Cambridge IELTS 15 Academic Reading Test 3: answers explained

Explanation for each answer

Passage 1 · Q1–13 Henry Moore (1898-1986)

1. Question 1

   True / False / Not Given

   Question

   On leaving school, Moore did what his father wanted him to do.

   Answer

   TRUE

   Location

   Passage 1, paragraph 1

   Sentence in the passage

   After leaving school, Moore hoped to become a sculptor, but instead he complied with his father’s wish that he train as a schoolteacher.

   Explanation

   The statement says that after leaving school, Moore followed his father's wishes. The fourth sentence of the first paragraph states, 'After leaving school, Moore hoped to become a sculptor, but instead he complied with his father’s wish that he train as a schoolteacher.' This directly confirms that he did what his father wanted (train as a schoolteacher) rather than what he wanted (become a sculptor). Therefore, the statement is TRUE.

2. Question 2

   True / False / Not Given

   Question

   Moore began studying sculpture in his first term at the Leeds School of Art.

   Answer

   FALSE

   Location

   Passage 1, paragraph 2

   Sentence in the passage

   In his first year, he spent most of his time drawing.

   Explanation

   The statement claims Moore started studying sculpture in his first term at Leeds School of Art. The second paragraph, describing his time at Leeds, says, 'In his first year, he spent most of his time drawing.' It then adds, 'Although he wanted to study sculpture, no teacher was appointed until his second year.' This explicitly states that he did not study sculpture in his first year, contradicting the statement. Therefore, the answer is FALSE.

3. Question 3

   True / False / Not Given

   Question

   When Moore started at the Royal College of Art, its reputation for teaching sculpture was excellent.

   Answer

   NOT GIVEN

   Explanation

   The statement makes a claim about the reputation of the Royal College of Art's sculpture teaching when Moore started there. The passage mentions that Moore received a scholarship to the Royal College of Art and studied sculpture there for three years (paragraph 2, sentences 3-5). However, it does not provide any information or opinion about the reputation or quality of the sculpture teaching at the college at that time. Therefore, the information required to determine if this statement is true or false is not present in the passage, and the answer is NOT GIVEN.

4. Question 4

   True / False / Not Given

   Question

   Moore became aware of ancient sculpture as a result of visiting London Museums.

   Answer

   TRUE

   Location

   Passage 1, paragraph 3

   Sentence in the passage

   Alongside the instruction he received at the Royal College, Moore visited many of the London museums, particularly the British Museum, which had a wide-ranging collection of ancient sculpture.

   Explanation

   The statement suggests Moore's visits to London museums led him to discover ancient sculpture. The third paragraph begins by stating that alongside his studies, Moore 'visited many of the London museums... which had a wide-ranging collection of ancient sculpture.' The next sentence says, 'During these visits, he discovered the power and beauty of ancient Egyptian and African sculpture.' This sequence clearly shows that his visits to museums resulted in him becoming aware of and discovering ancient sculpture. Therefore, the statement is TRUE.

5. Question 5

   True / False / Not Given

   Question

   The Trocadero Museum’s Mayan sculpture attracted a lot of public interest.

   Answer

   NOT GIVEN

   Location

   Passage 1, paragraph 4

   Sentence in the passage

   When he visited the Trocadero Museum in Paris, he was impressed by a cast of a Mayan* sculpture of the rain spirit.

   Explanation

   The statement claims the Mayan sculpture at the Trocadero Museum was a subject of significant public interest. The fourth paragraph mentions Moore visiting the Trocadero Museum in Paris and being impressed and fascinated by a specific Mayan sculpture (sentences 1-4). However, the passage only describes Moore's personal reaction and interest in the sculpture; it provides no information about how much public interest the sculpture attracted, whether a lot or a little. Therefore, the information is not given.

6. Question 6

   True / False / Not Given

   Question

   Moore thought the Mayan sculpture was similar in certain respects to other stone sculptures.

   Answer

   FALSE

   Location

   Passage 1, paragraph 4

   Sentence in the passage

   Moore became fascinated with this stone sculpture, which he thought had a power and originality that no other stone sculpture possessed.

