A Library at Your Fingertips Reading Answers

Dec 9, 2022

A Library at Your Fingertips Reading Answers has 14 questions that need to be answered in 20 minutes. A Library at Your Fingertips Reading Answers comprises three types of questions, namely- Write the correct letter, complete the sentence and true/false/not given. Candidates are required to write the correct letter from the given options for each answer. Candidates must read the IELTS reading passage and complete the sentences using no more than three words for each answer. Candidates must read the IELTS Reading passage, identify keywords, and recognize synonyms and answer whether the given statement is true/false/not given. Candidates can undertake IELTS Reading practice papers to practise on different topics.

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Reading Passage Questions

A few years ago, at the height of the dotcom boom, it was widely assumed that a publishing revolution, in which the printed word would be supplanted by the computer screen, was just around the corner. It wasn’t: for many, there is still little to match the joy of cracking the spine of a good book and settling down for an hour or two of reading. A recent flurry of activity by big technology companies – including Google, Amazon, Microsoft and Yahoo! – suggests that the dream of bringing books online is still very much alive.
The digitizing of thousands of volumes of print is not without controversy. On Thursday, November 3, Google, the world’s most popular search engine, posted the first instalment of books on Google Print, an initiative first mooted a year ago. This collaborative effort between Google and several of the world’s leading research libraries aims to make many thousands of books available to be searched and read online free of charge. Although the books included so far are not covered by copyright, the plan has attracted the ire of publishers.
Five large book firms are suing Google for violating copyright on material that it has scanned and, although out of print, is still protected by law. Google has said that it will only publish short extracts from the material under copyright unless given express permission to publish more, but publishers are unconvinced. Ironically, many publishers are collaborating with Google on a separate venture, Google Print Publisher, which aims to give readers an online taste of books that are commercially available. The searchable collection of extracts and book information is intended to tempt readers to buy complete books online or in print form.
Not to be outdone, Amazon, the world’s largest online retailer, has unveiled plans for its own foray into the mass e-book market. The firm, which began ten years ago as an online book retailer, now sells a vast array of goods. No doubt piqued that Google, a relative newcomer, should impinge upon its central territory, Amazon revealed on Thursday that it would introduce two new services. Amazon Pages will allow customers to search for key terms in selected books and then buy and read online whatever part they wish, from individual pages to chapters or complete works. Amazon Upgrade will give customers online access to books they have already purchased as hard copies. Customers are likely to have to pay around five cents a page, with the bulk going to the publisher.
Microsoft, too, has joined the online-book bandwagon. At the end of October, the software giant said it would spend around $200 million to digitize texts, starting with 150,000 that are in the public domain, to avoid legal problems. It will do so in collaboration with the Open Content Alliance, a consortium of libraries and universities. (Yahoo! has pledged to make 18,000 books available online in conjunction with the same organisation.) On Thursday, coincidentally the same day as Google and Amazon announced their initiatives, Microsoft released details of a deal with the British Library, the country’s main reference library, to digitize some 25 million pages; these will be made available through MSN Book Search, which will be launched next year.
These companies are hoping for a return to the levels of interest in e-books seen when Stephen King, a best-selling horror writer, published “Riding the Bullet” exclusively on the Internet in 2000. Half a million copies were downloaded in the first 48 hours after publication. This proved to be a high-water mark rather than a taste of things to come. While buyers were reluctant to sit in front of a computer screen to read the latest novels, dedicated e-book reading gadgets failed to catch on. Barnes and Noble, a leading American bookshop chain, began selling e-books with fanfare in 2000 but quietly pulled the plugin 2003 as interest faded.
The market for e-books is growing again, though from a tiny base. According to the International Digital Publishing Forum, which collates figures from many of the world’s top publishers, in the third quarter of 2004, worldwide sales were 25% higher than the year before. Unfortunately, this only amounted to a paltry $3.2 million split between 23 publishers in an industry that made sales worth over $100 billion that year.
Both retailers and publishers reckon they will eventually be able to persuade consumers to do a lot more of their reading on the web. Some even hope they can become to online books what Apple’s iTunes is to online music. There are crucial differences between downloading fiction and downloading funk. Online music was driven from the bottom up: illegal file sharing services became wildly popular, and legal firms later took over when the pirates were forced (by a wave of lawsuits) to retreat; the legal providers are confident that more and more consumers will pay small sums for music rather than remain beyond the law. The iPod music player and it’s like have proved a fashionable and popular new way to listen to songs. The book world has no equivalent.
So the commercial prospects for sellers of online books do not yet look very bright. They may get a lift from some novel innovations. The ability to download mere parts of books could help, for instance: sections of manuals, textbooks or cookery books may tempt some customers; students may wish to download the relevant sections of course books, or readers may want a taste of a book that they subsequently buy in hard copy. The ability to download reading matter onto increasingly ubiquitous hand-held electronic devices and 3G phones may further encourage uptake. In Japan, the value of e-books (mainly manga comic books) delivered to mobile phones has jumped, though it will be worth only around ¥6 billion ($51 million) in 2005, according to estimates.

