John Franklin: The Discovery of the Slowness - IELTS Reading Answers
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Practice John Franklin: The Discovery of the Slowness Reading Answers to improve your reading score. Learn how to handle different types of IELTS Reading questions, along with answers and explanations, and be prepared to achieve your desired Band 9 score.
Table of Contents
- Passage for John Franklin: The Discovery of the Slowness Reading Answers
- Questions for John Franklin: The Discovery of the Slowness Reading AnswersÂ
- Answers for John Franklin: The Discovery of the Slowness with Location and Explanations
- Tips to Solve the Passage Question Types in the John Franklin: The Discovery of the Slowness Reading AnswersÂ
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Take the passage, John Franklin: The Discovery of the Slowness, below, and try more IELTS reading practice tests. We have provided explanations, locations for the answers, and tips to help you handle the three different types of reading questions here.
Passage for John Franklin: The Discovery of the Slowness Reading Answers
The ‘John Franklin: The Discovery of the Slowness’ Reading Answers passage provided below offers valuable practice for the IELTS reading exam. Practicing this passage and focusing on similar IELTS Reading topics for General and Academic will greatly improve your skills in tackling various reading passages.
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 27-40, which are based on the reading passage below.
John Franklin: The Discovery of the Slowness
A John Franklin (1786-1847) was the most famous vanisher of the Victorian era. He joined the Navy as a midshipman at the age of 14 and fought in the battles of Copenhagen and Trafalgar. When peace with the French broke out. he turned his attention to, and in particular to solve the conundrum of the Northwest Passage, the mythical clear-water route which would, if it existed, link the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans above the northern coast of the American continent. The first expedition Franklin led to the Arctic was an arduous overland journey from Hudson Bay to the shores of the so-called Polar Ocean east of the Coppermine River. Between 1819 and 1822. Franklin and his twenty-strong team covered 5550 miles on foot. Their expedition was a triumph of surveying – they managed to chart hundreds of miles of previously unknown coastline.
B There followed a career as a travel writer and salon-goer {‘the man who ate his boots’ was Franklin’s tag-line), a second long Arctic expedition, and a controversial spell as Governor of Van Diemen’s Land. Then, in May 1845, Franklin set off with two ships – the Erebus and the Terror – and 129 men on the voyage that would kill him. In July, the convoy was seen by two whalers, entering Lancaster Sound. Nothing more would be heard of it for 14 years. Had the ships sunk or been iced in? Were the men dead, or in need of rescue? Or had they broken through to the legendary open polar sea, beyond the ‘ice barrier’?
C In his personal correspondence and in his published memoirs. Franklin comes across as a man dedicated to the external duties of war and exploration, who kept introspection and self-analysis to a minimum. His blandness makes him an amenably malleable subject for a novelist, and Sten Nadolny has taken full advantage of this licence. Most important, he has endowed his John Franklin with a defining character trait for which there is no historical evidence: (‘slowness’, or ‘calmness’).
D Slowness influences not only Franklin’s behaviour but also his vision, his thought and his speech. The opening scene of The Discovery of Slowness (The Discovery of Slowness by Sten Nadolny) – depicts Franklin as a young boy. playing catch badly because his reaction time is too slow. Despite the bullying of his peers, Franklin resolves not to fall into step with ‘their way of doing things’. For Nadolny. Franklin’s fated fascination with the Arctic stems from his desire to find an environment suited to his peculiar slowness.
E He describes Franklin as a boy dreaming of the ‘open water and the time without hours and days’ which exist in the far north, and of finding in the Arctic a place ‘where nobody would find him too slow’. Ice is a slow mover. Ice demands a corresponding patience from those who venture onto it. The explorers who have thrived at high latitude and at high altitudes haven’t usually been men of great speed. They have tended instead to demonstrate unusual self-possession, a considerable capacity for boredom, and a talent for what the Scots call ‘tholing’, the uncomplaining endurance of suffering.
