Talk Icon

Practice 100+ speaking topics!

Star rating icon

4.2

1M+ Installs

Get App

leap-scholar-logo
hamburger-menu

Spoken Corpus Comes To Life Reading Answers: IELTS Reading Practice Test

updated at

Updated on Jul 02, 2024, 11:57

The IELTS Reading section is a crucial component of the IELTS exam designed to assess your ability to understand, interpret, and extract information from written materials. This segment evaluates your reading skills across various formats, including articles, journals, and extracts from books. You will have 60 minutes to complete three passages, each getting harder. Each passage has questions to test your understanding.

 

In the passage "Spoken Corpus Comes To Life," you will explore how spoken language is captured and analysed to better understand human communication patterns. This passage discusses the concept of a spoken corpus, which is a vast collection of spoken language samples used by linguists and researchers to study language use in real-life contexts.

On this page

Arrow right
Slider image

1. Spoken Corpus Comes To Life 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. 

Slider image

2. Spoken Corpus Comes To Life Reading Question & Answers

Discover exciting and informative IELTS reading answers about Spoken Corpus Comes To Life

More for you

Boost your IELTS Reading score

Book Free Reading class arrow right

See how to score 8+ in Speaking. 

 

Get proven strategies to ace your IELTS Speaking test.

Learn More arrow right
3/3
1.

Spoken Corpus Comes To Life 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.

 

 

 

Spoken Corpus Comes To Life Reading Passage


 

 

Paragraph 1

The compiling of dictionaries has been historically the provenance of studious professorial types - usually bespectacled - who love to pore over weighty tomes and make pronouncements on the finer nuances of meaning. They were probably good at crosswords and definitely knew a lot of words, but the image was always rather dry and dusty. The latest technology, and simple technology at that, is revolutionising the content of dictionaries and the way they are put together.

 

Paragraph 2

For the first time, dictionary publishers are incorporating real, spoken English into their data. It gives lexicographers (people who write dictionaries) access to a more vibrant, up-to-date vernacular language which has never really been studied before. In one project, 150 volunteers each agreed to discreetly tie a Walkman recorder to their waist and leave it running for anything up to two weeks. Every conversation they had was recorded. When the data was collected, the length of the tapes was 35 times the depth of the Atlantic Ocean. Teams of audio typists transcribed the tapes to produce a computerised database of ten million words.

 

Paragraph 3

This has been the basis - along with an existing written corpus - for the Language Activator dictionary, described by lexicographer Professor Randolph Quirk as “the book the world has been waiting for”. It shows advanced foreign learners of English how the language is really used. In the dictionary, keywords such as “eat” are followed by related phrases such as “wolf down” or “be a picky eater”, allowing the student to choose the appropriate phrase.

 

Paragraph 4

“This kind of research would be impossible without computers,” said Delia Summers, a director of dictionaries. “It has transformed the way lexicographers work. If you look at the word “like”, you may intuitively think that the first and most frequent meaning is the verb, as in “I like swimming”. It is not. It is the preposition, as in: “She walked like a duck”. Just because a word or phrase is used doesn’t mean it ends up in a dictionary. The sifting out process is as vital as ever. However, the database allows lexicographers to search for a word and find out how frequently it is used - something that could only be guessed intuitively before.

 

Paragraph 5

Researchers have found that written English works in a very different way to spoken English. The phrase “say what you like” literally means “feel free to say anything you want”, but in reality, it is used, evidence shows, by someone to prevent the other person from voicing disagreement. The phrase “it’s a question of” crops up on the database over and over again. It has nothing to do with enquiry, but it’s one of the most frequent English phrases which has never been in a language learner’s dictionary before it is now. CAM 1 TEST 3.

 

Paragraph 6

The Spoken Corpus computer shows how inventive and humorous people are when they are using language by twisting familiar phrases for effect. It also reveals the power of the pauses and noises we use to play for time and convey emotion, doubt and irony.

 

Paragraph 7

For the moment, those benefiting most from the Spoken Corpus are foreign learners. “Computers allow lexicographers to search quickly through more examples of real English,” said Professor Geoffrey Leech of Lancaster University. “They allow dictionaries to be more accurate and give a feel for how language is being used.” The Spoken Corpus is part of the larger British National Corpus, an initiative carried out by several groups involved in the production of language learning materials: publishers, universities and the British Library.

2.

Spoken Corpus Comes To Life Reading Question & Answers

Discover exciting and informative IELTS reading answers about Spoken Corpus Comes To Life

Questions and Answers 1-5
  • Answer questions 1-5, which are based on the reading passage below.
  • Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.

