What is social history?
Read What is social history? and check the IELTS Reading answers. Ever since its elevation to the status of an academic discipline, history has been very largely concerned with problems of its own making. These may be gaps which the young researcher is advised by supervisors to fill; or established…
Passage preview
Ever since its elevation to the status of an academic discipline, history has been very largely concerned with problems of its own making. These may be gaps which the young researcher is advised by supervisors to fill; or established views which he or she is encouraged to challenge. In either case, the need for the researcher to provide new insights in order to gain professional advancement often counts for more than the intrinsic interest of the topic.
Vocabulary from this passage
11 words worth learning before you sit the test, each with the sentence it appears in.
- accumulate verb
To gather, acquire, or amass an increasing number or quantity of materials over time
Before constructing a thesis, investigators must accumulate substantial quantities of verifiable primary documents.
- counterpart noun
A person or thing holding a position or performing a function corresponding to that of another
The local council worked closely with its international counterpart to develop cultural exchange initiatives.
- documentary record noun
The comprehensive collection of written, printed, or recorded materials providing historical proof or evidence
Historians must critically analyze the gaps left where the documentary record is completely silent.
- impetus noun
The force or energy with which a body moves or an analytical movement is accelerated
Public dissatisfaction with historical biases provided the necessary impetus for academic paradigm revisions.
- implicit adjective
Implied though not plainly or directly expressed; built into the core structure of an idea
There is an implicit assumption in traditional history that only political leaders shape major eras.
- intrinsic adjective
Belonging naturally; essential, inherent, or constituting an inseparable part of a concept
The educational value of a research topic should matter more than its intrinsic difficulty.
- manifestation noun
An event, action, or object that clearly shows or embodies something abstract or theoretical
The emergence of community art programs was a clear manifestation of changing social attitudes.
- mobilize verb
To organize, adapt, or assemble resources, people, or groups for a specific purposeful objective
Innovative political movements efficiently mobilize popular enthusiasm to challenge existing legislative models.
- multi-disciplinary adjective
Combining or involving several distinct academic disciplines or professional specializations simultaneously
Modern university curricula prioritize multi-disciplinary perspectives to address highly convoluted economic global challenges.
- proliferation noun
A rapid and significant increase in the numbers, presence, or density of something
The ongoing proliferation of independent digital publications has permanently decentralized traditional news media.
- scruturize verb
To examine or inspect someone or something closely, thoroughly, and with deep critical analysis
Academic committees rigorously scrutinize research methodologies to eliminate subjective variables before publication.
Answers with explanations
- 27. C
The summary notes that historical study is heavily focused on a search for a concept that helps researchers advance their careers. The passage describes this as the requirement to "provide new insights." Providing new insights corresponds directly with Option **C (originality)**.
- 28. F
The summary states that social history relates closely to something belonging to the public. The text states that it "mobilises popular enthusiasm and engages popular passions" while touching on public debate. "Enthusiasm" and "passions" directly parallel Option **F (interests and feelings)**.
- 29. D
The text explains that social history was explicitly directed against "'Great Man' theories." This matches the summary text's reference to avoiding history's traditional focus on notable figures, which aligns perfectly with Option **D (important people)**.
- 30. H
The text states that after focus shifted away from Great Men, history was characterized by a "tedious focus on bureaucratic issues." Bureaucratic issues align precisely with Option **H (organisational matters)**.
- 31. A
The summary states that social history differs in its teaching approach, which draws from multiple subjects. The text mentions "the way it is taught, through the adoption of multi-disciplinary perspectives." A multi-disciplinary framework reflects an academic teaching Option **A (methodology)**.
- 32. NO
The statement claims that the rise of social history **led to** the cultural revolution. However, the text indicates the exact opposite causal relationship: social history **emerged from** the cultural revolution of the 1960s. Since the statement inverts this cause-and-effect relationship, the answer is **NO**.
- 33. YES
The statement notes that social historians study a **later period** than traditional historians. The passage proves this by contrasting traditional history's focus (12th to 17th centuries) with social history's focus (the 19th century and contemporary events). Because the 19th century is a later period, the claim matches the writer's text, so the answer is **YES**.
- 34. NO
The statement claims that 1960s British cinema **lacked any working-class characters**. The text explicitly contradicts this by stating that New Wave British cinema was notable precisely for its "working-class protagonists" (main characters). Therefore, the statement directly denies the text, making the answer **NO**.
- 35. NOT GIVEN
The passage states that the anti-institutional bias of social history echoed a "widespread collapse of social deference, and a questioning of authority figures." However, the writer does not express an opinion on whether this loss of respect **was a leading cause of social problems**. Since this specific opinion is not stated, the answer is **NOT GIVEN**.
- 36. D
The text states that the nostalgia industry emerged as a "negative counterpart to the otherwise dominant modernisation of the decade." This means it stood in contrast or opposition to the primary trend of the era, supporting option **D** (It opposed the dominant trend of the time).
- 37. B
The sixth paragraph describes how "disused factories and mills" were elevated to monuments, and old worker houses were turned into residences. This demonstrates a growing fascination with historical, industrial structures, which perfectly validates option **B** (there was a new interest in traditional industrial buildings).
- 38. B
The paragraph states that by the 1970s, historians had developed an idealised view and a "nostropic regard for disappearing communities," driven by disenchantment with modern social change. This indicates they felt modern life lacked valuable components of the past, supporting option **B** (modern life is not necessarily an improvement on the past).
- 39. C
The text points out that social historians accumulate facts that "leave no conceptual space for the great absences," meaning they get bogged down in data and ignore major unrecorded areas or issues. This matches option **C** (more important issues may be ignored).
- 40. A
The writer recommends that social history must look closely at "insecurities and emergencies" and "the fears that shadow the growing up of children" to be effective and fully realize its potential. These aspects equate to exploring negative daily emotions, confirming option **A** (explore the negative emotions that are part of daily life).