The Existence of Machinery IELTS Reading Answers

Aug 17, 2023

The Existence of Machinery IELTS Reading Answers is a topic of the IELTS general reading topic which includes 8 questions. The specified IELTS topic generates fill in the blanks type of questions. Candidates should read the IELTS Reading passage thoroughly in order to recognize synonyms, identify keywords, and answer the questions below. Candidates can further enhance their reading skills by going through IELTS reading practice papers available on the website. Candidates can use IELTS reading topics like The Existence of Machinery IELTS Reading Answers to enhance their performance in the reading section.

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Section 1

Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions

The Existence of Machinery

When were bent-wire paper clips introduced? The first bent-wire paper clip was patented by Samuel B. Fay in 1867. This clip was originally intended primarily for attaching tickets to fabric, although the patent recognized that it could be used to attach papers together. We have found no advertisement or other mention for the Fay paper clip before 1899, and it therefore appears unlikely that it had significant, if any, sales prior to the late 1890s. However, beginning in 1899 and for decades thereafter, the Fay design was widely advertised under many brand names for use in fastening papers.

The Gem paper clip, which was never patented, but which eventually became by far the best selling paper clip in the U.S., has been advertised since 1894, and may have been introduced in 1892.

A patent application filed at the end of 1896 indicated that a number of different paper clips were in use. A flood of paper clip patents were issued beginning in 1897. This evidence indicates that bent-wire paper clips came into widespread use in offices in the late 1890s. A 1900 trade publica stated that "The wire clip for holding office papers together has entirely superseded the use of the pin in all up-to-date offices."

Why weren't bent-wire paper clips marketed arlier? According to Petroski, "Steel wire was still w in the second half of the nineteenth century. The widespread manufacture and use of the paper clip had to await not only the availability of the right wire but also the existence of machinery capable of tirelessly and reliably bending it in a flash into things that could be bought for pennies a box." (Henry Petroski, "From Pins to Paper Clips," The Evolution of Useful Things, Vintage, New York, 1992, p. 60)

With what products did paper clips compete most closely? The two earliest patents indicate that bent-wire paper clips could be used in lieu of pins, sewing, "pointed bent-over paper fasteners," and eyelets. In 1904, Clinch Clips were advertised as "Cheaper than Pins." Around 1910 advertisements compared paper clips to straight pins for temporary attachment of papers. By contrast, early paper clip advertisements do not refer to staples.

Why were bent-wire paper clips sold in so many different designs? Many designs were initially protected by patents. As a result, other manufacturers had to come up with different designs. Also, no single paper clip design is optimal for all purposes. In marketing paper clips, suppliers emphasized the superiority of their designs on one or two of the following characteristics:

Does not catch, mutilate, or tear papers
Does not get tangled with other clips in the box
Holds a thick set of papers
Holds papers securely
Is thinner and takes less space in files
Is easily inserted
Is lightweight and requires less postage
Is cheap (e.g., because it uses less wire)

Section 2

Solution and Explanation
Questions 14 - 21
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS and/or a NUMBER from the text for each answer.

Question 14: The patent filed by Fay in 1867 included the application of keeping papers together and fastening ………. .

Answer: tickets to fabric
Supporting statement: “...This clip was originally intended primarily for attaching tickets to fabric, although the patent recognized that it could be used to attach papers together…”
Keywords: clip, intended, attaching, tickets, fabric, patent, papers
Keyword Location: para 1, line 3
Explanation: According to the writer, the first bent-wire paper clip was patented by Samuel B. Fay in 1867. This clip was originally intended primarily for attaching tickets to fabric, although the patent recognized that it could be used to attach papers together.

Question 15: Post 1899, Fay used different ................... to market his paper clips.

Answer: brand names
Supporting statement: “...the Fay design was widely advertised under many brand names for use in fastening papers…”
Keywords: Fay, design, advertised, brand, names, fastening, papers
Keyword Location: para 1, line 5
Explanation: According to the writer, it is found no advertisement or other mention for the Fay paper clip before 1899. However, beginning in 1899 and for decades thereafter, the Fay design was widely advertised under many brand names for use in fastening papers.

Question 16: The number one paper clip in America was called ..………….…… .

Answer: the gem
Supporting statement: “...The Gem paper clip, which was never patented, but which eventually became by far the best selling paper clip in the U.S.,…”
Keywords: Gem, paper, clip, patented, selling, U.S.
Keyword Location: para 2, line 1
Explanation: According to the writer, the Gem paper clip, which was never patented, but which eventually became by far the best selling paper clip in the U.S., has been advertised since 1894, and may have been introduced in 1892.

Question 17: A trade magazine seemed to recognise the success of the paper clip around ……….. .

Answer: 1900
Supporting statement: “...A 1900 trade publica stated that "The wire clip for holding office papers together has entirely superseded…”
Keywords: 1900, trade, publica, wire clip, office, papers, superseded
Keyword Location: para 3, line 4
Explanation: According to the writer, a 1900 trade publica stated that "The wire clip for holding office papers together has entirely superseded the use of the pin in all up-to-date offices.

Question 18: Production of the paper clip was held back until the ................ became available.

Answer: right wire
Supporting statement: “...The widespread manufacture and use of the paper clip had to await not only the availability of the right wire…”
Keywords: widespread, manufacture, paper, clip, availability, right wire
Keyword Location: para 4, line 3
Explanation: According to the writer, the widespread manufacture and use of the paper clip had to await not only the availability of the right wire but also the existence of machinery capable of tirelessly and reliably bending it in a flash into things that could be bought for pennies a box.

Question 19: In 1904, paper clips were sold on the basis of them being ………. alternatives.

Answer: cheaper than
Supporting statement: “...In 1904, Clinch Clips were advertised as "Cheaper than Pins…”
Keywords: 1904, Clinch Clips, advertised, cheapers
Keyword Location: para 5, line 3
Explanation: According to the writer, in 1904, Clinch Clips were advertised as "Cheaper than Pins." Around 1910 advertisements compared paper clips to straight pins for temporary attachment of papers. By contrast, early paper clip advertisements do not refer to staples.

Question 20: The .............. on paper clip designs forced competitors to be more creative.

Answer: patents
Supporting statement: “...Many designs were initially protected by patents…”
Keywords: designs, protected, patents
Keyword Location: para 6, line 2
Explanation: According to the writer, many designs were initially protected by patents. As a result, other manufacturers had to come up with different designs. Also, no single paper clip design is optimal for all purposes.

Question 21: Some paper clips were marketed as being to keep a lot of pages together more ………. .

Answer: securely

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