IELTS Rewind

IELTS Reading Practice Test: Is the era of artificial speech translation upon us?

Practice your IELTS reading skills with this comprehensive 14-question test. Time limit: 20 minutes.

Reading Passage Content Summary

## Is the era of artificial speech translation upon us? **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 t...

Question Types Included

  • multiple-choice (4 questions)
  • sentence-completion (4 questions)
  • yes-no-not-given (6 questions)

Test Information

  • Total Questions: 14
  • Time Limit: 20 minutes
  • Level: Intermediate to Advanced
  • Format: IELTS Academic Reading

Is the era of artificial speech translation upon us?

Reading Passage Content

This page contains IELTS reading practice materials with comprehensive questions and explanations.

Reading Comprehension Questions

Questions 1–4: Multiple Choice

Choose the correct letter A, B, C or D.

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

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

3. When referring to The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, the writer suggests that

4. What does the writer say about sharing earpieces?

Questions 5–8: Complete each sentence


Write the correct letter, A–F, in boxes 5–8.

  • A. but there are concerns about this.
  • B. as systems do not need to conform to standard practices.
  • C. but they are far from perfect.
  • D. despite the noise issues.
  • E. because translation is immediate.
  • F. and have an awareness of good manners.
5. Speech translation methods are developing fast in Japan
6. TV interviews that use translation voiceover methods are successful
7. Future translation systems should address people appropriately
8. Users may be able to maintain their local customs

Questions 9–13: 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

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

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

11. Automated translation could make life more difficult for immigrant families.

12. Visual aspects of language translation are being considered by scientists.

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

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

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Exam Duration:
min
Standard test • Range: 5-180 minutes
20 min
14 questions
IELTS Reading #61: Is the era of artificial speech translation upon us? | IELTS Rewind