Read the following passage and answer the questions below.
A Stradivarius is one of the violins, cellos, and other stringed instruments built by members of the Stradivari (Stradivarius) family, particularly Antonio Stradivari, during the 17th and 18th centuries. According to their reputation, the quality of their sound has defied attempts to explain or equal it, though this belief is disputed. The name "Stradivarius" has become a superlative often associated with excellence, and the fame of Stradivarius instruments is widespread, appearing in numerous works of fiction.
Depending on condition, instruments made during Stradivari's "golden period" from 1700 to about 1725 can be worth millions of dollars. In 2011, his "Lady Blunt" violin from 1721, which is in pristine condition, was sold at Tarisio auctions for £9.8 million.
These instruments are famous for the quality of sound they produce. However, the many blind tests from 1817 to the present have never found any difference in sound between Stradivari's violins and high-quality violins in comparable style of other makers and periods, nor has acoustic analysis. In a particularly famous test on a BBC Radio programme in 1977, the violinists Isaac Stern and Pinchas Zukerman and the violin expert and dealer Charles Beare tried to distinguish between the "Chaconne" Stradivarius and three other violins, including one made in 1976, played behind a screen by a professional soloist. None of the listeners identified more than two of the four instruments. Two of the listeners identified the 20th-century violin as the Stradivarius.
Are the following statements true, false or not given?
- The superior reputation of Stradivarius instruments has never been questioned.
- The “Lady Blunt” Stradivarius is the most expensive violin every sold.
- Tests have shown that experts are able to distinguish the famous Stradivarius sound.
PS. Thanks to those of you who wished me a nice holiday!
1. False
2. Not given
3. True
Posted by: Kha | August 05, 2013 at 11:06
1-T
2-NG
3-F
Posted by: Ahmed | August 05, 2013 at 11:06
1-T
2-NG
3-F
Posted by: Tülin | August 05, 2013 at 11:10
F
NG
F
Posted by: Mumtaz | August 05, 2013 at 11:12
1-T
2-NG
3-F
Posted by: Hoang Yen | August 05, 2013 at 11:22
NG
NG
F
Posted by: Ferdi | August 05, 2013 at 11:39
T
NG
F
Posted by: hong nguyen | August 05, 2013 at 11:43
F
NG
F
Posted by: van anh nguyen | August 05, 2013 at 11:50
1 false
2 not given
3 false
Posted by: aaliyah | August 05, 2013 at 12:09
True
NG
False
Posted by: marja23 | August 05, 2013 at 12:10
FALSE
NOT GIVEN
FALSE
Posted by: Jay | August 05, 2013 at 12:24
True
NG
False
Posted by: Samah | August 05, 2013 at 13:14
False - though this belief is disputed
Not Given
False - None of the listeners identified more than two of the four instruments. Two of the listeners identified the 20th-century violin as the Stradivarius.
Posted by: Trung Vu | August 05, 2013 at 13:40
1. F
2. Not Given
3. F
Posted by: Mr Tool | August 05, 2013 at 13:48
TRUE
NOT GIVEN
FALSE
Posted by: diemthanhvu | August 05, 2013 at 13:49
1.F
2.NG
3.F
Posted by: Elnaz | August 05, 2013 at 13:50
1.F
2.NG
3.F
Posted by: Melody Jiang | August 05, 2013 at 13:54
1. False
2.Not Given
3.Yes
Posted by: crystal | August 05, 2013 at 14:04
1-False(According to their reputation, the quality of their sound has defied attempts to explain or equal it, though this belief is disputed.
2-Not Given-Nothing mentioned about which one is the most expensive that sold.
3- False (the many blind tests from 1817 to the present have never found any difference in sound between Stradivari's violins and high-quality violins in comparable style of other makers and periods, nor has acoustic analysis).
Posted by: jasem | August 05, 2013 at 14:22
Hello simon ....
Hope You Enjoyed Your holidays .
My Answers are
1.False
2.Notgiven
3.True .
Posted by: Ranbir | August 05, 2013 at 14:22
F
NG
F
Posted by: Lucy | August 05, 2013 at 14:22
1-True- and the fame of Stradivarius instruments is widespread, appearing in numerous works of fiction.
2-Not Given-was sold at Tarisio auctions for £9.8 millionwas.
