Andrea Palladio: Italian Architect - IELTS Reading Answers & Explanations
From IELTS Past Papers Academic Reading Test 01 · Part 1 · Questions 1–13
Reading Passage
Read the text below and answer questions 1-13.
Andrea Palladio: Italian architect
A new exhibition celebrates Palladio’s architecture 500years on
A Vicenza is a pleasant, prosperous city in the Veneto, 60km west of Venice. Its grand families settled and farmed the area from the 16th century. But its principal claim to fame is Andrea Palladio, who is such an influential architect that a neoclassical style is known as Palladian. The city is a permanent exhibition of some of his finest buildings, and as he was born—in Padua, to be precise—500 years ago, the International Centre for the Study of Palladio's Architecture has an excellent excuse for mounting la grande mostra, the big show.
B The exhibition has the special advantage of being held in one of Palladio's buildings, Palazzo Barbaran da Porto. Its bold facade is a mixture of rustication and decoration set between two rows of elegant columns. On the second floor the pediments are alternately curved or pointed, a Palladian trademark. The harmonious proportions of the atrium at the entrance lead through to a dramatic interior of fine fireplaces and painted ceilings. Palladio's design is simple, clear and not over-crowded. The show has been organised on the same principles, according to Howard Burns, the architectural historian who co-curated it.
C Palladio's father was a miller who settled in Vicenza, where the young Andrea was apprenticed to a skilled stonemason. How did a humble miller's son become a world renowned architect? The answer in the exhibition is that, as a young man, Palladio excelled at carving decorative stonework on columns, doorways and fireplaces. He was plainly intelligent, and lucky enough to come across a rich patron, Gian Giorgio Trissino, a landowner and scholar, who organised his education, taking him to Rome in the 1540s, where he studied the masterpieces of classical Roman and Greek architecture and the work of other influential architects of the time, such as Donato Bramante and Raphael.
D Burns argues that social mobility was also important. Entrepreneurs, prosperous from agriculture in the Veneto, commissioned the promising local architect to design their country villas and their urban mansions. In Venice the aristocracy were anxious to co-opt talented artists, and Palladio was given the chance to design the buildings that have made him famous—the churches of San Giorgio Maggiore and the Redentore, both easy to admire because they can be seen from the city's historical centre across a stretch of water.
E He tried his hand at bridges—his unbuilt version of the Rialto Bridge was decorated with the large pediment and columns of a temple —and, after a fire at the Ducal Palace, he offered an alternative design which bears an uncanny resemblance to the Banqueting House in Whitehall in London. Since it was designed by Inigo Jones, Palladio's first foreign disciple, this is not as surprising as it sounds.
F Jones, who visited Italy in 1614, bought a trunk full of the master's architectural drawings; they passed through the hands of the Dukes of Burlington and Devonshire before settling at the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1894. Many are now on display at Palazzo Barbaran. What they show is how Palladio drew on the buildings of ancient Rome as models. The major theme of both his rural and urban building was temple architecture, with a strong pointed pediment supported by columns and approached by wide steps.
G Palladio's work for rich landowners alienates unreconstructed critics on the Italian left, but among the papers in the show are designs for cheap housing in Venice. In the wider world, Palladio's reputation has been nurtured by a text he wrote and illustrated, "Quattro Libri dell' Architettura". His influence spread to St Petersburg and to Charlottesville in Virginia, where Thomas Jefferson commissioned a Palladian villa he called Monticello.
H Vicenza's show contains detailed models of the major buildings and is leavened by portraits of Palladio's teachers and clients by Titian, Veronese and Tintoretto; the paintings of his Venetian buildings are all by Canaletto, no less. This is an uncompromising exhibition; many of the drawings are small and faint, and there are no sideshows for children, but the impact of harmonious lines and satisfying proportions is to impart in a viewer a feeling of benevolent calm. Palladio is history's most therapeutic architect.
