Caveat Scriptor IELTS Academic Reading Sample With Explanation
The reading skills of a candidate in the IELTS academic reading passage are looked into through a passage and questions related to it. In the IELTS Academic Reading passage 40 different types of questions are asked in the examination which is mandatory for the candidate to attend. The IELTS reading sample - Caveat Scriptor is an Academic topic and contains three types of questions:
- Summary completion
- Choose the correct answer
- Sentence completion
There are numerous topics found in IELTS reading practice papers for practice.
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Section 1
Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions
Caveat Scriptor IELTS Academic Reading Sample
- Let the would-be writer beware! Anyone foolhardy enough to embark on a career as a writer – whether it be an academic treatise, a novel, or even an article – should first read this!
- People think that writing as a profession is glamorous; that it is just about sitting down and churning out words on a page, or more likely these days on a computer screen. If only it were! So what exactly does writing a book entail? Being a writer is about managing a galaxy of contradictory feelings: elation, despair, hope, frustration, satisfaction, and depression – and not all separately! Of course, it also involves carrying out detailed research: first to establish whether there is a market for the planned publication, and second into the content of the book. Sometimes, however, instinct takes the place of market research and the contents are dictated not by plans and exhaustive research but by experience and knowledge.
- Once the publication has been embarked upon, there is a long period of turmoil as the text takes shape. A first draft is rarely the final text of the book. Nearly all books are the result of countless hours of altering and reordering chunks of text and deleting the embarrassing bits. While some people might think that with new technology the checking and editing process is speeded up, the experienced writer would hardly agree. Unfortunately, advanced technology now allows the writer the luxury of countless editings; a temptation many of us find hard to resist. So a passage, endlessly reworked may end up nothing remotely like the original, and completely out of place when compared with the rest of the text.
- After the trauma of self-editing and looking for howlers, it is time to show the text to other people, friends perhaps, for appraisal. At this stage, it is not wise to send it off to a literary agent or direct to publishers, as it may need further fine-tuning of which the author is unaware. Once an agent has been approached and has rejected a draft publication, it is difficult to go and ask for the revamped text to be considered again. It also helps, at this stage, to offer a synopsis of the book, if it is a novel, or an outline if it is a textbook. This acts as a guide for the author, and a general reference for friends and later for agents.
- Although it is tempting to send the draft to every possible agent at one time, it is probably unwise. Some agents may reject the publication out of hand, but others may proffer some invaluable advice, for example about the content or the direction to be taken. Hints like this may be of use in finally being given a contract by an agent or publisher.
- The lucky few taken on by publishers or agents, then have their books subjected to a number of readers, whose job it is to vet a book: deciding whether it is worth publishing and whether the text as it stands is acceptable or not. After a book has finally been accepted by a publisher, one of the greatest difficulties for the writer lies in taking on board the publisher’s alterations to the text. Whilst the overall story the thrust of the book may be acceptable, it will probably have to conform to an in-house style, as regards language, spelling or punctuation, etc. More seriously, the integrity of the text may be challenged, and this may require radical redrafting which is unpalatable to the author. A book’s creation period is complex and unnerving, but the publisher’s reworkings and text amputations can also be a tortuous process.
- For many writers, the most painful period comes when the text has been accepted, and the writer is waiting for it to be put together for the printer. By this stage, it is not uncommon for the writer to be thoroughly sick of the text.
- Abandon writing? Nonsense. Once smitten, it is not easy to escape the compulsion to create and write, despite the roller-coaster ride of contradictory emotions.
Section 2
Solution and Explanation
Questions 1 – 8
Complete the text below, which is a summary of the passage .
Choose your answer from the Word list below and write them in Boxes 1-8 on your answer sheet.
There are more words and phrases than spaces, so you will not be able to use them at all. You may use each word or phrase only once.
People often associate writing with _______1__________. But being a writer Involves managing conflicting emotions as well as _________2__________ or instinct. Advanced technology, contrary to what might be thought, does not make the________3___________ faster.
When a writer has a draft of the text ready, It is a good idea to have a___________________ 4_______for friends, etc. to look at. If an author Is accepted by a publisher, the draft of the book is given to__________ 5______ for vetting,___________6.______ are then often made, which are not easy for the writer to agree. However,_________7_______ is compelling, even though there are_____________8_______ .
| editing process | beware | readers |
| first draft | glamour | a literary agent |
| alterations | profession | publisher |
| challenges | writing | dictating |
| research | publishing | summary |
| ups and downs | roller-coaster | - |
Question 1.
Answer: Glamour
Supporting Sentence: People think that writing as a profession is glamorous; that it is just about sitting down and churning out words on a page, or more likely these days on a computer screen.
Keywords: people, writing
Keyword location: first sentence, second paragraph
Explanation: Many people think that writing is glamorous, but it is not. Writers need a great mind set so that they can give time and focus to every project as they have to write by themselves. No one is there for them to help them in writing.
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Question 2.
Answer: research
Supporting Sentence: Sometimes, however, instinct takes the place of market research and the contents are dictated not by plans and exhaustive research but by experience and knowledge.
Keywords: instinct
Keyword location: Last sentence, second paragraph
Explanation: Writers face many challenges which include lack of Idea, lack of productivity, lack of confidence, and many more. Searching for new ideas is very exhausting for writers and completing the project on time.
Question 3.
Answer: editing process
Supporting Sentence: While some people might think that with new technology the checking and editing process is speeded up, the experienced writer would hardly agree.
Keywords: technology
Keyword location: Fourth sentence, third paragraph
Explanation: Writing and Technology have effects on all aspects of written communication and language used. The writing only connects and attracts the reader if the content is real and unique.
