The Beginning of the Consumer Age Reading Answers

Mar 5, 2025

The Beginning of the Consumer Age Reading Answers is a generic topic for IELTS Reading Answers. The Beginning of the Consumer Age Reading Answers, in total, consist of 13 IELTS questions. In the given set of questions (Questions No. 14-19), the candidate has to match each statement with the correct paragraph from the given passage. After that, from Questions No. 20-24, you have to fill in the blanks with the correct word (the answer should be in One Word only). Finally, in Questions No. 25 and 26, choose the two correct options for the questions from the given list of options.

The IELTS Reading Section assesses the candidate's skills in understanding and analyzing academic and general texts. Practicing with IELTS Reading Practice Papers improves familiarity with question types, strengthens vocabulary, and sharpens critical reading. Following the exam instructions carefully and managing time efficiently are key strategies to achieve a high IELTS band score.

Check: Get 10 Free Sample Papers
Check: Register for IELTS Coaching — Join for a Free Trial Class Now

Section 1 The Beginning of the Consumer Age Reading Answers

How the public became mass consumers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries

A. By 1900 all major industrialized countries had become aware of the importance not only of production but also of the consumption of goods by their citizens. As a result, a culture of consumption emerged, and this played an important role in the shaping of a country's social and economic identity. One feature of this new culture was a heightened awareness of social status and a strong desire at all levels to show off newly acquired wealth. New social aspirations were expressed most visibly through the acquisition of consumer goods, and the concept of style became increasingly significant as a measure of social status.

B. One of how manufacturers tried to encourage consumption was by identifying a particular market and deliberately making their goods look attractive to potential customers. However, the dissemination of goods to a mass market depended on more than the efforts of manufacturers and designers to inject style into products. It also required a whole network of activities and institutions. These included changes in production methods so that more goods could be manufactured; the development of new kinds of retail outlets; and the expansion of advertising to promote sales. The introduction of a credit system of buying was initiated by the Singer Sewing Machine Company in the US in the 1860s and later adopted elsewhere by furniture and electrical appliance manufacturers. It also went a long way towards making more goods available to more people.

C. There were also changes to the selling environment. The department stores were established in the second half of the 19th century Bon-Marche in Paris, Macy's in New York. Harvey Nichols in London was joined, about the turn of the century, by multi-branch retailers appealing to the lower end of the market, such as John Jacobs' furniture stores in England. In US department stores, interior areas expanded, and large shop windows were introduced to show off new products to their best advantage. Electric lighting increased their visual appeal. This idea was pioneered in 1877 by the US store owner John Wanamaker, who persuaded inventor Thomas Edison to install electricity in his Philadelphia department store.

D. In the United States, where there were large distances between urban centers, mail order became a vital means whereby the rural population could acquire goods that they would not otherwise have been able to buy. Chicago entrepreneur Montgomery Ward launched the concept, producing a single-sheet mail-order catalog in 1872. Three years later, his catalog had nearly four thousand items listed on it Businessman Richard Sears followed suit in 1891, and together with partner Alvah C. Roebuck, moved on to develop the largest mail-order company of the 20th century.

E. By the end of the 19th century, consumer culture had taken root in industrialized countries and was changing the way people lived and perceived their status. People were becoming increasingly conscious of their social status, which was expressed through the acquisition of consumer goods and the concept of style. In response, manufacturers began to create goods that were more appealing to the public and retailers expanded their advertising and sales efforts.

F. Retail stores adapted to meet the demands of consumers, with large department stores opening in major cities and multi-branch retailers appealing to the lower end of the market. The selling environment was changed with large shop windows, electric lighting, and the expansion of interior areas to showcase goods. Additionally, mail-order catalogs became popular in the United States as a way for rural populations to access goods they wouldn’t otherwise have access to. These developments helped to drive the growth of consumer culture and the associated economy

Section 2

Solutions and Explanations

Question 14-19

Heading-Matching

i. The economic emergence identity of consumer culture and its impact on social and

ii. The strategies adopted by manufacturers to promote consumption

iii. The expansion of retail networks to meet market demands

iv. The innovations in the selling environment to enhance product presentation

v. The significance of mail order in bridging the rural-urban divide

vi. The interplay of social aspirations, consumer goods, and style in shaping consumer culture

vii. The proliferation of credit systems and its impact on the widespread availability of goods

viii. The development of large department stores and multi-branch retailers to cater to a wider market

ix. The underlying drivers behind the growth of consumer culture and its economy

14. Paragraph A

Answer: i (The economic emergence identity of consumer culture and its impact on social)

Supporting statement: “.........By 1900 all major industrialized countries had become aware of the importance not only of production but also of the consumption of goods by their citizens. As a result, a culture of consumption emerged, and this played an important role in the shaping of a country's social and economic identity..........”

Keywords: Industrialized, Importance, Production, Consumption

Keyword Location: para 1, Line 1-4

Explanation: Paragraph A discusses the emergence of consumer culture and its impact on social and economic identity. This highlights how consumption is linked to the desire to display social status and wealth.

15. Paragraph B

Answer: ii (The strategies adopted by manufacturers to promote consumption)

Supporting statement: “.........One of how manufacturers tried to encourage consumption was by identifying a particular market and deliberately making their goods look attractive to potential customers...........”

Keywords: Manufacturers, Encourage, Market, Attractive

Keyword Location: para 2, Line 1-2

Explanation: Paragraph B explains how manufacturers encouraged consumption by designing attractive products, expanding advertising, improving production methods, and introducing credit systems to make goods more accessible.

16. Paragraph C

Answer: iv (The innovations in the selling environment to enhance product presentation)

Supporting statement: “.........In US department stores, interior areas expanded, and large shop windows were introduced to show off new products to their best advantage. Electric lighting increased their visual appeal............”

