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Reading answers with explanations

IELTS · Part 3 · Cambridge 19 — Test 3

Is the era of artificial speech translation upon us?: Reading answers

Answers to questions 27–40 (14 in all), each with why it is right.

Sit it first, then check

Read the whole passage and answer in the exam interface, timed as on the day.

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The passage opens

Once the stuff of science fiction, technology that enables people to talk using different languages is now here. But how effective is it? Noise, Alex Waibel tells me, is one of the major challenges that artificial speech translation has to meet.A device may be able to recognise speech in a laboratory, or a meeting room, but will struggle to cope with the kind of background noise I can hear in my office surrounding Professor Waibel as he speaks to me from Kyoto station in Japan.I'm struggling to follow him in English, on a scratchy line that reminds me we are nearly 10,000 kilometres apart - and that distance is still an obstacle to communication even if you're speaking the same language, as…

Answers 27–40

  1. 27

    What does the reader learn about the conversation in the first paragraph?

    D: Aspects of the conversation are challenging for both speakers. Multiple choice

  2. 28

    What assists the electronic translator during lectures at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology?

    A: the repeated content of lectures Multiple choice

  3. 29

    When referring to The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the writer suggests that

    C: artificial speech translation was not a surprising development. Multiple choice

  4. 30

    What does the writer say about sharing earpieces?

    B: The reluctance to do this is understandable. Multiple choice

  5. 31

    Speech translation methods are developing fast in Japan

    C: but they are far from perfect. Matching sentence endings

  6. 32

    TV interviews that use translation voiceover methods are successful

    E: because translation is immediate. Matching sentence endings

  7. 33

    Future translation systems should address people appropriately

    F: and have an awareness of good manners. Matching sentence endings

  8. 34

    Users may be able to maintain their local customs

    B: as systems do not need to conform to standard practices. Matching sentence endings

  9. 35

    Language translation systems will be seen as very useful throughout the academic and professional worlds.

    NO Yes / No / Not Given

  10. 36

    The overall value of automated translation to family life is yet to be shown.

    YES Yes / No / Not Given

  11. 37

    Automated translation could make life more difficult for immigrant families.

    NO Yes / No / Not Given

  12. 38

    Visual aspects of language translation are being considered by scientists.

    NOT GIVEN Yes / No / Not Given

  13. 39

    International scientists have found English easier to translate into other languages than Latin.

    NOT GIVEN Yes / No / Not Given

  14. 40

    As far as language is concerned, there is a difference between people's social and practical needs.

    YES Yes / No / Not Given

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