   Explanation

   The statement says Moore believed the Mayan sculpture was similar to other stone sculptures. The fourth paragraph, describing Moore's impression of the Mayan sculpture, states that he 'thought [it] had a power and originality that no other stone sculpture possessed.' This sentence directly indicates his belief that the Mayan sculpture was unique and different from all other stone sculptures he knew, which is the opposite of being 'similar in certain respects' to them. Therefore, the statement is FALSE.

7. Question 7

   True / False / Not Given

   Question

   The artists who belonged to Unit One wanted to make modern art and architecture more popular.

   Answer

   TRUE

   Location

   Passage 1, paragraph 5

   Sentence in the passage

   The aim of the group was to convince the English public of the merits of the emerging international movement in modern art and architecture.

   Explanation

   The statement claims that the goal of the Unit One group was to increase the popularity of modern art and architecture. The fifth paragraph states that Moore became a member of Unit One, and that 'The aim of the group was to convince the English public of the merits of the emerging international movement in modern art and architecture.' Convincing the public of the 'merits' of something implies an effort to make it more accepted, appreciated, and effectively, more popular. This aligns directly with the statement's claim. Therefore, the answer is TRUE.

8. Question 8

   Note completion

   Question

   Moore is urged to offer his ______ and leave the Royal College.

   Answer

   resignation

   Location

   Passage 1, paragraph 6

   Sentence in the passage

   There were calls for his resignation from the Royal College, and the following year, when his contract expired, he left to start a sculpture department at the Chelsea School of Art in London.

   Explanation

   The note refers to events in the 1930s when Moore's exhibition received negative press. The question states he was urged to offer something and leave the Royal College. The fourth sentence of the sixth paragraph says, 'There were calls for his resignation from the Royal College...'. 'Calls for his resignation' means people were urging him to resign. The word 'resignation' fits the blank grammatically as a noun and matches the information in the passage. It is also ONE WORD ONLY.

9. Question 9

   Note completion

   Question

   Moore turns to drawing because ______ for sculpting are not readily available

   Answer

   materials

   Location

   Passage 1, paragraph 8

   Sentence in the passage

   A shortage of materials forced him to focus on drawing.

   Explanation

   This note relates to the 1940s. It says Moore focused on drawing because something for sculpting was unavailable. The second sentence of the eighth paragraph, discussing the early 1940s, states, 'A shortage of materials forced him to focus on drawing.' A 'shortage of materials' means materials were not readily available, forcing him to switch to drawing instead of sculpting. The word 'materials' fits the blank grammatically as a noun and accurately reflects the reason given in the passage. It is ONE WORD ONLY.

10. Question 10

    Note completion

    Question

    While visiting his hometown, Moore does some drawings of ______

    Answer

    miners

    Location

    Passage 1, paragraph 8

    Sentence in the passage

    In 1942, he returned to Castleford to make a series of sketches of the miners who worked there.

    Explanation

    Moore went back to Castleford, his home town, in 1942 and made a series of sketches of the men working there. Those men were the miners, so the gap needs miners. The earlier drawings of Londoners were done elsewhere and do not match the idea of a visit home.

11. Question 11

    Note completion

    Question

    Moore is employed to produce a sculpture of a ______

    Answer

    family

    Location

    Passage 1, paragraph 9

    Sentence in the passage

    In 1944, Harlow, a town near London, offered Moore a commission for a sculpture depicting a family.

    Explanation

    This note is still about the 1940s and mentions a commission for a sculpture. The first sentence of the ninth paragraph, also discussing the 1940s, states, 'In 1944, Harlow, a town near London, offered Moore a commission for a sculpture depicting a family.' Being offered a 'commission' means being employed for the task. The sculpture was to depict a 'family'. The word 'family' fits the blank, is a noun, and is ONE WORD ONLY.

12. Question 12

    Note completion

    Question

    ______ start to buy Moore’s work

    Answer

    collectors

    Location

    Passage 1, paragraph 9

    Sentence in the passage

    In this way, Moore’s work became available to collectors all over the world.

