Style Shifting - IELTS Reading Answers & Explanations
From Collins Practice Tests For IELTS 2 Academic Reading Test 2 · Part 2 · Questions 14–26
Reading Passage
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 14-26, which are based on Reading Passage 2 below.
Style Shifting
A How do we recognise an individual's personal style? We may initially think of the way people dress, their hairstyle, or even the vehicle they drive. But a crucial part of a person's style is the way they speak. How we talk can tell other people a lot about our self or who we would like to be. It can be a strong indication of where we are from, our level of education and our age, and it can also reveal a lot about how we view the situation in which we are speaking. Because we are largely unaware of our language production and language behaviour, we are often not conscious of features in our language that give away which social groups we belong to or even which values we hold. On the other hand, we may be very aware of the linguistic features that are characteristic of another social group, and we may consciously choose to adopt those language features to indicate that we are part of that group – or would like to be, at least. One thing is clear: an individual can change their linguistic style just as easily as they can change their fashion style or hairstyle, if not more easily. This ability to change language style is called style shifting and it happens all the time.
B Style shifting is not an addition to how we normally speak; in fact, you could say that it is impossible to speak without any style. When we speak, we are making several choices within fractions of a second; choices regarding vocabulary, pronunciation, intonation, grammar, sentence length and dialect. Mostly these choices are unconscious and have been learnt in childhood. The most noticeable of the language features that we learn unconsciously are determined by the place where we grow up and may include the vocabulary and grammar patterns of the dialect spoken in that area.
C Other choices are conscious and may be tied to our work; newsreaders or teachers, for example, may speak in a certain way due to their jobs. Personal language style is therefore an individual version of the typical behaviour of a social group and is acquired along with the culture of the group. Moreover, as we grow up and come into contact with other social groups, we continually adjust our speech to the audience, situation and topic.
D So, style shifting is the change we make, consciously or unconsciously, to our personal language depending on the circumstances. And how do we shift our linguistic style? The most common moves are from casual to formal or vice versa. Casual to formal shifts happen in specific contexts and in certain social groups. They are marked by a reduction in certain features of casual speech, such as the use of double negatives or slang words. They are also marked by hypercorrection. Hypercorrection is the over-use of a perceived rule from a more 'prestigious' variety of the language. An example from English is as follows: instead of saying 'There's no difference between you and me', a style shift to more formal speech would be 'There's no difference between you and I'. Conversely, a shift from formal to informal will be marked by greater use of informal speech features. Another type of style shift occurs when we change our style in response to our audience. An example is when an adult speaks to a baby in 'baby language', or again, when a newsreader stops using their personal speech style and begins to use their 'newsreader' style.
E There are a number of theories for why people change their personal speech style. The first was put forward by William Labov in the 1960s. Labov studied the speech patterns of people in New York, and in particular the pronunciation of /r/ – the inclusion of this sound being seen as high status. Labov found that because people were aware of the higher status of this sound, when they were asked to do a task that needed their attention such as reading aloud, they were more likely to produce the sound. On the other hand, when asked to do something which involved their emotions, like telling a story, they paid less attention to the sound. This is called the Attention to Speech model. Another theory, the Communication Accommodation Theory, developed by Howard Giles in the 1970s, says that style shift may be convergent, i.e. it moves closer to the speech style of the person or people with whom we are talking, or it may be divergent, i.e. it moves away from the other person's speech style. The shift is most commonly convergent when people find similarities in their background, social class or even shared interests and likes. In a later theory, the role of the other speaker or audience is emphasised further. In 1984 Allan Bell proposed the Audience Design Model. In this theory, individuals shift their style to win the approval of the people they are speaking to.
F Whatever reason is closest to the truth, whether we pay more attention to how we say something, express social solidarity or seek the approval of our audience, it is clear that everyone possesses the ability to change their language identity according to who they are speaking to and how they would like to project themselves.
Questions
Questions 14–19 True / False / Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 2?
Write
TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this
Questions 20–25 Matching Features
Classify the following as part of
Write the correct letter, A, B or C, next to Questions 20-25.
A. Attention Theory
B. Communication Accommodation Theory
C. Audience Design Model
Questions 26–26 Multiple Choice (One Answer)
Which of the following is NOT an example of style shift?
