Reflecting On The Mirror Reading Answers

Dec 23, 2022

Reflecting On The Mirror Reading Answers tests the candidate’s reading and understanding abilities. The IELTS reading section contains 40 different types of questions with three different passages. This IELTS reading sample answer: Reflecting On The Mirror Reading Answers is an IELTS Academic topic. It has three different question types: True/False/Not Given, Diagram Labelling, and Choosing the Right Answer. There are 13 questions with different sets of instructions on the topic: Reflecting On The Mirror Reading Answers. IELTS Reading topics are selected from a various range of subjects. Candidates can check more types of topics found in IELTS reading practice papers to practice.

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Section 1

Read the passage to answer the Following Questions

Reflecting On The Mirror Reading Answers

In all likelihood the first mirrors would have simply been pools of water that reflected the image of the one who looked into it. Nature’s mirror, while cheap and readily accessible, must have also been quite frustrating with the slightest disturbance on the surface of the water making it difficult to see clearly. It is not altogether clear when the first man-made mirrors were produced but mirrors made of brass are mentioned in the Bible, and after that mirrors of bronze were in common use among the ancient Egyptians, Romans and Greeks. In addition to bronze, the Greeks and Romans experimented with polished silver to produce simple mirrors.

Crude forms of glass mirrors were first made in Venice in 1300. Small sheets of glass were cut from disks made by a spinning process. When this glass was backed with a covering of tin or lead, a ‘mirror’ resulted. During the early periods of their development, mirrors were rare and expensive. France had glass factories but only in Venice, Italy was the secret of mirror foiling know n. The chemical process of coating a glass surface with metallic silver was discovered by German chemist Justus von Liebig in 1835, and this advance inaugurated the modern techniques of mirror making.

By the end of the 17th century mirrors were made in Britain and the manufacture of mirrors developed subsequently into an important industry in many other European countries. People wore them in their hats, or set them like jewels in their rings. Society glittered and shone like the firmament. A little later on, America was gripped by the mirror craze, only this time they wore interested in larger mirrors. In house after house in residential districts and eastern cities there could be found one long mirror after another placed between two front parlour windows.

In the manufacture of mirrors today, plate glass is cut to size, and all blemishes are removed by polishing with rouge. The glass is scrubbed and flushed with a reducing solution before silver is applied. The glass is then placed on a hollow, cast-iron tabletop, covered with felt, and kept warm by steam. A solution of silver nitrate is poured on the glass and left undisturbed for about 1 hour. The silver nitrate is reduced to a metallic silver and a lustrous deposit of silver gradually forms. The deposit is dried, coated with shellac, and painted. Most present-day mirrors therefore, are made up of these layers. Glass is used on top because it is smooth, clear, and protects the reflective surface. A mirror needs to be very smooth in order for the best reflection to occur.

Mirrors may have plane or curved surfaces. A curved mirror is concave or convex depending on whether the reflecting surface faces toward the centre of the curvature or away from it. Curved mirrors in ordinary usage have surfaces of varying shapes. Perhaps the most common is spherical. Spherical mirrors produce images that are magnified or reduced – exemplified, by mirrors for applying facial makeup and by rear-view mirrors for vehicles. Cylindrical mirrors are another common type of shape. These focus a parallel beam flight to a linear focus. A paraboloidal mirror is one which is often used to focus parallel rays to a sharp focus, as in a telescope mirror, or to produce a parallel beam from a source at its focus, such as a searchlight. A less common but useful shape is the ellipsoidal. Such a mirror will reflect light from one of its two focal points to the other.

While the mirror is the focus of the production, the frame plays an important albeit slightly lesser role as the anchor by which the mirror is affixed to its proper place. From the late 17th century onward, mirrors and their frames played an increasingly important part in the decoration of rooms. Complementing the shiny reflective mirror, the early frames were usually of ivory, silver, ebony, or tortoiseshell or were veneered with walnut, olive, and laburnum. Needlework and bead frames were also to be found. Craftsmen such as Grinling Gibbons often produced elaborately carved mirror frames to match a complete decorative ensemble. The tradition soon became established of incorporating a mirror into the space over the mantelpiece; many of the early versions of these mirrors, usually known as overmantels, were enclosed in glass frames. The architectural structure of which these mirrors formed a part became progressively more elaborate. Focusing heavily on the effect created by mirrors, 18th century designers such as the English brothers Robert and James Adam created fireplace units stretching from the hearth to the ceiling. Oil the whole, mirror frames reflected the general taste of the time and were often changed to accommodate alterations in taste – frames usually being cheaper and hence more easily replaced than the mirror itself.