 

 

1. What revolutionised the content of the dictionaries and the way they are put together?

2. How many volunteers participated in a project?

3. Which team transcribed the tapes to produce a computerised database of ten million words?

4. Who said research is impossible without computers?

5. Who gained most of the benefits from the Spoken Corpus?


 

Spoken Corpus Comes To Life Answers with Explanations (1-5)

 

Type of question: Short answer 

 

In this task, you will be given a set of questions with missing information, typically sentences with blank spaces. You must complete each statement with one word or phrase (as instructed). 

 

How to answer: 

 

  • Read the questions first to understand what information you need to look for in the passage
  • Skim the passage and look for keywords. 
  • You may have to look for synonyms or paraphrases to locate the answer. 
  • Verify your answers and finalise them.

 

 

1. Latest technology

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 1: "The latest technology, and simple technology at that, is revolutionising the content of dictionaries and the way they are put together."

 

Explanation

The use of cutting-edge technology is transforming the content and structure of dictionaries, departing from traditional methods.


 

2. 150 volunteers

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 2: “ In one project, 150 volunteers each agreed to discreetly tie a Walkman recorder to their waist and leave it running for anything up to two weeks. Every conversation they had was recorded.”
 

Explanation

The passage describes a project where 150 volunteers wore recording devices to capture spoken language data, which was then used for lexicographical purposes.


 

3. Audio typists

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 2:   “Teams of audio typists transcribed the tapes to produce a computerised database of ten million words.”
 

Explanation

Skilled teams of audio typists played a pivotal role in transcribing the recorded conversations, enabling the creation of a vast computerised database.

 

4. Delia Summers

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 4: "‘This kind of research would be impossible without computers,’ said Delia Summers, a director of dictionaries."
 

Explanation

Delia Summers, a director of dictionaries, emphasised the indispensable role of computers in facilitating modern research efforts, highlighting their necessity in lexicography.


 

5. Foreign Learners

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 7: "For the moment, those benefiting most from the Spoken Corpus are foreign learners."
 

Explanation

Currently, the primary beneficiaries of the Spoken Corpus are individuals learning English as a second language, emphasising its value in language acquisition for non-native speakers.

Questions and Answers 6-10
  • Complete the sentences below.
  • Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.

 

 

6. The people who write dictionaries are called __________.
7. When the data was collected, the tape extended to about ______ the depth of the Atlantic Ocean. 

8. Delia Summers, a director of ________, said research is impossible without computers. 
9. __________ computer shows the innovative and humorous side of people on how they twist familiar phrases in their language
10. The Spoken Corpus is part of the larger ___________

 

 

Spoken Corpus Comes To Life  Answers with Explanations (6-8)

 

Type of question: Sentence Completion

 

In this question type, you are required to fill in the blanks in a given sentence with words or phrases taken directly from the passage. These questions test your ability to understand specific details and information presented in the text.

 

How to answer: 

 

  • Read the sentence carefully to understand the context.
  • Identify keywords or clues that can help you find the answer in the passage.
  • Scan the passage for relevant information, focusing on the area around the blank.
  • Choose the answer that fits grammatically and contextually.
  • Verify your answers and finalise them.


 

6. Lexicographers

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 2: "It gives lexicographers (people who write dictionaries) access to a more vibrant, up-to-date vernacular language which has never really been studied before."
 

Explanation

The term "lexicographers" refers to those who compile dictionaries, allowing them access to previously unstudied vernacular language.


 

7. 35 times

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 2: "When the data was collected, the length of tapes was 35 times the depth of the Atlantic Ocean."
 

Explanation

The sheer volume of recorded conversations, extending to approximately 35 times the depth of the Atlantic Ocean, underscores the extensive data collection effort involved in incorporating spoken English into dictionaries.


 

8. Dictionaries

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 4: "‘This kind of research would be impossible without computers,’ said Delia Summers, a director of dictionaries."

 

Explanation

Delia Summers, a director specialising in dictionaries, underscores the indispensability of computers for conducting modern research in lexicography, highlighting their crucial role in enhancing the field. 


 

9. The Spoken Corpus

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 6: "The Spoken Corpus computer shows how inventive and humorous people are when they are using language by twisting familiar phrases for effect."


 

Explanation

The Spoken Corpus computer illuminates the inventive and humorous aspects of language usage, particularly in the manipulation of familiar phrases for rhetorical impact, showcasing the richness and dynamism of spoken English.


