Table of Contents
Passage
History of the institutions that preserve and interpret the material evidence of the human race, human activity, and the natural world, as such, museums have a long history, springing from what may be an innate human desire to collect and interpret and having discernible origins in large collections built up by individuals and groups before the modern era. The word museum has classical origins. In its Greek form, mouseion, it meant “seat of the Muses ” and designated a philosophical institution or a place of contemplation. Use of the Latin derivation, museum, appears to have been restricted in Roman times mainly to places of philosophical discussion.
A The conviction that historical relics provide infallible testimony about the past is rooted in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, when science was regarded as objective and value free. As one writer observes: ‘Although it is now evident that artifacts are as easily altered as chronicles，public faith in their veracity endures: a tangible relic seems ipso factorial.’ Such conviction was, until recently, reflected in museum displays. Museums used to look-and some still do — much like storage rooms of objects packed together in showcases: good for scholars who wanted to study the subtle differences in design, but not for the ordinary visitor, to whom it all looked alike. Similarly, the information accompanying the objects often made little sense to the lay visitor. The content and format of explanations dated back to a time when the museum was the exclusive domain of the scientific researcher.
B Recently, however, attitudes towards history and the way it should be presented have altered. The key word in heritage display is now ‘experience’, the more exciting the better and, if possible, involving all the senses. Good examples of this approach in the UK are the Jorvik Centre in York; the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television in Bradford; and the Imperial War Museum in London. In the US the trend emerged much earlier: Williamsburg has been prototype for many heritage developments in other parts of the world. No one can predict where the process will end. On so-called heritage sites the re-enactment of historical events is increasingly popular, and computers will soon provide virtual reality experiences, which will present visitors with a vivid image of the period of their choice, in which they themselves can act as if part of the historical environment. Such developments have been criticized as an intolerable vulgarisation,but the success of many historical theme parks and similar locations suggests that the majority of the public does not share this opinion.
C In a related development, the sharp distinction between museum and heritage sites on the one hand, and theme parks on the other, is gradually evaporating. They already borrow ideas and concepts from one another. For example, museums have adopted story lines for exhibitions, sites have accepted ‘theming’ as a relevant tool, and theme parks are moving towards more authenticity and research-based presentations. In zoos, animals are no longer kept in cages, but in great spaces, either in the open air or in enormous greenhouses, such as the jungle and desert environments in Burgers’ Zoo in Holland. This particular trend is regarded as one of the major developments in the presentation of natural history in the twentieth century.
D Theme parks are undergoing other changes, too, as they try to present more serious social and cultural issues, and move away from fantasy. This development is a response to market forces and, although museums and heritage sites have a special, rather distinct, role to fulfill, they are also operating in a very competitive environment, where visitors make choices on how and where to spend their free time. Heritage and museum experts do not have to invent stories and recreate historical environments to attract their visitors: their assets are already in place. However, exhibits must be both based on artifacts and facts as we know them, and attractively presented. Those who are professionally engaged in the art of interpreting history are thus in difficult position, as they must steer a narrow course between the demands of ‘evidence’ and ‘attractiveness’, especially given the increasing need in the heritage industry for income-generating activities.
E It could be claimed that in order to make everything in heritage more ‘real’, historical accuracy must be increasingly altered. For example, Pithecanthropus erectus is depicted in an Indonesian museum with Malay facial features, because this corresponds to public perceptions. Similarly, in the Museum of Natural History in Washington, Neanderthal man is shown making a dominant gesture to his wife. Such presentations tell us more about contemporary perceptions of the world than about our ancestors. There is one compensation, however, for the professionals who make these interpretations: if they did not provide the interpretation, visitors would do it for themselves, based on their own ideas, misconceptions and prejudices. And no matter how exciting the result, it would contain a lot more bias than the presentations provided by experts.
F Human bias is inevitable, but another source of bias in the representation of history has to do with the transitory nature of the materials themselves. The simple fact is that not everything from history survives the historical process. Castles, palaces and cathedrals have a longer lifespan than the dwellings of ordinary people. The same applies to the furnishings and other contents of the premises. In a town like Leyden in Holland, which in the seventeenth century was occupied by approximately the same number of inhabitants as today, people lived within the walled town, an area more than five times smaller than modern Leyden. In most of the houses several families lived together in circumstances beyond our imagination. Yet in museums, fine period rooms give only an image of the lifestyle of the upper class of that era. No wonder that people who stroll around exhibitions are filled with nostalgia; the evidence in museums indicates that life was so much better in the past. This notion is induced by the bias in its representation in museums and heritage centres.
