Circus Reading Answers

Feb 22, 2023

Circus Reading Answers is a general reading topic that discusses in detail about the circus. The given IELTS topic has originated from the book named “IELTS Essential Words (with Online Audio)”. The topic named Circus Reading Answers comes with 6 wide range of questions in total. The given topic comes up with a single type of question, that is, choose the correct paragraph. The candidates should thoroughly read the IELTS reading passage to recognize the synonyms, identify the keywords, and answer the questions below. IELTS reading practice papers can be taken into consideration by the candidates in order to score a good score in the reading section in which similar topics like Circus Reading Answers have been included.

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Section 1

Read the passage to answer the following questions

Circus Reading Answers

A circus is a company of performers who put on diverse entertainment shows that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, dancers, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, magicians, unicyclists, as well as other object manipulation and stut-oriented artists. The term circus also describes the performance which has followed various formats through its 250-year modern history. Although not the inventor of the medium, Philip Astley is credited as the father of the modern circus. In 1768, Astley, a skilled equestrian, began performing exhibitions of trick horse riding in an open field called Ha'Penny Hatch on the south side of the Thames River. In 1770, he hired acrobats, tightrope walkers, jugglers, and a clown to fill in the pauses between the equestrian demonstrations and thus chanced on the format which was later named a "circus". Performances developed significantly over the next fifty years, with large-scale theatrical battle re-enactments becoming a significant feature. The traditional format, in which a ringmaster introduces a variety of choreographed acts set to music, developed in the latter part of the 19th century, and remained the dominant format until the 1970s.
As styles of performance have developed since the time of Astley, so too have the types of venues where these circuses have performed. The earliest modern circuses were performed in open-air structures with limited covered seating. From the late 18th to late 19th century, custom-made circus buildings (often wooden) were built with various types of seating, a centre ring, and sometimes a stage. The traditional large tents commonly known as "big tops" were introduced in the mid-19th century as touring circuses superseded static venues. These tents eventually became the most common venue. Contemporary circuses perform in a variety of venues including tents, theatres, and casinos. Many circus performances are still held in a ring, usually 13 m in diameter. This dimension was adopted by Astley in the late 18th century as the minimum diameter that enabled an acrobatic horse rider to stand upright on a cantering horse to perform their tricks.
Contemporary circus has been credited with a revival of the circus tradition since the late 1970s, when a number of groups began to experiment with new circus formats and aesthetics, typically avoiding the use of animals to focus exclusively on human artistry. Circuses within the movement have tended to favour a theatrical approach, combining character-driven circus acts with original music in a broad variety of styles to convey complex themes or stories Contemporary circus continues to develop new variations on the circus tradition while absorbing new skills, techniques, and stylistic influences from other performing arts.
In Ancient Rome, the circus was a building for the exhibition of horse and chariot races, equestrian shows, staged battles, gladiatorial combat, and displays of fights with trained animals. The circuses of Rome were similar to the ancient Greek hippodromes, although circuses served varying purposes and differed in design and construction, and for events that involved re-enactments of naval battles, the circus was flooded with water. The Roman circus buildings were, however, not circular but rectangular with semi-circular ends. The lower seats were reserved for persons of rank; there were also various state boxes for the giver of the games and his friends. The circus was the only public spectacle at which men and women were not separated. Some circus historians such as George Speaight have stated "these performances may have taken place in the great arenas that were called 'circuses' by the Romans, but it is a mistake to equate these places, or the entertainments presented there, with the modern circus Others have argued that the lineage of the circus does go back to the Roman circuses and a chronology of circus related entertainment can be trace to Roman times, continued by the Hippodrome of Constantinople that operated until the 13th century, through medieval and renaissance jesters, minstrels and troubadours to the late 18th century and the time of Astley.
The first circus in the city of Rome was the Circus Maximus, in the valley between the Palatine and Aventine hills. It was constructed during the monarchy and, at first, built completely from wood. After being rebuilt several times, the final version of the Circus Maximus could seat 250,000 people; it was built of stone and measured 400m in length and 90m in width. Next in importance were the Circus Flaminius and the Circus Neronis, from the notoriety which it obtained through the Circensian pleasures of Nero. A fourth circus was constructed by Maxentius; its ruins have helped archaeologists reconstruct the Roman circus. For some time after the fall of Rome, large circus buildings fell out of use as centres of mass entertainment. Instead, itinerant performers, animal trainers, and showmen travelled between towns throughout Europe, performing at local fairs.