F These were all qualities which the historical Franklin possessed in abundance, and so Nadolny’s concentration and exaggeration of them isn’t unreasonable. Even as an adult, his slowness of thought means that he is unable to speak fluently, so he memorises ‘entire fleets of words and batteries of response’, and speaks a languid, bric-a-brac language. In the Navy, his method of thinking first and acting later initially provokes mockery from his fellow sailors. But Franklin persists in doing things his way. and gradually earns the respect of those around him. To a commodore who tells him to speed up his report of an engagement, he replies: ‘When I tell something, sir. I use my own rhythm.’ A lieutenant says approvingly of him: ’Because Franklin is so slow, he never loses time.’
G Since it was first published in Germany in 1983. The Discovery of Slowness has sold more than a million copies and been translated into 13 languages. It has been named as one of German literature’s twenty ‘contemporary classics’, and it has been as a manual and by European pressure groups and institutions representing causes as diverse as sustainable development, the Protestant Church, management science, motoring policy and pacifism.
H The various groups that have taken the novel up have one thing in common: a dislike of the high-speed culture of Postmodernity. Nadolny’s Franklin appeals to them because he is immune to ‘the compulsion to be constantly occupied’, and to the idea that ‘someone was better if he could do the same thing fast.’ Several German churches have used him in their symposia and focus groups as an example of peacefulness, piety and self-confidence. A centre scheme (a ‘march of slowness’ or ‘of the slow’), inspired by the novel. Nadolny has appeared as a guest speaker for RIO, a Lucerne-based organisation which aims to reconcile management principles with ideas of environmental sustainability. The novel has even become involved in the debate about speed limits on German roads. Drive down an autobahn today, and you will see large road-side signs proclaiming ‘unhurriedness’ a slogan which deliberately plays off the title of the novel.
I A management journal in the US described The Discovery of Slowness is a ‘major event not only for connoisseurs of fine historical fiction but also for those of us who concern themselves with leadership, communication and systems-thinking, issues’. It’s easy to see where the attraction lies for the management crowd. The novel is crammed with quotations about time-efficiency, punctiliousness and profitability: ‘As a rule, there are always three points in time: the right one. the lost one and the premature one’. ‘What did too late mean? They hadn’t waited for it long enough, that’s what it meant.’
Questions for John Franklin: The Discovery of the Slowness Reading Answers
The ‘John Franklin: The Discovery of the Slowness’ is an IELTS Academic Reading passage with 14 questions. The question types in this reading passage include:
- IELTS Reading Matching Information (Q. 27-32)
- IELTS Reading Summary Completion (Q. 33-36)
- IELTS Reading Multiple Choice Question (Q. 37-40)
Questions 27-32
The Reading Passage has seven paragraphs A-I.
Which paragraph contains the following information?
Write the correct letter A-I, in boxes 27-32 on your answer sheet.
NB You may use any letter more than once.
27 What was Sir John Franklin’s occupation before he went on a career of the arctic exploration?
28 A story John Franklin reacted strangely when he met bullies by other children.
29 Reason of popularity for the book The Discovery of Slowness.
30 A depiction that Sten Nadolny’s biography on John Franklin is not much based on facts.
31 The particular career Sir John Franklin took after his expedition unmatched before.
32 What is the central scheme and environment conveyed by the book The Discovery of Slowness.
Questions 33-36
Complete the summary paragraph described below.
In boxes 33-36 on your answer sheet, write the correct answer with ONE WORD chosen from the box below.
In his personal correspondence to and in his published memoirs by Sten Nadolny, John Franklin was depicted as a man dedicated to the exploration, and the word of “slowness” was used to define his 33…………. when Franklin was in his childhood, his determination to the 34…………. of the schoolboys was too slow for him to fall into step. And Franklin was said to be a boy dreaming finding in a place he could enjoy the 35…………. in the Arctic. Later in 20th, His biography of the discovery of slowness has been adopted as a 36…………. as for the movement such as sustainable development, or management science, motoring policy.
|
A exploration |
B blandness |
C personality |
D policy |
|
E pressure |
F guidebook |
G management |
H timelessness |
|
I sports |
J bully |
K evidence |
Questions 37-40
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
Write your answers in boxes 37-40 on your answer sheet.
