What are they Doing Up there? Reading Answers

Nov 7, 2025

What are they Doing Up there? Reading Answers is an academic reading answers topic. What are they Doing Up there? Reading Answers has a total of 13 IELTS questions in total. In the first question set, candidates have to choose which paragraph contains the following information. Write the correct number, A-F. In the next two question sets, candidates have to choose TWO letters, A-E. In the last question set, candidates have to state whether the statement is yes, no, or not given according to the passage

The IELTS Reading section is an essential part of the test that evaluates a candidate's comprehension and analysis of various passage types. You will work through a number of IELTS reading practice problems in this section that resemble actual test situations. These questions are designed to help you improve your ability to recognise essential concepts, extract particular facts, and make inferences. Practising these IELTS reading problems can help you get comfortable with the structure and increase your confidence for the exam, regardless of whether you are studying for the Academic or General Training module.

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IELTS reading answers section requires the candidates to read the given passage and write the answers to the questions following the passage.

Section 1

WHAT ARE THEY DOING UP THERE?

A.Before around 1810, conductors who were not playing musical instruments themselves were relatively rare on the musical stage. It was generally the lead member of an ensemble, such as a harpsichord player or violinist, who directed the tempo of a performance. Johann Sebastian Bach normally conducted his music as the principal first violin, and it is worth remembering that the sole purpose of a conductor then was simply to beat the time. As compositions became more complex and more instruments joined the orchestra at the beginning of the nineteenth century, conductors became a necessity. It began with composers conducting their own works. Notably, Mozart conducted the first performance of The Magic Flute in 1791 in Vienna, and Joseph Haydn did the same with the premiere of Creation in 1798. Beethoven conducted his work, so did Berlioz, Mendelssohn, Wagner, Mahler, and Strauss, but generally these days, composers let others take the role.

B.There is a mystique that surrounds conductors. How is it that a man (and until this century it has generally been a man) waving his arms around in front of an orchestra can affect the outcome to such a degree that some conductors have become famous and in demand? Conductors are musical performers just like instrumentalists, but the complete orchestra is their instrument. When an instrumentalist is playing, they cannot really hear the other instruments. From their position above and in front of the orchestra, the conductor can hear all of them, and knowing what the piece should sound like, they keep all the musicians in time with each other, Over the years, conducting has developed artistically to integrate the musical interpretations of all the musicians on stage. Orchestral musicians attest to the fact that the person standing in

front of them does affect their performance and that of the whole group. Musicians have their favorites - if they feel confident in the hands of a certain conductor, they feel their own playing improves and they coordinate better as a group,

C.These days a conductor is proficient on at least one instrument to a professional level. A conductor often has their start as member of an orchestra and their musical education has involved instrumental training. Some music degrees offer courses in conducting, but this is relatively rare. Conductors need to have a clear understanding and working knowledge of all the instruments and voices being conducted. They are expected to know the score before they arrive at the rehearsal stage and they do not usually sight-read on the performance podium, though the score with their annotations is in front of them.

D.The conductor's job is to communicate the music with the players, but also, beyond that, to the listeners. The moment a conductor steps onto the stage, they begin connecting with the musicians and audience. On the walk to the podium, they squeeze through an often crowded performance space, usually with a smile, and acknowledge the audience and performers,

shake hands with the concertmaster (the lead violinist,) and take a bow. What the conductor is wearing can effectively add to the impression they give the audience during 'the walk'. Mostly conductors wear formal concert dress, which is a black suit with tails or some other kind of formal suit, but they often add a personal touch, such as different coloured shoes or a tie, or sport an unusual haircut.

E.The conductor then turns their back on the audience, and the music commences. Though the audience cannot see, the conductor has intense eye contact with ensemble members during the performance. Then comes the famous arm waving. This is what mystifies many people. What does it convey? Firstly, it is for the timekeeping of precise rhythm, which allows the ensemble to have the greatest chance of performing as a single unit. Conductors traditionally use a baton to help them keep time, although some do not. This is an individual choice and can vary with the size of the orchestra and the style of the repertoire being performed.

F.The beating arm that holds the baton is usually the right, if the conductor is right-handed. The conductor's hand or the tip of the baton flicks quickly upward on the downbeat and then traces a shape in the air that has the same number of points as the time signature, such as a triangle for waltz time or a cross when there are four beats to a bar. But these days they do more than just beat the time. When the conductor seems to be gesturing to a section of musicians to come to them with their left hand, they are probably asking for more volume or more feeling from that section. When they suddenly point to a player or section, they are asking them to begin to play. So, far from being random, the movements made with each hand are extremely significant for the musicians, as well as being entertaining for the audience. Each conductor has their own

body language and style, but they are all performing the same tasks. A conductor serves as a messenger for the composer, and it is their responsibility to understand the music and convey it through gesture so that the musicians in the orchestra understand it perfectly.

