Braille – A System Of Writing For The Blind - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From IELTS Practice Test Plus 1 Academic Listening Test 2 · Part 3 · Questions 21–30
Audio
Questions
Questions 21–23 Note Completion
Complete the notes below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS or A NUMBER for each answer.
Braille – a system of writing for the blind
- Louis Braille was blinded as a child in his 21
- Braille invented the writing system in the year 22
- An early writing system for the blind used embossed letters.
- A military system using dots was called 23
Questions 24–27 Multiple Choice (One Answer)
Circle the correct letters A-C.
Questions 28–30 Short Answers
List THREE subjects that also use a Braille code.
Write NO MORE THAN ONE WORD for each answer.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q21 | father's workshop | but he lost his sight at the age of three as the result of an accident in his father's workshop | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that Louis stopped being able to see when he was three years old because of a mistake or injury that occurred in his dad's work area. Answer Explanation: The answer identifies the place where Louis Braille's father worked, which is where Louis had a bad accident that made him unable to see. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is found in the part of the talk about Louis Braille's childhood. Dr. Graycar explains that he became blind at the age of three. She specifically says the accident happened in his 'father's workshop,' which explains where he was blinded as a child. |
| Q22 | 1824 | Louis Braille then went to Paris to the National Institute for Blind Children and that's where he invented his writing system at the age of only 15 in 1824 while he was at the Institute | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that Louis Braille moved to Paris and made his new system of writing in 1824 while he was a student at a special school. Answer Explanation: The answer is the specific year, 1824, when Louis Braille created the code for people who cannot see. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 1824 because the text clearly states that Louis Braille developed his famous writing system in that year. The speaker mentions that he was only fifteen years old and studying at the National Institute for Blind Children when he invented it. Keywords to notice are "invented" and "writing system," which match the context of the notes. |
| Q23 | night writing | When he first went to Paris he heard about a military system of writing using twelve dots. This was a system invented by an enterprising French army officer and it was known as 'night writing' | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that there was a way of writing for soldiers using 12 dots. This system was called 'night writing'. Answer Explanation: The answer 'night writing' is the name of the military communication system that used dots to share messages in the dark. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'night writing' because the transcript explicitly mentions a military system created by a French army officer for battle communications at night. Dr. Graycar states that this system, which used twelve dots, was known by that specific name. Note the keywords 'military system' and 'dots' in the question, which match the description of 'night writing' in the text. |
| Q24 | B | Braille numbered the dot positions 1–2–3 downward on the left and 4–5–6 downward on the right | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that the dots are given numbers. To find dots 1, 2, and 3, you look at the left side and go down. To find dots 4, 5, and 6, you look at the right side and go down. Answer Explanation: The answer is Diagram B, which shows how the dots in a Braille block are numbered. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because Dr. Graycar explains the exact layout of the Braille cell. She says the dots are numbered in two vertical lines. On the left side, the dots go from 1 to 3 moving downward. On the right side, they go from 4 to 6 moving downward. Diagram B is the only one that places the numbers in this specific order from top to bottom on the left and right. |
| Q25 | A | The letters of the alphabet are then formed by using different combinations of these dots But Braille also has its own short forms for common words. For example, 'b' for the word 'but' and 'h' for 'have' – there are many other contractions like this |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript first says that dots are combined to make the letters of the alphabet. It then explains that Braille has special "short forms" (quick ways to write) for words that people use often, like using one symbol for the whole word 'but' or 'have'. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the groups of dots in Braille are used to show both specific letters and whole common words. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because the speaker describes two ways Braille dots are used. First, she mentions that the alphabet is created by patterns of dots. Second, she explains that there are "short forms" or "contractions" where certain dots stand for whole "common words" rather than just one letter. Therefore, both letters and words are represented. |
| Q26 | C | It was immediately accepted and used by Braille's fellow students at the school but the system was not officially adopted until 1854, two years after Braille's death | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that although students used the system early on, the official approval did not come until 1854. This happened exactly two years after the creator, Louis Braille, had died. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the Braille system became the official method for blind people to read only after Louis Braille, the person who created it, had passed away. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because the text states that while students liked the system immediately, the official start didn't happen until 1854. The text specifically mentions that this date was two years after Braille's death. This confirms he was no longer alive when the system was officially accepted. Keywords to notice are officially adopted and after Braille's death. |
| Q27 | C | Dr. Graycar: Well, you can write it by hand on to paper with a device called a slate and stylus but the trick is that you have to write backwards e.g. from right to left so that then when you turn your sheet over, the dots face upwards and can be read like English from left to right |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that Braille can be done by hand, but the writer must do it 'backwards' (from right to left). This way, when the paper is turned over, the raised dots face the correct direction to be read regularly from left to right. Answer Explanation: The answer means that when people write Braille by hand, they must write from right to left (the opposite direction) so that the dots appear correctly when the paper is flipped over to be read. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because Dr. Graycar explains that to create Braille by hand using a slate and stylus, the person must 'write backwards' (from right to left). This is unusual because the writer is working in reverse. This method ensures that once the paper is turned over, the raised dots can be read normally from left to right, just like English. This confirms that handwritten Braille is produced in reverse, while reading the final product happens in the standard direction. |