37 Why does the author mention “the ice is a slow mover” in the geological arctic, to demonstrate the idea
A of the difficulties Franklin conquered
B that Franklin had a dream since his childhood
C of fascination with the Arctic exploration
D that explorer like Franklin should possess the quality of being patient
38 When Franklin was on board with sailors, how did he speak to his follow sailors
A he spoke in a way mocking his followers
B he spoke a bric-a-brac language to show his languish attitude
C he spoke in the words and phrases he previously memorized
D he spoke in a rhythmical tune to save chatting time
39 His effort to overcome his slowness in marine time life had finally won the
A understanding of his personality better
B capacity for coping with boredom
C respect for him as he insisted to overcome his difficulties
D valuable time he can use to finish a report
40 Why is the book “The Discovery of Slowness” sold more than a million copies
A it contains aspects of the life people would like to enjoy
B it contains the information for the flag language applied in ships
C it induces a debate about speed limits German
D it contains the technique for symposia German churches
Answers for John Franklin: The Discovery of the Slowness with Location and Explanations
Now it is time to cross-check your answers using the answer key below for the John Franklin: The Discovery of the Slowness IELTS Reading passage. Make sure to create strategies based on the feedback from this practice and master IELTS Reading question types with examples.
27 Answer: Paragraph – A
Question type: Matching information
Answer location: Paragraph A
Answer explanation: The first paragraph of the passage is the introduction paragraph of John Franklin. As quoted,” John Franklin (1786-1847) was the most famous vanisher of the Victorian era. He joined the Navy as a midshipman at the age of 14 and fought in the battles of Copenhagen and Trafalgar.” He worked as a midshipman for the navy and took part in the battle of Copenhagen and Trafalgar. From these quoted introductory paragraphs, we understand that John Franklin was the most famous vanisher of the Victorian era.
28 Answer – Paragraph D
Question type: Matching Information
Answer location: Paragraph D
Answer explanation: The answer for the statement can be located in paragraph D, which illustrates, “The opening scene of the Discovery of Slowness (The Discovery of Slowness by Sten Nadolny) – depicts Franklin as a young boy, playing catch badly because his reaction time is too slow. Despite the bullying of his peers, Franklin resolves not to fall into step with ‘their way of doing things’. For Nadolny, Franklin’s fated fascination with the Arctic stems from his desire to find an environment suited to his peculiar slowness.”
We come to know from the fourth paragraph (D) that Nadolny referred to John Franklin as a young boy playing catch badly in his book, The Discovery of Slowness, because of his delayed reaction time. However, he vowed not to be affected by his peers’ mockery of his sluggishness.
Nadolny also mentions that John waited for an environment that would suit his strange slowness. Here, “lazy lad” refers to a slow boy, “desire to find” means waiting, “sluggishness” refers to slowness, “vowed” means resolved, and “peculiar” means strange.
29 Answer – Paragraph H
Question type: Matching Information
Answer location: Paragraph H
Answer explanation: In paragraph H, it is quoted, “The various groups that have taken the novel up have one thing in common: a dislike of the high-speed culture of Postmodernity. Nadolny’s Franklin appeals to them because he is immune to ‘the compulsion to be constantly occupied’, and to the idea that ‘someone was better if he could do the same thing fast.'”
From the quoted lines, we understand that many people liked the novel because of one thing in common, the dislike of the high-speed culture of postmodernity (a state or condition of a society that is said to exist after modernity). Also, these people were fascinated by Nadolny’s Franklin because of his nature, which always occupied him in any work, and his idea, which reflected that an individual would be better if they could do the same thing faster. Here, “fascinate” means appeal.
