Mystery in Easter Island IELTS Reading Answers
Mystery in Easter Island IELTS Reading Answers: IELTS Reading passage practice questions for Mystery in Easter Island, sample answers, and tips.
Porishmita Paul11 Jan, 2025
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Mystery in Easter Island IELTS Reading Answers: The IELTS Reading tests include three passages for 60 minutes. Here, we have provided practice questions for the “Mystery in Easter Island IELTS Reading Answers” topic. The passage includes a total of 13 questions in various categories including Matching Headings, True False Not Given, and Summary Completion.
Solving the “Mystery in Easter Island IELTS Reading Answers” passage can help students to get a better grip on the IELTS Reading module . Therefore, students are advised to draft their own answers while solving the “Mystery in Easter Island IELTS Reading Answers” passage.Free IELTS Reading Practice Tests, Cambridge Sample Test PDF
Mystery in Easter Island IELTS Reading Answers Passage
Mystery on Easter Island
A. One of the world’s most famous yet least visited archaeological sites, Easter Island is a small, hilly, now treeless island of volcanic origin. Located in the Pacific Ocean at 27 degrees south of the equator and some 2200 miles (3600 kilometers) off the coast of Chile, it is considered to be the world’s most remote inhabited island. The island is, technically speaking, a single massive volcano rising over ten thousand feet from the Pacific Ocean floor. The island received its most well-known current name, Easter Island, from the Dutch sea captain Jacob Roggeveen who became the first European to visit Easter Sunday, April 5,1722. B. In the early 1950s, the Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl popularized the idea that the island had been originally settled by advanced societies of Indians from the coast of South America. Extensive archaeological, ethnographic and linguistic research has conclusively shown this hypothesis to be inaccurate. It is now recognized that the original inhabitants of Easter Island are of Polynesian stock (DNA extracts from skeletons have confirmed this, that they most probably came from the Marquesas or Society islands, and that they arrived as early as 318 AD (carbon dating of reeds from a grave confirms this). At the time of their arrival, much of the island was forested, was teeming with land birds, and was perhaps the most productive breeding site for seabirds in the Polynesia region. Because of the plentiful bird, fish and plant ‘ food sources, the human population grew and gave rise to a rich religious and artistic culture. C. That culture’s most famous features are its enormous stone statues called moai, at least 288 of which once stood upon massive stone platforms called There are some 250 of these ahu platforms spaced approximately one half mile apart and creating an almost unbroken line around the perimeter of the island. Another 600 moai statues, in various stages of completion, are scattered around the island, either in quarries or along ancient roads between the quarries and the coastal areas where the statues were most often erected. Nearly all the moai are carved from the tough stone of the Rano Raraku volcano. The average statue is 14 feet and 6 inches tall and weighs 14 tons. Some moai were as large as 33 feet and weighed more than 80 tons. Depending upon the size of the statues, it has been estimated that between 50 and 150 people were needed to drag them across the countryside on sleds and rollers made from the island’s trees. D. Scholars are unable to definitively explain the function and use of the moai statues. It is assumed that their carving and erection derived from an idea rooted in similar practices found elsewhere in Polynesia but which evolved in a unique way on Easter Island. Archaeological and iconographic analysis indicates that the statue cult was based on an ideology of male, lineage- based authority incorporating anthropomorphic symbolism. The statues were thus symbols of authority and power, both religious and political. But they were not only symbols. To the people who erected and used them, they were actual repositories of sacred spirit. Carved stone and wooden objects in ancient Polynesian religions, when properly fashioned and ritually prepared, were believed to be charged by a magical spiritual essence called The ahu platforms of Easter Island were the sanctuaries of the people, and the moai statues were the ritually charged sacred objects of those sanctuaries. E. Besides its more well-known name, Easter Island is also known as Te-Pito-O- Te-Henua, meaning ‘The Navel of the World’, and as Mata-Ki-Te- Rani, meaning ‘ Eyes Looking at Heaven ‘. These ancient names and a host of mythological details ignored by mainstream archaeologists, point to the possibility that the remote island may once have been a geodetic marker and the site of an astronomical observatory of a long forgotten civilization. In his book. Heaven’s Mirror, Graham Hancock suggests that Easter Island may once have been a significant scientific outpost of this antediluvian civilization and that its location had extreme importance in a planet-spanning, mathematically precise grid of sacred sites. Two other alternative scholars, Christopher Knight and Robert Lomas, have extensively studied the location and possible function of these geodetic markers. In their fascinating book, Uriel’s Machine, they suggest that one purpose of the geodetic markers was as part of a global network of sophisticated astronomical observatories dedicated to predicting and preparing for future commentary impacts and crystal displacement cataclysms. F. In the latter years of the 20th century and the first years of the 21st century various writers and scientists have advanced theories regarding the rapid decline of Easter Island’s magnificent civilization around the time of the first European contact. Principal among these theories, and now shown to be inaccurate, is that postulated by Jared Diamond in his book Collapse: How Societies Choose to or Survive. Basically these theories state that a few centuries after Easter Island’s initial colonization the resource needs of the growing population had begun to outpace the island’s capacity to renew itself ecologically. By the 1400s the forests had been entirely cut, the rich ground cover had eroded away, the springs had dried up, and the vast flocks of birds coming to roost on the island had disappeared. With no logs to build canoes for offshore fishing, with depleted bird and wildlife food sources, and with declining crop yields because of the erosion of good soil, the nutritional intake of the people plummeted. First famine, then cannibalism, set in. Because the island could no longer feed the chiefs, bureaucrats and priests who kept the complex society running, the resulting chaos triggered a social and cultural collapse. By 1700 the population dropped to between one-quarter and one-tenth of its former number, and many of the statues were toppled during supposed “clan wars ” of the 1600 and 1700s. G. The faulty notions presented in these theories began with the racist assumptions of Thor Heyerdahl and have been perpetuated by writers, such as Jared Diamond, who do not have sufficient archaeological and historical understanding of the actual events which occurred on Easter Island. The real truth regarding the tremendous social devastation which occurred on Easter Island is that it was a direct consequence of the inhumane behavior of many of the first European visitors, particularly the slavers who raped and murdered the islanders, introduced small pox and other diseases, and brutally removed the natives to mainland South America.Mystery in Easter Island IELTS Reading Answers Sample Questions