Question 4.
Answer: summary
Supporting Sentence: It also helps, at this stage, to offer a synopsis of the book, if it is a novel, or an outline if it is a textbook. This acts as a guide for the author, and a general reference for friends and later for agents.
Keywords: friends
Keyword location: End of fourth paragraph
Explanation: Summary has the reader to have an idea of the theme and plot of the content.
Note: synopsis is a synonym for word summary.
Question 5.
Answer: readers
Supporting Sentence: The lucky few taken on by publishers or agents, then have their books subjected to a number of readers, whose job it is to vet a book: deciding whether it is worth publishing and whether the text as it stands is acceptable or not.
Keywords: publishers
Keyword location: First sentence, sixth paragraph
Explanation: Many writers get Publishers. Who promises the writers to publish their books or contents in the market. For security purposes writers never handover their whole content to publishers. Despite this, they provide the publishers with a draft of their content which helps the publishers to decide what to be published or what not.
Question 6.
Answer: alterations
Supporting Sentence: After a book has finally been accepted by a publisher, one of the greatest difficulties for the writer lies in taking on board the publisher’s alterations to the text.
Keywords: publisher
Keyword location: Third sentence, sixth paragraph
Explanation: The publisher’s handover the accepted content to an editorial department for editing or in case of a noble commissioning editor is involved who looks at everything from book structure to general style.
Question 7.
Answer: writing
Supporting Sentence: Once smitten, it is not easy to escape the compulsion to create and write, despite the roller-coaster ride of contradictory emotions.
Keywords: None
Keyword location: Last paragraph
Explanation: Once the content is accepted by the publishers for publishing, they make many changes in the content. It is not easy to reach a conclusion that both publishers and writers agree on.
Question 8.
Answer: ups and downs
Supporting Sentence: Once smitten, it is not easy to escape the compulsion to create and write, despite the roller- coaster ride of contradictory emotions.
Keywords: None
Keyword location: Last paragraph
Explanation: once the writer passes through to the painful time when the content is accepted by the Publishers finally and the content is ready for printing. They find it difficult for writing for the but it is not easy to escape from writing and creating new content they ones again arts writing.
Question 9 – 10
Choose the appropriate letters A-D and write them in boxes 9 and 10 on your answer sheet,
- In the planning stages of a book, …
- Instinct can replace market research
- market research can replace instinct
- market research is essential
- Instinct frequently replaces market research
Answer: (A) Instinct can replace market research
Supporting Sentence: Sometimes, however, instinct takes the place of market research and the contents are dedicated not by plans and exhaustive research but by experience and knowledge.
Keywords: plan, replace
Keyword location: Last sentence, second paragraph
Explanation: At the planning stage of content, writers get confused and it is difficult for them to make a plot in their mind for the upcoming contents. Writers have to face exhausting market research and they use their extreme experience and knowledge to make the content more attractive and real to the reader.
- The problem with the use of advanced technology in editing is that ......
- it becomes different from the original
- it is unfortunate
- it is luxury
- many writers cannot resist changing the text again and again
Answer: (D) Many writers cannot resist changing the text again and again
Supporting Sentence: Unfortunately, advanced technology now allows the writers the luxury of countless editing; a temptation many of us find hard to resist.
Keywords: advance, technology, editing, resist
Keyword location: Second last sentence, third paragraph
Explanation: The writers never get satisfied by their content and keep searching for a new way of writing their words or sentences. They can't help themselves by keeping editing their contents again and again.
Questions 11 – 14
Complete the sentence below Use NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage to complete each blank space.
- Once a text is finished, the writer needs to get the ______the appraisal_______ of other people.
- Some agents may reject the draft of a book, while others may offer ____some invaluable advice______ .
- Apart from the need for a draft to conform to an in- house style, publisher's changes to ___redrafting/ reworking/ text amputations/ radical redrafting____ .
- The publisher's alterations to a book are difficult for a writer, as is the ____creation period____ as the book grows.
Question 11.
Answer: the appraisal
Supporting Sentence: After the trauma, it is time to show the text to other people, friends perhaps, for appraisal.
Keywords: text, other, people
Keyword location: First sentence, fourth paragraph
Explanation: After writers finish their self-editing of their content, they approach their close ones for their content for their approval before proceeding towards the publishers.
Question 12.
Answer: some invaluable advice
Supporting Sentence: Some agents may reject the publication out of hand, but others may proffer some invaluable advice, for example about the content aur the direction to be taken.
Keywords: reject, offer
Keyword location: Second line, fifth sentence
Explanation: It is difficult for the writers to find Publishers they need to approach many Publishers by sending drafts of their contents at the same time some of them projects the content while some give approval.
Question 13.
Answer: redrafting/ reworking/ text amputations/ radical redrafting
Supporting Sentence: A book creation period is complex and unnerving but the publisher's reworking and text amputations can also be a torturous process.
Keywords: publisher’s, text
Keyword location: Last sentence, sixth paragraph
Explanation: Once the book gets approval from the publishing department, they add countless edits to the text. The most difficult days of the process of publishing. It takes so much time to come to a conclusion where both publers and writers are satisfied.
Question 14.
Answer: creation period
Supporting Sentence: A book creation period is complex and unnerving but the publisher's reworking and text amputations can also be a torturous process.
Keywords: publisher’s
Keyword location: Last sentence , sixth paragraph
Explanation: The forming interval of a book is very compounded and tortuous for the writers to keep waiting to see the publication of their book. The excitement level of writers decreases as the publishing takes time.
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