30 Answer – Paragraph C
Question type: Matching Information
Answer location: Paragraph C
Answer explanation: Paragraph C depicts Nadolny’s biography on Franklin was not much based on facts. As quoted, “His blandness makes him an amenably malleable subject for a novelist, and Sten Nadolny has taken full advantage of this licence. Most important, he has endowed his John Franklin with a defining character trait for which there is no historical evidence: (‘slowness,’ or ‘calmness’).”
The quoted line indicates that Franklin’s lack of strong emotions easily influenced Nadolny. As a result, Nadolny took full advantage and developed a persona named John Franklin with distinguishing character features based on no historical evidence. Here,” lack of strong emotions” means blandness, “easily influenced” means amenably malleable, and “persona” means character.
Unlock Explanations
31 Answer – Paragraph – B
Question type: Matching Information
Answer location: Paragraph B
Answer explanation: We can trace the information for Franklin’s career in Paragraph B. As quoted, “There followed a career as a travel writer and salon-goer {‘the man who ate his boots’ was Franklin’s tag-line), a second long Arctic expedition, and a controversial spell as Governor of Van Diemen’s Land.”
From these quoted sentences, we understand that after joining the navy and fighting the Copenhagen battles, Franklin restarted his career as a travel writer and salon-goer before his second arctic expedition. He also worked as a governor of Van Diemen’s land, a colony in the Australian Islands when he had to face many controversies.
32 Answer – Paragraph – H
Question type: Matching Information
Answer location: Paragraph H, Line 3
Answer explanation: When you scan paragraph H, you can understand the central theme and environment conveyed in the book. As quoted, “Several German churches have used him in their symposia and focus groups as an example of peacefulness, piety and self confidence. A centre scheme (a ‘march of slowness’ or ‘of the slow’), inspired by the novel. Nadolny has appeared as a guest speaker for RIO, a Lucerne-based organisation which aims to reconcile management principles with ideas of environmental sustainability. The novel has even become involved in the debate about speed limits on German roads. Drive down an autobahn today, and you will see large road-side signs proclaiming ‘unhurriedness’, a slogan which deliberately plays off the title of the novel.”
We learn from the quoted sentences that various German churches use John Franklin’s book, The Discovery of Slowness, as an example of peacefulness, piety, and self-confidence. The novel also influenced a centre scheme. RIO, an organization that attempts to reconcile management concepts with environmental sustainability ideas, has invited Nadolny to participate as a guest speaker. Even the novel has been referenced in discussions about speed restrictions on German highways. On the drive down to autonahn, there’s even a big roadside sign advertising “unhurriedness.” Thus, the book makes people understand to work at their own pace and convenience without joining the postmodern rat race. Therefore, the book’s main theme is based on the “significance of Unhurriedness in life.” Here, “harmonize” implies reconciling.
33 Answer – personality
Question type: Summary completion
Answer location: Paragraph D
Answer explanation: We can find traces for the answer in Paragraph D, where the author speaks about Franklin’s behavior. “Slowness influences not only Franklin’s behaviour but also his vision, his thought, and his speech. The opening scene of ‘The Discovery of Slowness (The Discovery of Slowness by Sten Nadolny) – depicts Franklin as a young boy.”
These sentences show how Franklin’s sluggishness affected his behavior and his thought, eyesight, and speaking. Apart from the other options, option C – personality matches the context of paragraph D, which depicts Franklin’s slow behavior, vision, and thinking. As a result, C- Personality is the correct answer.
34 Answer – bully
Question type: Summary completion
Answer location: Paragraph D
Answer explanation: In Paragraph D, the opening scene of ‘The Discovery of Slowness’ (The Discovery of Slowness by Sten Nadolny) – depicts Franklin as a young boy playing catch badly because his reaction time is too slow. Despite the bullying of his peers, Franklin resolves not to fall into step with ‘their way of doing things.