| Q28 | mathematics / maths | For instance, in 1965 they created a form of Braille for Mathematics | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that in the year 1965, a special way of using Braille was made for the subject of Mathematics. Answer Explanation: The answer is the field of study using numbers and logic, often called maths for short. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is mathematics because Dr. Graycar explains that Braille is not just for reading stories; it also has special versions for specific subjects. She explicitly mentions that a code was made specifically for this subject in 1965. |
| Q29 | science | And there's also a version for scientific notation | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that besides reading and writing words, there is a specific type of Braille made for science subjects. Answer Explanation: The answer "science" means that Braille is not only for reading stories but is also used for scientific information and symbols. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "science" because Dr. Graycar lists several specific subjects that have their own special Braille codes. After mentioning a code for mathematics, she mentions that there is a special version of Braille used for scientific notation. This confirms that science is one of the subjects that uses its own Braille system. |
| Q30 | music | Oh and yes, I almost forgot, there is now a version for music notation as well | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that there is a special way to use the Braille code created specifically for writing and reading musical notes. Answer Explanation: The answer means that music is a subject that uses a special Braille system for people who cannot see. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is music because Dr. Graycar mentions three specific subjects that have their own Braille codes: Mathematics, science (scientific notation), and music. The question asks for the third subject mentioned in this list. |
Transcript
Chairman: We're very pleased to welcome to our special interest group today, Dr. Linda Graycar who is from the City Institute for the Blind. Linda is going to talk to us about the system of writing for the blind known as Braille. Linda, welcome.
Dr. Graycar: Thank you.
Chairman: Now we'd like to keep this session pretty informal, and I know Linda won't mind if members of the group want to ask questions as we go along. Let's start with an obvious one. What is Braille and where does it get its name from?
Dr. Graycar: Well, as you said, Braille is a system of writing used by and for people who cannot see. It gets its name from the man who invented it, the Frenchman Louis Braille who lived in the early 19th century.
Chairman: Was Louis Braille actually blind himself?
Dr. Graycar: Well ... he wasn't born blind, but he lost his sight at the age of three as the result of an accident in his father's workshop. Louis Braille then went to Paris to the National Institute for Blind Children and that's where he invented his writing system at the age of only 15 in 1824 while he was at the Institute.
Chairman: But he wasn't the first person to invent a system of touch reading for the blind, was he?
Dr. Graycar: No – another Frenchman had already come up with the idea of printing embossed letters that stood out from the paper but this was very cumbersome and inefficient.
Chairman: Did Louis Braille base his system on this first one?
Dr. Graycar: No, not really. When he first went to Paris he heard about a military system of writing using twelve dots. This was a system invented by an enterprising French army officer and it was known as 'night writing'. It wasn't meant for the blind, but rather ... for battle communications at night.
Chairman: That must've been fun!
Dr. Graycar: Anyway, Braille took this system as a starting point but instead of using the twelve dots which 'night writing' used, he cut the number of dots in half and developed a six-dot system.
Chairman: Can you give us a little more information about how it works?
Dr. Graycar: Well, it's a system of touch reading which uses an arrangement of raised dots called a cell. Braille numbered the dot positions 1–2–3 downward on the left and 4–5–6 downward on the right. The letters of the alphabet are then formed by using different combinations of these dots.
Student: So is the writing system based on the alphabet with each word being individually spelt out?
Dr. Graycar: Well ... it's not quite that simple, I'm afraid! For instance, the first 10 letters of the alphabet are formed using dots 1, 2, 4 and 5. But Braille also has its own short forms for common words. For example, 'b' for the word 'but' and 'h' for 'have' – there are many other contractions like this.
Chairman: So you spell out most words letter by letter, but you use short forms for common words.
Dr. Graycar: Yes. Though, I think that makes it sound a little easier than it actually is!
Chairman: And was it immediately accepted? I mean, did it catch on straight away?
Dr. Graycar: Well, yes and no! It was immediately accepted and used by Braille's fellow students at the school but the system was not officially adopted until 1854, two years after Braille's death. So, official acceptance was slow in coming!
Student: I suppose it works for all languages which use the roman alphabet?
Dr. Graycar: Yes, it does, with adaptations, of course.
Student: Can it be written by hand or do you need a machine to produce Braille?
Dr. Graycar: Well, you can write it by hand on to paper with a device called a slate and stylus but the trick is that you have to write backwards ... e.g. from right to left so that then when you turn your sheet over, the dots face upwards and can be read like English from left to right.
Student: Oh, I see.
Dr. Graycar: But these days you'd probably use a Braille-writing machine, which is a lot easier!
Chairman: And, tell us, Linda. Is Braille used in other ways? Other than for reading text?
Dr. Graycar: Yes, indeed. In addition to the literary Braille code, as it's known, which of course includes English and French, there are other codes. For instance, in 1965 they created a form of Braille for Mathematics.
Student: I can't, imagine trying to do maths in Braille!
Dr. Graycar: Yes, that does sound difficult, I agree. And there's also a version for scientific notation. Oh and yes, I almost forgot, there is now a version for music notation as well.
Chairman: Well, thanks, Linda.