    Explanation

    This note describes a consequence of the family sculpture commission, where his work became available to buyers. The fourth sentence of the ninth paragraph, immediately following the mention of the clay studies being cast in bronze and issued in editions, says, 'In this way, Moore’s work became available to collectors all over the world.' 'Collectors' are people who 'start to buy' art. The word 'collectors' fits the context, is a noun, and is ONE WORD ONLY.

13. Question 13

    Note completion

    Question

    Moore’s increased ______ makes it possible for him to do more ambitious sculptures

    Answer

    income

    Location

    Passage 1, paragraph 9

    Sentence in the passage

    The boost to his income enabled him to take on ambitious projects and start working on the scale he felt his sculpture demanded.

    Explanation

    This note, still in the 1940s, links something that increased with Moore's ability to undertake ambitious sculptures. The final sentence of the ninth paragraph states, 'The boost to his income enabled him to take on ambitious projects and start working on the scale he felt his sculpture demanded.' A 'boost to his income' means increased income. This increase 'enabled him to take on ambitious projects'. 'Income' fits the blank as a noun, matches the meaning, and is ONE WORD ONLY.

Passage 2 · Q14–26 The Desolenator: producing clean water

1. Question 14

   Matching headings

   Question

   Section A

   Answer

   iii

   Location

   Paragraph A

   Sentence in the passage

   Travelling around Thailand in the 1990s, William Janssen was impressed with the basic rooftop solar heating systems that were on many homes, where energy from the sun was absorbed by a plate and then used to heat water for domestic use.

   Explanation

   Section A describes how William Janssen was initially inspired by basic solar heating systems in Thailand in the 1990s (first sentence). It then explains how he developed this 'basic idea' into the Desolenator, a new product, 'Two decades later' (second sentence). This narrative clearly follows the trajectory 'From initial inspiration to new product', making Heading iii the best fit.

2. Question 15

   Matching headings

   Question

   Section B

   Answer

   vi

   Location

   Paragraph B

   Sentence in the passage

   The Desolenator operates as a mobile desalination unit that can take water from different places, such as the sea, rivers, boreholes and rain, and purify it for human consumption.

   Explanation

   Section B immediately describes the function of the Desolenator. The first sentence explicitly states that it 'can take water from different places, such as the sea, rivers, boreholes and rain, and purify it'. This directly corresponds to Heading vi, 'Cleaning water from a range of sources'.

3. Question 16

   Matching headings

   Question

   Section C

   Answer

   v

   Location

   Paragraph C

   Sentence in the passage

   Its main selling point is that unlike standard desalination techniques, it doesn’t require a generated power supply: just sunlight.

   Explanation

   Section C describes the features and operation of the Desolenator. While it explains *how* it works, its main point of distinction is highlighted in the second sentence: 'Its main selling point is that unlike standard desalination techniques, it doesn’t require a generated power supply: just sunlight.' This explicitly states what makes it different from alternatives. The description of the LCD screen and data transmission (last sentence) also points to features that differentiate it.

4. Question 17

   Matching headings

   Question

   Section D

   Answer

   x

   Location

   Paragraph D

   Sentence in the passage

   A recent analysis found that at least two-thirds of the world’s population lives with severe water scarcity for at least a month every year.

   Explanation

   Section D focuses on the global problem of water scarcity. The first two sentences provide statistics about the number of people affected: 'at least two-thirds of the world’s population lives with severe water scarcity' and 'by 2030 half of the world’s population will be living with water stress'. This directly addresses 'The number of people affected by water shortages', matching Heading x.

5. Question 18

   Matching headings

   Question

   Section E

   Answer

   iv

   Location

   Paragraph E

   Sentence in the passage

   The device is aimed at a wide variety of users – from homeowners in the developing world who do not have a constant supply of water to people living off the grid in rural parts of the US.

   Explanation

   Section E discusses the different groups of people who might use the Desolenator. The first sentence explicitly states, 'The device is aimed at a wide variety of users'. It then details these users in developing countries (third sentence) and developed countries (last sentence), listing specific examples. This clearly matches Heading iv, 'The range of potential customers for the device'.