These lines indicate that Franklin, in his adolescence, was a sluggish boy who had accepted his slowness and didn’t let his peers’ bullies get into his head. Here, “sluggish” means slow, and “adolescence” refers to young age. So, the answer is J- bully.
35 Answer – timelessness
Question type: Summary completion
Answer location: Paragraph D & E
Answer explanation: In paragraph D, Franklin accepted his slowness and didn’t heed any of the bullies. While in paragraph E, it is quoted as “He describes Franklin as a boy dreaming of the ‘open water and the time without hours and days’ which exist in the far north, and of finding in the Arctic a place ‘where nobody would find him too slow.”
We come to know from these quoted lines that Following his acceptance of his slowness, Franklin dreamt of a place with an open ocean and time without hours and days, such as those found in the far north and the Arctic, where no one would consider him sluggish. Since the summary statement corresponds to option H – timeliness in paragraph E, the answer is Timelessness. Here, “ocean” refers to water, and “time without hours and days” means timelessness.
36 Answer– guidebook
Question type: Summary completion
Answer location: Paragraph G
Answer explanation: When you go through paragraph G, you’ll come across the quoted lines, “Since, it was first published in Germany in 1983. The Discovery of Slowness has sold more than a million copies and been translated into 13 languages. It has been named as one of German literature’s twenty ‘contemporary classics’, and it has been as a manual and by European pressure groups and institutions representing causes as diverse as sustainable development, the Protestant Church, management science, motoring policy, and pacifism.”
According to the quoted lines, the book garnered immense popularity since its establishment, having sold over a million copies and been translated into 13 languages. In addition, European pressure organizations adopted the book as a manual or guidebook to advocate issues in a variety of movements, including management science, monitoring policy, and sustainable development. As a result, John Franklin’s life story of self-acceptance became an inspiration and a guide for others. So, the answer is F – guidebook.
37 Answer – D
Question type: Multiple Choice Question
Answer location: Paragraph E
Answer explanation: The reference in the question, “the ice is slow in the geological Arctic,” is mentioned in Paragraph E. As it is quoted,” He describes Franklin as a boy dreaming of the ‘open water and the time without hours and days’ which exist in the far north, and of finding in the Arctic a place ‘where nobody would find him too slow’. Ice is a slow mover. Ice demands corresponding patience from those who venture onto it. The explorers who have thrived at high latitude and high altitudes haven’t usually been men of great speed.”
From these quoted lines, we come to know that the author cites Franklin’s dream of exploring the Arctic, where no one would find him slow because ice moves slowly and requires patience from those who visit. The men with exceptional speed are usually the ones who have succeeded in reaching high latitudes and altitudes. As a result, explorers like Franklin would need a lot of patience to reach the Arctic. . Here, “traveller” means explorer, and “succeeded” means thrive. Thus, the answer is D.
38 Answer – C
Question type: Multiple Choice Question
Answer location: Paragraph F
Answer explanation: We can find traces of information in Paragraph F, “Even as an adult, his slowness of thought means that he is unable to speak fluently, so he memorized ‘entire fleets of words and batteries of response’, and speaks a languid, bric-a-brac language. In the navy, his method of thinking first and acting later initially provokes mockery from his fellow sailors. But Franklin persists in doing things his way, and gradually earns the respect of those around him.”
We understand that Franklin as an adult, was unable to speak fluently, so he memorized previously spoken words and responses and speaks in a sluggish and jumbled manner. However, while working in the navy, Franklin thought of words before speaking, which resulted in mockery from his fellow sailors. But he didn’t care about the mockery and persisted in doing things in his own way. Hence, the answer is C.
39 Answer – C
Question type: Multiple Choice Question
Answer location: Paragraph F
Answer explanation: When we scan for the statement in the reading paragraphs, we locate the answer for the statement in Paragraph F, where it is mentioned, “In the navy, his method of thinking first and acting later initially provokes mockery from his fellow sailors. But Franklin persists in doing things his way. and gradually earns the respect of those around him.”
