Museums of Fine Art and their Public - IELTS Reading Answers
16 min read
Updated On
-
Copy link
Explore IELTS Academic Reading passages like Museums of Fine Art and their Public from IELTS Cambridge 10 Test 2 and check your progress in IELTS preparation!
Table of Contents
Limited-Time Offer : Access a FREE 10-Day IELTS Study Plan!
To score well in IELTS Reading, you must understand how to approach and answer the different question types by practising and reviewing passages like Reading Answers of Museums of Fine Art and their Public.
The Academic passage, Museums of Fine Art and their Public, is a reading passage that appeared in an IELTS Test. Ideally, you should not spend more than 20 minutes on a passage. Let’s see how easy this passage is for you and if you’re able to make it in 20 minutes. If not, try more IELTS reading practice tests from IELTSMaterial.com.
The Academic Reading passage, Museums of Fine Art and their Public, consists of 14 questions and presents three different types of questions, which are:
The question types found in the IELTS reading passage of Museums of Fine Art and their Public are:
- Summary Completion (Q. 1-5)
- Multiple-Choice Questions (Q. 6-9)
- Yes/No/Not Given (Q. 10-14)
Do you have a book with everything from tips, strategies to Practice Tests
for IELTS Academic Reading?
Check out the IELTS Reading Academic Test Guide!
Reading Passage
Museums Of Fine Art And Their Public
A The fact that people go to the Louvre museum in Paris to see the original painting Mona Lisa when they can see a reproduction anywhere leads us to question some assumptions about the role of museums of fine art in today’s world. One of the most famous works of art in the world is Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. Nearly everyone who goes to see the original will already be familiar with it from reproductions, but they accept that fine art is more rewardingly viewed in its original form.
B However, if Mona Lisa was a famous novel, few people would bother to go to a museum to read the writer’s actual manuscript rather than a printed reproduction. This might be explained by the fact that the novel has evolved precisely because of technological developments that made it possible to print out huge numbers of texts, whereas oil paintings have always been produced as unique objects. In addition, it could be argued that the practice of interpreting or ‘reading’ each medium follows different conventions. With novels, the reader attends mainly to the meaning of words rather than the way they are printed on the page, whereas the ‘reader’ of a painting must attend just as closely to the material form of marks and shapes in the picture as to any ideas they may signify.
C Yet it has always been possible to make very accurate facsimiles of pretty well any fine art work. The seven surviving versions of Mona Lisa bear witness to the fact that in the 16th century, artists seemed perfectly content to assign the reproduction of their creations to their workshop apprentices as regular ‘bread and butter’ work. And today the task of reproducing pictures is incomparably more simple and reliable, with reprographic techniques that allow the production of high-quality prints made exactly to the original scale, with faithful colour values, and even with duplication of the surface relief of the painting.
D But despite an implicit recognition that the spread of good reproductions can be culturally valuable, museums continue to promote the special status of original work. Unfortunately, this seems to place severe limitations on the kind of experience offered to visitors.
E One limitation is related to the way the museum presents its exhibits. As repositories of unique historical objects, art museums are often called ‘treasure houses’. We are reminded of this even before we view a collection by the presence of security guards, attendants, ropes and display cases to keep us away from the exhibits. In many cases, the architectural style of the building further reinforces that notion. In addition, a major collection like that of London’s National Gallery is housed in numerous rooms, each with dozens of works, any one of which is likely to be worth more than all the average visitor possesses. In a society that judges the personal status of the individual so much by their material worth, it is therefore difficult not to be impressed by one’s own relative ‘worthlessness’ in such an environment.
F Furthermore, consideration of the ‘value’ of the original work in its treasure house setting impresses upon the viewer that, since these works were originally produced, they have been assigned a huge monetary value by some person or institution more powerful than themselves. Evidently, nothing the viewer thinks about the work is going to alter that value, and so today’s viewer is deterred from trying to extend that spontaneous, immediate, self-reliant kind of reading which would originally have met the work.
G The visitor may then be struck by the strangeness of seeing such diverse paintings, drawings and sculptures brought together in an environment for which they were not originally created. This ‘displacement effect’ is further heightened by the sheer volume of exhibits. In the case of a major collection, there are probably more works on display than we could realistically view in weeks or even months.
H This is particularly distressing because time seems to be a vital factor in the appreciation of all art forms. A fundamental difference between paintings and other art forms is that there is no prescribed time over which a painting is viewed. By contrast, the audience encourages an opera or a play over a specific time, which is the duration of the performance. Similarly novels and poems are read in a prescribed temporal sequence, whereas a picture has no clear place at which to start viewing, or at which to finish. Thus artworks themselves encourage us to view them superficially, without appreciating the richness of detail and labour that is involved.
