# The Evolution of Moving Pictures from Horse Racing Photos to Talkies

IELTS Academic Listening - 10 questions - 9 minutes - Multiple choice, Sentence completion

Source: Recording, questions and answer key from Cambridge IELTS 6, Test 2, Listening Part 4. © Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Used for educational practice. Explanations and evidence notes are written by Testmigo.

## The recording

7 minutes of audio. Practice it with the player on the page; the transcript is on the answers page.

## Questions

### Questions 31-37: Multiple choice

The history of moving pictures. Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.

31. Some photographs of a horse running showed
   - A. all feet off the ground.
   - B. at least one foot on the ground.
   - C. two feet off the ground.

32. The Scotsman employed by Edison
   - A. designed a system to use the technology Edison had invented.
   - B. used available technology to make a new system.
   - C. was already an expert in motion picture technology.

33. One major problem with the first system was that
   - A. only one person could be filmed.
   - B. people could only see very short films.
   - C. the camera was very heavy.

34. Rival systems started to appear in Europe after people had
   - A. been told about the American system.
   - B. seen the American system.
   - C. used the American system.

35. In 1895, a famous new system was developed by
   - A. a French team working alone.
   - B. a French and German team working together.
   - C. a German team who invented the word 'cinema'.

36. Longer films were not made at the time because of problems involving
   - A. the subject matter.
   - B. the camera.
   - C. the film projector.

37. The 'Lantham Loop' invention relied on
   - A. removing tension between the film reels.
   - B. adding three more film reels to the system.
   - C. making one of the film reels more effective.

### Questions 38-40: Sentence completion

Complete the sentences below. Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.

38. The first motion picture was called The _____.

39. _____ were used for the first time on film in 1926.

40. Subtitles were added to The Lights of New York because of its _____.

[Practice online with a timer and instant marking](https://testmigo.com/ielts/listening/the-evolution-of-moving-pictures-from-horse-racing-photos-to-talkies) - [Answers and explanations](https://testmigo.com/ielts/listening/the-evolution-of-moving-pictures-from-horse-racing-photos-to-talkies/answers)