NTropy Reading Answers

Nov 5, 2024

NTropy Reading Answers is an academic reading answers topic. NTropy Reading Answers has a total of 13 IELTS questions in total. In the questions set, you have to fill in the blank with correct answers. In the next section you have to choose the correct passage for the given statement.

The IELTS Reading section is a crucial component of the IELTS exam, designed to assess a candidate's ability to comprehend and analyze different types of passages. In this passage, you will engage with a series of IELTS reading practice questions that simulate real test scenarios. These questions are aimed at improving your skills in identifying key ideas, extracting specific information, and making inferences. Whether you are preparing for the Academic or General Training module, practicing these IELTS reading questions will help you become familiar with the format and boost your confidence for the actual test.

Section 1

NTROPY

How a 20-year-old idea eventually became a moneyspinner

A. The story of how games designer Paul Wickens achieved success with his best selling game Ntropy is an object lesson to those who want to strike out on their own. Firstly, there's no need to rush. 'I had the idea for what ended up as Ntropy which, by the way, is a play on the word entropy, meaning chaos or disorganization about 20 years ago, says Mr Wickens. I was building structures with matchsticks while waiting for some friends in a bar. Later I made a scaled-up version of a box of matches, which we used to play with at college for hours on end.

B. After leaving college, Mr Wickens, though interested in starting his own company and having designed another couple of games by then, took the safety-first route. 'I got a job in IT as a programmer, he recalls. Later I moved into sales support in specific applications, mostly centered round e- commerce. For the most part I forgot about my games. So what reawakened his interest? 'It was about two years ago, says Mr Wickens, 'and there was a downturn in the IT industry. Several of my friends and even colleagues lost their jobs and a couple of them started their own companies. And yes, I suppose I did re- evaluate in the way you do when you think: "What would I do if I were made redundant?" I knew nothing about the UK toy market but i had a lot more general business experience than I did when I left college.

D. The next step was to make a full replica of the game, mostly in his workshop and a converted garage at home. Then I had to test it. My father helped here because he works at an outdoor center. He gave it to people who had no idea who I was. I figured I had to get third parties to assess it and listen to what they had to say. The result was a return to the workshop for a fairly drastic redesign and some rule changes.

E. Nevertheless, the designer was convinced by now that Ntropy had commercial potential. The next question was: 'Am I prepared to spend what it takes for the next stage of development?' On the money side, Mr Wickens says it represented his savings over 20 years and remortgaging his house. He set up a company, Tadpole Games friends helped with the design and logo for the firm and the game box and he registered with the UK Patent Office at a cost of £4,000.

F. The next stage was to design the plastic base on which the stick structure could be built. Mr Wickens says: 'A friend came up with the design and a firm I found used this very futuristic process called Selective Laser Sintering to produce the first mold. I kept the different parts of the project separate to protect it.

G. Each Ntropy game consists of 64 identical sticks. 'I could only have done this with the help of the Internet, 'he says. I spent weekend after weekend looking for a sustainable source of timber. In the end I found a firm in southern Thalland which used wood from rubber trees and could do it for about 20p a stick. It was also through the Net that I learned about letters of credit and shipping cargo on boats.

H. After an anxious six-week wait, the container arrived. I think it was a shock to my neighbors, says Mr Wickens. There were 700 boxes with 300,000 sticks. I checked some samples and they were the right size. I was overjoyed. Too soon. 'Over the next few days I went through the other boxes and found around half of them weren't the exact size I needed. It's the first really big lesson I've learned. Never do a deal like this without going and checking it out first.

I. Mr Wickens formally launched Ntropy to the trade at the London Toy Fair. Then a stroke of luck, essential to all budding entrepreneurs, came his way. As he tells it: 'I gave the game to a friend who was meeting some mates in the pub. They played and really enjoyed it. My friend rang the next day to tell me and added: "Oh, by the way, they work at Hamleys."" Hamleys is London's top toy shop. 'Then their boss rang me to say, despite one or two concerns, "We like it, so let's give it a go". The rest, as they say, Is history. Ntropy took off and the first batch of 2,500 moved fast.

J. And the future? I've just taken on someone to develop the commercial side of Tadpole, says Mr Wickens. If that works out, he will take a stake in the business. I want Ntropy to be a global product but I don't necessarily see myself as an out-and-out businessman. I already have another couple of games I'd like to develop.

Questions 28-34

Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS.

Paul Wickens's development of Ntropy

- built matchstick structures and created

a big model of a 28………….

Answer: BOX OF MATCHES

Supporting statement: “........Later I made a scaled-up version of a box of matches, which we used to play with at college for hours on end.........”

Keywords: scaled, college

Keyword Location: para A, Line 5

Explanation: Wickens first experimented with matchstick structures, which later led him to build a larger model resembling a box of matches. This early playtime eventually evolved into the game, Ntropy.

