Children's Authors Reading Answers

Mar 11, 2024

Children's Authors Reading Answers is an academic reading topic. Children's Authors Reading Answers have a total of 5 IELTS questions in total. The specified topic generates 2 question type: Match the statements and Choose no more than Three words. Candidates should read the IELTS Reading passage thoroughly to recognize synonyms, identify keywords, and answer the questions below. IELTS Reading practice papers, which feature topics such as Children's Authors Reading Answers. Candidates can use IELTS reading practice questions and answers to enhance their performance in the reading section.

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Section 1

Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions

Children's Authors

There is a long history of Children's stories and poems. Lullabies, for example, were sung in Roman times, and a few games and nursery rhymes are almost as old. However, in 1700 there were stories in print that children often seized the opportunity when they had it , such as translations of Aesop's fables, fairy-stories, and popular ballads and romances. They were not specifically aimed at young people. The only truly child-oriented literature at the time would have been a few instructional works to help with reading and general knowledge, as well as the occasional Puritanical tract as a morality aid, so eager child readers had no choice but to read adult literature.

By the mid 18th century, there were enough eager kid readers, and enough parents willing to pander to this enthusiasm, for publishers to specialise in children's books whose primary goal was entertainment rather than teaching or morals. Cajanus, The Swedish Giant was published in 1742 by a London merchant named Thomas Boreham, while A Little Pretty Pocket Book was published in 1744 by the more famous John Newbery. Its contents—rhymes, stories, children's games, and a free present ('A ball and a pincushion')—foreshadowed the lucky-dip contents of children's annuals this century in many ways. It's a testament to Newbery's talent that he came up with a winning formula so rapidly, and that it was almost immediately stolen in America.

Such pleasing levity was not to last. Influenced by Rousseau, whose Emile, Or Treatise on Education (1762) decreed that all books for children save Robinson Crusoe were a dangerous diversion, contemporary critics saw to it that children’s literature should be instructive and uplifting. Mrs. Sarah Trimmer’s magazine The Guardian of Education (1802) published the first regular reviews of children's books, and was one of the most prominent of these voices. Her own stories, Fabulous Histories (1786), described talking animals who were always models of sense and decorum, and she was the one who condemned fairy tales for their violence and general absurdity.

So, the moral story for children was always under threat from within, given how children can elicit entertainment from even the most stern moralist. The greatest blow to the improving children's book came from an unlikely source: early 19th century folklore interest. James Orchard Halliwell chose the Nursery rhymes for a folklore society in 1842. And, also the Grimm brothers' collection of fairy tales were quickly translated into English in 1823 and became popular with children, prompting new editions, each one more child-centric than the last. Younger children can now expect stories tailored to their specific interests, with the needs of their own limited life experience firmly in mind.

What eventually determined the reading of older children was access to books that contained characters and not the availability of special children’s literature, such as young people or animals, with whom they could more easily empathise, or actions like fighting and exploring, that made few demands on understanding and adult maturity.

With the arrival in the late 1930s of child-centred best-sellers the final apotheosis of literary childhood as something to be protected from unpleasant reality came intended as entertainment at its most escapist. British novelists such as Enid Blyton and Richmal Crompton said children who were always free to have the most unlikely adventures, believe that nothing bad could ever happen to them in the end. In the self-enclosed world inhabited by Enid Blyton’s young characters, the fact that war broke out again during her books’ greatest popularity fails to register. After World War II, reaction against such dream-worlds was inevitable, coinciding with the growth of paperback sales, new spirit of social and moral concern and children’s libraries. Writers slowly began to explore new areas of interest urged on by committed publishers and progressive librarians while also changing the settings of their plots from the middle-class world to which their chief patrons had always previously belonged.

Critical emphasis, during this development, has been divided. For some the most important task to get rid children’s books of the social prejudice and exclusiveness, no longer found acceptable. The other people concentrated more on the good accomplishments of modern children’s literature. The fact that authors of these works are now frequently recommended to adult as well as child readers echoes the 19th-century belief that children's literature can be passed down through generations rather than serving as a protective barrier between childhood and the necessary maturation toward adult understanding.

Section 2

Solution With Explanation

Children's Literature Reading Questions 1-5. Look at the following statements and the list below. Match each statement with the correct one.

NB - You may use any answer more than once.

Translations of Aesop's fables, fairy-stories, and popular ballads and romances

Answer: B
Supporting statement: “.........However, in 1700 there were stories in print that children often seized the opportunity when they had it , such as translations of Aesop's fables, fairy-stories, and popular ballads and romances.........”
Keywords: seized, ballads
Keyword Location: para 1, line 3
Explanation: Be that as it may, in 1700 there were stories in print that children regularly seized the opportunity when they had it , such as interpretations of Aesop's tales, fairy-stories, and prevalent anthems and sentiments

Cajanus, The Swedish Giant was published

Answer: D
Supporting statement: “....... Cajanus, The Swedish Giant was published in 1742 by a London merchant named Thomas Boreham, while A Little Pretty Pocket Book was published in 1744 by the more famous John...........”
Keywords: merchant, more
Keyword Location: para 2, line 3
Explanation: It is given that Swedish giant was published in 1942.

A Little Pretty Pocket Book was published

Answer: E
Supporting statement: “.........while A Little Pretty Pocket Book was published in 1744 by the more famous John Newbery. .........”
Keywords: book, famous
Keyword Location: para 2, line 6
Explanation: It is given that the pretty pocket book was published in 1744.