Questions
Questions 27-30 The reading passage has six paragraphs, A-F Choose the correct heading for paragraphs B-E from the list below. Write the correct number, i-vii, in boxes 27-30 on your answer sheet.
List of Headings
i Mixed views on current changes to museums
ii Interpreting the facts to meet visitor expectations
iii Historical function and review of museum
iv Collections of factual proof
v The global interpretation of change
vi Current reviews and further suggestion
vii Public attractions has few differences
27 Paragraph B
28 Paragraph C
29 Paragraph D
30 Paragraph E
Questions 31-36 Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D. Write the correct letter in boxes 31—36 on your answer sheet.
31 Which of the following of museums in the past is CORRECT compared with today’s museums?
A embody history in a specific way.
B they are mainly designed for small group of people
C were more scary inside.
D preserved items well by administrators.
32 According to the Author, nowadays the trends in the heritage industry:
A their origins are in London.
B rely on film special effects .
C emphasis on personal involvement.
D first appeared in the US.
33 The writer describe the relationship between museums and theme parks:
A have similar tools for exhibition.
B try to impress audience with wild animals..
C often cooperate in work..
D are now difficult to separate them clearly than before.
34 In preparing exhibits, the writer says that the experts of museum should note:
A should stick on one objective.
B have to do some language translation work.
C have to balance conflicting priorities.
D should be free from commercial restrictions.
35 What does the author suggests that some museum exhibits in paragraph E
A fail to match visitor expectations.
B are based on the false assumptions of professionals.
C reveal more about present beliefs than about the past.
D allow visitors to make more use of their imagination.
36 In the end, author mentioned our view of history is biased because
A only some durable articles preserved from the past.
B we especially like ancient castle.
C we tend to ignore things that make us angry.
D museum exhibits influenced by experts.
Questions 37-40 Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 3? In boxes 37-40 on your answer sheet, write
TRUE if the sataement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this
37 Customers likes go to theme parks which avoid serious facts.
38 According to the passage, less people visit theme parks than museums
39 The old castle of Leyden has barely changed from 17th century.
40 Museums may give a incorrect impression of how life used to be.
Answers
Below are the answers, key words, synonyms and full explanations for the IELTS Reading passage Museums & Theme Park (Passage 3, Questions 27–40).
Questions 27–30: Matching Headings (for Paragraphs B–E)
27. Paragraph B
Answer: i (Mixed views on current changes to museums)
Key words: the key word is now ‘experience’; criticised as vulgarisation; the majority does not share this opinion
Synonyms: mixed views = “Such developments have been criticised as an intolerable vulgarisation, but … the majority of the public does not share this opinion”
Explanation: Paragraph B presents both criticism of, and public support for, the new “experience” approach — i.e. mixed views.
28. Paragraph C
Answer: vii (Public attractions have few differences)
Key words: the sharp distinction … is gradually evaporating; borrow ideas from one another
Synonyms: few differences = “the sharp distinction between museum and heritage sites … and theme parks … is gradually evaporating. They already borrow ideas and concepts from one another”
Explanation: Paragraph C shows museums, heritage sites and theme parks becoming more alike.
29. Paragraph D
Answer: vi (Current reviews and further suggestion)
Key words: competitive environment; income-generating activities; steer a narrow course between ‘evidence’ and ‘attractiveness’
Synonyms: commercial/competitive pressures = “they are also operating in a very competitive environment … the increasing need in the heritage industry for income-generating activities”
Explanation: Paragraph D reviews the current commercial/competitive pressures on museum professionals. (In the original Cambridge version this heading reads “Commercial pressures on people in charge.”)
30. Paragraph E
Answer: ii (Interpreting the facts to meet visitor expectations)
Key words: historical accuracy altered; Pithecanthropus with Malay features because this corresponds to public perceptions
Synonyms: interpreting to meet expectations = “historical accuracy must be increasingly altered … because this corresponds to public perceptions”
Explanation: Paragraph E shows facts being reinterpreted to match what visitors expect.