3-False--However, the many blind tests from 1817 to the present have never found any difference in sound
Posted by: ZIAUL HUDA | August 05, 2013 at 14:48
false
not given
true
Posted by: vinod singh rathore | August 05, 2013 at 15:14
T
NG
F
Posted by: Nuwan | August 05, 2013 at 15:35
False
NG
False
Posted by: Mon Myat Thu | August 05, 2013 at 15:37
NG
T
N
Posted by: Sana | August 05, 2013 at 15:40
T
NG
F
Posted by: amtylmz | August 05, 2013 at 15:46
1. F
2. NG
3. T
Posted by: Pearlyn | August 05, 2013 at 16:25
F
NG
F
Posted by: Ko Sa Ri | August 05, 2013 at 16:29
1. F
2. NG
3. T
Posted by: Nelly | August 05, 2013 at 16:47
F
NG
F
Posted by: Mirinda | August 05, 2013 at 17:14
hi every one! my answer is:
1/not given
2/true
3/false
thanks Simon :)
Posted by: jone | August 05, 2013 at 17:32
False (... this belief is disputed. )
NG (A high price does not mean it is the highest.)
False (None of the listeners identified...)
Posted by: Saeed | August 05, 2013 at 17:32
1.F
2.NG
3.F
Posted by: akhau | August 05, 2013 at 17:34
hi everyone,
I took IELTS exam on 03/08/2013
speaking test: part 1
about you, sleeping habits, my home.
Part 2:
situation when I was late, what is it, why you late, how you felt and what happened after that.
part 3: about time management, technology and time.
writing task 1:
bar charts compare air and water temperatures in three lakes in an European country in 2010, the charts for three seasons, summer, winter and autumn.
writing task 2: the typical situation between the teacher and students will no longer exist by the year 2050. to what extent do you agree or disagree?
wish me luck, and hopefully this will help you.
Posted by: entisar | August 05, 2013 at 17:36
True
Not Given
False
Posted by: HH | August 05, 2013 at 17:53
my anwer is:
True
Not Given
True
Posted by: Phuc Le | August 05, 2013 at 17:58
Hello,
My answer is
1.True
2.Not Given
3.False
Posted by: Baddy | August 05, 2013 at 18:36
1. false
2. not given (By the way, is there a typo in "every sold"? Perhaps "ever sold"? )
3. false
Posted by: Yan SU | August 05, 2013 at 20:02
T
NG
F
Posted by: Zehra | August 05, 2013 at 21:17
F
Ng
F
Posted by: raja | August 05, 2013 at 21:25
1.False
2.Not Given
3.True
Posted by: Jeiru | August 05, 2013 at 21:47
T
NG
F
Posted by: Shinichi | August 06, 2013 at 00:43
F
NG
F
Posted by: Susie Q | August 06, 2013 at 00:46
F
NG
F
Posted by: Sertac | August 06, 2013 at 00:52
F
NG
F
Posted by: Felix | August 06, 2013 at 01:17
F
NG
NG
Posted by: Ko Sa Ri | August 06, 2013 at 03:26
Hi Simon,
My answer is:
1. True
2. Not Given
3. False
Posted by: Nguyen Thi Nhung | August 06, 2013 at 03:44
1–F
2–NG
3–F
Posted by: Enes | August 06, 2013 at 04:19
False
Not Given
True
Posted by: yoyo | August 06, 2013 at 04:20
I believe 1st question`s answer is placed in second sentence and the keywords are "defied" and "disputed".
Posted by: Enes | August 06, 2013 at 04:37
My answer is:
1.True
2.Not Given
3.False
Posted by: Phuong | August 06, 2013 at 04:37
My answer is
1. True
2. Not Given
3. False
Posted by: Chung | August 06, 2013 at 05:04
1.F
2.NG
3.F
Posted by: phuongbee | August 06, 2013 at 05:40
1.F
2.NG
3.T
Posted by: Satish | August 06, 2013 at 06:23
Hi everyone!
