Table of Contents
America’s oldest art?
Passage
Set within treacherously steep cliffs, and hidden away valleys of northeast Brazil, is some of Southeast America’s most significant and spectacular rock-art. Most of the art so far discovered from the ongoing excavations comes from the archaeologically – important National Park of the Serra da Capivara in the state of Piaui, and it is causing quite a controversy. The reason for the uproar? The art is being dated to around 25.CC0 or perhaps. According to some archaeologists, even 36,000 years ago. If correct, this is set to challenge the widely held view that America was first colonized from the north, via the Bering Straits from eastern Siberia at around 10.000 BC. only moving down into Central and South America in the millennia thereafter.
Prior to the designation of 130,000 hectares as a National Park, the rock-art sites were difficult to get to. and often dangerous to enter. In ancient times, this inaccessibility must have heightened the importance of the sites, and indeed of the people who painted on the rocks. Wild animals and human figures dominate the an. and are incorporated into often-complex scenes involving hunting, supernatural beings, fighting and dancing. The artists depicted the animals that roamed the local ancient brushwood forest. The large mammals are usually planted in groups and tend to be shown a running stance, as though trying to escape from hunting parties.
Processions – lines of human and animal figures – also appear of great importance to these ancient artists. Might such lines represent family units or groups of warriors? On a number of panels, rows of stylized figures, some numbering up to 30 individual figures, were painted using the natural undulating contours of the rock surface, so evoking the contours of the seconding landscape. Other interesting, but very rare, occurrences are scenes that show small human figures holding on to and dancing around a tree, possibly involved in some tom of a ritual dance.
Due to the favourable climatic conditions. The imagery on many panels is in a remarkable state of preservation. Despite this, however, there are serious conservation issues that affect their long term survival. The chemical and mineral quantities of the rock on which the imagery is painted is fragile and on several panels it is unstable. As well as the secretion of sodium carbonate on the rock surface, complete panel sections have, over the ancient and recent past, broken away from the main rock surface. These have then become buried and sealed into sometimes-ancient floor deposits. Perversely, this form of natural erosion and subsequent deposition has assisted archaeologists in dating several major rock-art sites.
Of course, dating the art is extremely difficult due to the non-existence of plant and animal remains that might be scientifically dated. However, there am a small number of sites in the Serra da Capivara that are giving up their secrets through good systematic excavation. Thus, at Toca do Roquismo da Pedra Furada. rock-art researcher Niede Guidon managed to obtain a number of dates. At different levels of excavation, she located fallen painted rock fragments, which she was able to date to at least 36,000 years ago. Along with toe painted fragments, crude stone tools were found. Also discovered wore a series of scientifically datable sites of fireplaces, or hearths, the earliest dated to 46,000 BC arguably the oldest date for human habitation in America.
However, these conclusions are not without controversy. Critics, mainly from North America, have suggested that the hearths may in fact be a natural phenomenon, the result of seasonal brushwood fires. Several North American researchers have gone further and suggested that the rock art from this site dates from no earlier than about 3,730 years old, based on the results of limited radiocarbon dating.
Adding further fool to the general debate is the fact that the artists in the area of the National Hark tended not to draw over old motifs (as often occurs with rock- art), which makes it hard to work out the relative chronology of the images or styles. However, the diversity of imagery and the narrative the paintings create from each of the many sites within the National Park suggests different artists were probably making their art at different times, and potentially using each site over many thousands of years.
With fierce debates thus raging over tho dating, where these artists originate from is also still very much open to speculation. The traditional view ignores the early dating evidence from the South American rock-art sites. In a revised scenario, some palaeo – anthropologists are now suggesting that modern humans may have migrated from Africa using the strong currents of the Atlantic Ocean some 63.000 years or more ago, while others suggest a more improbable colonization coming from the Pacific Ocean.
Yet, while either hypothesis is plausible, there is still no supporting archaeological evidence between the South American coastline and the interior. Rather, it seems possible that there were a number of waves of human colonization of the Americas occurring possibly over a 60,000-100,000 year period, probably using the Bering Straits as a land bridge to cross into the Americas.
Despite the compelling evidence from South America, it stands alone: the earliest secure human evidence yet found in the state of Oregon in North America only dates to 12,300 years BC. So this is a fierce debate that is likely to go on for many more years. However, the splendid rock art and its allied anthropology of northeast Brazil, described here, is playing a huge and significant role in the discussion.