Solution With Explanation

Question 1 - 4:

For each question, only one of the choices is correct. Write the corresponding letter in the appropriate box on your answer sheet.

A few years ago it was widely thought that

People would read fewer ‘paper’ books.
Companies like Amazon would go bankrupt.
The dotcom boom would soon end.

Answer: A. People would read fewer ‘paper’ books.
Keywords: publishing, revolution, paper books, e-book.
Supporting Sentence: A few years ago, at the height of the dotcom boom, it was widely assumed that a publishing revolution, in which the printed word would be supplanted by the computer screen, was just around the corner.
Keyword Location: Paragraph 1.
Explanation: As stated in the first sentence of the paragraph, some believed that the advent of books would fundamentally alter the book industry a few years ago. People would switch from reading outdated paperbacks to computer screens. However, it turned out that the e-book editions did not provide the same pleasure as reading a real book. The experience of reading a traditional book cannot be replaced, despite the fact that it has given us access to a completely new source of information.

Publishers are unhappy with Google because

Google is only publishing extracts, not complete books.
They think Google is in breach of copyright.
Google is cooperating with research libraries.

Answer: B. They think Google is in breach of copyright.
Keywords: Google Print, copyright, publishers.
Supporting Sentence: Five large book firms are suing Google for violating copyright on material that it has scanned and, although out of print, is still protected by law.
Keyword Location: Paragraph 3.
Explanation: As per paragraph 3, Google claims to be releasing only books and written works that are not protected by copyright. Or are out of print on its new platform called Google Print. Publishers insist that the work is still legally protected, nevertheless. To give its users free online access to books, Google is partnering with a number of top research libraries. Although many publishers are vehemently opposed to Google's plans, some publishers have collaborated with the search giant.

Amazon will

Sell books that previously only Google sold online.
Buy the copyright for many books it sells online.
Allow people to buy only parts that they want to read from books.

Answer: C. Allow people to buy only parts that they want to read from books.
Keywords: Amazon Pages, key terms, online.
Supporting Sentence: Amazon Pages will allow customers to search for key terms in selected books and then buy and read online whatever part they wish, from individual pages to chapters or complete works.
Keyword Location: Paragraph 4.
Explanation: According to the sentence in paragraph 4, Amazon is aiming to give its consumers the option to buy only the portions of books they want to read. It is done in order to compete with its new rival firm, Google. A single page, a whole chapter, or perhaps the whole book. The new company will be known as Amazon Pages. As a result of this action, Amazon hopes to grow its customer base and thus the e-book market.

It is clear that most readers if given the choice, prefer

‘Paper’ books.
Reading from computer screens.
Using dedicated ebook readers.

Answer: A. ‘paper’ books.
Keywords: computer screen, reading gadgets, e-books.
Supporting Sentence: While buyers were reluctant to sit in front of a computer screen to read the latest novels, dedicated e-book reading gadgets failed to catch on.
Keyword Location: Paragraph 6.
Explanation: As per the paragraph 6, although firms such as Google, Amazon, and others have put work and funds into e-books and have created a much easier way to read books. It still falls short of accurately simulating the experience of reading a book. The majority of readers still like reading physical books. The reader feels relieved and at ease after reading it. E-books won't ever completely replace paper books.

Question 5 - 9:
Complete the following sentences using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the text for each gap.

If companies publish books online that are not covered by copyright, they avoid __________ .

Answer: legal problems.
Keywords: copyright, books, publishers.
Supporting Sentence: Although the books included so far are not covered by copyright, the plan has attracted the ire of publishers.
Keyword Location: Paragraph 2.
Explanation: As per the paragraph 2, if firms like Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and others publish books without the owner's permission, the work is protected by copyright. They will then be subject to legal action and other repercussions. Copyright infringement is a serious crime that carries stiff fines and severe consequences. Therefore, businesses favour using content that is copyright-free.

The _______ is very small but getting larger.

Answer: market for e-books
Keywords: market, growth, tiny base.
Supporting Sentence: The market for e-books is growing again, though from a tiny base.
Keyword Location: Paragraph 7.
Explanation: According to the statement in paragraph 7, there is a modest market for e-books because people still prefer to read printed books. However, consumers are becoming more interested in novel concepts like e-books and the option to merely purchase a portion of the book. The market for e-books and reading devices is expected to grow steadily as technology continues to progress.

The _______ expect that they will be able to convince more people to read online.

Answer: retailers and publishers.
Keywords: retailers, publishers, consumers, web.
Supporting Sentence: Both retailers and publishers reckon they will eventually be able to persuade consumers to do a lot more of their reading on the web.
Keyword Location: Paragraph 8.
Explanation: The future of reading will, according to publishers and booksellers, be online and in eBooks, as indicated in paragraph eight. They are certain to revolutionise the online reading sector .

