There Is A Great Concern In Europe Reading Answers

Feb 23, 2023

There Is A Great Concern In Europe Reading Answers contains a write up about learning techniques in Europe and North America. There Is A Great Concern In Europe Reading Answers contains a total of 13 questions. Candidates in this IELTS Section will be shown various question types with clear instructions.

There Is A Great Concern In Europe Reading Answers is an IELTS Reading passage which comprises two types of questions: Choose the correct option and associate the paragraphs. Candidates must carefully and properly read each paragraph. The information which is not mentioned in the paragraphs must be answered as not given. To gain proficiency, candidates can practice from IELTS reading practice test.

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Section 1

Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions

There Is A Great Concern In Europe Reading Answers

There is a great concern in Europe and North America about declining standards of literacy in schools. In Britain, the fact that 30 percent of 16-year-olds have a reading age of 14 or less has helped to prompt massive educational changes. The development of literacy has far-reaching effects on general intellectual development and thus anything which impedes the development of literacy is a serious matter for us all. So the hunt is on for the cause of the decline in literacy. The search so far has focused on socioeconomic factors or the effectiveness of ‘traditional’ versus ‘modern’ teaching techniques.
The fruitless search for the cause of the increase in illiteracy is a tragic example of the saying ‘They can’t see the wood for the trees’. When teachers use picture books, they are simply continuing a long-established tradition that is accepted without question. And for the past two decades, illustrations in reading primers have become increasingly detailed and obtrusive, while language has become impoverished — sometimes to the point of extinction.
Amazingly, there is virtually no empirical evidence to support the use of illustrations in teaching reading. On the contrary, a great deal of empirical evidence shows that pictures interfere in a damaging way with all aspects of learning to read. Despite this, from North America to the Antipodes, the first books that many school children receive are totally without text.
A teacher’s main concern is to help young beginner readers to develop not only the ability to recognize words but the skills necessary to understand what these words mean. Even if a child is able to read aloud fluently, he or she may not be able to understand much of it: this is called ‘barking at text’. The teacher’s task of improving comprehension is made harder by influences outside the classroom. But the adverse effects of such things as television, video games, or limited language experiences at home, can be offset by experiencing ‘rich’ language at school.
Instead, it is not unusual for a book of 30 or more pages to have only one sentence full of repetitive phrases. The artworks are often marvelous, but the pictures make the language redundant, and the children have no need to imagine anything when they read such books. Looking at a picture actively prevents children younger than nine from creating a mental image, and can make it difficult for older children. In order to learn how to comprehend, they need to practice making their own meaning in response to a text. They need to have their innate powers of imagination trained.
As they grow older, many children turn aside from books without pictures, and it is a situation made more serious as our culture becomes more visual. It is hard to wean children off picture books when pictures have played a major part throughout their formative reading experiences, and when there is competition for their attention from so many other sources of entertainment. The least intelligent arc is most vulnerable, but tests show that even intelligent children are affected. The response of educators has been to extend the use of pictures in books and to simplify the language, even at senior levels. The Universities of Oxford and Cambridge recently held joint conferences to discuss the noticeably rapid decline in literacy among their undergraduates.
Pictures arc also used to help motivate children to read because they are beautiful and eye-catching. But the motivation to read should be provided by listening to well-read stories, where children imagine in response to the story. Then, as they start to read, they have this experience to help them understand the language. If we present pictures to save children the trouble of developing these creative skills, then I think we are making a great mistake.
Academic journals ranging from educational research, psychology, language learning, psycholinguistics, and so on cite experiments which demonstrate how detrimental pictures are for beginner readers. Here is a brief selection:
The research results of the Canadian educationalist Dale Willows were clear and consistent: pictures affected speed and accuracy and the closer the pictures were to the words, the slower and more inaccurate the child’s reading became. She claims that when children come to a word they already know, then the pictures are unnecessary and distracting. If they do not know a word and look to the picture for a clue to its meaning, they may well be misled by aspects of the pictures which are not closely related to the meaning of the word they are trying to understand.
Jay Samuels, an American psychologist, found that poor readers given no pictures learned significantly more words than those learning to read with books with pictures. He examined the work of other researchers who had reported problems with the use of pictures and who found that a word without a picture was superior to a word plus a picture. When children were given words and pictures, those who seemed to ignore the pictures and pointed at the words learnt more words than the children who pointed at the pictures, but they still learnt fewer words than the children who had no illustrated stimuli at all.