Section 2

Solution and Explanation

Questions 8-13

Which paragraph contains the following information? Write correct letter A-E in your answer sheet.

NB you may use any letter more than once.

Question 8. Circus setting that have come a long way from the past.

Answer: B
Supporting sentence: As styles of performance have developed since the time of Astley
Keyword: styles, performance, time, Astley
Keyword location: paragraph B, line 1
Explanation: The first line of paragraph B says that since Astley's time, performance techniques have evolved, as have the settings in which these circuses have been performed. The first modern circuses were held in open-air constructions with only a few covered seats. Custom-made circus buildings (typically timber) with various types of seats, a center ring, and sometimes a stage was built. It was built from the late 18th to late 19th centuries.

Question 9. Not using animals for the revitalization of circus.

Answer: C
Supporting sentence: typically avoiding the use of animals to focus exclusively on human artistry
Keyword: avoiding, use, animals, human artistry
Keyword location: paragraph C, lines 1-3
Explanation: The first three lines of paragraph C say that since the late 1970s, a number of companies began to experiment with new circus formats and aesthetics. Those companies eliminated the use of animals in order to focus solely on human creativity. The contemporary circus has been attributed to a resurrection of the circus tradition. Circuses in the movement have favored a theatrical approach.

Question 10. Rebuilding of a circus with the help of its wrecks.

Answer: E
Supporting sentence: After being rebuilt several times, the final version of the Circus Maximus could seat 250,000 people
Keyword: rebuilt, several times, seat, 250,000 people
Keyword location: paragraph E, lines 2-3
Explanation: Lines 2-3 of paragraph E explain that the Circus Maximus, located in the valley between the Palatine and Aventine hills, was the city of Rome's first circus. It was built during the monarchy and was first made entirely of wood. The final version of the Circus Maximus was built of stone and measured 400m in length and 90m in width. It could seat 250,000 people after being renovated multiple times.

Question 11. The show that did not discriminate genders of that era.

Answer: D
Supporting sentence: The circus was the only public spectacle at which men and women were not separated.
Keyword: circus, spectacle, men and women, not separated
Keyword location: paragraph D, lines 8-9
Explanation: Lines 8-9 of paragraph D state that The Roman circus buildings, on the other hand, were rectangular with semi-circular ends rather than round. Lower seats were reserved for people of rank, and there were also several state boxes for the game giver and his associates. The circus was the only public spectacle that did not divide men and women.

Question 12. The recognition for the popularity of contemporary circus goes to someone who is not the originator.

Answer: A
Supporting sentence: Although not the inventor of the medium, Philip Astley is credited as the father of the modern circus.
Keyword: inventor, medium, Philip Astley, father of the modern circus
Keyword location: paragraph A, lines 5-
Explanation: Lines 5-6 of paragraph A explain that the term circus also refers to the type of performance that has evolved over its 250-year modern history. Although not the creator of the medium, Philip Astley is regarded as the father of the contemporary circus. Astley, a skillful equestrian, began doing trick horse riding performances in an open area called Ha'Penny Hatch on the south bank of the Thames River in 1768. A circus is a group of performers who put on various entertainment shows. It includes clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, dancers, hoopers, tightrope walkers, and jugglers. It also includes magicians, unicyclists, and other object manipulation and stut-oriented artists.

Question 13. Circus buildings losing its charm

Answer: E
Supporting sentence: For some time after the fall of Rome, large circus buildings fell out of use as centers of mass entertainment.
Keyword: time, circus, fell out, entertainment
Keyword location: paragraph E, lines 7-8
Explanation: Lines 7-8 of paragraph E describe that Maxentius built a fourth circus, and the remains of this one have helped historians reassemble the Roman circus. Large circus facilities were out of use as mass entertainment centers for some time following the collapse of Rome. Instead, itinerant performers, animal trainers, and showmen traversed Europe, appearing at small fairs. The Circus Maximus was the earliest circus in Rome, located in the valley between the Palatine and Aventine hills. It was built during the monarchy and was first made entirely of wood.