6. Question 19

   Matching headings

   Question

   Section F

   Answer

   viii

   Location

   Paragraph F

   Sentence in the passage

   ‘We are a venture with a social mission.

   Explanation

   Section F discusses pricing and the company's mission. While mentioning the need for a 'bottom line' (last sentence), Janssen explicitly states, 'We are a venture with a social mission' (fourth sentence) and the product is 'mainly finding application in the developing world and humanitarian sector' (fifth sentence). This indicates that their primary goal is not profit, but rather social and humanitarian impact, which aligns with Heading viii.

7. Question 20

   Matching headings

   Question

   Section G

   Answer

   i

   Location

   Paragraph G

   Sentence in the passage

   It has raised £340,000 in funding so far.

   Explanation

   Section G discusses the company's funding and future sales targets. The second sentence directly states the amount of money raised: 'It has raised £340,000 in funding so far.' This funding is necessary 'for production' and sales, as mentioned in the next sentence ('aims to be selling 1,000 units a month'). Thus, the main theme is the acquisition and use of finance, fitting Heading i.

8. Question 21

   Summary completion

   Question

   The device can be used in different locations, as it has ______ Water is fed into a pipe, and a … of water flows over a solar panel.

   Answer

   wheels

   Location

   Paragraph C

   Sentence in the passage

   It measures 120 cm by 90 cm, and it easy to transport, thanks to its two wheels.

   Explanation

   The question states the device 'can be used in different locations' and asks why. Section C describes the device's features. The third sentence says 'it easy to transport, thanks to its two wheels.' Being easy to transport is the reason it can be used in different locations. The answer 'wheels' fits the blank grammatically as a plural noun and matches the 'ONE WORD ONLY' limit.

9. Question 22

   Summary completion

   Question

   The device can be used in different locations, as it has … Water is fed into a pipe, and a ______ of water flows over a solar panel.

   Answer

   film

   Location

   Paragraph C

   Sentence in the passage

   Water enters through a pipe, and flows as a thin film between a sheet of double glazing and the surface of a solar panel, where it is heated by the sun. the warm water flows into a small boiler (heated by a solar-powered battery) where it is converted to steam.

   Explanation

   The question describes the flow of water in the device. Section C details the process. The fourth sentence states, 'Water enters through a pipe, and flows as a thin film... and the surface of a solar panel'. The blank requires a noun to describe how the water flows. 'film' matches the passage and fits the 'ONE WORD ONLY' limit.

10. Question 23

    Summary completion

    Question

    Any particles in the water are caught in a ______ The purified water comes out through one tube, and all types of … come out through another.

    Answer

    filter

    Location

    Paragraph C

    Sentence in the passage

    The device has a very simple filter to trap particles, and this can easily be shaken to remove them.

    Explanation

    The machine's cleaning stage is described as a very simple filter that traps particles and can be shaken clean. The summary's 'caught in a' simply replaces that description, so filter is the single word to write. The boiler and panel handle heating and steam, not particles.

11. Question 24

    Summary completion

    Question

    Any particles in the water are caught in a … The purified water comes out through one tube, and all types of ______ come out through another.

    Answer

    waste

    Location

    Paragraph C

    Sentence in the passage

    There are two tubes for liquid coming out: one for the waste – salt from seawater, fluoride, etc. – and another for the distilled water.

    Explanation

    Two tubes carry liquid out of the unit. One delivers the distilled water, and the other removes unwanted material such as salt from seawater and fluoride. The summary groups all of these as a single type of output, and the passage labels it waste.

12. Question 25

    Summary completion

    Question

    A screen displays the ______ of the device, and transmits the information to the company so that they know when the Desolenator requires …

    Answer

    performance

    Location

    Paragraph C

    Sentence in the passage

    The performance of the unit is shown on an LCD screen and transmitted to the company which provides servicing when necessary.

    Explanation

    The question asks what the screen displays. The last sentence of Section C states, 'The performance of the unit is shown on an LCD screen'. This directly indicates that the 'performance' is displayed. The word 'performance' fits the blank grammatically and meets the 'ONE WORD ONLY' limit.