I "Palladio, 500 Anni: La Grande Mostra" is at Palazzo Barbaran da Porto, Vicenza, until January 6th 2009. The exhibition continues at the Royal Academy of Arts, London, from January 31st to April 13th, and travels afterwards to Barcelona and Madrid.
Questions
Questions 1–7 True / False / Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1?
True if the statement agree with the information
False if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN If there is no information on this
Questions 8–13 Short Answers
Answer the questions below
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | NOT GIVEN | The exhibition has the special advantage of being held in one of Palladio's buildings, Palazzo Barbaran da Porto | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage names the building where the show takes place, but it does not say if the building has been recently fixed or renovated. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the text does not mention whether or not the building holding the exhibition has been newly renovated. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is NOT GIVEN because while the text tells us that the exhibition is held in Palazzo Barbaran da Porto and describes its architecture, it never states whether this building was newly renovated. |
| Q2 | TRUE | On the second floor the pediments are alternately curved or pointed, a Palladian trademark | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that the second level of the building has curved or pointed decorations called pediments, which are a famous special feature (trademark) of Palladio's design style. Answer Explanation: The answer is TRUE because the building has special features that typical Palladio buildings are well known for. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is TRUE because the passage mentions that Palazzo Barbaran da Porto has curved or pointed pediments, which are a "Palladian trademark." The word "trademark" means a special feature or style that typically identifies a particular person's work, showing that this building represents Palladio's typical design. |
| Q3 | FALSE | Palladio's father was a miller who settled in Vicenza, where the young Andrea was apprenticed to a skilled stonemason | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage clearly states that Palladio's father worked as a miller, showing that he was not an architect. Answer Explanation: The answer is FALSE because Palladio's father was not an architect. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is FALSE because the passage explicitly states that Palladio's father was a "miller" (a person who works in a mill making flour), rather than an architect (someone who designs buildings). Because the statement claims his father worked as an architect, it directly contradicts the information in the text. |
| Q4 | NOT GIVEN | He was plainly intelligent, and lucky enough to come across a rich patron, Gian Giorgio Trissino, a landowner and scholar, who organised his education, taking him to Rome in the 1540s, where he studied the masterpieces of classical Roman and Greek architecture and the work of other influential architects of the time, such as Donato Bramante and Raphael | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that a rich supporter named Gian Giorgio Trissino helped organize Palladio's learning, but it never mentions whether Palladio's own family agreed or refused to give money for his studies. Answer Explanation: The answer is "NOT GIVEN" because the text does not state whether Palladio's family refused to pay for his education. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is NOT GIVEN because the passage only tells us that Palladio's father was a miller and that a rich benefactor named Gian Giorgio Trissino organized and paid for his education. There is no mention at all about his family refusing to pay for his architectural studies. |
| Q5 | FALSE | and, after a fire at the Ducal Palace, he offered an alternative design which bears an uncanny resemblance to the Banqueting House in Whitehall in London. Since it was designed by Inigo Jones, Palladio's first foreign disciple, this is not as surprising as it sounds | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that Palladio created a design for the Ducal Palace that looked very similar to the Banqueting House in London. This resemblance happened because the Banqueting House was built by Inigo Jones, a student who followed and learned from Palladio. Answer Explanation: The answer is FALSE because Palladio did not base his design on an English building; instead, the English building was based on Palladio's own architectural style. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is FALSE because the passage explains that Palladio's alternative design for the Ducal Palace looked similar to the Banqueting House in London because the London building was created by Inigo Jones, who was "Palladio's first foreign disciple" (follower). This shows that the English architect learned from and copied Palladio, rather than Palladio copying an English building. |
| Q6 | TRUE | Palladio's work for rich landowners alienates unreconstructed critics on the Italian left, but among the papers in the show are designs for cheap housing in Venice | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that along with his work for wealthy landowners, Palladio also drew plans for low-cost housing, showing that he designed buildings for both rich and poor people. Answer Explanation: The answer TRUE means that the statement correctly reflects the information given in the text. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is TRUE because the passage mentions that Palladio created designs for both rich and poor people. Specifically, he designed buildings for rich landowners and also created plans for cheap housing in Venice for less wealthy people. |