Section 2

Solution with Explanation

Questions 14-17

Choose the appropriate letters A-D and write them in boxes 1 i

Readers are said to ‘bark’ at a text when …

A. they read too loudly.
B. There are too many repetitive words.
C. they are discouraged from using their imagination.
D. They have difficulty assessing its meaning.

Answer: D
Supporting statement: Even if a child is able to read aloud fluently, he or she may not be able to understand much of it: this is called ‘barking at text’.
Keywords: Barking at text
Keyword Location: Paragraph D
Explanation: The major goal of a teacher is to guide young beginning readers in the development of both word recognition and word understanding skills. Even if a child can read aloud with ease, they might not be able to comprehend much of it; this is known as "barking at text." Outside factors make it more difficult for teachers to increase comprehension. So, the correct answer is D as per the explanation provided.

The text suggests that…

A. pictures in books should be less detailed.
B. pictures can slow down reading progress.
C.picture books are best used with younger readers.
D. pictures make modem books too expensive.

Answer: B
Supporting statement: Looking at a picture actively prevents children younger than nine from creating a mental image, and can make it difficult for older children.
Keywords: Language redundant
Keyword Location: Paragraph E
Explanation: As per paragraph E, it has been clearly mentioned that it is common for a book of 30 or more pages to have simply one statement with a lot of repetition. Although the artwork is frequently stunning, the photos render the writing unnecessary, and children don't need to use their imaginations when reading these books. Youngsters under the age of nine are actively prevented from forming an image in their minds when looking at a photograph, and older children may find it challenging. So, the correct answer is B as per the explanation provided.

University academics arc concerned because …

A. young people are showing less interest in higher education
B.students cannot understand modem academic text
C. academic books arc too childish for their under graduation
D. there has been a significant change in student literacy

Answer: D
Supporting statement: The Universities of Oxford and Cambridge recently held joint conferences to discuss the noticeably rapid decline in literacy among their undergraduates.
Keywords: Undergraduates, rapid declin
Keyword Location: Paragraph F
Explanation: As per paragraph F, it has been clearly mentioned that the least intelligent people are the most susceptible, but examinations reveal that even smart kids are impacted. Teachers' responses have been to increase the number of graphics in books and to make the language simpler, even for advanced students. Conferences were conducted jointly by the universities of Oxford and Cambridge to investigate the rapid drop in literacy among their undergraduates. So, the correct answer is D as per the explanation provided.

The youngest readers will quickly develop good reading.

A. learn to associate the words in a text with pictures.
B are exposed to modem teaching techniques.
C. arc encouraged to ignore pictures in the text.
D. learn the art of telling stories.

Answer: C
Supporting statement: when children come to a word they already know, then the pictures are unnecessary and distracting.
Keywords: Unnecessary and distracting
Keyword Location: Paragraph I
Explanation: As per paragraph I, it has been clearly mentioned that the visuals are superfluous and distracting when kids reach a word they already know. They may well be misled by aspects of the photos that are not directly related to the meaning of the word. So, the correct answer is C as per the explanation provided and lines of paragraph I.

Questions 18-21

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 2? In boxes 18-21 on )your answer sheet write

YES if the statement agrees with the information
NO if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information about this in the passage

It is traditionally accepted that children’s books should contain few pictures.

Answer: No
Supporting statement: When teachers use picture books, they are simply continuing a long-established tradition that is accepted without question.
Keywords: Tradition, picture books
Keyword Location: Paragraph B
Explanation: When educators employ picture books, they are merely carrying on an unquestionably acknowledged practice that has existed for a very long time. Over the past 20 years, language has gotten poorer—sometimes to the point of extinction. On the other hand, the visuals in reading primers have gotten more detailed and intrusive. So, the question statement is contrary to the actual information provided in the paragraphs. Thus, the correct answer is No.

Teachers aim to teach both word recognition and word meaning.

Answer: Yes
Supporting statement: A teacher’s main concern is to help young beginner readers to develop not only the ability to recognize words but the skills necessary to understand what these words mean.
Keywords: Teacher’s aim, Barking at text
Keyword Location: Paragraph D
Explanation: The major goal of a teacher is to guide young beginning readers in the development of both word recognition and word understanding skills. Even if a child can read aloud with ease, they might not be able to comprehend much of it; this is known as "barking at text." Outside factors make it more difficult for teachers to increase comprehension. So, the correct answer is Yes as per the explanation provided.

