Tasmania’s Museum of Old and New Art
Read Tasmania’s Museum of Old and New Art and check the IELTS Reading answers. As an eighteen-year-old living in the small Australian island state of Tasmania, moving to the ‘mainland’ could not happen soon enough. Now, ten years later, I look forward to going home. This is probably because I’ve gr…
Passage preview
As an eighteen-year-old living in the small Australian island state of Tasmania, moving to the ‘mainland’ could not happen soon enough. Now, ten years later, I look forward to going home. This is probably because I’ve grown up, but also perhaps because the cultural landscape of Tasmania has matured. The latest addition to Tasmania’s cultural scene is David Walsh’s Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), a museum that has established Hobart, the capital city of Tasmania, on the global art circuit.
Vocabulary from this passage
10 words worth learning before you sit the test, each with the sentence it appears in.
- abhor verb
To regard with disgust and hatred; to find a concept or practice completely unacceptable
Ethical investors usually abhor companies that exploit workers or cause significant environmental damage.
- antiquities noun
Objects, buildings, or works of art from the ancient past, typically of great historical value
The museum's collection of Roman antiquities includes rare coins, pottery, and marble sculptures.
- eccentric adjective
Unconventional and slightly strange; departing from established norms or patterns of behavior
The eccentric billionaire was known for his unusual hobbies and peculiar style of dress.
- entice verb
To attract or tempt by offering pleasure or advantage; to lure someone into action
Retailers use clever advertising techniques to entice customers into purchasing items they do not need.
- integral adjective
Necessary to make a whole complete; essential or fundamental to the nature of something
Regular physical activity is an integral part of maintaining a healthy and balanced lifestyle.
- nondescript adjective
Lacking distinctive or interesting features or characteristics; dull and ordinary in appearance
The spy lived in a nondescript apartment building to avoid drawing any unwanted attention.
- notoriety noun
The state of being famous or well known for some bad quality or deed
The hacker gained notoriety after breaking into the high-security servers of the national bank.
- ramification noun
A complex or unwelcome consequence of an action or event; a branching out of effects
The legal ramifications of the copyright infringement case could affect the entire publishing industry.
- subterranean adjective
Existing, occurring, or done under the earth's surface; concealed or secret
Many ancient cities have vast subterranean tunnels that were used for transportation and storage.
- uninhibited adjective
Expressing one's feelings or thoughts without restraint; not restricted by social conventions
The artist's uninhibited style was praised for its raw emotion and lack of traditional structure.
Answers with explanations
- 27. YES
The statement says the writer **changed her mind** about spending time in Tasmania. In the first paragraph she recalls that at eighteen, moving to the mainland **could not happen soon enough**, but **now, ten years later**, she says **I look forward to going home**. The contrast between then and now shows a change of attitude toward being in Tasmania, and she is the writer, so this is her own claim. The answer is YES.
- 28. YES
The writer quotes Andrew Bain, who uses the phrase **in a virtual blink**. This metaphorical expression signifies that the **transformation** of Hobart's landscape happened very rapidly or **immediately** after MONA opened. The reasoning connects the figurative language ('blink') to the concept of speed or immediacy mentioned in the statement. Answer: YES.
- 29. NO
The statement suggests **other factors** contributed as much as MONA. However, the text explicitly uses the word **solely**, claiming MONA alone was responsible for the **reinvention** of the city. This contradicts the idea that other factors shared equal importance in the transformation. The reasoning bridges 'solely instrumental' to a rejection of other equal contributors. Answer: NO.
- 30. NOT GIVEN
The text mentions **Luke Martin** and his views on MONA's popularity and future plans. However, it **does not mention** whether he or the Council works **closely** with the **director** of MONA. While they are both involved in the tourism/art scene, the specific nature of their working relationship or cooperation is not described. Answer: NOT GIVEN.
- 31. NOT GIVEN
The text mentions that a **local paper** reported a **concern** about the length of tourist stays. However, it **does not state** that **local residents** are the ones **writing** to the paper to express this. The source of the concern (whether from the paper's editors, officials, or residents) is not specified. Answer: NOT GIVEN.
- 32. NO
The statement says tourists now see MONA as a **starting point for longer trips**. Paragraph C reports concern that, **rather than spending a week** in the state, people make **short stays in Hobart only to visit the gallery**. The writer adds that the next challenge is how to **entice holiday makers** to stay longer and venture further afield, which shows this does not yet happen. The claim is contradicted, so the answer is NO.
- 33. B
The correct option states that Martin plans to **combine trips** to MONA with other sites. The text confirms he is investigating **packaging up** MONA with **visits to other galleries**. The alternative regarding focusing solely on MONA is wrong because he wants to extend the stay. Non-art activities or promotional quality are not discussed as his primary strategy here. Answer: B.
- 34. A
The question asks what is **especially interesting** about MONA, and the key idea is **the man who founded the gallery**. Paragraph E says the museum's **wow factor** comes from the **notoriety** of **David Walsh**, its millionaire founder, and the gallery spaces are likened to the mind of the founder himself. The building is called nondescript, so the striking-architecture option is wrong, and the river is only a passing detail. The visitors' reactions are discussed elsewhere, not here.
- 35. D
The correct option explains that the gallery has a **physical effect** on visitors. The text supports this by saying the gallery **engages all of the senses** and causes visitors to **pause** and **linger**. The reasoning process involves linking sensory engagement to a 'physical effect'. Alternatives about exhibit numbers, family groups, or difficulty of work are not the cited reasons for the long stay. Answer: D.
- 36. B
The correct option highlights that a **wide variety** of people visit. The text specifies it is not just **normal gallery-goers**, but people from **all kinds of socioeconomic backgrounds**. This variety is a key point. Distractors suggesting only young/old people or only 'enthusiasts' are wrong because they imply a narrow, rather than diverse, demographic. Answer: B.
- 37. D
The correct option reflects **admiration** for the presentation. The writer describes the strategy of mixing old and new as having **intriguing outcomes** and creating an **intensified feeling** of connection. This phrasing shows she finds the method of display impressive and effective. Distractors suggesting a worldwide comparison or a simple 'illustration' miss the writer's focus on the curated experience. Answer: D.
- 38. C
The blank requires a word for the 'impact' MONA lacks compared to the Guggenheim. The text contrasts the **shimmering metal surfaces** and **spectacular impact** of the Guggenheim with MONA, which **does not have the same spectacular impact**. The word **visual** matches the context of surface appearance and aesthetic impact. Other options like 'ambition' or 'essential' do not fit the description of architectural appearance. Answer: C (visual).
- 39. A
The gap follows a major and refers to something that **needed to be dealt with**, because the gallery was **set beneath the ground**. Paragraph H says Walsh claims the architect **solved a problem** in carrying out a project of this scale in an **underground location**. A problem that must be solved is a **challenge**, which is the word from the list that fits the noun slot. The words ambition and contribution do not fit the idea of a difficulty.
- 40. D
The blank requires a noun for Walsh's 'input'. The text concludes by asking how the state will expand on Walsh's **input** to its cultural setting. The word **contribution** acts as a synonym for 'input' or the beneficial influence he provided. Other words like 'pipe' or 'attraction' do not correctly summarize the concept of long-term cultural influence. Answer: D (contribution).