1. T
2. NG
3. False
Posted by: Eli | August 06, 2013 at 07:28
1. false
2. not given
3. false
Posted by: Parisa | August 06, 2013 at 08:13
1F
2NG
3F
Posted by: MOSHE | August 06, 2013 at 08:39
hi my answer is
F
NG
NG
Posted by: kiran | August 06, 2013 at 08:53
F
NG
F
Posted by: QIONG | August 06, 2013 at 09:22
F
NG
F
Posted by: aaron | August 06, 2013 at 10:04
F
NG
T
Posted by: Sana | August 06, 2013 at 10:11
My answer is:
1. F
2. NG
3. F
Posted by: Hoa VN | August 06, 2013 at 10:22
1. T
2. NG
3. F
Posted by: Khurram | August 06, 2013 at 10:33
1) False .( i found a bit tricky )
2) Not given
3)False
Posted by: Neha | August 06, 2013 at 10:56
CORRECT ANSWERS FROM SIMON:
1. False (this belief is disputed = some people question it)
2. Not given
3. False
Posted by: Simon | August 06, 2013 at 11:10
False - though this belief is disputed
Not Given
False - None of the listeners identified more than two of the four instruments. Two of the listeners identified the 20th-century violin as the Stradivarius.
Posted by: KK | August 06, 2013 at 11:17
Hello,
I thought the answer of no. 3's 'False' at first. However, I wonder if the listeners were experts or not. They are indicated as 'listeners' not 'experts' in the passage. (It didn't indicate the only expert Charles Beare anywhere. Therefore, I think 'Not given' is another answer too.
Do I think too much (in detail)?
Posted by: Ko Sa Ri | August 06, 2013 at 13:54
Awwww... Yeah.. The answer of no.3 is definately "False" for sure. Was confused. :):)
Posted by: Ko Sa Ri | August 06, 2013 at 14:14
F
NG
F
Posted by: Gina | August 07, 2013 at 02:57
False
Not given
False
Posted by: zyl | August 07, 2013 at 06:52
F
NG
F
Posted by: tranganh | August 08, 2013 at 03:36
True
Not Given
False
Posted by: Jimmy | August 08, 2013 at 12:03
1. False
2. Not Given
3. True
Posted by: Maryna | August 09, 2013 at 15:40
1.False
2.NG
3.True
Posted by: PM | August 11, 2013 at 03:28
As I am late to response, still can't ignore answering the questions:
1. False
2. Not given
3. FAlse
Posted by: asitrony | August 11, 2013 at 07:26
False
Not given
False
Posted by: Maryam | August 11, 2013 at 12:28
False
NG
NG
Posted by: linhphan | August 11, 2013 at 15:41
false
NG
false
Posted by: shashwat | August 12, 2013 at 15:09
false :)
not given :)
not given :(
Posted by: Betül Özden | August 16, 2013 at 09:54
1 Not Given
2 True
3 False
Posted by: Ajay | August 17, 2013 at 14:31
Hello SIMON!
My answer is:
1)not given;
2)true;
3)false;
I'll wait your answer!
Posted by: Jasur | August 17, 2013 at 17:46
the mini tests like this are useful really. huge thanks for Mr Simon.
my answer is:
1. F
2.NG
3.F
Posted by: Common | August 21, 2013 at 04:30
1.T
2.NG
3.F
Posted by: cherry | August 22, 2013 at 02:17
1.T-based on those "strong words":superlative,excellence,widepread fame
2.NG
3.F-they tried
Posted by: YU | August 22, 2013 at 21:31
Dear Sir,
I am facing the exam on 29th Aug.
Pls. let me know that writing the letters "T", "F" or "NG" in answer script, instead of TRUE, FALSE and NOT GIVEN is accepted in the reading module.
Posted by: aravi | August 26, 2013 at 07:41
Sir,
I have already appeated for the test and need to know if marking "T" , "F" and "NG" are valid? I did check with the invigilator and the examiner they said it was fine but am still worried
Posted by: Usha | August 30, 2013 at 12:07
true
NG
false
Posted by: shiling | September 19, 2013 at 11:53
possible to answer true "T" IN the real answer ?or false "F"?
Posted by: fajar felix | October 01, 2013 at 15:48
F
NG
F
Posted by: RAVIKANTH | October 20, 2013 at 14:31
1.TRUE
2.NOT GIVEN
3.FALSE
Posted by: fikri | November 03, 2013 at 02:30
1. F
2. NG
3. F
Posted by: sacredboy | November 19, 2013 at 15:17
1 false
2 NG
3 false
Posted by: sarabjeet | January 10, 2014 at 03:42
NG
T
T
Posted by: mostafa | February 20, 2014 at 20:28
1. false
2. not given
3. false
Posted by: Jin Hee | June 10, 2014 at 10:40
NG
NG
F
Posted by: ali | September 17, 2014 at 19:05
F
NG
F
Posted by: Sam | May 25, 2015 at 19:09
f
ng
f
Posted by: farhana | July 31, 2015 at 18:11