The _______ has nothing similar to an iPod.

Answer: book world.
Keywords: iPod music, popular, book world.
Supporting Sentence: The iPod music player and it’s like have proved a fashionable and popular new way to listen to songs. The book world has no equivalent.
Keyword Location: Paragraph 8.
Explanation: It is mentioned in paragraph 8 that as the music industry went online, iPods quickly took the lead and later gained popularity as a music player. There isn't a favoured option at the moment, despite the fact that internet reading is continually expanding. Music listening and reading are two different things. It is therefore unlikely that the reading world will ever see anything like an iPod music player.

In Japan, most of the publications sent to mobile phones are _________.

Answer: manga comic books.
Keywords: Japan, manga comic, mobile phones, worth.
Supporting Sentence: In Japan, the value of e-books (mainly manga comic books) delivered to mobile phones has jumped, though it will be worth only around $51 million in 2005, according to estimates.
Keyword Location: Paragraph 9.
Explanation: According to paragraph 9, manga comic books are a developing part of Japan's e-book culture. People subscribe to receive fresh editions of these comic books as eBooks, which are then sent right to their mobile devices. This e-comic's business is only modestly valued, but it is expanding over time. Because manga comics are becoming more and more popular all over the world, there are many business opportunities for e-books.

Question 10 - 14:
Do the statements on the next page agree with the information given in Reading Passage? In boxes 10 - 14 on your answer sheet, write
TRUE if the information in the text agrees with the statement
FALSE if the information in the text contradicts with the statement
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this

Books that are out of print are not covered by copyright law.

Answer: FALSE
Keywords: law, copyright, out of print, protected.
Supporting Sentence: Five large book firms are suing Google for violating copyright on material that it has scanned and, although out of print, is still protected by law.
Keyword Location: Paragraph 3.
Explanation: According to paragraph 3, just because a book is out of print doesn't indicate that its authorship rights have expired. Even 50 years after the author's passing, copyright continues to apply to content-based products like books. Therefore, publishing any copyrighted work without the required authorization from the author, even if it is no longer in print, may give rise to legal action. So, the given statement is false.

Amazon began by selling books online.

Answer: TRUE
Keywords: book retailer, online, e-book market.
Supporting Sentence: Not to be outdone, Amazon, the world’s largest online retailer, has unveiled plans for its foray into the mass e-book market. The firm, which began ten years ago as an online book retailer, now sells a vast array of goods.
Keyword Location: Paragraph 4.
Explanation: According to paragraph 4, Amazon is among the world's largest internet-based businesses. Today, Amazon offers anything and everything to its consumers via the internet. But when it first launched in 1994, it only sold books. Mr. Jeff Bezos, the company's founder, chose books as the initial product. Because there are numerous options and a limitless number of categories. Hence, the given statement is true.

Microsoft signed a deal with the British Library on the same day as Google and Amazon made their announcements.

Answer: FALSE
Keywords: reference library, British library, Microsoft, MSN book search.
Supporting Sentence: On Thursday, coincidentally the same day as Google and Amazon announced their initiatives, Microsoft released details of a deal with the British Library, the country’s main reference library, to digitize some 25 million pages; these will be made available through MSN Book Search, which will be launched next year.
Keyword Location: Paragraph 5.
Explanation: In paragraph 5, it is stated that Microsoft wanted to stay in the game since Google and Amazon were vying for dominance in the e-book industry. Microsoft and the British Library have a contract in place to digitise 25 million pages and make them accessible to online users. Microsoft also contributed $200 million to the digitization of 150,000 books. Hence, the statement given is false.

Barnes and Noble published Riding the Bullet online.

Answer: NOT GIVEN.
Keywords: Stephen King, best selling, writer, horror.
Supporting Sentence: These companies are hoping for a return to the levels of interest in e-books seen when Stephen King, a best-selling horror writer, published “Riding the Bullet” exclusively on the Internet in 2000.
Keyword Location: Paragraph 6.
Explanation: The passage doesn't provide any relevant information about the statement.

The ability to sample a book online before buying it might help sales.

Answer: TRUE
Keywords: download, manuals, textbooks, students, readers.
Supporting Sentence: The ability to download mere parts of books could help, for instance: sections of manuals, textbooks, or cookery books may tempt some customers; students may wish to download the relevant sections of course books, or readers may want a taste of a book that they subsequently buy in hard copy.
Keyword Location: Paragraph 9.
Explanation: As was indicated in sentence nine, having the chance to peep at the item we are going to purchase is really beneficial. We can then determine whether the book has the information we are seeking for or not. Students might benefit from getting only the necessary portions of books, saving money. Hence, the given statement is true.

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