rather than an expensive adult amusement.

Keywords: toys for children

Keyword Location: Para 6, Line 2

Explanation: The text states that automata became toys for children in the nineteenth century.

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