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Book Review Reading Answers: IELTS Reading Practice Test

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Updated on Jul 02, 2024, 11:57

Welcome to this IELTS Academic Reading Practice Test for Book Review Reading Answers. In this test, you can practice your reading skills and test your comprehension abilities through a book review passage. 
 

The test will include a set of three types of questions: multiple-choice, summary completion, and yes/no/not given. You will have 18-20 minutes to answer questions based on the passage and receive general instructions before beginning the test.

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1. Book Review Reading Passage

You should spend approximately 20 minutes answering Questions 1 - 14 based on the Reading Passage below.

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2. Book Review Reading Questions and Answers

Discover exciting and informative IELTS reading answers about Book Review.

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1.

Book Review Reading Passage

General Instructions
General Instructions for IELTS Reading:

  • You will have 60 minutes to complete the entire reading test.
  • The test consists of three reading passages with a total of 40 questions.
  • The texts may be taken from books, magazines, journals, or newspapers.
  • You will receive an answer sheet and should write your answers on it.
  • The questions will be in different formats, such as multiple-choice, matching, sentence completion, and summary completion.
  • The reading passages will increase in difficulty as you progress through the test.
  • You cannot bring any electronic devices, including mobile phones, into the test room.

 

 

 

 

Book Review Reading Passage


 

The Happiness Industry: How the Government and Big Business Sold Us Well-Being By William Davies
 

Paragraph 1

Richard Layard, an economist and advocate of "positive psychology," has summarised the ideologies and faith of various people nowadays in his proclamation that "happiness is the ultimate goal because it is self-evidently good. If we are asked why happiness matters, we can give no further external reason. It is just evident that it matters." For Layard and others like him, the goal of government is to foster an environment of shared prosperity. The only issue is how to attain it, and here, positive psychology—a purported science that not only detects what makes individuals happy but also lets their happiness be quantified—may indicate the way. With the guidance of this study, governments, as per theorists, are currently more capable than ever before of ensuring harmony in society.
 

Paragraph 2

It is an incredibly primitive and simplistic style of thinking, yet it is rising in popularity due to this. The huge philosophical literature that has studied and challenged the meaning and worth of happiness is neglected by those who embrace this mindset, and they write as if no significant ideas had been studied on the subject prior to their realisation. The emergence of this method of thinking was due in large part to the work of philosopher Jeremy Bentham (1748–1832). For Bentham, it was apparent that happiness and the lack of misery constitute the human good. In the 4th century BC, the Greek philosopher Aristotle connected happiness with self-realisation, and scholars throughout the years attempted to combine the goal of happiness with other human virtues, although all of this was just metaphysics or fiction to Bentham. Modern proponents of positive psychology follow in his footsteps, condemning as obsolete and unnecessary almost the entire ethical reflection on human pleasure to date, despite knowing nothing about him or the school of moral theory he founded—as they are ignorant in the history of ideas due to education and philosophical conviction. 

 

Paragraph 3

However, as William Davies points out in his new book, The Happiness Industry, assuming that happiness is the prime self-evident good restricts moral analysis. This rich, clear, and compelling book's ability to contextualise the modern cult of happiness inside a precisely defined historical context is one of its many merits. Davies was correct in his assessment of Bentham, recognising that he was significantly more than just a philosopher. According to Davies, Bentham engaged in activities that modern-day management consultants serving the public sector may partake in. In the 1790s, he addressed letters to the Bank of England with a model for a printing machine that could generate unforgeable banknotes and to the Home Office with a suggestion that the government's various departments be interlinked by a system of "conversation tubes." To preserve food like meat, fish, fruit, and vegetables, he designed a "frigidarium." His renowned plan for a jail known as a "Panopticon," in which inmates would be confined in solitary while always being monitored by the guards, came extremely close to being implemented. (Interestingly, Davies does not address the fact that Bentham envisioned his Panopticon to serve as a model for both a jail and a control mechanism that could be utilised in both schools and factories.)

 

Paragraph 4

Bentham also established the "science of happiness." If happiness is to be considered a science, then it must be quantified. Bentham presented two methods for measuring happiness. He proposed that pleasure might be measured by taking the average heart rate of a person and seeing happiness as a complex of pleasant emotions. As an alternative, the value of money might be used as the criterion for quantification. If the cost of two distinct products is the same, it can be stated that both give the customer the same amount of happiness. The latter attribute grabbed Bentham's eye more. According to Davies, Bentham "established the foundation for the combination of psychological study and capitalism, which would influence the activities of the twentieth century" by associating money so intimately with inner experience.

