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Obtaining Linguistic Data Reading Answers: IELTS Reading Practice Test with Answers

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Updated on Aug 16, 2024, 10:27

The topic "Obtaining Linguistic Data” is a popular passage in the IELTS reading test. This passage discusses various methods for collecting linguistic data, including fieldwork, self-assessment, and using different types of informants (tipsters). It highlights the importance of selecting appropriate tipsters based on factors like social background and setting. Techniques for recording and analysing language data, such as audio and video recordings, are also examined. 

 

The passage also mentions the use of structured sessions and corpora for linguistic analysis. It addresses the challenges and benefits of each method, including the need for supplementary data and the limitations of recordings.

 

This practice test will assess your reading skills by focusing on key concepts, making it an important resource for excelling in the IELTS Reading section.


 

Let’s look at the “Obtaining Linguistic Data” reading passage, along with questions and answers with explanations.


 

In the IELTS Reading test, you’ll have 60 minutes to tackle 3 passages, each of increasing difficulty. You'll face various question types, such as multiple-choice, matching information,  true/false/not and identifying the writer’s views.

 

It's crucial to manage your time well to thoroughly read the passages and answer the questions accurately within the allotted time frame.

 

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1. Obtaining Linguistic Data Reading Passage

You should spend approximately 20 minutes answering Questions 1 - 14 based on the Reading Passage below. This approach can help manage time effectively during a reading comprehension activity or exam.

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2. Obtaining Linguistic Data Reading Questions and Answers

Discover exciting and informative IELTS reading answers about Obtaining Linguistic Data Reading Questions and Answers

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1.

Obtaining Linguistic Data Reading Passage

General Information

  • Read Instructions: Understand each question before answering.
  • Manage Time: Spend about 20 minutes per passage.
  • Skim and Scan: Quickly get the main idea and find specific information.
  • Highlight Key Info: Underline essential words or phrases.
  • Answer All Questions: Attempt every question; no penalty for wrong answers.
  • Stay Focused: Avoid distractions and keep your attention on the task.
  • Check Spelling: Ensure correct spelling and grammar.
  • Transfer Answers Clearly: Write answers neatly on the answer sheet.
  • Don’t Dwell: Move on if stuck and return later.
  • Review: If time allows, review your answers.

 

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Obtaining Linguistic Data Reading Passage

 

Paragraph A

 

Many processes are accessible for acquiring data about a language. They span from an attentively planned, intensive field investigation in a distant country to a normal introspection about one's mother tongue transfer to a recliner at home.

 

Paragraph B

 

In all occasions, someone has to behave as the origin of language data- and source tipsters are (preferably) verbalisers of a language who provide remarks for investigation and other kinds of details about the language(illustration- rephrasing, utterance about correctness, or judgements on utilisation). Frequently, when studying their mother tongue, linguists(grammarians) act as their own tipsters, judging the ambivalence, desirability, or other properties of remarks as opposed to their own instinct. The benefit of this method is that it is broadly used, and grammarians think it is the standard in a fecund manner. However, a grammarian's personal judgments are frequently unsure or differ from the judgements of other grammarians, at which point an option is needed for more unbiased methods of query, using non-grammarians as tipsters.

 

The closing process is unpreventable when working on distant languages or child speech.

 

Paragraph C

 

Many factors must be thought about when choosing tipsters- whether one is working with single speakers( an ordinary occasion when languages have not been reported before), two people communicating, small groups or large-scale examples. Sex, Age, social background, and other features of the specification are a must, as these factors are known to affect the kind of language used. The subject of interaction and the feature of social setting (sample - the level of ritual) is also highly pertinent, as are the personal standards of the tipsters (for example, their flow and stability). For larger studies, excess attention has been paid to instance theory employees, and on all occasions, resolutions have to be made about the best analytical approach to use.


