IELTS® Academic Reading Practice 60

The answer is iii. Section A is about social scientists' interest in studying tourism as a phenomenon and compares tourism to the study of deviance. The section ends by stating, “It could be said that a similar analysis can be applied to tourism.” This matches heading (iii) 'Studying the phenomenon of tourism'.

Associated Text:
However, there are interesting parallels between tourism and the study of deviance. This involves the investigation of bizarre and idiosyncratic social practices which happen to be defined as deviant in some societies but not necessarily in others. The assumption is that the investigation of deviance can reveal interesting and significant aspects of normal societies. It could be said that a similar analysis can be applied to tourism.

The answer is v. Section B defines tourism by contrasting it with regulated and organized work. It says, “Tourism is a leisure activity which counterbalances its opposite activity, that being regulated and organized work.” It also explains how tourism is organized and temporary, which aligns with heading (v) 'Defining modern tourism'.

Associated Text:
Tourism is a leisure activity which counterbalances its opposite activity, that being regulated and organized work. It is one manifestation of how work and leisure are organized as separate and controlled spheres of social practice in modern societies. Indeed acting as a tourist is one of the defining characteristics of being 'modern,' and the popular concept of tourism is that it is organized in particular places and occurs for predictable periods of time.

The answer is iv. Section C focuses on sightseeing and the reasons people choose certain destinations, such as being seen as exotic or impressive. It says, “Places are chosen to be visited for sightseeing because tourists fantasize and look forward to going to them. This may be either because these destinations are seen by tourists as exotic, or different from what’s normal at home, or because they are somehow uniquely impressive.” This directly matches heading (iv) 'Motivations behind tourists’ decisions to travel.'

Associated Text:
Places are chosen to be visited for sightseeing because tourists fantasize and look forward to going to them. This may be either because these destinations are seen by tourists as exotic, or different from what’s normal at home, or because they are somehow uniquely impressive. Tourists’ anticipation is built and sustained by a variety of non-tourist mediums such as films, TV literature, magazines records and videos, which encourage them to daydream about far off destinations.

The answer is vii. Section D explains how tourists “tend to visit landmarks and areas that are markedly different from their everyday experiences at home.” The entire section is about famous sites and why they attract visitors, corresponding to heading (vii) 'Landmarks and locations which attract tourists.'

Associated Text:
Tourists tend to visit landmarks and areas that are markedly different from their everyday experiences at home. These places become popular because they are seen as being somehow extraordinary.

The answer is viii. Section E discusses Boorstin's idea that Americans experience 'pseudo-events' instead of reality and describes how tourists get isolated from the local environment, only enjoying inauthentic attractions. It refers to “a closed self-perpetuating system of illusions which provide the tourist with the basis for selecting and evaluating potential places to visit.” This matches heading (viii): 'American tourists’ escape from reality.'

Associated Text:
One of the earliest dissertations on the subject of tourism is Boorstin's 1964 analysis on ‘pseudo-events’, where he argues that contemporary Americans cannot experience reality directly, but instead thrive on pseudo-events. Isolated from the local people and environment, the mass tourist travels in guided groups and finds pleasure in inauthentic contrived attractions, gullibly enjoying the pseudo-events and disregarding reality.

The answer is i. Section F talks about a professional tourist industry and how travel is seen as a marker of status in modern society. It says, “Going on vacation is seen as a symbol of stability and success, like owning a nice car or home. Travel is a marker of status in modern societies, and is also thought to be necessary for good health.” This clearly matches heading (i) 'The industry of tourism and travel: status symbols.'

Associated Text:
Going on vacation is seen as a symbol of stability and success, like owning a nice car or home. Travel is a marker of status in modern societies, and is also thought to be necessary for good health.