The origins of cinema
Read The origins of cinema and check the IELTS Reading answers. Many consider that the history of motion pictures began in 1824, when the British doctor Peter Mark Roget described an optical effect he called *persistence of vision* - the illusion of movement created when a series of still pictures…
Passage preview
Many consider that the history of motion pictures began in 1824, when the British doctor Peter Mark Roget described an optical effect he called *persistence of vision* - the illusion of movement created when a series of still pictures are set into motion. Over the next decades, this idea inspired a number of simple optical toys and mechanical inventions related to motion and vision. One of the most significant was created in 1834 by the British inventor William George Horner. Originally called a *Daedalum*, but better known by its later name of *Zoetrope*, Horner's device consisted of a hollow drum, rotated by means of a crank. Around the drum's inner surface was a strip of paper with a sequence of paintings, drawings, or illustrations on it. As the device turned, the viewer could observe the illusion of moving images through regularly spaced narrow slits.
Vocabulary from this passage
10 words worth learning before you sit the test, each with the sentence it appears in.
- celluloid noun
A transparent, flammable plastic material derived from nitrocellulose and camphor, historically used for photographic film
The introduction of flexible celluloid film revolutionized motion picture production in the late nineteenth century.
- commercial exhibition noun
A public presentation or screening of creative work organized primarily for financial gain
The first commercial exhibition of moving pictures attracted large crowds of paying spectators in Paris.
- ingenious adjective
Characterized by cleverness, originality, and inventive skill in design, conception, or mechanical execution
The engineer devised an ingenious mechanism to regulate the intermittent movement of photographic film.
- momentarily adverb
For a very brief period of time; briefly pausing before resuming continuous activity
The mechanical shutter momentarily paused the advancing film strip to expose each individual frame cleanly.
- persistence of vision noun
An optical phenomenon where an afterimage briefly remains on the retina, creating the illusion of continuous motion
Early cinematic animation depended heavily on the biological quirk of persistence of vision.
- photographic emulsion noun
A light-sensitive chemical suspension coated on glass plates or celluloid film to capture latent images
Experiments with silver halide photographic emulsion allowed pioneers to record exposures in split seconds.
- rapid succession noun
A series of events, actions, or visual items occurring in extremely quick and continuous order
Images displayed in rapid succession trick the human brain into perceiving seamless cinematic movement.
- refine verb
To improve or make something more sophisticated by introducing subtle changes and eliminating imperfections
Inventors worked tirelessly to refine optical projection technology throughout the late nineteenth century.
- sprocket noun
A toothed wheel whose projections engage with perforations or links to drive mechanical film transport
The camera's sprocket engaged precisely with the perforated edges of the film strip.
- stereoscopic adjective
Relating to or denoting a process or device producing the visual illusion of three-dimensional depth
Early inventors experimented with stereoscopic photographs to produce convincing three-dimensional moving illusions for audiences.
Answers with explanations
- 1. drum
The diagram label requires a **singular noun** identifying the main body of the device. Scanning the first paragraph for the inventor **Horner** leads to the description of his apparatus. The text explains that the mechanism **consisted of a hollow drum**, which was rotated during operation. Verbatim extraction of **drum** fulfills the grammatical requirement of the phrase and adheres strictly to the **one-word limit**. Writing "hollow drum" would violate the single-word instruction, while "crank" names the handle rather than the body being turned.
- 2. crank
The gap follows the indefinite article and demands a **singular noun** denoting the mechanism used to turn the apparatus. In the first paragraph, the description of Horner's device states that the drum was **rotated by means of a crank**. The source phrase **rotated by means of** directly paraphrases the diagram's prompt **turned by**. Extracting the verbatim term **crank** satisfies the sentence structure and obeys the **one-word limit**. Candidates might consider "motor", but motor power was introduced much later by Dickson, making it historically and textually incorrect.
- 3. paper
The gap precedes the noun "strip" and requires a **noun adjunct** or material describing what the band was made of. Scanning paragraph 1 for the images inside the drum reveals that the inner surface held a **strip of paper** displaying illustrations. The question's phrase **series of pictures** matches the text's **sequence of paintings, drawings, or illustrations**. Lifting **paper** directly from the source completes the compound noun phrase accurately within the **one-word limit**. Selecting "celluloid" would be anachronistic, as celluloid film was not adopted until Dickson's work decades later.
- 3-4: NOT GIVEN
3: The gap precedes the noun "strip" and requires a **noun adjunct** or material describing what the band was made of. Scanning paragraph 1 for the images inside the drum reveals that the inner surface held a **strip of paper** displaying illustrations. The question's phrase **series of pictures** matches the text's **sequence of paintings, drawings, or illustrations**. Lifting **paper** directly from the source completes the compound noun phrase accurately within the **one-word limit**. Selecting "celluloid" would be anachronistic, as celluloid film was not adopted until Dickson's work decades later.
4: The diagram pointer indicates the viewing apertures and requires a **plural noun**. Scanning the end of the opening paragraph for the viewing process locates the phrase describing how a spectator observed the effect. The passage states that the observer saw the illusion through **regularly spaced narrow slits**. The question's phrase **‘moving’ images were viewed** parallels the passage wording **viewer could observe the illusion of moving images**. The single word **slits** fits grammatically as the subject of the clause and complies with the **one-word limit**.