| Q7 | TRUE | Vicenza's show contains detailed models of the major buildings and is leavened by portraits of Palladio's teachers and clients by Titian, Veronese and Tintoretto; the paintings of his Venetian buildings are all by Canaletto, no less | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that the exhibition includes portraits (pictures of people) of Palladio's teachers and clients painted by famous artists such as Titian, Veronese, and Tintoretto. Answer Explanation: The answer "TRUE" means that the statement accurately reflects the information given in the text. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is TRUE because the text states that the show (exhibition) features portraits (paintings of people) depicting Palladio's teachers and clients, created by Titian, Veronese, and Tintoretto, who are well-known, famous artists. |
| Q8 | Stonemason | where the young Andrea was apprenticed to a skilled stonemason | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that when Andrea Palladio was young, he worked as a trainee for a person who cuts and shapes stone. Answer Explanation: The answer means that Palladio was learning to work as a person who cuts and builds with stone. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'Stonemason' because paragraph C explains that during his youth, Palladio was 'apprenticed' (learning a job from a skilled worker) to a 'stonemason' before he went on to become a famous architect. |
| Q9 | Gian Giorgio Trissino | He was plainly intelligent, and lucky enough to come across a rich patron, Gian Giorgio Trissino, a landowner and scholar, who organised his education, taking him to Rome in the 1540s, where he studied the masterpieces of classical Roman and Greek architecture and the work of other influential architects of the time, such as Donato Bramante and Raphael | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that a rich supporter named Gian Giorgio Trissino planned Palladio's learning and took him to Rome so he could study famous classical buildings and work by other great architects. Answer Explanation: The answer means the name of the rich person who supported and helped plan Palladio's learning about building design. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is Gian Giorgio Trissino because the text explains that he was a rich supporter (patron) who 'organised his education' (arranged his architectural studies) and took Palladio to Rome so he could learn about famous buildings. |
| Q10 | Inigo Jones | Since it was designed by Inigo Jones, Palladio's first foreign disciple, this is not as surprising as it sounds | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that the Banqueting House was designed by Inigo Jones, who was the very first non-Italian follower of Palladio. Answer Explanation: The answer is Inigo Jones, who was an architect from another country outside Italy. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is Inigo Jones because paragraph E describes him as Palladio's first foreign disciple. Here, 'foreign' means non-Italian, and a 'disciple' is a follower or student who learns from and is influenced by a master. |
| Q11 | Temple | The major theme of both his rural and urban building was temple architecture, with a strong pointed pediment supported by columns and approached by wide steps | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that temple design was the main idea (major theme) used for the buildings Palladio designed in both the countryside (rural) and the city (urban). Answer Explanation: The answer means a religious building called a temple. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'Temple' because paragraph F states that the main style behind both Palladio's countryside and city buildings was temple architecture. This shows that ancient Roman temples had the strongest influence on his designs. |
| Q12 | Quattro Libri dell' Architettura | In the wider world, Palladio's reputation has been nurtured by a text he wrote and illustrated, "Quattro Libri dell' Architettura" | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that Palladio wrote and drew illustrations for a text named "Quattro Libri dell' Architettura", which helped build and strengthen his fame across the world. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to the name of the book written and illustrated by Palladio, which helped make him more famous around the world. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "Quattro Libri dell' Architettura" because the passage explicitly states that Palladio's global reputation was nurtured (strengthened or developed) by a written work with this title. |
| Q13 | Benevolent calm | the impact of harmonious lines and satisfying proportions is to impart in a viewer a feeling of benevolent calm | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that when someone looks at Palladio's balanced and well-shaped building designs, it gives them a peaceful and kindly feeling. Answer Explanation: The answer means a peaceful and kind feeling of quiet happiness. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is found in Paragraph H. The text mentions that looking at the exhibition's designs gives a person who sees them (a viewer or visitor) a special feeling. That feeling is described in the passage as "benevolent calm". Therefore, "benevolent calm" is the exact correct phrase. |