An Introduction To Film Sound — IELTS Reading Answers

In the first paragraph, the writer makes a point that

1. Athe director should plan the sound track at an early stage in filming.
2. Bit would be wrong to overlook the contribution of sound to the artistry of films.correct
3. Cthe music industry can have a beneficial influence on sound in film.
4. Dit is important for those working on the sound in a film to have sole responsibility for it.

“Though we might think of film as an essentially visual experience, we really cannot afford to underestimate the importance of film sound.”

The opening warns that we cannot afford to underestimate the importance of film sound, so overlooking its contribution to film artistry would be wrong, option B.

One reason that the writer refers to Humphrey Bogart is to exemplify

1. Athe importance of the actor and the character appearing to have similar personalities.correct
2. Bthe audience’s wish that actors are visually appropriate for their roles.
3. Cthe value of the actor having had similar feelings to the character.
4. Dthe audience’s preference for dialogue to be as authentic as possible.

“Thus, for example, the actor Humphrey Bogart is the character Sam Spade; film personality and life personality seem to merge.”

Bogart and Sam Spade merge, illustrating that film personality and life personality seem to become one, option A.

In the third paragraph, the writer suggests that

1. Aaudiences are likely to be critical of film dialogue that does not reflect their own experience.
2. Bfilm dialogue that appears to be dull may have a specific purpose.correct
3. Cfilmmakers vary considerably in the skill with which they handle dialogue.
4. Dthe most successful films are those with dialogue of a high quality.

“For example, in the highly successful science-fiction film 2001, little dialogue was evident, and most of it was banal and of little intrinsic interest. In this way the film-maker was able to portray what Thomas Sobochack and Vivian Sobochack call, in An Introduction to Film,”

The banal dialogue of 2001 had a purpose, portraying the inadequacy of human responses, so apparently dull dialogue can be deliberate, option B.

What does the writer suggest about Bringing Up Baby?

1. AThe plot suffers from the filmmaker’s wish to focus on humorous dialogue.
2. BThe dialogue helps to make it one of the best comedy films ever produced.
3. CThere is a mismatch between the speed of the dialogue and the speed of actions.
4. DThe nature of the dialogue emphasises key elements of the film.correct

“This use of dialogue underscores not only the dizzy quality of the character played by Katherine Hepburn, but also the absurdity of the film itself and thus its humor.”

The dialogue underscores the character's dizzy quality and the absurdity of the film itself, emphasising key elements, option D.

The writer refers to the ‘click’ of a door to make the point that realistic sounds

1. Aare often used to give the audience a false impression of events in the film.
2. Bmay be interpreted in different ways by different members of the audience.
3. Cmay be modified in order to manipulate the audience’s response to the film.correct
4. Dtend to be more significant in films presenting realistic situations.

“the sound mixer may call attention to the ‘click’ with an increase in volume; this helps to engage the audience in a moment of suspense.”

Amplifying the door's click to create suspense shows realistic sound being modified to steer the audience's response, option C.

Audiences are likely to be surprised if a film lacks background music.

“We are probably all familiar with background music in films, which has become so ubiquitous as to be noticeable in its absence.”

Background music is so ubiquitous as to be noticeable in its absence, so a film without it would be noticed and surprise the audience.

Background music may anticipate a development in a film.

“In addition, background music often foreshadows a change in mood.”

Background music often foreshadows a change in mood, and to foreshadow is to signal something in advance, matching anticipation of a development.

Background music has more effect on some people than on others.

“We are probably all familiar with background music in films, which has become so ubiquitous as to be noticeable in its absence.”

The text says background music is ubiquitous and can foreshadow or link scenes, but never compares its effect on different people.

Background music may help the audience to make certain connections within the film.

“Background music may aid viewer understanding by linking scenes.”

Music may aid viewer understanding by linking scenes, which is exactly helping the audience make connections within the film.

Audiences tend to be aware of how the background music is affecting them.

“The effects of sound are often largely subtle and often are noted by only our subconscious minds.”

Sound effects are often noted by only our subconscious minds, so audiences are not consciously aware of how the music affects them.

The audience’s response to different parts of a film can be controlled

“These three tracks must be mixed and balanced so as to produce the necessary emphases which in turn create desired effects.”

The three tracks must be mixed and balanced to produce the necessary emphases, which in turn create desired effects, so response can be controlled, C.

The feelings and motivations of characters become clear

“As is the case with stage drama, dialogue serves to tell the story and expresses feelings and motivations of characters as well.”

Dialogue serves to tell the story and expresses the feelings and motivations of characters, so their inner life becomes clear, A.

A character seems to be a real person rather than an actor

“When voice textures fit the performer’s physiognomy and gestures, a whole and very realistic persona emerges.”

When voice textures fit the performer's physiognomy and gestures, a whole and very realistic persona emerges, making the character seem real, E.