 

10. British National Corpus

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 7: "The Spoken Corpus is part of the larger British National Corpus, an initiative carried out by several groups involved in the production of language learning materials: publishers, universities and the British Library."

 

Explanation

The Spoken Corpus forms an integral component of the comprehensive British National Corpus, a collaborative initiative aimed at creating language learning resources, underscoring its broader significance within the field of linguistics and education.

Questions and Answers 11-14
  • Complete each sentence with the correct ending, A–F, below.
  • Write the correct letter, A-F, as your answer to each question.

 

 

11. With the new form of dictionary, lexicographers have access

12. The lexicographer Professor Randolph Quirk described the dictionary as 

13. The phrase it is now is one of the frequently used phrases, which 

14.  By using computers, Professor Geoffrey Leech said that lexicographers are able to 


 

  1. search the different articles at a faster rate
  2. the book the world has been waiting for
  3. search quickly through more examples of real English
  4. lots of vocabulary which contains all the unique words
  5. has not appeared in the language learner’s dictionary previously
  6. to vernacular language, which has never been studied before

 

Spoken Corpus Comes To Life Answers with Explanations (11-14)

 

Type of question: Matching sentence endings

 

In this question type, you will be given incomplete sentences, and you will have to complete the end of the sentence by selecting suitable words or phrases from the given list. 

 

How to best answer: 

 

  • Skim through the incomplete sentences to get an idea of the context
  • Recognise keywords in each sentence
  • Scan your list of options and look for the keywords
  • Verify the context and check if the word flows with the rest of the sentence 
  • Finalise your answers

 

 

11. F

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 2: "It gives lexicographers (people who write dictionaries) access to a more vibrant, up-to-date vernacular language which has never really been studied before."
 

Explanation

This describes how the new form of dictionary grants lexicographers access to previously unstudied vernacular language, enriching their resources with more contemporary linguistic data.


 

12. B

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 3: "This has been the basis - along with an existing written corpus - for the Language Activator dictionary, described by lexicographer Professor Randolph Quirk as “the book the world has been waiting for”.

 

Explanation

Professor Randolph Quirk characterised the dictionary as "the book the world has been waiting for," emphasising its significance and anticipated impact.


 

13. E

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 5:  "It has nothing to do with enquiry, but it’s one of the most frequent English phrases which has never been in a language learner’s dictionary before: it is now."

 

Explanation

The phrase "it is now" is highlighted as one of the frequently used phrases that previously did not appear in language learners' dictionaries.


 

14. C

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 7: "For the moment, those benefiting most from the Spoken Corpus are foreign learners. “Computers allow lexicographers to search quickly through more examples of real English,” said Professor Geoffrey Leech of Lancaster University. "

 

Explanation

Professor Geoffrey Leech noted that computers enable lexicographers to efficiently search through a larger volume of real English examples, enhancing the accuracy and comprehensiveness of dictionaries.

ielts logo

Get the IELTS Prep App

Star rating icon

4.2

1M+ Installs

app download banner image

Get the app link on your phone

+91

Or download app from

google play storeapp store

Next Up

IELTS Reading Practice Test

Read Now Read now

IELTS Speaking Practice Test

Read Now Read now

IELTS Practice Test

Read Now Read now

IELTS Listening Practice Test

Read Now Read now

IELTS Writing Practice Test

Read Now Read now

Top Reading Samples with Answers

IELTS Important Information

Read More about IELTS Practice Test

IELTS Accepting Universities

IELTS Test Centre and Dates in India

IELTS Accepting Countries

FAQs

Q. What types of questions are included in the IELTS Reading test?

Ans. When taking the IELTS Reading test, you will come across different types of questions that evaluate various reading skills. These include multiple-choice questions, matching headings, true/false/not given, sentence completion, summary completion, and matching sentence endings. These questions are designed to measure your understanding, analysis, and interpretation of the information provided.

Q. How is the IELTS Reading test scored?

Ans. In the IELTS Reading test, each correct answer earns one point. The total score depends on the number of questions answered correctly. There is no penalty for wrong answers, so it's best to attempt all questions. The final score is given as a band score from 0 to 9, with higher scores showing better reading comprehension.

Q. What is the minimum score required in the IELTS Reading test?

Ans. When applying to different institutions or organisations, the minimum score required in the IELTS Reading assessment can vary. However, most universities and immigration authorities typically ask for a minimum score between 5.5 and 6.5. To get the specific requirements, it's important to check with the institution or organisation you are applying to.