 

Paragraph D


 

Today, analysts frequently use cassette-record tipsters. This authorises the grammarians about the language to be examined and supplies a way of making those asserts more correct (' hard' bits of speech can be listened to frequently). But getting lifelike, good-grade data is never easy. People talk irregularly when they know they are being taped, and sound standards can be poor. A kind of cassette-recording process has been conceived to reduce the 'spectator's contradictions' (how to notice the way people act when they are not being noticed). Some notes are made without the speakers being knowledgeable of the fact - a process that gets very natural data; even so, moral protest must be expected. On the other hand, attempts can be made to make the speaker forget about the tape, such as keeping the record out of sight or using radio microphones. A useful approach is to initiate a topic that quickly includes the speakers and restorative a natural language style ( sample asking older tipsters about how times have swapped in their locality).


 

Paragraph E


 

An audio cassette- recording does not solve all the grammarians' issues, however. Speech is frequently unclear and doubtful. Where possible, consequently, the recording has to be augmented by the spectators' written remark on the non-verbal act of the contributor, and about the context in common, a facial appearance, for illustration, can badly change the meaning of what is said. Video recording avoids these issues to a marked degree, but even they have restrictions ( the camera cannot be everywhere), and the transcript always takes advantage of any extra explanation given by a spectator.


 

Paragraph F


 

Linguists also make enormous use of arranged sessions, in which they thoroughly ask their tipster for remarks that explain certain actions, objects or actions. With a multilingual tipster or via the use of a translator, it is feasible to use a rendition approach (‘How do you say table in your language?’). A huge number of points can be completed in a short time using meeting worksheets and questionnaires. Frequently, the analyst wishes to get details about just one variable, in which case a circumscribed set of questions may be used: a specific characteristic of pronunciation, for illustration, can be obtained by asking the tipster to say a circumscribed set of words. There are also some direct ways of educe, such as asking tipsters to fill in the blanks in an exchange frame( for example, I___ see a car) or feeding them the wrong incitement for correction(‘Is it possible to say/no can see?’).


 

Paragraph G


 

A typical illustration of language assembled for the intent of linguistic inspection is known as a corpus. A corpus authorises the linguist to make impartial declarations about the regularity of utilisation, and it gives reachable data for the use of various analysts. Its standard and size are changeable. Some corpora try to cover the language as a whole, taking extracts from many kinds of text; others are very choosy, giving a group of material that deals only with a specific linguistic characteristic. The size of the corpus depends on practical elements, such as the time obtainable to collect, procedure and store the data: it can take up to some hours to give a correct transcription of a countable minute of speech. Sometimes, a small example of data will be sufficient to decide a linguistic hypothesis; by difference, corpora, whatever their size, are naturally limited in their scope and always need to be augmented by data obtained from the instinct of native speakers of the language, through either brooding or testing.

 

2.

Obtaining Linguistic Data Reading Questions and Answers

Discover exciting and informative IELTS reading answers about Obtaining Linguistic Data

Questions and Answers 1-5
  • Reading Passage has seven paragraphs labelled A-G.
  • Which paragraph contains the following information?
  • Write the correct letter A-G in boxes 1-5 on your answer sheet.
  • You may use any letter more than once.

 

1.  The effect of recording on the way people talk.

2.  The importance of taking notes on body language.

3.  The fact that language is influenced by social situations.

4.  How can informants help people to be less self-conscious?

5.  Various methods that can be used to generate specific data.


 

Obtaining Linguistic Data Reading Answers with Explanations (1-5)

 

Type of question: Matching information

 

In this question type, you will be asked to match specific pieces of information, often dates, names, or events, from the reading passage with corresponding options provided in the question.

 

How to best answer: 
 

  • Read each statement carefully to understand the specific information being asked for.
  • Scan the passage for relevant dates or events in the reading passage that corresponds to each statement.
  • Eliminate incorrect options that do not match the information found in the passage.
  • Match the remaining options based on the information provided in the passage.
  • Verify your answers to ensure they match the information in the passage before finalising them.

 

1. D


Reference

From paragraph D:  "People talk irregularly when they know they are being taped, and sound standards can be poor." 

 

Explanation: This line indicates that the awareness of being recorded causes people to alter their speech patterns, leading to unnatural or irregular speech. This effect of recording the way people talk highlights the need for techniques to minimise self-consciousness and obtain more natural data, making paragraph D the correct answer.


 

2. E

 

Reference

From paragraph E: "Where possible, consequently, the recording has to be augmented by the spectators' written remark on the non-verbal act of the contributor, and about the context in common, a facial appearance, for illustration, can badly change the meaning of what is said." 

