IELTS® Academic Reading Practice 19

The answer is v. Section A discusses the traditional image of dictionary compilers and how new technology is changing dictionary compilation. The section opens with an explanation of how dictionaries are traditionally compiled by "studious professorial types" and transitions to note how technology is modernizing the process: "The latest technology, made simpler than ever, is revolutionizing the content of dictionaries and the way they are put together." This directly relates to heading (v) "Dictionary makers of the past," as it references historical methods.

Associated Text:
Historically, compiling dictionaries is often traced back to the work of studious professorial types, perhaps bespectacled, who loved to pore over weighty tomes and make claims about 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, made simpler than ever, is revolutionizing the content of dictionaries and the way they are put together.

The answer is ix. Section B discusses how, for the first time, spoken English is being incorporated into dictionaries. It describes a project where volunteers recorded spoken English, which was transcribed to create a large database. This process is best described by heading (ix) "Data collection for the corpus," as it focuses strictly on the method of collecting linguistic data through recording and transcription.

Associated Text:
For the first time, dictionary publishers are incorporating real, spoken English into their data. In one project, 150 volunteers each agreed to tie a Walkman recorder to themselves, and discreetly record everything around them for two weeks. Every conversation they had was recorded. When the data was collected, the length of tapes was 35 times the depth of the Atlantic Ocean. Teams of audio typists transcribed the tapes to produce a computerized database of ten million words.

The answer is iv. Section C describes how data from both the spoken corpus and written corpus have been used to create the Language Activator dictionary. It details the dictionary's approach and its benefit for advanced learners: "This project formed the basis for the Language Activator dictionary, along with an existing written corpus, or body of compiled language." Thus, (iv) "The modern corpus dictionary" best summarizes this section.

Associated Text:
This project formed the basis for the Language Activator dictionary, along with an existing written corpus, or body of compiled language. The dictionary has been 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,” which allows learners to form new connections between related words and phrases.

The answer is i. Section D contains a quote from Delia Summers stating, “This kind of research would be impossible without computers... It has transformed the way lexicographers work.” The section continues to explain how computers have changed the method lexicographers use to analyze frequency and usage. Therefore, the heading (i) "Post-computer transformation" fits best here.

Associated Text:
“This kind of research would be impossible without computers,” said Delia Summers, a director of dictionaries. “It has transformed the way lexicographers work.” ... But the database does allow lexicographers to search for a word and find out how frequently it is used, something that could only be guessed at intuitively before.

The answer is vi. Section E discusses how research shows that written English works differently from spoken English and explores how certain phrases have meanings and usages that differ from their literal interpretation. The text explicitly says, “Researchers have found that written English works in a very different way to spoken English.” This supports heading (vi) "The way English really works."

Associated Text:
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, as evidence now shows, by someone to prevent the other person from voicing their disagreement.

The answer is viii. Section F states that the Spoken Corpus reveals not just language usage, but also “how inventive and humorous people are when they are speaking a language by twisting familiar phrases for effect.” This aligns directly with heading (viii) "English language innovation."

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

The answer is vii. Section G discusses who benefits from the Spoken Corpus, mentioning specifically that “foreign learners are benefiting most” and describing the advantages for both learners and dictionary makers. Therefore, heading (vii) "Who benefits from a corpus?" best captures the focus of this section.

Associated Text:
For now, foreign learners are benefiting most from the Spoken Corpus. “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.”