 

Paragraph 5

In the book The Happiness Industry, it is explained how the pursuit of a science of pleasure has merged with business. We learn a lot of interesting information on the redefining and treatment of economic concerns as psychological conditions. Additionally, Davies demonstrates how management studies and advertising have been influenced by the idea that inner joy and dissatisfaction can be assessed objectively. The inclination of philosophers like J. B. Watson, the pioneer of behaviourism*, was that managers and politicians could mould or influence people. Watson's theories on human nature were not backed by any facts. He had only conducted studies on white rats when he was appointed president of the American Psychological Association in 1915. He had "never really examined a fellow human being." The government in Britain has founded a "Behaviour Insights Team" to research how individuals might be motivated to live in ways that are thought to be socially desirable while incurring the lowest expenses to the public purse. However, Watson's reductive model has already been extensively adopted.

 

Paragraph 6

To keep people motivated in their work, modern industrial nations seem to require the potential for ever-increasing happiness. But regardless of its conceptual heritage, the theory that authorities ought to be in charge of fostering happiness is always hazardous to people's freedom.

 

*behaviourism: a field of psychology in which the focus is on observable behaviour

2.

Book Review Reading Questions and Answers

Discover exciting and informative IELTS reading answers about Book Review.

Questions and Answers 1-3
  • Choose the correct letter A, B, C, or D.
  • Write the correct letter in the boxes 1-3 on your answer sheet

 

1. The critic mentions the Greek philosopher Aristotle to state that happiness ______.

  1. is not something that should be fought for.
  2. may not be just pleasure and the absence of pain.
  3. is not just an abstract concept.
  4. should not be the main goal of humans.

 

2. In Davies' opinion, the suggestion that was given by Bentham’s to link the prices to happiness was remarkable because _____.

  1. It established a connection between work and psychology.
  2. It involved consideration of the rights of consumers.
  3. It was the first successful way of assessing happiness.
  4. It was the first successful example of psychological research.
     

3. What is the reviewer’s opinion on the proponents of positive psychology?

  1. They have a fresh new approach to ideas on human happiness.
  2. They are wrong to reject the ideas of Bentham.
  3. They are ignorant about the ideas they should be considering.
  4. They are over-influenced by their study of Bentham’s theories.

 

Book Review Reading Answers with Explanations

 

Type of questions: Multiple Choice Questions (one answer)
 

This is the typical MCQ type. You just need to select one answer out of the 4 options.


 

Type of questions:

  • Multiple Choice Questions (one answer)
  • You just need to select one answer out of the 4 options.

 

How to best answer the questions 

 

  • Skim through the questions and identify the keywords
  • Use the elimination method and recognise options that include inaccurate or false information as per the given passage 
  • Match each option with the passage and choose an answer most accurately supported by the information in the passage. 
  • Cross-check your answers and finalise them

 

1. B

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 2: ‘In the 4th century BC, the Greek philosopher Aristotle connected happiness with self-realisation, and scholars throughout the years attempted to combine the goal of happiness with other human virtues, although all of this was just metaphysics or fiction to Bentham.’
 

Explanation:

According to the paragraph, Aristotle and Bentham had different views on happiness. Aristotle believed that happiness couldn't be reduced to just pleasure and the absence of misery, while Bentham thought that happiness was simply the absence of pain and the presence of pleasure. It's fascinating to see how different philosophers have defined happiness throughout history.


 

2. A

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 4: ‘If the cost of two distinct products is the same, it can be stated that both give the customer the same amount of happiness.’
 

Explanation

As per the reference, Davies describes Bentham's theory that happiness should be quantified and connected to business and psychology. Bentham believed that if two items had the same price, the happiness received from both would be equal. Bentham's ideas paved the way for modern-day management consultants, as he engaged in activities similar to theirs, such as designing a system of "conversation tubes" and a printing machine for unforgeable banknotes.


 

3. C

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 2: ‘It is an incredibly primitive and simplistic style of thinking, yet it is rising in popularity due to this.’
 

Explanation

 As explained by the paragraph, the idea of happiness had been very simple and surprisingly unpleasant, yet it was quite famous. Moreover, it is argued that these advocates are unaware of the real meaning and value of happiness explained by research before their acceptance.

Questions and Answers 4-8
  • Complete the summary using the list of words A-G below.
  • Write the correct letter, A-G , in the boxes 4-8 on your answer sheet.

 

Jeremy Bentham

Jeremy Bentham was active in other areas besides philosophy. In the 1970s he suggested a type of technology to improve 4…………. for different Government departments. He developed a new way of printing banknotes to increase 5…………. and also designed a method for the 6……….. of food. He also drew up plans for a prison which allowed the 7…………. of prisoners at all times and believed the same design could be used for other institutions as well. When researching happiness, he investigated possibilities for its 8………… and suggested some methods of doing this.
 

