The Origins of The Oscar: How The Prized Status Got its Name Reading Answers

Jan 9, 2023

The Origins of The Oscar: How The Prized Status Got its Name Reading Answers is an IELTS GT reading topic, containing 6 questions. The Origins of The Oscar: How The Prized Status Got its Name Reading Answers is taken from the book The Complete Guide to IELTS with DVD-ROM and Intensive. The Origins of The Oscar: How The Prized Status Got its Name Reading Answers is a practice question for IELTS reading test 2023. The Origins of The Oscar: How The Prized Status Got its Name Reading Answers contains one type of question- true/false/not given. Candidates can opt for IELTS reading practice papers to ace their reading skills with similar topics.

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Section 1

Read the passage to answer the following questions

The Origins of The Oscar: How The Prized Status Got its Name Reading Answers

Since 1929, Hollywood has revolved around the golden Oscar statue. The prized award has gone through facelifts since first debuting as a knight figure. Here are five fun facts about the history of Hollywood’s little golden man.

The first Oscar statue sketch was not how it looks today.

MGM art director Cedric Gibbons sketched the first figure of a knight holding a sword and standing on a reel of film with spokes representing the five branches of the Academy (actors, directors, producers, technicians and writers). The sword represented the protection for the welfare and advancement of the industry.

Later in 1928, L.A. sculptor George Stanley redesigned the statue with an improved knight figure, but removed the reel of film.

One popular story suggests the “Oscar” was named after someone’s uncle.

It’s been said that Academy librarian and eventual executive director Margaret Herrick thought the statue resembled her Uncle Oscar. In 1934, Sidney Skolsky used the name in his Hollywood column to describe Katharine Hepburn’s first best actress win. The name caught on and the Academy made the name official in 1939.

The Oscar was first officially named the Academy Award of Merit. It stands 13.5 inches tall and weighs 8.5 pounds.

Over 3,000 statuettes have been presented.

R.S. Owens & Company produce new statuettes each January in Chicago, but this year Polich Tallix Fine Art Foundry will take on the job and hand-cast the trophies in bronze before receiving their 24-karat gold finish. R.S. Owens & Company, who has been casting the Oscar mold since 1982, will continue to service existing Oscars and create other awards for the Academy.

The Oscar was first gold-plated solid bronze and later gold-plated metal.

A metal shortage during WWII caused the Oscars to be made of plaster for three years.

The Academy keeps a second set of additional Oscar statues on hand just in case …

Weeks before the Oscars in 2000, the annual shipment of Oscars were stolen. The Academy now stays prepared and locks extra trophies from the ceremony in a vault to be used the next year.

Section 2

Solution and Explanation
Questions 9 - 14:
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the text? Write

TRUE - if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE - if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN - if there is no information on this

The Oscar derives its name from director Margaret Herrick's Uncle Oscar.

Answer: FALSE
Supporting Sentence: It’s been said that Academy librarian and eventual executive director Margaret Herrick thought the statue resembled her Uncle Oscar.
Keywords: Academy librarian, executive director Margaret Herrick, and Uncle Oscar.
Keyword Location: Paragraph 2
Explanation: Paragraph 2 mentions that about legend, Margaret Herrick, an Academy librarian. He served as executive director, felt the statue looked like her uncle Oscar. Hence false is the correct answer.

During World War 2, the Oscars were not made of metals due to a shortage of money.

Answer: FALSE
Supporting Sentence: A metal shortage during WWII caused the Oscars to be made of plaster for three years.
Keywords: metal shortage, WWII, Oscars, plaster
Keyword Location: Paragraph 4
Explanation: According to paragraph 4, for three years the Oscars were fashioned of plaster because of a WWII metal scarcity. Hence false is the correct answer.

The first Oscar was given in 1929.

Answer: TRUE
Supporting Sentence: Since 1929, Hollywood has revolved around the golden Oscar statue.
Keywords: Hollywood, golden Oscar statue.
Keyword Location: Paragraph 1
Explanation: The golden Oscar statue has been the centre of Hollywood's universe since 1929, according to paragraph 1. The coveted award has undergone changes since it initially appeared as a knight figure.

The design and material of the statuette has changed five times since it was first introduced.

Answer: Not Given
Explanation: The above statement is absent in the passage. No statements can be drawn from the passage. Hence the answer is not given.

The Oscars to be awarded in the year 2000 were stolen one week before the event.

Answer: FALSE
Supporting Sentence: Weeks before the Oscars in 2000, the annual shipment of Oscars were stolen.
Keywords: Oscars in 2000, annual shipment, stolen
Keyword Location: Paragraph 5
Explanation: In paragraph 5, it is said that the yearly shipment of Oscars was stolen weeks prior to the 2000 ceremony. In order to be ready, the Academy now stores excess awards from the event in a vault to be utilised the following year.

The Oscar had a different name earlier.

Answer: TRUE
Supporting Sentence: The name caught on and the Academy made the name official in 1939.
Keywords: Academy, official in 1939.
Keyword Location: Paragraph 2
Explanation: According to paragraph 2, Margaret Herrick, an Academy librarian who later served as executive director, believed the statue resemble her uncle Oscar. Sidney Skolsky popularised the phrase to describe Katharine Hepburn's first best actress victory in his 1934 Hollywood column. The Academy officially adopted the name in 1939 when it gained popularity.

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