The Museum Reading Answers

Jan 28, 2023

The Museum Reading Answers is taken from IELTS GT Reading Cambridge 9 Test 4, Reading Passage 2. The Museum Reading Answers comprises 6 questions. The IELTS reading topic - The Museum Reading Answers discusses a wealth of historical artefacts, representing the accomplishments of past civilisations. IELTS reading sample questions and answers on the Development of Museums contain one type of question: Matching the Headings. To ensure a high score in reading, candidates need to practice from IELTS reading practice papers.

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Section 1

Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions

The Museum Reading Answers

The Museum is host to a wealth of historical artefacts, representing the accomplishments of past civilisations. A Roman-era drinking cup would not, on the face of it, seem to be a contender to rival the museum's more illustrious exhibits. After all, an ancient drinking chalice rarely excites the attention of all but the most dedicated history buff or expert
However, the Lycurgus Cup. so-called due to the depiction of King Lycurgus on its outside, is not what it seems. Lit from in front, the relief depicted on the cup glows green. Backlit, the cup glows red. This light-induced colour change is all the more remarkable given the cup's rather bland-looking exterior which holds no clue as to its concealed secret.
The unusual qualities of the Lycurgus Cup has piqued scientific curiosity since the 19508 when the cup's puzzling colour-changing ability was first uncovered. Only in the 1990s was the secret of the cup revealed: inclusion of miniscule particles of gold and silver into the cup's surface were found to effect the colour transformation. The particles themselves had been deliberately ground down into nanoparticles, each particle being 50 nanometres in diameter, or
equivalent to one thousandth the size of a grain of salt! Moreover, the exact proportions of materials had been included in order to create the illusion of changing colour
It would seem, therefore, that nanotechnology can no longer be considered cutting-ed ge science. It is humbling to realise that Roman artis ans living in 400 AD were putting nanotechnology to practical use when scientists today are still exploring this relatively 'new field.
The illusion of the Lycurgus Cup can be explained by the effect of electrons within the metallic components of the chalice vibrating in response to being hit by light and emitting different colours. The colour actually perceived depends on where the viewer is stationed at the time.
It was engineer Gang Logan Liu, of the University of linois, who correctly suspected though, that in Roman times, the ilusion was primarily effected not through change in lighting or observer position but by the addition of different liquids to the drinking cup. By adding a variety of liquids to a recreation of the cup interior, his original hunch was cofirmed. As each liquid was added. a different colour was emitted from the mock-up version of the chalice
Liu's experiment most importantly may have a huge impact in the diagnoses of disease. Addition of fluids such as salive and urine to nano-sized receptacles based an the original Lycurgus cup could reveal the presence of pathogens. Moreover, the same laboratory manufactured receptacles could detect the presence of biohazards at security checkpoints and hence thwart terrorist attacks.

Section 2

Solution and Explanation

Questions 15-21

The text on the next page has seven sections, A-G.

Choose the correct heading for each section from the list of headings below

Write the correct number, i-x, in boxes 15-21 on your answer sheet

List of Headings

Ahead of their time
The role played by the observer
Hidden potential
A limited appeal
A scientific failing
An amazing transformation
No coincidence
A rough science
A hypothesis proven
An unforeseen consequence

Section A

Answer: iv. A limited appeal
Supporting Sentence: A Roman-era drinking cup would not, on the face of it, seem to be a contender to rival the museum's more illustrious exhibits.
Keywords: contender, museum’s more illustrious exhibits
Keyword Location: Paragraph A, line 2
Explanation: In paragraph A, the author mentions about the numerous historical artefacts that showcase the achievements of earlier civilizations are kept at the Museum. On the surface, a drinking cup from the Roman era would not appear to be a candidate to compete the museum's more famous artefacts. After all, only the most ardent history enthusiast or specialist will be interested in an old drinking chalice. Hence option iv is the correct answer.

Section B

Answer: vi. An amazing transformation
Supporting Sentence: This light-induced colour change is all the more remarkable given the cup's rather bland-looking exterior which holds no clue as to its concealed secret.
Keywords: light-induced, bland-looking exterior
Keyword Location: Paragraph B, last sentence
Explanation: In paragraph B, the author mentions about the Cup of Lycurgus. The so-called King Lycurgus is shown on its outside, yet it is not what it looks. The relief on the cup illuminates green when lit from the front. The cup lights red when backlit. Given the cup's somewhat uninteresting surface, which gives no indication of its hidden secret, this light-induced colour shift is all the more astounding.

Section C

Answer: vii. No coincidence
Supporting Sentence: Moreover, the exact proportions of materials had been included in order to create the illusion of changing colour
Keywords: exact proportions, illusion
Keyword Location: Paragraph C, last sentence
Explanation: In paragraph C, the author mentions each of the particles, which were 50 nanometers in diameter and one-thousandth the size of a grain of salt. They had been purposefully crushed down to become nanoparticles. Additionally, the precise ratios of the materials have been used to provide the appearance of shifting colour.

Section D

Answer: i. Ahead of their time
Supporting Sentence: It would seem, therefore, that nanotechnology can no longer be considered cutting-edge science.
Keywords: nanotechnology, cutting-edge science
Keyword Location: Paragraph D, line 1
Explanation: In paragraph D, the author mentions it would appear that nanotechnology can no longer be regarded as cutting-edge science. Realizing that Roman artists using nanotechnology around 400 AD were doing so is impressive
considering how little is known about this relatively young field of study today.

Section E

Answer: ii. The role played by the observer
Supporting Sentence: The colour actually perceived depends on where the viewer is stationed at the time.
Keywords: perceived, stationed at the time.
Keyword Location: Paragraph E, last line
Explanation: In the last line of paragraph E the author highlights that the action of electrons within the metallic parts of the chalice. The vibrating in response to being struck by light and producing various colours can be used to explain the illusion
of the Lycurgus Cup. The colour that is really seen depends on the viewer's current location.

Section F

Answer: ix. A hypothesis proven
Supporting Sentence: By adding a variety of liquids to a recreation of the cup interior, his original hunch was confirmed.
Keywords: variety of liquids, cup interior, his original hunch was confirmed.
Keyword Location: Paragraph F, line 3
Explanation: In line three of paragraph E the author highlights his first suspicion was confirmed by pouring various liquids.The replica of the cup's inside. Each liquid was poured in turn. The chalice in the mock-up was emitting a different colour.

Section G

Answer: iii. Hidden potential
Supporting Sentence: Liu's experiment most importantly may have a huge impact in the diagnoses of disease.
Keywords: Liu's experiment, huge impact, diagnoses of disease.
Keyword Location: Paragraph G, line 1
Explanation: The first line of paragraph G mentions that Liu's investigation may have a significant influence on how diseases are diagnosed. Pathogens may be detected by adding urine and other bodily fluids to nanoscale containers modelled after the original Lycurgus cup.

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