- left college and worked in IT

- sent 29......... of Ntropy to games companies

Answer: A BRIEF OUTLINE

Supporting statement: “.........I sent a brief outline of Ntropy to several game companies to get feedback........”

Keywords: brief, feedback

Keyword Location: para C, Line 7

Explanation: Before building a full prototype, Wickens reached out to game companies to get initial feedback by sending a brief outline. This was an early step in evaluating the game’s potential.

- built 30……... of Ntropy

Answer: FULL REPLICA

Supporting statement: “.........The next step was to make a full replica of the game, mostly in his workshop and a converted garage at home........”

Keywords: step, workshop

Keyword Location: para D, Line 1

Explanation: To move from concept to reality, Wickens built a complete version of the game in his workshop to ensure it functioned as intended.

- tested the game

- redesigned the game and introduced 31………..

Answer: RULE CHANGES

Supporting statement: “.........The result was a return to the workshop for a fairly drastic redesign and some rule changes........”

Keywords: result, changes

Keyword Location: para D, Line 5

Explanation: After testing the game with others, Wickens made significant modifications, including changes to the rules, to improve gameplay based on feedback. Hence rule changes is the correct word to fill.

- founded a firm named 32.............

Answer: TADPOLE GAMES

Supporting statement: “........He set up a company, Tadpole Games friends helped with the design and logo for the firm.........”

Keywords: company, firm

Keyword Location: para E, Line 3

Explanation: To commercialize Ntropy, Wickens established his own company, Tadpole Games, marking a significant step in his entrepreneurial journey. Tadpole games is the correct answer.

- had the base for the game designed by a friend

- had the base made by a firm using something called 33………..

Answer: SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING

Supporting statement: “.......a firm I found used this very futuristic process called Selective Laser Sintering to produce the first mold..........”

Keywords: firm, mold

Keyword Location: para F, Line 3

Explanation: The game’s plastic base was made using advanced manufacturing technology. Selective Laser Sintering allowed precise production of the mold.

- had the sticks made using material that comes from 34………..

Answer: RUBBER TREES

Supporting statement: “........a firm in southern Thailand which used wood from rubber trees.........”

Keywords: firm, wood

Keyword Location: para G, Line 3

Explanation: To ensure sustainable production, Wickens sourced timber from rubber trees. This shows his attention to both cost-efficiency and environmental responsibility.

Questions 35-40

The passage has ten paragraphs labelled A-J.

Which paragraph contains the following information?

35. a reference to an assumption Paul Wickens made that proved to be incorrect

Answer: H

Supporting statement: “.........I went through the other boxes and found around half of them weren’t the exact size I needed. It’s the first really big lesson I’ve learned........”

Keywords: boxes, lesson

Keyword Location: para H, Lines 4-5

Explanation: Wickens assumed that all the sticks shipped from Thailand would be the correct size, but upon checking the shipment, he discovered that half were the wrong size. This highlights the importance of verifying details before large purchases.

36. a reason why Paul Wickens thought he was qualified to start his own games company

Answer: C

Supporting statement: “........I had a lot more general business experience than I did when I left college.........”

Keywords: general, college

Keyword Location: para C, Line 8

Explanation: Although Wickens initially worked in IT, the business knowledge he gained over the years gave him the confidence to start his own games company later.

37. Paul Wickens's aim regarding the market for Ntropy

Answer: J

Supporting statement: “.........I want Ntropy to be a global product but I don’t necessarily see myself as an out-and-out businessman........”

Keywords: global, businessman

Keyword Location: para J, Line 2

Explanation: Wickens’s long-term goal is to make Ntropy a product with worldwide appeal, though he does not see himself solely as a businessman.

38. a description of a coincidence that proved fortunate for Paul Wickens

Answer: I

Supporting statement: “........my friend rang the next day to tell me, 'Oh, by the way, they work at Hamleys.........”

Keywords: rang, Hamleys

Keyword Location: para I, Lines 3-4

Explanation: A fortunate coincidence occurred when Wickens’s friend played the game with employees from Hamleys, a top toy shop, which later led to a business opportunity.

39. a reason why Paul Wickens began to consider his future

Answer: B

Supporting statement: “.........Several of my friends and even colleagues lost their jobs... and I thought: 'What would I do if I were made redundant?.........”

Keywords: friends, redundant

Keyword Location: para B, Lines 4-5

Explanation: Wickens began to reevaluate his career when many of his colleagues lost their jobs during a downturn in the IT industry. This motivated him to explore his entrepreneurial side.

40. an explanation of the name Paul Wickens gave to his game

Answer: A

Supporting statement: “.........Ntropy, which, by the way, is a play on the word entropy, meaning chaos or disorganization........”

Keywords: Ntropy, disorganization

Keyword Location: para A, Lines 3-4

Explanation: The name Ntropy is a creative twist on the word “entropy,” reflecting the chaotic and disorganized nature of the game.

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