13. Question 26

    Summary completion

    Question

    A screen displays the … of the device, and transmits the information to the company so that they know when the Desolenator requires ______

    Answer

    servicing

    Location

    Paragraph C

    Sentence in the passage

    The performance of the unit is shown on an LCD screen and transmitted to the company which provides servicing when necessary.

    Explanation

    The question states information is transmitted to the company so they know when the device requires something. The last sentence of Section C says the information is transmitted 'to the company which provides servicing when necessary'. This indicates the company is informed when the device needs 'servicing'. 'servicing' fits the blank and the 'ONE WORD ONLY' limit.

Passage 3 · Q27–40 Why fairy tales are really scary tales

1. Question 27

   Matching sentence endings

   Question

   In fairy tales, details of the plot

   Answer

   C

   Location

   Passage 3, paragraph 1

   Sentence in the passage

   People of every culture tell each other fairy tales but the same story often takes a variety of forms in different parts of the world.

   Explanation

   The sentence stem is 'In fairy tales, details of the plot'. Option C, 'show considerable global variation,' accurately completes this based on the first paragraph of the passage. The first sentence of this paragraph explicitly states that 'the same story often takes a variety of forms in different parts of the world'. It then exemplifies this with variations in 'Little Red Riding Hood,' such as different fates for the grandmother (mentioned in the fifth sentence) and different rescue scenarios (detailed in the sixth sentence). These examples demonstrate the 'considerable global variation' in plot details.

2. Question 28

   Matching sentence endings

   Question

   Tehrani rejects the idea that the useful lessons for life in fairy tales

   Answer

   B

   Location

   Passage 3, paragraph 2

   Sentence in the passage

   The universal appeal of these tales is frequently attributed to the idea that they contain cautionary messages: in the case of Little Red Riding Hood, to listen to your mother, and avoid talking to strangers.

   Explanation

   The sentence stem is 'Tehrani rejects the idea that the useful lessons for life in fairy tales __________.' The correct ending is option B, 'are the reason for their survival.' The second paragraph mentions that the universal appeal of these tales is often 'attributed to the idea that they contain cautionary messages' (useful lessons). However, the very next sentence explicitly states, 'But his research suggests otherwise.' This indicates that Tehrani's research contradicts the idea that these cautionary messages or useful lessons are the reason for the tales' survival.

3. Question 29

   Matching sentence endings

   Question

   Various theories about the social significance of fairy tales

   Answer

   F

   Location

   Passage 3, paragraph 2

   Sentence in the passage

   ‘We have this huge gap in our knowledge about the history and prehistory of storytelling, despite the fact that we know this genre is an incredibly ancient one,’ he says.

   Explanation

   The sentence stem is 'Various theories about the social significance of fairy tales __________.' The correct ending is option F, 'have been developed without factual basis.' The second paragraph states that there is a 'huge gap in our knowledge about the history and prehistory of storytelling' (found in the fourth sentence). The fifth sentence then notes that this lack of knowledge 'hasn’t stopped anthropologists, folklorists* and other academics devising theories to explain the importance of fairy tales in human society.' The sixth sentence explains that Tehrani then found 'a way to test these ideas'. This context suggests that the theories were developed despite a lack of concrete knowledge ('huge gap'), implying they were made without a strong factual basis before Tehrani's testing method.

4. Question 30

   Matching sentence endings

   Question

   Insights into the development of fairy tales

   Answer

   A

   Location

   Passage 3, paragraph 2

   Sentence in the passage

   Now Tehrani has found a way to test these ideas, borrowing a technique from evolutionary biologists.

   Explanation

   The sentence stem is 'Insights into the development of fairy tales __________.' The correct ending is option A, 'may be provided through methods used in biological research.' The second paragraph concludes by stating that Tehrani found a way to test theories about fairy tales 'borrowing a technique from evolutionary biologists' (sixth sentence). The third paragraph then elaborates on this, stating that Tehrani used the same approach ('phylogenetic analysis') used by biologists to 'discover how they have evolved' (second sentence). Therefore, insights into the development of fairy tales are being sought using methods from biological research.