By the end of the 18th century, painted decoration largely supplanted carving on mirrors, the frames being decorated with floral patterns or classical ornaments. At the same time the French started producing circular mirrors. Usually surrounded by a neoclassical gilt frame that sometimes supported candlesticks, these mirrors enjoyed great popularity well into the 19thImproved skill in mirror making also made possible die introduction of the cheval glass, a freestanding full-length mirror, supported on a frame with four feet. These were mainly used for dressing purposes, though occasionally they had a decorative function. New, cheaper techniques of mirror production in the 19th century led to a great proliferation in their use. Not only were they regularly incorporated into pieces of furniture – such as wardrobes and sideboards – they were also used in everything from high-powered telescopes to decorative schemes in public places. Their popularity continues today. Through them, infants are able to develop an awareness of their individuality through ‘mirror games’. This type of emotional reflection stimulates babies to move various parts of their body and even promotes verbal utterances.

Section 2

Question: 1 – 5

Do the following statements reflect the claims of the writer in the Reading passage?

True – If the statement agrees with the information

False – If the statement contradicts the information

Not Given – If there is no information on this

(Guide: Candidates are required to study the statements and mark True or False or Not Given )

Question 1: The Creek's arid Egyptians used polished silver to make mirrors.

Answer: False
Supporting Sentence: mirrors of bronze were in common use among the ancient Egyptians, Romans and Greeks.
Keyword: Greek, Egyptians, Polished silver.
Keyword Location: 1^st paragraph, 2^nd last line
Explanation: The Creeks and Egyptians used bronze in the early ages to used in making mirrors as an advanced version of still water. Later they used Polished silver to make mirrors. Hence the statement is false as bronze was used.

Question 2: The first man-made mirror were made of Bronze.

Answer: False
Supporting Sentence: In all likelihood the first mirrors would have simply been pools of water that reflected the image of the one who looked into it.
Keyword: Man-Made, Bronze.
Keyword Location: 1^st paragraph, 1^st line
Explanation: The author at the start mentions that people still use water as a mirror which is slightly tough to use because of disturbance in the water. It is also mentioned in the Bible that people used Mirrors made from bronze in ancient times.

Question 3: Only the wealthy could afford the first mirrors.

Answer: True
Supporting Sentence: During the early periods of their development, mirrors were rare and expensive.. The wealthy could afford the first mirror at that time because it was newly invented.
Keyword: Wealthy, Mirror, afford
Keyword Location: 1^st paragraph, 4^th sentence
Explanation: The author states that during the early period, the mirrors were rare and expensive. This is because they were newly invented and available in a small amount. Hence, the people having wealth could afford the mirrors.

Question 4: The first mirrors in America were used for decoration.

Answer: Not given.
Explanation: There is nothing mentioned in the passage related to this. Therefore, the answer has been selected as Not Given.

Question 5: Spherical Mirrors are commonly used in cars.

Answer: True
Supporting Sentence: Spherical mirrors produce images that are magnified or reduced – exemplified, by mirrors for applying facial makeup and by rear-view mirrors for vehicles.
Keyword: Spherical mirrors, Cars.
Keyword Location: 5^th sentence of 5^th paragraph
Explanation: The 5^th sentence of the 5^th paragraph states that spherical mirrors are used in the cars for magnifying the objects at long-distance. The fact that Spherical mirrors are used to magnify objects and hence are used in cars for farther objects to look close to the car. Hence, they were used in cars.

Questions 6 – 9

Complete the labels on diagram A below. Write the correct letter A – J in Boxes 6-9 on the answer sheet.

Rouge
Cast iron
Cast iron
Steam
Shellac
Glass
Metal
Silver Nitrate Paint
Reducing Solution

(Guide: Candidates need to properly read the passage and then label the diagram by selecting the correct points)

Question: 6

Answer: H (Silver Nitrate Paint)
Supporting Sentence: A solution of silver nitrate is poured on the glass and left undisturbed for about 1 hour.
Keyword: Silver Nitrate, Metallic silver
Keyword Location: 4^th paragraph, 4^th sentence
Explanation: The author states that a solution is silver nitrate is poured on the glass and is left undisturbed (in a still position) and it provides a lustrous deposit of silver. Silver Nitrate is used in the manufacture of the mirror as it is a good material for mirror construction and is lustrous. The image shows the very next layer after the glass. Hence, H is the correct answer.