I Consequently, the dominant critical approach becomes that of the art historian, a specialised academic approach devoted to ‘discovering the meaning’ of art within the cultural context of its time. This is in perfect harmony with the museum’s function, since the approach is dedicated to seeking out and conserving ‘authentic’, original, readings of the exhibits. Again, this seems to put paid to that spontaneous, participators criticism which can be found in abundance in criticism of classic works of literature, but is absent from most art history.
J The displays of art museums serve as a warning of what critical practices can emerge when spontaneous criticism is suppressed. The museum public, like any other audience, experience art more rewardingly when given the confidence to express their views. If appropriate works of fine art could be rendered permanently accessible to the public by means of high-fidelity reproductions, as literature and music already are, the public may feel somewhat less in awe of them. Unfortunately, that may be too much to ask from those who seek to maintain and control the art establishment.
Check Out – Essential Reading For IELTS (Ebook) With PDF
Questions 1-5
Complete the summary using the list of words, A-L, below.
Write the correct letter, A-L, in boxes 1-5 on your answer sheet.
The Value Attached to Original Works of Art
People go to art museums because they accept the value of seeing an original work of art. But they do not go to museums to read original manuscripts of novels, perhaps because the availability of novels has depended on 1………………… for so long, and also because with novels, the 2………………… are the most important thing.
However, in historical times artists such as Leonardo were happy to instruct 3………………… to produce copies of their work and these days new methods of reproduction allow excellent replication of surface relief features as well as colour and 4………………… It is regrettable that museums still promote the superiority of original works of art, since this may not be in the interests of the 5…………………
A institution | B mass production | C mechanical processes | D public |
E paints | F artist | G size | H underlying ideas |
I basic technology | J readers | K picture frames | L assistants |
Questions 6-9
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
Write the correct letter in boxes 6-9 on your answer sheet.
6 The writer mentions London’s National Gallery to illustrate
A the undesirable cost to a nation of maintaining a huge collection of art.
B the conflict that may arise in society between financial and artistic values.
C the negative effect a museum can have on visitors’ opinions of themselves.
D the need to put individual well-being above large-scale artistic schemes.
7 The writer says that today, viewers may be unwilling to criticise because
A they lack the knowledge needed to support an opinion.
B they fear it may have financial implications.
C they have no real concept of the work’s value.
D they feel their personal reaction is of no significance.
8 According to the writer, the ‘displacement effect’ on the visitor is caused by
A the variety of works on display and the way they are arranged.
B the impossibility of viewing particular works of art over a long period.
C the similar nature of the paintings and the lack of great works.
D the inappropriate nature of the individual works selected for exhibition.
9 The writer says that unlike other forms of art, a painting does not
A involve direct contact with an audience.
B require a specific location for a performance.
C need the involvement of other professionals.
D have a specific beginning or end.
Questions 10-14
Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer in the Reading Passage?
In boxes 10-14 on your answer sheet, write
YES if the statement agrees with the views of the writer
NO if the statement contradicts the views of the writer
NOT GIVEN if the is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this
10 Art history should focus on discovering the meaning of art using a range of media.
11 The approach of art historians conflicts with that of art museums.
12 People should be encouraged to give their opinions openly on works of art.
13 Reproductions of fine art should only be sold to the public if they are of high quality.
14 In the future, those with power are likely to encourage more people to enjoy art.
If you want to learn from the best IELTS professionals, consider attending FREE webinars.
Sign up to grab one of the limited seats!
Answers of Museums of Fine Art and their Public Reading Answers with Location and Explanation
1 Answer: B
Question type: Summary Completion
Answer location: Paragraph B, line 2
Answer explanation: The second sentence of the second paragraph claims – “This might be explained by the fact that the novel has evolved precisely because of technological developments that made it possible to print out huge numbers of texts, whereas oil paintings have always been produced as unique objects.”. It refers to the fact that the novel has evolved precisely because of technological developments that made it possible to print out huge numbers (mass production) of texts. Hence, the answer is B (mass production).
2 Answer: H
Question type: Summary Completion
Answer location: Paragraph B, line 4
Answer explanation: In the second paragraph, it is noted that “With novels, the reader attends mainly to the meaning of words rather than the way they are printed on the page…”. It can be pointed out that with novels, the reader attends mainly to the meaning of words (underlying words) rather than the way they are printed on the page. Hence, the answer is H (underlying ideas).