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q14 | FALSE | Because we are largely unaware of our language production and language behaviour, we are often not conscious of features in our language that give away which social groups we belong to or even which values we hold | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that we do not often know or notice the special parts of our speech that tell others about our background or our beliefs. Answer Explanation: The answer is FALSE because the reading says we usually do not notice or think about how we use language while we talk. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is FALSE because the text states that people are 'largely unaware' of their language use. This means we do not typically pay attention to the specific patterns or habits in our speech. This directly contradicts the question, which says we are 'usually aware' of these things. The passage also uses the word 'unconscious' to describe the choices we make when speaking, which is a synonym for not being aware. |
| Q15 | FALSE | Style shifting is not an addition to how we normally speak; in fact, you could say that it is impossible to speak without any style | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that style is not something extra we add to our speech. Instead, it says that everyone always has a style when they talk, and it is not possible to have no style. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'FALSE' because the reading says it is not possible to speak without any style. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'FALSE' because the passage says that talking without any style is 'impossible'. This means we cannot speak in a 'neutral' way that has no style at all. Style is not an extra thing we choose to use; it is a natural part of every sentence we say. Therefore, we cannot choose to be neutral or style-free. |
| Q16 | TRUE | When we speak, we are making several choices within fractions of a second; choices regarding vocabulary, pronunciation, intonation, grammar, sentence length and dialect | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that while we are talking, we make many different choices about our speech in a very tiny part of a second. Answer Explanation: The answer means that we make decisions about the words we use and how we say them in an extremely short amount of time. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is TRUE because the text explains that our language choices occur in 'fractions of a second.' This phrase is a synonym for 'virtually instantaneously,' which means something happens almost immediately. The passage lists several things we choose very quickly, such as vocabulary and grammar, every time we speak. |
| Q17 | TRUE | Other choices are conscious and may be tied to our work; newsreaders or teachers, for example, may speak in a certain way due to their jobs | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that some ways of talking are deliberate and related to a person's career, giving teachers and newsreaders as examples of people who talk a certain way because of their employment. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the text confirms that some individuals use specific ways of speaking because of the requirements of their work. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is TRUE because Paragraph C specifically mentions that certain professions influence how a person speaks. It gives examples like newsreaders and teachers, stating that they might speak in a particular manner because of their job requirements. This shows that work is a factor in how some people choose their language style. |
| Q18 | NOT GIVEN | They are marked by a reduction in certain features of casual speech, such as the use of double negatives or slang words. They are also marked by hypercorrection | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that changing from casual to formal speech involves using less slang and being very careful with grammar rules, but it never mentions the use of personal pronouns. Answer Explanation: The answer is NOT GIVEN because the passage does not provide information about whether formal speech uses a higher number of personal pronouns than informal speech. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is NOT GIVEN because, although Section D describes the characteristics of shifting from casual to formal speech, it only focuses on the reduction of slang, the removal of double negatives, and 'hypercorrection' (using grammar rules more strictly). It does not mention whether the frequency or quantity of personal pronouns (like 'I', 'you', or 'we') increases during this shift. |
| Q19 | TRUE | Labov found that because people were aware of the higher status of this sound, when they were asked to do a task that needed their attention such as reading aloud, they were more likely to produce the sound | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that when Labov asked people to do something that required them to pay attention, like reading out loud, their way of speaking changed. Answer Explanation: The answer says that Labov's study included a part where people had to read words from a page using their voices. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is TRUE because the text describes William Labov's research in New York. It explains that he gave people tasks to do, and it specifically mentions 'reading aloud' as an example of one of those tasks. This matches the statement in the question. |
| Q20 | A | Labov found that because people were aware of the higher status of this sound, when they were asked to do a task that needed their attention such as reading aloud, they were more likely to produce the sound. On the other hand, when asked to do something which involved their emotions, like telling a story, they paid less attention to the sound. This is called the Attention to Speech model | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that people change their pronunciation when they pay close attention to their words, such as when reading out loud. This behavior is called the Attention to Speech model. Answer Explanation: The answer is Attention Theory, which identifies a way people change their speech when they focus on how they are sounding. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because the passage describes a study by William Labov. He noticed that when people focused on a task like reading aloud, they were more likely to use sounds that were seen as having high status. He named this idea the 'Attention to Speech model', which matches the category 'Attention Theory'. |