Question: 7

Answer: E
Supporting Sentence: The deposit is dried, coated with shellac, and painted..
Keyword: Shellac, Glass.
Keyword Location: 4^th paragraph, 6^th sentence
Explanation: The passage states that the shellac is applied to the deposit as the final touch and provides the mirror smoothness and best reflection. The mirrors at that time are made up of layers and the top layer was glass which is smooth and protects the reflected surface. The layer after silver nitrate is shellac.

Question: 8

Answer: I
Supporting Sentence: In the manufacture of mirrors today, plate glass is cut to size, and all blemishes are removed by polishing with rouge.
Keyword: Reducing solution, Plate glass.
Keyword Location: 4^th paragraph, 1^st sentence
Explanation: The passage states that the glass is well-scrubbed after polishing and then reducing the solution applied. This is mentioned in paragraph 4, line 1. The author also states that the plate glass is cut to size, and all blemishes are removed by polishing with rouge. Then the glass is flushed with a reducing solution and before silver is applied. The image also points towards reducing solution.

Question: 9

Answer: A
Supporting Sentence: In the manufacture of mirrors today, plate glass is cut to size, and all blemishes are removed by polishing with rouge.
Keyword: polishing, rouge.
Keyword Location: 4^th paragraph, 1^st sentence
Explanation: In Paragraph 4, the Uses of mirrors are mentioned. The author states that the mirrors are polished with rouge.

Questions 10-13

Choose the correct letter A, B, C, or D.

Write your answers in boxes 10-13 on your answer sheet.

Question 10: The type of mirror used for looking at the stars is

A . paraboloidal.

B .spherical.

C . cylindrical.

D . ellipsoidal.

Answer: A (The type of mirror used for looking at the stars are)
Supporting Sentence: A paraboloidal mirror is one which is often used to focus parallel rays to a sharp focus, as in a telescope mirror, or to produce a parallel beam from a source at its focus, such as a searchlight.
Keyword: Glass, reflection, telescopes.
Keyword Location: Paragraph 5, line 5
Explanation: In Paragraph 5, line 5, It is mentioned that the paraboloidal mirror is used to focus parallel rays to a sharp focus, as in a telescopic mirror, or to produce a parallel beam from a source as its focus. Hence, A is the correct answer.

Question 11: 17^th century craftsmen

A . blended mirror frames well with other household furniture.

B . hung mirrors above fireplaces.

C . used mirror frames as a focus for home decoration.

D . established floral patterns as a standard for mirror frames.

Answer: – A (blended mirror frames well with other household furniture.)
Supporting Sentence: Not only were they regularly incorporated into pieces of furniture – such as wardrobes and sideboards – they were also used in everything from high-powered telescopes to decorative schemes in
public places.
Keyword: Craftsmen, often produced elaborately
Keyword Location: Last paragraph, 6^th sentence.
Explanation: The use of the mirrors and their evolution start in the 18th century and if something matches, it blends in well and something else. It is mentioned how the craftsmen Such as Grinling Gibbons often produced elaborately carved mirror frames to match the complete decorative ensemble. Hence, A is the correct answer.

Question 12: 18^th century craftsmen

A . designed furniture which highlighted the unique properties of mirrors.

B . experimented largely with mirror frames made of ebony and ivory.

C . built spherically-shaped minors.

D . experimented with ceiling mirrors around fireplaces.

Answer: A ( Designed furniture which highlighted the unique properties of mirrors)
Supporting Sentence: Craftsmen such as Grinling Gibbons often produced elaborately carved mirror frames to match a complete decorative ensemble.
Keyword: Focus heavily on the effect created by mirrors, 18- century designers.
Keyword Location: 6^th paragraph, 5^th sentence
Explanation: After the success gained by the Griling Gibbons, the other emerging Craftsmen develops another Method to increase the Uniqueness of mirror properties was, therefore, the focus. The author states that in the 18th Century designers such as English Robert and James Adam created fireplace units stretching from the hearth to the ceiling.

Question 13: 19^th century craftsmen

A . used mirrors less than any previous time in history.

B . introduced mirrors as learning tools.

C . used mirrors extensively in bedroom furniture.

D . etched designs into mirrors.

Answer: C (Used Mirror extensively in bedroom Furniture)
Supporting Sentence: Not only were they regularly incorporated into pieces of furniture – such as wardrobes and sideboards – they were also used in everything from high-powered telescopes to decorative schemes in
public places.
Keyword: Wardrobes, Sideboards.
Keyword Location: last paragraph, 6^th sentence
Explanation: In the last paragraph, it is It is very similar to say that the mirrors were used extensively in bedroom furniture, even use in the current time. The author mentioned that the painted decorations are largely supplanted carving on the mirrors. At The same time the French started to produce classical mirrors.