Table of Contents
Mystery in Easter
Passage
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 ahu. 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 mana. 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 name 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 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.
Questions
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 27-40 which are based on Reading Passage 3 below.
The reading passage has seven paragraphs, A-G
Choose the correct heading for paragraphs A-G from the list below. Write the correct number, i-xi, in boxes 27-31 on your answer sheet.
NB There are more headings than paragraphs, so you will not use them
List of Headings
i. The famous moai
ii. The status represented symbols of combined purposes
iii. The ancient spots which indicates scientific application
iv. The story of the name
v. Early immigrants, rise and prosperity
vi. The geology of Easter Island
vii. The begin of Thor Heyerdahl’s discovery
viii. The countering explaination to the misconceptions politaically manipulated
ix. Symbols of authority and power
x. The Navel of the World
xi. The norweigian Invaders’legacy
Questions 27-30
Example Answer
Paragraph A iv
27. Paragraph B
28. Paragraph D
29. Paragraph E
30. Paragraph G
Questions 31-36
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 3? In boxes 31 -36 on your answer sheet write
TRUE if the statement is true
FALSE if the statement is false
NOT GIVEN if the information is not given in the passage
31. The first inhabitants of Easter Island are Polynesian, from the Marquesas or Society islands.
32. Construction of some moai statues on the island was not finished.
33. The Moai can be found not only on Easter Island but also elsewhere in Polynesia.
34. Most archeologists recognised the religious and astronomical functions for an ancient society
35. The structures on Easter Island work as an astronomical outpost for extraterrestrial visitors.
36. the theory that depleted natural resources leading to the fail of Easter Island actual has a distorted perspective
Questions 37-40
Complete the following summary of the paragraphs of Reading Passage, using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the Reading Passage for each answer. Write your answers in boxes 37-40 on your answer sheet.
Many theories speculated that Easter Island’s fall around the era of the initial European contact. Some say the resources are depleted by a 37…………; The erroneous theories began with a root of the 38………… advanced by some scholars. Early writers did not have adequate 39…………. understandings to comprehend the true result of 40………..nature of events on the island. The social devastation was in fact a direct of the first European settlers.
Answers
Below are the answers, key words, synonyms and full explanations for the IELTS Reading passage Mystery in Easter Island (Passage 3, Questions 27–40).
Questions 27–30: Matching Headings (i–xi)
Example: Paragraph A = iv (The story of the name). Paragraph C = i (The famous moai).
27. Paragraph B
Answer: v (Early immigrants, rise and prosperity)
Key words: the original inhabitants … are of Polynesian stock … the human population grew and gave rise to a rich religious and artistic culture
Synonyms: early immigrants, rise and prosperity = the first Polynesian settlers arrived and the population grew into a rich culture = “they arrived as early as 318 AD … the human population grew and gave rise to a rich religious and artistic culture”
Explanation: Paragraph B covers the arrival of the first settlers and their flourishing → v.
28. Paragraph D
Answer: ii (The statues represented symbols of combined purposes)
Key words: The statues were thus symbols of authority and power, both religious and political … repositories of sacred spirit
Synonyms: combined purposes = symbols of authority and power, both religious and political, and sacred objects = “The statues were thus symbols of authority and power, both religious and political. But they were not only symbols … actual repositories of sacred spirit”
Explanation: Paragraph D shows the moai served several combined roles → ii. (Heading ix, “Symbols of authority and power”, is only part of the picture, so ii fits best.)
29. Paragraph E
Answer: iii (The ancient spots which indicate the scientific application)
Key words: the site of an astronomical observatory … part of global network of sophisticated astronomical observatories
Synonyms: ancient spots indicating scientific application = geodetic markers / astronomical observatories = “the remote island may once have been a geodetic marker and the site of an astronomical observatory of a long forgotten civilization”
Explanation: Paragraph E discusses the island’s possible scientific/astronomical function → iii.
30. Paragraph G
Answer: viii (The countering explanation to the misconceptions politically manipulated)
Key words: The faulty notions … began with the racist assumptions of Thor Heyerdahl … The real truth … was a direct consequence of the inhumane behavior of many of the first European visitors
Synonyms: countering explanation to politically manipulated misconceptions = correcting the racist/faulty theories with the real cause = “The faulty notions … began with the racist assumptions … The real truth … was a direct consequence of the inhumane behavior of many of the first European visitors”
Explanation: Paragraph G refutes the earlier misconceptions and gives the real cause → viii.
Questions 31–36: True / False / Not Given
31. The first inhabitants of Easter Island are Polynesian, from the Marquesas or Society islands.
Answer: NOT GIVEN
Key words: they most probably came from the Marquesas or Society islands
Synonyms: are from the Marquesas or Society islands = they “most probably” came from there (not definitively confirmed) = “It is now recognized that the original inhabitants … are of Polynesian stock … that they most probably came from the Marquesas or Society islands”
Explanation: The origin is only “most probably” the Marquesas/Society islands, so stating it as fact is not confirmed → NOT GIVEN.