3 Answer: L
Question type: Summary Completion
Answer location: Paragraph C, line 2
Answer explanation: In the mentioned paragraph, it is stated that “The seven surviving versions of Mona Lisa bear witness to the fact that in the 16th century, artists seemed perfectly content to assign the reproduction of their creations to their workshop apprentices as regular ‘bread and butter’ work.”. From the given reference, it can be said that artists seemed perfectly content (happy) to assign (instruct) the reproduction of their creations (produce copies of their work) to their workshop apprentices (assistants) as regular ‘bread and butter’ work. Hence, the answer is L (assistants).
4 Answer: G
Question type: Summary Completion
Answer location: Paragraph C, line 3
Answer explanation: In the specified paragraph, it is reported that “And today the task of reproducing pictures is incomparably more simple and reliable, with reprographic techniques that allow the production of high-quality prints made exactly to the original scale…”. It can be concluded that today the task of reproducing pictures is incomparably more simple and reliable, with reprographic techniques that allow the production of high-quality prints made exactly to the original scale (size), with faithful colour values. Hence, the answer is G (size).
5 Answer: D
Question type: Summary Completion
Answer location: Paragraph D, line 2
Answer explanation: In the fourth paragraph, it is stated that “Unfortunately, this seems to place severe limitations on the kind of experience offered to visitors.”. Here, it is clear that the museums promote the superiority of original works of art for the visitors, which limits their experience. Hence, the answer is D (public).
6 Answer: C
Question type: Multiple-Choice Question
Answer location: Paragraph E, line 5 – line 6
Answer explanation: In the indicated location, it is given that “In addition, a major collection like that of London’s National Gallery is housed in numerous rooms, each with dozens of works, any one of which is likely to be worth more than all the average visitor possesses. In a society that judges the personal status of the individual so much by their material worth, it is therefore difficult not to be impressed by one’s own relative ‘worthlessness’ in such an environment.”. The quoted lines point out that the worth of the exhibits in popular museums, like the London’s National Gallery, is more than what an average person owns. This creates a sense of ‘‘worthlessness’ in the visitors. So, through this example, the writer wants to bring out the negative effect a museum has on the visitor’s opinion of themselves. Hence, the answer is C (the negative effect a museum can have on visitors’ opinions of themselves.).
7 Answer: D
Question type: Multiple-Choice Question
Answer location: Paragraph F, line 2
Answer explanation: In the specified line, it is given that “Evidently, nothing the viewer thinks about the work is going to alter that value, and so today’s viewer is deterred from trying to extend that spontaneous, immediate, self-reliant kind of reading which would originally have met the work.”. In other words, the viewer does not critique any work of art as they feel that opinion does not matter (nothing the viewer thinks about the work is going to alter that value) Hence, the answer is D (they feel their personal reaction is of no significance.).
8 Answer: A
Question type: Multiple-Choice Question
Answer location: Paragraph G, line 1-line 2
Answer explanation: In the seventh paragraph, it is specified that “The visitor may then be struck by the strangeness of seeing such diverse paintings, drawings and sculptures brought together in an environment for which they were not originally created. This ‘displacement effect’ is further heightened by the sheer volume of exhibits.”. From this reference, it can be concluded that the displacement effect is caused due to the number of artwork on display (sheer volume) and the way they are displayed (brought together in an environment for which they were not originally created). Hence, the answer is A (the variety of works on display and the way they are arranged.).
Unlock Answers
9 Answer: D
Question type: Multiple-Choice Question
Answer location: Paragraph H, line 2
Answer explanation: In the indicated line, it is given that “A fundamental difference between paintings and other art forms is that there is no prescribed time over which a painting is viewed.”. It can be concluded from the quoted line that paintings do not have a time limit within which it has to be viewed i.e., there is no beginning or ending to it. Hence, the answer is D (have a specific beginning or end.).
10 Answer: Not Given
Question type: Yes/No/Not Given
Answer location: N.A.
Answer explanation: As there is no clear reference to whether art history should focus on discovering the meaning of art using a range of media, the answer is Not Given.
11 Answer: No
Question type: Yes/No/Not Given
Answer location: Paragraph I, line 1 – line 2
Answer explanation: In the ninth paragraph, it is noted that “Consequently, the dominant critical approach becomes that of the art historian, a specialised academic approach devoted to ‘discovering the meaning’ of art within the cultural context of its time. This is in perfect harmony with the museum’s function…”. This points out that there is perfect harmony between the critical approach of the historian and the function of the museum. As the statement contradicts the views of the writer, the answer is No.