- 4. slits
The diagram pointer indicates the viewing apertures and requires a **plural noun**. Scanning the end of the opening paragraph for the viewing process locates the phrase describing how a spectator observed the effect. The passage states that the observer saw the illusion through **regularly spaced narrow slits**. The question's phrase **‘moving’ images were viewed** parallels the passage wording **viewer could observe the illusion of moving images**. The single word **slits** fits grammatically as the subject of the clause and complies with the **one-word limit**.
- 5. ["plates","glass"]
The gap follows the preposition "on" and requires a **noun** indicating the physical surface supporting the images. Locating the date **1861** and the invention **Kinematoscope** guides the reader to the second paragraph. The text states that the device contained stereoscopic photographs on **glass plates**. The prompt's phrase **3D images** directly paraphrases **stereoscopic (3D) photos**. Either **plates** (the base noun) or **glass** (the material) is grammatically acceptable and fulfills the **one-word limit**. Writing "glass plates" would fail the strict length constraint.
- 6. moving
The gap follows "seemed to be" and requires a **participle or adjective** describing the visual effect of the photographs. Scanning paragraph 2 for the year **1870** and the inventor **Heyl** identifies the demonstration of the Phasmatrope. The passage notes it was designed to show **apparently 'moving' photographs**. The question's prompt **seemed to be** bridges directly to the passage's qualifying adverb **apparently**. Extracting the single word **moving** completes the clause grammatically and preserves the **one-word limit**. Writing "dancers" would describe the subject rather than the visual appearance.
- 7. ["Zoetrope","zoetrope"]
The gap requires a **proper noun** naming the prior device that was upgraded. Scanning paragraph 3 for the date **1877** and the device name **Praxinoscope** brings the reader to Reynaud's contribution. The source explicitly describes this invention as a **refined version of the *Zoetrope***. Here, **refined version** directly mirrors the table's prompt **improved version**. Extracting **Zoetrope** supplies the precise name while respecting the **one-word limit**. Competing inventions such as the "Phasmatrope" were separate historical lines rather than the specific precursor refined by Reynaud.
- 8. ["disc","disk"]
The gap follows the indefinite article and requires a **singular noun** denoting the object from which images were projected. Locating **1879** and **Muybridge** in the third paragraph directs attention to the Zoopraxiscope. The passage explains that images appeared on a screen after being **projected from a series of photos printed on a disc**. The phrase **projected pictures** bridges directly to **projected from a series of photos**. Lifting the verbatim noun **disc** satisfies the grammar and conforms to the **one-word limit**; the standard variant "disk" is equally acceptable.
- 9. TRUE
The statement asserts that the primary benefit of Marey's apparatus was its rapid recording capability. Scanning paragraph 4 for the name **Etienne-Jules Marey** and the date **1882** leads to the account of his photographic gun. The passage highlights that it **could take 12 photographs per second** and was **revolutionary** because he achieved a rate of 30 images per second, fulfilling the prerequisite of split-second capture. The concept of **speed** is directly supported by the rapid frame rates cited. Because the source fully confirms the claim, the answer is **TRUE**.
- 10. FALSE
The statement claims that Dickson's motorized drive system remained in service over an extended era. Scanning paragraph 5 for **William Dickson** and **motor-powered** leads to the discussion of the Kinetograph. The author writes that its **bulky motor was soon to be replaced with a lightweight hand-crank mechanism**. Although the camera design itself influenced the next century, the specific motor system was rapidly discarded. Because **soon to be replaced** directly contradicts the assertion that the motor system was used for **a great many years**, the answer is **FALSE**, not NOT GIVEN.
- 11. FALSE
The statement claims that multiple films created for the cylinder Kinetoscope have survived to the modern day. Scanning paragraph 6 for the phrase **cylinder Kinetoscope** leads to the mention of Dickson's trial production *Monkeyshines No. 1*. The text describes it as **the only surviving film from the cylinder Kinetoscope**. Stating that there is an **only surviving film** directly contradicts the claim that **several movies** are still in existence. Because there is a clear factual contradiction between the source and the prompt, the correct answer is **FALSE**.
- 12. TRUE
The statement claims that the apparatus developed by the Lumière brothers served both recording and display functions. Scanning paragraph 7 for **Louis and Auguste Lumière** leads to the description of their Cinematographe. The passage explicitly characterizes it as a **multi-purpose device, which combined camera, printer, and projecting capabilities**. In cinematography, the **camera** makes films, while **projecting capabilities** show them to audiences. Because the passage provides clear evidence that the machine performed both roles, the claim is fully corroborated, making the answer **TRUE**.
- 13. NOT GIVEN
The statement claims that every single patron at the Salon Indien screening had never previously viewed a motion picture. Scanning the final paragraph for **Salon Indien** and **December 28, 1895** locates the reference to the first commercial screening to a paying public. While the text confirms the commercial debut of projected film, it is completely silent regarding the personal viewing backgrounds of the individual spectators. They may or may not have witnessed earlier non-projected demonstrations. Because the passage neither confirms nor contradicts the claim, the answer is **NOT GIVEN**.