32. Construction of some moai statues on the island was not finished.
Answer: TRUE
Key words: Another 600 moai statues, in various stages of completion, are scattered around the island
Synonyms: construction not finished = statues in various stages of completion = “Another 600 moai statues, in various stages of completion, are scattered around the island, either in quarries or along ancient roads”
Explanation: Many statues were left in various stages of completion, i.e. unfinished → TRUE.
33. The Moai can be found not only on Easter Island but also elsewhere in Polynesia.
Answer: FALSE
Key words: 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
Synonyms: moai found elsewhere in Polynesia (contradicted) = only the idea came from elsewhere; the moai themselves evolved uniquely on Easter Island = “derived from an idea rooted in similar practices found elsewhere in Polynesia but which evolved in a unique way on Easter Island”
Explanation: The idea (not the moai) came from elsewhere; the statues are unique to Easter Island → FALSE.
34. Most archeologists recognised the religious and astronomical functions for an ancient society.
Answer: FALSE
Key words: a host of mythological details ignored by mainstream archaeologists
Synonyms: most archaeologists recognised the astronomical function (contradicted) = mainstream archaeologists ignored these details = “These ancient name and a host of mythological details ignored by mainstream archaeologists, point to the possibility that the remote island may once have been … an astronomical observatory”
Explanation: Mainstream archaeologists ignored the astronomical idea rather than recognising it → FALSE.
35. The structures on Easter Island work as an astronomical outpost for extraterrestrial visitors.
Answer: NOT GIVEN
Key words: a significant scientific outpost of this antediluvian civilization … astronomical observatories dedicated to predicting … future commentary impacts
Synonyms: outpost for extraterrestrial visitors = the passage mentions a scientific/astronomical outpost of an ancient civilisation, never one for aliens = “Easter Island may once have been a significant scientific outpost of this antediluvian civilization”
Explanation: No mention of extraterrestrial visitors — only an ancient human civilisation → NOT GIVEN.
36. The theory that depleted natural resources leading to the fall of Easter Island actually has a distorted perspective.
Answer: TRUE
Key words: Principal among these theories, and now shown to be inaccurate, is that postulated by Jared Diamond … The faulty notions … began with the racist assumptions
Synonyms: distorted perspective = the resource-depletion theory is now shown to be inaccurate / faulty = “Principal among these theories, and now shown to be inaccurate, is that postulated by Jared Diamond … The faulty notions presented in these theories”
Explanation: The resource-depletion collapse theory is described as inaccurate and faulty → TRUE.
Questions 37–40: Summary Completion (NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS)
37. the resources are depleted by a ______
Answer: growing population
Key words: the resource needs of the growing population had begun to outpace the island’s capacity to renew itself
Synonyms: depleted by a ______ = the growing population’s resource needs outpaced the island = “a few centuries after … initial colonization the resource needs of the growing population had begun to outpace the island’s capacity to renew itself ecologically”
Explanation: The resources were exhausted by the growing population → growing population.
38. The erroneous theories began with a root of the ______ advanced by some scholars
Answer: racist assumption(s)
Key words: The faulty notions presented in these theories began with the racist assumptions of Thor Heyerdahl
Synonyms: began with a root of the ______ = began with the racist assumptions = “The faulty notions presented in these theories began with the racist assumptions of Thor Heyerdahl”
Explanation: The faulty theories are rooted in racist assumptions → racist assumption(s).
39. Early writers did not have adequate ______ understandings
Answer: archeological and historical
Key words: who do not have sufficient archaeological and historical understanding of the actual events
Synonyms: adequate ______ understandings = sufficient archaeological and historical understanding = “writers, such as Jared Diamond, who do not have sufficient archaeological and historical understanding of the actual events”
Explanation: They lacked archaeological and historical understanding → archeological and historical.
40. to comprehend the true result of ______ nature of events on the island
Answer: inhuman(e) behavior
Key words: a direct consequence of the inhumane behavior of many of the first European visitors
Synonyms: the true result of ______ = a direct consequence of the inhumane behaviour of the first Europeans = “The real truth … was a direct consequence of the inhumane behavior of many of the first European visitors”
Explanation: The devastation resulted from the inhumane behaviour of the first Europeans → inhuman(e) behavior.
Answer Key (Quick Reference)
| Q | Answer | Q | Answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | v | 34 | FALSE |
| 28 | ii | 35 | NOT GIVEN |
| 29 | iii | 36 | TRUE |
| 30 | viii | 37 | growing population |
| 31 | NOT GIVEN | 38 | racist assumption(s) |
| 32 | TRUE | 39 | archeological and historical |
| 33 | FALSE | 40 | inhuman(e) behavior |
Can you give me the source book of this passsage, please?