12 Answer: Yes
Question type: Yes/No/Not Given
Answer location: Paragraph J, line 2
Answer explanation: In the specified line, it is said that “The museum public, like any other audience, experience art more rewardingly when given the confidence to express their views.”. In other words, the visitors of the museums should be encouraged to share their opinions as it adds to the experience of the museums. As the statement agrees with the views of the writer, the answer is Yes.
13 Answer: Not Given
Question type: Yes/No/Not Given
Answer location: N.A.
Answer explanation: As there is no clear reference to whether reproductions of fine art should only be sold to the public if they are of high quality, the answer is Not Given.
14 Answer: No
Question type: Yes/No/Not Given
Answer location: Paragraph J, line 4
Answer explanation: In the referenced line, it is stated that “Unfortunately, that may be too much to ask from those who seek to maintain and control the art establishment.”. Here, it is clear that motivating people to visit museums and give their opinions on art would be difficult for the people who maintain and control the museums. As the statement contradicts the views of the writer, the answer is No.
Tips to Solve the Question Types in Museums of Fine Art and their Public Reading Answers
Since you now have the Museums of Fine Art and their Public Reading Answers Key with explanations, let us check out some quick tips to answer the three types of questions in the Reading Answers of Museums of Fine Art and their Public.
Summary Completion:
Summary completion questions in the IELTS test require you to complete a summary of a given text. These tips can help you tackle these questions effectively:
- Read the instructions carefully: Begin by reading the instructions and any guidelines provided for the summary completion task. Make sure you understand what is expected.
- Skim the passage and identify the keywords: Before diving into the summary completion, skim through the passage to get an overall understanding of the content, main ideas, and structure of the text. While skimming, focus on identifying the key points and the main ideas of the passage. Understanding the structure and content of the text will make it easier to complete the summary.
- Pay attention to linking words: Look for linking words such as “however,” “therefore,” “but,” and “because.” These words often indicate the relationship between ideas in the text and can help you understand how sentences fit together.
- Check for synonyms and paraphrasing: The missing words in the summary may not be identical to the words in the original text. Look for synonyms or paraphrased versions of the words in the passage.
- Predict the missing information: Before you look at the answer choices, try to predict what words or phrases might fit in the gaps. This will help you stay focused on the information you need to find.
Multiple-Choice Question:
Solving multiple-choice questions on the IELTS can be challenging, but with the right approach and strategies, you can improve your chances of getting the correct answers.
Here are some tips to help you succeed:
- Read the instructions carefully: Start by reading the instructions and any guidelines provided for the multiple-choice questions. Understand the format and what is expected of you.
- Skim the passage: If the multiple-choice questions are based on a reading passage, skim through the passage first to get an overall idea of the content and main ideas. This will help you identify the context of the questions.
- Identify keywords: Pay attention to keywords or key phrases in both the questions and the answer choices. This can help you focus on the relevant information in the passage.
- Look for synonyms and paraphrasing: In IELTS, the answer choices might not use the same words as the passage, but they will often contain synonyms or paraphrased versions of the original text. Be aware of this and look for similar meanings.
- Predict the answers: Try to predict the answer before looking at the choices. This can help you avoid being swayed by incorrect answer choices.
- Use the process of elimination: Carefully go through each answer choice and eliminate options that are clearly incorrect. This narrows down your choices and increases your chances of selecting the correct answer.
Yes/No/Not Given
Unlike True/False/Not Given questions, ‘Yes/No/Not Given’ questions are based on opinions, views and beliefs of the author of the reading passage. A few statements will be provided to you, and it is up to you to determine whether they conform with the views/opinions of the writer by reading the text.
To answer this type of question, you can use the following strategies:
- Always begin by reading the question and identifying the keywords. Before reading the material, have a look at your list of Yes, No, and Not Given questions.
- You need to scan the passage for synonyms or paraphrased words of the keywords. Once you have highlighted the keywords, swiftly read the text to look for paraphrases or synonyms.
- Matching highlighted words, or keywords in the questions with their synonyms in the text is the best way to figure out the answer. Once you find both sets of keywords, cross-check them to find the answer.
- Do NOT waste time if you are confused. If the facts match, the answer is YES, and in case it doesn’t match, it is NO. If you are unable to find the answer or unsure of it, mark it NOT GIVEN.
Also Check
Practice IELTS Reading based on question types
Start Preparing for IELTS: Get Your 10-Day Study Plan Today!
Explore other Reading Topics
Janice Thompson
Raajdeep Saha
Janice Thompson
Janice Thompson
Recent Articles
Haniya Yashfeen
Haniya Yashfeen
Haniya Yashfeen
Raajdeep Saha
Post your Comments