 

Explanation: This line emphasises the importance of supplementing audio recordings with written observations of non-verbal behaviour to fully understand the context and meaning. The inclusion of body language notes helps to clarify ambiguities and enrich the analysis, making paragraph E  the correct answer.

 

3. C


Reference

From paragraph C: "Sex, Age, social background, and other features of the specification are a must, as these factors are known to affect the kind of language used." 

 

Explanation:  This line explains that various social factors, such as sex, age, and social background, significantly influence how language is used. Understanding these influences is crucial for accurate linguistic analysis, making paragraph C the correct answer.

 

4. D

 

Reference

From paragraph D: "On the other hand, try can be made to make the speaker forget about the tape, such as keeping the record out of sight or using radio microphones." 

Explanation: This line discusses methods to reduce the self-consciousness of informants during recordings by keeping the recording device out of sight or using less intrusive equipment. These techniques help informants speak more naturally, making paragraph D the correct answer.


 

5. F

 

Reference

From paragraph F:  "Linguists also make enormous use of arranged sessions, in which they thoroughly ask their tipster for remarks that explain certain actions, objects or actions." 

 

Explanation: This line describes how linguists use structured sessions to gather specific data by asking detailed questions and seeking explanations for certain behaviours. These various methods allow for the collection of precise linguistic information, making paragraph F the correct answer.

 

Also read: IELTS General Reading Test.

 

Questions and Answers 6-10
  • Complete the table below.
  • Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.
  • Write your answers in boxes 6-10 on your answer sheet.

 

 

METHODS OF OBTAINING LINGUISTIC DATAADVANTAGESDISADVANTAGES
6.______  as informantconvenientmethod of enquiry is not objective enough
non-linguist as informant

necessary with 7.______ 

and child speech

the number of factors to be considered
recording an informantallows linguists’ claims to be checked8.______  of sound
videoing an informant

allows speakers’ 9._________ 

to be observed

10._______  might miss

certain things

 

 

 

 

Obtaining Linguistic Data Reading Answers with Explanations (6-10) 

 

 

Type of question: Table Completion

 

Under this task, you are required to fill in missing information in a table based on the information provided in the passage. These questions typically appear as part of the matching information or summary completion tasks.

 

How to best answer: 

 

  • Quickly skim the passage for the main idea and relevant details.
  • Note keywords or headings in the table to place missing information.
  • Read surrounding sentences carefully for specific details.
  • Use accurate and grammatically correct information from the passage.
  • Verify and finalise your answers.
     

 

6. linguistician

 

Reference

 

From paragraph B:  "Frequently, when studying their mother tongue, linguists(grammarians) act as their own tipsters, judging the ambivalence, desirability, or other properties of remarks as opposed to their own instinct."

 

Explanation:  This line shows that linguisticians often use their own judgments as informants, which can be convenient but may lack objectivity. Their self-assessment, though useful, may not provide a completely unbiased perspective on the language. Hence, “linguistician” is the correct answer.

 

7. distant languages


Reference

From paragraph B: "The closing process is unpreventable when working on distant languages or child speech."

 

Explanation: This line highlights that non-linguists are crucial for gathering data on languages that are not familiar to the linguist. This necessity arises because working with unfamiliar languages or child speech requires additional methods to ensure comprehensive data collection. Hence, “distant languages” is the correct answer.

 

8. Standard can be poor


Reference

From paragraph D:  "People talk irregularly when they know they are being taped, and sound standards can be poor."

 

Explanation: This line indicates that recording methods, while allowing verification of claims, often suffer from poor sound quality. This issue with recording standards affects the accuracy and reliability of the collected linguistic data. Hence, “Standard can be poor” is the correct answer.

 

9. non-verbal act

 

Reference

From paragraph E:  " Where possible, consequently, the recording has to be augmented by the spectators' written remark on the non-verbal act of the contributor, and about the context in common, a facial appearance, for illustration, can badly change the meaning of what is said."

 

Explanation: This line emphasises the importance of capturing non-verbal cues alongside audio recordings. Video recording helps observe these non-verbal acts, which are crucial for understanding the full context of language use. Hence, “non-verbal act” is the correct answer.