Older readers are having difficulty in adjusting to texts without pictures.

Answer: Yes
Supporting statement: Looking at a picture actively prevents children younger than nine from creating a mental image, and can make it difficult for older children.
Keywords: Mental image, younger than nine
Keyword Location: Paragraph D
Explanation: Youngsters under the age of nine are actively prevented from forming an image in their minds when looking at a photograph. The older children may find it challenging. They need to experience creating their own meaning in response to a text in order to learn how to comprehend. They need to develop their natural imagination skills. So, the correct answer is Yes as per the explanation.

Literacy has improved as a result of recent academic conferences.

Answer: Not Given
Explanation: There has been no relevant information provided in the paragraphs associated with the question statement. Thus, the correct answer is Not Given.

Questions 22-25

Reading Passage 2 has ten paragraphs. A-J Which paragraphs state the following information? Write the appropriate letters A-J in boxes 22-25 on your answer sheet.
NB There are more paragraphs than summaries, so you will not use them all.

The decline of literacy is seen in groups of differing ages and abilities.

Answer: F
Supporting statement :The Universities of Oxford and Cambridge recently held joint conferences to discuss the noticeably rapid decline in literacy among their undergraduates.
Keywords: Undergraduates, rapid decline
Keyword Location: Paragraph F
Explanation: The least intelligent people are the most susceptible, but examinations reveal that even smart kids are impacted. Teachers' responses increase the number of graphics in books and to make the language simpler, even for advanced students. Recently, conferences were conducted jointly by the universities of Oxford and Cambridge to investigate the observably rapid drop in literacy among their undergraduates. So, the correct answer is F as per the explanation provided.

Reading methods currently in use go against research findings.

Answer: C
Supporting statement: On the contrary, a great deal of empirical evidence shows that pictures interfere in a damaging way with all aspects of learning to read.
Keywords: No empirical evidence
Keyword Location: Paragraph C
Explanation: As per paragraph C, it has been clearly mentioned that almost no empirical data exists to support the use of images in reading instruction. Contrarily, a wealth of scientific data demonstrates that visuals negatively affect every aspect of learning to read. Despite this, many school children receive their first books entirely text-free from North America to the Antipodes. So, the correct answer is C as per the explanation provided.

Readers able to ignore pictures are claimed to make greater progress.

Answer: J
Supporting statement: When children were given words and pictures, those who seemed to ignore the pictures and pointed at the words learnt more words than the children who pointed at the pictures, but they still learnt fewer words than the children who had no illustrated stimuli at all.
Keywords: Childre, learnt more words
Keyword Location: Paragraph J
Explanation: As per paragraph J it has been clearly mentioned that when given both words and pictures, children who appeared to ignore the drawings and pointed at the words learned more words than those who pointed at the photos, but they still learned fewer words than the children who received no illustrated stimulus at all. So, the correct answer is J as per the explanation provided.

illustrations in books can give misleading information about word meaning.

Answer: I
Supporting statement: If they do not know a word and look to the picture for a clue to its meaning, they may well be misled by aspects of the pictures which are not closely related to the meaning of the word they are trying to understand.
Keywords: Unnecessary and distracting
Keyword Location: Paragraph I
Explanation: As per paragraph I, it has been clearly mentioned that the visuals are superfluous and distracting when kids reach a word they already know. They may well be misled by aspects of the photos that are not directly related to the meaning of the word they are seeking to understand if they do not know the word as well as look to the picture for a clue to its meaning. So, the correct answer is I as per the explanation provided and lines of paragraph I.

Question 26.

From the list below choose the most suitable title for the whole of Reading Passage. Write the appropriate letter A-E in box 26 on your answer sheet.

A. The global decline in reading levels
B. Concern about recent educational developments
C. The harm that picture books can cause
D. Research carried out on children’s literature
E. An examination of modem reading styles

Answer: C
Supporting statement: Anything that hinders the development of literacy is a severe issue for us all because it has a significant impact on general intellectual development.
Keywords: Intellectual development, teaching methods
Keyword Location: Paragraph A
Explanation: As per paragraph A, it has been clearly mentioned that anything that prevents literacy from developing is a serious problem for all of us because it has a big impact on overall intellectual growth. As a result, researchers are looking for the causes of the literacy issue. The investigation has thus far centered on socioeconomic factors or the effectiveness of "traditional" vs. "modern" teaching approaches. So, the correct answer is C as per the explanation provided.

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