Questions
Questions 27-29
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
27. According to the first paragraph, the rock-art in Serra da Capivara may revolutionize accepted ideas about …………………….
A. the way primitive people lived in North America.
B. the date when the earliest people arrived in South America.
C. the origin of the people who crossed the Bering Straits.
D. the variety of cultures which developed in South America.
28. How did the ancient artists use the form of the rock where they painted?
A. to mimic the shape of the countryside nearby
B. to emphasize the shape of different animals
C. to give added light and shade to their paintings
D. to give the impression of distance in complex works
29. In the fourth paragraph, what does the winter say that is unusual about the rock-artists of Serra da Capivara?
A. They had a very wide range of subject-matter.
B. Their work often appears to be illustrating a story.
C. They tended to use a variety of styles in one painting.
D. They rarely made new paintings on top of old ones.
Questions 30-36
In boxes 30-36 on your answer sheet, write
YES if the statement agrees with the claims of the writer
NO if the statement contradicts the claims of the writer
NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this
30. Archaeologists have completed their survey of the rock-art in Piaui.
31. The location of the rock-art suggests that the artists had a significant role in their society.
32. The paintings of animals show they were regarded as sacred by the ancient humans.
33. Some damage to paintings is most likely due to changes in the weather of the region.
34. The fact that some paintings were buried is useful to archaeologists.
35. The tools found near some paintings were probably used for hunting animals.
36. The North American researchers have confirmed Niede Guidon’s dating of the paintings.
Questions 37-40
Complete each sentence with the correct ending, A-F below.
A. are giving rise to a great deal of debate among palaeo-anthropologists.
B. do not support the earliest dates suggested for the arrival of people in America.
C. are absent from rock-art sites In the Serra da Capivara.
D. have not been accepted by academics outside America.
E. centre on whether or not they are actually man-made.
F. reflect the advances in scientific dating methods.
37. Materials derived from plants or animals …………………
38. The discussions about the ancient hearths ……………….
39. Theories about where the first South Americans originated from ………………..
40. The finds of archaeologists in Oregon …………………….
Answers
Below are the answers, key words and full explanations for the IELTS Reading passage America’s Oldest Art? (IELTS Trainer 1, Academic Test 5, Passage 3). Every answer is verified against the passage and two second sources (the original answer key and engnovate.com).
Questions 27–29: Multiple Choice
27. According to the first paragraph, the rock-art in Serra da Capivara may revolutionize accepted ideas about
Answer: B — the date when the earliest people arrived in South America.
Key words: first paragraph, revolutionize accepted ideas
Explanation: “The art is being dated to around 25,000 or perhaps … even 36,000 years ago. If correct, this is set to challenge the widely held view that the Americas were first colonised from the north … at around 10,000 BC.” Dating the art far earlier than 10,000 BC challenges the accepted date of arrival, which matches B.
challenge the widely held view = revolutionize accepted ideas; colonised = people arrived.
Answer: B
28. How did the ancient artists use the form of the rock where they painted?
Answer: A — to mimic the shape of the countryside nearby.
Key words: form of the rock, use
Explanation: “rows of stylized figures … were painted using the natural undulating contours of the rock surface, so evoking the contours of the surrounding landscape.” Using the rock’s contours to evoke the surrounding landscape matches “mimic the shape of the countryside nearby.”
undulating contours of the rock = form of the rock; evoking the surrounding landscape = mimic the countryside nearby.
Answer: A
29. What does the writer say is unusual about the rock-artists of Serra da Capivara?
Answer: D — They rarely made new paintings on top of old ones.
Key words: unusual, rock-artists
Explanation: “the artists in the area of the National Park tended not to draw over old motifs (as often occurs with rock-art).” Not drawing over old motifs = rarely making new paintings on top of old ones. This is called unusual because it differs from the norm elsewhere.
tended not to draw over old motifs = rarely made new paintings on top of old ones.
Answer: D
Questions 30–36: Yes / No / Not Given
30. Archaeologists have completed their survey of the rock-art in Piaui.
Answer: NO
Key words: completed, survey, Piaui
Explanation: “Most of the art so far discovered from the ongoing excavations …” “Ongoing” means the work is still in progress, which contradicts “completed.”
ongoing excavations contradicts “completed their survey.”
