ISBN – The Book Identifier Reading Answers

Feb 21, 2023

ISBN – The Book Identifier Reading Answers contains 5 questions and it is a topic from the IELTS general reading test. ISBN – The Book Identifier Reading Answers is an IELTS Reading topic that has been taken from a book called New Insights into IELTS. In IELTS reading section, the nature of questions is such that candidates have to read a passage and provide answers from therein, it is to be attempted within 20 minutes. ISBN – The Book Identifier Reading Answers contains the questions that ask the candidates to identify the information as true or false based on the passage. To practise reading papers , the candidates can refer to the IELTS practice test.

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Section 1

Read the passage to answer the questions that follow

ISBN – The Book Identifier Reading Answers

The International Standard Book Number (1SBN) is a numeric commercial book identifier which is intended to be unique. Publishers purchase ISBNs from an affiliate of the International ISBN Agency. An ISBN is assigned to each separate edition and variation with the exemption of reprinting of a publication. For example, an e-book, a paperback, and a hardcover edition of the same book will each have a different ISBN. The ISBN is ten digits long if assigned before 2007, and thirteen digits long if assigned on or after 1 January 2007. The method of designating an ISBN is nation-specific and contrasts between countries, often reliant on how large the publishing industry is within a country. The initial ISBN identification format was devised in 1967, based upon the 9-digit Standard Book Numbering (SBN) created in 1966. The 10-digit ISBN format was developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and was published in 1970 as international standard ISO 2108 (the 9-digit SBN code can be converted to a 10-digit ISBN by prefixing it with a zero digit 0). Privately published books sometimes appear exclusive of an ISBN. The International ISBN Agency sometimes assigns such books ISBNs on its own initiative.

Another identifier, the International Standard Serial Number (ISSN), identifies periodical Publications such as magazines and newspapers. The International Standard Music Number (ISMN) covers musical scores. The Standard Book Number (SBN) is a commercial system using nine-digit code numbers to identify books. It was created by Gordon Foster, Emeritus Professor of Statistics at Trinity College, Dublin, for the booksellers and stationers WHSmith and others in 1965. The ISBN identification format was conceived in 1967 in the United Kingdom by David Whitaker (regarded as the "Father of the ISBN") and in 1968 in the United States by Emery Koltay (who later became director of the U.S. ISBN agency R. R. Bowker). The 10-digit ISBN format was developed by the International Organization for Standardization (150) and was published in 1970 as international standard ISO 2108. The United Kingdom continued to use the nine- digit SBN code until 1974. ISO has appointed the International ISBN Agency as the registration authority for ISBN worldwide and the ISBN Standard is developed under the control of ISO Technical Committee 46/Subcommittee 9 TC 46/SC 9. The ISO on-line facility only refers back to 1978.

An SBN may be converted to an ISBN by prefixing the digit "0". For example, the second edition of Mr. J. G. Reeder Returns, published by Hodder in 1965, has "SBN 340 01381 8", where "340" indicates the publisher, "01381" is the serial number assigned by the publisher, and "8" is the check digit. By prefixing a zero, this can be converted to ISBN 0-340-01381-8; the check digit does not need to be re-calculated. Some publishers, such as Ballantine Books, would sometimes use 12- digit SBNs where the last three digits indicated the price of the book for example, Woodstock Handmade Houses had a 12-digit Standard Book Number of 345-24223-8-595 (valid SBN: 345-24223-8, ISBN: 0- 845-24223-8), and it cost US$5.95. Since 1 January 2007, ISBNs have contained thirteen digits, a format that is compatible with "Bookland" European Article Numbers, which have 13 digits.

Section 2

Questions 22-26

Do the following Statements agree with the information given in the Reading Passage?

Choose

TRUE, if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE, if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN, if there is no information on this

A fresh ISBN is assigned to a book when it is reprinted

Answer: FALSE
Supporting Sentence: An ISBN is assigned to each separate edition and variation with the exemption of reprinting of a publication. For example, an e-book, a paperback, and a hardcover edition of the same book will each have a different ISBN.
Keyword : reprinting, assigned
Keyword Location: Paragraph 1, 4th & 5th line
Explanation: The claim made within the question is that a fresh ISBN is assigned every time a book is reprinted. This claim is false based on supporting sentences taken from the passage in this context. This is so because the Supporting sentence says that ISBN is assigned to each separate edition and variation with the exemption of reprinting of a publication. According to the assignment of ISBN means a fresh ISBN is assigned and this assignment is done for separate editions and any variations in the publication. It is to be noted that exemption is equivalent to the exclusion of something. Now, the supporting sentence talks about reprinting but uses the expression “with the exemption of reprinting” which points towards exclusion of reprinting. In other words, the process through which a fresh ISBN is assigned excludes the reprinting of a publication. Thus, a fresh ISBN is not assigned every time a book is reprinted. It also does not make logical sense to assign a fresh ISBN to what is essentially the same content. Whereas a new ISBN is assigned to new editions and variations because they add something new to the book which needs a separate identity of its own.

The procedure of assigning an ISBN is identical in all the countries.

Answer: FALSE
Supporting Sentence: The method of designating an ISBN is nation-specific and contrasts between countries, often reliant on how large the publishing industry is within a country.
Keyword : designating, nation-specific
Keyword Location: Paragraph 1, 9th line
Explanation: The statement that makes up the question claims that the process through which ISBN is assigned is identical in all countries. This statement is false in the context of this passage. Before we refute the claim, it is to be noted that assigning an ISBN and designation an ISBN are one and the same thing. The Supporting Sentence has three parts which refute the process being identical in all countries. Firstly, the process is nation-specific which means that every nation has its own process, and it changes as and when nations change. Nation specific also means a particular process is unique to that nation and isn’t exactly replicated anywhere else. Secondly, the expression “contrasts between countries” points out that there are differences in the process which might even be at loggerheads with each other. Differences that are so opposed to each other deny every possibility of methods being identical. Thirdly, the methods are often reliant on how large the publishing industry is within the country. Now, for methods that are reliant on size of publishing, they will differ according to the size. And it’s not possible for every country to have an identical publishing industry because countries themselves vary in different factors, one of them being publishing resources. Hence, the process through which ISBN is designated/assigned is not identical in all countries.

Books can not be independently published without an ISBN.

Answer: FALSE
Supporting Sentence: Privately published books sometimes appear exclusive of an ISBN. The International ISBN Agency sometimes assigns such books to ISBNs on its own initiative.
Keyword : published, books, exclusive
Keyword Location: Paragraph 1, 17th line
Explanation: The assertion made in the question is that a book cannot be published independently without an ISBN. It is to be noted that an independent publication would include a private publication. The Supporting sentence in its first part claims that privately published books sometimes appear exclusive of an ISBN. So, there exist some privately published books that do not have an ISBN where its understood that “exclusive of” means “without”. But one can argue from the second part of the supporting sentence that the ISBN Agency sometimes assigns such books with ISBN on its own initiative. This means the books that were earlier without ISBN now have one due to Suo motu efforts of ISBN Agency. This argument has two flaws, the first one being the book was initially published without an ISBN so it can be published. Second flaw is that the ISBN Agency undertakes this assignment sometimes which means on times when it doesn’t, the book remains without ISBN. Hence, the claim that a book cannot be independently published without an ISBN is false.