  1. profits
  2. communication
  3. security
  4. preservation
  5. implementation
  6. measurement
  7. observation

 

Type of questions:

  • Summary Completion (selecting from a list of words or phrases)

  • Note: Under this question type, you will receive a summary paragraph with missing information. You will also be given a set of possible answers. You must select the right word from the given words or phrases.

 

How to best answer the questions
 

  • Go through the summary, focusing on the missing information
  • Identify keywords that can help you find answers
  • Use a method of elimination while going through the list of words/phrases 
  • Review and finalise your answers

 

4. B

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 3: ‘ In the 1790s, he addressed letters to the Bank of England with a model for a printing machine that could generate unforgeable banknotes and to the Home Office with a suggestion that the government's various departments be interlinked by a system of "conversation tubes."’
 

Explanation

According to the passage it is stated that Bentham suggested a system of "conversation tubes" to interlink the government's various departments and enhance communication between them. This was one of his many innovative ideas that aimed to improve the efficiency of government operations.
 

 

5. C

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 3: ‘In the 1790s, he addressed letters to the Bank of England with a model for a printing machine that could generate unforgeable banknotes and to the Home Office with a suggestion that the government's various departments be interlinked by a system of "conversation tubes."’

 

Explanation

As per the passage, Bentham proposed a design for a printing machine that could generate unforgeable banknotes for the Bank of England, which would increase security as the notes could not be duplicated.

 

7. G

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 3: ‘His renowned plan for a jail known as a "Panopticon," in which inmates would be confined in solitary while always being monitored by the guards, came extremely close to being implemented.’
 

Explanation

Bentham's celebrated design for a prison, known as the 'Panopticon,' allowed for constant surveillance of prisoners. The design ensured that inmates were confined in cells that could be viewed from all sides by the jailer, making it an innovative and effective approach to prison management.

 

 

8. F

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 4: ‘Bentham also established the "science of happiness." If happiness is to be considered a science, then it must be quantified.’
 

Explanation

Bentham is credited with establishing the "science of happiness," he believed that if happiness was considered a science, it must be quantifiable. This shows his vision and forward-thinking approach to happiness as a measurable concept.
 

 

Also Read: IELTS Reading Tips & Tricks

Questions and Answers 9-14
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1?
In boxes 9-14 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 on this

 

9. Industrialisation is connected to the requirement of happiness.
 

10. Prior to 1915, Watson conducted study on people that supported his theories of behaviourism.
 

11. Government’s main objective should be to increase the population’s happiness.
 

12. The Happiness Industry’s strength is the discussion of the connection between psychology and commerce.
 

13. The theories by Watson had immense influence on the governments outside America.
 

14. Certain emotions are more challenging to measure than others.


Book Review Reading Answers with Explanations

 

Type of questions:

  • Identifying Information or True/False/Not Given

  • Note: In this task, you are given a set of statements. Based on your understanding of the passage, you should identify the nature of the given statement and write the correct answer.

 

How to best answer the question
 

  • Read the given question statements carefully and note down the keywords
  • With the help of the keywords, locate them in the passage, which will help you decide whether the given statement is yes or no
  • Your answer will not be given if the information is not in the passage.

 

9. YES

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 6: ‘To keep people motivated in their work, modern industrial nations seem to require the potential for ever-increasing happiness.’
 

Explanation

It is mentioned in the book review that modern industrial nations require the potential for ever-increasing happiness to keep people motivated in their work. The need for happiness is also linked to the corporate world as it is necessary to motivate the workers. Therefore, the answer is yes


 

10. NO

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 5: ‘He had only conducted studies on white rats when he was appointed president of the American Psychological Association in 1915.’
 

Explanation

As per the given statement, Watson's theories on human nature lacked factual evidence. When he was appointed as the president of the American Psychological Association in 1915, he had only conducted studies on white rats. Therefore, the answer is no.


 

11. NO

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 6: ‘But regardless of its conceptual heritage, the theory that authorities ought to be in charge of fostering happiness is always hazardous to people's freedom.’
 

Explanation

The answer is no because the author of this text is advocating against the idea of the government being responsible for promoting happiness among its citizens. The author believes that this approach could potentially harm people's freedom and, therefore, should be avoided. The author seems to suggest that this idea is risky and should not be pursued.


 

12. YES

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 5: ‘In the book The Happiness Industry, it is explained how the pursuit of a science of pleasure has merged with business.’
 

