The Origin and Development of Applause
Read The Origin and Development of Applause and check the IELTS Reading answers. Scholars aren't quite sure about the origins of applause, but the form that is still most common, clapping the hands together, was formalized in Western culture during and after performances. During the time of the Rom…
Passage preview
Scholars aren't quite sure about the origins of applause, but the form that is still most common, clapping the hands together, was formalized in Western culture during and after performances. During the time of the Roman Republic (509BC 27BC) the common way to end a play was for the chief actor to yell 'Valete et plaudite!' ('Goodbye and applause!') thus signaling to the audience it was time for them to give praise by striking hands and making explosive noise. It's no surprise, then, that this became a means of crowd manipulation. Rome saw the rise of a professional class of laudicen, or 'people who clapped for their dinner', hired to infiltrate crowds and manipulate their reaction to performances. Actors would hire a dozen or so people to spread out among their audiences and prolong the applause, or if they were feeling especially bold, to start 'spontaneous' chants and shouts of praise.
Vocabulary from this passage
10 words worth learning before you sit the test, each with the sentence it appears in.
- astute adjective
Having or showing an ability to accurately assess situations or people and turn this to one's advantage
Astute politicians often used the volume of applause to gauge their popularity among the citizens.
- crowd manipulation noun
The intentional use of techniques to influence the behavior or emotions of a large group
Hiring professional applauders was a common form of crowd manipulation in ancient Roman theaters.
- feign verb
To pretend to be affected by a feeling, state, or injury; to simulate
The professional 'pleureurs' were paid to feign tears during the most emotional scenes of the play.
- formalize verb
To give something a legal or official status; to make a practice conventional or structured
The etiquette of applause was gradually formalized during the era of the Roman Republic.
- gauge verb
To estimate or determine the magnitude, amount, or volume of something through observation
Leaders used the rhythm of claps to gauge the public's opinion on new laws.
- infiltrate verb
To gain access to an organization or group surreptitiously and gradually, especially for subversion
Agents were hired to infiltrate the audience and trigger specific reactions to the performance.
- institutionalized adjective
Established as a standard or accepted part of a culture, organization, or social system
By the 19th century, the practice of organized applause had become institutionalized in opera houses.
- intricate adjective
Very complicated or detailed; having many complex and interrelated parts or elements
The historian described the intricate price lists used by professional clapping agencies in Paris.
- momentary adjective
Lasting for only a very short time; brief or fleeting in duration
Physical applause is often momentary, whereas digital reactions provide a more permanent record of approval.
- reverence noun
Deep respect for someone or something; a feeling of profound awe and admiration
The silence observed during the symphony demonstrated the audience's reverence for the musical composition.
Answers with explanations
- 14. iii
Paragraph A discusses how clapping was **formalized** during and after **performances** in the Roman Republic. This directly matches the heading about the **initial emergence** of this behavior originating in a theatrical setting.
- 15. v
Paragraph B focuses heavily on how Roman **leaders** (political figures) used applause as an ancient polling tool to **estimate their standing** (meaning to **value their own popularity**) with the citizens. This perfectly aligns with the heading.
- 16. x
Paragraph C explains how leaders specifically researched their **rivals** (meaning their **opponents**) by taking notes on the greetings they received to see who was beloved by the people. This explicitly supports the heading regarding opponent popularity.
- 17. vii
Paragraph D details how ancient applause strategies were **more varied than clapping alone**, going on to list specific alternative actions like **snaps** and **waves**. This clearly matches the heading about **different methods of applause**.
- 18. viii
Paragraph E discusses **bringing back** (re-emergence) the practice of hiring professional applauders (**fake appreciation**) and later concludes by noting how the practice ultimately **lost its power** and fell out of fashion (disappearance) once audiences caught on.
- 19. i
Paragraph F explains how **symphonies and concerts** (musical performances) became more serious over time, which directly changed the strict rules of when to clap or maintain silence (altering the **etiquette of applause**).
- 20. iv
Paragraph G discusses modern digital applause (likes, shares) which is **no longer momentary** but is instead **far more permanent**. This perfectly aligns with the heading's concept of a **more far-reaching** form of applause in the digital age.
- 21-22: AD
The text states the practice was brought back by a **16th-century** French poet, making the option about its first appearance in France correct. It also explicitly mentions the claque underwent a **classification** into different specific roles like laughers and criers, matching the option about different categories. The distractors about it not spreading or costs depending on fame are incorrect based on the text.
- 23. silence
The blank requires a noun that contrasts with the act of applause. The passage notes that knowing exactly when to maintain **silence**, as well as when to clap, became a **mark of sophistication** (which means demonstrating **superiority**).
- 24. opera
The blank needs a noun referring to a specific type of performance or musical venue. The text states that applause became less of a **true dialogue**, **especially so with opera**, where it became just a transaction rather than communication.
- 25. reward
The blank requires a singular noun. The text explicitly states that by the time the **19th century** arrived, applause had unfortunately become a mere expectation rather than the genuine **reward** it used to be for the performers.
- 26. permanent
The blank requires an adjective describing modern digital approval. The passage contrasts the **momentary** nature of past physical applause with today's digital expressions (likes and shares), which it explicitly describes as being **far more permanent**.