Keywords: Department Stores, Interior, Shop

Keyword Location: para 3, Line 5-7

Explanation: Paragraph C describes changes in the retail environment, including larger shop windows, electric lighting, and expanded interiors, which enhanced product display and attracted consumers.

17. Paragraph D

Answer: v (The significance of mail order in bridging the rural-urban divide)

Supporting statement: “...........In the United States, where there were large distances between urban centers, mail order became a vital means whereby the rural population could acquire goods that they would not otherwise have been able to buy...........”

Keywords: Mail, Vital, Rural, Goods

Keyword Location: para 4, Line 1-3

Explanation: Paragraph D discusses how mail-order has created havoc in the U.S. It allowed the rural population to access goods unavailable locally, helping to bridge the gap between urban and rural consumers.

18. Paragraph E

Answer: vi (The interplay of social aspirations, consumer goods, and style in shaping consumer culture)

Supporting statement: “...........By the end of the 19th century, consumer culture had taken root in industrialized countries and was changing the way people lived and perceived their status...........”

Keywords: Consumer, Culture, Root, Countries

Keyword Location: para 5, Line 1-3

Explanation: Paragraph E discusses how consumer culture shapes people's lifestyles and social status. This highlights the public's growing awareness of the situation through the responses of consumer goods and manufacturers.

19. Paragraph F

Answer: iii (The expansion of retail networks to meet market demands)

Supporting statement: “...........Retail stores adapted to meet the demands of consumers, with large department stores opening in major cities and multi-branch retailers appealing to the lower end of the market...........”

Keywords: Retail, Demands, Department Stores

Keyword Location: para 6, Line 1-3

Explanation: Paragraph F discusses the expansion of department stores and multi-brand retailers to cater to the broader market, including the lower end.

Question 20-24

Choose ONE WORD ONLY for each answer.

20. By 1900, all industrialized countries were aware of the importance of both ____________ and consumption.

Answer: Production

Supporting statement: “...........By 1900 all major industrialized countries had become aware of the importance not only of production but also of the consumption of goods by their citizens............”

Keywords: Aware, Importance, Citizens, Production

Keyword Location: para 1, Line 1-2

Explanation: By 1900, industrialized countries recognized the importance of both production and consumption for economic and social development. Mass production enabled the widespread availability of goods, leading to consumer culture.

21. The culture of consumption played a crucial role in shaping a country's ___________ and economic identity.

Answer: Social

Supporting statement: “...........As a result, a culture of consumption emerged, and this played an important role in the shaping of a country's social and economic identity.............”

Keywords: Result, Culture, Role, Social

Keyword Location: para 1, Line 3-4

Explanation: Culture of consumption influences a country's social and economic identity by increasing awareness of social status and wealth displayed through consumer goods. The style became a major measure of status.

22. People expressed their newly acquired wealth through the acquisition of __________ goods.

Answer: Consumer

Supporting statement: “...........New social aspirations were expressed most visibly through the acquisition of consumer goods, and the concept of style became increasingly significant as a measure of social status..............”

Keywords: Aspirations, Visibly, Concept, Style

Keyword Location: para 1, Line 6-9

Explanation: In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, people demonstrated their wealth by purchasing consumer goods, as these goods became a symbol of social status and personal success.

23. The dissemination of goods to a mass market required a network of activities and ____________.

Answer: Institutions

Supporting statement: “...........However, the dissemination of goods to a mass market depended on more than the efforts of manufacturers and designers to inject style into products. It also required a whole network of activities and institutions..............”

Keywords: Dissemination, Mass, Market, Efforts

Keyword Location: para 2, Line 3-5

Explanation: The distribution of goods to the mass market depends on various interconnected activities and institutions, such as production progress, new retail outlets, advertising expansion, and credit systems to facilitate purchasing.

24. John Wanamaker was the first to use _________ in his department store to increase the visual appeal of goods.

Answer: Electricity

Supporting statement: “............Electric lighting increased their visual appeal. This idea was pioneered in 1877 by the US store owner John Wanamaker, who persuaded inventor Thomas Edison to install electricity in his Philadelphia department store. .............”

Keywords: John Wanamaker, Idea, Pioneered

Keyword Location: para 3, Line 7-10

Explanation: John Wanamaker introduced electricity in his department stores in 1877 to enhance the visual appeal of merchandise. Electric lighting made the displays more attractive and attracted customers.

Questions 25 and 26

Choose any TWO options from the list A-E

Which of the following played a role in the development of consumer culture in industrialized countries?

A) The Singer Sewing Machine Company

B) The department stores established in the second half of the 19th century

C) The large distances between urban centers

D) The expansion of interior areas in retail stores

E) The four thousand items listed in a mail-order catalog

25.

Answer: A) The Singer Sewing Machine Company

Supporting statement: “............The introduction of a credit system of buying was initiated by the Singer Sewing Machine Company in the US in the 1860s and later adopted elsewhere by furniture and electrical appliance manufacturers..............”

Keywords: Credit, Buying, Sewing Machine

Keyword Location: para 2, Line 8-10

Explanation: The Singer Sewing Machine Company introduced the credit system in the 1860s, making consumer goods more accessible and encouraging mass consumption.

26.

Answer: B) The department stores established in the second half of the 19th century

Supporting statement: “............The department stores were established in the second half of the 19th century Bon-Marche in Paris, Macy's in New York. Harvey Nichols in London was joined, about the turn of the century, by multi-branch retailers appealing to the lower end of the market, such as John Jacobs' furniture stores in England...............”

Keywords: Established, New York, London

Keyword Location: para 3, Line 1-5

Explanation: Department stores revolutionized retailing by offering a variety of products in one place, enhancing the shopping experience and promoting mass consumerism.

Read More IELTS Reading Related Samples