Emile, Or Treatise on Education was published

Answer: A
Supporting statement: “.........Influenced by Rousseau, whose Emile, Or Treatise on Education (1762) decreed that all books for children save Robinson Crusoe were a dangerous diversion.........”
Keywords: decreed, dangerous
Keyword Location: para 3, line 1
Explanation: It is given that Emile, Or Treatise on education was published on 1762.

The Guardian of Education was published

Answer: C
Supporting statement: “........ Mrs. Sarah Trimmer’s magazine The Guardian of Education (1802) published the first regular reviews of children's books..........”
Keywords: published, review
Keyword Location: para 3, line 4
Explanation: It is given that the guardian of education was published in 1802.

1762
1700
1802
1742
1744
1786

Children's Literature Reading Questions 6-10

Complete the sentences below

Write the answer with NOT MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage.

Lullabies were sung in _____ times, and a few games and nursery rhymes are almost as old.

Answer: ROMAN
Supporting statement: “........There is a long history of Children's stories and poems. Lullabies, for example, were sung in Roman times, and a few games and nursery rhymes are almost as old. ..........”
Keywords: sung, almost
Keyword Location: para 1, line 1
Explanation: It is given that the lullabies were sung in Roman times. Some games and rhymes are also very old.

British novelists such as ________ and Richmal Crompton said children who were always free to have the most unlikely adventures, believe that nothing bad could ever happen to them in the end.

Answer: ENID BLYTON
Supporting statement: “........British novelists such as Enid Blyton and Richmal Crompton said children who were always free to have the most unlikely adventures, believe that nothing bad could ever happen to them in the end...........”
Keywords: adventures, happen
Keyword Location: para 6, line 4
Explanation: It is given that enid blyton and richmal aid that children who are always free have most unlikely adventures. They don't fear anything.

It's a testament to ________ talent that he came up with a winning formula so rapidly, and that it was almost immediately stolen in America.

Answer: NEWBERY’S
Supporting statement: “.........It's a testament to Newbery's talent that he came up with a winning formula so rapidly, and that it was almost immediately stolen in America..........”
Keywords: winning, almost
Keyword Location: para 2, line 8
Explanation: It is given in the second paragraph. It was a testament to Newbery’s talent that came up with the win.

_______ (1786), described talking animals who were always models of sense and decorum, and she was the one who condemned fairy tales for their violence and general absurdity.

Answer: FABULOUS HISTORIES
Supporting statement: “........Her own stories, Fabulous Histories (1786), described talking animals who were always models of sense and decorum, and she was the one who condemned fairy tales for their violence and general
absurdity...........”
Keywords: animals, tales
Keyword Location: para 3, line 6
Explanation: It is given that Fabulous histories was a book that described talking animals. They were disciplined and also showing positive message to the people through it.

After ________ II, reaction against such dream-worlds was inevitable, coinciding with the growth of paperback sales, new spirit of social and moral concern and children’s libraries.

Answer: WORLD WAR
Supporting statement: “........After World War II, reaction against such dream-worlds was inevitable, coinciding with the growth of paperback sales..........”
Keywords: inevitable, growth
Keyword Location: para 6, line 8
Explanation: It is given that after world war II, reaction against the dream worlds was bad. Paperback sales went high and a new spirit of social and moral concerns rose.

Children's Literature Reading Questions 11-15
Answer the questions below.
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage for each answer.

Who wrote Cajanus, The Swedish Giant?

Answer: Thomas Boreham
Supporting statement: “.......... Cajanus, The Swedish Giant was published in 1742 by a London merchant named Thomas Boreham, ........”
Keywords: merchant, thomas
Keyword Location: para 2, line 3
Explanation: It is given that Cajanus, The Swedish Giant was published in 1942. It was written by thomas Boreham.

Who published the book, A Little Pretty Pocket Book?

Answer: John Newbery
Supporting statement: “.........while A Little Pretty Pocket Book was published in 1744 by the more famous John Newbery. .........”
Keywords: famous, published
Keyword Location: para 2, line 4
Explanation: It is said that the book little Pretty pocket was published by John Newberry.

Who is the author of Emile, Or Treatise on Education?

Answer: Rousseau
Supporting statement: “........Such pleasing levity was not to last. Influenced by Rousseau, whose Emile, Or Treatise on Education (1762) decreed that all books for children..........”
Keywords: emile, decreed
Keyword Location: para 3, line 1
Explanation: It is given that the author of Emile,Or Treatise on Education is written by Rousseau.

Who chose nursery rhymes for the folklore society in 1842?

Answer: James Orchard Halliwell
Supporting statement: “........ James Orchard Halliwell chose the Nursery rhymes for a folklore society in 1842. And, also the Grimm brothers' collection of fairy tales were quickly translated into..........”
Keywords: folklore, translated
Keyword Location: para 4, line 4
Explanation: James Plantation Halliwell chose the Nursery rhymes for a fables society in 1842. Additionally, the Grimm brothers' collection of pixie stories were rapidly deciphered into English in 1823 and got to be well known with children,

When was Fabulous Histories published?

Answer: 1786
Supporting statement: “.........Fabulous Histories (1786), described talking animals who were always models of sense and decorum, and she was the one who condemned fairy tales for their violence and general absurdity..........”
Keywords: models, sense
Keyword Location: para 3, line 6
Explanation: Astounding Histories (1786), depicted talking creatures who were continuously models of sense and propriety, and she was the one who condemned pixie stories for their savagery and common foolishness.

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