5. Question 31

   Matching sentence endings

   Question

   All the fairy tales analysed by Tehrani

   Answer

   E

   Location

   Passage 3, paragraph 4

   Sentence in the passage

   Checking for variants of these two tales and similar stories from Africa, East Asia and other regions, he ended up with 58 stories recorded from oral traditions.

   Explanation

   The sentence stem is 'All the fairy tales analysed by Tehrani __________.' The correct ending is option E, 'were originally spoken rather than written.' The fourth paragraph, which describes Tehrani's analysis, states that after checking for variants of Little Red Riding Hood and The Wolf and the Kids, he collected '58 stories recorded from oral traditions' (second sentence). This indicates that the source material for his analysis was spoken tradition, meaning they were originally spoken rather than written.

6. Question 32

   Summary completion

   Question

   Tehrani used techniques from evolutionary biology to find out if ______ existed among 58 stories from around the world.

   Answer

   D

   Location

   Passage 3, paragraph 3

   Sentence in the passage

   Tehrani has used the same approach to compare related versions of fairy tales to discover how they have evolved and which elements have survived longest.

   Explanation

   The sentence states Tehrani used biological techniques to find out if __________ existed among 58 stories. The third paragraph explains that phylogenetic analysis is used to understand the 'relationships among groups of organisms'. The fourth paragraph mentions that Tehrani's analysis established that the 58 stories 'were indeed related'. The blank requires a word that indicates connection or relationship. Option D, 'links', fits this context, as phylogenetic analysis helps establish links or relationships between different versions of stories.

7. Question 33

   Summary completion

   Question

   He also wanted to know which aspects of the stories had fewest ______, as he believed these aspects would be the most important ones.

   Answer

   F

   Location

   Passage 3, paragraph 5

   Sentence in the passage

   First he tested some assumptions about which aspects of the story alter least as it evolves, indicating their importance.

   Explanation

   The summary states Tehrani believed the most important aspects of stories would be those with fewest __________. The fifth paragraph mentions that Tehrani tested assumptions about which aspects 'alter least as it evolves, indicating their importance'. The blank needs a word that means changes or alterations. Option F, 'variations', is the best fit. The passage equates 'alter least' with stability ('Certain episodes are very stable'), implying fewer variations.

8. Question 34

   Summary completion

   Question

   Contrary to other beliefs, he found that some ______ that were included in a story tended to change over time, and that the middle of a story seemed no more important than the other parts.

   Answer

   B

   Location

   Passage 3, paragraph 6

   Sentence in the passage

   However, Tehrani found no significant difference in the rate of evolution of incidents compared with that of characters.

   Explanation

   Folklorists assumed incidents in a story were more central than the characters, but Tehrani found incidents evolved at about the same rate as characters, and many details changed freely. He also found events in the middle were no less flexible than those at the start or end. Events is therefore the fitting word.

9. Question 35

   Summary completion

   Question

   He was also surprised that parts of a story which seemed to provide some sort of ______ were unimportant.

   Answer

   C

   Location

   Passage 3, paragraph 7

   Sentence in the passage

   But the really big surprise came when he looked at the cautionary elements of the story.

   Explanation

   The summary states Tehrani was surprised that parts providing some sort of __________ were unimportant (i.e., flexible/changeable). The seventh paragraph mentions that a 'really big surprise came when he looked at the cautionary elements of the story.' It explains that these elements are considered 'survival-relevant information' – essentially providing a warning about dangers. The paragraph then states that 'such elements were just as flexible as seemingly trivial details,' meaning they were not important in terms of being preserved. The blank needs a word related to cautionary elements or survival information. Option C, 'warning', accurately represents the function of 'cautionary elements' or 'survival-relevant information'.

10. Question 36

    Summary completion

    Question

    The aspect that he found most important in a story’s survival was ______

    Answer

    G

    Location

    Passage 3, paragraph 8

    Sentence in the passage

    The answer, it would appear, is fear – blood-thirsty and gruesome aspects of the story, such as the eating of the grandmother by the wolf, turned out to be the best preserved of all.