| Q21 | B | Another theory, the Communication Accommodation Theory, developed by Howard Giles in the 1970s, says that style shift may be convergent, i.e. it moves closer to the speech style of the person or people with whom we are talking, or it may be divergent, i.e. it moves away from the other person's speech style. The shift is most commonly convergent when people find similarities in their background, social class or even shared interests and likes | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that this specific theory includes 'convergent' shifts, which is when a person talks more like the person they are with because they have things in common or are similar. Answer Explanation: The answer B refers to the 'Communication Accommodation Theory,' which explains how we change how we speak to sound more like the people we are talking to when we want to show we are similar to them. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the passage defines the Communication Accommodation Theory as a way people change their speaking style to be more 'convergent.' This word means the speaker makes their style move 'closer' to the style of the person they are talking to. This usually happens when people have 'similarities' in their interests or background, which matches the idea of showing you are similar to someone. |
| Q22 | A | Labov found that because people were aware of the higher status of this sound, when they were asked to do a task that needed their attention such as reading aloud, they were more likely to produce the sound. On the other hand, when asked to do something which involved their emotions, like telling a story, they paid less attention to the sound. This is called the Attention to Speech model | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that when people do something emotional, like telling a story (narrating), they do not think as much about how they are speaking. This idea is part of the theory called the Attention to Speech model. Answer Explanation: The answer is Attention Theory. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is Attention Theory because the passage links narrating (described as 'telling a story') to the Attention to Speech model. William Labov found that when people focus on their emotions while narrating a story, they pay less attention to the specific sounds and details of their language. This difference in focus (or attention) is the core of this theory. |
| Q23 | C | In 1984 Allan Bell proposed the Audience Design Model. In this theory, individuals shift their style to win the approval of the people they are speaking to | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that in this specific theory, people change how they speak so that the person listening to them will like them or think well of them. Answer Explanation: The answer C refers to the Audience Design Model, which says people change their speech style to make their listeners like or accept them. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because the passage explains that under the Audience Design Model, speakers change their language to 'win the approval' of their audience. In this context, winning 'approval' is a synonym for 'gaining acceptance', meaning the speaker wants to be viewed positively by the person they are talking to. |
| Q24 | A | Labov studied the speech patterns of people in New York, and in particular the pronunciation of /r/ – the inclusion of this sound being seen as high status. Labov found that because people were aware of the higher status of this sound, when they were asked to do a task that needed their attention such as reading aloud, they were more likely to produce the sound. On the other hand, when asked to do something which involved their emotions, like telling a story, they paid less attention to the sound. This is called the Attention to Speech model | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that a researcher named Labov looked at how people said the '/r/' sound. He found that when people focused or paid attention to their tasks (like reading out loud), they used that specific sound more often. This idea is officially named the Attention to Speech model. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the concept of adding a specific sound while speaking is a part of the 'Attention Theory'. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because the passage describes a study by William Labov that focused on the speech patterns regarding the sound '/r/'. The text uses the phrase 'inclusion of this sound' to explain how people used that specific sound more often when they were paying 'attention' to their speech. Labov named this concept the 'Attention to Speech model', which matches the category 'Attention Theory'. |
| Q25 | B | Another theory, the Communication Accommodation Theory, developed by Howard Giles in the 1970s, says that style shift may be convergent, i.e. it moves closer to the speech style of the person or people with whom we are talking, or it may be divergent, i.e. it moves away from the other person's speech style | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that the Communication Accommodation Theory includes a type of change called 'divergent', which happens when a person makes their speech different from the person they are talking with. Answer Explanation: The answer is the Communication Accommodation Theory, which is a set of ideas about how and why people change the way they talk to fit in or stand out from others. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is Communication Accommodation Theory because paragraph E explicitly describes this theory and uses the word 'divergent' to describe when someone moves their speech style away from the person they are talking to. It contrasts this with 'convergent' shifts, where the speaker tries to talk more like the other person. |
| Q26 | A | So, style shifting is the change we make, consciously or unconsciously, to our personal language depending on the circumstances | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that style shifting is a change people make to their language based on the situation. Because it is a change, simply being unaware of how you normally talk is not an example of a shift. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'being unaware of your speech style.' This means not knowing or not paying attention to how you speak. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is Choice A because the text defines style shifting as a specific action: the 'change' or 'adjustment' a person makes to their language. Choices B, C, and D are all examples of the types of changes mentioned in the text (like pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary). While the passage mentions that we are often 'unaware' of our speech, being unaware is a state of mind or a condition, not a 'shift' or a 'change' itself. Therefore, it does not fit the definition of an actual style shift. |