Mystery in Easter Island IELTS Reading Answers: Matching Headings (Q. 1-4)List of Headings: i. Theories about the rapid decline of Easter Island’s civilization ii. Origins of the settlers and their cultural development iii. The mysterious function of the moai statues iv. Scientific theories linking Easter Island to ancient civilizations v. The geography and discovery of Easter Island vi. Impact of European contact on the island’s population Questions:
- Paragraph A – _______
- Paragraph B – _______
- Paragraph D – _______
- Paragraph F – _______
Mystery in Easter Island IELTS Reading Answers (Q. 1-4):1. Answer : Paragraph A – v. The geography and discovery of Easter Island Explanation : In paragraph A, the location, geography, and discovery of Easter Island by Jacob Roggeveen are described. 2. Answer : Paragraph B – ii. Origins of the settlers and their cultural development Explanation : Paragraph B dismisses the earlier theory of South American origins. This paragraph focuses on the origins of Easter Island’s settlers and their cultural growth. 3. Answer : Paragraph D – iii. The mysterious function of the moai statues Explanation : In paragraph D, the Moai statues' potential religious and political functions are explained. It also highlights their symbolism and sacred significance. 4. Answer : Paragraph F – i. Theories about the rapid decline of Easter Island’s civilization Explanation : Paragraph F discusses the theories of the island’s decline. The paragraph particularly sheds light on the environmental collapse and resource depletion.
Mystery in Easter Island IELTS Reading Answers: True, False, Not Given (Q. 5-10)Questions: 5. Easter Island’s original inhabitants came from South America. 6. The moai statues were carved from volcanic stone found on the island. 7. All moai statues were erected and used for religious ceremonies. 8. Some researchers believe Easter Island was part of a network of astronomical observatories. 9 . Jared Diamond’s theory about the collapse of Easter Island’s society is widely accepted. 10. The primary cause of Easter Island’s population decline was disease and enslavement.
| Question No. | Answer |
|---|---|
| 5. Easter Island’s original inhabitants came from South America. | FALSE |
| 6. The moai statues were carved from volcanic stone found on the island. | TRUE |
| 7. All moai statues were erected and used for religious ceremonies. | NOT GIVEN |
| 8. Some researchers believe Easter Island was part of a network of astronomical observatories. | TRUE |
| 9. Jared Diamond’s theory about the collapse of Easter Island’s society is widely accepted. | FALSE |
| 10. The primary cause of Easter Island’s population decline was disease and enslavement. | TRUE |
Mystery in Easter Island IELTS Reading Answers: Summary Completion (Q. 11-13)Questions: Complete the summary below using NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage. The inhabitants of Easter Island created large stone statues known as _______ (11), which were often placed on platforms called _______ (12). The collapse of the island’s society was initially attributed to environmental destruction and resource depletion. However, more recent studies suggest that _______ (13) brought by Europeans played a significant role in the devastation.
Mystery in Easter Island IELTS Reading Answers: Summary Completion Answers
11. Answer : Moai
Explanation : Paragraph C identifies the large stone statues as "moai." 12. Answer : Ahu Explanation : Paragraph C mentions that the platforms on which moai were placed are called "ahu." 13. Answer : Disease Explanation : Paragraph G highlights that diseases introduced by Europeans played a major role in the collapse of Easter Island’s population.| IELTS Exam Important Links | |
|---|---|
| IELTS Reading Band Score | IELTS Listening Band Score |
| IELTS Speaking Band Score | IELTS Writing Band Score |
Mystery in Easter Island IELTS Reading Answers Tips
Here’s a table outlining tips for solving the "Mystery in Easter Island" IELTS Reading Passage effectively:| Question Type | Tips to Solve |
|---|---|
| Matching Headings | 1. Skim the first and last sentence of each paragraph. |
| 2. Identify the overall topic of each paragraph. | |
| 3. Look for keywords like "origin," "decline," or "theories." | |
| 4. Eliminate headings that clearly do not match. | |
| True/False/Not Given | 1. Carefully read the specific statement in the question. |
| 2. Scan the passage for matching phrases or ideas. | |
| 3. If the passage clearly confirms or contradicts – mark T/F. | |
| 4. If no direct information is found, mark NOT GIVEN. | |
| Summary Completion | 1. Skim the summary to understand the context. |
| 2. Locate the relevant section of the passage. | |
| 3. Identify synonyms or paraphrases in the passage. | |
| 4. Use NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS as instructed. | |
| General Tips | 1. Spend no more than 20 minutes per passage. |
| 2. Underline names, dates, and unique terms. | |
| 3. Scan for specific theories that are mentioned directly in the passage. |
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Mystery in Easter Island IELTS Reading Answers FAQs
Why is Easter Island significant archaeologically?
Ans. Easter Island is famous for its massive stone statues called moai reflecting the religious and social beliefs of the islanders.
Who were the original settlers of Easter Island?
Ans. Polynesians were the original settlers of Easter Island.
What caused the decline of Easter Island’s civilization?
Ans. European contact such as disease, slavery, and environmental degradation caused the decline of Easter Island’s civilization.
What material were the moai statues made from?
Ans. The moai statues are made from volcanic stone specifically Rano Raraku volcano.
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