Questions 31–36: Multiple Choice
31. Which of the following about museums in the past is correct, compared with today’s museums?
Answer: B (they were mainly designed for a small group of people)
Key words: good for scholars … but not for the ordinary visitor; the exclusive domain of the scientific researcher
Synonyms: for a small group = “good for scholars … but not for the ordinary visitor … the museum was the exclusive domain of the scientific researcher”
Explanation: Paragraph A: past museums served scholars/researchers, not the general public.
32. According to the author, nowadays the trends in the heritage industry …
Answer: C (emphasise personal involvement)
Key words: ‘experience’; involving all the senses; they themselves can act as if part of the historical environment
Synonyms: personal involvement = “the key word … is now ‘experience’ … involving all the senses … they themselves can act as if part of the historical environment”
Explanation: Paragraph B: modern heritage stresses hands-on, personal experience.
33. The writer describes the relationship between museums and theme parks as …
Answer: D (now more difficult to separate clearly than before)
Key words: the sharp distinction … is gradually evaporating
Synonyms: hard to tell apart = “the sharp distinction between museum and heritage sites … and theme parks … is gradually evaporating”
Explanation: Paragraph C: the line between them is blurring.
34. In preparing exhibits, the writer says museum experts should …
Answer: C (balance conflicting priorities)
Key words: steer a narrow course between the demands of ‘evidence’ and ‘attractiveness’
Synonyms: balance conflicting priorities = “they must steer a narrow course between the demands of ‘evidence’ and ‘attractiveness'”
Explanation: Paragraph D: experts must balance accuracy against appeal.
35. What does the author suggest about some museum exhibits in Paragraph E?
Answer: C (they reveal more about present beliefs than about the past)
Key words: tell us more about contemporary perceptions of the world than about our ancestors
Synonyms: present beliefs = “Such presentations tell us more about contemporary perceptions of the world than about our ancestors”
Explanation: Paragraph E: the exhibits reflect today’s views, not the actual past.
36. In the end, the author says our view of history is biased because …
Answer: A (only some durable articles are preserved from the past)
Key words: not everything survives; castles, palaces and cathedrals have a longer lifespan than the dwellings of ordinary people
Synonyms: only durable objects remain = “not everything from history survives … Castles, palaces and cathedrals have a longer lifespan than the dwellings of ordinary people”
Explanation: Paragraph F: only long-lasting items survive, skewing our picture of the past.
Questions 37–40: True / False / Not Given
37. Customers like to go to theme parks which avoid serious facts.
Answer: FALSE
Key words: theme parks … try to present more serious social and cultural issues … a response to market forces
Synonyms: not avoiding serious facts = “Theme parks are undergoing other changes … as they try to present more serious social and cultural issues … This development is a response to market forces”
Explanation: Paragraph D: market forces push theme parks toward more serious content, contradicting the statement → FALSE.
38. Fewer people visit theme parks than museums.
Answer: NOT GIVEN
Key words: no comparison of visitor numbers
Synonyms: The passage never compares how many people visit theme parks versus museums.
Explanation: No visitor-number comparison is made → NOT GIVEN.
39. The old town/castle of Leyden has barely changed since the 17th century.
Answer: FALSE
Key words: an area more than five times smaller than modern Leyden
Synonyms: has changed a lot = “people lived within the walled town, an area more than five times smaller than modern Leyden”
Explanation: Paragraph F: modern Leyden is over five times larger, so it has changed greatly → FALSE.
40. Museums may give an incorrect impression of how life used to be.
Answer: TRUE
Key words: the evidence in museums indicates that life was so much better in the past … induced by the bias
Synonyms: incorrect impression = “the evidence in museums indicates that life was so much better in the past. This notion is induced by the bias in its representation”
Explanation: Paragraph F: museums can create a biased, misleading picture of the past → TRUE.
Answer Key (Quick Reference)
| Q | Answer | Q | Answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | i | 34 | C |
| 28 | vii | 35 | C |
| 29 | vi | 36 | A |
| 30 | ii | 37 | FALSE |
| 31 | B | 38 | NOT GIVEN |
| 32 | C | 39 | FALSE |
| 33 | D | 40 | TRUE |