Answer: NO
31. The location of the rock-art suggests that the artists had a significant role in their society.
Answer: YES
Key words: location, significant role, society
Explanation: “this inaccessibility must have heightened the importance of the sites, and indeed of the people who painted on the rocks.” The hard-to-reach location raising the importance of the artists agrees with “a significant role in their society.”
heightened the importance of the people who painted = artists had a significant role.
Answer: YES
32. The paintings of animals show they were regarded as sacred by the ancient humans.
Answer: NOT GIVEN
Key words: animals, sacred
Explanation: The passage describes animals painted in groups and in a running stance as if escaping hunters, but never says they were considered sacred. There is no information about the animals being worshipped.
Answer: NOT GIVEN
33. Some damage to paintings is most likely due to changes in the weather of the region.
Answer: NO
Key words: damage, changes in the weather
Explanation: “Due to the favourable climatic conditions, the imagery … is in a remarkable state of preservation.” Damage is attributed to the “fragile” and “unstable” chemical/mineral qualities of the rock, not the weather — which is actually favourable. This contradicts the statement.
favourable climatic conditions contradicts “damage due to changes in the weather.”
Answer: NO
34. The fact that some paintings were buried is useful to archaeologists.
Answer: YES
Key words: buried, useful to archaeologists
Explanation: “These have then become buried and sealed into … floor deposits. Perversely, this form of natural erosion and subsequent deposition has assisted archaeologists in dating several major rock-art sites.” Burial assisting dating agrees with “useful to archaeologists.”
has assisted archaeologists in dating = useful to archaeologists.
Answer: YES
35. The tools found near some paintings were probably used for hunting animals.
Answer: NOT GIVEN
Key words: tools, used for hunting
Explanation: “Along with the painted fragments, crude stone tools were found.” The tools are mentioned, but the passage never states what they were used for. Their purpose is not given.
Answer: NOT GIVEN
36. The North American researchers have confirmed Niéde Guidon’s dating of the paintings.
Answer: NO
Key words: North American researchers, confirmed, dating
Explanation: Guidon dated fragments to “at least 36,000 years ago,” but “Several North American researchers … suggested that the rock-art … dates from no earlier than about 3,730 years ago.” A much later date contradicts, rather than confirms, her dating.
no earlier than 3,730 years vs at least 36,000 years = contradiction, not confirmation.
Answer: NO
Questions 37–40: Complete the Sentence (Endings A–F)
37. Materials derived from plants or animals …
Answer: C — are absent from rock-art sites in the Serra da Capivara.
Key words: materials, plants or animals
Explanation: “dating the art is extremely difficult given the non-existence of plant and animal remains that might be scientifically dated.” “Non-existence” of plant and animal remains matches “are absent from rock-art sites.”
non-existence of plant and animal remains = materials from plants or animals are absent.
Answer: C
38. The discussions about the ancient hearths …
Answer: E — centre on whether or not they are actually man-made.
Key words: hearths, discussions
Explanation: “Critics … have suggested that the hearths may in fact be a natural phenomenon, the result of seasonal brushwood fires.” The debate over whether the hearths are natural or made by humans matches “whether or not they are actually man-made.”
natural phenomenon vs human-made = whether they are man-made.
Answer: E
39. Theories about where the first South Americans originated from …
Answer: A — are giving rise to a great deal of debate among palaeo-anthropologists.
Key words: theories, originated from
Explanation: “where these artists originate from is also still very much open to speculation … some palaeo-anthropologists are now suggesting … from Africa … while others suggest … the Pacific Ocean.” Competing suggestions among palaeo-anthropologists match “giving rise to a great deal of debate.”
open to speculation / fierce debates = giving rise to a great deal of debate.
Answer: A
40. The finds of archaeologists in Oregon …
Answer: B — do not support the earliest dates suggested for the arrival of people in America.
Key words: Oregon, finds
Explanation: “the earliest secure human evidence yet found in the state of Oregon in North America only dates to 12,300 years BC.” 12,300 BC is far more recent than the 36,000–46,000-year South American dates, so the Oregon finds do not support those earliest dates.
only dates to 12,300 years BC = do not support the earliest dates.
Answer: B
| Answer Key (Quick Reference) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Q | Answer | Q | Answer |
| 27 | B | 34 | YES |
| 28 | A | 35 | NOT GIVEN |
| 29 | D | 36 | NO |
| 30 | NO | 37 | C |
| 31 | YES | 38 | E |
| 32 | NOT GIVEN | 39 | A |
| 33 | NO | 40 | B |
Cambridge IELTS 1-21 Reading test solutions