Explanation

The author agrees with the idea presented in the book "The Happiness Industry" that the pursuit of science to increase pleasure and happiness has merged with business, and economic issues have been redefined as psychological problems and treated as such. Therefore, the answer is yes.


 

13. NOT GIVEN

 

Reference:

 

From paragraphs 1 to 6: ‘Richard Layard, an economist and advocate…….. happiness is always hazardous to people's freedom.’

 

Explanation

The answer is not given because there is no information in the passage that theories of Watson had an influence outside of America. Instead, his ideas regarding behaviour change were applied by the American government. So, the concept of behaviour change remains an important consideration in many different fields today.

 

 

14. NOT GIVEN

 

Reference:

 

From paragraphs 1 to 6: ‘Richard Layard, an economist and advocate…….. happiness is always hazardous to people's freedom.’

 

Explanation

The passage does not provide specific information on the measurement of a variety of emotions or how they should be measured. Though there is little information regarding the measurement of emotions in paragraph 5, it does not go into detail on the methodology or tools used for this measurement. Hence, the answer is not given.

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FAQs

Q. What are some common mistakes to avoid in the IELTS Reading test?

A. Common mistakes to avoid in the IELTS Reading test are spending too much time on a single question, not reading instructions carefully, focusing on details, not skimming the passage first, not using context clues, not checking answers, and trying to memorize the passage.

Q. How can I improve my reading speed for the IELTS Reading test?

A.  To improve your reading speed for the IELTS Reading test, practice regularly, skim and scan, focus on main ideas, predict answers, increase vocabulary, read regularly, use a timer, take breaks, and avoid reading when tired.

Q. What are some effective reading strategies for the IELTS Reading test?

A. Effective reading strategies for the IELTS Reading test include skimming and scanning, previewing questions, highlighting keywords, reading actively, managing time, staying focused, using context clues, avoiding overthinking, and checking answers.

Q. Can I use a highlighter or take notes during the IELTS Reading test?

A. For the paper-based IELTS Reading test, you can use a pencil to take notes and underline important information in the passage. You are not allowed to use a highlighter, pen or any other type of writing instrument. For the computer-based IELTS Reading test, you can use the highlighter and note-taking feature on the computer to take notes and highlight important information. 

Q. How can I manage my time effectively during the IELTS Reading test?

A. To manage your time effectively during the IELTS Reading test, pace yourself, preview the questions, skim and scan, manage difficult questions, avoid overthinking, and check your answers. Remember to take breaks during the test and avoid rushing through the questions. Practice these strategies before the test to get a hold of managing your time accordingly.

Q. What are some good sources for practice materials for the IELTS Reading test?

A. Good sources for IELTS Reading practice materials include official IELTS practice materials, Cambridge IELTS books, online courses, IELTS preparation books, and IELTS preparation websites. Practice regularly with materials that suit your level.

Q. What are the criteria for determining the IELTS Reading score?

A. The IELTS Reading test is scored on a scale of 0-9 based on four criteria: Task Achievement, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy. Each criterion is given a band score from 0-9, and the scores are averaged to give an overall score. The overall score is then rounded up or down to the nearest 0.5.

Q. Are spelling mistakes penalised for the IELTS Reading test?

A. Spelling mistakes are penalised in the IELTS Reading test. If you spell a word incorrectly, you will lose marks for that question, even if your answer is otherwise correct. Therefore, it is important to double-check your spelling before moving on to the next question. If you are unsure of the spelling of a word, try to write it in a way that looks correct or use synonyms to avoid spelling errors.

Q. Is grammar necessary for the IELTS Reading test?

A. While the IELTS Reading test primarily assesses your reading comprehension skills, grammar is still an important aspect of the test. The test assesses your ability to understand and use grammar structures in context, as well as your ability to communicate effectively in writing. In addition, the Grammatical Range and Accuracy criterion is one of the four criteria used to determine your overall score in the IELTS Reading test.

Q. Can I retake the IELTS Reading test alone?

A. No, you cannot retake the IELTS Reading test alone. The IELTS test assesses all four language skills (listening, reading, writing, and speaking), and you must take all four tests together. If you want to retake the Reading test, you will need to retake the entire IELTS test. It is important to note that your scores are valid for two years from the date of your test, and you cannot choose to retake only one section of the test to improve your score.

Q. What are good tips/practices for IELTS Reading preparation?

A. Good tips for IELTS Reading preparation include familiarising yourself with the test format, reading widely, practicing regularly, using a timer, building vocabulary, taking notes, reviewing grammar rules, focusing on main ideas, and double-checking your answers.