If you want to develop your listening skills, try these tasks as you listen to the text. The answers are at the bottom of this page, after the Vocabulary. Thanks to Natasha Groves for preparing the tasks.
If you want to listen and read, just scroll down to the text.
1. Listening for main ideas
First, just listen to the text, taking notes if you wish. What information can you catch during this first listening?
2. Now listen again and answer the following questions:
- When was the fourth National Reading Survey conducted?
- How many people were in the survey?
- Did men or women read more?
- According to the survey, why do most people read?
- What were the most popular types of fiction and of non-fiction?
- What age group had the lowest number of people who read?
- What was the average number of non-fiction and of fiction books read?
- Which age group read the most fiction books?
- Give at least two reasons why some people do not read books.
- If parents read to their children, what will happen?
Text
The fourth National Reading Survey was conducted in March this year and asked just over 1000 adults about their reading habits. 87 percent of those people had read at least one book in the past year. Slightly more women than men had read a book in the past 12 months (90 percent of women, compared with 84 percent of men). The main reasons given for reading were enjoyment and relaxation.
Fiction was a little more popular than non-fiction. 80 percent of adults had read a fiction book but only 74 percent had read a non-fiction book. The most popular fiction was general fiction, followed by crime, thriller, or adventure. The most popular non-fiction genres were biographies and autobiographies, followed by history and politics. In addition, 32 percent of adults had read a poetry book in the last year.
All age groups had a high percentage of people who read (around 90 percent). Reading was lowest among 18-24 year olds (82 percent), 45-54 year olds (83 percent), and 25-34 year olds (84 percent). The average number of books read in the past 12 months was 5.5 non-fiction books and 12.6 fiction books. People aged 65 and over read the most fiction books whereas those under 35 years of age read the fewest.
There has been significant change in how people are reading. Most people read printed books (93 percent), but 60 percent also read e-books and 43 percent also listen to audio books.
However, 14 percent of people in the survey had not read a book in the past 12 months. They said they do not have time to read, could not find a book that interests them, or don’t like reading. Some find it easier to watch movies based on books.
63 percent of the people in the survey who have children read to them once a week or more. 25 percent read to them every day, which will encourage the children to read as they grow older. However, 20 percent never read to their children. Consequently, these children may not develop a reading habit.
If you’d like to learn more about this topic, listen to the story from 2017 and compare the results between then and now.
Vocabulary
fiction – books and stories about imaginary people and events
thriller – a book (or film) that tells an exciting story
genre – a type of text or music which has certain features that all examples of this type share
biography (plural biographies) – the story of a person’s life, written by another person
autobiography – the story of a person’s life, written by that person
audio book – a recording of a book being read aloud
Answers
a. When was the fourth National Reading Survey conducted?
In March this year
b. How many people were in the survey?
Just over 1000
c. Did men or women read more?
Women
d. According to the survey, why do most people read?
Enjoyment and relaxation
e. What were the most popular types of fiction and of non-fiction?
The most popular fiction was general fiction, followed by crime, thriller, or adventure. The most popular non-fiction genres were biographies and autobiographies, followed by history and politics.
f. What age group had the lowest number of people who read?
18-24 year olds (82 percent)
g. What was the average number of non-fiction and of fiction books read?
5.5 non-fiction books and 12.6 fiction books
h. Which age group read the most fiction books?
People aged 65 and over
i. Give at least two reasons why some people do not read books.
They said they do not have time to read, could not find a book that interests them, or don’t like reading. Some find it easier to watch movies based on books.
j. If parents read to their children, what will happen?
It will encourage the children to read as they grow older.