    Explanation

    The summary asks about the aspect Tehrani found most important for a story's survival. The eighth paragraph opens by directly answering the question posed at the end of the previous paragraph: 'The answer, it would appear, is fear – blood-thirsty and gruesome aspects of the story... turned out to be the best preserved of all.' The blank requires a word related to fear or gruesome aspects. Option G, 'horror', encapsulates the idea of 'fear' and 'blood-thirsty and gruesome aspects'.

11. Question 37

    Multiple choice

    Question

    What method did Jamie Tehrani use to test his ideas about fairy tales?

    Answer

    B

    Location

    Passage 3, paragraph 3

    Sentence in the passage

    Tehrani has used the same approach to compare related versions of fairy tales to discover how they have evolved and which elements have survived longest.

    Explanation

    The question asks about the method Tehrani used. The third paragraph explains he used 'phylogenetic analysis' to 'compare related versions of fairy tales' (second sentence). The fourth paragraph elaborates that his analysis 'focused on Little Red Riding Hood in its many forms' and included 'variants of these two tales and similar stories' resulting in '58 stories recorded from oral traditions' (first and second sentences). This means his method involved examining numerous variations of the same basic tale or related tales to see how they evolved. Option B, 'He looked at many different forms of the same basic story,' accurately describes this approach.

12. Question 38

    Multiple choice

    Question

    When discussing Tehrani’s views, Jack Zipes suggests that

    Answer

    D

    Location

    Passage 3, paragraph 9

    Sentence in the passage

    Jack Zipes at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, is unconvinced by Tehrani’s views on fairy tales.

    Explanation

    The question asks about Jack Zipes' suggestion regarding Tehrani's views. The ninth paragraph introduces Jack Zipes, stating he 'is unconvinced by Tehrani’s views' (first sentence). His specific comment is: 'Even if they’re gruesome, they won’t stick unless they matter' (second sentence). 'Stick' means survive or be retained, and 'unless they matter' implies having significance or importance beyond just being scary. Therefore, Zipes suggests that story features, even scary ones, only survive ('stick') if they have a deeper significance ('matter'). Option D captures this idea.

13. Question 39

    Multiple choice

    Question

    Why does Tehrani refer to Chinese and Japanese fairy tales?

    Answer

    A

    Location

    Passage 3, paragraph 9

    Sentence in the passage

    He believes the perennial theme of women as victims in stories like Little Red Riding Hood explains why they continue to feel relevant.

    Explanation

    The question asks why Tehrani refers to Chinese and Japanese tales. The ninth paragraph presents Jack Zipes' view that the theme of 'women as victims' explains the survival of stories like Little Red Riding Hood (third sentence). The very next sentence begins with 'But Tehrani points out that...' (fourth sentence), indicating he is providing a counter-argument. He then uses the examples of Chinese and Japanese versions (where the villain is a woman) and tales from Iran and Nigeria (where the victim is a boy) (fifth sentence) to show that the 'women as victims' theme is not universal. This directly challenges Zipes' assertion that this theme is the reason for their continued relevance. Therefore, Tehrani refers to these tales to show that Jack Zipes' theory (about the necessity of the 'women as victims' theme) is not universally applicable and thus incorrect as a sole explanation.

14. Question 40

    Multiple choice

    Question

    What does Mathias Clasen believe about fairy tales?

    Answer

    A

    Location

    Passage 3, paragraph 10

    Sentence in the passage

    ‘Habits and morals change, but the things that scare us, and the fact that we seek out entertainment that’s designed to scare us – those are constant,’ he says.

    Explanation

    The question asks about Mathias Clasen's belief regarding fairy tales. The tenth paragraph introduces Mathias Clasen. The third sentence states, 'Clasen believes that scary stories teach us what it feels like to be afraid without having to experience real danger, and so build up resistance to negative emotions.' Option A, 'They are a safe way of learning to deal with fear,' perfectly summarises this belief. Experiencing fear 'without having to experience real danger' is a 'safe way', and 'build up resistance to negative emotions' is a way of 'learning to deal with fear'.