Questions 1-5

The Reading Passage 1 has six paragraphs, A-F. Which paragraph contains the following information? Write the correct number, A-F.

NB You may use any letter more than once.

1. the reason why the audience might not understand a conductor's influence

Answer: E

Supporting statement: Then comes the famous arm waving. This is what mystifies many people.

Keywords: mystifies many people

Keyword Location: Para E, Line 3

Explanation: The text states that the arm waving (the conductor's primary visible action) is what mystifies many people (the audience).

2. an explanation of how the role of conductor has changed

Answer: A

Supporting statement: the sole purpose of a conductor then was simply to beat the time. As compositions became more complex and more instruments joined the orchestra at the beginning of the nineteenth century, conductors became a necessity.

Keywords: conductor, more, nineteenth century

Keyword Location: Para A, Lines 5-7

Explanation: The paragraph details the shift from the conductor's sole purpose being time-beating to becoming a necessity as music became more complex.

3. the suggestion that a conductor's appeal is more than just the music produced

Answer: D

Supporting statement: What the conductor is wearing can effectively add to the impression they give the audience during 'the walk'.

Keywords: wearing, audience

Keyword Location: Para D, Line 6

Explanation: The conductor's clothing and actions during 'the walk' (before the music starts) contribute to the audience's overall impression.

4. a mention of an object that some conductors make use of

Answer: E

Supporting statement: Conductors traditionally use a baton to help them keep time, although some do not.

Keywords: baton to help

Keyword Location: Para E, Line 5

Explanation: The text explicitly mentions the baton as an object used by some conductors.

5. an account of how well prepared conductors are

Answer: C

Supporting statement: They are expected to know the score before they arrive at the rehearsal stage and they do not usually sight-read on the performance podium...

Keywords: score, rehearsal stage

Keyword Location: Para C, Lines 5-6

Explanation: This section describes the high level of preparation, including knowing the entire score beforehand.

Questions 6-7

Choose TWO letters, A-E.

Which TWO of the points mentioned in the text show how conductors differ from other orchestra members?

A. performing the music

B. hearing all the musicians

C. having a musical education

D. learning the score beforehand

E. being the last one on stage

Answer: B & E

Supporting statement: From their position above and in front of the orchestra, the conductor can hear all of them... The moment a conductor steps onto the stage... On the walk to the podium, they... take a bow.

Keywords: orchestra, steps onto the stage, podium

Keyword Location: Para B & D, Line 6 &3

Explanation: B is supported because instrumentalists cannot "really hear the other instruments," while the conductor "can hear all of them."

E is supported by the description of the conductor's entrance (the walk, the bow, shaking hands with the concertmaster), making them the focus of the start of the performance on stage.

Questions 8-9

Choose TWO letters, A-E.

Which TWO facts about conductors mentioned in the text that now rarely occur?

A. They are also composers.

B. They can play a musical instrument.

C. They have a score in front of them on stage.

D. They wear formal clothes.

E. They mainly control the tempo.

Answer: A & E

Supporting statement: composers let others take the role... the sole purpose of a conductor then was simply to beat the time. But these days they do more than just beat the time.

Keywords: composers, beat the time

Keyword Location: Para A, Line 11, Para F, Line 5

Explanation: A is supported by "generally these days, composers let others take the role."

E is supported by the change in the role: the old purpose was "simply to beat the time," but "these days they do more than just beat the time."

Questions 10-13

Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer in

Reading Passage I?

YES if the statement agrees with the views of the writer

NO if the statement contradicts the views of the writer

NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this

10. Before 1810, some composers conducted their work.

Answer: YES

Supporting statement: Mozart conducted the first performance of The Magic Flute in 1791... and Joseph Haydn did the same with the premiere of Creation in 1798.

Keywords: Mozart, 1791, 1798

Keyword Location: Para A, Lines 8-9

Explanation: Since 1791 and 1798 are before 1810, the statement agrees with the text.

11. Instrumentalists do not comment on the proficiency of a conductor.

Answer: NO

Supporting statement: Orchestral musicians attest to the fact that the person standing in front of them does affect their performance... Musicians have their favorites - if they feel confident in the hands of a certain conductor, they feel their own playing improves..."Musicians attest to the fact," "Musicians have their favorites," "feel confident in the hands of a certain

Keywords: Musicians, conductor, confident

Keyword Location: Para B, Lines 8-11

Explanation: The text shows instrumentalists do comment by attesting to the effect of conductors and having "favorites," which contradicts the statement.

12. Conductors usually study composition in their music degree.

Answer: NOT GIVEN

Explanation: The text mentions that conducting courses is rare, but it does not give any information about whether they usually study composition.

13. Pointing at a musician is a signal for them to play.

Answer: YES

Supporting statement: When they suddenly point to a player or section, they are asking them to begin to play.

Keywords: suddenly point, player or section

Keyword Location: Para F, Line 7

Explanation: The statement directly agrees with the information provided in the text.

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