Reading Passage Content
This page contains IELTS reading practice materials with comprehensive questions and explanations.
IELTS Reading Practice Test: Invasion of the Robot Umpires
Practice your IELTS reading skills with this comprehensive 14-question test. Time limit: 20 minutes.
Reading Passage Content Summary
## Invasion of the Robot Umpires A few years ago, Fred DeJesus from Brooklyn, New York became the first umpire in a minor league baseball game to use something called the Automated Ball-Strike System (ABS), often referred to as the ‘robo-umpire’. Instead of making any judgments himself about a stri...
Question Types Included
- yes-no-not-given (6 questions)
- summary-completion (5 questions)
- multiple-choice (3 questions)
Test Information
- Total Questions: 14
- Time Limit: 20 minutes
- Level: Intermediate to Advanced
- Format: IELTS Academic Reading
Reading Comprehension Questions
Questions 1–6: Yes/No/Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer?
Write YES if the statement agrees with the views of the writer
Write NO if the statement contradicts the views of the writer
Write NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this
1. When DeJesus first used ABS, he shared decision-making about strikes with it.
2. MLB considered it necessary to amend the size of the strike zone when criticisms were received from players.
3. MLB is keen to justify the money spent on improving the accuracy of ABS’s calculations.
4. The hundred-mile-an-hour fastball led to a more exciting style of play.
5. The differing proposals for alterations to the baseball bat led to fierce debate on Sword’s team.
6. ABS makes changes to the shape of the strike zone feasible.
Questions 7–11: Summary Completion
Complete the summary below.
Drag words from the box into the blanks.
Write your answers in boxes 7–11.
Word Box:
pitch boundary
numerous disputes
team tactics
subjective assessment
widespread approval
former roles
total silence
perceived area
Calls by the umpire
Even after ABS was developed, MLB still wanted human umpires to shout out decisions as they had in their (7). The umpire’s job had, at one time, required a (8) about whether a ball was a strike. A ball is considered a strike when the batter does not hit it and it crosses through a (9) extending approximately from the batter’s knee to his chest.
In the past, (10) over strike calls were not uncommon, but today everyone accepts the complete ban on pushing or shoving the umpire. One difference, however, is that during the first game DeJesus used ABS, strike calls were met with (11)
Questions 12–15: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct letter A, B, C or D.
12. What does the writer suggest about ABS in the fifth paragraph?
13. Morgan Sword says that the introduction of ABS
14. Why does the writer include the views of Noe and Russo?
Ready to Start?
Customize your exam settings and begin your reading test
Exam Duration:
min
Standard test • Range: 5-180 minutes
20 min
14 questions
Invasion of the Robot Umpires
Reading Passage Content
This page contains IELTS reading practice materials with comprehensive questions and explanations.
Reading Comprehension Questions
Questions 1–6: Yes/No/Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer?
Write YES if the statement agrees with the views of the writer
Write NO if the statement contradicts the views of the writer
Write NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this
1. When DeJesus first used ABS, he shared decision-making about strikes with it.
2. MLB considered it necessary to amend the size of the strike zone when criticisms were received from players.
3. MLB is keen to justify the money spent on improving the accuracy of ABS’s calculations.
4. The hundred-mile-an-hour fastball led to a more exciting style of play.
5. The differing proposals for alterations to the baseball bat led to fierce debate on Sword’s team.
6. ABS makes changes to the shape of the strike zone feasible.
Questions 7–11: Summary Completion
Complete the summary below.
Drag words from the box into the blanks.
Write your answers in boxes 7–11.
Word Box:
pitch boundary
numerous disputes
team tactics
subjective assessment
widespread approval
former roles
total silence
perceived area
Calls by the umpire
Even after ABS was developed, MLB still wanted human umpires to shout out decisions as they had in their (7). The umpire’s job had, at one time, required a (8) about whether a ball was a strike. A ball is considered a strike when the batter does not hit it and it crosses through a (9) extending approximately from the batter’s knee to his chest.
In the past, (10) over strike calls were not uncommon, but today everyone accepts the complete ban on pushing or shoving the umpire. One difference, however, is that during the first game DeJesus used ABS, strike calls were met with (11)
Questions 12–15: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct letter A, B, C or D.
12. What does the writer suggest about ABS in the fifth paragraph?
13. Morgan Sword says that the introduction of ABS
14. Why does the writer include the views of Noe and Russo?
Ready to Start?
Customize your exam settings and begin your reading test
Exam Duration:
min
Standard test • Range: 5-180 minutes
20 min
14 questions