These quoted lines illustrate that during his tenure as a sailor in the navy, when Franklin paused to think of words before speaking or acting upon anything, his fellow navy companions would mock him. But Franklin persistently did things his way and did not give up, which eventually earned him respect from sailors around him. Thus, the answer is C.
40 Answer – A
Question type: Multiple Choice Question
Answer location: Paragraph G & H
Answer explanation: We come to know from Paragraph G that more than a million books of The Discovery of Slowness were sold and translated into 13 languages. Even the European groups and institutions considered the book as a guide.
Now, if we look at the quoted lines of Paragraph H, “The various groups that have taken the novel up have one thing in common: a dislike of the high-speed culture of Postmodernity. Nadolny’s Franklin appeals to them because he is immune to ‘the compulsion to be constantly occupied’, and to the idea that ‘someone was better if he could do the same thing fast.”
We understand that diverse groups appreciated the book for the same reason: they disliked Postmodernity’s high-speed culture, and the book appealed to them because it allowed them to be normal and convinced them that they could work at their own pace without having to keep up with the rest of the world.
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Tips to Solve the Passage Question Types in the John Franklin: The Discovery of the Slowness Reading Answers
Let us check out some quick IELTS Reading tips and techniques to increase your reading speed and overall comprehension to answer the passage in question types in the Reading Answers of John Franklin: The Discovery of the Slowness.
Matching Information
- Turn the question into a keyword idea, not a sentence: Focus on the type of information (e.g. childhood, career change, popularity of a book) rather than trying to match full sentences.
- Scan paragraph by paragraph, not line by line: These questions test your ability to locate where information appears, so skim each paragraph for its main theme first.
- Do not assume chronological order: Questions may jump across time periods, so match each one independently instead of following the order of the passage.
- Look for paraphrases, not exact words: The passage will usually restate ideas using different vocabulary, especially for abstract ideas like themes or popularity.
- Use paragraph purpose as a shortcut: Introductory paragraphs often cover background or careers, while later paragraphs discuss themes, interpretations, or impact.
- Remember letters can be reused: If two questions point to similar ideas (e.g. book impact or theme), it is acceptable for them to come from the same paragraph.
Summary Completion
- Read the full summary before filling gaps: Understanding the overall meaning helps you predict the correct option instead of choosing words mechanically.
- Check grammar carefully: The missing word must fit grammatically (noun, verb, or abstract concept) within the sentence structure.
- Match meaning first, then confirm with the passage: Use the summary sentence to identify the idea, then locate the paragraph where that idea is discussed.
- Eliminate options that do not appear in the passage context: Even if a word fits grammatically, reject it if the passage never supports that idea.
- Use surrounding clues like childhood, dreams, or later influence: Time markers often signal which paragraph the answer comes from.
- Never change the word form: Use the word exactly as given in the box. There is no pluralisation or modification.
Multiple Choice Questions
- Read the question stem carefully before the options: Understand why the author mentions something or what is being explained before looking at answers.
- Locate the relevant paragraph first: MCQs are detail-based, so always confirm the answer from a specific paragraph rather than relying on memory.
- Eliminate options not mentioned in the passage: If an option introduces a new idea or exaggeration, it is almost certainly incorrect.
- Be cautious of options with extreme or invented details: Correct answers are usually balanced and closely reflect the author’s explanation.
- Choose the option that explains purpose or reason, not just fact: Many MCQs test interpretation (why something is mentioned), not simple information recall.
- Re-check the chosen option against the text: Before finalising, confirm that the option fully matches the author’s viewpoint, not just part of it.
Well done on completing the John Franklin: The Discovery of the Slowness reading passage! Improving your reading speed, gaining familiarity with the question formats, and enhancing your ability to retrieve information efficiently are all essential elements for obtaining a high score on the IELTS exam. So, to crack IELTS Reading on the first go, try solving more of the recent IELTS Reading practice tests and work on your comprehension skills.
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