 

10. camera// video camera// recording// video recording

 

Reference: 

From paragraph E: “Video recording avoids these issues to a marked degree, but even they have restrictions ( the camera cannot be everywhere), and the transcript always takes advantage of any extra explanation given by a spectator.“ 

 

Explanation: This line reveals that video recording, although beneficial, cannot cover all aspects of language data collection. The limitations of camera coverage mean that some details might be missed, affecting the completeness of the recorded information. Hence, “camera// video camera// recording// video recording” is the correct answer.


 

Learn about IELTS Reading Vocabulary here! 

 

Questions and Answers 11-14
  • Complete the summary of paragraph G below.
  • Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.
  • Write your answers in boxes 11-14 on your answer sheet.

 

A linguist can use a corpus to comment objectively on 11._________. Some corpora include a wide range of languages, while others are used to focus on a 12._________. The length of time the process takes will affect the 13.____________  of the corpus. No corpus can ever cover the whole language, and so linguists often find themselves relying on the additional information that can be gained from the 14.___________  of those who speak the language concerned.


 

Obtaining Linguistic Data Reading Answers with Explanations (11-14)

 

Type of question: Summary completion

 

Under this task, you will be given a summary with incomplete sentences. However, you will not be given any list of words/phrases to choose the missing information. You must refer to the main passage to fill in the missing information. 

 

How to best answer: 

 

  • Read the summary to understand what information it’s missing.
  • Identify keywords and locate them in the main passage to find missing words. 
  • Review the context of the words you’ve chosen to match the summary.
  • Finalise your answers. 


 

11. Regularity of utilisation

 

Reference

From paragraph G:  "A corpus authorises the linguist to make impartial declarations about the regularity of utilisation, and it gives reachable data for the use of various analysts."

 

Explanation: This line indicates that a corpus allows linguists to make objective statements regarding how frequently language elements appear. Thus, "regularity of utilisation" is the correct answer, reflecting the corpus's role in analysing usage patterns.

 

12. Specific linguistic characteristic


Reference

From paragraph G:  "Some corpora try to cover the language as a whole, taking extracts from many kinds of text; others are very choosy, giving a group of material that deals only with a specific linguistic characteristic."

 

Explanation: This line shows that some corpora focus solely on particular features of language. Hence, "specific linguistic characteristic" is the correct answer, highlighting the targeted nature of these corpora.

 

13. size

 

Reference

 

From paragraph G: “The size of the corpus depends on practical elements, such as the time obtainable to collect, procedure and store the data: it can take up to some hours to give a correct transcription of a countable minute of speech.”


Explanation: This line clarifies that the corpus’s size is influenced by practical factors, including the time available for data handling. Hence, "size" is the correct answer, reflecting the variable scope of the corpus.

 

14. instinct

 

Reference

From paragraph G: “Sometimes a small example of data will be sufficient to decide a linguistic hypothesis; by difference, corpora, whatever their size, are naturally limited in their scope, and always need to be augmented by data obtained from the instinct of native speakers of the language, through either brooding or testing.”

 

Explanation: This line demonstrates that, despite the limitations of corpora, linguists rely on native speakers' intuition to enhance their data. Therefore, "instinct" is the correct answer, signifying the essential role of native speaker input.


 

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FAQs

Q. How is the IELTS Reading test scored?

Ans. The IELTS Reading test is scored by calculating the number of correct answers you provide. Each correct response contributes to your raw score, which is then converted into a band score ranging from 1 to 9. This band score represents your overall reading proficiency and ability to understand and interpret written English. The more correct answers you have, the higher your band score will be.


 

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


Ans.  Yes, spelling mistakes can be penalised in the IELTS Reading test. If your answer is misspelt, it may be marked incorrect, even if the answer is otherwise correct. It is important to check your spelling carefully and write answers clearly to avoid losing marks due to minor errors.


 

Q. Is grammar necessary for the IELTS Reading test?

Ans. Grammar is not a primary focus in the IELTS Reading test; however, it plays a role in certain question types, especially when forming answers. Correct grammar is essential when completing sentences or answering questions that require written responses. Make sure your answers are grammatically correct to avoid losing marks.